Our guest today is Revolutionary War-era maritime historian Christopher P. Magra of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. At Tennessee, Chris is a Professor of Early American History and the Director of the Center for the Study of Tennesseans and War (formerly the Center for the Study of War and Society). A native of Pennsylvania, Chris earned his BA from Grove City College and MA from Penn State University (where Carol Reardon asked him a really tough question during his thesis defense!), then earned his PhD from the University of Pittsburgh. His work includes The Fisherman's Cause: Atlantic Commerce and Maritime Dimensions of the American Revolution (Cambridge), and Poseidon's Curse: British Naval Impressment and Atlantic Origins of the American Revolution (also Cambridge). His current edited volume of essays titled America's First War: The Military History of the Declaration of Independence (Tennessee) will be released to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in just a couple of weeks! Not one to rest, being a center director and all, he's got a project underway on the manufacture of chocolate- yes, chocolate - in early America.

Join us for a relaxing, fun chat with Chris Magra - we'll talk orange sportcoats, maritime history, running a vaunted oral history program, ensigns, learning on the job market, Tori Amos, Knicks-Spurs, riding mowers, Hershey, PA, and OMG the return of the Pittsburgh Potty! Enjoy this one!

Shoutout to Dead End BBQ and Sweet P's BBQ in Knoxville!

Rec.: 06/10/2026