I listen to a lot of podcasts. However, this one takes the cake. This had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I loved the fact that I was being educated on many important historical events all while actually enjoying it. You have brought history back to life! Nicely done to all who worked in this. Thank you and please do more like this!

I never write reviews, but holy cow this podcast is amazing! The voice actors, the story line, the accuracy! My hats off to Wondery. Oh also, the intro music…is perfect!

I love history and I think this is one of the best shows based off of a historical event that I have ever listened to. It’s better than most tv shows and movies. Great job!

I have been blown away- outstanding actors , sound(thank you Lindsey Graham) and the history. Season 2 - next on my list Thank you

This stands as not only the best audio drama, but the best podcast period. I can listen to these seasons on repeat and it’s amazing every single time.

This is clearly propaganda

“Astonishingly brilliant”

Intense. Engaging. Totally insane. Top-knotch production. Really a quality of podcast that is exceedingly rare. The story of the aftermath of Lincoln’s assassination is almost too crazy to believe. Nothing but plot twists.

What else can I say that hasn’t been said already about this podcast. Absolutely one of the most captivating and well done podcast you will ever listen to. Full stop. Wish their were more podcasts like this.

This is truly the best podcast I have ever listened to. We need more historical drama podcasts like 1865, and I’m praying for season 3 or a follow up series.

This show is incredible. The voice acting is absolute perfection. The production quality, the storytelling, it’s amazing. I’m not a history buff, but I loved it.

This is amazing, wonderful mix of education and entertaining; you really need to turn this into a tv show! Great writing and researching!

History belongs to everyone, not just Liberals. I stopped listening when they referred to James Comey as a modern day example of Edwin Stanton. Unreal. That made me immediately question anything else that was said up until then. I cannot listen any longer because I don’t have confidence in that of which you are saying, is true and unbiased. 🙁

This show has made me obsessed. Recently bought a house right next t Chickamauga battlefield and it has entailed me in the history of the Civil war. This podcast has been an exciting source of entertainment and knowledge. Every thing about it is on point from the sound quality and production to the voice actors skill. I can’t wait for the next season or edition.

Awesome podcast!!

I loved this! More Audio Dramas. Lindsey Graham got me here. Listen to many of his pods, and I’m so happy I found 1865. This worked in the days of radio, and it still works now

Once again, the podcast was great until the writers were interviewed and got political. Let the story speak for itself instead of bringing in modern political biases. Bummer…

Came into this late, but blown away from this podcast. The production value, music, and voice acting are top notch and the story is so interesting you’ll find yourself scowering wikipedia after an episode. One of the best I’ve listened to.

I was never a history buff in school. Texts were dry and classes too sterile. I am thoroughly enjoying this series. And I’m a researcher. I trust nothing without validation. So far, so good. Clearly some political license taken here - but in a way that stays true to the known historical facts. Well done!

At first I found it hard to figure out what was true. Then I realized they had an “inside the episode” for each episode which answered all my questions. Well done!! Between this and American History Tellers I am learning so much American History. Thank you!!!

I listened to episodes on my daily walks, sometimes walking for hours so I could find out what happened next. The level of detail (much of it true) makes the fascinating stories come alive. The characters are amazingly performed by talented actors. This is one of the best podcasts I’ve heard; I hope you will do more perhaps taking a different period of history. I learned things I’d never know otherwise about America’s history. Thank you so much!

I was hooked on this podcast right away. Thank you to everyone at 1865 for bringing this story or rather these stories to life. I was in tears more than once. 💔

Nice job guys. Wish I could be part of the discussion. The Comey comparisons don’t look as clear today as when you recorded this. Try to stick to history and leave parallels to today out as the history of today is still to be written. We could also look at this history as how democrats have long harmed African Americans, is there some parallel to today? Let history judge not you.

Great work guys! I loved both season 1 and 2. Is there anything planned in the future for more dramas on the “Wondery” platform? Awesome job, again!! -Matt White

Recommend this to everyone. Production value alone is terrific!

I was hunting around for a podcast to listen to while I worked the graveyard shift at my job, and I stumbled upon 1865 purely accidentally. I immediately fell in LOVE- I’ve always been extremely interested in the Civil War and Reconstruction and this podcast has sent me into yet another 19th century spiral (in the best way!). Everything about this podcast is brilliantly executed- the voice acting, the script, the pacing, and the music are all perfect. The “behind the episode” episodes are so informative and allow me to savor and contextualize the media I just listened to. I just finished season two (I had been procrastinating listening to episode 10 bc I literally couldn’t stand the idea of not having anymore episodes to binge) and I am especially thrilled that Season 2 featured U.S. Grant. I’m biased because I have a soft spot for Grant, but it was phenomenal to witness such a thoughtful depiction of an often misinterpreted historical figure. James Black did a particularly beautiful job voicing Grant, but I also hope that Grant’s whiskey bottle was also a paid actor bc the sound effects were superb as well. I apologize for the rambling review, but this series redefined the boundaries of what I believed podcasts can accomplish and I will certainly be re-listening to the entire series on a loop until the hopeful release of season 3. Thank you so much for creating such a powerful and eloquent piece of media!

Great writing and performances make this a high recommend for listening!

