PODCAST · history
Founding Fictions
by Elle Van Gundy
Is the American federal government today a new form of the very tyranny it was built to destroy? Welcome to Founding Fictions, the show where we tear down the myths of the American founding to understand the reality we live in today. RSSVERIFY
Episodes
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Philosophy of A Revolution
We all know the slogan "No taxation without representation," but what if the American Revolution wasn't just a political dispute, but a violent economic divorce? This episode argues that the Founders weren't just fighting a king; they were fighting an entire economic system called Mercantilism.…
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The Scottish Crucible
This episode of "Founding Fictions" challenges the myth that America's founding ideals were a simple inheritance from English thinkers like John Locke. Instead, it reveals the overwhelmingly Scottish roots of the revolution, tracing two powerful streams that converged in the colonies. The first…
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Revolution Gratitude What Comes After the Myth
Host Elle Van Gundy addresses the "heavy history" of Thanksgiving and how to move from passive guilt to active responsibility. Centering the Ohenten Kariwatekwen (Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address) as a transformative framework, this episode outlines four practical steps to "decolonize" the...
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The Godmother of Thanksgiving: The Invention and The Reckoning (Part 2)
For nearly two centuries, the "First Thanksgiving" was a lost footnote in history. So how did a forgotten diplomatic meeting in 1621 become the mandatory national dinner we know today? In this episode, we peel back the layers of America’s favorite feast. We travel from the 17th-century mud of...
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The Truth About Thanksgiving: The Apocalypse & The Alliance (Part 1)
Join host Elle Van Gundy as she strips away the construction paper feathers and pious legends to reveal the desperate reality of the "First Thanksgiving." In this first installment of a two-part special, we travel back to 1621 to discover that the famous feast wasn't about friendship—it was…
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Anti-Thanksgiving
The turkey is back on the table, but can we trust the hand that serves it? In this episode, we dissect the "peace treaty" that ended the 2025 crisis. From the starvation tactics of Jamestown to the rebellion of Daniel Shays, discover why the return of SNAP benefits marks the end of the…
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The Roman Antidote: Veterans Day 2 of 2
Is the G.I. Bill a monument to national gratitude, or a calculated shield against revolution? In this episode of Founding Fictions, Elle Van Gundy peels back the sentimental layers of veterans' affairs to reveal a colder, more pragmatic history. We trace the lineage of the Department of Veterans...
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The Newburgh Crisis: Veterans Day 1 of 2
Why is the American system for veterans built on anxiety rather than just gratitude? Host Elle Van Gundy peels back the layers of the "Standing Army" myth, connecting the near-mutiny of the Newburgh Conspiracy in 1783 to Eisenhower's modern warning about the Military-Industrial Complex. Discover...
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From Founding Fathers to Facebook Feuds: How the Zero-Sum Fight for Survival Became American Politics
Why does American political debate feel less like a discussion and more like a fight for survival? This deep dive traces modern affective polarization back to the nation's origin, revealing how the historic, existential feud between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson established a zero-sum...
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Hamilton vs. Jefferson: How Their "Moral Blind Spot" Still Poisons American Politics
This deep dive dismantles the fiction of the founders as a "uniform front." The real story is the bitter rivalry between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, which defined America's core conflict: federal power versus states' rights. This famous dichotomy, however, was built on a "Great...
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The Declaration's Playbook: How Modern Threats Like Project 2025 and Qualified Immunity Map to the 5 Phases of Tyranny
This isn't your standard history lesson on the Declaration of Independence. We're treating the founding document not as a relic, but as a living "playbook"—a diagnostic tool for identifying the step-by-step process of tyranny. By applying the founders' 18th-century logic to modern issues, this...
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The 27 Grievances: Is America Following the Declaration's Roadmap to Tyranny?
The 27 Grievances in the Declaration of Independence had a clear target. Today, our crises are diffuse, and accountability seems to vanish. This episode contrasts the 18th century's radical claim of responsibility with our 21st-century search for it. We explore why the most important question…
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A Playbook of Tyranny ... mini episode deep dive
Don't just read the Declaration of Independence—decode it. This episode dives past "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" into the 27 grievances, revealing them as a systematic "playbook for tyranny." We trace the five phases of the King's "design" to establish absolute despotism, from...
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An Echo of Tyranny
Does the modern US government mirror the "tyranny" of King George? This episode uses the Declaration's grievances as a lens, comparing "swarms of officers" and "taxation without consent" to today's administrative state and executive power. We explore the Founders' constitutional "antidote" and…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Is the American federal government today a new form of the very tyranny it was built to destroy? Welcome to Founding Fictions, the show where we tear down the myths of the American founding to understand the reality we live in today.
RSSVERIFY
HOSTED BY
Elle Van Gundy
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Founding Fictions have?
Founding Fictions currently has 14 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Founding Fictions about?
Is the American federal government today a new form of the very tyranny it was built to destroy? Welcome to Founding Fictions, the show where we tear down the myths of the American founding to understand the reality we live in today. RSSVERIFY
How often does Founding Fictions release new episodes?
Founding Fictions has 14 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Founding Fictions?
You can listen to Founding Fictions on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Founding Fictions?
Founding Fictions is created and hosted by Elle Van Gundy.
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