Conversations: The story behind Apple TV's Masters of the Air, w/ Donald L. Miller
Release Date: 03/21/2025
Conversations: The American women who flew in World War II, w/ Becky Aikman
History Shorts
Before America officially entered World War II, a group of daring young American women made history, only to be forgotten by it. In this episode, author Becky Aikman joins History Shorts to discuss her groundbreaking new book, The Airborne: The American Women Pilots Who Flew for Britain in World War II. Aikman takes us behind the scenes of her five-year journey uncovering the thrilling, heartbreaking, and near-unbelievable stories of the 25 American women who joined Britain’s Air Transport Auxiliary, flying combat aircraft across war zones—before they were even allowed to do so in...
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Tsar Nicholas' Forbidden Love for a Ballerina
History Shorts
In the glittering court of imperial St. Petersburg, amid opulent balls and the orchestral sweep of Wagner and Tchaikovsky, a forbidden romance once stirred hearts and defied decorum. The man destined to become Russia’s last Tsar, Nicholas Alexandrovich, found himself irresistibly drawn to a ballerina who moved like a goddess on stage and held his fate in her poised grasp. Mathilde Kschessinska, the enchanting Prima Ballerina of the Mariinsky Theatre, captivated more than audiences; she captured a Tsarevich - or did she? DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU...
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The Great Train Robbery of 1963
History Shorts
On August 8, 1963, just after 3 a.m., the quiet Buckinghamshire countryside was electrified by one of the most daring heists in British history. A Royal Mail train hurtling down the West Coast Main Line was stopped at a signal deliberately manipulated by a meticulously planned gang drifting in blue boiler suits. In under twenty minutes, they had ripped open sacks of cash, bundles worth £2.6 million, ransacked the train, and vanished into the night. This was not a robbery; it was a feat of criminal spectacle that gripped the nation, inspired lasting legends, and fundamentally changed both...
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The Search for Cleopatra's Tomb
History Shorts
Few names from antiquity evoke the same mystique, glamour, and controversy as Cleopatra VII, the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt. A queen both revered and reviled across centuries of historical retellings, she has been cast variously as a seductive manipulator, a brilliant political strategist, a tragic lover, and an ambitious ruler who dared to challenge Rome’s expanding grip. Yet for all the drama and detail surrounding her life, Cleopatra’s final resting place remains one of the great archaeological mysteries of the ancient world. Despite centuries of speculation and...
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The Vatican's WWII Spy Network
History Shorts
When it comes to the shadowy world of World War II espionage, the Vatican might seem an unlikely player. After all, enclosed behind the ancient walls of the Holy See, the spiritual heart of Roman Catholicism maintained an image of neutrality and detachment. Yet beneath the marble floors and hushed halls of the Vatican, a hidden war raged; a covert struggle fought not with weapons, but with whispers, parchment, and secret meetings. Behind the public façade of impartiality, Pope Pius XII and a tight network of clergy, diplomats, and lay operatives orchestrated one of the most elusive and...
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Conversations: How Habsburgs Transformed Europe, w/ Martyn Rady
History Shorts
In this captivating episode, we sit down with Dr. Martyn Rady, a renowned British historian and preeminent expert on Central Europe, to unravel the layered legacies of the Habsburg Empire. From his early love of history (sparked by history-teacher parents) to the surprising global reach of Habsburg rule, Rady brings both wit and wisdom to the mic. We explore how the Habsburgs’ dynastic empire spanned continents, managed competing national identities, and enacted tens of thousands of edicts, some so obscure they were never published. Dr. Rady challenges common perceptions of empire and...
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The Black Hole of Calcutta
History Shorts
In this episode, we dive into one of the most infamous events in British colonial history, the Black Hole of Calcutta. On the night of June 20, 1756, a small, overcrowded prison cell became the site of a horrific tragedy. Join us as we explore the grim events leading to the Black Hole’s creation, the impact on British colonial rule in India, and its enduring legacy in the history of empire and imperialism. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SPONSORED BY THE PODCAST REPUBLIC: LEARN MORE AT: SUPPORT THE SHOW: ADVERTISE:...
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TODAY IN CONTEXT: A.I. - Mankind's Dream Dating Back Thousands of Years
History Shorts
In this episode of TODAY IN CONTEXT, we trace the remarkable history of artificial intelligence, from its roots in ancient myth to its rapid rise in the digital age. Long before the first line of code was written, humans imagined machines that could think, speak, and serve. Join us as we explore how legends like Hephaestus’ golden servants and the Golem of Prague evolved into mechanical calculators, logic engines, and the birth of the modern computer. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SUPPORT THE SHOW: ADVERTISE: LEARN...
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Conversations: Lessons from Cats for Surviving Fascism, w/ Brittlestar
History Shorts
In this episode, we’re joined by Stewart Reynolds, better known as Brittlestar, Canada’s beloved "Internet’s Favourite Dad" and a viral comedian who’s now turned author. His new book, Lessons From Cats for Surviving Fascism, is part satire, part self-help, and part political commentary, with an important underlying message: pay attention to how history repeats itself... but do so with claws out and humor intact. Blending the aloof wisdom of cats with the warning signs of creeping authoritarianism, Brittlestar delivers a funny yet sobering look at how ordinary people can resist...
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Dr. Crippen - The Second Jack the Ripper?
History Shorts
In this episode, we dive deep into one of the most notorious criminal cases of the early 20th century, Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen, the American homeopath who was convicted and executed for the murder of his wife, Cora. With elements of an illicit affair, a dismembered body, and a high-stakes transatlantic chase, this case had it all. But over a century later, some still question the fairness of the investigation and trial. Could Dr. Crippen have been wrongfully convicted? Join us as we examine the sensational case that remains a subject of intense debate. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND...
info_outlineJoin Peter as he speaks with Prof. Donald L. Miller, the author of Masters of the Air, which has recently been turned into an Apple TV series.
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