History Shorts
Dive into the past with award-winning historian Peter Zablocki in this captivating daily podcast! Uncover hidden stories you never knew existed. And don't miss Friday Conversations where Peter teams up with top experts for riveting, in-depth discussions that bring history to life.
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War Crimes Trial of Andersonville's H. Wirtz (Civil War True Crime)
07/20/2025
War Crimes Trial of Andersonville's H. Wirtz (Civil War True Crime)
On a cold November morning in 1865, just months after the Civil War’s end, a Confederate officer stood on the gallows in Washington, D.C. His name was Henry Wirz, the former commandant of the notorious Andersonville prison camp, a place of such suffering that it shocked even a war-weary nation. By the time the rope snapped his neck, over 13,000 Union prisoners had died under his watch, and the war’s first war crimes trial had delivered its judgment. But was Wirz a sadistic killer, or a scapegoat for a shattered Confederacy? This episode revisits one of the most chilling and consequential stories of the Civil War, tracing Wirz’s life from Swiss immigrant to Confederate warden, and exploring the horrific conditions at Andersonville: starvation, disease, torture, and death on an industrial scale. We explore the murky line between duty and cruelty, the drama of Wirz’s military tribunal, and the legal, moral, and political legacy of his controversial execution. It’s a story of justice, vengeance, and the high cost of moral reckoning after a war that tore a nation apart. 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: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE:
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Barbed Wire Tames the West
07/19/2025
Barbed Wire Tames the West
Barbed wire began as a humble solution to a humble problem: fencing the vast, treeless expanses of the American West. But this simple invention—two twisted strands studded with sharp steel barbs - would soon change the course of history. From reshaping the American frontier to fueling violence, displacing Indigenous nations, and fencing the battlefields and concentration camps of the 20th century, barbed wire earned its ominous nickname: The Devil’s Rope. In this episode, we trace the dramatic journey of barbed wire, from patent wars and range wars to trench warfare and totalitarian terror. 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: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE:
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Conversations: Everything is Tuberculosis, w/ John Green
07/18/2025
Conversations: Everything is Tuberculosis, w/ John Green
In this thought-provoking episode of History Shorts, bestselling author John Green joins us, not to talk about fiction, but about the real-world epidemic that once shaped everything from art to architecture, medicine to morality. His new book, Everything Is Tuberculosis, traces how tuberculosis (TB) didn’t just ravage lungs, it infected our language, our culture, and our sense of beauty and tragedy. Together, we dive into how TB shaped the Romantic era, influenced urban design, gave us the sanatorium and the selfie, and why it became a metaphor for everything from genius to grief. This is not just a conversation about a disease; it’s about how a centuries-long epidemic shaped who we are, how we think, and what we value. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SPONSORED BY THE LEARN MORE AT: SUPPORT THE SHOW: ADVERTISE: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE: THIS WEEK'S COLLECTOR.COM ARTICLE SELECTION:
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Irish Americans Attack Canada
07/17/2025
Irish Americans Attack Canada
Between 1866 and 1871, a secretive Irish-American paramilitary group known as the Fenians launched a series of bizarre and audacious cross-border attacks from the U.S. into Canada. Their mission? To strike at the British Empire by seizing Canadian territory and ransoming it for Irish independence. Though the Fenian Raids failed militarily, they left a surprising legacy—spurring Canadian nationalism, hastening Canadian confederation, and complicating U.S.-British diplomacy. In this episode, we unpack the motives, missteps, and aftermath of one of the strangest invasions in North American history. 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: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE:
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America's Stonehenge
07/16/2025
America's Stonehenge
Just off a quiet back road in Salem, New Hampshire, sits a baffling jumble of dolmen-like chambers, serpentine walls, and precisely aligned monoliths known today as “America’s Stonehenge.” Is it a colonial root-cellar maze, a Native ceremonial calendar, or proof of ancient trans-Atlantic voyagers? This episode traces the site’s discovery, fringe-theory circus, solar alignments, and ongoing archaeological tug-of-war, asking why a pile of rocks in the New England woods still sparks debate after 200 years. 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: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE:
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Mad Gasser of Mattoon
07/15/2025
Mad Gasser of Mattoon
