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PODCAST

Plodding Through The Presidents

Howard & Jessica Dorre

Join history blogger Howard Dorre and his wife Jessica Dorre for a deep irreverent dive into lesser-known stories of the early American presidents. They dig into the myths, mysteries, scandals, and drama of the founders and their families, with a dash of marital banter. Best History Podcast, Discover Pods Awards, 2025.

history improv

All Episodes

49:13

Parson Weems & The Cherry Tree

Plodding Through The Presidents ·

2025/03/18

In the first part of our deep dive into one of the greatest myths in American history, we explore Mason Locke Weems—the complex character behind the story of young George Washington taking a hatchet to his father's favorite cherry tree. Who was this book-peddling parson, and how did this story become so popular and so debunked?You'll definitely want to hear our next episode, too, where we talk with two men seeking to turn everything you know about this myth on its head. Find out more at

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30:53

The Return of Billy Possum

Plodding Through The Presidents ·

2025/03/04

20 years after William Howard Taft’s famous possum and taters feast inspired the failed Billy Possum toy, a real live Billy Possum wandered into the annals of presidential—and baseball—history. This is his story.Check out our Season 4 episode "The Rise and Fall of Billy Possum" and Howard’s just-published article in Smithsonian Magazine about Billy Possum at

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39:06

The Great Presidential Pot Hoax

Plodding Through The Presidents ·

2025/02/17

We kick off Season 6 with a deep dank dive into a hoax about the early presidents and cannabis that fooled a Surgeon General in 1971 and is still claiming victims today. It’s the straight dope on the relationship between hemp and presidents like George Washington, John Adams, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln.Find out more at plodpod.com Join our Patreon community at https://www.patreon.com/ploddingthroughthepresidents Check out our merch at

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1:20

Season 6 Trailer

Plodding Through The Presidents ·

2025/02/12

Season 6 premieres this Presidents Day, and it's focused on some of the biggest and weirdest myths in presidential history. From cherry trees to bath tubs, we're digging into the drama, personalities, and real stories behind these legends.Find out more at plodpod.com Consider joining our Patreon community at https://www.patreon.com/ploddingthroughthepresidents Check out our merch at https://www.teepublic.com/stores/plodding-through-the-presidents?ref_id=24294 Learn more about your ad choices

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46:30

Presenting Historical Blindness: The Illuminati in...

Plodding Through The Presidents ·

2025/01/31

During our hiatus ahead of Season 6, we're excited to share this fascinating episode of a podcast called Historical Blindness. In this episode, host Nathanial Lloyd digs into the conspiracy theories surrounding the Illuminati in America, including the role they played in the Election of 1800 between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.Check out Historical Blindness at https://www.historicalblindness.com/ - including his latest on the legends surrounding Abraham Lincoln! Find out more at

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61:35

Presenting Presidencies of the United States - The...

Plodding Through The Presidents ·

2025/01/17

While we’re on hiatus before Season 6 debuts, we’re excited to share this episode of Presidencies of the United States, an excellent podcast hosted by our good friend Jerry Landry. Howard is Jerry’s guest on this special episode where they talked about one of Howard's favorite topics: the wild Election of 1800.Check out Presidencies of the United States at https://www.presidenciespodcast.com/ For information on how you can help folks affected by the California wildfires, check out

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12:17

Jimmy Carter and the Swamp Rabbit

Plodding Through The Presidents ·

2024/12/30

Remembering 39th President Jimmy Carter, we share the quirky story of Carter's encounter with a distressed swamp rabbit while fishing in Georgia—and how it turned into front page news. This was originally part of our Season 3 episode "Cara Finnegan & Photographic Presidents." Find out more at plodpod.com Behold our brand new 2025 Presidential Pets wall calendar at

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52:30

Attack on Christmas Pies with Bennett Rea

Plodding Through The Presidents ·

2024/12/24

We're joined by Bennett Rea of Cookin' with Congress to talk about his historical culinary adventures and our team-up to recreate a massive Yorkshire Christmas pie like the ones George Washington unsuccessfully attacked each year at Mount Vernon. You can find Cookin' with Congress at https://www.cookinwithcongress.com/ and on Instagram & TikTok @cookinwithcongress — check out the Christmas pie! Behold our brand new 2025 Presidential Pets wall calendar at

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27:45

Rebecca the Disgraceful Raccoon

Plodding Through The Presidents ·

2024/12/18

We look at the wild life of Rebecca, President Coolidge's pet raccoon. She was sent to the Coolidges to be part of their Thanksgiving dinner, but Calvin and Grace instead fell in love with the critter—and the press couldn't get enough of Rebecca's scandalous behavior. Our thanks to veterinarian Dr. Jake Levin for his insights on raccoon as pets. Check out Rebecca and many more furry friends in our 2025 Presidential Pets wall calendar at

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36:26

James Monroe and the Tongs of Fire

Plodding Through The Presidents ·

2024/12/04

We plunge into the personalities behind a showdown between President James Monroe and his strong-willed Secretary of the Treasury William H. Crawford, in a moment that truly captures the end of the Era of Good Feelings. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/PLODDING and get on your way to being your best self. Find out more at plodpod.com Consider joining our Patreon community at https://www.patreon.com/ploddingthroughthepresidents Check out

