Shows
Worlds Turned Upside DownEpisode 21: The VengeanceThe long-simmering rivalry between Virginians and Pennsylvanians for control of the Ohio Country leads to the 1774 massacre of Soyechtowa James Logan's family at Yellow Creek along the banks of the Ohio River, igniting a war for revenge with tragic results. Featuring: Robert Parkinson and Christopher Pearl. Voice Actors: Adam Smith, John Terry, Anne Fertig, and Evan McCormick. Narrated by Dr. Jim Ambuske. Music by Artlist.io This episode was made possible with support from a 2024 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Help other listeners find th...
2025-11-251h 17Worlds Turned Upside DownEpisode 20: The RebellionWith tensions mounting in British America over Parliament's Coercive Acts, colonists begin losing faith in King George III, while British soldiers march out of Boston to seize arms and ammunition in Lexington and Concord. Featuring: Rick Atkinson, Fred Anderson, Wendy Bellion, Katherine Carté, Frank Cogliano, Brad Jones, and Andrew O'Shaughnessy. Voice Actors: Anne Fertig, Adam Smith, Evan McCormick, John Turner, John Winters, Grace Mallon, Peter Walker, Craig Gallager, Spencer McBride, and John Terry. Narrated by Dr. Jim Ambuske. Music by Artlist.io This episode was made possible with support fr...
2025-10-281h 08Worlds Turned Upside DownEpisode 19: The GambitWith British authority collapsing in North America, Britons on both sides of the Atlantic including Benjamin Franklin, Caroline Howe, and Lord Dartmouth engage in desperate and secret negotiations to avoid all the horrors of civil war. Featuring: Julie Flavell, Mary Beth Norton, Michael Hattem, and Frank Cogliano. Voice Actors: Grace Mallon, Amber Pelham, Evan McCormick, Adam Smith, Craig Gallagher, and John Terry. Narrated by Dr. Jim Ambuske. Music by Artlist.io This episode was made possible with support from a 2024 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
2025-09-231h 10Worlds Turned Upside DownEpisode 18: The ResurrectionFourteen years after British forces conquered New France during the Seven Years' War, Parliament's passage of the Quebec Act in 1774 resurrects old fears of French Catholic tyranny in Protestant British America. Featuring: Katherine Carté, Christian Ayne Crouch, Brad Jones, and Jeffers Lennox. Voice Actors: Jan Hoffmann, Craig Gallagher, Emmanuel Dubois, Grace Mallon, Bertrand van Ruymbeke, Adam Smith, Anne Fertig, Annabelle Spencer, and Patrick Long. Narrated by Dr. Jim Ambuske. Music by Artlist.io This episode was made possible with support from a 2024 grant from the National Endowment for the Hu...
2025-08-261h 00Worlds Turned Upside DownEpisode 16: The TeaBritish Americans' unquenchable thirst for tea and a looming financial disaster for the East India Company leads to a new crisis in North America when seven tea-laden ships are sent to the colonies in 1773, inspiring Bostonians to dump much of the cargo in Boston Harbor. Featuring: Benjamin Carp, James Fichter, Deepthi Murali, and Mary Beth Norton. Voice Actors: Craig Gallagher, Margaret Hughes, Grace Mallon, Norman Rodger, Annabelle Spencer, and John Turner. Narrated by Dr. Jim Ambuske. Music by Artlist.io This episode was made possible with support from a 2024 g...
2025-06-301h 08Worlds Turned Upside DownEpisode 15: The Heavens FallThe detainment of a West African-born enslaved Virginian named James Somerset in London leads to a court case decided by England's most powerful judge that challenges the foundations of slavery in the British Empire. Featuring: Christopher Brown, Trevor Burnard, Julie Flavell, and Chernoh Sesay, Jr. Voice Actors: Amber Pelham, Anne Fertig, Gillian MacDonald, Norman Roger, Craig Gallagher, and Adam McNeil. Narrated by Dr. Jim Ambuske. Music by Artlist.io This episode was made possible with support from a 2024 grant from the National Endowment of the Humanities. Help oth...
2025-05-311h 19Worlds Turned Upside DownEpisode 14: The CorruptionMonths after the Boston Massacre, British Americans calling themselves "Regulators" launch a rebellion in western North Carolina that threatens to engulf the colony in revolution and civil war. Featuring: Abby Chandler, Marjoleine Kars, Cynthia Kierner, and Nathan Schultz. Voice Actors: Sarah Donelson, Evan McCormick, Norman Rodger, John Terry, and Peter Walker. Narrated by Dr. Jim Ambuske. Music by Artlist.io This episode was made possible with support from a 2024 grant from the National Endowment of the Humanities. Help other listeners find the show by leaving a 5-Star Ra...
2025-05-061h 26Worlds Turned Upside DownEpisode 13: The MassacreIn response to rioting and protests over the Townshend Acts, the British deploy four regiments to Boston, leading to a deadly shooting on March 5, 1770, a massacre that wounds a family. Featuring: Serena Zabin and John McCurdy. Voice Actors: Anne Fertig, Grace Mallon, Evan McCormick, Adam McNeil, and Nate Sleeter. Narrated by Dr. Jim Ambuske. Music by Artlist.io This episode was made possible with support from Richard H. Brown and Mary Jo Otsea. Find the official transcript here. Help other listeners find the show by le...
2025-03-071h 27Worlds Turned Upside DownEpisode 12: The ConspiracyIn the wake of the Stamp Act Crisis, the British chart a new course for empire in North America by imposing taxes on paper, paint, lead, glass, and tea, pitting British Americans against Parliament…and each other. Featuring: Patrick Griffin, Zara Anishanslin, Rosemarie Zagarri, and Christopher Minty. Voice Actors: Adam Smith, Melissa Gismondi, Grace Mallon, Jeanette Patrick, Anne Fertig, Hayley Madl, Alexandra Miller, Beau Robbins, Norman Rodger, Kathryn Gehred, and Evan McCormick. Narrated by Dr. Jim Ambuske. Music by Artlist.io This episode was made possible with support from an a...