In September 1944, while Allied troops battled overseas, the quiet Illinois town of Mattoon was seized by panic. Families awoke to a sickly-sweet odor, burning throats, and sudden paralysis, then glimpsed a shadowy figure slipping into the darkness. For two breathless weeks, newspaper headlines screamed of an “Anesthetic Prowler,” armed neighbors patrolled the streets, and the FBI weighed sabotage or chemical crime. Yet in the end, no culprit and no clear cause were ever found. Was it an industrial leak, a wartime spy, a malicious prankster, or mass hysteria born of home-front stress? This episode unpacks one of America’s strangest unsolved mysteries and asks what happens when fear itself becomes contagious. 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: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE:
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Killing Wild Bill Hickok
07/14/2025
Killing Wild Bill Hickok
Deadwood, Dakota Territory, 1876. A town of gold, grit, and gamblers. Among its rogues and prospectors walked a legend: Wild Bill Hickok, the Civil War scout turned gunslinger turned gambler. But on August 2nd, fate caught up to the myth. In a smoky saloon, with a hand of cards and his back to the door, Hickok was shot dead by a coward with a grudge. This episode unpacks the gripping true story of the man behind the legend and how the Old West’s most feared gunman met his end not in a duel, but in an ambush. 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: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE:
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TODAY IN CONTEXT: Third Parties in American Politics- A History
07/13/2025
TODAY IN CONTEXT: Third Parties in American Politics- A History
In this episode of History Shorts, we explore the fascinating and often frustrating history of third parties in American politics, just as Elon Musk launches his own. From the Republican Party's origins as a third-party insurgency to the fleeting promise of Ross Perot and the Reform Party, we trace the moments when political outsiders challenged the system, and when they crashed against it. What does history teach us about third parties? Why do they so often fail? And can Musk’s new venture break the mold, or is it destined to become a footnote? Join us as we walk through the surprising successes, sobering failures, and enduring influence of America’s third-party movements. 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: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE:
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Bloody Bill Anderson (Civil War True Crime)
07/13/2025
Bloody Bill Anderson (Civil War True Crime)
In the borderlands of Missouri, where the American Civil War devolved into personal feuds and guerrilla terror, one name echoed louder, and bloodier, than the rest: “Bloody Bill” Anderson. Feared by Union soldiers, hated by Unionist civilians, and idolized by vengeful Confederate bushwhackers, Anderson wasn’t just a man; he was a menace. His savage reign of ambushes, executions, and mutilations left a trail of horror across Missouri, culminating in the Centralia Massacre, where over 120 Union soldiers were killed, many after trying to surrender. This episode dives deep into the life and legacy of William T. Anderson, exploring how a young man forged by trauma became one of the most sadistic figures in Civil War history. We examine the broader guerrilla war in Missouri, the personal vendettas that fueled its violence, and the dark aftermath that bled into America’s outlaw era. Was he a Confederate avenger? A terrorist? A man driven mad by loss? Join us as we unravel the grim tale of “Bloody Bill” Anderson. 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: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE:
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COINTELPRO: America's Secret Surveillance Program
07/12/2025
COINTELPRO: America's Secret Surveillance Program
COINTELPRO (Counter Intelligence Program) remains one of the most contentious and clandestine operations in American history. Initiated by the FBI in 1956, COINTELPRO operated covertly to surveil, infiltrate, discredit, and disrupt civil rights groups, political organizations, and individuals deemed subversive or threatening to national security. Targeting African American leaders, the civil rights movement, left-wing activists, and anti-war groups, COINTELPRO's actions continue to provoke debates on the balance between security and civil liberties in the U.S. 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: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE:
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Captain James Cook’s Final Voyage w/ Hampton Sides
07/11/2025
Captain James Cook’s Final Voyage w/ Hampton Sides
In this wide-ranging and deeply insightful conversation, award-winning author and narrative historian Hampton Sides joins History Shorts to discuss his latest book, The Wide Wide Sea, a gripping account of Captain James Cook’s third and final voyage in search of the Northwest Passage. From stories of colonial contact in Polynesia to the legacy of exploration and the unexpected consequences that followed, Sides reflects on what drew him to the subject and what makes narrative history so compelling. Along the way, he shares personal stories of growing up in Memphis, his early journalism career, his friendship with the son of Civil War historian Shelby Foote, and what it means to bring history alive on the page. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SPONSORED BY THE LEARN MORE AT: SUPPORT THE SHOW: ADVERTISE: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE: THIS WEEK'S THE COLLECTOR.COM ARTICLE SELECTION: 1. 2.
