After a few lengthy podcasts, we wanted to do a US History Quickie!

In this podcast we meet the man behind the signature!

You may have had someone ask for your "John Hancock", which is a direct reference to the man with the largest signature on The Declaration of Independence. In this podcast we get to know who he is, how he came into prominence, and of course, how he came to be one of the signors of one of the greatest break up letters of all time!

There is always more to learn,

Jimmy & Jean

On this episode we are joined by Anna Danzinger-Halperin, Director of the Center for Women's History at New York Historical, and Tessa Bangs, Mellon Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow in Women's History and Public History. NY Historical has a new exhibition titled,  "Revolutionary Women." Our conversation explores women's experiences during the Revolutionary War era, examining how different women's lives varied based on their social status, ethnicity, and location. 

There is an upcoming exhibit at the NY Historical which covers five historical figures and runs from May 29th  - October 25, 2026. We have the link in our show notes below. 

There is always more to learn!

Jimmy & Jean

Revolutionary Women | The New York Historical 

NY Historical is full of incredible exhibits and often runs a variety of lectures. For additional resources on teaching this topic we highly recommend their resources below:

The American Revolution - Women & the American Story 

This podcast focuses on one of the more difficult people to understanmd in US History, Benedict Arnold. 

Benedict Arnold was one of George Washington's most trusted Generals before he chose to defect to the British side. We are joined by Author Stephen Brumwell, Author of Turncoat: Benedict Arnold and the Crisis of American Liberty. 

We get into the Why, How, and Who influenced his decision to become the person most synonymous with TREASON and betrayal in the history of The United States. 

There is always more to learn!

Jimmy & Jean

Link to Turncoat and Stephen Brumwell's website:

Amazon.com: Turncoat: Benedict Arnold and the Crisis of American Liberty: 9780300210996: Brumwell, Stephen: Books

This podcast continues our celebrating America 250!

In this episode of US History Repeated, Jeananne is joined by Michael Hensinger, Senior Manager of K-12 Education at the Museum of The American Revolution in Philadelphia.

We take you inside the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia—one of the premier destinations for understanding the origins, impact, and the legacy of the American Revolution.

Through immersive exhibits, powerful storytelling, and rare artifacts, the museum brings the Revolutionary era to life.

There is always more to learn!

Jimmy & Jean

We encourage you to visit their website, amrevmuseum.org and the additional resources located on their website:

This is part two of our podcast on The First Ladies of the United States (FLOTUS) We waited for March to release these in Women's History Month

In part two, we will cover the First Ladies from 1900 to 2026.

We are again joined by Andrew Och, known as The First Ladies Man for our special two-part series on The First Ladies. Andrew Och was a producer of First Ladies: Influence and Image on C-SPAN. He has traveled the country researching the lives and legacies of these extraordinary women - from Martha Washington to Melania Trump. He is the author of two books on The First Ladies. Unusual for Their Time: On the Road With America's First Ladies Volumes 1 and 2. On this episode, Andrew shares the stories, leadership and lasting impact of the women who have served as First Lady of The United States of America. His books are available for purchase through his website and on Amazon. 

The First Ladies Man

There is always more to learn!

Jimmy & Jean

In honor of Women's History Month, we wanted to do a little something with our First Ladies, the wives of our Presidents.

In part one, we will cover:

Martha Washington

Abigail Adams

Dolly Madison

Luisa Adams

Abagail Fillmore

Mary Todd Lincoln

Frances Cleveland

We are joined by Andrew Och, known as The First Ladies Man for a special two-part series on The First Ladies. Andrew Och was a producer of First Ladies: Influence and Image on C-SPAN. He has traveled the country researching the lives and legacies of these extraordinary women - from Martha Washington to Melania Trump. He is the author of two books on The First Ladies. Unusual for Their Time: On the Road With America's First Ladies Volumes 1 and 2. On this episode, Andrew shares the stories, leadership and lasting impact of the women who have served as First Lady of The United States of America. His books are available for purchase through his website and on Amazon. 

The First Ladies Man

There is always more to learn!

Jimmy & Jean

This podcast is part of our America 250 highlights and takea a deeper dive into Thomas Jefferson. 

While we did do a podcast on his presidency, this episode focuses on his life, influences, the Declaration of Indelendence, and his Monticello estate. 

We are joined by Steve Light, the Vice President for Education and guest experience at Monticello.

There are some links below to take a look at after the podcast if you wish to learn more about Monticello.

There is always more to learn!

Talk to you soon,

Jimmy & Jean

Monticello.org offers an incredible variety of resources for students, educators, and lifelong learners. From virtual programming and book discussions to classroom materials and immersive field trip opportunities, their work brings Jefferson’s world and the broader story of early America to life in meaningful ways.

We highly recommend exploring the links below and taking time to dive into all they offer. And if you ever have the opportunity to visit Monticello in person, it is truly a must-see. I recently had the opportunity to visit Monticello. Walking the grounds, taking in the breathtaking views, and hearing the powerful, moving stories of all who lived and labored there creates a profound experience. There is something deeply intimate about stepping inside someone’s home — you leave with a richer, more nuanced understanding of who Jefferson was and the complex legacy he left behind.

If you value thoughtful, honest history and educational outreach, please consider making a donation to support Monticello’s ongoing mission.

Monticello | Declaration Book Club

Monticello | School Field Trips 

In this episode of US History Repeated, we continue our discussion with Pulitzer Prize–winning author David Garrow and just what Dr King's rise to national prominence cost him—and what his unfinished work still asks of us.

In Part Two, of our discussion, we explore how the public perception of King changed as his message grew more challenging, why his outspoken opposition to the Vietnam War cost him political allies, and how his vision expanded to include economic justice through the Poor People’s Campaign. We’ll also confront the final days of his life and his assassination.

Our thanks to historian and Pulitzer Prize–winning author David Garrow for helping us bring depth, nuance, and historical clarity to this conversation. 

There is always more to learn!

Jimmy & Jean

In this episode of US History Repeated, we’ve traced the early life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—from the influences that shaped him, to the emergence of his leadership, and through the pivotal campaigns that helped bring about the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. These victories are often remembered as moments of triumph, but they were also the beginning of a far more complicated chapter in King’s life and in the nation’s story.

There was a lot to cover and we decided to break this one into two parts.

In Part Two, we’ll step into that complexity. We’ll explore how the public perception of King changed as his message grew more challenging, why his outspoken opposition to the Vietnam War cost him political allies, and how his vision expanded to include economic justice through the Poor People’s Campaign. We’ll also confront the final days of his life and his assassination.

Our thanks to historian and Pulitzer Prize–winning author David Garrow for helping us bring depth, nuance, and historical clarity to this conversation. If today’s episode showed how Dr. King rose to national prominence, the next will ask what it cost him—and what his unfinished work still asks of us.

There is always more to learn!

Jimmy & Jean

Tghis episode is about the history of the US Capitol Building, and is part of our #US250 podcast specials. 

Jeananne interviews Steve Livengood, Chief Guide & Historian at the US Capitol Historical Society. 

We provide great detail on the design, building, rebuilding, and how it operates from its beginnings to this very day.

The US Capitol Building is the home of the legislative branch, was once the home of The US Supreme Court and has been the backdrop of some of the most important discussions and debates over issues that have shaped our nation. 

As promised, here are some of the links we mention in this podcast: