What was it really like to lead a revolution against the most powerful empire in the world? In this exclusive interview, Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas sits down with George Washington to reflect on the challenges, victories, and defining moments that shaped both his life and the birth of a nation. From the hardships endured by the Continental Army to the leadership decisions that altered the course of history, Washington offers an intimate look at the character, perseverance, and conviction required to secure American independence. Filled with surprising stories, personal insights, and a behind-the-scenes view of some of the Revolution’s most pivotal moments, this conversation brings history to life and reveals the man behind the legend.

What does America mean, and what ideas gave rise to the greatest experiment in self-government the world has ever known? At the official release party for REVOLUTION: The Birth of the Greatest Nation in History, Eric Metaxas shares the inspiration behind his sweeping and definitive account of the American Revolution, uncovering surprising stories and overlooked figures that helped shape the nation’s founding. From the moral courage and deep convictions of the American patriots to the extraordinary sacrifices required to secure liberty, this conversation explores the character, ideals, and faith that animated the Revolution. As America celebrates the Supercentennial year of its birth, Metaxas invites us to rediscover the beauty, complexity, and enduring promise of the American story.

How did George Washington become the indispensable leader of the American Revolution? In this episode of The Revolution, bestselling historian Nathaniel Philbrick joins Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas to trace Washington’s extraordinary journey through the triumphs, failures, and hard-earned lessons that transformed him from an inexperienced commander into the indispensable leader of the American cause. Set against the backdrop of a war that was as chaotic as it was creative, Philbrick reveals how Washington’s character, resilience, and unwavering sense of duty grew alongside the Revolution itself. Throughout the conversation, Philbrick explores the partnership with French General Rochambeau and the brilliant campaign that culminated at Yorktown as well as the deeply personal side of Benedict Arnold’s shocking betrayal and the profound challenges Washington faced behind the scenes. Set against the chaos and creativity of a nation being born, this conversation offers a compelling portrait of the man who grew alongside the Revolution and emerged as the founder the moment required.

In this episode of The Revolution, host Eric Metaxas is joined by Ira Stoll, author of Samuel Adams: A Life, as they explore the enduring legacy of Samuel Adams, the often-overlooked visionary who helped lay the intellectual and moral groundwork for the American Revolution long before the first shots were fired. Through his passionate defense of liberty, relentless organizing, and ability to rally ordinary citizens to an extraordinary cause, Adams became one of the driving forces behind America’s fight for independence. Recorded in Lexington—just steps from the historic grounds where the Revolution began—this conversation brings history vividly to life while examining how Adams’s ideas and courage continue to shape the American spirit today.

Why do most revolutions collapse into chaos, tyranny, or bloodshed, while the American Revolution produced one of the most enduring republics in history? In this episode of Socrates in the City’s Revolution Series, host Eric Metaxas is joined by American author and legal scholar, Jonathan Turley to discuss his book, Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution. They use Thomas Paine’s journey as the lens through which to explore that question. A man who stood at the center of both the American and French Revolutions, Paine embodied the brilliance and danger of revolutionary fervor itself: visionary yet reckless, prophetic yet deeply flawed. Alongside his unlikely friendship with Benjamin Franklin, this conversation examines why America succeeded where so many revolutions failed, the tension between liberty and rage, and the enduring invitation of the American experiment today.