Let's Be Frank

With the new ways Dr. Franklin has come to engage with his public in his modern almanack, we're taking the opportunity to go back and revisit the first two seasons with our new video format. Catch video episodes of Season One on primary source media's YouTube channel, and circle back to our beginnings over a year ago in new and exciting ways.

The first installment in a four-part series exploring some of the philosophy that built the Declaration of Independence

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With the new ways Dr. Franklin has come to engage with his public in his modern almanack, we're taking the opportunity to go back and revisit the first two seasons with our new video format. Catch video episodes of Season One on primary source media's YouTube channel, and circle back to our beginnings over a year ago in new and exciting ways.

https://www.youtube.com/@primarysourcemedia

An exploration of the history of the Society of the Cincinnati, Honor and how we wear our virtue.

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With the new ways Dr. Franklin has come to engage with his public in his modern almanack, we're taking the opportunity to go back and revisit the first two seasons with our new video format. Catch video episodes of Season One on primary source media's YouTube channel, and circle back to our beginnings over a year ago in new and exciting ways.

https://www.youtube.com/@primarysourcemedia

A story of a bird, a bolt of inspiration and how we represent ourselves in the world.

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With the new ways Dr. Franklin has come to engage with his public in his modern almanack, we're taking the opportunity to go back and revisit the first two seasons with our new video format. Catch video episodes of Season One on primary source media's YouTube channel, and circle back to our beginnings over a year ago in new and exciting ways.

https://www.youtube.com/@primarysourcemedia

Episode 01: An exploration of Franklin's first published work, piracy, journeys and the sea.

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The Season Finale celebrates the 272nd anniversary of Franklin's famous Kite experiment.

Featuring the two primary sources surrounding the electrifying event, as well as the wit and wisdom you love so much from your favorite fake-founding father.

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Is there a roadmap to moral perfection? Can someone develop the formula to becoming a better person? Dr. Franklin certainly tried. This week, the Doctor discusses his plan for moral perfection and the habits he adopted to avoid falling into old habits, and make goodness a habit in, and of, itself.

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On this special episode of Let's Be Frank, the Doctor leads a moment of silence in honor of Memorial Day. He also shares some updates about a very special school visit, and teases next week's episode.

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Everyone's favorite fake founding father is back with special guest Laurel Rockall, co-host of the Hightailing through history podcast, to talk about the gin epidemic of 1740's London.

Hightailing through History features two sisters who, with libation and recreational flair, surprise each other with a story from history's vault of the weird and the wonderful! Covering topics all around the world and all through time that you won't find in your history books.

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On Part Two of the Season's lead up to the infamous kite experiment, the Doctor talks about when he first became involved in studying electricity. Through three primary sources, he shares some early observations, innovations and inventions, like the lightning rod.

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Under the shadow of the proposed Tik Tok Ban, Dr. Franklin discusses the 1774 Congressional Ban on Theatre and his 1789 "Account of the Supremest Court of Adjudicator in Pennsylvania, viz. The Court of the Press."

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Joining Dr. Franklin is clothing historian and period tailor Michael McCarty. Together, they talk about fashion in the 18th century, the clothing industry from fiber to fashion, and the role clothing plays in how we express ourselves. 

Michael McCarty is a clothing historian and trained historical tailor. He studied under Mark Hutter in a seven year apprenticeship at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. While mostly focusing on the 18th century early 19th century he has re-created clothing from the fifth century BCE to the 20th century CE using the appropriate technology of each era. His work has b...

Join the two Doctors to discuss Botany, and prolific Gardner John Bartram and his impact on early American horticulture.

Dr. Austin Menzmer recently graduated from the University of Georgia with a doctoral degree in Plant Biology. He hopes to use his skills as a college professor, spreading curiosity and awe of the natural world to his students. When not at work, he loves to spend time with his wife and visit history museums.

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Part One of this Season's Theme: Snatching Lightning, exploring Franklin's famous kite experiment. In this installment, Dr. Franklin shares some of the earliest experiments with electricity; from Thales the Miletian and the origins of the word to Browne's Pseudodoxica Epidemica.

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As we turn our eyes upwards to the imminent solar eclipse, Dr. Franklin sits down with historian and amateur astronomer Robert Weathers to talk about the history of astronomy in the 18th century, and it's ties to morality and virtue.

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Where does the holiday of April Fool's Day even come from? What what does it have to do with Daylight Saving's Time?

