The Railsplitter: The Abraham Lincoln Podcast

#151 The Conspirator

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 19:42:57 -0400

This week we discuss the film, The Conspirator, in collaboration with Civil War Breakfast Club podcast. It was directed by Robert Redford and premiered in 2010 at the Toronto International Film Festival (with a wider release in 2011.)

#150 CNN Original Series "Lincoln: Divided We Stand" (Episodes 3 - 6) & News

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 19:04:39 -0400

This week on the show we finish our discussion of the CNN Original Series "Lincoln: Divided We Stand" and mention a few news items as well.

#149 Secretary of War Simon Cameron

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 20:54:08 -0500

On this week's show we discuss Lincoln's first Secretary of War, Simon Cameron, and the events that led to his "firing."

#148 CNN Original Series "Lincoln: Divided We Stand" (Episodes 1 & 2)

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 18:23:56 -0500

This week we discuss the first two episodes of the CNN Original Series "Lincoln: Divided We Stand".

#147 Books We've Read & Books We're Reading

Fri, 05 Feb 2021 18:27:05 -0500

This week we discuss books we read in 2020 and books we are looking forward to (that are being published in 2021).

#146 Attack on the United States Capitol

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 20:08:50 -0500

This week we discuss the attack on the US Capitol and how it connects back to Lincoln and the Civil War.

#145 2020 Holiday Episode

Fri, 18 Dec 2020 21:12:33 -0500

It's time for our annual Holiday episode! We hope everyone has a safe and healthy holiday season and wish all of our listeners the very best in 2021.

#144 Lincoln, Buchanan & the Transition of Power

Fri, 04 Dec 2020 20:53:26 -0500

We discuss the transition of power between Buchanan & Lincoln which was undoubtedly a challenging one.

EDITOR'S NOTE: We had some issues with mics during this episode so the sound quality isn't as good as I would have liked it to be. I'll work on correcting this for the next episode.

#143 The 157th Anniversary of the Gettysburg Address

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 18:14:20 -0500

"..of the people, by the people..."

This week we discuss the Gettysburg Address on its 157th anniversary.

#142 If Abraham Lincoln Were Here in 2020

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 18:05:58 -0400

This week we are focused on the election and apply what we have learned about Lincoln and how it relates to 2020.

#141 The Supreme Court of the United States & Lincoln

Fri, 16 Oct 2020 22:16:40 -0400

This week we discuss the recent activity surrounding the Supreme Court of the United States and as it was during Lincoln's presidency.

#140 Lincoln's 2020

Fri, 25 Sep 2020 19:13:52 -0400

This week we discuss Lincoln and the year 1862 which was his 2020. Also, we introduce the first ever Railsplitter dad joke (thanks, Jeremy).

#139 Lincoln News: the Good, the Weird, the Bad & the Ugly

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 19:20:21 -0400

This week we take a look at a wide variety of Lincoln news from the last month or so including the good, the weird, the bad and the ugly.

#138 The Current State of Things in the USA

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 20:46:45 -0400

This week we diverge from Lincoln and history to discuss the current state of things in the United States.

#137 Lincoln's Secretaries - Part 2

Fri, 21 Aug 2020 20:59:42 -0400

We're back at it after a month-long summer break to bring you the conclusion of our discussion on Lincoln's secretaries. This episode is all about John M. Hay.

#136 The 54th Massachusetts & "Glory"

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 20:50:15 -0400

This week we talk about the 54th Massachusetts and the movie "Glory" with our guest Darin.

#135 Railsplitter Book Club: “Tried by War” by James McPherson - Part 4

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 21:50:32 -0400

This week we dive into our 4th and final installment of this edition of The Railsplitter Book Club with Chapter 10 and the epilogue of James McPherson's "Tried by War".

#134 The Vicksburg Campaign Part 2

Fri, 10 Jul 2020 21:51:18 -0400

This week we conclude our discussion on the Vicksburg Campaign and what it meant to the outcome of the Civil War. We even get into a little East vs. West!

#133 Confederate Monuments

Fri, 03 Jul 2020 18:31:33 -0400

This week we discuss the current state of Confederate monuments and statues in America.

#132 An Interview with Nathan Raab

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 20:00:00 -0400

This week we are joined by Nathan Raab, author of, "The Hunt for History." He is a principal at the Raab Collection, a historian, an expert in authenticity, a consultant, and a dealer in important historical documents.

#131 A Discussion of HISTORY's Miniseries "Grant"

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 20:00:00 -0400

This week we discuss HISTORY’s three-night miniseries, “Grant.”

#130 Railsplitter Book Club: “Tried by War” by James McPherson - Part 3

Fri, 29 May 2020 20:00:00 -0400

This week we continue with The Railsplitter Book Club by discussing chapters 7 - 9 of James McPherson's "Tried by War".

