Podcast Episodes

How to Amend the Constitution

Episode 312

Why has it been so long since the US Constitution was amended? The incredible Jill Lepore joins Don to explore how the Constitution was designed for amendment, and how this has been utilised through …

Published on 1 month ago

What Caused the Civil War? | Slavery

Episode 311

What were the deep origins and root causes of the Civil War? In the first of four episodes we chart how the North and South became bitterly divided over slavery. Don is joined by Professor Chandra Ma…

Published on 1 month, 1 week ago

Who Designed the American Flag?

Episode 310

13 equal horizontal stripes in red and white, with a navy blue square in the top left bearing 50 small white five pointed stars. It's recognisable the world over as the flag of the United States of A…

Published on 1 month, 1 week ago

American Traitors: The Rosenbergs

Episode 309

This week we’re stepping heart of Cold War America with the story of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. Accused of espionage and executed at the height of anti-communist paranoia, their trial gripped the na…

Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago

How To Survive the Revolutionary War

Episode 308

'If I turn from beholding mutilated bodies, mangled limbs, and bleeding, incurable wounds, a spectacle no less revolting is presented, of miserable objects languishing under afflicting diseases of ev…

Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago

American Traitors: Axis Sally

Episode 307

Is contributing to enemy propaganda treason? In this second episode on American Traitors, we are meeting 'Axis Sally', real name Mildred Gillars.

Professor Michael Flamm joins us to explore the life o…

Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago

What If Lincoln Hadn't Been Shot?

Episode 306

It's the biggest 'What if?' in American history: What if Lincoln hadn't been shot? The assassination could so easily have failed and things went so wrong in the aftermath (looking at you Andrew Johns…

Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago

American Traitors: Benedict Arnold

Episode 305

Is Benedict Arnold the biggest traitor in American History? In this episode, Don is joined by author Stephen Brumwell to examine how Arnold went from hero to villain.

How important was he to the Revol…

Published on 1 month, 4 weeks ago

The End of the Pacific War

Episode 304

On August 14, 1945, the Japanese government accepted Allied terms of surrender. The war in the Pacific was over. But how had it come to this?

Don is joined for this episode by Ian W. Toll, author of a…

Published on 2 months ago

Italians in America

Episode 303

From Columbus onwards, Italians have been a part of American culture. Don explores this rich history with Professor Anthony Tamburri, Dean of the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute in New Yo…

Published on 2 months ago