Drafting the Past

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Drafting the Past is a podcast devoted to the craft of writing history. Each episode features an interview with a historian about the joys and challenges of their work as a writer.

Recent Episodes
  • Episode 67: Stephanie Gorton Puts Authentic Interactions on the Page
    Jun 12, 2025 – 43:50
  • Episode 66: Padraic Scanlan Makes the Medicine Go Down
    May 30, 2025 – 59:12
  • Episode 65: Omar Valerio-Jiménez Puts in the Hours
    May 9, 2025 – 51:54
  • Episode 64: Emily Herring Listens For the Rhythm
    Apr 25, 2025 – 49:37
  • Episode 63: Surekha Davies Has No Lack of Deadlines
    Apr 11, 2025 – 53:44
  • Episode 62: Lyndal Roper Takes a Journey by Page and Pedal
    Mar 26, 2025 – 58:13
  • Episode 61: Judith Giesberg Resists Giving Readers What They Want
    Mar 11, 2025 – 52:08
  • Episode 60: Rebecca Brenner Graham Gives Us the Publicity Behind-the-Scenes
    Feb 25, 2025 – 39:08
  • Episode 59: Marlene Daut Returns to Storytelling
    Feb 11, 2025 – 42:41
  • Episode 58: James Tejani Aims for Smart, Elegant Simplicity
    Jan 28, 2025 – 51:41
  • Episode 57: Seth Rockman Vows This Time Will Be Difference
    Dec 3, 2024 – 01:04:11
  • Episode 56: James Chappel Tames the Waterfall of Detail
    Nov 19, 2024 – 43:51
  • Episode 55: Robin Bernstein and the Disco Ball of Integrity
    Nov 5, 2024 – 51:50
  • Episode 54: Prithi Kanakamedala Invites Us Into the Past
    Oct 22, 2024 – 51:53
  • Episode 53: Andrew Kahrl Embraces Relevance
    Oct 8, 2024 – 49:50
  • Episode 52: Helen Betya Rubinstein Coaches Historian-Writers
    Sep 24, 2024 – 57:02
  • Episode 51: Lindsay Chervinsky Loves That Writing Is Work
    Sep 10, 2024 – 51:27
  • Episode 50: Clara Bingham Lets Her Sources Speak For Themselves
    Aug 27, 2024 – 57:09
  • Episode 49: Robert Alpert, Merle Eisenberg, and Lee Mordechai Survive Writing a Book Together
    Aug 13, 2024 – 59:55
  • Episode 48: Neil J. Young Gives Us Characters
    Jul 30, 2024 – 54:05
  • BONUS: Historians at the Movies Episode 88: Twisters/The History of Storm Chasing with Kate Carpenter (Feed Drop)
    Jul 25, 2024 – 01:02:18
  • Episode 47: Kathleen Sheppard Learns to Use the Novelist's Tools
    Jul 16, 2024 – 51:45
  • Episode 46: Tore Olsson Writes for the Gamers (and All of Us)
    Jul 2, 2024 – 47:00
  • Episode 45: Jason Heppler Wants Tools That Fit His Questions
    Jun 18, 2024 – 49:23
  • Episode 44: Kellie Carter Jackson Puts Black People at the Center
    Jun 4, 2024 – 44:33
  • Episode 43: Margaret O'Mara Starts with the People
    Mar 26, 2024 – 01:02:12
  • Episode 42: Kimberly Harper Didn't Know She Could Be a Writer
    Mar 12, 2024 – 31:24
  • Episode 41: Nathan Perl-Rosenthal Doesn't Want to Let Go
    Feb 27, 2024 – 52:00
  • Episode 40: Grace Elizabeth Hale is Undisciplined
    Feb 13, 2024 – 59:49
  • Episode 39: Benjamin Park Stays Rooted
    Jan 30, 2024 – 42:28
  • Episode 38: The Best History Books You Read This Year
    Dec 19, 2023 – 17:15
  • Episode 37: Martha Hodes Delves Into Her Own Past
    Dec 5, 2023 – 50:09
  • Episode 36: Catherine McNeur Writes With Delight
    Nov 21, 2023 – 43:58
  • Episode 35: Tanisha C. Ford Builds the Story's Layers
    Nov 7, 2023 – 49:58
  • Episode 34: Bruce Dorsey Puts True Crime on Stage
    Oct 24, 2023 – 46:56
  • Episode 33: Sarah McNamara Takes Us to Ybor City
    Oct 10, 2023 – 01:01:36
  • Episode 32: Samantha Muka Finds Joy in the Work
    Sep 26, 2023 – 54:52
  • Episode 31: Katrina Phillips Starts With the Fragments
    Sep 13, 2023 – 45:58
  • Episode 30: Lauren Lassabe Shepherd Shamelessly Reaches Out
    Aug 29, 2023 – 51:40
  • Episode 29: Anna Zeide Gets Comfortable
    Aug 15, 2023 – 49:00
  • Episode 28: Melissa Sevigny Skates Down the River
    Aug 1, 2023 – 34:06
  • Episode 27: Carly Goodman Tells Us What Happened
    Jul 18, 2023 – 43:09
  • Episode 26: Aaron Sachs Knows Historians Are Writers!