2024-12-181h 19Worlds Turned Upside DownEpisode 11: The ResistanceWith the Stamp Act defeated, the Sons of Liberty in New York City celebrate by raising a Liberty Pole in tribute to George III, William Pitt, and Liberty, provoking a violent confrontation with British soldiers quartered in the city's barracks, who see the wooden mast as a monument to mob rule and a symbol of sedition. Featuring: Wendy Bellion, Shira Lurie, Jon Kukla, Patrick Griffin, Brad Jones, Christopher Minty, and John McCurdy Voice Actors: Adam Smith, Melissa Gismondi, Mills Kelly, Nate Sleeter, Anne Fertig, and Dan Howlett. Narrated by Dr. Jim Ambuske.
2024-10-221h 16Worlds Turned Upside DownEpisode 10: The StampIn the mid-1760s, British fears that a new war with France was only a matter of time leads King George III and his ministers to draw up plans for a permanent army in North America, and a Stamp Tax on the colonies to pay for it, sparking massive protests in British America and beyond. Featuring: Jon Kukla, Patrick Griffin, Brad Jones, Abby Chandler, Alexandra Montgomery, Wendy Bellion, and Cassandra Britt Farrell. Voice Actors: Adam Smith, Beau Robbins and Mills Kelly. Narrated by Dr. Jim Ambuske. Music by Artlist.io
2024-09-131h 13Worlds Turned Upside DownEpisode 9: The SugarIn the 1760s, Jamaica and the islands of the British Caribbean were the crown jewels of Britain's American Empire. And as King George III's ministers searched for solutions to a vexing imperial puzzle and moved to counter a pernicious threat in the aftermath of the Seven Years' War, they looked west from London, to the islands of sugar. Featuring: Trevor Burnard, Abby Chandler, Mary Draper, Jon Kukla, Andrew O'Shaughnessy, and Brooke Newman. Voice Actors: Anne Fertig, Norman Rodger, Dan Howlett, Nate Sleeter, and Beau Robbins. Narrated by Dr. Jim Ambuske Music...
2024-07-271h 09Worlds Turned Upside DownEpisode 8: The TradeAt the dawn of a new era after the Seven Years' War, British officials envision commerce and colonies as the key to British independence and its rising glory, but trade in commodities and manufactured goods comes at an awful price. Featuring: Emma Hart, Scott Miller, Ann Smart Martin, Hannah Knox Tucker, Hannah Farber, and Zara Anishanslin Voice Actors: Anne Fertig and Adam Smith Narrated by Dr. Jim Ambuske Find the official transcript here. Music by Artlist.io Help other listeners find the show by leaving a 5-Star...
2024-06-081h 14Worlds Turned Upside DownEpisode 7: The DivideWith a blueprint in place for transforming British America into an empire of order, George III's goverment begins sending an army of cartographers to map North America, while diplomats in the colonies open negogiations with native nations to draw a boundary line between British and Indigenous America. Featuring: Max Edelson, Maeve Kane, and Alexandra Montgomery Voice Actors: Amber Pelham, Nate Sleeter, James Craggs, Luke Jenson-Jones, and Beau Robbins Narrated by Dr. Jim Ambuske. Find the official transcript here. This episode is made possible with support from the Virginia American R...
2024-05-021h 01Worlds Turned Upside DownEpisode 6: The ProclamationAgainst the backdrop of Pontiac's War in North America, George III's ministers in London draw on lessons learned in colonial Nova Scotia to begin drafting a blueprint for transforming British America into an empire of order. Featuring: Fred Anderson, Matthew Dziennik, Max Edelson, and Alexandra Montgomery Voice Actors: Grace Mallon and Beau Robbins. Narrated by Dr. Jim Ambuske. Find the official transcript here. This episode is made possible with support from the John Carter Brown Library, an independent research library located on the campus of Brown University. M...
2024-03-231h 05Worlds Turned Upside DownEpisode 5: The UprisingAs the British began to assert control over North America in the wake of the Seven Years' War, the actions of British American settlers and the messages of a native prophet convinced some Indigenous peoples throughout the Ohio Country and beyond that resistance through force was the best way to preserve their sovereignty and usher in the revitalization of their communities. Featuring: Fred Anderson, George Ironstrack, Maeve Kane, and Hayley Madl. Voice Actors: Anne Fertig, Kathyrn Gehred, David Mckenzie, Loren Moulds, Angel-Luke O'Donnell, Norman Rodger, and Brandon Tachco. Narrated by Dr. Jim Ambuske.
2024-01-311h 14Worlds Turned Upside DownEpisode 4: The EmpireGreat Britain's conquest of New France in North America and its victory in the Seven Years' War inspired British subjects on both sides of the Atlantic to look forward to a future they could see but through a glass darkly, as they struggled to make sense of the world that lay ahead, and the cost of the war they had won. Featuring: Fred Anderson, Christian Ayne Crouch, Max Edelson, Kathleen DuVal, Patrick Griffin, and Jon Kukla. Voice Actors: Norman Roger, Anne Fertig, Nicholas Cole, Spencer McBride, and John Turner. Narrated by Dr. Jim...
2023-12-121h 11Worlds Turned Upside DownEpisode 3: The TriumphFollowing three years of stinging defeats in the Seven Years' War, the British begin to turn the tide against the French in North America in no small measure because Indigenous peoples decided the war should end. Featuring: Fred Anderson, Christian Ayne Crouch, Matthew Dziennik, Julie Flavell, John McCurdy, and Serena Zabin. Voice Actors: Dan Howlett, Alexandre Rios-Bordes, Michael Newton, Brandon Tachco, and Emmanuel Dubois. Narrated by Dr. Jim Ambuske. Find the official transcript here. Music by Artlist.io Help other listeners find the show by leaving a 5...