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The Man in the Iron Mask
07/10/2025
The Man in the Iron Mask
The tale of the “Man in the Iron Mask” is one of history’s most intriguing and enigmatic mysteries. A figure imprisoned under the reign of Louis XIV, the Sun King, his identity and the reasons for his prolonged confinement remain shrouded in secrecy to this day. Was he a royal relative, a political rival, or an unknown prisoner? This episode explores the mystery surrounding the Man in the Iron Mask, the theories about his identity, and the captivating historical backdrop of 17th-century France that set the stage for his bizarre fate. 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: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE:
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The Peggy Eaton Affair
07/09/2025
The Peggy Eaton Affair
The Peggy Eaton Affair, or Petticoat Affair, is one of the most intriguing political scandals in early U.S. history, involving President Andrew Jackson, his Cabinet, and a scandalous dispute centered around the wife of Jackson's Secretary of War, John Eaton. This personal drama quickly escalated into a full-blown political crisis that reshaped Jackson’s administration and revealed the complicated intersection of gender, politics, and power struggles in 19th-century America. The scandal would have lasting consequences for political allegiances and Jackson's inner circle. 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: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE:
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The Tuskegee Syphilis Study
07/08/2025
The Tuskegee Syphilis Study
The Tuskegee Syphilis Study stands as one of the most egregious medical scandals in U.S. history. Spanning from 1932 to 1972, this study followed 399 Black men in Macon County, Alabama, who were deliberately denied treatment for syphilis in order to observe the disease’s progression. Despite the availability of penicillin in the 1940s, these men were subjected to unethical experimentation, marking a horrific chapter in American medicine that exposed the intersection of racial exploitation, medical malpractice, and the systemic dehumanization of Black Americans. 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: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE:
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The Bible's Greatest Battles
07/07/2025
The Bible's Greatest Battles
The Bible, while primarily a spiritual text, is rich with dramatic and often bloody tales of battle, where divine intervention and human ambition collide. From the fall of Jericho to the final battle of Armageddon, these conflicts shaped the history and faith of Israel. This episode explores some of the Bible's most epic and violent battles, examining not just the bloodshed but the spiritual and divine significance behind each confrontation. 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: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE:
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Fort Pillow Massacre (Civil War True Crime)
07/06/2025
Fort Pillow Massacre (Civil War True Crime)
On April 12, 1864, the banks of the Mississippi River ran red with blood. At Fort Pillow in western Tennessee, Confederate troops under the command of Nathan Bedford Forrest overran a Union outpost largely defended by Black soldiers, many of them formerly enslaved. But what happened after the battle began would echo through history as one of the most brutal atrocities of the American Civil War. This episode tells the full, harrowing story of the Fort Pillow Massacre, a chilling event that laid bare the deep racial hatred at the core of the Confederate cause. We examine the life and legacy of General Forrest, the firsthand accounts of survivors, and the political shockwaves that followed. Was it an unfortunate consequence of battle, or a war crime born of white supremacy? We follow the massacre’s reverberations through Reconstruction, Jim Crow, and into the present day as the United States continues to reckon with the legacy of racial violence and the myths we tell about the Civil War. 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: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE:
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Mystery of Sir Francis Drake's Treasure
07/05/2025
Mystery of Sir Francis Drake's Treasure
For over four centuries, adventurers, historians, and fortune hunters have been drawn to the mystery of Sir Francis Drake’s treasure. The legendary privateer and pirate amassed vast wealth in his raids on Spanish territories, yet what became of his treasure remains one of history's greatest unsolved mysteries. Was it lost to the sea, buried in the jungles of Central America, or hidden away in the name of crown and country? This episode explores the enduring legend, the life of Drake himself, and the myths surrounding his treasure. 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: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE:
