Every Town - Listen Now: American History Tellers | The Mayflower

Episode Date: November 5, 2025

The Cold War, Prohibition, the Gold Rush, the Space Race. Every part of your life - the words you speak, the ideas you share - can be traced to our history, but how well do you really know the stories that made America? We'll take you to the events, the times and the people that shaped our nation. And we'll show you how our history affected them, their families and affects you today. Hosted by Lindsay Graham (not the Senator). Listen to American History Tellers: Wondery.fm/AHT_ET Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

carried 102 men, women and children, risking it all to start again in the new world. Every week on American history tellers, host Lindsay Graham takes you through the moments that shaped America. In the latest season, explore the untold story of the Pilgrims, one that goes far beyond the familiar tale of the first Thanksgiving. After landing at Cape Cod, the Pilgrims forged an unlikely alliance with the Wampanog people, and they helped them survive the most brutal winter they had ever known. laying the foundation for a powerful national myth. But behind that story lies another, one of conflict, betrayal, and brutal violence

against the very people who helped them survive. You're about to hear a clip from American History Tellers and follow American History Tellers on the Wondry app or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine it's October 1620. It's late at night, and you're on board the Mayflowers. somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. You're the captain of the ship,

and you and your crew are trying to navigate your way through a violent storm. Rain lashes your face as you cling to a rope ladder, bracing yourself as another gigantic wave batters the hull. Bring the light closer. One of your sailors, a greenhorn named Thomas, holds a swinging lantern above you. You lean down to inspect the main timber beam

that runs from one side of the hole to the other. You catch your breath as you discover a large crack running down the center. Oh, God help us. We can't go on like this. You and Thomas climb back down the rope ladder as half a dozen members of your crew gather around you. Thomas plants his boots wide on the lurching deck, raindrops running off the brim of his hat. What do you mean, Captain, we can't go on? She won't hold. I won't risk our lives any longer. These autumn westerlies are making this voyage impossible. It's time to turn back. Crew members stir uneasily. Thomas steps closer, his eyes burning with anger and confusion.

We can't turn back. We've gone too far for that, Captain. No, we must keep pushing west. Look around you. It's been one disaster after another ever since we set sail. Delays, sickness, and now these endless gales. Never should have agreed to sail so late in the year. But we can't turn around. The passengers will have our hides if we don't get them to America. That's if any of them are left. No, but don't you understand if we don't do the job we were hired for and see this voyage through. We won't see a penny.

The ship groans under the force of another wave, and water sloshes across the deck. Every instinct is telling you to turn back, but in the lantern light, you see the desperation in the faces of your crew. Oh, God bless very well. We'll see if the beam can be mended. Someone fetch the screwjack from the hold and we'll try to clamp it back together somehow. Quickly! Thomas rushes off with the other sailors, leaving you staring at the crack in the beam. Against your better judgment, you've bent to your crew's will. But deep in your gut, you know the truth. This storm is only the beginning of your troubles.

Follow American history tellers on the Wondry app or where...