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66:08

Friendsgiving Spectacular 2024

Plodding Through The Presidents ·

2024/11/18

Howard joins Kenny Ryan from [Abridged] Presidential Histories, Alycia from Civics & Coffee, and Jerry Landry from Presidencies of the United States for a conversation covering everything from their favorite lesser-known historical figures and the role of historians in the future to who would be the killer in an Agatha Christie-style murder mystery where all the presidents are suspects.This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/PLODDING and get on

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39:49

George Washington's Incompetence with James Early

Plodding Through The Presidents ·

2024/11/05

We're joined by James Early, host of the hit podcast Key Battles of American History, for a look at the devastating military failure of young George Washington and the qualities that later made him so successful in the military and politics.This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/PLODDING and get on your way to being your best self. Find out more at plodpod.com Check out James Early's podcast Key Battles of American History at

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28:02

Presenting: Country Over Self

Plodding Through The Presidents ·

2024/11/01

We're sharing the first episode of a new podcast we think you'll enjoy. It's called "Country Over Self: Defining Moments in American History."In each episode of this miniseries, host Matt Blumberg interviews a different presidential historian about a pivotal moment when a president chose to put their country ahead of their party and themselves. In this episode, Matt talks with Julian Zelizer about the 36th President, Lyndon B. Johnson, and how Johnson used his detailed knowledge of the legislative

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56:34

The Last Check on Democracy with Savannah Eccles...

Plodding Through The Presidents ·

2024/10/22

We’re joined by Savannah Eccles Johnston (savypolitics on Instagram and cohost of the new podcast This Constitution) to talk about the formation of the American presidency, checks and balances, and the death of institutions at the hands of partisanship. First we take a look at what the American presidency might have looked like, if Alexander Hamilton got his way. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/PLODDING and get on your way to being your

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44:39

The Thing in the White House - Southern Gothic

Plodding Through The Presidents ·

2024/10/08

We're excited to share an episode of the Southern Gothic podcast coproduced by Howard, who also pops up as a guest commentator. This is the story of "The Thing," a supernatural entity who reportedly terrorized the White House staff in 1911, and the key players involved: chief of staff Archibald Butt, President William Howard Taft, and lady's maid Florence Marsh—the only person to have actually seen the ghost. Southern Gothic host Brandon Schexnayder takes us on a journey through this haunting and

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46:50

Murder & The Masons

Plodding Through The Presidents ·

2024/09/24

We dig into the history of the Freemasons, focusing on the disappearance and alleged murder of William Morgan, the mysterious man who wrote a book exposing their secrets in 1826. The conspiracy to protect those involved and the intense public backlash led to the first third party in America, the Anti-Masonic Party. Though short-lived, they managed to rack up a few electoral votes in the Election of 1832 with William Wirt as their reluctant presidential nominee. It's a tale of two Williams, one

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43:52

Living Constitutionally with A.J. Jacobs

Plodding Through The Presidents ·

2024/09/10

We welcome author and human guinea pig A.J. Jacobs to chat about his new book The Year of Living Constitutionally: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution's Original Meaning. For a year he tried to put himself in the shoes—and tricorn hat—of the founders, and he shares what he learned from an absurd and enlightening immersion into the document that defines our nation.NEW: Please send us your Local Lore — hometown histories, interesting historical markers, and weird local claims to fame

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52:03

John Adams Under Fire with Lindsay Chervinsky

Plodding Through The Presidents ·

2024/08/27

First, we talk about how a day of fasting and prayer in 1798 turned into a night of fear and flying "cockades." Then we’re joined by presidential historian Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky, author of the new book Making The Presidency: John Adams and the Precedents That Forged The Republic, for an insightful conversation about how President John Adams was a much savvier politician than he gets credit for—especially considering he was surrounded by saboteurs and jerkfaces. NEW: Please send us your Local Lore

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39:26

Thomas Jefferson's Beloved Dick

Plodding Through The Presidents ·

2024/08/13

We explore Thomas Jefferson's love of mockingbirds, especially his favorite pet mockingbird, Dick. We also look at what this tells us about Jefferson's personality and why mockingbirds are anything but innocent. NEW: Please send us your Local Lore — hometown histories, interesting historical markers, and weird local claims to fame! Send them to ploddingthrough@gmail.com and we might feature them in an upcoming series! Find out more at plodpod.com Consider joining our Patreon family at

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50:40

Andrew Jackson's True Role in the Trail of Tears

Plodding Through The Presidents ·

2024/07/30

Andrew Jackson’s legacy is forever tied to the Trail of Tears, but what role did he actually play in the controversial Indian Removal Act of 1830 and the atrocities that followed? We look at how much blame Jackson deserves by evaluating 7 of the most common points used to defend him—including the ideas that Indian removal was popular and inevitable, and that Jackson had the best interests of Native Americans at heart.Find out more at plodpod.com Consider joining our Patreon family at

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98 results

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