In this episode, Jake sits down with public historian EJ Murphy of the Destination Freedom Project at the Waverly Community House to talk about abolition, the Underground Railroad, and the way slavery's political shockwaves reached even the smallest Northern communities before the Civil War.

Jake and EJ dig into how Waverly became a key stop on a regional freedom network connecting places like Wilkes-Barre, Montrose, and the Southern Tier of New York. They also talk about the challenges of telling these stories with limited sources, what the Fugitive Slave Act changed on the ground, and why local history hits hardest when you realize it was never "just local."

Learn more about Waverly's Destination Freedom and plan a visit:

https://waverlywalkingtours.com/

This episode of Public History with Justin, Jake, and Molly explores:

• Waverly's role in the Underground Railroad in Northeastern Pennsylvania

• The Fugitive Slave Act and why it radicalized communities in the North

• A letter about organized resistance - and "pockets loaded with pistols"

• George Keys and the growth of Waverly's Black community

• Native American paths that shaped escape routes and regional geography

• Why visitors keep saying: "I grew up here…and I had no idea"

On the night of October 8, 1871, a wall of fire roared out of the Wisconsin woods and erased the town of Peshtigo in a matter of minutes. More than 1,200 people were killed, making it the deadliest wildfire in U.S. history - yet its story was overshadowed almost immediately by the Great Chicago Fire burning the same night.

In this episode, Jake takes listeners into the story of the disaster and its surprising legacy.

This episode of Public History with Justin, Jake, and Molly explores: • Jake's role as "Mr. Sadman" — and why grim stories matter • Civil War veterans who survived the battlefield only to face Peshtigo • Peshtigo as the "Sodom" of the Upper Midwest • The shockingly destructive power of fire and wind • How firestorms evolved into a weapon of modern war • What Peshtigo can teach us as urban wildfires again reshape American life

In this episode, we look ahead to America's 250th anniversary and ask what this milestone should mean in 2026 and beyond.

The conversation ranges from the messy, decade-long road to revolution to the very local ways towns like Frederick, Maryland, are already marking the moment with traditions like Repudiation Day. Along the way, the crew wrestles with how we remember the founding, who gets included in that story, and what it means to celebrate a past that was never as simple as the textbooks made it seem.

Jake Wynn, Justin Voithofer, and Molly Keilty dig into the Revolution as a civil war, the long shadow of alliances with powers like France, and the way Ken Burns' new documentary series could reshape what many Americans think they know about 1776. They also trace how the founding documents were built for change - and how modern politics has drifted from that idea.

This episode of Public History with Justin, Jake, and Molly explores:

• America 250 and why one big birthday isn't enough

• Repudiation Day in Frederick and Frederick, Maryland's colonial protest

• Molly's London fog and accidental Tory vibes ☕

• The Revolution as a civil war between neighbors

• George Washington: bad tactician, essential rebel-in-chief

• The Patriot, Heath Ledger, and Jake's historical movie watching habits

In this episode, we dive into Netflix's Death by Lightning, the gripping new series about President James Garfield's short presidency, his assassination, and the troubled mind of his killer, Charles Guiteau. Drawing from Candice Millard's acclaimed book Destiny of the Republic, the show brings to life an era of bare-knuckle politics, deep factionalism, and a presidency undone by one man's delusions.

Jake, Justin, and Molly unpack the series, the wild political landscape of the 1880s, and the strange cultural crosscurrents that shaped Garfield's world.

This episode of Public History with Justin, Jake, and Molly explores:

• Brains in jars
• Patronage politics, federal jobs, and the fight between reformers and Stalwarts
• Charles Guiteau's spiraling madness
• How Civil War medicine killed James Garfield
• Free love and the Oneida Community
• Nick Offerman playing presidents

In the 1950s, the once–thriving town of Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania was fading fast. Local newspaperman Joe Boyle was determined to revive it - and a chance meeting in 1953 with the widow of legendary athlete Jim Thorpe set off one of the strangest civic reinvention stories in American history.

This episode unpacks how Mauch Chunk became Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania - a story about boosterism, economic desperation, and a bizarre bid for survival.

This is the debut episode of our newly rebranded Public History with Justin, Jake, and Molly, and we're thrilled to welcome co-host Molly Keilty to the show.

In our new season, we're digging into the stories we love while taking a fresh look at how history is interpreted in museums, historic sites, and popular culture.

In this episode, we explore: • The rise and fall of Mauch Chunk • The shadow of the Molly Maguires • Jim Thorpe's extraordinary athletic career - and his childhood as a "hostage" of the U.S. government • 1950s publicity stunts like the Nickel-A-Week campaign • What it means for a town to take on someone else's name and legacy

In this episode of Public History with Jake and Justin, we're joined by Matt Maris, public historian and founder of Local Historia, a history-focused small business based in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.

