Episode Description
Jerry Landry of Presidencies of the United States
SUMMARYIn this episode, Sebastian sits down with Jerry Landry, the creator and host of the Presidencies of the United States podcast — a long-running show that has explored American presidential history from George Washington to the present day through more than 300 episodes.
Jerry shares the origin story of the podcast, tracing it back to a personal reading project, an April 2016 election that left people hungry for historical context, and a first show dedicated entirely to William Henry Harrison. Over the course of the conversation, Jerry and Sebastian dig into the philosophy behind the show — why the presidency is never just about one person, how cabinet members and first ladies can reshape everything we think we know about a president, and why a figure as vilified as Aaron Burr deserves a more nuanced second look.
They also cover the practical realities of building and sustaining a history podcast over nearly a decade: navigating social media, making smart use of AI tools, guesting on other shows, building a fiercely loyal audience, and staying credible in an era of deep public distrust. Jerry closes with a passionate argument for lifelong learning, stepping outside the podcast echo chamber, and three history podcast recommendations for listeners looking to expand their queue.
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IN THIS EPISODE[00:00] — Welcome & introductions. Sebastian introduces Jerry Landry and the Presidencies of the United States podcast.
[00:49] — Origin story. How the 2016 election and a personal presidential biography reading project inspired Jerry to launch the show. Why he started with William Henry Harrison, and what drove him to go back to the very beginning with George Washington.
[04:06] — Research framework. The core questions Jerry uses to structure each presidential series — how each president approached the office, major events of their tenure, and lasting historical significance — and why the framework needs to stay flexible across very different eras.
[07:14] — Beyond the president. Why Jerry dedicates episodes to first ladies, cabinet members ("A Seat at the Table"), and vice presidents, and how the VP series started as an April Fools' joke that took on a life of its own.
[10:00] — Hidden historical gems. The case of Benjamin Stoddart — the first Secretary of the Navy under John Adams — as an example of a supporting figure who completely reframes our understanding of a presidency when viewed from his own perspective.
[12:50] — Making history feel like a story. Jerry's philosophy as a "bridge" between academic scholarship and general audiences, the role of delivery and voice, and how his partner's advice — "it's not what you say, it's how you say it" — has shaped his approach to writing and recording.
[16:04] — How the presidency has evolved. Reflections on nearly a decade of research and how the relationship between the federal government and everyday American life has fundamentally changed from the early Republic to the modern era.
[18:40] — AI tools in research and production. How Jerry uses AI as a litmus test for historical accuracy, why he still relies on himself for the actual research, and the specific ways platforms like Riverside have made production tasks like episode summaries and title brainstorming easier.
[22:30] — Growing the podcast: lessons from eight years. The first question Jerry tells every aspiring podcaster to ask themselves, why passion and sustainability matter more than growth tactics at the start, and what it felt like the first time a stranger recognized him at a history conference.
[25:26] — Social media strategy. Which platforms have worked best for Presidencies, why different platforms attract different types of listeners, and why Jerry cautions new podcasters against trying to do everything at once.
[29:25] — Podcast guesting and community. Jerry's 25–30 guest appearances on other shows, why the history podcasting community is unusually collaborative and supportive, and how word-of-mouth remains the single most powerful discovery tool.
[31:27] — Casual listeners vs. hardcore fans. The data behind Presidencies' audience makeup, what a recent "top 15 US history podcasts" feature said about Jerry's "fiercely loyal" listeners, and how different series formats serve different listener types.
[34:10] — Can podcasting be a career for historians? An honest look at monetization realities, why Jerry still has a day job, and why he believes historians should consider podcasting as part of a broader career that includes speaking engagements, book deals, and nonprofit partnerships.
[36:50] — Dream tools. If Jerry could wave a magic wand: faster, smarter audio editing tools that keep things sounding organic. Where AI-assisted editing is already helping — and where it still falls short.
[39:05] — Credibility in an era of distrust. How Jerry uses 300+ cited sources per presidential series, the difference between primary and secondary sources, and how he signals uncertainty to listeners rather than projecting false confidence.
[43:08] — Rethinking Aaron Burr. Why the standard "villain of the early Republic" narrative falls apart under scrutiny, and Jerry's broader argument for approaching all historical figures as complex, whole human beings rather than statues or demons.
[46:56] — Podcasts, echo chambers, and civic discourse. The role podcasting played in the last election cycle, whether the relative lack of algorithmic curation in podcasting is a feature or a bug, and why Jerry thinks cross-genre discovery — and collaboration between podcasters — is essential to breaking out of information bubbles.
[56:36] — Three podcast recommendations. Jerry's picks for standout shows in the history podcasting community.
[59:38] — Where to find Jerry. All the places to connect with Presidencies of the United States online.
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RESOURCES & LINKSGuest
- Presidencies of the United States Podcast - presidenciespodcast.com
- Bluesky
- Twitter / X
- Threads
Podcasts Mentioned / Recommended by Jerry
- Civics & Coffee — hosted by Alicia; American history in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee
- The Turning Tides Podcast — hosted by Joe; deep dives into special historical topics (Jerry has appeared as a guest)
- Kingdom: Swedish Rulers — hosted by Chris; deep-dive Scandinavian history, including the new Kingdom series on Swedish monarchs
Tools & Platforms Mentioned
- Riverside — recording and remote interview platform; used by Jerry for recording and AI-assisted clip generation and episode summaries
Historical Figures & Topics Referenced
- William Henry Harrison (9th President — the shortest presidential term in U.S. history)
- Benjamin Stoddart — first Secretary of the Navy under John Adams
- Aaron Burr — Vice President and historical "villain" whose story Jerry argues is far more complicated than the standard narrative suggests
- Thomas Jefferson's presidency and family, including his daughters' roles
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