    Jul 4, 2023 – 55:59
  • Episode 25: Kidada Williams Preaches the Gospel of Audience
    Apr 11, 2023 – 45:21
  • Louis Moore Knows His Stuff
    Mar 28, 2023 – 54:40
  • Episode 23: Andrew Wehrman Writes the Next Topic Sentence
    Mar 14, 2023 – 48:50
  • Episode 22: Lyndsie Bourgon Sculpts the Story
    Feb 28, 2023 – 50:59
  • Episode 21: Andrew Simon Listens to History
    Feb 14, 2023 – 40:46
  • Episode 20: Natalia Mehlman Petrzela Takes Culture (Not Too) Seriously
    Dec 6, 2022 – 40:40
  • Episode 19: Deborah Harkness Does Her Best Historical Work
    Nov 22, 2022 – 49:59
Recent Reviews
  • Laurrnn
    I never miss an episode
    I get so excited when I see that a new Drafting the Past episode has released. The show is as entertaining as it is enlightening. So grateful to Kate for creating these conversations.
  • SpencerA+
    My favorite poscast
    When I heard a historian mention this podcast, I was so excited to listen. And it did not disappoint. I await the release of every episode with that same anticipation and excitement I first felt. Every episode offers me a valuable lesson whether it’s the introduction to a new-to-me author’s work, the affirmation that there’s not just one way to write, the teaching of research methods and questions, the imparting of best writing advice nuggets of gold, or suggesting another way to think and see the world. Give it a listen. You’ll be glad you did!
  • Astor Lynn
    Love at first listen
    This is the podcast of my dreams. Thank you for bringing us into conversation with so many great writers about the craft of writing history well. I now have a long reading list filled with titles I never knew I’d be so excited to read!
  • public historian
    Amazing questions and great guests
    Kate Carpenter manages to ask the most interesting questions and elicit the best responses from the historians that she has as guests on the show. It’s a real treat to listen to every episode.
  • Pignoli
    Inspiring and interesting!
    I am not writing history but am loving every episode of this podcast as I write my dissertation. I enjoy learning a bit about each guest’s research while also hearing how they approach their work both technically and socially. I highly recommend this podcast to academics in a variety of disciplines, as well as writers of other forms.
  • noreview22
    This is Very Well Done!
    Fantastic discussions. I get so excited when a new episode drops. As a graduate student writing my dissertation this has been such a treat to listen to on my daily walks. I get so inspired to keep working on my craft.
  • knit and write
    Fun and Encouraging
    I’m really happy that I found this podcast though Twitter (thanks #twitterstorians!). The conversations are lighthearted—something we often forget to be when talking about writing. They’re also motivating. I wish I had these to listen to in my dissertation proposal course! Well worth your time.
  • erlenadlu
    Amazing
    I love this podcast! So inspiring, always makes me feel a part of community of writers. So much good advice
  • hgg914
    Wonderful podcast, a must-listen for grad students (and all writers)
    I’m so glad to have stumbled upon this podcast. It is a wonderful resource for anyone working on writing projects. I’m a history PhD candidate and find these interviews and tips extremely helpful as I begin writing my dissertation. A wonderful resource and enjoyable listen. Highly recommend!
  • paliniowa
    Beautiful premier!
    I thoroughly enjoyed this podcast. I greatly appreciate how you provided a framework for Kate to share her approaches. There are so many podcasts in which interviewers see it as an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge rather than sharing the insights of their guests. I look forward to the rest of the season. Bravo!!
  • environmentalstories
    Fantastic discussion of the craft of writing history
    Great podcast for lovers of history, narrative non-fiction, and even those just interested in lifting the curtain to see how writers write and where they get their inspiration.
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