2023-11-141h 19Worlds Turned Upside DownEpisode 2: The NadirFollowing the outbreak of the Seven Years' War in North America, the British and French begin mobilizing for war and appoint commanders-in-chief to lead the war effort, only to clash with colonists over how power, authority, and honor should be used in the colonies. Meanwhile, Indigenous peoples like the Haudenosaunee and the Delaware weigh their options as the fighting engulfs eastern North America. Featuring: Fred Anderson, Katherine Carté, Christian Ayne Crouch, Patrick Griffin, Hayley Madl, and John McCurdy Voice Actors: Alexandra Krebs, Grace Mallon, Spencer McBride, Norman Rodger, Alexandre Rios-Bordes, Nate Sleeter, and Emmanuel Dubois....
2023-10-181h 20Worlds Turned Upside DownEpisode 1: The BalanceIn the 1750s, tensions between the British, the French, and Indigenous peoples over control of the Ohio Country in North America lead to the outbreak of a global war with revolutionary consequences. Featuring: Fred Anderson, Christian Ayne Crouch, Max Edelson, Patrick Griffin, George Ironstrack, and Maeve Kane. Voice Actors: Norman Rodger, Alexandre Rios-Bordes, and Emmanuel Dubois. Narrated by Dr. Jim Ambuske. Find the official transcript here. Music by Artlist.io Help other listeners find the show by leaving a 5-Star Rating and Review on Apple, Spotify, Podchaser, o...
2023-09-251h 11Worlds Turned Upside DownSeason One Trailer: The CrisisSeason One of Worlds Turned Upside Down, "The Crisis," follows the stories of American colonists, Indigenous peoples, and Europeans as they grappled with the revolutionary consequences of Great Britain's victory in the Seven Years' War (1756-1763). After celebrating Britain's triumph over the French in the war, Americans began questioning British new policies in its wake, while Indigenous and enslaved people struggled to make sense of their own place in Britain's enlarged American empire. Season One begins September 26, 2023. Narrated by Dr. Jim Ambuske. Music by Artlist.io Help other listeners find the s...
2023-09-1203 minWorlds Turned Upside DownIntroducing Worlds Turned Upside DownIntroducing Worlds Turned Upside Down, a podcast about the history of the American Revolution. Coming fall 2023 from R2 Studios. Learn more at www.r2studios.org. Worlds Turned Upside Down tells the story of the American Revolution as a transatlantic crisis and imperial civil war through the lives of people who experienced it. For many modern citizens of the United States, "the cause of America" that gave birth to a new nation in 1776 and the heroic stories we tell ourselves about its founding remains "in great measure the cause of all mankind." But for the people who l...
2023-07-1201 min
The Green TunnelThe Weight of HistoryThe Appalachian Trail is a much more diverse place in 2023 than it was as recently as 20 years ago. But if you spend much time on the trail, you know it’s still a pretty white place. There are many stories about the challenges faced by members of marginalized communities who hike the AT, and we need a lot more research to better understand how the history of the trail and the history of race are closely interwoven. On today’s episode, attorney Krystal Williams of Maine and historian Phoebe Young of the University of Colorado-Boulder help us explo...
2023-05-0239 minThe Green TunnelIconic Locations: Harpers FerryLong before Harpers Ferry, Virginia became the emotional halfway point for Appalachian Trail thru hikers, it was the site of one of the most important events in 19th century American history. In the fall of 1859, the abolitionist John Brown and 22 of his compatriots attacked the federal arsenal there, hoping to spark an insurrection against slavery in the American South on the eve of the Civil War. On today's episode, historian Jonathan Earle of Louisiana State University explores Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry and the landscape hikers now pass through today. Further Reading: AT hi...
2023-04-1813 minThe Green TunnelThe Call of the TrailThroughout its history, the Appalachian Trail has been a place many hikers go for peace, for inspiration, for community, for physical challenge, and in some cases, as a sort of personal spiritual journey. In our show today, we’re taking a close look at the history of these inner motivations to hike.
2023-04-0420 minThe Green TunnelIconic Locations: Center Point KnobHave you ever wondered where the center point of the Appalachian Trail is? If you guessed Center Point Knob, Pennsylvania you would be wrong. But it was the location of an infamous crime. Well sort of.
2023-03-2108 minThe Green TunnelFinding Virginia’s Lost AT with Dakota Jackson and Mills KellyOn this special episode of The Green Tunnel, Dakota Jackson, Director of Visitor Experience at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, talks with Mills Kelly about his new book, Virginia's Lost Appalachian Trail. Dakota and Mills explore the process of digging up the story of Virginia's Lost AT in the archives, and in the memories of the people who remember it. We hope you enjoy this deeper dive into the history of the old section of the trail, and learn a little about how historians recover and interpret the past. Don't forget to listen to "The Lost AT." ht...
2023-03-0732 minThe Green TunnelThe Lost ATToday, we’re going to tell you a story from the earliest days of the Appalachian Trail, a time when trail scouts were still trying to find a complete route north or south through what was sometimes unmapped wilderness. It’s a story about a 300-mile-long section of the Appalachian Trail you almost certainly have never heard of.
2023-02-2134 minThe Green TunnelIconic Locations: Damascus, VirginiaToday we're exploring one of the more famous trail towns along the Appalachian Trail, Damascus, Virginia.
2023-02-0710 minThe Green TunnelNative PersistenceHikers don’t often realize they’re passing through the traditional homelands of many Indigenous nations. In today’s episode, we’re focusing on some of the Indigenous lands the Appalachian Trail runs through as a way of helping to recover at least some of the Indigenous history along the trail’s route.
2023-01-2426 minThe Green TunnelIconic Locations: Roller CoasterToday, we explore one of the most infamous sections of the Appalachian Trail. Get ready for the ups and downs of Northern Virginia's Roller Coaster.
2022-12-1308 minThe Green TunnelCrappalachian TrailToday, we’re going to be talking about something everybody does, but not everybody’s comfortable discussing. There’s no nice way to say this, other than to just get right to it. Today’s episode is about pooping along the Appalachian Trail. And yes, even that has a history.
2022-11-2930 min
The Green TunnelIconic Locations: Monson, MaineThe AT originally ran right through Monson, Maine, fueling its economy, but when the trail was moved and things threatened to change, the community established itself as a hiker haven.
