American History Tellers
Audible
The Cold War, Prohibition, the Gold Rush, the Space Race. Every part of your life - the words you speak, the ideas you share - can be traced to our history, but how well do you really know the stories that made America? We'll take you to the events, the times and the people that shaped our nation. And we'll show you how our history affected them, their families and affects you today. Hosted by Lindsay Graham (not the Senator). From Wondery, the network behind American Scandal, Tides of History, American Innovations and more.Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of American History Tellers ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 13, 2026 • 41min
Edison vs. Tesla | Work of the World | 2
A clash of electrical visions takes center stage as two brilliant inventors collide over AC versus DC power. The story follows a driven immigrant's childhood epiphany, his rise through tinkering and dramatic demonstrations, and the business maneuvers that set up a national battle to light America. Tension builds with failed partnerships, patent wagers, and a high-stakes industrial rivalry.
19 snips
May 6, 2026 • 40min
Edison vs. Tesla | Prometheus’ Fire | 1
A race to light the modern world unfolds through obsessive experimentation and daring inventions. The story traces the hunt for a reliable filament, the creation of a city-scale power system, and the dramatic debut of Pearl Street’s electric network. Tensions rise as a rival with a very different electrical vision prepares to challenge everything.
31 snips
Apr 29, 2026 • 38min
The 1900 Galveston Hurricane | After the Storm | 4
Dr. Patricia Bixel, retired history professor and co-author of Galveston and the 1900 Storm, explains how Galveston rebuilt after the catastrophe. She discusses the creation of a new municipal government, the design and construction of a massive seawall, and the audacious project to raise the city’s grade. Short, vivid accounts highlight relief efforts, racial disparities in aid, and how those reforms shaped future resilience.
31 snips
Apr 22, 2026 • 38min
The 1900 Galveston Hurricane | City of Doom | 3
A harrowing recap of Galveston waking to unimaginable ruin after the 1900 storm. Harrowing rescue and grim body recovery scenes reveal desperate choices about burials and public health. Relief efforts and Clara Barton’s arrival show organized aid amid discrimination. Ambitious engineering projects, a new city charter, and Houston’s rise reshape the region’s future.
35 snips
Apr 15, 2026 • 33min
The 1900 Galveston Hurricane | Night of Terrors | 2
A hurricane builds unnoticed while townspeople misread ominous signs and carry on with daily life. Rising waters strand residents, knock out communications, and turn homes into improvised refuges. A terrifying night of storm surge, flying debris, collapsing buildings, and desperate rescues changes the island forever.
33 snips
Apr 8, 2026 • 34min
The 1900 Galveston Hurricane | An Absurd Delusion | 1
A booming Gulf Coast city sits just feet above sea level and ignores growing flood risk. Conflicting weather forecasts pit Cuban Jesuit observers against U.S. authorities. Debates rage over building a seawall versus protecting commerce. Telegraph bans and bureaucratic control muffle warnings as a deadly storm gathers in the Caribbean.
10 snips
Apr 1, 2026 • 41min
Fan Favorite: Great American Authors | Harper Lee: Mockingbird | 6
A deep look at Harper Lee’s move from small-town Alabama to New York and her friendship with Truman Capote. The journey from an early manuscript to the creation of To Kill a Mockingbird is explored. Tensions around sudden fame, editorial shaping of her story, and the later discovery and controversy of Go Set a Watchman are highlighted.
11 snips
Mar 25, 2026 • 41min
Fan Favorite: Great American Authors | James Baldwin: The Exile | 5
A look at James Baldwin's rise from Harlem poverty to literary prominence. Scenes cover his moves to Greenwich Village and Paris, clashes with fellow writers, and provocative novels about race and sexuality. The story follows his return to the U.S., activism during the 1960s, life as an expatriate mentor in France, and his final years.
19 snips
Mar 18, 2026 • 41min
Fan Favorite: Great American Authors | John Steinbeck: The Observer | 4
A portrait of John Steinbeck’s Salinas roots and the people who shaped his early imagination. Tales of migrant workers, Dust Bowl reporting, and the making of famous novels like The Grapes of Wrath. Friendship with Ed Ricketts, wartime reporting, chronic illness, and the turbulent personal life behind his literary rise.
17 snips
Mar 11, 2026 • 42min
Fan Favorite: Great American Authors | Mark Twain: Voice of a Nation | 3
A portrait of Samuel Clemens rising from Mississippi steamboats to literary fame. Tales of hoaxes, travel sketches, and the breakout Jumping Frog story. The creation and controversy around Huckleberry Finn are highlighted. Financial ruin from risky inventions and a worldwide lecture tour reshape his life. His late anti-imperialist critiques and personal losses cast a darker tone on his legacy.
