Drafting the Past
@draftingthepast.bsky.social
A podcast about the craft of writing history, hosted by Kate Carpenter. Find it at draftingthepast.com or wherever you get your podcasts.
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creating a podcast devoted to the craft of writing history
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Did you know? Patreon supporters of Drafting the Past at any level now get access to an ad-free version of the podcast. www.patreon.com/draftingthep...
Reposted by Drafting the Past
Revisit my convo w/ Isabela Morales about the award-winning HAPPY DREAMS OF LIBERTY (@oxfordunipress.bsky.social). There's an update on Isabela's work, plus her commitment to narrative history, how she assembled a gorgeous passage from one detail and more. Listen: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
From the Archive: Isabela Morales Protects the Writer's Spirit
In this archive episode, Kate Carpenter interviews Isabela Morales about how she wrote her first book, Happy Dreams of Liberty.
draftingthepast.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Revisit my convo w/ Isabela Morales about the award-winning HAPPY DREAMS OF LIBERTY (@oxfordunipress.bsky.social). There's an update on Isabela's work, plus her commitment to narrative history, how she assembled a gorgeous passage from one detail and more. Listen: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Revisit my convo w/ Isabela Morales about the award-winning HAPPY DREAMS OF LIBERTY (@oxfordunipress.bsky.social). There's an update on Isabela's work, plus her commitment to narrative history, how she assembled a gorgeous passage from one detail and more. Listen: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
From the Archive: Isabela Morales Protects the Writer's Spirit
In this archive episode, Kate Carpenter interviews Isabela Morales about how she wrote her first book, Happy Dreams of Liberty.
draftingthepast.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Revisit my convo w/ Isabela Morales about the award-winning HAPPY DREAMS OF LIBERTY (@oxfordunipress.bsky.social). There's an update on Isabela's work, plus her commitment to narrative history, how she assembled a gorgeous passage from one detail and more. Listen: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
This is going to be 🤯💥🤯
Blueskis, I am the first @draftingthepast.bsky.social guest to return to the pod!
To celebrate, @katecarp.bsky.social and I are going to mix things up a bit. Get ready!
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
To celebrate, @katecarp.bsky.social and I are going to mix things up a bit. Get ready!
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
February 9, 2026 at 8:35 PM
This is going to be 🤯💥🤯
New Drafting the Past newsletter is out, in which I ask: do you read reviews of history books? Where do you find them? What do you like (or hate!) in reviews? Sound off in the comments! buttondown.com/draftingthep...
Do You Read Book Reviews?
And my latest interview with Heather Ann Thompson, in which I fangirl over a historian I have long admired
buttondown.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:33 PM
New Drafting the Past newsletter is out, in which I ask: do you read reviews of history books? Where do you find them? What do you like (or hate!) in reviews? Sound off in the comments! buttondown.com/draftingthep...
All the cool kids decorate their planners with Drafting the Past stickers!
@katecarp.bsky.social @draftingthepast.bsky.social thank you for my new stickers, Kate! Very excited to decorate my planner with them!
February 7, 2026 at 1:50 PM
All the cool kids decorate their planners with Drafting the Past stickers!
Reposted by Drafting the Past
Loved this episode with my former colleague Fahad! Such a good conversation about motivation, process, and how we understand ourselves as writers.
“We are fundamentally storytellers…. we live in a community of storytellers.” In the new Drafting the Past episode, Fahad Bishara talks dhows, Monsoon Voyagers, and how to write history as world‑making—from microhistory to an oceanic scale. Come listen 👇 draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Episode 85: Fahad Bishara Tells the Story of a World in Motion
Kate Carpenter interviews historian Fahad Bishara about the research and writing process for his new book Monsoon Voyagers.
draftingthepast.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Loved this episode with my former colleague Fahad! Such a good conversation about motivation, process, and how we understand ourselves as writers.
Episode 23 guest @profwehrman.bsky.social's The Contagion of Liberty is out in paperback today!
Today is the paperback release day for my book The Contagion of Liberty! It’s about how Americans demanded that their governments provide inoculations for smallpox to the public as their right and also to affirm that public health is a foremost duty of government. www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/...
