Drafting the Past
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draftingthepast.bsky.social
Drafting the Past
@draftingthepast.bsky.social
2K followers 590 following 140 posts
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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draftingthepast.bsky.social
New! Listen to my interview w/ Mary Frances Phillips about her book BLACK PANTHER WOMAN (@nyupress.bsky.social), how the dissertation and book dramatically differ, and the tools she uses, from tech to office supplies. I love how she thinks about play in her process. draftingthepast.com?p=2789
Podcast graphic with a photograph of a smiling woman with very short black hair, glasses, and hoop earrings. Text on the right reads "Drafting the Past Episode 74: Mary Frances Phillips."
November 11, 2025 at 4:54 PM
draftingthepast.bsky.social
New! I talked with Tyler Anbinder about his approach to writing and revising--plus, you'll learn about the person who told this celebrated historian he would never write trade book! We dug into his newest book, PLENTIFUL COUNTRY (@littlebrown.bsky.social). Listen: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Podcast episode graphic. On the left, a smiling man wearing glasses and a blazer and collared shift. Text on the right reads: Drafting the Past Episode 73: Tyler Anbinder.
November 4, 2025 at 7:56 PM
draftingthepast.bsky.social
New! I had great fun talking w/ @drjoannepaul.bsky.social about how she embraces creativity and artistry and how she writes vividly about Tudor history. If you've ever dreamed of writing a history that reads almost like a novel, you're going to love this episode. draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Podcast episode graphic with a photograph of a woman with brown hair looking toward the camera at an angle, smiling slightly. On the right, teal text reads "Drafting the Past Episode 72: Joanne Paul."
October 28, 2025 at 2:04 PM
draftingthepast.bsky.social
New! I spoke with Raphael Cormack about his book Holy Men of the Electromagnetic Age (@wwnorton.com). Listen to find out how one historian wrestles with myth, unreliable (or inaccessible) sources, & what he's learned about writing from his mother (you may have heard of her). tinyurl.com/raphcormack
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October 21, 2025 at 2:11 PM
draftingthepast.bsky.social
So fun to chat w/ @tracyslater.bsky.social about TOGETHER IN MANZANAR! Learn how she found her way to narrative history & how she stays with her characters as she tells their story. She also made me blush talking abt how podcasts are part of her writing community draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Podcast graphic image. On the left is a photograph of a smiling blond woman, and on the right teal text reads "Drafting the Past Episode 70: Tracy Slater."
October 14, 2025 at 2:41 PM
draftingthepast.bsky.social
Episodes two weeks in a row?! That should tell you how much great stuff there is. I was so happy to get to talk to @andrewhartman.bsky.social about KARL MARX IN AMERICA (@uchicagopress.bsky.social) and how he keeps going in the writing "grind." Listen here: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Podcast episode graphic featuring a smiling man in a blazer and glasses in front of a bookshelf. The text on the right reads "Drafting the Past episode 69: Andrew Hartman."
October 7, 2025 at 2:47 PM
draftingthepast.bsky.social
Drafting the Past is back, and with a truly fantastic episode! I felt so fortunate to talk with Ruby Lal about her newest book(s), her transition to narrative history writing, and how she brings stories from hundreds of years ago so beautifully to life. Listen: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Podcast episode graphic. On the left is a smiling woman with long graying black hair, a black shirt and a large necklace in front of a bookshelf. On the right, the text reads "Drafting the Past Episode 68: Ruby Lal."
September 30, 2025 at 2:46 PM
draftingthepast.bsky.social
New! What a delight to talk with Stephanie Gorton about THE ICON AND THE IDEALIST (@harpercollins.bsky.social), a fascinating dual biography of Margaret Sanger and Mary Ware Dennett. We talked about revising (12!) drafts, what draws her to a subject, and more. Listen: draftingthepast.com/?p=2722
Podcast episode graphic, featuring a photograph of a slightly smiling woman with long curly brown hair, looking off to the side. The text below reads "Episode 67: Stephanie Gorton."
June 12, 2025 at 2:47 PM
draftingthepast.bsky.social
New episode out! I talked with Padraic Scanlan about his new book, Rot: An Imperial History of the Irish Famine. He makes the case for writing fast, messy first drafts and embracing editors. Listen now: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Podcast episode graphic with a photograph of a smiling man with short brown hair and and a blue collared shirt. The text reads "Episode 66: Padraic Scanlan."
May 30, 2025 at 3:54 PM
draftingthepast.bsky.social
New! A true pleasure to talk with @omarvaleriojimenez.bsky.social about his book Remembering Conquest and about his writing routine, the importance of exercise, and whether his engineering background translates to his writing (hint: a work log!). Listen: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
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May 9, 2025 at 3:52 PM
draftingthepast.bsky.social
Dig into my latest conversation with @emilyherring.bsky.social about her book, HERALD OF A RESTLESS WORLD! We talked about how she wrote an intellectual biography that is damn interesting, the quirks of French education, her shift from academia, and more! Listen: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Podcast graphic with a photograph of a women with short brown hair smiling slightly, wearing a black collared shirt. The text reads "Drafting the Past Episode 64: Emily Herring."
