Best John Decaro Podcasts (2024)

1
The Legend of John Brown's Baby Kiss Revisited 38:54

1y ago38:54

38:54

In this episode, Lou does a deep dive evaluation of the legend of John Brown kissing a black baby on the day of his execution, a story that has been enshrined in poetry and paintings. Sharing his research on the topic, Lou considers the evidence and draws some interesting conclusions suggesting that this legend may have more than a core of truth. C…

1
"From John Brown to James Brown": A Conversation with Ed Maliskas 46:41

1y ago46:41

46:41

In this episode, Lou shares a conversation with author Ed Maliskas, a musician, clergyman, and researcher, the author of John Brown to James Brown: The Little Farm Where Liberty Budded, Blossomed, and Boogied (2016). In this fascinating discussion, Ed talks about coming to learn about the old Kennedy Farm in Maryland where John Brown and his raider…

1
The Sellout of Harper's Ferry Station: The Difficult Case of Heyward Shepherd 44:09

1+ y ago44:09

44:09

In this episode, Lou takes on the difficult theme of Heyward Shepherd, the black porter who was mortally wounded by John Brown's men during the Harper's Ferry raid, on the night of October 16, 1859. Reviewing the initial incidents of the raid, Lou considers the conventional narrative of Shepherd's demise, but then takes a sharp left turn: was Heywa…

1
Reaction & Reflection: David Blight on John Brown - - "John Brown Terrorist or Hero?" 52:07

1+ y ago52:07

52:07

After an extended hiatus, Lou returns with a reaction & reflection upon the YouTube video, "John Brown: Terrorist or Hero?" which features a short lecture by the eminent historian David Blight. John Brown Today features the audio version here, and listeners can also view the reaction & reflection video here (or copy this link: https://www.youtube.c…

1
What Did Blacks Really Think of John Brown? The Question of "Sambo Mistakes" (Part 2) 28:06

1+ y ago28:06

28:06

In Part 2 of this two-part episode, Lou reflects upon the question of white allies, particularly in the case of John Brown's story. What did black leaders and other associates really think of John Brown? Recalling Brown's devotion to black liberation and notable devotion to human equality, Lou suggests nevertheless that human interaction is by natu…

1
What Did Blacks Really Think of John Brown? Kudos & Conflicts (Part 1) 30:32

1+ y ago30:32

30:32

In Part 1 of "What Did Blacks Really Think of John Brown?" Lou reflects upon the question of white allies, particularly in the case of John Brown's story. What did black leaders and other associates really think of John Brown? Recalling Brown's devotion to black liberation and notable devotion to human equality, Lou suggests nevertheless that human…

1
Questioning John Brown’s Sanity: A Historical Thread Considered 48:50

1+ y ago48:50

48:50

Many people in the United States, especially (but not exclusively) white people, tend to think of John Brown as someone who was "crazy." In this episode, Lou surveys what he calls a historical "thread" regarding the alleged insanity of Brown. Beginning with affidavits filed in Virginia in 1859 in an attempt by friends and relatives in Ohio to spare…

1
John Brown’s Trial: The “Lost” Narrative of George H. Hoyt 57:11

2y ago57:11

57:11

In this episode, Lou presents a narrative written by John Brown's young lawyer, George H. Hoyt, written only a few years after the abolitionist's hanging. Hoyt went to join John Brown in Charlestown, Virginia (today West Va.) and support his lawyers, but really went as a spy for Brown's supporters in the North who wanted to launch a rescue. But not…

1
Why John Brown? A Biographer's Reflections in Response to a Thoughtful Critic 44:00

2y ago44:00

44:00

In this episode, Lou responds to the comments of a thoughtful but critical podcast listener who has well-stated reasons for asking, "why John Brown?" The question is a good one and Lou starts with personal and scholarly reflections on a range of views of Brown that range from anti-Brown to non-admirer. Then, Lou shares the podcast listener's commen…

1
Good Boy with a Gun: The Tragic Story of Will Leeman, A Harper’s Ferry Raider 48:00

2y ago48:00

48:00

In this episode, Lou does a deep dive into the story of William Leeman, the youngest of John Brown's Harper's Ferry raiders. From his origins in Maine to Kansas and his enlistment in John Brown's army, we look at the story of a young man with feet of iron and clay, whose death in Virginia in 1859 resonates with the racist gun violence and mass kill…

1
"John Brown Has Been Lost to His Own Church": An Interview with Louis DeCaro Jr. by Dr. Chris Dost, July 10, 2021 54:45

