Conversations: The story behind Apple TV's Masters of the Air, w/ Donald L. Miller
Release Date: 03/21/2025
The Theft of Owens Valley's Water
History Shorts
In the early 20th century, a quiet agricultural valley in California became the center of one of the most controversial water grabs in American history. In this episode of History Shorts, we uncover how Los Angeles—a rapidly growing city—secured control over the vital water resources of the Owens Valley, forever transforming both landscapes. Driven by ambition and engineered through the vision of William Mulholland, the Los Angeles Aqueduct diverted water hundreds of miles south, fueling the city’s explosive growth while leaving Owens Valley farmers and communities devastated....
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Capturing Al Capone
History Shorts
For years, Al Capone ruled Chicago’s underworld with near impunity—bootlegging, bribery, and violence keeping him one step ahead of the law. But in the end, it wasn’t a dramatic shootout or a daring raid that brought him down—it was paperwork. In this episode of History Shorts, we follow the painstaking investigation that finally cornered Capone, led in part by Treasury agents and the relentless work of men like Eliot Ness and the lesser-known financial investigators who tracked his hidden income. As prosecutors built their case, they turned to an unexpected weapon: tax evasion....
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Conversations: 1970s - The Decade that Made the Marathon Cool
History Shorts
What transformed marathon running from a fringe obsession into a cultural phenomenon—and why did it happen in the 1970s? In this episode of History Shorts, I’m joined by bestselling author Martin Dugard to explore his latest book, The Long Run, and the remarkable decade that reshaped endurance sports forever. We dive into the lives and legacies of icons like Steve Prefontaine, Frank Shorter, Joan Benoit, and Grete Waitz—athletes who didn’t just compete, but challenged norms, broke barriers, and helped spark a nationwide running boom. Set against the backdrop of post-Vietnam War...
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JFK vs. Israel: The Forgotten Standoff
History Shorts
In the early 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, a little-known confrontation unfolded behind closed doors—one that placed the John F. Kennedy administration on a collision course with Israel. At the center of the dispute was a secretive nuclear program at Dimona, raising urgent questions about proliferation, transparency, and the limits of alliance. In this episode of History Shorts, we examine Kennedy’s determined push for inspections and accountability, and the resistance from Israeli leaders like David Ben-Gurion. Through diplomatic cables, tense negotiations, and quiet pressure, a...
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The Women of the Nazi SS
History Shorts
When we think of the machinery of the Third Reich, the image is almost always male—but that picture is incomplete. In this episode of History Shorts, we uncover the lesser-known story of the women who served within the orbit of the SS, particularly as guards in concentration camps and auxiliaries in the regime’s vast bureaucratic system. We explore how women were recruited, trained, and integrated into roles that supported—and at times directly enforced—the brutal policies of Adolf Hitler’s regime. Figures like Irma Grese reveal a chilling reality: participation in atrocity was not...
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Teddy Wins the Nobel Peace Prize
History Shorts
In 1906, Theodore Roosevelt became the first American to win the Nobel Peace Prize—but not for a speech or a treaty signed in Washington. Instead, it was his bold intervention in a distant war that brought global recognition. In this episode of History Shorts, we explore how Roosevelt stepped onto the world stage to broker peace between Russia and Japan during the Russo-Japanese War. Hosting negotiations in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Roosevelt used a mix of diplomacy, pressure, and personal force to guide both sides toward an agreement that ended the conflict. This is a story of power...
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The Miracle of Fatima
History Shorts
In 1917, in the small village of Fátima, three shepherd children claimed to witness a series of apparitions that would captivate the world. As their visions spread, thousands gathered in anticipation of a promised sign—culminating in what became known as the “Miracle of the Sun.” In this episode of History Shorts, we explore the events surrounding the apparitions reported by Lúcia dos Santos and her cousins, and the extraordinary day when crowds claimed to see the sun dance across the sky. Was it a divine intervention, a mass psychological phenomenon, or something else entirely?...
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The Bay of Pigs Invasion
History Shorts
In April 1961, a covert mission backed by the United States unfolded on the shores of Cuba—and collapsed in spectacular fashion. The Bay of Pigs Invasion was intended to topple Fidel Castro, but instead became one of the most infamous failures of the Cold War. In this episode of History Shorts, we trace the origins of the plan under Dwight D. Eisenhower, its execution under John F. Kennedy, and the disastrous landing at Playa Girón. We explore the role of Cuban exiles, the miscalculations that doomed the operation, and how Castro’s swift response turned the invasion into a propaganda...
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John Tyler and the Presidency Nobody Wanted Him to Have
History Shorts
When William Henry Harrison died just 31 days into his presidency, the nation faced an unprecedented constitutional crisis: what exactly happens when a president dies in office? Enter John Tyler—a man many believed should merely “act” as president, not become one. In this episode of History Shorts, we explore Tyler’s sudden rise to power and the fierce opposition he faced from both political rivals and his own party. Mocked as “His Accidency,” Tyler refused to be sidelined, asserting full presidential authority and setting a lasting precedent for succession that would shape the...
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The Rise and Fall of Sparta
History Shorts
From the legendary stand at Thermopylae and the fearsome warriors of 300, to the brutal training system and the enigmatic helots, Sparta has fascinated people for over two thousand years. It's been held up as a model of discipline, courage, and military excellence — and sometimes as a cautionary tale of rigidity and decline. Our guest today is Dr. Andrew Bayliss, Associate Professor in Greek History at the University of Birmingham and a leading expert on Sparta. In his latest book, Sparta: The Rise and Fall of an Ancient Superpower, he strips away centuries of legend, navigates the...
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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