2022-11-1507 minThe Green TunnelUprootedToday we’re going to tell you the story of the people who lived in the Shenandoah mountains traversed by the Appalachian Trail before Shenandoah National Park.
2022-11-0129 minThe Green TunnelIconic Locations: Mount GreylockToday we’re taking you to the highest peak in Massachusetts, Mount Greylock which despite being very far from an ocean has an iconic lighthouse.
2022-10-1806 minThe Green TunnelGear UpRegardless of their background, their age, or how long they plan to be on the trail, gear is one topic that every hiker has in common with every other hiker. But the gear you see on the Appalachian Trail today is radically different from what hikers carried in the 1930s, the 1950s, or even the 1970s.
2022-10-0430 minThe Green TunnelSeason Two TrailerIn season two of The Green Tunnel, we have some fantastic new stories for you on the history of the Appalachian Trail. We’ve interviewed hikers in the wild, people who take care of the trail, historians, authors, and many others to bring you some new perspectives on America’s oldest and most iconic long-distance hiking trail.
2022-09-2001 min
The Green TunnelCraving CommunityThis episode of The Green Tunnel focuses on the rich culture surrounding places to eat along the Appalachian Trail and their connection to the economy within trail towns. It also contains some pretty good restaurant suggestions!
2022-08-1615 min
The Green TunnelMusic of the MountainsIn this special bonus episode of The Green Tunnel podcast, we sat down with The Green Tunnel’s own musicians to hear from them about their connections to the traditions and music of the Appalachian mountains.
2022-07-1925 min
The Green TunnelHiking McAfee Knob with Virginia Outdoor AdventuresIn this episode of The Green Tunnel, we present an episode of the Virginia Outdoor Adventures podcast hosted by Jessica Bowser. To learn more about this great show and for the latest episode, visit virginiaoutdooradventures.com. Often referred to as “one of the most spectacular hikes in the US,” McAfee Knob attracts hikers from across the world and is one of the most photographed spots on the entire Appalachian Trail. Former Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club President, Diana Christopulos, shares everything you need to know before hitting the trail in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, including where to gear up, what to do...
2022-06-2845 min
Consolation PrizeFinal Report TransmissionAfter two seasons, we have a lot to reflect on! We wanted you to hear the voices of the team, who have been working mostly behind the scenes for the past two seasons, and hear about their experiences working on Consolation Prize. Here, we have the honor to transmit to you our final report on our show about consuls. Show notes available at consolationprize.rrchnm.org.
2022-06-2329 min
Consolation PrizeTwelve Foreign MenIn our final episode of Consolation Prize, we return to 1844 Hawai'i, where we look at another case involving vice consul William Hooper. In his efforts to gain power for the United States, Hooper may have made the lives of actual Americans more difficult. Hear how Hooper got involved in a legal case about a sexual assault, to the detriment of the accused, but to the ultimate benefit of the United States. This episode was produced by Abby Mullen and Kris Stinson. Show notes available at consolationprize.rrchnm.org.
2022-05-3129 min
Consolation PrizeThe Consul and IIn this episode of Consolation Prize, we meet two Americans in 1860s Thailand. Reverend Dan Beach Bradley was a Christian missionary and a newspaper publisher, and Captain James Madison Hood was the US consul to the Kingdom of Siam. These two men could not be more different from one another, but they both craved power in their own ways. In their quest for political power and moral superiority, they got involved in an international diplomatic kerfuffle of epic proportions in the Kingdom of Siam. This episode was produced by Abby Mullen, Deepthi Murali, and Kris Stinson. Shownotes available...
2022-05-1725 min
Consolation PrizePacific Salmon RunIn this mini episode of Consolation Prize, we complete our tour of the world by going to the last continent where the United States had consuls: Australia. Alexander George Webster was a consul in Hobart, a port city on the island of Tasmania, but he also served on the Tasmanian Fisheries Commission, a group that was very concerned with making sure that Tasmanian rivers were stocked full of fish. In this episode, we see how Webster used his position as consul to move salmon halfway around the world, from the rivers of California to the rivers of Tasmania. ...
2022-05-1007 min
Consolation PrizeRemember the LusitaniaIn this episode of Consolation Prize, we investigate the role of consuls in dealing with wartime disasters and the toll they took on them. Consul Wesley Frost was stationed in Queenstown, Ireland during the early years of World War I. As part of his responsibilities, Frost assisted survivors from more than 80 German submarine attacks including the SS Lusitania, which at the time resulted in the greatest loss of civilian lives. Frost’s response to these attacks helped establish the processes the United States Department of State still uses today in crises involving civilians. Consolation Prize is hosted by Ab...
2022-04-1927 min
The Green TunnelHelloooo!In 1930 Eiler Larsen set out on what is the first recorded attempt of what we call an Appalachian Trail thru-hike. He didn't make it in one year. He got a little distracted. In the final episode of our first season, we're going to tell Larsen's story: how he was drawn to the AT, his message of happiness, and how he ended up being the official Greeter of Laguna Beach, California (which by the way, is approximately one Appalachian Trail away from Springer Mountain in Georgia). This episode was produced by Mills Kelly. The executive producer is Abby Mullen...
2022-04-0629 min
Consolation PrizeThe Art of DiplomacyIrena Wiley was a diplomat's wife. But she was also an artist who used her art to reflect the humanity of the many people she encountered all around the world. Bill Adair is an artist who purchased Wiley's pieces at a junk auction nearly 35 years after she died. This special episode of Consolation Prize is their story--how Wiley's work brought the humanity of devastated people to the fore, and how Bill's work has brought Wiley's work to the fore. Consolation Prize is a podcast of R2 Studios at George Mason University. This episode was produced by Abby Mullen...
2022-03-2941 min
The Green TunnelIconic Locations: Oglethorpe MonumentThe original southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail was at the summit of Mount Oglethorpe in Georgia. But that changed in 1958 when the Appalachian Trail Conservancy agreed to move the terminus to Springer Mountain because of...(wait for it)...chickens. Really. Chickens. The Green Tunnel is a production of R2 Studios at George Mason University. It is hosted by Mills Kelly. This episode was edited by Jeanette Patrick.