Jeremy Schwartz is the absolute best! Spot on with character and should be the voice of everything!

1865 has been one of the best podcast I have listened to. Great Job!!

I originally listened to the first episode simply because I like the other podcasts that Lindsay Graham has produced. I was blown away. This podcast will keep your interest and have you eager to hear the next episode. The acting is superb and the sound effects, including the music, really keep your attention. Not only am I learning things I never knew about this time in history but I am being highly entertained by the nitty-gritty comments. I encourage people to listen to this. I mistakenly downloaded one of the “episodes inside the episodes” and liked it so well that I went back and listened to those I’d missed. This is one podcast everyone should hear.

These are way better than watching any prime time TV show. Thanks for picking the perfect cast and writing amazing scripts.

Loving this! The actors were superb especially the actor voicing Stanton.

I love the show and look forward to my walks where I get to enjoy the show. I heard an ad today, despite paying for a subscription. This seems to be an error as I haven’t heard any other ads and am nearly through the 2nd season. Hey Wondery…can you fix that? The ad was in episode 8 in season 2.

Gripping and nuanced. The story, the acting, the score, all were epic quality performances. Could listen to 100 years of this!

I hated history in school but this podcast brings history to life. I got hooked. Love it but also makes you realize how dirty politics really are and under what immense pressure presidents need to make decisions. I can sympathize with Grants decision not to run for a third term.

Love, love this audio drama! I’m extremely interested in history and it’s hard for me to stop listening once I get started. You’ll did a great job. I really like the bonus episodes and how you’ll discuss opinions and facts.

America’s finest pod!!

Great story telling. First season was very good, but the narrative of season two reinforces an unfair portrait of Grant’s struggles with alcohol. The creators address the choice in an inside the episode segments…but it’s a poor choice. Grant is a giant among American leaders he deserves a fair portrayal.

What a great show! I’m actually learning some new stuff about this well worn path of American history! Bravo, guys! And for what it’s worth, I’m an army brat, colonel’s kid, battlefield visiting lifelong history buff.

One question. I don’t see episode S1 episode 16. But otherwise, this is great especially the fact vs artistic license episodes. So much insight! Feel free to make more!

This is the best podcast/audiodrama I have ever heard. The acting is superb as well as the sound effects that make for a remarkably immersive experience.

Melodramatic and insufferable. I made it through the first 3 1/2 episodes and called it quits. It tells a story about an incredibly important and interesting time in American history, but I just could not tolerate the soap-opera style and 3-4 advertising breaks per episode. I really wouldn’t put this in the “history podcast” category.

I can’t even believe this podcast can be so good. The voice acting is dead on. The drama is jaw dropping. I don’t have enough words.

I can’t fathom how this project got the green light. It’s a bunch of white men using the n-word as often as possible. So many characters have similar gruff pompous voices it’s hard to tell who is talking even though they announce it during every scene. This is why more diversity is such an asset in audio drama. Plus the sexism is incredibly thick. Not just in the near absence of women, but in the way the plot of S1 revolves around the few women on mic and refers to all the women off mic. There are ways of handling historical fiction that are themselves less racist and sexist than this. And judging by the number of comments from people who were offended when the writers spoke against some today’s overt racists, part of the reason some people are listening is *for* the gross racism. That should worry the authors. Some of this has already been reworked, so I’m wondering how much worse it was in earlier versions. The sound design is nice enough, though.

I have to say, scripted/acted out podcasts have not been my favorite. I prefer the “straight to the facts,” type of podcasts about history. But oh my gosh, this one is just SO good. The acting, the history, the etiquette of conversation between the characters/actors, is just so good. I imagine this is what it was like in the days of radio in the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. It feels like I simply have to close my eyes and I’m right in the thick of things. Bravo!!!

I am early on this series and, at first, I shied away because of some of the artistic license taken with things that are not definitively known to history. But for this kind of Podcast, I can see why you have to make those type of choices. And in the “Inside the Episode” podcasts the authors do well to explain the license they’ve taken; where and why. I actually enjoy the “Inside ..” podcasts the best. Overall, 1865 is very well done and a riveting story!

I love scripted podcasts, and this one is just phenomenal. It begins right as President Lincoln is assassinated at Ford’s Theatre in Washington DC, just days after the confederate army surrendered at Appomattox and the Civil War started to come to a close. It dramatizes the chaos surrounding a coordinated attack against the government, and how the nation responded. The fate of the nation rests on William Seward and the US War Department. The acting is stellar, the dialogue is flawless, the sound design is immersive. It’s a must listen.

Wonderful show. The dramatic “radio theatre” nostalgia combined with the quality acting and scrupulous historic narrative are irresistible! Thank you.

Having read brilliant Team of Rivals, Lincoln, Grant, Lincoln’s Boys, etc, and my great great Ohio 126, battle of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Monocacy: his diaries and letters home—- so much invaluable incisive information in this pivotal period of 1865, brought to life in much more powerful form than a film.,., this is a revelation and a joy, albeit a sad joy. Thank you, Creators.

Such an immersive podcast. I really felt I was part of the story, it is hard to turn off. I first started listening at work, but I found myself listening to this podcast at home and on car rides. Love this podcast!