America's First Ladies

This week we'll learn about Dolley's teenage years in Philadelphia, her first marriage to John Todd, Jr., and the aftermath of the 1793 yellow fever epidemic. Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-4-2/ Music by Matt Dull

Welcome to Season 4! We're covering Dolley and James Madison this season, and today we cover Dolley's family history and early life in North Carolina and Virginia. List of reference books available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/season-4/ Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-4-1/ Music by Matt Dull

Part 2 of our supplemental series on the Constitution. There were too many amendments to put them in the same episode as the main body of the document. Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/season-3-supplemental-b/ Music by Matthew Dull

The one where I read the Constitution of the United States of America to you. If nothing else, you can listen to it when you can't sleep! Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/season-3-supplemental-a/ Music by Matthew Dull

This week we wrap up Martha Patsy Jefferson Randolph with a gallop through the final 18 years of her life. Transcript and the final portrait painted of Martha available at  americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-3-7/ Music by Matthew Dull

This week we cover Thomas Jefferson's presidency and Patsy/Martha's admittedly minor role in it. Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-3-6/ Music by Matthew Dull

This week, the Jefferson family returns to America, and Patsy almost immediately decides to marry and start having children. Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-3-5/ Music by Matthew Dull

This week we travel from Philadelphia to Boston, and then on to Paris. Thomas and Patsy spent about five years in Paris, leaving just as the French Revolution was getting underway in 1789. Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-3-4/  Music by Matthew Dull 

We'll make it to the end of the Revolutionary War this week, but Patty Jefferson doesn't live to see the end. Thomas Jefferson serves two terms as Virginia governor during the war, and the Jefferson family has to evade the British army after they invade Virginia. Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-3-3/  Music by Matthew Dull

This week we cover the majority of Patty and Thomas Jefferson's marriage, which happens to overlap with some signficant moments in the American Revolution, including the Declaration of Independence, which Thomas Jefferson wrote. Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-3-2/ Music by Matthew Dull

We kick off season 3 with background information on Martha "Patty" Wayles and her future second husband, Thomas Jefferson. Transcript and background materials available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-3-1/  Links to the books I used this season and some photos of the two Marthas at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/season-3/ Music by Matthew Dull

Before we kick off season 3, I want to read you the Declaration of Independence, which Thomas Jefferson wrote, and John Adams played such a large role in getting approved by Congress. I'm willing to bet you've never read it in full, so it's worth a listen! Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/season-2-supplemental/ Music by Matthew Dull

We wrap up Abigail Adams's season with the final year of her husband's presidency and the years they spent post-presidency, finally getting to enjoy a private retirement. Programming note: we'll take a couple of weeks off to let listeners catch up. New episodes will resume on January 16, 2026. Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-2-13/ Links to books for Season 2 americas...

This week covers John Adams's sole term as President, and Abigail's four years as First Lady. Transcript available at  americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-2-12/ Music by Matthew Dull 

This week we cover the rest of Abigail's tenure as the Vice President's wife, and the election of 1796, which results in John Adams being elected President. Transcript available at  americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-2-11/ Music by Matthew Dull

Abigail and John wrap up their time in London, return home to the United States, and settle into a normal life back in Massachusetts. And then John is elected as the first Vice President of the United States, forcing Abigail into public life in a new way. Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-2-10/ Music by Matthew Dull

From 1785-1788, the three Adamses lived in London. Nabby got married while there, and Abigail and John became grandparents for the first time. Transcript and further information available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-2-9/ Music by Matthew Dull

Abigail, Nabby, and John spent one year living in Paris. It was quite the adjustment for Abigail. Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-2-8/ Music by Matthew Dull

John is in the Netherlands, John Quincy is in Russia, Charles sails home to America by himself, and then Abigail and Nabby leave Boston to join John in Europe when the war finally ends. This family gets around! Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-2-7/ Music by Matthew Dull

This episode finds Abigail and John living in separate countries, on separate continents, for the majority of 1778-1781. Find out how Abigail puts her entrepreneurial spirit to work. Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-2-6/ Music by Matthew Dull

This week Abigail continues to struggle with running the farm in John's absence while he continues to live and work in Philadelphia. Note: this episode contains a somewhat harrowing description of a stillbirth.  Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/2-5/ Music by Matthew Dull

Note: when this episode went live on 10/24/25, there was a glitch that resulted in two sentences missing at around the 3:30 mark. A new version was uploaded on 10/30/25 with the correct version of the episode. This week covers the pivotal year of 1776. Abigail writes her most famous letter to John, asking Congress to "Remember the Ladies" when drafting the new laws for the new country. Transcript...

This week, the events leading to the Revolutionary War heat up. John spends his time traveling back and forth between home in Massachusetts and the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. The first shots of the war are fired in Lexington and Concord, and Abigail starts to develop her keen sense of political and social commentary. Transcript and further reading available at americasfirstladiespodcast...

We cover 10 years in this episode, from Abigail and John's marriage in 1764 through the turbulent decade leading up to the Revolutionary War, and right up until John gets ready to leave for the Continental Congress in September 1774. Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/2-2/ Music by Matthew Dull

Welcome to Season 2 of the show! We kick off this season with Abigail Adams's early years, when she was still Abigail Smith. We cover her childhood in Massachusetts, her courtship by John Adams, and their marriage. Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/2-1/ Links to the books I read for this season and a photo of young Abigail at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/season-2/ Music by M...