2022-03-2407 min
Consolation PrizeStates of ConfusionWe explore the long and complicated relationship between the United States and the Papal States, the political-religious home of the Roman Catholic Church. The Papal States were ruled by the Pope from his seat in the Vatican until the city fell in 1870 and became the capital of a new nation called "Italy." In this episode, we follow the careers of consuls William Stillman and Edwin Cushman who served in the 1860s. Stillman and Cushman had the hard task of representing the United States during an era of intense conflict for both their home nation and the location of their consulate...
2022-03-0838 min
The Green TunnelGive Me ShelterWhen you are hiking on the Appalachian Trail and it starts raining, it’s nice to know that somewhere up ahead there is a cozy shelter you can duck into. Luckily, there are more than 250 trailside shelters on the AT. Some of them almost 100 years old, and have just as much history as the trail itself. This episode examines the history of those shelters and the hiker hostels along the trail that have become much more than just cover from the rain. They've become a place for community along the trail. This episode was produced by Hayley Madl. It...
2022-03-0434 min
The Green TunnelIconic Locations: Mount WashingtonToday's Iconic Location takes us up north to the Presidentials in New Hampshire, to the summit of Mount Washington. Known for the most terrible weather in the United States, hikers and cars alike make the trek to be able to say "I climbed Mount Washington," but what is its history on the Appalachian Trail? Listen to find out. Show notes, including a full transcript, available at greentunnel.rrchnm.org.
2022-02-2408 min
Consolation PrizeViews and Re-ViewsIn this episode of Consolation Prize, we are exploring a consul’s involvement in a coup and a revolution. When the United States decided to construct a canal in Panama, the president of Nicaragua José Zelaya became upset. He believed the canal would be in his nation. Once it was clear it would not be, Zelaya began to turn his country away from the US. In response, the United States engineered a rebellion against Zelaya, and a president more favorable to American aims was installed. Not all Nicaraguans were happy with the new US-backed government and some rebelled. President Adolfo Día...
2022-02-1535 min
The Green TunnelLeave Only FootprintsAre hikers loving the Appalachian Trail to death? In this episode of The Green Tunnel, we examine the history of hiker trash - as in actual trash - on the trail. We’ll look at a moment when the trashing of the trail got so bad that the trail clubs almost did something radical, something that would have changed the hiker experience forever. And we examine the many ways that community organizations have tackled the persistent problems of overuse, vandalism, and litter on the trail. The Green Tunnel is a production of R2 Studios at George Mason University. It...
2022-02-0933 min
The Green TunnelIconic Locations: Maryland's Washington MonumentThis iconic location on the Appalachian Trail is the very first monument in the country to George Washington. It also made a cameo in the Civil War, and now it makes a great place for birdwatching. Learn more about Maryland's Washington Monument in today's episode! The Green Tunnel is a podcast of R2 Studios at George Mason University. It's hosted by Mills Kelly and produced by Abby Mullen. Show notes, including a full transcript, at greentunnel.rrchnm.org.
2022-02-0206 min
The Green TunnelTrail FoodTrail food: it’s kind of weird. Think about it. When else do you eat freeze-dried lasagna? Or several protein bars…in one day? Probably not often. How did trail food become what it is now? And what did hikers do before the wonders of backpacker meals? In this episode of The Green Tunnel, we look back at 100 years of trail food history to understand what hikers ate then and the changes that impacted the food hikers took out on trail over time. The Green Tunnel is a production of R2 Studios at George Mason University. It's hosted by M...
2022-01-1933 min
Consolation PrizeWhat Is a Consul, Anyway? (re-release)In this special bonus episode, we talk with a scholar who studies the history of the US consular service. We answer your questions like, What is a consul? What do they do? What makes them so interesting? Why should we care about consuls?
2022-01-1453 min
Consolation PrizeYeah, That Poinsett (re-release)In this bonus holiday episode, a re-release from 2020, we explore the consular life of Joel Roberts Poinsett, everyone’s favorite holiday historical figure. Before he went to Mexico, where he “discovered” the flower that now bears his name, Poinsett went all over the world, including to South American as a consul. While he was there, he got involved in quite a lot of activities that didn’t really fit the consular program.
2021-12-2214 min
Consolation PrizeHawaii 4-3Consolation Prize is going true crime! In today's episode, we're going to hear about a murder case that a consul had to do some investigation of. William Hooper had to piece together what happened in the death of Jephtha Jenney, on board the whaleship Nassau in the Pacific Ocean. In his role as consul in Honolulu, Hawaii, Hooper was charged with dealing with crime committed by Americans--and this was a particularly gruesome one. Listen to the story as told through the materials he collected. Find show notes, including full transcripts, at consolationprize.rrchnm.org. Consolation Prize...
2021-12-1433 min
The Green TunnelDanger!Bears, lightning, and Lyme...oh my! Natural danger on the Appalachian Trail is a real concern for hikers, but how much should hikers really be concerned about snakes, bears, lightning strikes, and ticks? In this episode of the Green Tunnel Podcast, we'll hear from several experts about how hikers approached these dangers in the past, and what they recommend for hikers today. Show notes at greentunnel.rrchnm.org/episode-4-danger, including full transcript, guest bios, and more resources. Support the work of The Green Tunnel and R2 Studios by becoming a member. Find out how at...
2021-12-0830 min
The Green TunnelIconic Locations: The Lemon SqueezerIn this Iconic Location episode, we've got a tight squeeze for you: the Lemon Squeezer. Learn about this claustrophia-inducing spot in the oldest section of the AT. Show notes at greentunnel.rrchnm.org. The Green Tunnel is a production of R2 Studios (r2studios.org). Support us by becoming a member!
2021-12-0105 min
Consolation PrizeBeyond the Consul: MontereyToday we’re going to a domestic destination–but it wasn’t always domestic. The history of Monterey goes back hundreds of years, and it shows how empires and commerce come together in one prime location. We talk to Aaron Gilmartin, a guide at Monterey State Historic Park, who told us about Monterey and how Thomas Larkin fit into its history. Show notes, including a full transcript, at consolationprize.rrchnm.org. Visit Monterey State Historic Park as well: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=575.
