As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, three Virginia Tech history students are revisiting the American Revolution in a new way.

Natalie Miller, Macie Kendrick, and Bridget Miller, advised by faculty member Dan Thorp, wrote and produced "The Patriot Papers," a six-episode podcast that explores a familiar chapter in American history while offering new perspectives. Their work highlights how student scholarship can extend beyond the classroom into accessible formats for a broader audience.

“We felt compelled to revisit this chapter of history as we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of our nation,” Bridget said. “It’s a really important story.”  

Revisiting the revolution

Natalie and Macie recently graduated with bachelor's degrees in history and will begin Virginia Tech's M.A. in history program this fall. They and Bridget, a senior, had long shared a passion for studying the American Revolution. The three students deepened their interest in the subject after taking a course with Dan Thorp, associate professor of history. Soon after, they began exploring how to revisit a familiar story in a new format and decided on podcasting, an approach that allowed more flexibility. 

Rather than follow a strict chronology, Bridget, Macie, and Natalie organized the podcast around six themes. The episodes move from the causes of unrest to the early years of war, regional and demographic differences, key military developments, international influences, and the challenges of building a new nation. Their goal with these episodes is to present a comprehensive view of the American Revolution while also including perspectives that are often overlooked.

“It was really important to us to highlight the stories of enslaved Africans, Native Americans, women, and other minorities that played roles in the American Revolution,” Natalie said. “As we approach the 250th anniversary of America’s founding and the war that got us here, the importance of representing historical accuracy and listening to what historians have to say is paramount.”

Award support turns podcast idea into reality

Last fall, Macie, Natalie, and Bridget were selected for the Undergraduate History Research Award, which made the project possible. The funding allowed them to pursue an independent study with Thorp, dedicate time to researching, writing, and producing the podcast, and take a research trip to a Revolutionary-era site in North Carolina.

“The award was really meaningful because it gave us the opportunity to take the study of history out of the classroom and onto a dynamic project,” Macie said.

Faculty mentorship and skill development

While the students had prior experience with podcasting thanks to their personal podcast, "The Past is Podcast," this project required a more structured approach. They enrolled in a course on writing for podcasts, met regularly, and sought feedback from Thorp throughout the semester. Always eager to learn and improve their skills, Macie, Natalie, and Bridget were grateful for his guidance.

“Dr. Thorp was an incredible asset to our project,” they said. “A podcast isn’t the most traditional research project, so we really appreciate him letting us dive in and create something new and unique.”

A wider lens on a familiar history

For Macie, Natalie, and Bridget, the goal of "The Patriot Papers" is to help listeners walk away with at least one new insight about the American Revolution. Rather than retell a familiar story, they place well-known events into a broader context, showing how the Revolution unfolded within the colonies, the British Empire, and across the globe.

Designed to appeal to a broad audience, each episode connects to the next while focusing on a distinct aspect of the Revolution, inviting both newcomers and history enthusiasts to engage with the material. Ultimately, they hope listeners come away with a clearer understanding of the American Revolution as a global event.

Through "The Patriot Papers," Macie, Natalie, and Bridget reexamined a defining moment in history while demonstrating how academic curiosity can extend beyond the classroom in new and creative ways.

"The Patriot Papers" is available on Spotify and YouTube.

Written by Cammie S.