2y ago54:45

54:45

In this episode, Lou is interviewed by Dr. Chris Dost, biblical scholar and pastor of the Northville Baptist Church in New Milford, Connecticut. This audio is excerpted from an interview recorded on July 10, 2021. Closing tune: "Amazing Grace" by Cooper Cannell Hey friends, click on this link to get your JOHN BROWN TODAY Podcast Mug! Feedback? http…

1
Biography: The Ups and Downs of Mr. Brown, 1835-1851 27:38

2y ago27:38

27:38

In this episode, Lou provides a slice of biography, zooming in on John Brown's personal and economic challenges as a frontier entrepreneur and his often forgotten comeback in the early 1840s. While overlooked by unstudied and prejudiced scholars, Brown actually bounced back in the mid-1840s and distinguished himself as one of the leading experts on…

1
A Disparate Legacy: Oswald Garrison Villard and the John Brown Biography 39:45

2y ago39:45

39:45

To begin the fourth cycle of John Brown Today, Lou reflects upon the life and contribution of Brown biographer, Oswald Garrison Villard, whose life of John Brown was first published in 1910. As Lou argues, Villard did a great favor to historical study and John Brown students by commissioning extensive research for his work--research that he could n…

1
Interrogating History: The Mayflower, “America,” and John Brown 37:01

2y ago37:01

37:01

In this episode, Lou reflects upon the critical thesis of the late Gabriel Moran (1935-2021), who indefatigably pointed out the distinction between "America" as a dream (and as a vast continental land mass) and The United States of America as a nation. Following Gabriel's lead, Lou reflects upon the linguistic and political challenges of confusing …

1
Light vs. Lies: The Real History of the Harper's Ferry Raid (with a Jan. 6th epilogue!) 51:59

2+ y ago51:59

51:59

In this episode, Lou revisits the Harper's Ferry raid of October 16, 1859, presents some preliminary thoughts on the contemporary perspective and then addresses a number of key points, along with a "January 6th" epilogue. The key points addressed in this extended episode are: 1. What basically characterized John Brown’s earlier Virginia plan and ho…

1
My John Brown Holiday Notes 23:22

2+ y ago23:22

23:22

In this episode Lou tries to answer the question, "Did John Brown celebrate Christmas?" This leads us to consider both Thanksgiving and Christmas in the antebellum era, what they represented to the North and South, respectively, and their social significance. Then, taking a quick tour of the archives, Lou pulls some different vignettes relating Joh…

1
A Text For the Nation: John Brown Beyond Biography 30:26

2+ y ago30:26

30:26

In this episode, Lou reflects upon the 1859 words of abolitionist orator Wendell Phillips, that the hanged John Brown had "given this nation a text." Lou considers how W.E.B. DuBois used the abolitionist as a text in writing his biography John Brown in 1909. Almost seventy years later, the leftist historian Albert Fried likewise did so in the writi…

1
John Brown, Abraham Lincoln, and the Moral Core: A Juxtaposition for December 2 49:17

2+ y ago49:17

49:17

In this episode, Lou reflects upon the "moral core" of Brown and Lincoln in juxtaposition. Mainly considering how these men are viewed in terms of religion and in regard to their roles in human liberation, Lou argues that Lincoln is neither a prophet nor a martyr, and that he is bested in both categories by Brown. This episode is dedicated to the a…

1
Explaining John Brown Correctly: A Conversation with Dan Morrison 32:41

2+ y ago32:41

32:41

In this episode Lou talks with Dan Morrison, a journalist and artist who lives in Torrington, Connecticut, the birthplace of John Brown. The basis of the conversation is Dan's recent explainer video, "Was John Brown a Terrorist?" an Explainer Video which succinctly and effectively addresses a theme that so many have distorted and skewed. Dan is a l…

1
Mary Ellen Pleasant and "The Rule of Credible Evidence" 26:24

2+ y ago26:24

26:24

In this episode, Lou discusses the story of Mary Ellen Pleasant, an African American woman who has been lauded for her civil rights activities in 19th century San Francisco, but--more important to this podcast--claimed to have been a confidant and supporter of John Brown. Along the way, Lou shares a number of examples of stories and reports that co…

1
The Voices of the Past: A Conversation with Ian Barford (Part 2) 24:41

2+ y ago24:41

24:41

In this episode, Lou continues his conversation with friend Ian Barford, the actor and Brown-Douglass researcher. In this episode we discuss Ian's project on John Brown's relationship with Frederick Douglass and other black leaders of that period, including the impact that black nationalist archetypes had on Brown's thinking, and in turn how he res…

