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We were all taught he’s the kite-flying genius, the face of the $100 bill, and the daddy of Philadelphia. But beneath the powdered wig and the statesman’s veneer was a man who lived a life so messy it would get his ass canceled today.
Today, we’re stripping away the "American Hero" and airing out the Founding Father’s filthiest laundry. We’re talking about everything from his early days pretending to be a sassy old woman to troll his own brother, to his obnoxious ego and the literal skeletons discovered in his basement. Come for the realization that Franklin may not have even wanted the Revolution, and stay for his astonishing advice on why you should have affairs with older women.
Crocker, S. (2023, January 23). The troubled history of Benjamin Franklin. Grunge. https://www.grunge.com/234353/the-troubled-history-of-benjamin-franklin/
Franklin Institute. (n.d.). Did Ben Franklin invent daylight saving time? https://fi.edu/en/science-and-education/benjamin-franklin/daylight-savings-time
Isaacson, W. (2003, July 31). Benjamin Franklin joins the revolution. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/benjamin-franklin-joins-the-revolution-87199988/
Massachusetts Historical Society. (n.d.). Silence Dogood: Benjamin Franklin in The New-England Courant. https://www.masshist.org/online/silence_dogood/essay.php?entry_id=203
McBroom, P. (1996, May 1). Benjamin Franklin's dark side is exposed in new book by UC Berkeley historian. UC Berkeley News. https://newsarchive.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/96legacy/releases.96/14364.html
Muse, T. (2023, January 28). Did Benjamin Franklin have syphilis? History Oasis. https://www.historyoasis.com/post/benjamin-franklin-syphilis
Schultz, C., & Wexler, E. (2024, August 2). Why were there so many skeletons hidden in Benjamin Franklin's basement? Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-were-there-so-many-skeletons-hidden-in-benjamin-franklin-basement-524521/
Franklin, B. (1722, May 21–28). Silence Dogood essay 5. The New-England Courant (No. 43). Massachusetts Historical Society. https://www.masshist.org/database/viewer.php?ft=Silence%20Dogood&item_id=640&pid=6
Franklin, B. (1722, July 2–9). Silence Dogood essay 8. The New-England Courant (No. 49). Massachusetts Historical Society. https://www.masshist.org/database/viewer.php?ft=Silence%20Dogood&item_id=646&pid=6
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Advice to a Friend on Choosing a Mistress. Retrieved March 8, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advice_to_a_Friend_on_Choosing_a_Mistress
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Benjamin Franklin. Retrieved March 8, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Deborah Read. Retrieved March 8, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deborah_Read
Wikipedia. (n.d.). A Letter to a Royal Academy. Retrieved March 8, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Letter_to_a_Royal_Academy
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Titan Leeds. Retrieved March 8, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_Leeds
Grunge. (2024, May 11). The truth about Benjamin Franklin's relationship with his wife [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONv1_BQTd6c
By /ˈno͞oˌänst/ (Nuanced) PodcastWe were all taught he’s the kite-flying genius, the face of the $100 bill, and the daddy of Philadelphia. But beneath the powdered wig and the statesman’s veneer was a man who lived a life so messy it would get his ass canceled today.
Today, we’re stripping away the "American Hero" and airing out the Founding Father’s filthiest laundry. We’re talking about everything from his early days pretending to be a sassy old woman to troll his own brother, to his obnoxious ego and the literal skeletons discovered in his basement. Come for the realization that Franklin may not have even wanted the Revolution, and stay for his astonishing advice on why you should have affairs with older women.
Crocker, S. (2023, January 23). The troubled history of Benjamin Franklin. Grunge. https://www.grunge.com/234353/the-troubled-history-of-benjamin-franklin/
Franklin Institute. (n.d.). Did Ben Franklin invent daylight saving time? https://fi.edu/en/science-and-education/benjamin-franklin/daylight-savings-time
Isaacson, W. (2003, July 31). Benjamin Franklin joins the revolution. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/benjamin-franklin-joins-the-revolution-87199988/
Massachusetts Historical Society. (n.d.). Silence Dogood: Benjamin Franklin in The New-England Courant. https://www.masshist.org/online/silence_dogood/essay.php?entry_id=203
McBroom, P. (1996, May 1). Benjamin Franklin's dark side is exposed in new book by UC Berkeley historian. UC Berkeley News. https://newsarchive.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/96legacy/releases.96/14364.html
Muse, T. (2023, January 28). Did Benjamin Franklin have syphilis? History Oasis. https://www.historyoasis.com/post/benjamin-franklin-syphilis
Schultz, C., & Wexler, E. (2024, August 2). Why were there so many skeletons hidden in Benjamin Franklin's basement? Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-were-there-so-many-skeletons-hidden-in-benjamin-franklin-basement-524521/
Franklin, B. (1722, May 21–28). Silence Dogood essay 5. The New-England Courant (No. 43). Massachusetts Historical Society. https://www.masshist.org/database/viewer.php?ft=Silence%20Dogood&item_id=640&pid=6
Franklin, B. (1722, July 2–9). Silence Dogood essay 8. The New-England Courant (No. 49). Massachusetts Historical Society. https://www.masshist.org/database/viewer.php?ft=Silence%20Dogood&item_id=646&pid=6
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Advice to a Friend on Choosing a Mistress. Retrieved March 8, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advice_to_a_Friend_on_Choosing_a_Mistress
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Benjamin Franklin. Retrieved March 8, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Deborah Read. Retrieved March 8, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deborah_Read
Wikipedia. (n.d.). A Letter to a Royal Academy. Retrieved March 8, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Letter_to_a_Royal_Academy
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Titan Leeds. Retrieved March 8, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_Leeds
Grunge. (2024, May 11). The truth about Benjamin Franklin's relationship with his wife [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONv1_BQTd6c