#129 A Chat with Christian McWhirter

Fri, 22 May 2020 20:00:00 -0400

This week we welcome Christian McWhirter back to the show. He tells us how the ALPLM is faring during the pandemic, what he's been working on as well as an article he wrote that was in the Chicago Sun-Times.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/4/30/21242933/civil-ward-family-households-coronavirus-pandemic-covid-lincoln-library-museum-christian-mcwhirter

#128 Lincoln's Secretaries - Part 1

Fri, 15 May 2020 20:00:00 -0400

This week we begin a two-part series on Abraham Lincoln's private secretaries, starting with John G. Nicolay.

#127 16 and 45

Fri, 08 May 2020 20:00:00 -0400

Earlier this week, #45 was interviewed at the Lincoln Memorial and we thought that warranted some discussion.

#126 Railsplitter Book Club: “Tried by War” by James McPherson - Part 2

Fri, 01 May 2020 21:39:45 -0400

This week we continue with The Railsplitter Book Club by discussing chapters 4 - 6 of James McPherson's "Tried by War".

#125 The Book Club Episode That Wasn't

Fri, 24 Apr 2020 20:00:00 -0400

In typical Railsplitter fashion we go off the rails and discuss the trailer for the upcoming miniseries, "Grant" which premieres on May 25. We'll get to the book club in our next episode.

#124 When You Need a Night to Just Talk Lincoln

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 21:57:18 -0400

Our lives in quarantine seem unstructured and so does this episode. We needed a night to just talk about whatever Lincoln-related topics popped into our heads.

#123 Railsplitter Book Club: “Tried by War” by James McPherson

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 20:00:00 -0400

Our third installment of The Railsplitter Book Club kicks off with discussing chapters 1 - 3 of James McPherson's "Tried by War".

#122 Lincoln and Viruses

Fri, 03 Apr 2020 20:27:43 -0400

As the world navigates its way through the current COVID-19 pandemic, we welcome Dr. David J. Kent back to the show to share his insights on various illnesses that President Lincoln suffered from through the years.

https://www.facebook.com/DavidJKentWriter/

#121 Abraham Lincoln Children's Books

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 21:19:23 -0400

Looking for something to do with your kids? Here's a few book recommendations if you're stuck inside during the COVID-19 pandemic.

#120 Railsplitter Book Club: Round #3

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 20:48:40 -0400

Social distancing can be tough and unfortunately it is absolutely necessary right now. We have something that can help foster a sense of community and that is the Railsplitter Book Club! We share our picks and just need our listeners to vote.

#119 The Vicksburg Campaign Part 1

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 23:40:04 -0400

This week we begin our discussion of the Vicksburg Campaign. We talk about the importance of this fortified city as well as the early struggles by the Union to secure it.

#118 A "Lost" Trailer & Found Sketches

Fri, 06 Mar 2020 21:19:55 -0500

This week we discuss the trailer for a Grant documentary that has disappeared from YouTube as well as some sketches of Lincoln by cartoonist, Thomas Nast, that were discovered.

#117 Happy Birthday Lincoln and General Sherman

Fri, 21 Feb 2020 22:49:47 -0500

In this episode we talk about General Sherman's bi-centennial and Lincoln's birthday - what presents would we get him?

#116 Photographing Lincoln...Statues

Fri, 07 Feb 2020 20:19:49 -0500

This week we are joined by Lincoln aficionado and photographer, Dave Weigers! He has managed to combine his two hobbies and in this episode we talk about photographing Lincoln statues.

#115 Civil War Reenactment

Fri, 31 Jan 2020 22:12:07 -0500

This week we welcome Ben Frail, who is a Civil War reenactor, to the show. We talk reenacting, the history of the 2nd Rhode Island as well as bringing history to the younger generation.

#114 Impeachment

Fri, 17 Jan 2020 22:44:03 -0500

In this episode, we tie in the modern day as well as looking at the historical - the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson.

#113 We're Back and So is the Hat (& Books!)

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 22:13:45 -0500

We are back with our first episode of 2020! The famous hat makes a reappearance and we discuss books we read in 2019 and ones we want to read this year.

#112 A Conversation About Presidential Photography with Pete Souza

Fri, 27 Dec 2019 18:16:01 -0500

In our second episode about photography we are joined by former White House photographer, Pete Souza, as he chats with us about Presidential photography, the White House, and much more. Enjoy!

instagram.com/petesouza

BONUS: Holiday Greetings

Tue, 24 Dec 2019 17:00:00 -0500

Just a quick episode to reflect on 2019 and a look ahead to 2020. Thanks to all of our listeners for joining us on this journey!

#111 Civil War Photography

Fri, 20 Dec 2019 21:26:53 -0500

In this episode we talk about Civil War photography in relation to Mathew Brady and Alexander Gardner.

#110 Battles for Chattanooga Part 2

Fri, 06 Dec 2019 19:00:00 -0500

In this episode, we discuss the final two battles that would see the Union secure Chattanooga - Missionary Ridge and Ringgold Gap.