1
The Voices of the Past: A Conversation with Ian Barford (Part 1) 35:20

2+ y ago35:20

35:20

Welcome back to John Brown Today! In this episode, the first of two parts, I'm talking with my friend, Ian Barford, a Tony-nominated actor who is also a John Brown enthusiast and, in his own right, quite a scholar and researcher. For some years now, Ian has been working artistically on the theme of John Brown and Frederick Douglass, and I'm excited…

1
Reading John Brown's "A Declaration of Liberty" (July 4, 1859) 49:57

3y ago49:57

49:57

In this episode, Lou reflects on the text of John Brown's 1859 document, "A Declaration of Liberty," which was intended as the official pronouncement of the liberation movement and "guerrilla" state that he intended to establish in the South after staging a political demonstration at Harper's Ferry. After his movement failed and Brown was taken at …

1
Father and Son 42:40

3y ago42:40

42:40

In this special Father's Day episode, Lou reflects on the example and influence of Owen Brown (1771-1856), the father of abolitionist John Brown. From Connecticut to the Ohio wilderness in the early 19th century, father and son Brown share a common religious faith and zeal for human rights and opposition to slavery. Special attention is paid to Joh…

1
John Brown Remembrance (2020) 10:53

3y ago10:53

10:53

This is the edited audio of a short video done to commemorate the 220th birthday of John Brown in 2020. This brief reflection on Brown's life and significance entails his upbringing, biographical profile, his impact on anti-colonial revolutionaries, his cultural diminishment in the USA, and concludes with statements by Frederick Douglass (read by M…

1
John Brown's Best Friend in the Twentieth Century 38:29

3y ago38:29

38:29

In this episode, Lou recalls the important role of Boyd B. Stutler (1889-1970), "the godfather of John Brown scholars." Lou sketches Stutler's life, from his youth as a newspaperman and one of the youngest mayors in his era, to his role as a war time correspondent and veterans' magazine editor. Above all, Stutler was the key figure in gathering Joh…

1
Hurrah For Old John Brown: The July 4th 1860 Meeting at John Brown's Farm & Grave 53:43

3y ago53:43

53:43

In this John Brown birthday episode, Lou presents a reflection upon the "reunion" meeting at John Brown's farm that took place on July 4, 1860, before the Brown family sold the property and relocated to California three years later. Based on an account published in William Lloyd Garrison's The Liberator (July 27, 1860), Lou reflects on this meeting…

1
"God's Angry Men" Revisited 18:49

3y ago18:49

18:49

In this episode, Lou discusses the historical and cultural context of Charles Sheldon's 1910 poem, "God's Angry Men," which compares the biblical liberator Moses with John Brown. Opening with a reading of the poem by actor Norman Marshall, Lou revisits Sheldon as a clergyman in the "social gospel" tradition, and also features a couple rare vignette…

1
Letters and Friends: A Zoom Conversation with Margaret Washington! 50:36

3y ago50:36

50:36

In the first installment of a feature called "Letters and Friends," Lou meets (via zoom) with the wonderful scholar and author, Margaret Washington of Cornell University, author of a number of important works, especially Sojourner Truth's America (2009). The conversation, built around a letter by John Brown to his wife, Mary, in January 1858 (trans…

1
"Never Tell It": John Brown and the Masonic Lodge 43:01

3y ago43:01

43:01

In this episode, Lou reflects upon the story of John Brown's involvement in the Masons, first his membership and then his drastic turnabout in becoming an antagonistic opponent of the "Worthy Brotherhood." Not only is this a peculiar aspect of Brown's biography, but it raises some questions, including if Masons then and now continue to claim John B…

1
Zooming John Brown: A Visit with Terry Leonino & Greg Artzner of Magpie 56:56

3y ago56:56

56:56

In this episode, Lou pays a zoom visit to the award-winning folk musicians and activists Terry Leonino and Greg Artzner, the duo known as Magpie. Since 1973, Terry and Greg have brought their unique sound and remarkable versatility to audiences everywhere, featuring traditional and vintage Americana to contemporary and stirring original composition…

1
All Their John Browns (With Some Lincoln Birthday Fun) 40:58

3y ago40:58

40:58

How many John Browns can you think of? In this episode, Lou shares some reflections on biography and how John Brown has been portrayed in biographical and cultural terms since his death in 1859 and up through today. While this episode is about Old Brown, there is some reflection on Old Abe, but rest assured, it's all in good fun. Or is it? I doubt …

1
Pulled Back In: America’s Good Terrorist and the Mind of Old Virginia--A Review 42:15

3y ago42:15

42:15

In this episode, Lou reviews America's "Good Terrorist": John Brown and the Harper's Ferry Raid, by Charles P. Poland, Jr., Ph.D. "[W]hile this is a new book," Lou observes, "there is something very old about it, a refurbished version of the old anti-Brown story that was so pervasive from the early-to-mid-20th century—that old hackneyed tale of Joh…

