Season 2

Season 2 Trailer: What is Manifest Destiny?

Sept. 28, 2021

Manifest Destiny is a term you hear a lot when you're learning about the history of the United States in the nineteenth century. But what is it, really?

Troublemakers in Tahiti

Oct. 26, 2021

When the United States began to establish official commercial relations with Tahiti, the government and the sailors who visited there thought that the U.S. consuls would be able to help them get the most out of their visit.

Beyond the Consul: Tahiti

Oct. 28, 2021

In our first Beyond the Consul episode, we're talking to Patty O'Brien about Tahiti.

California Dreaming

Nov. 16, 2021

As Americans moved into California, the U.S. government wanted to provide them with an official representative. But the government also wanted California for the United States.

Beyond the Consul: Monterey

Nov. 18, 2021

Today we’re going to a domestic destination–but it wasn’t always domestic. The history of Monterey goes back hundreds of years, and it shows how empires and commerce come together in one prime location.

Hawaii 4-3

Dec. 14, 2021

Consolation Prize is going true crime! In today's episode, we're going to hear about a murder case that a consul had to do some investigation of.

Yeah, That Poinsett (re-release)

Dec. 22, 2021

In this bonus holiday episode, a re-release from 2020, we explore the consular life of Joel Roberts Poinsett, everyone’s favorite holiday historical figure.

What Is a Consul, Anyway? (re-release)

Jan. 14, 2022

In this special bonus episode, we talk with a scholar who studies the history of the US consular service. We answer your questions like, What is a consul? What do they do? What makes them so interesting? Why should we care a…

Guest: Nicole Phelps

Views and Re-Views

Feb. 15, 2022

In this episode of Consolation Prize, we are exploring a consul’s involvement in a coup and a revolution.

States of Confusion

March 8, 2022

We explore the long and complicated relationship between the United States and the Papal States, the political-religious home of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Art of Diplomacy

March 29, 2022

Irena Wiley was a diplomat's wife. But she was also an artist who used her art to reflect the humanity of the many people she encountered all around the world.

Guest: William Adair

Remember the Lusitania

April 19, 2022

In this episode of Consolation Prize, we investigate the role of consuls in dealing with wartime disasters and the toll they took on them.

Pacific Salmon Run

May 10, 2022

In this mini episode of Consolation Prize, we complete our tour of the world by going to the last continent where the United States had consuls: Australia.

The Consul and I

May 17, 2022

In this episode, we meet two Americans in 1860s Thailand. Reverend Dan Beach Bradley was a Christian missionary and a newspaper publisher, and Captain James Madison Hood was the US consul to the Kingdom of Siam.

Twelve Foreign Men

May 31, 2022

In our final episode of Consolation Prize, we return to 1844 Hawai'i, where we look at another case involving vice consul William Hooper.

Final Report Transmission

June 23, 2022

After two seasons, we have a lot to reflect on! We wanted you to hear the voices of the team, working mostly behind the scenes for the past two seasons, and hear about their experiences working on Consolation Prize.