April 25, 2025 at 5:09 PM
draftingthepast.bsky.social
New episode! Historian @drsurekhadavies.bsky.social joined me to talk monsters, narrative structure, her new book HUMANS: A MONSTROUS HISTORY (@ucpress.bsky.social) and more. Listen here: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Podcast graphic with a photograph of a smiling woman with short curly dark brown hair and a striped shirt. The text reads "Drafting the Past episode 63: Surehka Davies"
April 11, 2025 at 6:26 PM
draftingthepast.bsky.social
ICYMI: New episode, with acclaimed historian Lyndal Roper about her new book, SUMMER OF FIRE AND BLOOD, on the German Peasants' War. This conversation was a delight, featuring lots of maps, bike rides, and the wisdom of a long and productive career! Listen here: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Podcast graphic with a photograph in the left of a smiling woman with glass and long white hair. On the right, teal text reads "Drafting the Past episode 62: Lyndal Roper."
April 2, 2025 at 3:37 PM
draftingthepast.bsky.social
New episode today, featuring Judy Giesberg and her new book, LAST SEEN. The book is so moving, and I loved talking with Judy about her approaches to writing it, how it emerged out of a DH project, and how public interactions shaped her work. Listen here: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
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March 11, 2025 at 2:54 PM
draftingthepast.bsky.social
New episode out! It was a delight to talk with @theotherrbg.bsky.social about her first book, DEAR MISS PERKINS, career shifts and nonexistent rules, and her strategies for marketing her book. Listen here: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis... 🗃️
Podcast episode graphic featuring a photograph of a woman with straight brown hair and red lips, smiling slightly while resting her head on her hand and wearing a teal sweater. The text reads "Episode 60: Rebecca Brenner Graham."
February 25, 2025 at 4:17 PM
draftingthepast.bsky.social
For ep 59, I was privileged to interview Dr. Marlene Daut. We talked how she pub'ed two monumental books in two years, including THE FIRST AND LAST KING OF HAITI. I promise it somehow remains a relatable interview! I esp like her revision file system. Listen: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis... 🗃️
Podcast episode graphic. On the left is a photograph of a smiling woman with dark curly shoulder length hair wearing a white blazer. On the right is a teal podcast graphic that reads "episode 59: Marlene Daut."
February 12, 2025 at 2:47 AM
draftingthepast.bsky.social
New episode (and the last interview of 2024)! I talked with @sethrockman.bsky.social about his new book PLANTATION GOODS (@uchicagopress.bsky.social), the ongoing struggle of the writing process, the joy of archives (and necessity of deadlines), and more. Listen: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
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December 3, 2024 at 3:34 PM
draftingthepast.bsky.social
New episode! Listen to my interview with James Chappel about his new book GOLDEN YEARS. I was especially interested in how he decided which details he decided to include in his narrative--and what gets left on the cutting room floor. Listen here: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Episode graphic featuring a photograph of a man in glasses and a blazer with a background of autumn trees. The text below reads "episode 56: James Chappel"
November 19, 2024 at 3:37 PM
draftingthepast.bsky.social
Need a distraction today? I have just the ticket -- a brand new episode of Drafting the Past! It's a delightful interview with Robin Bernstein, where we dig into how she wrote and revised FREEMAN'S CHALLENGE. Her love of writing is palpable! draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
A woman with short hair and glasses looks directly into the camera, smiling slightly. The text below reads "Episode 55, Robin Bernstein."
November 5, 2024 at 3:33 PM
draftingthepast.bsky.social
NEW! I talked with Prithi Kanakamedala about her new book BROOKLYNITES, the connections between public history and writing, and the challenges and privileges of writing while working at a community college. Listen here: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
An image of a smiling woman with short dark brown hair. The text below her reads "episode 54: Prithi Kanakamedala"
October 22, 2024 at 2:48 PM
draftingthepast.bsky.social
New! I had a great time chatting with Andrew Kahrl about his book THE BLACK TAX (@uchicagopress.bsky.social). We talked how he restructured the book in revisions, history that has relevance, and why his dad told him to write like his sixth grade self. Listen: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Podcast episode graphic with a photo of a smiling man wearing a blazer, with short brown hair and light skin. The text reads "episode 53: Andrew Kahrl."
October 9, 2024 at 12:32 AM
draftingthepast.bsky.social
New episode out now, featuring writing coach @helenbetya.bsky.social! I was delighted to ask Helen about her process as a coach, how she works with historians, and the types of questions she asks her clients to help them produce writing they value. Listen here: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Episode graphic with a smiling woman with shoulder-length light brown hair. The text below readers "Episode 52: Helen Betya Rubinstein."
September 24, 2024 at 2:23 PM
draftingthepast.bsky.social
What a delight to interview @lmchervinsky.bsky.social for DTP! This conversation is so inspirational, from how she wrote a page-turner about the John Adams presidency (MAKING THE PRESIDENCY, out now) to how Taylor Swift inspired her editing process. Listen here: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Podcast graphic image with a photographic of a smiling woman with light skin and shoulder-length brown hair wearing a purple blazer. The text below reads "Episode 51: Lindsay Chervinsky"
September 10, 2024 at 3:46 PM
draftingthepast.bsky.social
New episode is out (number 50!) with journalist Clara Bingham! It was so fun for me to hear about her approach to an oral history narrative, her move toward history (one of us!), and her gumshoe work in finding interview subjects for THE MOVEMENT. Listen here: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
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August 27, 2024 at 1:05 PM
draftingthepast.bsky.social
New! For this episode I interviewed not one but three authors--Robert Alpert, @merleeisenberg.bsky.social and Lee Mordechai. Learn how they wrote and edited a book together and whether they all are still speaking! Listen now: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Graphics with three photographs of men looking looking at the camera and smiling. The man on the left is older than the other two. The text reads "Episode 49: Robert Alpert, Merle Eisenberg, Lee Mordechai"
August 13, 2024 at 2:09 PM