Rooted in Revolution

Before independence had a declaration, it had a voice.

In this episode of Rooted in Revolution, we step into the charged atmosphere of colonial Virginia to explore the life and legacy of Patrick Henry—the fiery orator whose words ignited resistance and helped push a reluctant colony toward rebellion.

From the courtrooms and assembly halls of Virginia to the echoing chambers of St. John’s Church, Henry’s speeches did more than persuade—they awakened a people. His famous cry, “Give me liberty, or give me death,” was not theatrical bravado, but a calcul...

Duration: 00:02:08

Before independence had a declaration, it had a voice.

In this episode of Rooted in Revolution, we step into the charged atmosphere of colonial Virginia to explore the life and legacy of Patrick Henry—the fiery orator whose words ignited resistance and helped push a reluctant colony toward rebellion.

From the courtrooms and assembly halls of Virginia to the echoing chambers of St. John’s Church, Henry’s speeches did more than persuade—they awakened a people. His famous cry, “Give me liberty, or give me death,” was not theatrical bravado, but a calcul...

Duration: 00:02:08

Rooted in Revolution is a limited podcast series exploring the true stories that shaped Central Virginia during the colonial and Revolutionary eras—told from the ground up.

Set along rivers, roads, plantations, and early towns, the series uncovers the people and moments often left out of traditional history: enslaved men and women, Indigenous communities, local families, forgotten crimes, quiet acts of resistance, and the moral conflicts that unfolded as a nation was being born.

Each episode blends careful historical research with immersive, cinematic storytelling—bringing listeners into a world where law was...

Duration: 00:00:51

Murder on the James is a cinematic, historically grounded true-crime episode that explores a violent death along Virginia’s most important Revolutionary-era waterway. Set against the backdrop of plantations, river commerce, and early American courts, the episode examines how justice operated when the law was young, evidence was fragile, and power shaped outcomes.

Inspired by real locations, period court practices, and documented social conditions, this episode blends careful research with restrained dramatization to illuminate how crime—and accountability—functioned in Revolutionary Virginia.

Historical Disclaimer (included in episode):

This episode is a h...

Duration: 00:07:15

Set along the banks of the James River and rooted in the red clay of Central Virginia, the Rooted in Revolution trailer introduces a historical podcast that goes beyond the legends to uncover the lives, conflicts, and crimes that shaped early America.

Through immersive sound design and narrative storytelling, the trailer teases real events drawn from court records, community testimony, and overlooked history—where power, silence, and survival often mattered more than justice. From Indigenous displacement to Revolutionary-era violence and whispered crimes in places like Lynchburg, this series explores the truths history tried to bury.

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Duration: 00:01:08

Rooted in Revolution is a Central Virginia-based historical podcast that tells the stories behind the people, places, and moments that shaped a nation—starting right here at home.

Written and produced by Samantha Griffin, this limited series honors America’s 250th anniversary by focusing on real lives connected to Lynchburg and the surrounding region. From enslaved women who stitched their way toward freedom, to Revolutionary families who bore the cost of independence close to home, to faith leaders and quiet heroes whose courage rarely made the history books—these are the stories history often forgets.

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Duration: 00:00:51

Before she became one of the most sought-after dressmakers in Washington, D.C., Elizabeth Keckley lived in bondage in Central Virginia. In this opening episode, we trace Keckley’s time in Lynchburg—where her extraordinary skill as a seamstress became a quiet form of resistance. Through relentless work, strategic saving, and unshakable resolve, she purchased freedom for herself and her son. This episode grounds a national story in a local place, revealing how courage often unfolds far from the spotlight.

What You’ll Hear

Lynchburg in the 1840s: a grow...

Duration: 00:03:29