We weren’t done with George Washington—not even close.In this bonus episode, we dig up the wild side quests and forgotten facts we missed the first time around.

Meet Lawrence, George’s hot-shot older brother who basically kickstarted the whole “military hero” storyline. Travel with young GW to Barbados (where he caught smallpox and lifelong immunity), and find out why his“wooden teeth” were actually just expensive and disgusting. Oh, and the cherry tree story? Total historical fanfic.

From forced inoculations to the Whiskey Rebellion (spoiler:he pardoned them!), George Washington somehow lives up to the myth. We didn’t believe it either—until now.

🎧 Listen, follow, andleave us a 5-star review on your podcast app of choice! It helps people find the show, and feeds our egos. Win-win.

📝 Want to win a “The Buck Starts Here” journal?

Email us at buckstartsherepodcast@gmail.com, subject line Journal. You’ll be entered to win a journal worthy of your deepest Founding Father fanfiction.

Catch up on past episodes at buckstartsherepodcast.com

Watch on YouTubeFife and Drum:

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No majority. No chill. And definitely no evidence of a“corrupt bargain.” In this fact-loaded and fire-starting Season 1 finale, Kyle and Eric break down the 1824 presidential election—where Andrew Jackson lost, cried foul, and stomped back to his slave plantation while John Quincy Adams calmly walked into the White House with the receipts.

We’ve got:🔥Jackson throwing a historic hissy fit
🔥Henry Clay being classier than everyone
🔥JQA flexing a resume that shames your LinkedIn
🔥Populist chaos, press drama, and congressional side-eyes

Seriously—who knew 1824 would read like a messy group chat with powdered wigs?

🎧 If you love U.S. history, political takedowns, myth-busting, and two very opinionated hosts calling out 19th-century nonsense in real time, this one’s for you.

📝 Want one of our limited edition Buck Starts Here journals? First 10 listeners to email us with "Journal" in the subject line get one. No joke.

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💬 Yell at us (or politely suggest an episode): buckstartsherepodcast@gmail.com
🌐 Full episodes and extras:

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Because history doesn’t have to be boring. It just has to be petty, accurate, and full of receipts.

Fife and Drum:

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He had the receipts, the vision, and the plan—Congress just brought the drama.

In this episode, Eric and Kyle finally dive into the presidency of John Quincy Adams, aka the king of "I told you so." Civil War? Called it. National highways? Pitched them. A naval academy and an astronomical observatory? Yes, please. JQA was ready to launch the country forward—unfortunately, the Jacksonians showed up with nothing but bad vibes and anti-nerd energy.

We’re spilling all the tea:
⚖️ A federal showdown with Georgia’s militia
🚧 Infrastructure dreams crushed under petty politics
📉 A legacy nearly erased—but not on our watch

💌 Journal Giveaway!
We’re giving away 10 custom Buck Starts Here journals to our sassiest, fastest fans. Want one? Email buckstartsherepodcast@gmail.com with “JQA Was Right” in the subject line. Bonus points if you're brave enough to read your deepest thoughts on-air next year. 😎

🔗 Links:
📬 Email us: buckstartsherepodcast@gmail.com
🌐 Website: buckstartsherepodcast.com
▶️ YouTube: Watch this episode

🎧 Smash that follow button, drop us a review, and send this to your favorite history nerd. JQA didn’t get the credit he deserved then—so we’re giving him his moment now, loud and clear.

Fife and Drum:

"Loopster" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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Before John Quincy Adams became America’s most forgettable president, he was basically a Founding Father Nepo Baby turned globe-trotting prodigy.

In this episode, Kyle and Eric dive into JQA’s chaotic and impressive early life—getting inoculated before vaccines were cool, becoming a teenage diplomat fluent in multiple languages, and turning down a seat on the Supreme Court because he “didn’t feel like it.”

We’re talking European power moves, Founding Father family drama, and alleged skinny-dipping in colonial streams. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to grow up journaling every historical moment and getting career advice from Ben Franklin, this one’s for you.

🎧 Hit play to hear why John Quincy Adams peaked way before the White House.

Fife and Drum:

"Loopster" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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John Quincy Adams: fluent in diplomacy, allergic to BS, andway too smart for the room. In this episode, we kick off our JQA series with a look at the man who basically wrote American foreign policy, got wrecked by Congress during his presidency, and came back swinging as the “Madman fromMassachusetts.” Eric’s basically doing a séance from Quincy City Hall, Kyle’s trying to keep things on track, and somewhere in the background, a naked JQA isswimming in the Potomac, judging us all. Come for the anti-slavery fury, stay for the intellectual mic drops—this one’s got heat.

Fife and Drum:

"Loopster" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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Surprise! James Monroe didn’t write the Monroe Doctrine—John Quincy Adams did, and then refused to take credit like the ultimate 1820s ghostwriter. In this episode, Kyle and Eric dig into the foreign policy flex that told Europe to stay outta the Western Hemisphere (while we quietly keptreceipts).

We break down the real reason the doctrine was written(hint: hi, Russia 👀), why Latin America lovedthe idea but side-eyed our follow-through, and how the U.S. turned “no new colonies” into “we run this hemisphere now.” From British drama to Venezuelan oil beefs, we’re covering it all—plus, a presidential power ranking that might just put Monroe in GOAT contention.

You’ll laugh. You’ll learn. You might hear the word“non-colonialization” butchered more than once.

🎧 Hit play, history nerds.

Fife and Drum:

"Loopster" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Think you know James Monroe? Think again. In this fieryepisode, Kyle and Eric spill the historical tea on the 5th President of the United States, diving deep into the Monroe Doctrine, territorial expansion, and the absolute trainwreck that was the Panic of 1819 — aka America’s firstbig economic flop.

We’re talking federal power, tariff drama, and thenot-so-united States flexing on each other pre-Civil War. You’ll get the lowdown on Andrew Jackson’s unauthorized chaos in Florida, the founding of Liberia, and the messy reality behind the Missouri Compromise. Oh, and did we mention presidential pets? Yeah, that’s in here too.

This episode is a wild ride through early American economics, international diplomacy, and all the hot takes they don’t teach you in school. Whether you're a history buff, policy wonk, or just here for the tea, this one’s got it all.

Fife and Drum: "Loopster" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Get ready for a presidential glow-up like no other. In thisepisode, hosts Eric Mason and Kyle take you deep into the world of James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States—and the face of what was questionably called the Era of Good Feelings. Spoiler: it wasn’t all sunshine and unity.

We’re unpacking Monroe’s crushing win over Rufus King inthe 1816 election, the forgotten greatness of Vice President Daniel Tompkins (a broke abolitionist hero), and Monroe’s awkward attempt at a “national unity” tour that stirred up more tension than it solved.

It’s a wild ride through early American politics:

*The founding fathers’ financial failures—yep, a bunchof them died broke

*The juicy Reynolds Affair scandal that shook thenation

*Monroe’s underrated but wildly effective cabinet

*His rivalry with Alexander Hamilton and all the egothat came with it

*And the quiet but powerful influence of Elizabeth Monroe,a First Lady who brought French elegance and diplomatic finesse to the White House

This isn’t your dry history class recap—this is Monroe witha twist: political drama, high-stakes diplomacy, and the scandalous undercurrents that shaped a nation.

Fife and Drum:

"Loopster" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/