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
Continental Army
Haudenosaunee
Tea
Boston
Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial America
Loyalism
Continental Congress

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes504Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistorySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Ben Franklin's World

Latest Episodes

Declaring independence on July 2, 1776, was only the beginning.

To actually become a nation, the United States needed something else: foreign allies, international recognition, and the credibility to negotiate as an equal among the world's great pow... more

YouTube

On July 4th, 2026, the United States marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence announced a new nation to the world. But how well do we actually know the document we're celebrating?

Most of us can recite "We hold these truths to be self-e... more

YouTube

When we picture the American Revolution, we picture battles. But for the men and women who actually lived and fought in it, the Revolution was also a job with mess rotations, night watches, short rations, and children underfoot.

Historians Eugene Pr... more

YouTube

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

YouTube

Key Facts

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Contact Information
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Danielle Allen
Foundation Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey; author of Our Declaration
Institute for Advanced Study
Episode: BFW Revisited: Reading the Declaration of Independence for Equality
Eugene Procknow
Writer and historian of the American Revolution
Author; Journal of the American Revolution contributor
Episode: 442 Everyday Military Life in the American Revolution
Gabriel Neville
Writer and historian
Author; Journal of the American Revolution contributor
Episode: 442 Everyday Military Life in the American Revolution
Thomas Sobol
Chief of Interpretation and Education at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
National Park Service
Episode: 442 Everyday Military Life in the American Revolution
Ricardo Herrera
Visiting professor, Department of National Security and Strategy, US Army War College; military historian specializing in 18th-19th century American military history
US Army War College
Episode: BFW Revisited: Valley Forge
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?

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 Statesa month 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 Statesa month 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 States3 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 States3 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
#145
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#229
Ireland/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

BFW Revisited: Valley Forge
Q: Rick, could you remind us how the Continental Army came to winter at Valley Forge and what pushed the army to encamp there?
Washington chose Valley Forge after weighing several options; it offered high ground for surveillance, control of access, and a defensible position near Philadelphia, balancing logistics and political considerations as winter approached.
BFW Revisited: Reading the Declaration of Independence for Equality
Q: Why is the Declaration described as a group-written document rather than Jefferson's sole creation?
Because the committee, congressional debates, and subsequent edits by Adams, Franklin, Sherman, and Livingston shaped it; Jefferson synthesized and organized these inputs, producing a text that reflects multiple voices.
BFW Revisited: Reading the Declaration of Independence for Equality
Q: Can you explain how slow reading differs from our usual quick skim of the Declaration?
Slow reading invites us to examine sentences and their relationships, exploring how words express values and how the structure reveals the principles behind independence, rather than just listing grievances.
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.

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

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

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

Ben Franklin's World launched 12 years ago and published 504 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. Danielle Allen
2. Eugene Procknow
3. Gabriel Neville
4. Thomas Sobol
5. Ricardo Herrera
6. Greg O'Malley
7. Brooke Newman
8. Christopher Bonner

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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