In this episode of History You Didn't Know But Should, Chris and Ray sit down with historian and author Dr. John Garrison Marks.

George Washington is remembered as the "Father of His Country," but his relationship with slavery remains one of the most debated aspects of his life. In this conversation, Dr. Marks discusses how Washington's views evolved, the decision to free those he enslaved in his will, and the centuries long debate over how Americans have remembered his legacy.

Drawing from his new book, Thy Will Be Done: George Washington's Legacy of Slavery and the Fight for American Memory, Dr. Marks takes us beyond the myths and into the historical evidence surrounding one of the most complex figures in American history.

Guest: Dr. John Garrison Marks
Book: Thy Will Be Done: George Washington's Legacy of Slavery and the Fight for American Memory

Built atop the ruins of colonial Brunswick Town, Fort Anderson was one of the Confederacy's most important defenses of Wilmington, North Carolina. In this episode of History You Didn't Know But Should, Chris and Ray explore the fort's strategic role, the February 1865 battle that led to its evacuation, and how its fall helped open the way for the Union capture of Wilmington during the final months of the Civil War.

In this episode of History You Didn't Know But Should, Chris and Ray begin a two-part series exploring Brunswick Town, one of colonial North Carolina's most important yet often overlooked communities. Located along the Cape Fear River, Brunswick Town served as a major center of trade, politics, and culture during the colonial era.

Join us as we examine the origins of Brunswick Town, its connections to Native American history, the colonial economy, and the influential people who helped shape early southeastern North Carolina. Discover the story of a community whose legacy extended far beyond the colonial period, eventually becoming the site of Fort Anderson and playing a role in both the American Revolution and the Civil War.

Whether you're a longtime history enthusiast or just discovering North Carolina's past, Brunswick Town is a story you won't want to miss.

In this episode of History You Didn’t Know But Should, Chris and Ray tell the fascinating story of 10 year old Grace Bedell, the young girl who wrote a letter to Republican presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln and suggested he grow a beard. What happened next became one of the most famous image transformations in American political history.

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In this episode of History You Didn’t Know But Should, Chris and Ray explore a remarkable “what if” moment in American history. On April 14, 1865, the night President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, General Ulysses S. Grant and his wife Julia were invited to join the Lincolns at Ford’s Theatre. They declined. A last minute decision changed their plans and likely saved their lives. Chris and Ray examine why the Grants declined the invitation, what might have happened if they had attended, and how this choice connects to one of the most tragic nights in American history. Sometimes history turns on the smallest decisions.

In this episode of History You Didn’t Know But Should, Chris and Ray welcome Dr. Misti Harper, Assistant Professor of African American Studies at the University of North Carolina Pembroke. The conversation explores the Great Dismal Swamp and the communities that formed within it, focusing on maroons, runaway slaves, and the vital roles women played in sustaining these hidden societies. Dr. Harper sheds light on how people lived, resisted, and built lives in one of early America’s most challenging environments, offering a powerful look at resilience and survival that is too often overlooked.

In this episode of History You Didn’t Know But Should, Ray and Chris dive into the tragic story of the SS Pulaski disaster off the North Carolina coast in 1838. Often called the “Titanic of its time,” the Pulaski carried some of the wealthiest and most connected passengers in America until a catastrophic boiler explosion shattered the illusion of safety in a matter of seconds. From the elite lives on board to the chaos, survival, and a remarkable love story that emerged from the wreckage, this episode explores how one night at sea exposed the dangers of early steam travel and left a lasting mark on maritime history.

In this episode of History You Didn’t Know But Should, Chris and Ray uncover the dark story of Roanoke before the Lost Colony, the failed 1585 expedition led by Ralph Lane. What begins with a missing silver cup spirals into fear, violence, and the killing of Chief Wingina. This isn’t a mystery, it’s a collapse. Along the way, they explore how guns, gold, God, and even the weather helped turn England’s first colony into an early American disaster.