
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.
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 105 | Founded | 4 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | HistoryBooksArts | |||

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










Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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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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These podcasts share a similar audience with Drafting the Past:
1. Know Your Enemy
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3. Time To Say Goodbye
4. Past Lives
5. Ones and Tooze
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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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
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