2021-11-1824 min
The Green TunnelChangemakersThis episode of The Green Tunnel shares the story of three changemakers who combined led, and continue to lead, the trail through its 100 years of history. From the earliest days with Jean Stephenson, legal battles with Ruth Blackburn, to a new future with Sandi Marra, these leaders of the Appalachian Trail project have proven themselves pivotal in its history. Show notes, including a full transcript, available at greentunnel.rrchnm.org.
2021-11-1736 min
Consolation PrizeCalifornia DreamingAs Americans moved into California, the U.S. government wanted to provide them with an official representative. But the government also wanted California for the United States. So when Thomas Larkin was appointed as consul to Monterey, Alta California, he had the job of keeping the peace with Mexico---while other Americans tried to make war. But Larkin also wanted to bring California into the United States. He became a consul who literally worked himself out of a job, when California became part of the United States in 1847. Show notes, including a full transcript, available at consolationprize.rrchnm.org.
2021-11-1643 min
The Green TunnelIconic Locations: McAfee KnobIntroducing Iconic Locations, a bonus series of short segments featuring iconic locations of the Appalachian Trail that will air in between regular Green Tunnel episodes. To kick things off, we’re starting with what is probably the most photographed location along the trail: McAfee Knob. And we’ll tell the story of the nine years when the AT was kicked off the Knob.
2021-11-0806 min
Consolation PrizeBeyond the Consul: TahitiIn our first Beyond the Consul episode, we're talking to Patty O'Brien about Tahiti. We talk about the power structures present in Tahiti when Europeans come in, how gender plays a role in Tahiti's history, and why we shouldn't really call Tahiti a "paradise," with all its connotations. Plus we think together about how our sources color the story we tell. Show notes, including a full transcript, at consolationprize.rrchnm.org.
2021-10-2824 min
The Green TunnelWhat Came BeforeIn this episode of The Green Tunnel we tell the story of the settler communities that existed along the route of the Appalachian Trail before the AT arrived. We've chosen three examples of those communities, each of which helps tell the story of life in the Appalachian mountains before Benton MacKaye dreamed up the AT in 1921. One community was home to people recently emancipated from enslavement, another was a thriving coal mining and railroad town until the mines played out, and the people of the third community had to rally their friends and neighbors to try to find a little...
2021-10-2743 min
Consolation PrizeTroublemakers in TahitiWhen the United States began to establish official commercial relations with Tahiti, the government and the sailors who visited there thought that the U.S. consuls would be able to help them get the most out of their visit. But instead, the first two U.S. consuls destroyed the reputation of the United States and actively sabotaged their changes of good relations with the sovereign Tahitian government. Either actively or passively, they helped the French take over Tahiti in 1842 and made Tahiti a much less friendly place for Americans. Full show notes, including a full transcript, available at...
2021-10-2635 min
The Green TunnelFounding the TrailBenton MacKaye dreamed up the Appalachian Trail, and Myron Avery turned that dream into a 2,000-mile trail. Their competing visions of what kind of trail the AT should be continue to be at the heart of discussions about the trail today. Should it be a true wilderness experience? Or should it be easily accessible to as many people as possible? In this episode, we tell the story of MacKaye’s and Avery’s roles in making the trail what it is today, and why their differing visions for the trail permanently fractured their relationship. Full transcript and show note...
2021-10-0633 min
Consolation PrizeSeason 2 Trailer: What is Manifest Destiny?Manifest Destiny is a term you hear a lot when you're learning about the history of the United States in the nineteenth century. But what is it, really? Several experts weigh in. You'll hear from Steve Inskeep, Matthew Raffety, Amy Greenberg, Gene Allen Smith, and Brian Rouleau--and then you'll hear a lot more from us on this season of Consolation Prize, where our first several shows will be dedicated to the consuls who went forth during the era of Manifest Destiny.
2021-09-2805 min
Consolation PrizeNews update: R2 Studios!We're under "new" management! Not really, we're just joining a new division of the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media, R2 Studios.
2021-09-1503 min
Consolation PrizeSummer Episode: Against the GrainIn this second installment of our summer series on food and consuls, we shift our gaze to look at food ways from the bottom-up. Producers Deepthi Murali and Kris Stinson sit down with team member Megan Brett and executive producer Abby Mullen to taste such dishes as Boko-Boko, black bread, buttered shark, and mesquite beans! Together, we discuss the drastically different ways food is experienced depending on who and where you are as well as the many ways food and drink have changed over the last several hundred years. Show notes, including a full transcript, at consolationprize.rrchnm...
2021-09-1426 min
The Green TunnelThe Green Tunnel: TrailerWelcome to The Green Tunnel, a podcast about the history of the Appalachian Trail. From R2 Studios, a division of the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media, we're bringing you the history of the most iconic long-distance hiking trail in the United States. Listen now and follow us wherever you get your podcasts!
2021-09-1301 min
Consolation PrizeSummer Episode: Cuisine, Consumption, and ConsulsIn this bonus episode, we look back on the stories from season one with an eye for food. Alongside a cast of guest taste-testers, producers Deepthi Murali and Kris Stinson both try and discuss many of the dishes and drinks that have appeared in the accounts of consuls from places like Jerusalem, Algiers, Martinique, and Canton. Together, they explore the many ways that food has been a powerful force in the history of consuls, belonging, and empire! Show notes and a full transcript available at consolationprize.rrchnm.org.
2021-08-1724 min
Consolation PrizeEpisode 12: Unrecognizable CitizensWe've been to Mexico a few times this season, but we promised in the first episode that we'd return one last time, to talk about the relationship between Black Americans and the consuls in Mexico. So that's where we're closing out Season 1. In this episode, we're taking the perspective of the Black Americans who had to deal with consuls in the midst of incredibly difficult circumstances. We'll tell the story of Lucien Matthews, a free Black man who did business in Mexico before the Civil War, and the story of William Ellis, whose colonization scheme for Black Americans in the 1890...
