Historian and author of “A Renegade History of the United States” Thaddeus Russell joins me to discuss his work and the notion that the “renegades” might be the ones to thank for our freedom, not the puritanical political busybodies.
Russell’s work is anything but typical history. It exposes the great moral reformers and champions of left and right as primarily power brokers who sought to control common impulses, and the renegades who resisted them – from slaves to prostitutes to poor immigrants – as the source of most of our social and political freedoms.
We discuss his life, his work, the main themes, how it’s been received, and what he’s working on next. Thaddeus is certain to challenge some of your cherished notions!
This episode and all others are available on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Stitcher.