The Ice King | Frozen Assets | 2
American History Tellers
Wondery
4.7 • 18.3K Ratings
🗓️ 17 December 2025
⏱️ 41 minutes
🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In 1806, Frederic Tudor set out to build a fortune by shipping ice from his family’s pond near Boston to the tropical Caribbean—an audacious idea no one believed in. But turning frozen water into profit proved far harder than he imagined. By 1809, an embargo had halted his shipments, his debts had mounted, and Tudor himself landed in jail. Still, he refused to abandon the dream that everyone else mocked. Forced to improvise, innovate, and gamble, Tudor pushed ahead—determined to make the impossible pay.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Picture this. You're transported back in time, witnessing history unfold right before your eyes, without any modern day interruptions. |
| 0:07.3 | That's the magic of Wondery Plus. |
| 0:09.2 | Immerse yourself in the stories that shaped our nation with ad-free episodes, early access to new seasons, and exclusive bonus content. |
| 0:16.1 | Join Wondry Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts and experience American history like never before. |
| 0:35.6 | Imagine it's fall 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. |
| 0:40.0 | You're marching down a damp stone corridor in the local jail. |
| 0:43.8 | At the end of the hallway, you wait as the jailer unlocks a heavy wooden door and pushes it open. |
| 0:50.8 | Inside, your 26-year-old son, Frederick, rises from a bench. He smooths down his rumpel jacket and runs his |
| 0:58.0 | fingers through his hair. Earlier today, he was arrested for failing to pay his debts. The moment you |
| 1:04.2 | heard, you rushed to the jailhouse, but you're not sure whether to help your son or just let him |
| 1:09.0 | face the consequences of his actions. |
| 1:11.7 | Frederick gestures to the bench. |
| 1:13.6 | Father, you can sit if you'd like. |
| 1:16.0 | You eye the rough, rickety planks. |
| 1:18.3 | I'll stand. |
| 1:20.1 | Frederick slumps back down onto the bench. |
| 1:22.3 | It wobbles under his weight. |
| 1:24.0 | Am I supposed to sleep on this thing? |
| 1:26.3 | I suppose they'll give you a blanket. When can I get |
| 1:29.1 | out of here? Not until your debt's paid. And how am I supposed to repay anyone from a cell? |
| 1:34.7 | You shake your head, dismayed at your son's naivete. You can't. Your only choice is to rely on your |
| 1:41.4 | friends and family. Frederick looks at you with pleading eyes. Well, please, father, I can't stay here. You say nothing, the silence hanging in the air. The blood drains from Frederick's face. You are getting me out of here, right? It's not that simple. You know, I can't keep bailing you out. My own situation isn't what you think. But I'm not asking for a handout. I'll repay every cent when I'm back on my feet. I just need the chance to rebuild my business. Oh, it's that silly business of yours that got you into this mess. The ice trade will make a fortune. You'll see. No, it won't. Promise me you'll give up on this fools, Aaron, Frederick. Isn't it |
... |
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