The Wild Story of America's Biggest Traitor
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What is the episode’s opening announcement and listener‑vote call‑to‑action?
Hello, After Dark listeners. It is I, Anthony Delaney, one of your co hosts from, of course, After Dark. Now, listen, we have some good news. We have been shortlisted for the top 20 in the Listener's Choice Award category for this year's British Podcast Awards. Now, we made the top, I think it was five last year. So we are greedy historians and we want to make that top five again. This year things are slightly different though. You can only vote for us in this long list in the Spotify app, and you'll find a link in this week's episode that'll take you to vote for us. As a matter of fact, you can vote for us three times. So if you feel so inclined, please do that. We want to make that top five. We're gonna smash it this year.
I think we're gonna take it, he said with absolutely no confidence. But lend us your vote and we'll see how well we get on. Heading for the top five. I know we can do it.
History remembers Benedict Arnold as the ultimate traitor, a name that has become synonymous with betrayal. But how did this notorious villain, once celebrated as a war hero of the American Revolution and admired by the George Washington himself, become history's most scandalous betrayer? What drove him to treacherous treason? Greed? Wounded pride? Or genuine conviction? In this episode, we'll be exploring this man's story, the hero who became America's greatest baddie. From the heart of the tumultuous American Revolution, welcome to After Dark.
Hello and welcome to After Dark. I'm Anthony.
And I'm Maddie.
Today we'll be discussing the dramatic story of Benedict Arnold. The man who went from being an American hero to a British spy.
I'm just gonna say this at the top of this episode. I hate Benedict Arnold.
Oh he's
I mean, I assume many people do 'cause he was a traitor, but
He's cringe.
He's I can't be bothered with him. I would not have wanted to know him.
No. And it's funny th the we're getting into all of this, but like the the relationship between him and George Washington is interesting and Yeah, but also
cringe. It's just like Benedict.
Oh no. Stop embarrassing yourself.
Have a bit yeah, have a little bit of dignity. Like it's it is embarrassing. Um would you like some context for this history? Other than I hate Vedic Arnold. Um well the first context is have you ever watched the T V show Turn?
Bitch you know I have. Love it. It's so good. Love it.
I would say it's one of those we we often talk about this actually. Um accents in period dramas. And there's nothing I hate more than this is why I won't watch the Odyssey. Don't come for me, I'm not gonna go and see it. I don't care.
Mom
Um
Dad.
Mom, Dad's back from the Trojan War. That's my best American accent. Then I
also go, Well, what accent did they have? They weren't even speaking English, so crack on, you know what I mean? No, totally
yes, in that with that specific example, like who cares? But I kinda realized but turn does the most incredible effort and whether it gets it right or not, I don't I don't know. I enjoyed it. Yeah, where they sort of do early American accents where there's a lot of like West Country voices. Yeah, bit of Irish. A bit of Irish and a kind of but this kind of weird melting pot. And everyone has a slightly different accent because people's voices are changing at different speeds. And they're different. And you start to get sort of local accents, but based on like whole communities that have come over.
How do the hosts introduce Benedict Arnold and frame his fall from hero to traitor?
And yeah, it's it's very, very interesting. So if you're the accent
coach on Turn, it is after dark approved.
Yeah, and also it has some of the best actors, I think. The loveliest. The yummiest, we might say. I can't
remember whether I fancied other than but.
Billy Elliott, what's he called?
Jamie Bell. He's a great actor.
Oh my god, I love it. He's a fantastic actor. Um and a short king adore. And also J.J. Fields is John Andre. We're gonna get into John Andre, but heaven turns me feral. But with his little um
platelent century. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
Anyway, some proper history coming up. Um, we're in the 1770s, did you know? The American Revolution.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is the episode’s opening announcement and listener‑vote call‑to‑action?
0:01–3:45
2
How do the hosts introduce Benedict Arnold and frame his fall from hero to traitor?
3:45–11:32
3
What background on the American Revolution do the hosts provide before diving into Arnold’s career?
11:32–22:44
4
How did Arnold’s early military actions and the Quebec expedition shape his reputation?
22:44–34:17
5
What led Arnold to contact British spy John André and begin his betrayal?
34:17–43:53
6
How did Arnold’s plan to hand over West Point develop and why was it so critical?
43:53–45:53