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TODAY IN CONTEXT: The History of How We Celebrate July 4th
07/04/2025
TODAY IN CONTEXT: The History of How We Celebrate July 4th
The Fourth of July is more than just barbecues, beach days, and booming fireworks. In this episode, we trace the fascinating journey of America’s Independence Day, from its revolutionary roots in 1776 to the dazzling displays over the East River in modern-day New York City. Discover how July 4th has served as a mirror for American society, used to celebrate freedom, forge national identity, confront contradictions, and create spectacle. From the deaths of Adams and Jefferson on the same day in 1826 to Frederick Douglass’s searing 1852 critique, from the “Safe and Sane Fourth” movement to the rise of Macy’s Fireworks, this is the full story of how Americans have redefined patriotism through celebration. 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: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE:
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Conversations: The Fragile Alliance of WWIIs ‘Big Three,’ w/ Tim Bouverie
07/04/2025
Conversations: The Fragile Alliance of WWIIs ‘Big Three,’ w/ Tim Bouverie
In this special episode of History Shorts, host Peter Zablocki sits down with acclaimed British historian and author Tim Bouverie to discuss his compelling new book, Allies at War: How the Struggles Between the Allied Powers Shaped the War and the World. Known for his previous bestseller Appeasing Hitler, Bouverie turns his sharp analytical eye to the uneasy alliance that defeated Nazi Germany but also set the stage for the Cold War. We dive deep into the fractures, rivalries, and moral compromises that defined the Allied coalition of World War II, exploring how Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin maintained an alliance forged in crisis—and what the cost of that unity was for smaller nations like Poland. In this episode, we explore: Why the WWII alliance was “both improbable and incongruous” How the Soviet demand for a second front nearly destabilized Allied trust Roosevelt’s attempt to personally manage Stalin—and how that affected Churchill The Katyn Massacre, the betrayal of Poland, and the moral dilemma of wartime diplomacy The infamous Percentages Agreement and Churchill’s realpolitik How miscommunication and mistrust laid the groundwork for the Cold War Bouverie’s view on the storytelling power of history and the importance of reading fiction SUBSCRIBE, LEAVE A REVIEW, OR A RATING! SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE: BUY EPISODE SPONSOR: Peter's This Week's Top Picks from The Collector:
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Michelangelo's David
07/03/2025
Michelangelo's David
Michelangelo's David stands as one of the most iconic sculptures in the history of art, a towering figure of strength, defiance, and human perfection. Over 17 feet tall and sculpted from a single block of marble, David is not merely a biblical hero but a symbol of civic pride and resistance, embodying the ideals of Florence at its height. In this episode, we dive deep into the story behind this masterpiece, from the forgotten stone to the political tensions surrounding its creation and its enduring legacy through the centuries. 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: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE:
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Vietnam: America's Lost War
07/02/2025
Vietnam: America's Lost War
The Vietnam War didn’t begin with a declaration; it began with a decision. Then another. And another. In this overview, we trace the arc of America’s tragic entanglement in Vietnam, from cautious postwar containment policies to the fall of Saigon. Through coups, cover-ups, and combat, this is the story of how the U.S. slid into a conflict that claimed over 58,000 American lives and left a nation questioning everything, its leadership, its ideals, and its place in the world. This is not just the story of a war. It’s the story of how history happens, one choice at a time. 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: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE:
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Fast & Furious PT Boats
07/01/2025
Fast & Furious PT Boats
They were made of wood, powered by gasoline, and crewed by men barely out of high school, yet they terrified Japanese convoys and launched the naval legend of a future U.S. President. In this episode, we chart the rise and legacy of PT Boats: the fast, fierce, and fearless torpedo boats that prowled the Pacific in World War II. From daring rescues and shark-infested swims to guerrilla warfare on the high seas, the story of the PT Boats is as thrilling as it is underappreciated. 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: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE:
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Jefferson & Adams: Founding Frenemies?
