410 The World's First Personal Advice Column

Ben Franklin's World

Liz Covart

Earlyrepublic, History, Benfranklin, Society & Culture, Warforindependence, Earlyamericanrepublic, Earlyamericanhistory, Education, Colonialamerica, Americanrevolution, Ushistory, Benjaminfranklin

4.6 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 6 May 2025

⏱️ 65 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

When did people begin seeking anonymous advice for their most profound personal dilemmas? What can the answers to their early questions tell us about the emotional lives of people in the past? We’re traveling back in time to 1690s England to explore the world’s first personal advice column, The Athenian Mercury. This two-sided broadsheet publication invited readers to send in questions about anything–from science and religion to love and marriage– and its creators, a small group of Londoners who dubbed themselves the “Athenian Society,” answered these queries with a surprising blend of wit, morality, and insight. Joining us for this investigation is Mary Beth Norton, the Mary Donlon Alger Professor Emerita at Cornell University and award-winning historian who is a trailblazer in the field of early American women's history. Mary Beth's Bio | Book Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/410 RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES🎧 Episode 094: Founding Friendships🎧 Episode 112: The Tea Crisis of 1773🎧 Episode 155: Pauline Maier's American Revolution🎧 Episode 294: 1774, The Long Year of Revolution REQUEST A TOPIC📨 Topic Request Form📫 [email protected] WHEN YOU'RE READY🗞️ BFW Gazette Newsletter 👩‍💻 Join the BFW Listener Community LISTEN 🎧🍎 Apple Podcasts 💚 Spotify 🎶 Amazon Music🛜 Pandora CONNECT🦋 Liz on Bluesky👩‍💻 Liz on LinkedIn🛜 Liz’s Website SAY THANKS💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts💚 Leave a rating on Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, this is Matt and McKinley from History Dispatches.
0:07.6	We are the father-son duo bringing you the weird, the wild, the wacky, and the craziest tales from across time.
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0:28.2	podcast app. Welcome to those who can't teach anymore, a narrative podcast series that explores why
0:35.8	teachers are leaving education and what can be done to stop the exodus.
0:39.9	This season, we're getting a look at the year and the life of teachers from across the country through their audio journals.
0:46.2	I am Darcy Aftram Miller.
0:47.6	This is Megan Overgoth.
0:48.5	This is Sophie V.
0:49.4	This is Charlie Blackwood.
0:50.3	This is Taylor Barrett.
0:51.1	This is David Wisker.
0:53.5	Dan Morris.
0:54.0	This is Amanda Smith. Look for those This is David Whisker. Dan Morris. This is Amanda Smith.
0:55.0	Look for those who can't teach anymore, season two.
0:57.6	A different kind of the same thing.
1:00.4	You're listening to an Airwave Media podcast.
1:04.2	Some of these questions seem to be jokes, and they answer them in a jocular fashion.
	...

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