The Ice King | No Joke | 1
American History Tellers
Wondery
4.7 • 18.3K Ratings
🗓️ 10 December 2025
⏱️ 43 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 | As we explore the triumphs and tragedies that shaped America, |
| 0:03.9 | we're always striving to paint a vivid, nuanced picture of the past, |
| 0:07.3 | and with Wondery Plus, you can experience that vision in its purest form. |
| 0:11.0 | Enjoy ad-free episodes, early access to new seasons, |
| 0:13.8 | and exclusive bonus content that illuminates the human stories behind the history. |
| 0:17.9 | Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts and see American |
| 0:21.7 | History through a whole new lens. |
| 0:41.5 | Imagine it's fall 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. |
| 0:44.6 | State Street is alive with carts and carriages, |
| 0:48.6 | but you've been standing still for more than an hour outside the custom house. |
| 0:51.5 | The damp chill has worked its way into your bones. |
| 0:55.0 | But then, at last, you see the man you've been waiting for. |
| 1:00.3 | Frederick Tudor, one of Boston's most notorious young merchants, hustles along the street. |
| 1:04.4 | You step forward and catch him by the arm as he reaches the custom house steps. |
| 1:09.9 | Mr. Tudor? The merchant tries to twist out of your grasp. What's the meaning of you laying hands on me? Aren't you |
| 1:11.5 | Frederick Tudor, the ice traitor? I am. You reach into your pocket and pull out a brass badge. |
| 1:17.9 | Suffolk County Sheriff's Office. You will need to come with me. I'll do no such thing. I've done |
| 1:22.7 | nothing wrong. Well, I have a court order here saying otherwise. Seems you owe a lot of money. We've done nothing to |
| 1:28.6 | repay your debts. The color drains from Tudor's face. Well, I'm sure we can work something, how? |
| 1:34.6 | I'm sure you can, but not with me. My job's just to bring you in. Where are you taking me? |
| 1:40.0 | Well, to the jailhouse. They'll stay there until the debt is settled. By now, a small crowd has |
| 1:45.9 | gathered. Tudor leans close, his voice low. I can't go to jail. How will I make money from inside a |
... |
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