The Contagion of Liberty
The Politics of Smallpox in the American Revolution
www.press.jhu.edu
February 3, 2026 at 4:29 PM
Episode 23 guest @profwehrman.bsky.social's The Contagion of Liberty is out in paperback today!
Reposted by Drafting the Past
Pretty sure this is the first time my podcast guest was on the Daily Show the day before! @historianheather.bsky.social was such a delight to (finally!) have on the show, and I learned so much from her research and writing process. Check it out: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Heather Ann Thompson Evokes the Moment - Episode 86
Kate Carpenter interviews historian Heather Ann Thompson about her writing and publishing process for Fear and Fury and Blood in the Water.
draftingthepast.com
February 3, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Pretty sure this is the first time my podcast guest was on the Daily Show the day before! @historianheather.bsky.social was such a delight to (finally!) have on the show, and I learned so much from her research and writing process. Check it out: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Pretty sure this is the first time my podcast guest was on the Daily Show the day before! @historianheather.bsky.social was such a delight to (finally!) have on the show, and I learned so much from her research and writing process. Check it out: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Heather Ann Thompson Evokes the Moment - Episode 86
Kate Carpenter interviews historian Heather Ann Thompson about her writing and publishing process for Fear and Fury and Blood in the Water.
draftingthepast.com
February 3, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Pretty sure this is the first time my podcast guest was on the Daily Show the day before! @historianheather.bsky.social was such a delight to (finally!) have on the show, and I learned so much from her research and writing process. Check it out: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Skystorians, any reading suggestions for @tracyslater.bsky.social?? 🗃️
Extra points for examples of books that do this particularly well! #writingcommunity 📚💙 🗃️
February 3, 2026 at 1:37 AM
Skystorians, any reading suggestions for @tracyslater.bsky.social?? 🗃️
I ordered another book about how to be a writer! Do you want a review of it in a future newsletter? buttondown.com/draftingthep...
Did I Need Another Book About Being a Writer? Probably!
A new book on how to have a nonfiction career, plus a marvelous interview with Fahad Bishara
buttondown.com
February 2, 2026 at 8:27 PM
I ordered another book about how to be a writer! Do you want a review of it in a future newsletter? buttondown.com/draftingthep...
Reposted by Drafting the Past
“We are fundamentally storytellers…. we live in a community of storytellers.” In the new Drafting the Past episode, Fahad Bishara talks dhows, Monsoon Voyagers, and how to write history as world‑making—from microhistory to an oceanic scale. Come listen 👇 draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Episode 85: Fahad Bishara Tells the Story of a World in Motion
Kate Carpenter interviews historian Fahad Bishara about the research and writing process for his new book Monsoon Voyagers.
draftingthepast.com
January 27, 2026 at 2:25 PM
“We are fundamentally storytellers…. we live in a community of storytellers.” In the new Drafting the Past episode, Fahad Bishara talks dhows, Monsoon Voyagers, and how to write history as world‑making—from microhistory to an oceanic scale. Come listen 👇 draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Fahad's writing is beautiful, and our interview is full of tons of useful advice, from the practical details of research, writing, and revising, to a pep talk about believing in yourself and the stories you want to tell. Don't miss it.
I love when listeners suggest guests--and in this case, it led to one of my favorite conversations! Listen to me talk with @bishara.bsky.social about MONSOON VOYAGERS (@ucpress.bsky.social) and how he brought the world of the Indian Ocean voyage to life. draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Episode 85: Fahad Bishara Tells the Story of a World in Motion
Kate Carpenter interviews historian Fahad Bishara about the research and writing process for his new book Monsoon Voyagers.
draftingthepast.com
January 27, 2026 at 1:23 PM
Fahad's writing is beautiful, and our interview is full of tons of useful advice, from the practical details of research, writing, and revising, to a pep talk about believing in yourself and the stories you want to tell. Don't miss it.