#109 Battles for Chattanooga Part 1

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 20:00:00 -0500

We're back with the Chattanooga campaign and in this episode we discuss the military situation plus the first battle that leads to the Union finally gaining control over the city.

#108 Interview with Dr. Tom Peet

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 19:00:00 -0500

This week we chat with Dr. Tom Peet, who is the co-author of a Lincoln resource titled, "Reading Lincoln: An Annotated Bibliography" that is a must-have for anyone who studies the 16th president.

#107 Anne Rutledge & Mary Owens

Fri, 01 Nov 2019 20:54:23 -0400

In this episode, we discuss two other important women in the life of Abraham Lincoln: Anne Rutledge and Mary Owens.

#106 News & Arizona Connection to Lincoln and the Civil War

Fri, 25 Oct 2019 21:07:58 -0400

We have a couple of news items to share and also discuss Arizona's connection to Lincoln and the Civil War.

#105 Interview with "Young Lincoln" Author Jan Jacobi

Fri, 11 Oct 2019 21:23:59 -0400

This week we are joined by Jan Jacobi, author of "Young Lincoln," a Nautilus Book Award winner. We hope you enjoy this fun and informative interview!

#104 From Public History to Lincoln with Bjorn Skaptason

Fri, 04 Oct 2019 20:14:54 -0400

This week we are joined by special guest Bjorn Skaptason from the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop in Chicago.

alincolnbookshop.com

#103 The Battle of Chickamauga: Part 2

Fri, 27 Sep 2019 08:00:00 -0400

This week we conclude our discussion on the Battle of Chickamauga including its aftermath.

#102 The Battle of Chickamauga: Part 1

Fri, 20 Sep 2019 18:30:57 -0400

This week marks the 156th anniversary of the Battle of Chickamauga and we spend this episode talking about the leadup, Chattanooga's strategic importance to both the Union and the Confederacy as well as the events of September 18, 1863; the first day of the battle.

#101 The Papers of Abraham Lincoln

Fri, 13 Sep 2019 21:32:53 -0400

This week we are joined by two special guests from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum: Christian McWhirter, Lincoln Historian and Daniel Worthington, Director of the Papers of Abraham Lincoln. We touch on our Museum visit before getting into the Papers of Abraham Lincoln project and also discuss Lincoln's time in the Legislature and Congress.

papersofabrahamlincoln.org

#100 Episode the Hundredth

Fri, 06 Sep 2019 18:08:13 -0400

How are we at 100 episodes already?!

Railsplitter Mary traveled to Springfield, IL over Labour Day weekend and met up with Railsplitter Nick and Railsplitter Jeremy for the first time ever to record this milestone episode. We take a look back at our first 99 episodes and talk about our time here.

#99 Springfield

Fri, 30 Aug 2019 08:00:00 -0400

We talk Springfield, IL history in preparation for our upcoming road trip there over Labour Day weekend for our 100th episode!

#98 Trivia!

Fri, 16 Aug 2019 17:00:00 -0400

This week Jeremy challenges Nick and Mary with some Lincoln-related trivia questions.

#97 Lots of News & History Parodies

Fri, 02 Aug 2019 19:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we've got a few news stories to share and we discuss Lincoln in history parodies.

#96 The Trio is Back!

Fri, 19 Jul 2019 20:38:47 -0400

Feel like hanging out with the Railsplitters? That's exactly what this episode is! The three of us talk books, recent trips and our upcoming 100th episode!

#95 The Battle of Gettysburg: Part 3

Fri, 12 Jul 2019 20:43:58 -0400

This week is the third and final installment of our discussion about the Battle of Gettysburg. Also, we start the episode with a surprise!

#94 The Battle of Gettysburg: Part 2

Fri, 05 Jul 2019 20:49:59 -0400

We discuss day 2 of the Battle of Gettysburg and we have a very exciting announcement regarding our 100th episode!

#93 The Battle of Gettysburg: Part 1

Fri, 28 Jun 2019 18:08:53 -0400

As the 156th anniversary approaches, we discuss the events leading up to as well as day 1 of the Battle of Gettysburg.

#92 Visit to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

Fri, 21 Jun 2019 18:12:02 -0400

Nick takes a trip to Springfield and interviews Christian McWhirter (@CLMcWhirter) from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

#91 History Travels

Fri, 14 Jun 2019 18:39:33 -0400

It's history travel time again! This week we discuss some historical sites we have visited recently, both Lincoln & Civil War related.

#90 Chancellorsville Part 2

Fri, 07 Jun 2019 19:00:00 -0400

This week we conclude our discussion on the Battle of Chancellorsville.

#89 Chancellorsville Part 1

Fri, 24 May 2019 17:52:10 -0400

We begin our discussion on Chancellorsville, one of the more complicated battles of the Civil War.

