Conversations: Lessons from Cats for Surviving Fascism, w/ Brittlestar
Release Date: 08/01/2025
Akhenaten: The Pharaoh Who Tried to Erase History
History Shorts
Long before modern dictators rewrote the past, one Egyptian pharaoh tried to rewrite the very gods. In this episode of History Shorts, we uncover the astonishing story of Akhenaten, the heretic king who defied 2,000 years of tradition, abandoned the old gods of Egypt, and built an entirely new capital dedicated to one deity: the sun disk, Aten. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SUPPORT THE SHOW: ADVERTISE: LEARN MORE: SPONSORED BY:
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The Real Conjuring (The Story of Ed & Lorraine Warren)
History Shorts
Before Hollywood turned them into ghost-hunting legends, Ed and Lorraine Warren were real people, devout Catholics, self-taught demonologists, and the most controversial paranormal investigators of the 20th century. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SUPPORT THE SHOW: ADVERTISE: LEARN MORE: SPONSORED BY:
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When the EPA Erased a Whole Town from Existence
History Shorts
In the early 1980s, a small town along the Meramec River in Missouri vanished, not from flood or fire, but from poison. This episode of History Shorts uncovers the chilling true story of Times Beach, a once-idyllic community that became America’s most infamous ghost town after being contaminated with deadly dioxin. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SUPPORT THE SHOW: ADVERTISE: LEARN MORE: SPONSORED BY:
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The British Woman Who Fell in Love With Hitler
History Shorts
In this episode of History Shorts, we trace the curious and troubling story of Unity Mitford, a young British socialite born into privilege, and her infatuation with Adolf Hitler. We’ll explore how she journeyed to Nazi Germany, embedded herself in Hitler’s inner circle, became an ardent supporter of fascism and antisemitism, and attempted to live out a fantasy of ideological romance that ended in tragedy. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SUPPORT THE SHOW: ADVERTISE: LEARN MORE: SPONSORED BY:
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Benjamin Franklin Goes to France
History Shorts
Before America won its independence, one man crossed the ocean to secure its future. In Paris, Benjamin Franklin used wit, charm, and sheer diplomacy to turn skeptics into allies and change the course of the Revolution. This History Shorts episode follows the Founding Father who fought not with muskets, but with words. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SUPPORT THE SHOW: ADVERTISE: LEARN MORE: SPONSORED BY:
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Conversations: When maps seize being tools and become narratives, w/ James Cheshire
History Shorts
Peter speaks with James Cheshire, whose captivating new book, The Library of Lost Maps: An Archive of a World in Progress, unearths a hidden collection of 19th- and 20th-century maps that chart everything from groundbreaking scientific discoveries to the dark undercurrents of empire and conflict. Through stunning reproductions and insightful narratives, Cheshire reveals how these artifacts not only documented a rapidly changing planet but also influenced pivotal moments in human progress. In this episode, we'll explore the dual-edged legacy of maps as tools of enlightenment and exploitation,...
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TODAY IN CONTEXT: The Penny Retires Into History (& What That Means for Us)
History Shorts
TODAY IN CONTEXT BONUS: After more than 200 years in our pockets, cash drawers, and couch cushions, the U.S. penny has finally been retired. But ending the nation’s smallest coin isn’t just a symbolic moment; it’s a shift with real economic, cultural, and practical consequences. In this History Shorts: Today in Context episode, we explore why the penny became too costly to mint. From Lincoln’s legacy to the future of cash, this is the full story of America’s cheapest coin… and its surprisingly expensive farewell. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW!...
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When Women Went to War: Women's Overseas Hospital
History Shorts
When World War I tore Europe apart, a group of American women refused to stay home. They built and ran the Women’s Overseas Hospital on the front lines, saving lives and breaking barriers. This History Shorts episode tells the story of the doctors and nurses who fought two battles: one against war, and one for equality. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SUPPORT THE SHOW: ADVERTISE: LEARN MORE: SPONSORED BY:
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See It OR Skip It: Nuremberg (2025)
History Shorts
In this BONUS episode of History Shorts: See It or Skip It, Peter takes the stand to judge one of 2025’s most talked-about historical dramas, Nuremberg, starring Rami Malek as U.S. Army psychiatrist Douglas Kelley and Russell Crowe as Nazi leader Hermann Göring. SUBSCRIBE WHEREVER YOU ARE LISTENING TO THIS SHOW SO YOU DON'T MISS ANOTHER EPISODE BUY JACK EL HAI'S BOOK: SUPPORT THE SHOW: ADVERTISE: LEARN MORE: SPONSORED BY:
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What Former U.S. Presidents Thought About the Civil War When It Was Happening
History Shorts
What happens when former U.S. Presidents live long enough to watch their country fall apart? During the Civil War, the men who once held the nation’s highest office chose sides, and their decisions reshaped their legacies. This History Shorts episode explores the untold story of how America’s ex-presidents faced its darkest hour. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SUPPORT THE SHOW: ADVERTISE: LEARN MORE: SPONSORED BY:
info_outlineIn 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 control, misinformation, and the slow erosion of truth, all while refusing to give up their independence or nap time.
We dive into how comedy can be a weapon of resistance, what we can learn from the behaviors of our feline friends, and why the threat of fascism isn’t just in the past, it’s at the door. This is an episode that will make you laugh, think, and maybe even reevaluate your cat’s suspicious behavior.
DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!
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THIS WEEK'S THE COLLECTOR ARTICLE SELECTION