I love when listeners suggest guests--and in this case, it led to one of my favorite conversations! Listen to me talk with @bishara.bsky.social about MONSOON VOYAGERS (@ucpress.bsky.social) and how he brought the world of the Indian Ocean voyage to life. draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Episode 85: Fahad Bishara Tells the Story of a World in Motion
Kate Carpenter interviews historian Fahad Bishara about the research and writing process for his new book Monsoon Voyagers.
draftingthepast.com
January 27, 2026 at 1:21 PM
I love when listeners suggest guests--and in this case, it led to one of my favorite conversations! Listen to me talk with @bishara.bsky.social about MONSOON VOYAGERS (@ucpress.bsky.social) and how he brought the world of the Indian Ocean voyage to life. draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Reposted by Drafting the Past
I've wanted to do this @draftingthepast.bsky.social segment for a really long time. I approached "We Always Had a Union" as a journalist, trying to solve a murder mystery and, yes, find the FBI's rats while telling the hotelworkers' story.
draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Episode 84: Shaun Richman Wants to Know Who the Rats Were
Kate Carpenter interviews labor historian and former union organizer Shaun Richman about his new book We Always Had a Union.
draftingthepast.com
January 20, 2026 at 3:45 PM
I've wanted to do this @draftingthepast.bsky.social segment for a really long time. I approached "We Always Had a Union" as a journalist, trying to solve a murder mystery and, yes, find the FBI's rats while telling the hotelworkers' story.
draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
New episode out now! I love hearing from writers who take a roundabout path into history. Shaun Richman went from journalism undergrad to union organizer to PhD-holding historian!
I've wanted to do this @draftingthepast.bsky.social segment for a really long time. I approached "We Always Had a Union" as a journalist, trying to solve a murder mystery and, yes, find the FBI's rats while telling the hotelworkers' story.
draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Episode 84: Shaun Richman Wants to Know Who the Rats Were
Kate Carpenter interviews labor historian and former union organizer Shaun Richman about his new book We Always Had a Union.
draftingthepast.com
January 20, 2026 at 5:43 PM
New episode out now! I love hearing from writers who take a roundabout path into history. Shaun Richman went from journalism undergrad to union organizer to PhD-holding historian!
Reposted by Drafting the Past
Thank you @timeshighered.bsky.social for publishing my essay advocating for the value of developmental editing in scholarly writing & publishing!
Takeaway for authors: learning to edit your own work in this way will help you get published better (and faster)
Takeaway for authors: learning to edit your own work in this way will help you get published better (and faster)
Why developmental editing is essential to strong academic writing, and how strengthening a manuscript’s argument, evidence, structure and style can make all the difference: https://ow.ly/uaxL50XVFka #HigherEd #AcademicSky #EduSky
What is developmental editing, and why does your scholarly manuscript need it?
Academics might find it hard to see the flaws in their work, but to be a writer is to be edited – embrace it. Laura Portwood-Stacer outlines the importance of developmental editing
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 13, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Thank you @timeshighered.bsky.social for publishing my essay advocating for the value of developmental editing in scholarly writing & publishing!
Takeaway for authors: learning to edit your own work in this way will help you get published better (and faster)
Takeaway for authors: learning to edit your own work in this way will help you get published better (and faster)
A delight to host @renatakeller.bsky.social for ep 83! We talked her book The Fate of the Americas (@uncpress.bsky.social), including how she wrangled 20 countries' stories. She also let me pry about the challenges of writing thru the loneliness of new parenthood draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Episode 83: Renata Keller Makes Space for Herself Through Writing
Kate Carpenter interviews historian Renata Keller about her new book on the Cuban Missile Crisis, The Fate of the Americas.
draftingthepast.com
January 13, 2026 at 5:50 PM
A delight to host @renatakeller.bsky.social for ep 83! We talked her book The Fate of the Americas (@uncpress.bsky.social), including how she wrangled 20 countries' stories. She also let me pry about the challenges of writing thru the loneliness of new parenthood draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Season 5 kicked off last week, and Jeff Roche shows us how you can imagine exactly who your audience is. buttondown.com/draftingthep...
Do You Know Who Your Audience Is?