Join Dr. Franklin this week for an episode speculating into the origins of the foolish holiday, and for a reading of a satirical essay which would become reality a hundred years later.

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Dr. Franklin makes his return after a long hiatus on this short episode about the tale tale of female, revolutionary icon Sybill Luddington. The Doctor will also discuss the prolific career of his sister in law, Ann Smith Franklin and her place in history for her contributions to early American journalism.

This season, Let's Be Frank is adding video to our format! Check us out on Youtube and enjoy your favorite, fake founding father in new and exciting ways!

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Dr. Franklin brings two primary sources to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, wrapping up Season Two of your Favorite Fake Founding Father's Podcast

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The fourth and final installment of the road that brings us to the Boston Tea Party. Stay tuned for the Season Finale where we explore that revolutionary event with primary sources on the 250th anniversary of it occurring.

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A heady discussion about God, Nature, Good and Evil taken from a paper written from a teenage Benjamin Franklin that he would one day regret. 

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What's the deal with the bodies found in Ben Franklin's basement? This week the Doctor is setting the record straight on this episode about soured friendships, medicine and grave-robbing.

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Part Three of this Season's central story features three primary sources featuring John Hancock, John Adams and Paul Revere and explores the aftermath of the Boston Massacre, the Townshend Revenue Acts and sets the stage for part four and our season finale, just a few weeks away!

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Part two of Dr. Franklin's interview with historic silversmith, Megan Cantwell about how she examines history through the practical application of 18th century trades.

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Part one of Dr. Franklin's interview with historic silversmith, Megan Cantwell about how she examines history through the practical application of 18th century trades.

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This week the Doctor discusses an account of a witch trial that unsettled a small hamlet in New Jersey in 1730, and the greater topic of trying to eliminate what we fear or don't understand.

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The second episode in our lead up to the Boston Tea Party is filled with rage, violence and bloodshed as the Doctor uncovers five years of tumult in Massachusetts, between the protests that destroyed the governor's mansion to the Boston Massacre in 1770. 

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Part Two of Dr. Franklin's conversation with Dr. Abigail Fine about Fairy tales; from their literary roots in 17th century France to how they are used in the modern world to lift up new voices and perspectives with fresh takes on classic tales.

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This week Dr. Franklin sits down with Dr. Abigail Fine for part one of an interview about Fairy Tales, from their origins in the 17th century to the modern world. 

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Join Dr. Franklin as he asks: What makes someone a great storyteller on this episode about fables, their lessons and the mythicization of America.

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When did you first leave home in pursuit of another? This week's episode brings to life the story of Dr. Franklin's first, long journey into Philadelphia and draws parallels, 300 years in the making, to our world today.

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Part one of a four-part installment discussing the Boston Tea Party.

Dr. Franklin sets the stage for the Boston Tea Party by sharing three primary sources about the American Colonies reaction to the Stamp Act

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This week's episode teaches the do's and don'ts of making yourself an agreeable companion as Dr. Franklin explores his essays On Conversation and Rules for Making Oneself a Disagreeable Companion.

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Let's Be Frank returns for its second Season!

Episode 17 features the Speech of Miss Polly Baker, who was taken to court for having a child out of wedlock. With echoes rippling from the past to the present, come sit a spell and indulge your curiosity with your new favorite Founding Father.

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A dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence in honor of the 4th of July

Full Text of the Declaration can be found here:

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The fourth and final installment in our series exploring some of the philosophy that built the Declaration of Independence. Today's episode is an exploration of John Locke's Second Treatise of Government and Natural Liberty.

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A conversation with Jamestown Rediscovery's Mark Summers about Bacon's Rebellion and the brutal, bloody and muddy history that made king's sweat and subjects question. 

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A conversation with Nicole Brown, historian and museum educator, about the Bray School, slavery and the legacy of Juneteenth.

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The third installment in a four-part series exploring some of the philosophy that built the Declaration of Independence. Today's episode is an exploration of 

Montesquieu's Spirit of Laws and how it helped shape the political structure of the United States.

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An episode about coffeehouses and their role in crafting the culture of the Enlightenment.

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A conversation with Colonel Alex Morse about Theatre in the 18th Century; how it defied norms and shaped the destiny of nations.

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The second installment exploring the philosophy that built the American Declaration of Independence. Today's episode tackles Emer de Vattel's Law of Nations and how it helped shape the political identity of the United States.

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