06/30/2025
Jefferson & Adams: Founding Frenemies?
Two giants of American history, one a combative Yankee lawyer, the other a philosophical Virginia planter, helped birth a nation, then nearly destroyed their friendship in the process. In this episode, we follow the gripping and deeply human saga of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson: allies in revolution, bitter political foes, and ultimately, reconciled visionaries whose final act was as poetic as their first. From Philadelphia to Paris, from power to penmanship, theirs is a story of pride, principles, betrayal, and redemption. And they died on the same day: July 4, 1826. 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: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE:
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Custer's Last Stand
06/29/2025
Custer's Last Stand
In the summer of 1876, as America celebrated its centennial, a stunning defeat unfolded on the plains of Montana. Lt. Colonel George Custer and over 200 soldiers of the 7th Cavalry were wiped out by a united force of Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors. Known popularly as Custer’s Last Stand, the Battle of Little Bighorn became one of the most mythologized and misunderstood clashes in American history. In this episode, we revisit the true story of Little Bighorn: the broken treaties, the clash of cultures, Custer’s fatal miscalculations, and the tactical brilliance of Native leaders like Crazy Horse and Gall. What really happened in those fateful hills, and how did a moment of Indigenous triumph become buried beneath legend? Topics Covered: The discovery of gold in the Black Hills and the violation of the Fort Laramie Treaty The U.S. military’s three-pronged campaign to subdue the “hostile” tribes George Custer’s ego, decisions, and leadership flaws The strength, unity, and strategy of the Native coalition The events of June 25, 1876, what happened, and what went wrong The immediate U.S. response and the long-term consequences for Native nations How Custer became a myth, and how that myth distorted history Modern interpretations and memorials from both sides 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: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE:
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The Kings' Crusade
06/28/2025
The Kings' Crusade
In the wake of Jerusalem’s fall to Saladin in 1187, three of Europe’s mightiest monarchs, Richard the Lionheart of England, Philip Augustus of France, and Frederick Barbarossa of the Holy Roman Empire, launched an extraordinary military expedition to reclaim Christendom’s most sacred city. The Third Crusade, remembered as The Kings’ Crusade, was a clash of titans, driven by religious fervor, political ambition, and personal rivalry. In this episode, we retrace the dramatic course of this crusade, from Barbarossa’s tragic drowning to Richard’s dazzling victories, and from the brutal Siege of Acre to the surprisingly respectful diplomacy between Richard and Saladin. Though Jerusalem would remain in Muslim hands, the crusade reshaped the medieval world and forged legends that endure to this day. Topics Covered: The fall of Jerusalem and the call for the Third Crusade The ambitions and rivalries of Europe’s three most powerful kings The death of Frederick Barbarossa and the collapse of the German forces. Richard the Lionheart’s conquests in Cyprus and the Holy Land The Siege of Acre and the mass execution of prisoners The legendary Battle of Arsuf and Richard’s military brilliance Richard and Saladin’s negotiations and mutual respect The Treaty of Jaffa and the legacy of the Third Crusade 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: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE:
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Conversations: The Mystery Behind Socrates' Death w/ Matt Gatton
06/27/2025
Conversations: The Mystery Behind Socrates' Death w/ Matt Gatton
Peter speaks with Matt Gatton about his newest book, The Shadows of Socrates, which reframes Socrates not merely as a martyr for free speech but as a philosophical heretic, whose intellectual rebellion against the dominant spiritual order ultimately sealed his fate. SUBSCRIBE, LEAVE A REVIEW, OR A RATING! LEARN MORE: SUPPORT THE SHOW: BUY MATT'S EPISODE SPONSOR: This Week's Peter's Top Picks from The Collector:
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The Pill, the Nurse, and the Revolution
06/26/2025
The Pill, the Nurse, and the Revolution
