The War of 1812: Britain’s still salty, America’s feelingfeisty, and Canada—well, Canada’s just trying to stay out of it (but also kinda not).

In this episode, Kyle, Eric Mason, and special guest JoelMc (official Canadian correspondent 🇨🇦) unpack thedrama, destruction, and downright questionable decision-making that shaped this war. From the burning of Washington, D.C. to the Battle of Lake Erie, we coverit all—including the hilarious, ongoing blame game over who actually set D.C. on fire.

But wait—there’s more! We’re also putting James Madisonunder the microscope. Was he a brilliant strategist or just the guy in charge when everything went up in flames? We break down his leadership, his policies, and whether his presidency was an underrated success or just... there.

Key Takeaways:

🔥 The War of 1812:America’s first official “We’re not taking this anymore” moment.
Impressment of American sailors = major bad blood with Britain.
Canada’s role? More than just maple syrup and apologies.
Tecumseh’s Confederacy = the ultimate resistance.
The Battle of Lake Erie: When the U.S. Navy finally got its act together.Washington, D.C. got torched—was it Britain, Canada, or both? (Joel Mc weighsin.)
British troops were battle-hardened and way too good at setting stuff onfire.
Without naval victories, the U.S. was toast.
Madison’s presidency: Underwhelming? Underrated? You decide.
His friendship with Jefferson shaped his entire career.
Madison’s Bonus Bill veto—financial genius or total fumble?
A freak storm saved Washington, proving Mother Nature has a sense of humor.
Madison knew how to work the public—when he wasn’t dealing with war.
The War of 1812 changed everything about U.S.-Canada relations.

With historical hot takes, a Canadian perspective, and awhole lot of fire (literally), this episode serves up the War of 1812 likeyou’ve never heard it before. Tune in now!

Fife and Drum:

"Loopster" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

James Madison might’ve been the quiet type, but hispresidency? It was a whole saga. In this no-holds-barred episode, Eric Mason and Kyle tackle Madison’s transformation from Jefferson’s protégé to a leader navigating international tension, economic upheaval, and the road to the War of 1812.

They spotlight Dolly Madison, the White House’soriginal power broker, who turned social gatherings into strategic gold. From the Non-Intercourse Act (no, not that kind) to the rise of industrialization, Madison’s presidency set the stage for a new America — even if he had to drag itthere kicking and screaming.

Throw in a dysfunctional cabinet, John Payne Todd’s ongoingdisasters, and the bizarre origins of the Postmaster General — and you’ve got one wild ride through early American politics.

🎧 Keywords: JamesMadison, Dolly Madison, War of 1812, Non-Intercourse Act, Second National Bank,U.S. history podcast, presidential politics, early America, historical deep dive

Fife and Drum:

"Loopster" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

James Madison—brilliant thinker, reluctant slaveholder, andthe guy who let the National Bank crash and burn. Oops. In this episode, we break down his tangled views on slavery (yes, even messier than Jefferson’s), his economic policies (or lack thereof), and how industrialization set the North and South on a collision course. Plus, we’re spilling the tea on dueling, monopolies, and the financial chaos of the War of 1812—because history is way juicier than your old textbooks let on.🎧 Hit play for presidential drama, economic blunders, and the surprising investing genius of Abigail Adams. You won’t look at Madison—or your bank account—the same way again.

Fife and Drum: "Loopster" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/