Ben Franklin's World

Liz Covart

American Revolution

Declaration Of Independence

Slavery

Thomas Jefferson

Boston Tea Party

Philadelphia

British Empire

Rhode Island

Benjamin Franklin

George Washington

Early American History

Haudenosaunee

Boston

Genealogy

Continental Army

Tea

Colonial Williamsburg

Colonial America

Loyalism

France

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.

1.7k ratings

Publishes	Weekly	Episodes	513	Founded	12 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	HistorySociety & Culture

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Latest Episodes

449 Stealing America: Indigenous Slavery and the American Revolution

More than half a million Indigenous people were enslaved within the present-day borders of the United States.

Historian Linford Fisher spent fifteen years in archives across North America, the Caribbean, and Britain to investigate this forgotten hi... more

18 Aug 2026 • 1 hr 32 min

YouTube

BFW Revisited: American Expansion & the Political Economy of Plunder

The Declaration of Independence proclaimed that all men are endowed with the unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

But what did liberty and equality mean for the peoples the Declaration never named—the Ojibwe, Odawa, and... more

11 Aug 2026 • 1 hr 18 min

YouTube

448 The Declaration of Independence as American Scripture

The engrossed copy of the Declaration of Independence is on display at the National Archives building in Washington, DC. Millions of visitors flock to see it and the other Charters of Freedom. But how did it end up there and why do people approach it... more

4 Aug 2026 • 45 min • Most popular

YouTube

BFW Revisited Threads of Power

For the Haudenosaunee, the Six Nations People, the American Revolution brought not liberty, but land loss, displacement, and the dismantling of their world. The new United States seized land from Haudenosaunee nations regardless of which side they su... more

28 Jul 2026 • 53 min

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Michael Witgen

Professor of history, Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race at Columbia University

Columbia University

Episode: BFW Revisited: American Expansion & the Political Economy of Plunder

Mary Beth Norton

Mary Donlon Alger Professor Emerita at Cornell University, historian

Cornell University

Episode: 448 The Declaration of Independence as American Scripture

Geoff Benton

Historian, Clermont State Historic Site

Clermont State Historic Site, New York

Episode: 447 The Other Committee Members: Robert R. Livingston, Roger Sherman, and the Declaration of Independence

Michael Morand

Cultural Heritage Professional and Civic Leader

Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University

Episode: 447 The Other Committee Members: Robert R. Livingston, Roger Sherman, and the Declaration of Independence

Danielle Allen

The James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University, director at the Safra Center

Harvard University

Episode: BFW Revisited: A Declaration in Draft, 2026

Patrick Spero

Chief Executive Officer of the American Philosophical Society

American Philosophical Society

Episode: BFW Revisited: A Declaration in Draft, 2026

Peter Onuf

Thomas Jefferson Professor Emeritus at the University of Virginia

University of Virginia

Episode: BFW Revisited: A Declaration in Draft, 2026

Virginia Scharff

Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History at University of New Mexico; curator/interpreter

Autry Museum of the American West

Episode: 446 The Declaration of Independence at 250

Stephen Sarson

Professor of American Civilization

Jean-Moulin University, Lyon; author

Episode: 446 The Declaration of Independence at 250

Host

Elizabeth Covart

Lead host and historian focused on early American history with extensive archival and scholarly collaboration.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 1.7k ratings

Please, Fix the guest audio!
I enjoy the content but every guest has audio issues. Some sound like they are on a speaker phone in 1995. Some sound like they are eating the mic. Sometimes it's close to unbearable.
Apple Podcasts
3
amywagner
United States3 months ago
Not Woke Enough
Please, I need more shows about slavery.
Apple Podcasts
1
craneshaft
United States3 months 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 States3 months 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 States5 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 States5 months ago

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Listeners Say

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

Listener feedback shows desire for high-quality audio and balanced perspectives.

Guests come from top universities and museums, adding credibility.

Deep-dive history with strong scholarly rigor.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts	#156	United States/History
Apple Podcasts	#130	Sweden/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

448 The Declaration of Independence as American Scripture

Q: What role would you like to see in 2026 for the parchment copy of the Declaration in American life? Is there still a usefulness to having it serve as a form of Scripture?

The parchment copy serves as a beacon of enduring principles—equality, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—and as a public, moral standard that communities refer to in debates over rights and national identity; it remains a symbol and reference point rather than just a historical artifact.

448 The Declaration of Independence as American Scripture

Q: How does Pauline interpret the weeks in June when Jefferson was drafting and the committee and then the full Congress were revising and adopting the Declaration?

Norton explains that Pauline stresses the collectivity involved, noting Jefferson drew on ideas from various sources and that the Congress and its editing committees refined and improved the draft, illustrating a collaborative process rather than a lone author's revelation.

448 The Declaration of Independence as American Scripture

Q: So Mary Beth, can you situate us in the 1990s? Before Pauline's book, what was the state of historians thinking about the declaration?

Norton explains that the dominant framework followed Becker's early 20th-century perspective, which treated the Declaration largely as Jefferson's product and as an intellectual document. Pauline Maier reframed this by situating the Declaration within a broader social and political context, emphasizing collective authorship, the participation of many people in drafting, and the idea that the Declaration reflected wider currents of thought and action across colonies, not just Philadelphia's Congress.

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.

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 show presents meticulous, historian-led explorations of early American history, with a strong emphasis on the founding era, revolutionary diplomacy, and the lived experiences of people from Indigenous nations to enslaved communities. Episodes often center on documentary-era documents, archival sources, and the interpretations of leading scholars, producing rigorous, source-driven conversations that connect past events to contemporary debates about sovereignty, rights, and national identity. Noteworthy traits include a scholarly guest roster drawn from top universities, museums, and national institutions, plus a clear focus on contextualizing foundational documents and institutions within broader social and political histories. Potentia... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Ben Franklin's World?

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1. History Unplugged Podcast
2. American Revolution Podcast
3. For the Ages: A History Podcast
4. American History Hit
5. Lectures in History

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Ben Franklin's World launched 12 years ago and published 513 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. Michael Witgen
2. Mary Beth Norton
3. Geoff Benton
4. Michael Morand
5. Danielle Allen
6. Patrick Spero
7. Peter Onuf
8. Virginia Scharff

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