Few medical breakthroughs have changed the world as profoundly as the birth control pill, and few people were as instrumental in that transformation as Margaret Sanger. In this episode, we trace the fierce, controversial, and ultimately world-shaking campaign for reproductive autonomy, from back-alley clinics and prison cells to laboratories and FDA approval. Margaret and the Pill is not just the story of a scientific invention, it’s a story of defiance, moral courage, strategic compromise, and the complicated legacy of one woman whose vision reshaped the 20th century. Topics Covered: Margaret Sanger’s early life and motivation for fighting for birth control The Comstock Laws and the criminalization of contraceptive information Founding of the first birth control clinic and Planned Parenthood Sanger’s controversial ties to eugenics Collaboration with Gregory Pincus and Katharine McCormick Development, trials, and approval of the birth control pill The sexual revolution and the pill’s far-reaching cultural impact The backlash, religious opposition, and feminist critiques Sanger’s legacy: groundbreaking pioneer or flawed radical? 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: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE:
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The Last Nazi Fuhrer
06/25/2025
The Last Nazi Fuhrer
When Adolf Hitler shot himself in a Berlin bunker, the Nazi regime didn’t die with him, not immediately. In an eerie coda to World War II, Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz, commander of Germany’s deadly U-boat fleet, was named Hitler’s successor. For three surreal weeks, Dönitz led the so-called Flensburg Government, navigating the ruins of a dead empire, issuing decrees, and negotiating surrender. This episode explores how a naval officer became the last Führer of Nazi Germany, why he was chosen, what his government tried to accomplish, and how he escaped the noose at Nuremberg despite his deep loyalty to Hitler and the Nazi cause. Topics Covered: Dönitz’s rise through the Kriegsmarine and U-boat warfare Why Hitler chose Dönitz over Himmler or Goebbels The eerie formation and function of the Flensburg Government Dönitz’s strategy to surrender to the West while stalling the Soviets His arrest, trial at Nuremberg, and controversial prison sentence Postwar mythmaking and Dönitz’s self-portrayal as a “loyal soldier” The shadowy legacy of a man who ruled Nazi Germany after Hitler 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: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE:
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Rome's Five Good Emperors
06/24/2025
Rome's Five Good Emperors
For 84 remarkable years, from 96 to 180 CE, the Roman Empire was guided not by the worst instincts of autocracy, but by its best hopes. In this episode, we explore the era of The Five Good Emperors: Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius. Chosen not by birthright but by merit, these rulers led Rome through a golden age of relative peace, prosperity, and principled governance. We’ll trace their legacies, military conquests, architectural marvels, legal reforms, philosophical meditations, and ask why, in a brutal age of emperors-gone-mad, these five men stood apart. And why the dream of wise succession died with Marcus Aurelius. Topics Covered: The fall of Domitian and the birth of a new political principle: adoption over bloodline Trajan’s military genius and public generosity Hadrian’s architectural vision and philosophical eccentricity Antoninus Pius’ peaceful stewardship and reforms Marcus Aurelius’ stoic leadership during the plague and war Why this golden era ended—and what modern leadership can learn from it 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: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE:
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The "Other" Rosa Parks
06/23/2025
The "Other" Rosa Parks
Before Rosa Parks made history by refusing to give up her seat in Montgomery, Alabama, there was another young woman, just 15 years old, who had done the very same thing. Her name was Claudette Colvin. In this episode, we uncover the overlooked and extraordinary story of Colvin’s defiance, arrest, and her pivotal role in the court case that would ultimately help bring down bus segregation in the South. Why was her name nearly erased from the movement? What does her story reveal about the politics of protest and the cost of courage? Join us as we explore how a teenager with fire in her heart and history in her classroom helped lay the legal foundation for one of the most powerful civil rights victories in American history. Topics Covered: The climate of Montgomery, Alabama, in early 1955 Claudette Colvin’s act of defiance and arrest Why the civil rights leadership chose Rosa Parks instead The role of respectability politics in the movement Colvin’s role in Browder v. Gayle and desegregating buses Her life after the movement and slow path to recognition The legacy of young, often-forgotten pioneers in social change 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: SUPPORT THE SHOW: LEARN MORE:
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