2021-05-1137 min
Consolation PrizeEpisode 11: Greener PasturesIn Episode 11, we explore the complicated, and sometimes tragic, life of Richard Greener, the first Black consul to a predominantly white post. Before Greener went to Vladivostok, he was a trailblazer in education and politics, but questions about his race and his motivations followed him throughout his political life.
2021-04-2030 min
Consolation PrizeBonus Episode: Interview with Maura HartyIn this bonus episode, we learn about the much more recent history of women in the consular service, as Abby interviews Maura Harty, a career Foreign Service officer who concluded her career at the State Department in the role of Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs. Shownotes at consolationprize.rrchnm.org.
2021-04-0632 min
Consolation PrizeEpisode 10: Worthy of NoticeIn today’s episode, we take a look at some people connected to the consular service who are worthy of notice: the women. We’re telling the story of three women, whose stories range from the very conventional to the very unconventional (at least by the standards of the time). Each of these women contributed something significant to the history of the U.S. consular service, and each deserves to have her story told. Producers Deepthi Murali, Megan Brett, and Brenna Reilley bring us their stories, just in time to close out Women’s History Month. Showno...
2021-03-3038 min
Consolation PrizeEpisode 9: Victims of IndependenceJames Leander Cathcart and Richard O'Brien were uniquely suited to their jobs, from one point of view: they had spent a lot of time in the region they were consuls to--as captives of the ruler during the previous decade. Their struggles to do their jobs in the Barbary states was complicated by their inability to get along with each other, and in the end they couldn't accomplish the mission they'd been charged with: to make peace without payment with the Barbary states. Shownotes are at consolationprize.rrchnm.org.
2021-03-0940 min
Consolation PrizeEpisode 8: Eden to AshesIn this episode, we venture into the tragic story of the 1902 volcanic eruption of Mount Pelée on the island of Martinique. Consul, Thomas Prentis and his family were among the 30,000 victims of this natural disaster. We will discuss the eruption itself, and the diplomatic consequences for Martinique. Show notes are at https://consolationprize.rrchnm.org/2021/02/11/episode-8-eden-to-ashes/.
2021-02-1637 min
Consolation PrizeEpisode 7: Selah in JerusalemWe go to Jerusalem to find out more about Selah Merrill, the longest-serving consul there before 1948. Despite his desire to be in Jerusalem, Merrill didn't like the city or the people he encountered. He positively hated Jews; he disdained the American tourists; and he picked fights with the American colonists. So why did he stay?
2021-01-2635 min
Consolation PrizeBonus Mini-Episode 1: Yeah, That PoinsettIn this bonus holiday episode, we explore the consular life of Joel Roberts Poinsett, everyone's favorite holiday historical figure. Before he went to Mexico, where he "discovered" the flower that now bears his name, Poinsett went all over the world, including to South American as a consul. While he was there, he got involved in quite a lot of activities that didn't really fit the consular program.
2020-12-2113 min
Consolation PrizeEpisode 6: Making a Good First EmpressionWithin a year of the end of the American Revolution, the United States sent a ship to China, where the government hoped Americans could start a robust (and lucrative) trade. Samuel Shaw was the supercargo on that first voyage of the Empress of China. On his next voyage to Canton, he went as the U.S. consul, charged with helping the United States gain a foothold in the China trade. On behalf of the United States, he had to make a good impression---all the while knowing that the United States might not make such a good trading partner. ...
2020-12-1529 min
Consolation PrizeEpisode 5: Uncertain Waters in ZanzibarIn this episode, we learn about Richard Waters. Waters served as the first consul from the United States to Zanzibar because the burgeoning trade of Salem merchants required some official oversight, but in order to be successful, he had to learn to navigate the world of Indian Ocean trade.
2020-11-2432 min
Consolation PrizeEpisode 4B: A Webb of Connections, Part 2In this episode we continue our story of Mohammed Alexander Russell Webb from his decision to resign as an American consul to his inauguration as an honorary consul-general for the Ottoman Empire! We continue to wrestle with the intersection of politics and religion in Webb's career and the ways in which his legacy remains with us today, even if Webb himself faded from the American scene in the early twentieth century.
2020-11-0430 min
Consolation PrizeEpisode 4A: A Webb of Connections, Part 1In this episode we meet Alexander Russell Webb, U.S. consul to Manila in the Philippines turned Muslim missionary to America. We will wrestle with the tension in Webb's life between his identity as an American and as a new convert to Islam. This episode explores the ways in which Webb tried to balance his political and religious commitments until he began to suspect they might be pulling in opposite directions.
2020-11-0325 min
Consolation PrizeEpisode 3: Havana Hard Time as ConsulIn this episode, we travel to Havana, Cuba to meet the consul Nicholas Trist, as he struggles between the dilemma of morals and money. We will explore the role of Cuba and the consul in the slave trade. We dive deep into the story of ship deserters, flag foolery, and international crime! Show notes at consolationprize.rrchnm.org.
2020-10-1353 min
Consolation PrizeBonus Episode 1: What is a consul, anyway?In this bonus episode, we delve into questions like "What is a consul?" "How do you get a job as a consul?" and other things. Listen to this if you feel adrift when listening to our regular episodes!
2020-10-0754 min
Consolation PrizeEpisode 2: An Impressive Consul in LiverpoolIn this episode, we meet Liverpool consul James Maury, whose job included helping American sailors who had been shipwrecked, were out of work--or were kidnapped by the British navy! But how did he (and other officials) know who really was an American? Shownotes for this episode at https://consolationprize.rrchnm.org/.
2020-09-2228 min
Consolation PrizeEpisode 1: Burroughing into MexicoIn this episode, we travel to Vera Cruz, Mexico, to learn about how American consuls helped American businessmen assert their rights in contradiction of Mexican law. You can read more and find the transcript at https://consolationprize.rrchnm.org/blog/.