Season 5 of Drafting the Past kicks off with Jeff Roche, author of The Conservative Frontier.
buttondown.com
January 11, 2026 at 8:18 PM
Season 5 kicked off last week, and Jeff Roche shows us how you can imagine exactly who your audience is. buttondown.com/draftingthep...
Headed to #AHA26 today, recorder and mic in hand! If you see me in the book exhibit, come say hi and tell me the most influential writing advice you know!
January 8, 2026 at 12:43 PM
Headed to #AHA26 today, recorder and mic in hand! If you see me in the book exhibit, come say hi and tell me the most influential writing advice you know!
The first ep of 2026 (and season 5) is here! I chatted with Jeff Roche about his book THE CONSERVATIVE FRONTIER (@utexaspress.bsky.social). We talked about his excellent writing voice, how music shapes his process, and his intriguing note organizing method. draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
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Episode 82: Jeff Roche Knows Exactly Who His Reader Is
Jeff Roche and Kate Carpenter discuss the writing process for The Conservative Frontier, including how Jeff develops his voice and organizes sources.
draftingthepast.com
January 6, 2026 at 1:56 PM
The first ep of 2026 (and season 5) is here! I chatted with Jeff Roche about his book THE CONSERVATIVE FRONTIER (@utexaspress.bsky.social). We talked about his excellent writing voice, how music shapes his process, and his intriguing note organizing method. draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
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Reposted by Drafting the Past
So pleased that Unrooted got a shout-out as one of listeners’ favourite history reads of 2025!
If you’re interested in the history of women in botany, check it out! 🌿🌾
If you’re interested in the history of women in botany, check it out! 🌿🌾
It's here! Listeners shared some of their favorite history reads from 2025--inclusing one book published 90 years ago! draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Episode 81: The Best History Books You Read This Year
Listeners call in to Drafting the Past to tell host Kate Carpenter about the best history books they read in 2025.
draftingthepast.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:17 AM
So pleased that Unrooted got a shout-out as one of listeners’ favourite history reads of 2025!
If you’re interested in the history of women in botany, check it out! 🌿🌾
If you’re interested in the history of women in botany, check it out! 🌿🌾
Reposted by Drafting the Past
getting myself out of holiday mode and back to book writing mode by catching up on @katecarp.bsky.social brilliant @draftingthepast.bsky.social
January 4, 2026 at 10:55 AM
getting myself out of holiday mode and back to book writing mode by catching up on @katecarp.bsky.social brilliant @draftingthepast.bsky.social
Reposted by Drafting the Past
It was a pleasure to share a few words about my favorite read of the year with one of my favorite podcasts, though fitting all my thoughts into 90 seconds felt like an impossible challenge. Looking forward to reading some of the books shared by others!
It's here! Listeners shared some of their favorite history reads from 2025--inclusing one book published 90 years ago! draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Episode 81: The Best History Books You Read This Year
Listeners call in to Drafting the Past to tell host Kate Carpenter about the best history books they read in 2025.
draftingthepast.com
January 3, 2026 at 3:00 AM
It was a pleasure to share a few words about my favorite read of the year with one of my favorite podcasts, though fitting all my thoughts into 90 seconds felt like an impossible challenge. Looking forward to reading some of the books shared by others!
Reposted by Drafting the Past
I started with the OpEd Project, then listened to a lot of the Longform podcast (since @draftingthepast.bsky.social wasn’t around yet!). Took a few nonfiction writing workshops but felt awkwardly jammed in with memoirs. Also continue to find web.archive.org/web/20230201... very helpful!
Editing
Here are some types of pitches for our Human Interest, Culture, and History sections that I’d love to receive for Slate. I'm looking to commission pieces that make connections across culture, life…
web.archive.org
December 30, 2025 at 9:54 PM
I started with the OpEd Project, then listened to a lot of the Longform podcast (since @draftingthepast.bsky.social wasn’t around yet!). Took a few nonfiction writing workshops but felt awkwardly jammed in with memoirs. Also continue to find web.archive.org/web/20230201... very helpful!