1
John Brown's Bankruptcy Bookshelf 33:35

3+ y ago33:35

33:35

What can be learned by looking at a person's bookshelf? In this episode, Lou reflects upon John Brown's early business and financial difficulties and argues that despite the simplistic and often manipulative way that writers have portrayed this theme in Brown's biography, few if any biographers have taken an adequate look at both Brown's business l…

1
Catch Him if You Can: The True Story of Alexander Ross, John Brown’s Fraudulent “Friend” 25:42

3+ y ago25:42

25:42

One of the most incredible stories related to John Brown that really is not about him is the story of Alexander Milton Ross, a Canadian public figure of the nineteenth century. Ross was most widely known and celebrated in the later nineteenth century because of his antislavery activities and his reputation as a leading abolitionist figure prior to …

1
"Emperor" Shields Green--A Hollywood Movie and My Book Too 18:36

3+ y ago18:36

18:36

Spoiler Alert! If you have not seen the popular movie, "Emperor," you may want to watch it before you listen to this podcast. In this episode, Lou discusses the somewhat mysterious life of Shields Green, a.k.a. Emperor, one of John Brown's Harper's Ferry raiders. As Lou recounts, it was the making of the "Emperor" movie that prompted him first to w…

1
"What Was John Brown Like?" A Biographer's Deep Dive 36:17

3+ y ago36:17

36:17

In this episode, Lou takes a "deep dive" on understanding John Brown as a person, from describing his physical and personality traits to an extended discussion about Brown's religious views and his inclination to take up for the underdog. Arguing that Brown certainly is different from popular portrayals, Lou unpacks a biographer's perspective on "t…

1
The Fool as Biographer: Otto Scott and "The Secret Six" 26:46

3+ y ago26:46

26:46

In this episode, Lou discusses the hostile book about John Brown by the late scholar, Otto Scott, The Secret Six: John Brown and the Abolitionist Movement. Scott was a skillful researcher and writer who devoted his life to working for the corporate world, but contributed heavily to racist, right-wing, and white nationalist Christians. His work on B…

1
John Brown, Philadelphia, and a Decoy Coffin 31:54

3+ y ago31:54

31:54

In this episode, Lou shares the climaxing chapter in John Brown's story--his death, and tells how his body was carried to Philadelphia, Pa., in route to burial in the Adirondacks. Centering the story on Philadelphia, Lou reflects on Brown's previous visits to the City of Brother Love, including the decisive role that Frederick Douglass played in Br…

1
Pottawatomie, 1856: The Political and the Personal 31:24

3+ y ago31:24

31:24

In this episode, Lou considers one of the most controversial themes in the John Brown story: the Pottawatomie killings of May 1856. Lou argues that there is a standard bias in the way many narrators deal with the controversial Kansas episode, when Brown and his men killed five proslavery neighbors along the Pottawatomie Creek. All too often, popula…

1
The "Battle Hymn" Revision, White Liberals, and Malcolm X 24:16

3+ y ago24:16

24:16

In this episode, we explore the origins of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," reflecting upon the myths and realities of the "white liberal" abolitionist orientation of writer Julia Ward Howe and the pacifist abolitionist elites, and their motivations for rewriting "The John Brown Song." Viewing the "The Battle Hymn" as an intentional replacement o…

1
How a Theater Critic Saved the Freedom of the Press in 1859 12:43

3+ y ago12:43

12:43

In this episode, we meet the forgotten journalist, Edward "Ned" House, who was the clandestine reporter for Horace Greeley's New York Daily Tribune at the time the paper was banned in Virginia following John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry. Tribune, an antislavery Bohemian, worked as the Tribune's theater critic, but because he held Democratic party…

1
"The Good Lord Bird" and the Uses of Art 17:36

3+ y ago17:36

17:36

In this episode, "The Good Lord Bird," both the novel by James McBride and the SHOWTIME series adaptation by Ethan Hawke are considered with respect to the relation of fiction to history. There is a difference between the use of fiction in collaboration with history and the use of fiction to rewrite history, Lou contends, and in the case of Old Joh…

1
Why Were You Miseducated About John Brown? 29:49

3+ y ago29:49

29:49

In this podcast, Louis DeCaro Jr. welcomes listeners and introduces himself with some reflections about the significance of John Brown in history, especially relating to the black struggle for justice. DeCaro then discusses the story behind Brown's damaged reputation in history, particularly how white society was miseducated and why. Hey friends, c…