Rephonic
Artwork for Ben Franklin's World

Ben Franklin's World

Liz Covart
American Revolution
Slavery
Declaration Of Independence
Boston Tea Party
Thomas Jefferson
Philadelphia
British Empire
Rhode Island
George Washington
Early American History
Benjamin Franklin
Genealogy
Haudenosaunee
Tea
Boston
Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial America
Continental Army
Loyalism
Haitian Revolution

This is a multiple award-winning podcast about early American history. It’s a show for people who love history and who want to know more about the historical people and events that have impacted and shaped our present-day world. Each episode features conversations with professional historians who help shed light on important people and events in early American history.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes501Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistorySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Ben Franklin's World

Latest Episodes

Most of us learned the same story: During the winter at Valley Forge, George Washington's army suffered and endured. Ragged soldiers huddled together in frozen huts and gnawed on shoe leather for food.

But what if that story is mostly myth?

Militar... more

When David George lay sick with smallpox in Savannah during the Revolutionary War, he faced three possible outcomes: death, re-enslavement, or freedom.

Greg O'Malley, Professor of History at UC Santa Cruz, follows David George across six decades and... more

YouTube

She fled on horseback in the thick of war. Her six-year-old son rode with her. The white tailor at her side would pass, when anyone asked, as her husband.

Her name was Sarah. She was one of tens of thousands of enslaved people who self-emancipated d... more

YouTube

Thomas Jefferson's draft of the Declaration of Independence contained 28 grievances against King George III — not 27.

The final grievance, the one Congress cut before signing, accused the British king of waging cruel war against human nature by traf... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Greg O'Malley
Historian, author of The Escapes of David George
University of California, Santa Cruz
Episode: 441 The Escapes of David George
Brooke Newman
Associate Professor of History at Virginia Commonwealth University; author on British monarchy and slavery
Virginia Commonwealth University
Episode: 440 Jefferson's Cut Grievance and the British Monarchy's Role in Slavery
Christopher Bonner
Associate Professor of History, University of Maryland; author of Remaking the Republic, Black Politics and the Creation of American Citizenship
University of Maryland
Episode: BFW Revisited: Whose Fourth of July?
Martha Jones
Society of Black Alumni Presidential Professor of History, Johns Hopkins University; author of multiple works on Black American history
Johns Hopkins University
Episode: BFW Revisited: Whose Fourth of July?
Paul Mapp
Associate Professor of History at William & Mary
William & Mary
Episode: BFW Revisited: Age of Revolutions
Janet Polasky
Presidential Professor of History at University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
Episode: BFW Revisited: Age of Revolutions
Richard Bell
Historian; Professor of History at the University of Maryland; author of The American Revolution and the Fate of the World
University of Maryland
Episode: 438 The American Revolution & the Fate of the World
Aaron Sullivan
Historian of the American Revolution at Rider University
Rider University
Episode: BFW Revisited: British-Occupied Philadelphia, 1777–1778
Kalela Williams
Historical interpreter and writer
Mighty Writers; Virginia Center for the Book
Episode: BFW Revisited: British-Occupied Philadelphia, 1777–1778

Host

Liz Covart
Host of the show; Ben Franklin's World

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 1.7k ratings
  • Not Woke Enough

    Please, I need more shows about slavery.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    craneshaft
    United States16 days ago
  • Excellent podcast

    This is a very informative podcast. I have learned so much new stuff about our history. Liz is a great host with good questions for her excellent guests. Enjoying it so much!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Twin brook Farm
    United States21 days ago
  • Too much Valley-Speak!

    The Civilian Life in Occupied Cities episode is un-listenable! The vocal fry and Valley Girl accent are so grating and unprofessional.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    SaraB3301
    United States2 months ago
  • I like History & this Podcast

    Excellent podcast. Liz is a real powerhouse and has created an extensive library of interviews that offer engaging listening. Highly recommended!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bill R.
    United States2 months ago
  • Common Sense

    This isn’t a democracy, this is a representative constitutional republic

    Garbage.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Goy Orbison
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many praise the depth, breadth, and accessibility of scholarly content for a general audience.
A subset wishes for more conversational interview styles and tighter editing.
Some listeners feel recent episodes are too agenda-driven or focused on race/gender themes.
Overall high-quality, well-researched history with engaging guests and hosts.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#131
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#67
Poland/History
Apple Podcasts
#160
Saudi Arabia/History
Apple Podcasts
#196
Israel/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

440 Jefferson's Cut Grievance and the British Monarchy's Role in Slavery
Q: Do you think King George III was to blame for slavery in British North America?
No, not in the sense that the Crown alone bore responsibility for the entire system; the monarchy operated within a broader imperial and economic framework where Parliament, merchants, and colonial structures also shaped policy and practice.
439 When the Declaration of Independence Was News
Q: When did the first news of the Declaration begin to spread in 1776?
News spread immediately after the vote, through Philadelphia coffeehouses, taverns, and a Pennsylvania Evening Post, with the full text following in print soon after.
437 Civilian Life in America's Occupied Cities
Q: What surprised you most about the experiences of enslaved or free Black people during these occupations?
Occupations opened selective routes to freedom via proclamations and proximity to British lines, yet risk and ambiguity remained high; some enslaved people managed to reunite with kin or secure informal protections, while enslavers often relocated and leveraged the chaos for their own interests.
437 Civilian Life in America's Occupied Cities
Q: How did occupation change the daily routines of city life in places like Philadelphia or New York?
Occupation transformed public spaces and private houses: the army requisitioned buildings, controlled movement, and altered economies, while civilian households renegotiated terms with officers and navigated new social hierarchies, sometimes creating unexpected opportunities for women and enslaved people.
437 Civilian Life in America's Occupied Cities
Q: What inspired you to study the home front during the War for Independence?
Lauren explains that the everyday life of civilians—especially in urban port cities—reveals the war's intimate, often overlooked dynamics, such as quartering, market disruption, and gendered power shifts, which reshape the broader narrative of the Revolution.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ben Franklin's World

What is Ben Franklin's World about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program features in-depth conversations with professional historians who illuminate early American history, focusing on people, events, and the global context surrounding the American Revolution and the founding era. Episodes frequently explore topics like slavery, abolition, civilian life during wartime, Atlantic connections, and the diffusion of revolutionary ideas, often highlighting archival evidence, multifaceted perspectives, and public history implications. Notable strengths include rigorous scholarly analysis, guest expertise from universities and museums, and a consistent emphasis on underrepresented voices and cross-cultural connections that broaden understanding beyond traditional narratives.

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Which podcasts are similar to Ben Franklin's World?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Ben Franklin's World:

1. History Unplugged Podcast
2. For the Ages: A History Podcast
3. American Revolution Podcast
4. Listening to America
5. American History Hit

How many episodes of Ben Franklin's World are there?

Ben Franklin's World launched 11 years ago and published 501 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Ben Franklin's World?

Recent guests on Ben Franklin's World include:

1. Greg O'Malley
2. Brooke Newman
3. Christopher Bonner
4. Martha Jones
5. Paul Mapp
6. Janet Polasky
7. Richard Bell
8. Aaron Sullivan

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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