Give Me Liberty: Patrick Henry on sparking a Revolution, Freedom and the Pursuit of Happiness

Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this season premiere, host Adam Tomlin celebrates America’s 250th birthday by heading straight back to 1776—because what better way to talk about the pursuit of happiness than with the guy who helped light the match? With support from Colonial Williamsburg, Adam sits down with Colonel Patrick Henry for a lively, heartfelt conversation about freedom, faith, politics, and what it really takes to change a country’s story.

Patrick Henry shares how his early years—church sermons, the Great Awakening, and a mother who made him recite what he heard—shaped his belief that the most powerful leaders speak to the heart, not just the head. Together, Adam and Henry unpack why emotional persuasion can move people faster than logic, what makes an unforgettable speaker, and how Henry’s courtroom fire (including the Two Pennies Act and the Parsons’ Cause) helped push Virginia further toward resistance.

Listeners will also hear Henry’s take on the biggest tensions of the era: taxation without representation, the Stamp Act and Tea Act, the illusion of “left vs. right” compared to “up vs. down,” and why centralized power—British or American—should always make people pay attention. And in one of the most honest parts of the conversation, Henry doesn’t dodge the contradiction at the heart of the Revolution: fighting for liberty while slavery still exists, and what it meant for the Founding Fathers to be both influential and deeply flawed.

This episode is part history lesson, part political philosophy, and part reminder that the pursuit of happiness isn’t a quote—it’s a responsibility. If you’ve ever wondered how the colonies became “we,” why independence sounded impossible, or what it means to live in a republic today, this one will make you think—and feel.

Produced in cooperation with The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Colonial Williamsburg is a registered trademark of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Tune in every Thursday for episodes that inspire, challenge, and entertain. Whether you’re here for laughs, lived wisdom, or action steps, the ACT OUT podcast is your space to rethink growth, embrace self-awareness, and act out your passions.

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Credits:
Mural: Tara E. @‌taradiiiise and @‌tarayakisauce
Music: Matt Hobbs @‌matthobbs & Puppy Songs @‌puppysongs

Chapters:
00:00 Season Premiere: America Turns 250 + Meet Patrick Henry
01:28 Patrick Henry’s Childhood: Sermons, Fear, and Finding Faith
07:50 The Great Awakening: Speaking to the Heart, Not the Head
13:48 The Two Pennies Act: “Tyranny” and the Case That Made Henry Famous
33:25 Liberty vs Slavery: The Founders’ Contradictions + A Republic “If You Can Keep It”
39:30 No Taxation Without Representation: Why the Colonies United
43:13 “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death”: The Speech, the Stakes, the Strategy

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