In the aftermath of Bunker Hill, both Britain and the Continental Congress took decisive steps that pushed the colonies closer to a complete break with the mother country. Meanwhile, American forces under Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold launched a daring invasion of Canada, only to suffer a devastating defeat before the walls of Quebec. As the northern campaign collapsed amid disease, hunger, and retreat, George Washington searched for a way to break the British hold on Boston. The answer came in the form of Henry Knox's remarkable "Noble Train of Artillery," which allowed the Americans to fortify Dorchester Heights and force the British evacuation of the city. Join James and Audrey as they discuss these exciting Revolutionary War events of late 1775 and early 1776.

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In this episode, James and Audrey follow the American Revolution from the meeting of the Second Continental Congress to the bloody Battle of Bunker Hill. We explore the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, the growing siege of Boston, and the desperate struggle on Breed's Hill that proved colonial militiamen could stand against Britain's professional army. We also examine the staggering cost of Britain's victory and the profound impact the battle had on both sides of the conflict. Finally, we trace the creation of the Continental Army and the appointment of George Washington as commander-in-chief, setting the stage for the war's next chapter.

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What was life really like for the men who fought in the Revolutionary War? In this episode, James and Audrey step away from the battlefield narrative to explore the everyday experiences of British redcoats, Patriots, Loyalists, Hessians, Native Americans, and Black Americans who served in the war. From enlistment and training to uniforms, weapons, food, discipline, and camp life, they examine the realities of eighteenth-century military service. Along the way, they separate myth from fact and reveal the human stories behind the armies that fought for the future of North America.

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In this episode, James and Audrey follow the mounting crisis in Massachusetts as General Thomas Gage attempts to crush growing colonial resistance. James and Audrey trace the dramatic events of April 18–19, 1775, from Paul Revere’s famous ride to the first shots fired at Lexington Green and the fierce fighting at Concord’s North Bridge. Your hosts also recount the brutal British retreat back to Boston, as thousands of Patriot militiamen attacked the exhausted redcoats along the road. By the end of the day, the political conflict between Britain and its colonies had exploded into open war — the beginning of the American Revolution itself.

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In this premiere episode of The Revolutionary War, James Early and cohost Audrey Rogers explore the roots of the American Revolution, from the founding of Britain’s North American colonies to the growing tensions between Parliament and the colonies after the French and Indian War. The episode examines how new British taxes, including the Sugar Act and Stamp Act, sparked fierce resistance and ignited the debate over “taxation without representation.” James and Audrey also trace the escalating conflict through the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, and the harsh Intolerable Acts imposed by Parliament. By the end of 1774, both Britain and the colonies were moving steadily toward a confrontation that would soon erupt into open war.

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During the American Civil War, around 100,000 southern Unionists served in the Union Army, with every southern state except South Carolina raising official organizations of white troops.In this episode. In addition, many thousands of southern civilians remained loyal to the Union. In this episode, frequent cohost Sean McIver returns to join James in discussing the fascinating story of southerners who remained loyal to the Union during the Civil War.

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In this episode, James interviews noted author, podcaster, and history professor Greg Jackson about his recently released book Been There, Done That. In this excellent book, Jackson points out that our nation’s past is full of massive upheaval, disagreement, and departures from the moral high ground. The political gentlemanly conduct of yesteryear is no more than a myth. But that reality never allowed our worst historical selves to defeat our better angels. Jackson looks back in time to eight examples from our nation’s history and shows that some of the hottest issues of our day are, in fact, American traditions that stand firmly beside another deeply American trait: the will to push back on these demons, prevail, and overcome.

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In this episode, James interviews retired U. S. Navy Admiral William Fallon, former commander of U. S. Central Command (CENTCOM), about his recently published book Decisions, Discord, and Diplomacy: From Cairo to Kabul." In the interview, Fallon gives an overview of U. S. involvement in the Middle East from the 1980s to the present, including on his own involvement in actions that include the Lebanese Civil War, Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Provide Comfort, the 9/11 attacks on the U. S., and the subsequent U. S. wars against Iraq and Afghanistan. Fallon concludes with his own reflections on America's military campaigns in this volatile corner of the globe.

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In this episode, James welcomes back Dave Holland, a U. S. Marine veteran and independent scholar who has spent much of his life studying the Guadalcanal Campaign of the Second World War, including several years walking the battlefields themselves. In his new book Guadalcanal's Longest Fight, Dave provides in-depth accounts of the oft-forgotten but critical Battles of the Matanikau River, which together comprise the campaign's longest and bloodiest ground fight.

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In this episode, James interviews historian Edward Hagerty about his new book Soldier of the South: Lieutenant General Richard H. Anderson at War and Peace. Richard Anderson was one of the highest-ranking generals in the Confederate Army, but he is little known today. Despite this relative anonymity, Anderson's life and career are fascinating and merit a retelling. In this interview, Hagerty gives James a brief overview of Anderson's compelling story.

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