American Carnage

A podcast about the history of political violence in the United States, launching with a five-part series on the radical abolitionist John Brown. "My new favorite history podcast, a wonderful mixture of dramatic narrative and searching analysis." — Jeet Heer, national political correspondent for The Nation Episode 5 coming soon.

Episodes

John Brown's Christmas Raid

May 26, 2024 • 39 mins

What was going through Brown's head at Harpers Ferry? The story of his remarkably successful raid into Missouri gives us clues. The second of a two-part bonus series about Brown's final days in Kansas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Bleeding Kansas' Deadliest Day

May 26, 2024 • 35 mins

In May 1858, a proslavery gang massacred 11 unarmed Free Staters in eastern Kansas. The incident sparked outrage, and led John Brown to embark one of his most daring exploits. The first of a two-part bonus series about John Brown's final months in Kansas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Ep 5: A great white light

March 12, 2024 • 67 mins

What was it, exactly, about John Brown's raid at Harpers Ferry that contributed to the abolition of slavery? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Ep 4: No ghost of a distinction

February 27, 2024 • 65 mins

John Brown envisioned a mass slave uprising. So where were they? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Ep 3: The stifled wails of widows

January 8, 2024 • 57 mins

As John Brown and his men swing their steel broadswords on a moon-lit night, we look at the fierce debate among historians over whether even the most righteous forms of political violence can be justified. [Subscribers can get EARLY ACCESS to Episode Four, "No Ghost of a Distinction" by throwing $3 our way at American Carnage on Patreon.] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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TRAILER | Episode 4: No ghost of a distinction

January 8, 2024 • 2 mins

John Brown envisioned a mass slave insurrection. So where were they?[Subscribers can get EARLY ACCESS to this full episode by throwing $3 our way at American Carnage on Patreon.] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Ep 1: Pierced with the iron

December 28, 2023 • 56 mins

What would you have been willing to do to free the slaves if you woke up tomorrow in early 19th Century America? Host and co-writer Jeff Stein is the White House economics reporter for The Washington Post.Co-writer Rowley Amato is an editor in New York City. Sophia Kurzius is our producer.Theme music by Ned Porter. “John Brown’s Body” performed by Stephen Griffith.Artwork by Elena Lacey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit meg...

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Ep 2: Standing on a volcano

December 28, 2023 • 45 mins

[Audio quality tends to be better on head phones; apologies for any imperfections]In a fight to the death on the cold, harsh Kansas prairie, John Brown finds himself at odds with his fellow antislavery settlers.Quick correction: We refer in this episode to the Ruffian leader as "Benjamin Frank Stringfellow." It is in fact Benjamin Franklin Stringfellow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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American Carnage

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}John Brown's Christmas Raid

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}Bleeding Kansas' Deadliest Day

Ep 5: A great white light

Ep 4: No ghost of a distinction

Ep 3: The stifled wails of widows

TRAILER | Episode 4: No ghost of a distinction

Ep 1: Pierced with the iron

Ep 2: Standing on a volcano

Popular Podcasts

John Brown's Christmas Raid

Bleeding Kansas' Deadliest Day