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Artwork for Drafting the Past

Drafting the Past

Kate Carpenter
Writing Process
American History
Public History
Historical Writing
Teaching
American Revolution
Labor History
Historical Narrative
History
The Black Tax
Port Of Los Angeles
US History
Immigration
Literary Sources
Narrative History
Haitian Revolution
Local Tax Systems
Covid-19
Racial Injustice
Housing Inequality

Drafting the Past is a podcast devoted to the craft of writing history. Each episode features an interview with a historian about the joys and challenges of their work as a writer.

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Artwork for Drafting the Past

Latest Episodes

In this episode, Kate Carpenter is joined by a scholar who can never pass up a good archive, Dr. Gautham Rao.

Gautham is a historian of American law and politics and is an associate professor of history at American University in Washington. He's th... more

Today's guest, Dr. Tara Mulder, gets real about the challenges of writing while moving between temporary jobs, juggling a ton of teaching, and struggling to find a tenure track position. But also told me why that struggle brought a surprising amount ... more

YouTube

Episode 100! I'm thrilled to welcome historian of science Dr. Jessica Riskin.

Jessica is the Frances and Charles Field Professor of History at Stanford University. She's the author of three books and has edited two additional collections. She has a... more

YouTube

Is it possible to write a new history of Lewis and Clark (and get anyone to read it)? If you're Craig Fehrman, the answer is a definite yes! In today's episode, Craig joins Kate Carpenter to talk about his new book, This Vast Enterprise: A New Histor... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Dr. Tara Mulder
Assistant professor at University of Wisconsin–Madison; specialist in medicine, sex and gender in antiquity
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Episode: Episode 101: Tara Mulder Describes the Conditions of Labor
Jessica Riskin
Historian of science, Frances and Charles Field Professor of History at Stanford University
Stanford University
Episode: Episode 100: Jessica Riskin Lets the Story Carry the Argument
Craig Fehrman
Author of This Vast Enterprise, A New History of Lewis & Clark
Author, This Vast Enterprise
Episode: Episode 99: Craig Fehrman Wanted to Write an Epic Page-Turner
David Perry
Historian and author of The Public Scholar, A Practical Handbook
Public intellectual and author
Episode: Episode 98: David Perry Writes the Book on Public Scholarship
Dr. Emily Dufton
Historian and author focusing on drug history
University of Chicago Press (publisher) / Addiction, Inc.
Episode: Episode 97: Emily Dufton Loves Paper (But Watch Out For Floods)
Daniel Neep
Dr. Daniel Neep, author of Syria, A Modern History
Episode: Episode 96: Daniel Neep and the Power of Immersion
Dr. John Garrison Marks
Historian and author
Public historian; VP of research and engagement at the American Association for State and Local History
Episode: Episode 95: John Garrison Marks Starts Writing Before He's Awake
Megan Kate Nelson
Historian and author of The Westerners
Ye Olde Publishing? (discussed during interview)
Episode: Episode 94: Megan Kate Nelson Returns!
Matthew Avery Sutton
Historian of religion
Washington State University
Episode: Episode 93: Matthew Avery Sutton Religiously Opposes the Block Quote

Host

Kate Carpenter
Host coordinating interviews and guiding discussions; central figure in episodes discussing writing craft and publishing.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 109 ratings
  • I never miss an episode

    I get so excited when I see that a new Drafting the Past episode has released. The show is as entertaining as it is enlightening. So grateful to Kate for creating these conversations.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Laurrnn
    United States2 years ago
  • My favorite poscast

    When I heard a historian mention this podcast, I was so excited to listen. And it did not disappoint. I await the release of every episode with that same anticipation and excitement I first felt. Every episode offers me a valuable lesson whether it’s the introduction to a new-to-me author’s work, the affirmation that there’s not just one way to write, the teaching of research methods and questions, the imparting of best writing advice nuggets of gold, or suggesting another way to think and see t... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SpencerA+
    United States2 years ago
  • Love at first listen

    This is the podcast of my dreams. Thank you for bringing us into conversation with so many great writers about the craft of writing history well. I now have a long reading list filled with titles I never knew I’d be so excited to read!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Astor Lynn
    United States2 years ago
  • Amazing questions and great guests

    Kate Carpenter manages to ask the most interesting questions and elicit the best responses from the historians that she has as guests on the show. It’s a real treat to listen to every episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    public historian
    United States4 years ago
  • Inspiring and interesting!

    I am not writing history but am loving every episode of this podcast as I write my dissertation. I enjoy learning a bit about each guest’s research while also hearing how they approach their work both technically and socially. I highly recommend this podcast to academics in a variety of disciplines, as well as writers of other forms.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pignoli
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the host for thoughtful questions and engaging interviews.
Guests are consistently strong, offering practical writing and research insights.
The show is described as a valuable resource for graduate students and writers focusing on writing history.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 101: Tara Mulder Describes the Conditions of Labor
Q: How do you balance historical accuracy with storytelling in a birth narrative?
She explains starting from a kernel of evidence, embedding it in vignettes, and using embellishment where needed to bring the stories to life while clearly signaling where fiction enters.
Episode 101: Tara Mulder Describes the Conditions of Labor
Q: What kept you writing despite not being in a traditional tenure track position?
The guest attributes it to a practical habit of writing in short, daily intervals and a belief that future self would handle the challenges, plus a supportive writing community and mentorship that encouraged steady progress.
Episode 100: Jessica Riskin Lets the Story Carry the Argument
Q: What role did editors play in shaping the book?
Riskin highlights transformative editorial support at The New York Review of Books and Riverhead, describing editors as erudite and deeply engaged, which helped refine the manuscript and its argumentative clarity.
Episode 100: Jessica Riskin Lets the Story Carry the Argument
Q: How do you balance narrative with argument in a biography?
Her aim is for the story of Lamarck and his science to carry the central argument about a reductive model of living beings; when the through-line weakens after Lamarck's death, she uses individual stories to maintain coherence and foreground the broader thesis.
Episode 97: Emily Dufton Loves Paper (But Watch Out For Floods)
Q: What was the most challenging part of balancing your own writerly vision with extensive feedback?
Balancing was tough; some reviewers questioned the inclusion of certain sections (Naltrexone, LAM), but I fought to keep them because they're essential to understanding the trajectory from methadone to buprenorphine.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Drafting the Past

What is Drafting the Past about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful exploration of historical writing and narrative craft, this show pairs a seasoned host with historians and authors to unpack research methods, storytelling decisions, and publishing realities. Episodes emphasize how writers shape voice, balance scholarly rigor with accessibility, and organize vast notes into compelling narratives across vast time periods and global contexts. Listeners often gain practical tips on research workflows, collaboration with editors, and strategies for engaging diverse audiences, from graduate students to general readers. A notable strength is its clear focus on the writing process itself, featuring guests who bridge academia and public-facing storytelling, along with a consistent emphasis on ethics, ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Drafting the Past?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Drafting the Past:

1. Know Your Enemy
2. The LRB Podcast
3. Time To Say Goodbye
4. Past Lives
5. Ones and Tooze

How many episodes of Drafting the Past are there?

Drafting the Past launched 4 years ago and published 105 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 Drafting the Past?

Recent guests on Drafting the Past include:

1. Dr. Tara Mulder
2. Jessica Riskin
3. Craig Fehrman
4. David Perry
5. Dr. Emily Dufton
6. Daniel Neep
7. Dr. John Garrison Marks
8. Megan Kate Nelson

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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