Matt has built a reputation for creating immersive walking tours and community-based history programs that bring the past to life while strengthening local identity. Together, we talk about his deep love for Bellefonte's layered stories, how Local Historia began, and the ways that public history can serve as a tool for economic development in small towns across Pennsylvania and beyond.

This conversation explores how connecting people to their communities through walking tours and storytelling can foster pride, tourism, and revitalization. You'll hear how Matt uses local landmarks, hidden histories, and human stories to help residents and visitors alike see Bellefonte - and places like it - through fresh eyes.

In this episode of Public History with Jake and Justin, we talk with two dedicated public historians doing vital work at one of the Frederick, Maryland's most important historic sites.

We're joined by Amanda Venable, Museum Manager at Rose Hill Manor Park and Museums, and Kari Saavedra, Recreation Manager of Natural and Cultural Heritage for Frederick County Parks and Recreation.

Together, Amanda and Kari are reimagining what interpretation can look like at a site with layers of American history - from the legacy of Maryland's first elected governor, Thomas Johnson, to the lives of enslaved people, to the evolution of childhood and domestic life in the 18th and 19th centuries.

This conversation explores how public historians at the local level are navigating big questions around memory, inclusion, and place. You'll hear how Rose Hill is preparing for America's 250th anniversary in 2026, how their team is engaging with the community today, and why small museums like this one are essential to telling a fuller American story.

We also talk about the changing landscape of public history practice - what it means to tell difficult stories honestly, the responsibility we carry as interpreters of the past, and how quiet museum spaces can offer a powerful alternative to the noise of our present moment.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why Rose Hill is a site of layered historical memory

• The challenge (and opportunity) of interpreting the lives of enslaved people in places where white stories were once dominant in interpretation

• How a children's museum setting fosters intergenerational learning and connection

• The road to 2026: opportunities and concerns in commemorating America's 250th

• How Amanda and Kari bring passion, patience, and purpose to their roles every day

In this episode of Public History with Jake and Justin, we sit down with our friend and esteemed public historian, Codie Eash, Director of Education and Interpretation at the Seminary Ridge Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Codie's expertise in tackling the complexities of Civil War memory, race, religion, and the enduring significance of Gettysburg shines through in this lively conversation.

From the unique challenges of interpreting a site as iconic as Seminary Ridge to navigating deeply entrenched myths and modern debates about the Civil War, Codie shares fascinating insights from his years on the front lines of public history. Whether you're new to Gettysburg or a lifelong visitor, Codie's approach to storytelling will change the way you think about one of America's most storied battlefields.

We also dive into Codie's background as a one-time journalism major and how those skills influence his work as a public historian.

The conversation explores everything from dismantling Lost Cause propaganda to creating authentic connections with visitors in an era of polarized historical memory.

Along the way, we reflect on the broader responsibilities of public historians in bridging gaps of understanding, inspiring curiosity, and encouraging critical thinking.

In this episode we discuss:

The joys and headaches of working in a 193-year-old museum.

Why Seminary Ridge's cupola is Gettysburg's most iconic rooftop.

How Codie's journalism roots shaped his public history career.

The art of myth-busting and dealing with Civil War "whataboutism."

Tackling Lost Cause narratives with evidence and empathy.

How NASCAR road trips inspire top-tier history chats.

Our Postscripts for this episode

Justin - YouTube docs about the discovery of King Richard III's remains in the UK

Codie - Watching King in the Wilderness, a documentary about MLK in the last years of his life

Jake - Visiting Paris and discovering the story of the 1871 Paris Commune

On December 16, 1944, German military forces launched a surprise counter-offensive against the United States Army in the Ardennes Forest in Belgium. The attack, which penetrated deeply into American lines, became known to history as the Battle of the Bulge.

One of the American soldiers who faced this Nazi onslaught was a 20-year-old citizen-soldier from Pine Grove, Pennsylvania named Irvin Schwartz.

In this episode of the Public History podcast, we explore this soldier's experience as an anti-tank gunner during the Battle of the Bulge through the letters he wrote home about his experience in World War II.

This special episode for the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, the largest military engagement in American history, is based on the Letters from War series published here.

Read Schwartz's letter about the Battle of Dom Bütgenbach here

The podcast returns after an unintentionally long interlude!

In this episode of Public History with Jake and Justin, we talk with filmmaker Mark Frederick about his 2024 documentary, "Blair County - A People's History."

This feature-length documentary details the story of a Central Pennsylvania community against the backdrop of numerous dramatic moments from American history including the French and Indian War, the Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, and the Second World War.

In this episode we discuss:

The film and how it came about

Where you can watch the film

The process of making a documentary of this size and scope

How having friends who are living historians can pay off for a filmmaker

Mark's favorite and least favorite parts of the filmmaking process

Why Blair County is a community full of food and culinary history (YAY SHEETZ)

And in our Postscripts this week:

Justin - When the Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day by Garrett Graff

Mark - Film festival entries and moving forward

Jake - Say Nothing - a book and new Hulu miniseries about The Troubles in Northern Ireland