Grim Philly

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Revolutionary War Philadelphia IV - George Washington Aug 03, 2026

Show notes

Every American Presidents have drawn inspiration from America’s first who was himself was cautious in knowing what he did would inspire and set precedent for every Commander and Chief to follow. George Washington knew his strengths, his weaknesses; evolved and grew as a man, a commander, and leader of men. His inspiration, his character and openness to hearing out and considering the thoughts of subordinates drew admiration and loyalty. Grim Philly examines how General Washington’s strength of character evolved during his time in and around Philadelphia; and retells colorful stories from the General’s life – including his involvement with Free Masonry. We examine his strategy and tactics, attempts by others to oust him, and primary source materials held by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania written in George Washington’s own hand; and, from others of his time. We tackle too difficult questions regarding the enslaved members of George and Martha Washington’s Philadelphia household in Philadelphia where he served as America’s First President. And his own fallible yet evolving thoughts and actions as he eventually freed all of those enslaved persons who he held in bondage.

Journey with us too into the depths of unexpected and spectacular 18th century heroics from Alexander Hamilton and the Count de Lafayette during The Revolution in Philadelphia. Included also are discussions of revolutionary war tech, logistics, Washington’s “wooden” teeth, and the compelling lore of one Philadelphia spy’s secret assistance for George Washington’s infamous crossing of the Delaware River outside Philadelphia on Christmas night, 1776.

Revolutionary War Philadelphia III - They Died on the Fourth of July Jul 04, 2026

Show notes

The budding Philadelphia bromance of Founders Thomas Jefferson and John Adams along with the teary-eyed and tender last moments of spymaster John Andre from those with him at the gallows both are explored As are many other unexpectedly wild stories from The Revolution like the theft of Thomas Paine’s bones by grave robbers and what has become of them.

Our deepest gratitude as well to Dr. Arron Sullivan for his exceptional Revolutionary Wartime strategic analysis and research in to the Philadelphia occupation during the war, and continued readings from his book, “The Disaffected:Britain's Occupation of Philadelphia During the American Revolution.” Available from University of Pennsylvania Press.

The Disaffected – Penn Press

Revolutionary War Philadelphia II - Spies and Free Masons Jun 29, 2026

Show notes

War, intrigue, Alexander Hamilton fawning over the spymaster John Andre, and the capture of the city of Philadelphia by hostile enemy forces. Lighting our homes on fire while inviting our daughters to parties and desecrating Independence Hall. The wartime occupation of Philadelphia was the high-point of the American Revolution in so many ways.

Join Grim Philly as we unfold for you a more compelling, terrifying and hopeful story than any Hollywood story ever could. With spine-tingling and touching human stories from the Revolution, New York to Philadelphia.

Revolutionary War Philadelphia I - The Disaffected Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

At the dawn of 1776 Philadelphia was the largest city in north America…bigger than Boston and New York combined. A strategic port for the hearts and minds of colonists: for revolutionaries and for the crown. Both would occupy Philadelphia by force at different times no matter what Philadelphians thought about it.

Join Grim Philly as we flesh out the entire grey area of The Revolution and Philadelphia’s place in it: for loyalists, for The Church, for revolutionaries, and for The Disaffected – the majority of Philadelphian’s who were in fact neutral.

We talk Generals Washington, Howe, Burgoyne, strategy; bootcamps and battles too. We set the scene and immerse you in what it would have been like to Be a Philadelphian in 1776, and dive in to the hard questions historians always ask about those in the middle.

grimphilly.com for history tours and more podcast listening.

Vikings III - Blood Eagle Revisited with Dr. Amanda Weimer Jun 01, 2026

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Vikings III - Blood Eagle Revisited with Dr. Amanda Weimer

Vikings II - Real vs History Channel Vikings with Dr. Amanda Weimer May 04, 2026

Show notes

Ancient tattoos, Greenlandic Viking settlements, and the adventures of Bjorn Ironside. Grim Philly continues our Viking sagas with Dr. Amanda Weimer with more on dragons and the land spirits, dragon ships and Viking nautical tech and hygiene; and the mascara of floki. Part II of III: Real vs History Channel Vikings with Dr. Amanda Weimer.

Vikings I - Dragons and Ragnar Lodbrok with Dr. Amanda Weimer Apr 06, 2026

Show notes

Ragnar Lodbrok fights a dragon to get the girl and other primary source stories from the sagas with Grim Philly Podcast and Tours and Viking Archaeologist Dr. Amanda Weimer.

grimphilly.com for more listening and the best history tours in the city of Philadelphia.

Interview with a Serial Killer – Happy Face Killer Keith Jesperson Speaks with Grim Philly Oct 20, 2025

Show notes

Celebrity Serial Killer portrayed by Denis Quad speaks with Grim Philly about murder, prison, motive. WARNING/ADVISORY: this is an uncensored psychopath in his own words. Do not listen to this if you are sensitive, a victim, know a victim, or easily triggered. Part I of others that will not be made publicly available.

Jersey Devil: Origin and Roots, Part V Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

With a ghost story or two, the mythical cryptid of the New Jersey Pine Barrens’ historical and literary origins are explored from colonial settlement to modernity – and retold through research and banter in this previously unreleased audio from our Jersey Devil series. Joe Wojie, Britnee Smith, Ted Sisco, Tim Collins, and Lauren Krupinski discuss The Devil of Leeds, Daniel and Titan Leeds, early colonial settlements and the governments of New Jersey and New York, the supposed cross-dressing governor Edward Hyde (Lord Cornbury), and how a series of historical personalities and events converged to inform our modern conception of the mythical monster of legend commonly understood as The Jersey Devil.

Bedlam Asylum - Interview on-Location in London - Highlights Nov 04, 2024

Show notes

Professor Joe visits London on-location inside Bedlam Asylum in England with Curator David Luck, in person. Then, visits on-location in Scotland to interview Dr. Gayle Davis, Deputy Head of the History Department at University of Edinburgh about her research in to sex and the asylum where-as applicable to Bedlam and The British Asylum System. Please enjoy here highlight clips from the both in-person interviews in The British Isles, from our larger archive recorded back in 2019. Visit https://www.patreon.com/grimphilly this winter for the three-part Bedlam interview in full (with an earlier introduction), and become a patron, there.

For your friendship and support these many years we are ever so humbled and grateful and can not wait to bring to you more global and local true crime and history stories when we return next fall.

Visit https://www.grimphilly.com/ for live historian-led history and dark history walks year-round in Philadelphia additionally for the highest rated tours in Philadelphia and amongst the highest rated in The United States for 2023 and 2024 which we remain still currently ranked for our daytime and nighttime history tours, both. https://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-ThingsToDo-cTopExperiences-g191#25

Thank you to Anuj Agarwal and Feedspot for ranking us #1 Pennsylvania True Crime Podcast -https://podcast.feedspot.com/philadelphia_history_podcasts/?feedid=5497005&_src=f2_featured_email

And to Goodpods for ranking us #1 Dark Histories Podcast globally. - https://goodpods.com/leaderboard/top-100-shows-by-category/other/dark-history?period=alltime#60797433

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