Rephonic
Artwork for Ben Franklin's World

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
Boston
Genealogy
Continental Army
Haudenosaunee
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes510Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureHistory

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Artwork for Ben Franklin's World

Latest Episodes

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

YouTube

Five men served on the Continental Congress’s Declaration Committee. We know three of them well: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin. But who were the other two?

In this episode, we explore the lives and contributions of Robert R. Li... more

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Every American knows Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, but was he really its sole architect?

In this revisited episode, we sit down with three scholars to pull back the curtain on how the Declaration came to be written. Daniell... more

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250 years after its signing, the Declaration of Independence remains an unfinished document. Its famous assertion "that all men are created equal" and endowed with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness stands not as a sett... more

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Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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
Anthea Hartig
Director, National Museum of American History
Smithsonian Institution
Episode: 446 The Declaration of Independence at 250
Sara Georgini
Series editor of the Papers of John Adams at the Massachusetts Historical Society
Massachusetts Historical Society
Episode: 444 How Independence Happened, Part 2: The Model Treaty

Host

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

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 States2 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 States4 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 States4 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
#169
United States/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

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

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

Ben Franklin's World launched 12 years ago and published 510 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. Geoff Benton
2. Michael Morand
3. Danielle Allen
4. Patrick Spero
5. Peter Onuf
6. Virginia Scharff
7. Stephen Sarson
8. Anthea Hartig

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