Episodes

  • Episode 11: Bach Cello Suites [Concert]

    Episode 11: Bach Cello Suites [Concert]
    Mar 3 2026
    Baroque cellist and music historian Eve Miller presents some of Johann Sebastian Bach’s most beloved compositions. She plays and talks about the 2nd and 3rd suites, along with music of Supriani, Gabrielli and Dall’Abaco.
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Pennsylvania Before Penn

    Pennsylvania Before Penn
    Jan 10 2026
    While the New Sweden colony lasted just seventeen years, from 1638 to 1655, its long-lasting influence is significant. Rev. Dr. Kim-Eric Williams describes New Sweden’s fascinating creation, accomplishments, and tragic end.
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • A New Art With Us: Music in Colonial Philadelphia

    A New Art With Us: Music in Colonial Philadelphia
    Jan 4 2026
    “Music is a new Art with us,” wrote Benjamin Franklin to a friend in Scotland in 1763, explaining that the American colonies were still young and had not yet produced a distinctive body of music. Franklin’s statement was especially true of his adopted hometown, Philadelphia. Founded by Quakers, who eschewed all forms of music, Philadelphia was slow to develop a public musical life. By the time of the American Revolution, however, the city had a lively music scene and was the center of arts and culture in America. Of particular interest will be discussion of two important musical events at Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church soon after its completion in 1700. Historian, archivist and author Jack McCarthy describes this transformative time in Philadelphia's cultural history.
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    1 hr and 35 mins
  • Episode 08: Homecoming 250: Navy and Marine Corps [Lecture + Q&A]

    Episode 08: Homecoming 250: Navy and Marine Corps [Lecture + Q&A]
    Jul 23 2025
    George S. Leone, president and chair of Homecoming 250, discusses Philadelphia’s close ties to the Navy and Marine Corps. He also describes some of America’s most famous heroes … who made their mark when Philadelphia was the largest port in British North America and the second-largest English-speaking city in the world.
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    59 mins
  • The Idle American: Rambos Back When [Bonus]

    The Idle American: Rambos Back When [Bonus]
    Jan 13 2025
    In this bonus episode, Dr. Don Newbury describes how Todd Compton explored the acknowledged grave of his ancestor Peter Gunnarsson Rambo (1611-1698) using ground penetrating radar.
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    Less than 1 minute
  • Episode 07: The Music of 1700 [Concert + Q&A]

    Episode 07: The Music of 1700 [Concert + Q&A]
    Oct 15 2021
    In this episode, musician Maria Dell’Orefice tells us about the music enjoyed when Philadelphia’s Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church completed construction in 1700. Maria performs music of the time and provides background commentary about the individual pieces.
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Episode 06: The Perils of the Sea [Lecture + Q&A]

    Episode 06: The Perils of the Sea [Lecture + Q&A]
    Jul 9 2021
    In this episode, historian and journalist Michael Schreiber shares his research into the lives and deaths of Philadelphia sea captains in the age of sail who were overcome by great hurricanes, succumbed to attacks by pirates, or who mysteriously disappeared in faraway waters.
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    1 hr and 20 mins
  • Ask Us Anything [Bonus]

    Ask Us Anything [Bonus]
    Feb 28 2021
    In this bonus episode, Rev. Dr. Kim-Eric Williams, Jeanette Woehr, Michael Schreiber and Amy Grant answer questions about the New Sweden Colony, Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church and Early Philadelphia.
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    56 mins