#88 General "Fighting" Joe Hooker

Fri, 03 May 2019 17:27:27 -0400

It's another episode with Lincoln and one of his Generals. This week we are discussing General "Fighting" Joe Hooker!

#87 History Travelling

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 18:03:11 -0400

On this episode we discuss some travelling to battlefields and other historic sites. Also, an exciting announcement about a new Civil War-related statue!

#86 The Battle of Shiloh

Fri, 12 Apr 2019 19:00:00 -0400

This week we discuss the Battle of Shiloh.

#85 General Grant & Lincoln: Part 2

Fri, 29 Mar 2019 17:51:05 -0400

It's the second & final installment of our discussion about General Grant.

#84 General Grant & Lincoln: Part 1

Fri, 22 Mar 2019 19:48:57 -0400

This week is part 1 of our discussion on General Grant & Lincoln!

#83 Lincoln's Inaugural Journey

Thu, 07 Mar 2019 20:41:30 -0500

This week we discuss Lincoln's Inaugural Journey from Springfield to Washington, DC.

#82 Railsplitter Book Club: The Conclusion of "Lincoln's Greatest Speech"

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 19:55:17 -0500

In this week's episode, we discuss the last two chapters and epilogue of our latest book in the Railsplitter Book Club, "Lincoln's Greatest Speech" by Ronald C. White, Jr.

#81 Happy Birthday, Lincoln!

Thu, 14 Feb 2019 19:39:40 -0500

In this episode we are celebrating Lincoln's birthday! We talk presents & traditions in our usual Railsplitter style. Thanks to our listeners for the contributions they gave us!

#80 Railsplitter Book Club "Lincoln's Greatest Speech"

Thu, 07 Feb 2019 19:03:49 -0500

In this week's episode, we discuss chapters 5, 6 & 7 of Ronald C. White's book, "Lincoln's Greatest Speech." Also, Nick does not mention Millard Fillmore.

#79 A Review of the Nat Geo Docudrama "Killing Lincoln"

Thu, 31 Jan 2019 19:43:19 -0500

Dave Taylor (@boothiebarn) joins us again & we discuss the 2013 National Geographic documentary, "Killing Lincoln."

#78 Books, Books, Books

Thu, 24 Jan 2019 19:39:34 -0500

This week the podcast is all about BOOKS! We discuss books that we read in 2018 & what we're looking forward to reading in 2019, including what some of our listeners had to say.

#77 The Battle of Fredericksburg Part 2

Thu, 10 Jan 2019 23:26:44 -0500

We finish our chat about Fredericksburg including some great insight from Mary and an accounting of Nick's recent visit to the place where it happened.

#76 Lincoln's Greatest Speech TRBC2 Part 1

Thu, 20 Dec 2018 23:02:53 -0500

This is the first installment of the second running of The Railsplitter Book Club in which be chat about the first four chapters of Ronald C. White's Lincoln's Greatest Speech. Happy Holidays to you and your families!

#75 Fredericksburg Part 1

Thu, 13 Dec 2018 23:10:09 -0500

We wish Mary Lincoln a happy 200th and start a chat about Fredericksburg.

#74 Lincoln Gift Ideas

Thu, 06 Dec 2018 22:43:38 -0500

We give you all kinds of ideas for items to put on your list or to get for the Lincoln lover on your list. We also introduce The Railsplitter merch shop where you can get shirts, hoodies, or a coffee mug. Check it out: www.teespring.com/stores/therailsplitterpodcast

#73 The Gettysburg Address's 155th

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 10:30:00 -0500

Mary share her experience in Gettysburg for the 155th anniversary of Lincoln's famous speech.

#72 Abraham Lincoln and The Press

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 22:52:26 -0500

We chat this week about Abraham Lincoln and The Press focusing on his early role as an editorialist through his relationship with newspapers as President.

#71 45 on 16

Sat, 03 Nov 2018 11:00:00 -0400

The current president has been talking about our hero. We break it down and offer our thoughts on how this administration is wrong about Lincoln.

#70 The Lincoln Memorial

Thu, 01 Nov 2018 21:59:51 -0400

We chat all about The Lincoln Memorial this week!

#69 Railsplitter Book Club 2 Kickoff

Thu, 11 Oct 2018 23:56:29 -0400

We're starting up another Railsplitter Book Club, and we need your help choosing the book. We talk about the options and ask for your vote. Then there's quite a lot of chatting this week. Enjoy!

#68 The 1864 Election Part 2

Thu, 04 Oct 2018 11:00:00 -0400

We conclude our coverage of the 1864 election by talking about the general election pitting our hero Abraham Lincoln against General George B. McClellan.

#67 Drama at the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum

Thu, 27 Sep 2018 11:00:00 -0400

Whoa! Lincoln news big enough for a whole episode! We talk about recent developments at the ALPLM, focusing on The Hat and the dismissal of the curator.

#66 The 1864 Election Part 1

Thu, 20 Sep 2018 11:00:00 -0400

In the first of a two parter on Lincoln's re-election. We set the stage for the election and chat about Lincoln's nomination over rivals like William Sewward and Salmon Chase.

