Latest Episodes

The John Brown Lens: What would Brown Say About Contemporary Zionist Israel, the Charlie Kirk Tragedy, & Trump's War on the History of Slavery

In this episode, Lou breaks with the regular approach of this podcast to put a John Brown lens on pressing contemporary issues. He specifically addresses three main topics, arguing why John Brown would be an anti-Zionist due to the movem...

September 19, 2025 • 39:46

Echoes of Abolition: An Interview with Biographer and Cultural Historian David S. Reynolds

In this episode, Lou interviews the preeminent cultural historian of the 19th-century USA, David S. Reynolds. This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the publication of Reynolds...

September 05, 2025 • 54:21

A "Secret Six" Tour: Discovering the Contemporary Origin of the Term

In this episode, I am inviting you on a peculiar historical tour of the term, "Secret Six." While John Brown students are accustomed to seeing this term used to speak of Brown's key supporters, this episode is about the origin of the term and i...

July 24, 2025 • 24:46

Misusing John Brown: From Luigi Mangione to Christian Nationalism

In this episode, Lou discusses two recent online articles to illustrate how John Brown is often appropriated and misused by writers in discussing contemporary issues.  The first article discussed is an effort to draw a parallel between Joh...

February 04, 2025 • 36:09

The Cat Who Went to Kansas (and Other John Brown Animals)

In this episode, Lou discusses the animals--pets, livestock, and others who are part of the John Brown story, from the dogs of Harper's Ferry to a cat who went to Kansas.  Just when you thought you'd heard everything about John Brown, huh?...

December 17, 2024 • 14:39

Fan Mail

Dear Dr. DeCaro, I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for the incredible work you're doing with the John Brown Today podcast. I had no idea who John Brown even was until my junior year at the University of Rhode Island, when I took an African American history course. That class opened my eyes and your podcast has deepened my understanding in ways I never expected. What I appreciate most is how you cut through the myths and misconceptions that surround John Brown. Those depictions of him as either a fanatic or a footnote. Your passion, scholarship, and clarity have helped me see him as a deeply moral, purposeful person whose legacy is both misunderstood and profoundly important. The way you break down how these misunderstandings took root, and why they’ve persisted, really helps frame the bigger picture of American memory and racial justice. I even had the chance to visit Harpers Ferry recently, and walking through that space, with your insights in mind, made it an incredibly powerful experience. Thank you again for your important work. Please keep it going! It's making a real difference.

Providence, Rhode Island