2020-09-0121 min
2020-08-0604 min
Digital CampusEpisode #118 – Predicting the Past – 2015 Year in ReviewIn the 2015 installment of the Digital Campus Year in Review podcast, regulars Dan Cohen, Amanda French, Tom Scheinfeldt, and Stephen Robertson look back at 2015 and predict the big news of 2016. Cheers went out to the NEH/Mellon Humanities Open Book Program, Congress (c.1965), the retirement of James Billington as Librarian of Congress, and the US Court of Appeals decision in favor of Google Books. Eliciting jeers were the Ad-blocker controversy, the behavior of Proquest (with Amanda dissenting), and the news that Jennifer Howard has left the higher education beat.
Much of what the group predicted for 2015 came to pas...
2015-12-1900 minDigital CampusEpisode #117 — What Can You Do With iPads & Smartphones?Dan’s visit to the Apple Store prompts a discussion of the new iPad Pro, and just what you can and can’t do on Apple’s tablet. Are we all just too old to give up our laptops for tablets? The New York Times and Google recently teamed up to deliver another way to use your smartphone – for virtual reality, via Google Cardboard. Is this the beginning of an expansion of VR? Or is it just the View-Master of Mills’ and Stephen’s youth reborn? Finally, we discussed the recent study of media use by tweens and teens by Common Sense...
2015-11-1900 minDigital CampusEpisode #116 — The Last Episode Ever About that Google Books Case (or is it?)Great timing for us, as we record the podcast on the very day the US Appeals Court rules that yes, scanning in-copyright books for the purpose of creating an online index of them is indeed a transformative and therefore fair use. Huzzah! The way is clear for all kinds of things now. We also talk about a new digital humanities / libraries tool called BigDIVA that launched today, discussing mainly its plan to become a subscription-based paid service. That leads into a brief digression on the recent patent win by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation against Apple, which could potentially...
2015-10-2000 minDigital CampusEpisode #115 – The Mills is in Basel EditionThe regulars (Stephen, Tom, Amanda, and Dan) are back for a new semester and a new season of Digital Campus in which we wave to Mills as he jaunts about Europe. We also talk about some of the summer and early autumn’s big news, including the NEH ODH’s project directors meeting, the 50th anniversary of the NEH, Librarian of Congress James Billington’s retirement, and the George Mason University History Department’s new digital dissertation guidelines. Other mentions include:
– UConn historical musical instruments project
– John Donne’s 1622 sermon for Gunpowder Day: Virtual Paul’s Cross Project
2015-10-0600 minDigital CampusEpisode #114 – What to do with your (digital) scholarshipOn this episode — #114, not #115 as Stephen mistakenly claims in the introduction — the full crew of regulars, Dan Cohen, Amanda French, Stephen Robertson and Tom Scheinfeldt discuss the MLA’s new repository, the AHA’s draft guidelines for assessing digital scholarship, and the tenth anniversary of YouTube. But first Dan talked about his visit to the White House, and Amanda described her new job as Director of Research and Informatics for the Virginia Tech Libraries. And Mills needed to know, did Dan wear an Apple watch to meet the President?
Related Links:
Open e-books initiative (or Dan goes t...
2015-05-1100 minDigital CampusEpisode #113–You Can’t Trust Everything on the WebOn this episode of Digital Campus, host Mills Kelly, along with Dan Cohen, Amanda French, and Stephen Robertson discuss the role of technology in the classroom and some of history’s most teachable moments courtesy of the US Postal Service.
To begin, everyone weighs in on the Maya Angelou stamp controversy and whether or not quotation inaccuracies are getting worse because of the internet. Then the crew discusses a recent survey by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which found that only 20% of college and university professors have used “high-tech teaching methods.” Dan argues that the majority of professor...
2015-04-1300 minDigital CampusEpisode #112 – Digital Campus ClassicAlong with Dan Cohen and Tom Scheinfeldt, Mills Kelly hosted this classic episode of Digital Campus devoted entirely to technology. Mills, Dan, and Tom discussed the demise of Internet Explorer and IE’s replacement, Spartan, which is meant to complement and facilitate Microsoft’s new operating system. Then the discussion moved to the Apple watch and how such a technology might be adapted for higher education. In continuing with the Apple theme, Mills, Dan, and Tom then talked about the new MacBook that is going to have only one port. Mills reminded the listeners that Steve Jobs is in fact de...
2015-03-2300 minDigital CampusPodcast #111 – The Next Big ThingAfter a long break, our podcast regulars, Stephen Robertson and Mills Kelly, were led by Amanda French in our first 2015 podcast. After a quick check-in on their current projects, the group kicked it off with a review of the winter academic conferences. Next, they discussed the announcement that Stanford University Press was awarded funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for the publishing of interactive scholarly works. On the subject of digital scholarship, Amanda mentioned the Humanities Open Book project which was recently funded by both the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Mellon Foundation. Shifting the...
2015-02-2300 minDigital CampusEpisode #110 – 2014 in Review‘Twas the last podcast of 2014 and on this episode of Digital Campus, Amanda, Tom, Dan, and Stephen discussed their “Cheers and Jeers” for the year (with RRCHNM Digital History Fellow Amanda Regan filling in for Mills). MLA, IMLS, FCC, and the lack of a government shutdown won the praise of the group, but Twitter could not stand up to the pressures of 2014.
After describing the good and the bad of the year, the group discussed their predictions from 2013. While Mills’s prediction that an Amazon drone would be shot out of the sky in Texas did not come true...
2014-12-1900 minDigital CampusEpisode #109 – What Do Fabio and Naked Laptops Have in Common?This Digital Campus episode was recorded live by Chris Preperato during Friday’s second afternoon session of the RRCHNM’s 20th Anniversary Conference and was produced by Anne Ladyem McDivitt and Alyssa Toby Fahringer. Mills Kelly, Stephen Robertson, and Tom Scheinfeldt joined host Dan Cohen to recap the earlier sessions of the day, including discussions on failure, ECHO, History Makers, pedagogy, and digital humanities centers’ websites. The floor was opened for a question and answer session, and audience participants and those on Twitter asked about Tom’s laptop’s dearth of stickers, how to convey scholarship to a broad audience, and...
2014-11-1800 min