#65 Springfield

Thu, 13 Sep 2018 11:00:00 -0400

We take you through some Lincoln and non-Lincoln sites in Springfield, provide some restaurant recs, and avoid mentioning The Simpsons.

#64 Finding Lincoln

Thu, 06 Sep 2018 11:00:00 -0400

Does anyone else look for Lincoln in every town they visit? We chat this week on seeking out 16 and Civil War stuff in unlikely locations. Send us your favorite Lincoln spots!

#63 Hot Takes on Abraham Lincoln

Thu, 30 Aug 2018 11:00:00 -0400

Each of us brings a question or topic to the show to get the other two Railsplitters' take on for this week's show. We talk a little about Lincoln's empathy as it related to his rivals and a lot about Lincoln biographies.

#62 Abraham Lincoln, His Dog Fido, and His Love for Animals with Matthew Algeo

Thu, 23 Aug 2018 11:00:00 -0400

We welcome Matthew Algeo, author of Abe and Fido, a book about the Lincoln family dog. Matthew shares his vast knowledge of Lincoln's relationship with animals, especially the lovable mutt Fido.

#61 Abraham Lincoln and Education

Thu, 16 Aug 2018 11:00:00 -0400

It's Back to School time! Hear all about Lincoln's education, learning like Lincoln, and Lincoln's education policy.

#60 Lincoln as Seen by Some of his Contemporaries

Fri, 10 Aug 2018 23:49:14 -0400

We talk about how some folks talked about Lincoln back in his time. We even discuss a poem! Check it!

#59 Abraham Lincoln and Joshua Speed

Thu, 02 Aug 2018 11:00:00 -0400

This week we talk about Lincoln's best friend, Joshua Speed. We have listener supplied content from Railsplitter Andrea from her visit to the Speed Home in Farmington, KY. Check it out!

#58 General George Meade (and Lincoln)

Thu, 26 Jul 2018 22:22:03 -0400

Learn about the Forgotten General! We talk Meade, Gettysburg, and the war in general this week.

#57 Touring Civil War Battlefields

Fri, 20 Jul 2018 11:23:28 -0400

We're back! This week we chat about which Civil War battlefields we've visited, how we like to visit them, and interesting things we've seen at them.

#56 Abraham Lincoln and The Supreme Court

Thu, 05 Jul 2018 23:15:48 -0400

We break down Dred Scott, Lincoln's views on The Court and The Constitution, and his appointments on this week's show.

#55 Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter

Fri, 29 Jun 2018 21:13:04 -0400

We have our long awaited discussion of the 2012 film Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter. We're lucky to have a pop culture connoisseur, Jeremy from GDP Radio (@gamesday). This was super fun to record. We hope y'all enjoy it too!

#54 Habeas Corpus Schmabeas Schmorpus

Thu, 21 Jun 2018 21:09:33 -0400

We're holding you without a trial! We chat about one of the most controversial topics in Lincolnland, his suspension of the writ of habeas corpus. Give it a listen!

#53 Teaching The Civil War

Thu, 14 Jun 2018 22:45:13 -0400

Join us as we chat about how to teach learners of any age about The American Civil War.

#52 Random Musings on Lincoln

Fri, 08 Jun 2018 17:33:34 -0400

So we started out planning on having four or five quick hitting stories or thoughts on Lincoln. As we do, we got a little carried away! So we're a little all over the place, but it was fun. Hope you enjoy!

#51 Memorial Day, Abraham Lincoln, and The Civil War

Thu, 31 May 2018 22:49:49 -0400

This week we talk about honoring service men and women who gave the last full measure of their devotion with emphasis on Lincoln and The Civil War.

#50 Lincoln in the News

Thu, 17 May 2018 22:51:50 -0400

We break down recent news about the ALPLM's collection and some potential moves to the auction block and some other hot topics in the World of Lincoln.

#49 Mothers Day: Abraham Lincoln's Mothers and Mary Lincoln as a Parent

Thu, 10 May 2018 22:03:37 -0400

Happy Mothers Day! This week we talk about the mothers in Abraham Lincoln's life: Nancy, Sarah, and Mary. They are in many ways the unsung heros of his life.

#48 Civil War Music with Dr. Christian McWhirter of the ALPLM

Thu, 03 May 2018 21:57:19 -0400

This week we talk with historian and Civil War music expert Dr. Christian McWhirter. Christian is a research historian at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and author of Battle Hymns: The Power and Popularity of Music in The Civil War.

#47 The Association of Lincoln Presenters Conference

Thu, 26 Apr 2018 17:47:02 -0400

Nick and Jeremy spent some time with some Lincoln presenters. They put on a terrific conference. Hear all about it on this episode.

