Howard Dorre of Plodding Through the Presidents---SUMMARYIn this episode, host Sebastian Arciszewski sits down with Howard Dorre, co-founder and co-host of Plodding Through the Presidents — an award-winning history podcast that takes an irreverent dive into the lesser-known stories of the American presidents and the early republic. Howard co-hosts the show with his wife, Jess, in a format where he researches the stories and presents them to her fresh on mic, blending narrative storytelling with genuine, unscripted conversation.Howard shares the full arc of the show's journey — from a personal history blog he launched in 2013, to a podcast that debuted in February 2020 just before COVID hit. He talks candidly about what drew him to early American history, why he chose the lens of myths, mysteries, and human drama over straight political chronology, and how he balances humor with respect when covering serious and sometimes dark historical subjects. The conversation also ventures into the current state of independent podcasting, the challenge of AI-generated historical content, the role indie podcasters play in preserving trust and accuracy, and Howard's honest take on democracy's fragility as seen through the lens of the early republic.Whether you're a history buff, an aspiring podcaster, or someone curious about how to build an authentic, audience-first show, this is a rich and wide-ranging conversation.---IN THIS EPISODE| **00:01** | Sebastian introduces the show and welcomes Howard Dorre || **00:41** | Howard describes *Plodding Through the Presidents* — narrative storytelling meets unscripted co-host conversation || **01:27** | Origin story: how it all began with a personal blog in 2013 and a goal to read a biography of every U.S. president || **02:34** | Making the leap from blogging to podcasting in early 2020 — what the audio format offered that writing didn't || **05:07** | Why myths, mysteries, scandals, and human drama? How Howard landed on his show's unique editorial lens || **06:16** | The wild and crazy early days of American politics — and why they're not so different from today || **07:48** | Standing out in a saturated history podcast market: authenticity, passion, and the "dopamine hit" of great research || **09:29** | The comedy element: Howard's improv background, balancing humor with respect for heavy historical subjects || **11:21** | How the audience responds to the show's humor (including the highest compliment: scaring your cat by laughing out loud) || **12:10** | Season themes — presidential pets, myths, and following the stories that spark genuine curiosity || **13:13** | What makes a great "Plodding story"? The "wait, what — wait till you hear what happens next" test || **14:20** | Best entry-point episodes: *John Quincy Adams vs. the Internet* and *Thomas Jefferson's Killer Ram* || **16:32** | Booking notable historian guests (Joseph Ellis, HW Brands, Lindsay Trubinsky) — publicists, university emails, and letting historians talk || **19:11** | The video question: why *Plodding* is still audio-only, and Howard's honest thoughts on the rise of video podcasting || **21:00** | Early promotion strategies: leveraging a blog following, targeted Facebook ads, and connecting with history communities || **22:29** | The most effective growth strategy over six years: podcast promo swaps and reaching already-listening audiences || **23:47** | Joining the Airwave network — creative control, ad sales support, cross-promotion, and conference connections || **25:12** | Monetization: Patreon, merchandise, and advertising — and what actually moves casual listeners to paying supporters || **27:24** | "If I had to start over tomorrow" — Howard's honest launch strategy advice (including rethinking the show's name) || **29:14** | The indie podcasting landscape: more shows, tougher discoverability, and the long shadow of COVID on commute listening || **32:09** | AI versus the founders: the episode behind the episode, bots taking down the National Archives' Founders Archive, and concerns about AI-generated historical content || **34:48** | How Howard thinks about AI as a research tool — useful but untrustworthy, and still in its "AOL CD-ROM dial-up era" || **35:52** | The role of indie podcasters in preserving trust and historical accuracy in an era of eroding faith in legacy media || **37:29** | Connecting early American history to today's debates about democracy, monuments, and race — how explicitly does Howard think about the current political climate? || **40:41** | Has Howard's optimism about American democracy shifted? A candid historical perspective on the republic's fragility — from the founders onward || **42:28** | Discomforting the audience (and co-host Jess): the Billy Possum, possums, and confronting moral complexity in history || **45:32** | Navigating a polarized audience: how Howard avoids backlash without shying away from difficult stories || **47:40** | ...
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Apr 1 202641 m
50 m
1 h y 18 m