Virginia History Podcast

In which Thomas Dale tries to shape the colony, Rolfe's tobacco experiment, the growth of the James River Plantations, the Rolfes' travel to England, and Pocahontas dies are recounted.

In which the events leading up to Pocahontas marriage to John Rolfe are recounted.

In which a brief overview of Virginia's history leading to her contribution to Memorial Day is recounted.

In which Thomas Dale arrives, founds Henricus, fights Powhatan, is challenged by the Spanish, and asks for new settlers. The Virginia Company obliges, but has to use Bermuda to raise funds.

In which the Sea Venture survivors arrive, attempt to leave, and are turned back as Lord Delaware shows up, reorganizes the colony, joins a war, and returns to England.

In which the Sea Venture castaways settled into Bermuda, but a series of mutinies threatened to derail their escape plans. Perhaps they would have wished they would have remained on Devil's Isle after they reached Jamestown in May 1610.

In which the Jamestown colony suffers through the Starving Time.

In which the surviving 6 ships make it to Jamestown only to see chaos erupt and John Smith leave Virginia.

In which the third resupply mission sails away from England, endures 7 weeks of calm seas and disease before being tormented by a hurricane. The Sea Venture is then run aground at a frightening location.

In which Smith fights enemies in Virginia and England, endures, but the Virginia Company reforms itself, and thus legally ends Smith's control in Jamestown. 

In which a ghost stories pertaining to Gloucester's Rosewell Plantation from LB Taylor Jr's Ghosts of Tidewater are read.

In which Smith and his men endure a winter storm plagued journey to Werowocomoco, dodge death at Powhatan's hands, and then confront Opechancanough in a deadly standoff.

In which the beginning of John Smith's Presidency, which is challenged by Christopher Newport's arrival, is narrated.

In which, Newport returns, saves John Smith again, meets Powhatan, and returns to England. Then Smith explores the Chesapeake Bay region on two missions before returning to Jamestown to take control of the struggling colony on September 10, 1608 is recounted.

In which details about John Smith's early life are recounted as a segue into his early attempts to save Jamestown from collapse. Along the way, Opechancanough, Powhatan, and Pocahontas are met.

In which Christopher Newport returns to courtly intrigue, while spy games threaten to undermine the Virginia venture. Meanwhile, harsh summer conditions plague the Jamestown colonists, death claims half of the men, and chaos rules supreme. The time is right for a brash upstart to take control. 

In which Christopher Newport explores Powhatan lands along what the English would name the James River, Jamestown is attacked by an Indian alliance, and James Fort had to be built, all before Newport decided to sail back to England on June 22, 1607.

In which the two week period between First Landing at Cape Henry and the colonists choose Jamestown Island as their home is recounted.

In which events concerning the formation of the London Company and the 1607 voyage to Virginia are illustrated.

In which a broader scope of events leading to Jamestown's founding is detailed.