#46 Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America with David J. Kent

Thu, 19 Apr 2018 16:06:51 -0400

In this final installment of the first Railsplitter Book Club, we chat for about 20 minutes about the last two chapters and then welcome author David J. Kent to talk about his book and all things Lincoln.

#45 The Lincoln Funeral Train with Shannon Brown

Thu, 12 Apr 2018 21:02:51 -0400

Hear the fascinating story of the Lincoln Funeral Train through our chat with Shannon Brown, Director of Education and Publicity for the replica of Lincoln's funeral car.

#44 Dispatches from the Field

Thu, 05 Apr 2018 19:11:20 -0400

Mary went to Chickamauga, and Nick went to the L-D Debate site in Charleston. We hear about each with Nick providing a new, journalistic feel for this week's show in a new format we hope to use from time to time. Enjoy!

#43 Checking in with The Railsplitters

Thu, 29 Mar 2018 17:32:53 -0400

We chat about the new exhibit at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and about what the summer holds for The Railsplitter Podcast.

#42 The Attempted Theft of Lincoln's Body in 1876

Thu, 22 Mar 2018 16:55:33 -0400

#42 Dr. Kevin L. Burke brings his talk about a band of would-be body snatchers and their plot to steal Lincoln's body in 1876. It's a hilariously wild ride! Enjoy!

#41 The Better Angels of Our Nature: Lincoln's First Inaugural

Thu, 15 Mar 2018 16:33:38 -0400

We've been touched by the better angels of our nature! This week episode focuses on Lincoln's First Inaugural.

#40 Railsplitter Book Club: Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America Part 2

Thu, 08 Mar 2018 13:00:03 -0500

We have our second installment of The Railsplitter Book Club where we discuss chapters 5-8 of David J. Kent's Lincoln: Them Man Who Saved America. Whether or not you're reading along with us, this is a fun look at Lincoln's law practice, presidential election, and first two years in office.

#39 What We Think About When We Think About Lincoln

Thu, 01 Mar 2018 17:13:56 -0500

Countless times on any given day Abraham Lincoln pops into The Railsplitters' heads. This week we chat about how, why, and when that happens. We do talk history, but this one's a lot about what it feels like to be a true Lincoln geek.

#38 Lincoln's Humor

Thu, 22 Feb 2018 16:01:51 -0500

Abraham Lincoln was a funny man! This week we take a look at his sense of humor and how knowing about it is essential to understanding his character and his political genius.

#37 Lincoln and Other Presidents

Thu, 15 Feb 2018 23:37:10 -0500

For Presidents Day we take a look at Lincoln's influence on other presidents.

BONUS: Happy Birthday, Mr. Lincoln!

Sun, 11 Feb 2018 21:09:31 -0500

It's a special bonus episode for Abraham Lincoln's 209th birthday! We list 209 reasons why we love Mr. Lincoln! Happy Birthday!

#36 Railsplitter Book Club: Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America Part 1

Thu, 08 Feb 2018 23:32:51 -0500

This week is the first installment of our first edition of The Railsplitter Book Club. We talk about the first four chapters of David J. Kent's Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America. If you have not read it, don't worry. There's plenty of content for everyone!

#35 Mary Lincoln with Dr. Stacy Pratt McDermott

Thu, 01 Feb 2018 11:04:18 -0500

This week we welcome historian and Mary Lincoln expert Dr. Stacy Pratt McDermott. She shares some great insight into Mrs. Lincoln and a little about her work with the Lincoln Papers.

#34 Lincoln's Assassination Part the Third

Thu, 25 Jan 2018 16:25:55 -0500

In our third and final (for now) episode on the assassination, we have more with Dave Taylor, @BoothieBarn. We get more into the conspiracy and answer questions from our listeners.

#33 Lincoln's Assassination Part the Second

Thu, 18 Jan 2018 09:42:23 -0500

We welcome Dave Taylor, an expert on Booth and the assassination, to the show this week. He talks about the major players and events surrounding the assassination. It was so informative that we're bringing him back next week!

#32 Lincoln's Assassination Part the First

Thu, 11 Jan 2018 15:16:58 -0500

Today's is a more general conversation about the Lincoln assassination. We will continue the conversation next week with a very special guest!

#31 Books, Books, Books

Thu, 04 Jan 2018 13:24:37 -0500

This week we talk about our favorite Lincoln and Civil War book we read in 2017, what we are looking forward to reading in 2018, and what we always enjoy reading. We also unveil our selection for the first installment of The Railsplitter Book Club.

#30 Lincoln's Mic Drops

Thu, 28 Dec 2017 23:07:59 -0500

This week we each bring a few quotes from Abraham Lincoln that qualify as "Mic Drops." They range from the hilarious to the insightful to the downright brilliant. We also talk about a few ideas we have for some upcoming episodes that we need your input on. Happy New Year!

