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Artwork for Drafting the Past

Drafting the Past

Kate Carpenter
American History
Writing Process
The Black Tax
Covid-19
Local Tax Systems
Racial Injustice
Housing Inequality
Reconstruction
Jim Crow
Land Ownership
Red Dead Redemption
Storm Chasing
Diseased Cinema
Writing Coaching
Historical Writing
Public Policy
University Of Virginia
African-American Studies
Freeman's Challenge
Golden Years

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes78Founded4 years ago
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BooksHistoryArts

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Artwork for Drafting the Past

Latest Episodes

Fair warning, listeners: in this episode of Drafting the Past, my guest and I geeked out pretty hard for a minute about our favorite pens. I'm hoping a lot of you can relate, but if not, you'll just have to forgive our moment of office supply nerdine... more

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I've heard from many academics that writing their second book can be even harder than writing their first book. That might be surprising, especially if you're still struggling with the first book. But with less free time and without the support of a ... more

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I've talked to many historians who have interviewed sources in order to write their histories over more than 70 episodes of Drafting the Past, but I don't think any has spent quite as much time getting to know their subject in person as today's guest... more

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Historians never quite know what kind of discoveries will enable them to write a history. For today's guest, the list of things that contributed to his most recent book included a long-shot grant proposal, an elementary school fundraiser, and the ris... more

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Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Karin Wulf
Historian, director of the John Carter Brown Library, and professor at Brown University
John Carter Brown Library
Episode: Episode 76: Karin Wulf Keeps Her Brain Humming Along
Dr. Jessica Lepler
Associate Professor of History at the University of New Hampshire and author of 'Canal Dreamers'.
University of New Hampshire
Episode: Episode 75: Jessica Lepler Knows That Criticism Is Praise
Dr. Mary Frances Phillips
Associate Professor of African American Studies and author of Black Panther Woman
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Episode: Episode 74: Mary Frances Phillips Works From a Place of Play
Tyler Anbinder
Emeritus professor of history at George Washington University and author of several acclaimed books.
George Washington University
Episode: Episode 73: Tyler Anbinder Revises Every Day That He Writes
Dr. Joanne Paul
Historian of the Renaissance and Author
Episode: Episode 72: Joanne Paul Isn't Afraid to Call Herself an Artist
Dr. Raphael Cormack
An editor, writer, translator, and assistant professor of modern languages and cultures.
Durham University
Episode: Episode 71: Raphael Cormack Makes Meaning from Unreliable Sources
Dr. Tracy Slater
A writer and historian focusing on narrative history.
Episode: Episode 70: Tracy Slater Finds Her Footing in Narrative History
Dr. Andrew Hartman
Professor of history at Illinois State University, author of several books including 'Karl Marx in America.'
Illinois State University
Episode: Episode 69: Andrew Hartman Takes the Time to Get It Right
Dr. Ruby Lal
Professor of South Asian History at Emory University
Emory University
Episode: Episode 68: Ruby Lal Paints a Lush World

Host

Kate Carpenter
Host of a podcast focused on the craft of writing history, engaging historians in discussions about their writing processes and challenges.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 95 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 Statesa year 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 Statesa year 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 States3 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 States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Many find the podcast to be a valuable resource for improving their writing skills and understanding narrative structures in historical writing.
The host is praised for asking insightful questions that elicit thoughtful responses from guests.
The show is seen as a source of motivation and inspiration for both academics and general writers.
Listeners appreciate the engaging and enlightening discussions about the craft of writing history.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 75: Jessica Lepler Knows That Criticism Is Praise
Q: Did the process then differ between the two books or did they have a lot of similarities because you were kind of working on them concurrently?
The actual writing of this book happened later. With my first book, I had a publication contract that came with a writing prize, so I never had to shop around for a publisher. For the second book, I thought long and hard about whether it could be for a general audience or if it should be an academic book.
Episode 74: Mary Frances Phillips Works From a Place of Play
Q: How do you organize your writing process?
I use tools like Dropbox to organize my sources. I also have a sticker collection that brings me joy as part of my accountability system.
Episode 74: Mary Frances Phillips Works From a Place of Play
Q: How did that relationship shape the way you approached writing?
It was important for me to speak to her to get a sense of her feelings, her emotions, that inner world not captured in the archives, making this a very different type of book that tells a human story.
Episode 71: Raphael Cormack Makes Meaning from Unreliable Sources
Q: Did you find you could really show why anyone should care about your work?
You really have to do a lot of work and show why it's interesting.
Episode 71: Raphael Cormack Makes Meaning from Unreliable Sources
Q: Did you find that there were things you learned in writing the first book that you applied to the second book?
I did, but then they didn't work. Each project demands its own structure.

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?

Focuses on the art and science of writing history, featuring interviews with various historians who share their insights on their craft. The discussions cover a range of topics, including narrative techniques, the intricacies of researching historical figures, and the personal challenges faced by writers in the field. Unique aspects include exploration of how historical narratives can intersect with contemporary issues and the storytelling process to engage general audiences. Listeners can expect thought-provoking conversations that offer both practical advice for aspiring writers and deeper understanding of how historians interpret and present the past.

Where can I find podcast stats for Drafting the Past?

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How many listeners does Drafting the Past get?

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What are the audience demographics for Drafting the Past?

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Which podcasts are similar to Drafting the Past?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Drafting the Past:

1. The Ezra Klein Show
2. Interesting Times with Ross Douthat
3. The Opinions
4. Political Gabfest
5. The New Yorker Radio Hour

How many episodes of Drafting the Past are there?

Drafting the Past launched 4 years ago and published 78 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Drafting the Past?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Drafting the Past?

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What guests have appeared on Drafting the Past?

Recent guests on Drafting the Past include:

1. Karin Wulf
2. Dr. Jessica Lepler
3. Dr. Mary Frances Phillips
4. Tyler Anbinder
5. Dr. Joanne Paul
6. Dr. Raphael Cormack
7. Dr. Tracy Slater
8. Dr. Andrew Hartman

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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