BONUS EPISODE- #18 That's What He Said

Sun, 24 Dec 2017 12:35:15 -0500

Happy Holidays! As a bonus episode, we are posting the lost That What He Said episode. We had some technical issues with this one and had to take it down. We fixed many of those issues, but some remain. In it, we talk about specific lines from Lincoln's speeches that resonate strongly with each of us. We hope you enjoy this extra show and have a great holiday with your loved ones.

#29 Happy Holidays from The Railsplitters!

Thu, 21 Dec 2017 21:52:49 -0500

Happy Holidays! In this shorter episode we chat about recent happenings in the world of Lincoln and wish you all a wonderful holiday season!

#28 Lincoln's Addresses to Congress

Thu, 14 Dec 2017 16:08:41 -0500

We take a look at Lincoln's States of the Union this week. We start with a list of books recommended by a Civil War buff and go over some Lincoln-related holiday gifts. Then we break down some often overlooked but important Lincoln speeches.

#27 Lincoln, The Civil War, and Star Wars

Thu, 07 Dec 2017 23:30:31 -0500

We get creative this week as we cast Abraham Lincoln, his Cabinet, and his contemporaries as if they were in the Star Wars universe. We were happy to have John from The Blockade Runner podcast as a guest. We've caught The Last Jedi Fever and brought Abraham along for the ride!

#26 AP Q&A

Thu, 30 Nov 2017 12:35:36 -0500

The AP US History students from Nick and Jeremy's school submitted questions to The Railsplitters to help them learn about The Civil War Era. They are deep and insightful and a few are a lot of fun!

#25 The Thanksgiving Episode

Thu, 23 Nov 2017 12:31:48 -0500

We talk about Abraham Lincoln's role in establishing Thanksgiving as a national holiday. We start with some banter about the recently passed anniversary of The Gettysburg Address and get into the holiday's history. We close with some thanks to each other and all of you!

#24 Portraying Lincoln: Peculiar Inspirations

Thu, 16 Nov 2017 15:20:25 -0500

We chat with Ro Serio, playwright of Peculiar Inspirations, a play featuring the characters Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd, Robert Todd, Billy Herndon, and many more. We talk about the joys and challenges of bringing the Lincolns to life. We were lucky to be joined by three actors from the show. Join our Facebook group or follow us on Twitter and Instagram @railsplitterpod to join in on the conversation.

#23 Analyzing The Civil War From 2017

Fri, 10 Nov 2017 20:04:04 -0500

This week we talk about the legacy of The Civil War and about how we look at it through a 2017 lens. Enjoy! Please rate and review on iTunes and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @railsplitterpod.

#22 Abraham Lincoln Trivia

Thu, 02 Nov 2017 08:41:14 -0400

It's a Trivia showdown! We welcome Lee DiGeorge from the Something, Something Birds podcast and AJ Mass from Beat My Guest. Lee hosts as Nick and Jeremy go up against Mary and AJ in a Lincoln trivia battle. Keep your score along at home and see how you fare against the Railsplitters!

#21 Abraham Lincoln and Mental Health

Thu, 26 Oct 2017 17:34:03 -0400

We talk about Lincoln's depression and how it shaped who he was as an individual and as a leader. We also talk about the stigma surrounding mental health and how learning about history can help foster an informed discussion of it and destigmatize it.

#20 Music Inspired by Abraham Lincoln

Thu, 19 Oct 2017 12:12:23 -0400

We each talk about and play for you two songs that we feel have echoes of Lincoln in them. None of them are overtly about AL, but all of them conjure his spirit in different and interesting ways. This was a fun one to record!

#19 Abraham Lincoln Artifacts

Thu, 12 Oct 2017 11:33:04 -0400

This week we talk about our favorite Abraham Lincoln artifacts and what they've meant to us. We also appease Ncik's desire to continually joke about his nemesis, POTUS13.

#17 A Friend of Mr. Lincoln with Stephen Harrigan

Wed, 11 Oct 2017 15:39:12 -0400

For our very special 16th episode, we decided to feature the most important aspect of the show, the listeners! We interviewed four of ya'll. Each call led to a fun and enlightening conversation about our hero, Abraham Lincoln. I think all of our listeners will have fun with this one. We are still a young show, but #16 is very special to us and so are our listeners.

#16 We Love Our Listeners; Our Listeners Love Lincoln!

Wed, 11 Oct 2017 15:38:08 -0400

#15 Ken Burns

Wed, 11 Oct 2017 15:36:23 -0400

We talk about our opportunity to hear Ken Burns and Lynn Novick speak, their upcoming Vietnam War project, and what The Civil War docuseries meant to each of the Three Railsplitters. Feel free to slowly pan across images of Abraham Lincoln or The Railsplitters to get in the Ken Burns mood.

#14 Captain Lincoln and The Blackhawk War

Wed, 11 Oct 2017 15:34:21 -0400

The Three Railsplitters take you on a tour of Abraham Lincoln's brief but significant military experience. He served three tours during the Black Hawk War of 1832.

#13 Spielberg's Lincoln

Wed, 11 Oct 2017 15:28:38 -0400

The three Railsplitters talk about the 2012 masterpiece Lincoln. We each chat about a scene we feel is most impactful and talk about many different aspects of the film. Throughout the episode, Mary and Jeremy find about 6,521 ways to disagree with Nick. It's great fun!

#12 The Fort Sumter Quagmire

Thu, 24 Aug 2017 12:31:07 -0400

All three Railsplitters talk about the quagmire surrounding Lincoln just hours after his inauguration, Fort Sumter. We start with a quick conversation on the proposed HBO show Confederate and close with a very creepy This Week in Lincoln.

#11 Lincoln's Legacy with Race with Dr. Ibram X .Kendi

Thu, 17 Aug 2017 08:11:45 -0400

We explore Lincoln's legacy with regard to race with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. Dr. Kendi earned the 2016 National Book Award for his work Stamped from the Beginning: A Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. We talk about Lincoln's role in the history of racist and anti-racist ideas, Dr. Kendi's book, and about race in America today. Please send us your feedback @railsplitter pod on Twitter or Instagram or by joining our Facebook group. Today's episode is just a small part of the vital ongoing natoinal conversation about race, but it is one we are proud to have been able to do.

#10 Abraham Lincoln and General William T. Sherman (plus a little about US Grant)

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 12:36:39 -0400

We have a third Railsplitter this week! Blogger Civil War Fangirl joins us to chat about the latter stages of the Civil War. We talk about parrellels between Sherman and Lincoln and what that meant for the end of the war and beyond. We also have an excellent submission for This Week in Lincoln from Mary, Civil War Fangirl herself!

#9 The Abraham Lincoln Home with Ranger Rose Harmon

Thu, 03 Aug 2017 12:55:06 -0400

We talk with National Park Service Ranger Rose Harmon who works at the Lincoln Home! She shares some great stories about the famous house on 8th and Jackson in Springfield and some of her experiences as a ranger there. Ranger Rose's passion for her work, knowledge and appreciation for Lincoln, and fun and engaging demeanor made this interview an abolute treat!

#8 The Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum with Dr. James Cornelius

Thu, 27 Jul 2017 17:38:05 -0400

We visited the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and chatted with Dr. James Cornelius, the curator of the Lincoln collection. Dr. Cornelius's knowledge of Lincoln and his ability to humanize him in conversation is truly breathtaking. This conversation left us thinking about the collection and Lincoln for days. What a treat is was to meet and talk with one of the sharpest Lincoln minds in the world!

#7 Steampunk Lincoln with Jacopo della Quercia

Thu, 20 Jul 2017 19:16:10 -0400

We have Jacopo della Quercia as a guest this week! He wrote The Great Abraham Lincoln Pocket Watch Conspiracy. He talks about Lincoln, his writing process, the novel, and much more. He was a delight to have on the show! We also reveal a long term project we are starting for Railsplitter Nation. Check it out!

#6 Lincoln and Rasslin'!

Thu, 13 Jul 2017 22:41:28 -0400

Welcome to the Main Event! This week we talk about Lincoln's legacy as an amazingly talented wrestler and what it means about his character and his legacy. As always, we will end with our patented finishing move, This Week in Lincoln!

#5 A Monumental Episode!

Thu, 06 Jul 2017 22:05:53 -0400

We discuss how and why we love finding Lincoln monuments while traveling, take you through some we experienced this week in Chicago and Boston, and touch on the debate over Confederate monument removal. Then we talk about a fun Lincoln related toy in This Week in Lincoln.

#4 The 1860 Fatal 4-Way!

Fri, 30 Jun 2017 01:40:53 -0400

This week we're talking about the 1860 Presidential Election. We spend a little time talking about recent buzz around the Baberaham Lincoln statue in Chicago, and we have a book review of The Fiery Trial by Eric Foner. Our This Week in Lincoln features an epiclly fun comic book series.

#3 A House Divided

Thu, 22 Jun 2017 22:21:46 -0400

This week, we talk about Daniel Day-Lewis and his retirement, a story about a recent big donation of Lincoln artifacts, and focus in on the famous House Divided speech. We end the episode as we always do, with our This Week in Lincoln. Thanks for checking us out! Please rate and review us on your podcast app.

#2 The 1860 Nomination

Thu, 15 Jun 2017 23:13:41 -0400

We talk about some news events related to Abraham Lincoln and break down the 1860 Nomination fight. This Week in Lincoln is an epicly tragic painting Nick stumbled upon.

#1 The Inaugural

Thu, 08 Jun 2017 23:30:36 -0400

It's The Inaugural episode of The Railsplitter: The Abraham Lincoln podcast. We introduce ourselves and the show. We talk about our plans for the podcast, including what we hope it will be and what it won't be. Our main goal is to have fun. Follow us @railsplitterpod on Twitter and Instagram or email us at therailsplitterpodcast@gmail.com. Enjoy!