The Old World with Will Tanner
Life Before Liberalism
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Bacon’s Rebellion and the Birth of Virginia's Golden Age
04/25/2026
Bacon’s Rebellion and the Birth of Virginia's Golden Age
This is the tale of Nathaniel Bacon’s Rebellion against Governor Sir William Berkeley, the long-ruling governor of Virginia who went from beloved Cavalier to despised despot. It is the story of how the engrossment of Virginia’s lands by the Virginia gentry, the sub-penny trap in tobacco prices that drove the yeomen of the Old Dominion under, and the Indian attacks along the frontier that finally led to Bacon’s Rebellion. Bacon’s private campaign against the Susquehannock and the Occaneechi, the story of how Bacon got his commission, and why Bacon’s Men burned Jamestown, is all covered, as is the story of Berkeley’s revenge after Bacon died and his men were defeated. Finally, we describe how the Virginia of the Golden Age was born from the ashes of Bacon’s rebellion, and how rising tobacco prices and the switch from indentured servants to an enslaved workforce stopped revolution from happening again.
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Conservation, Conservatism, and Lurking Natural Disasters with Chris Barnard
04/22/2026
Conservation, Conservatism, and Lurking Natural Disasters with Chris Barnard
In this episode, Will and Chris Barnard, the President of the American Conservation Coalition, discuss the state of conservation in America and why it’s a conservative value. They discuss where leftist environmental groups went wrong, conservation as a conservative value, and new technologies that are giving us a better chance to restore the natural environment. They also discuss lurking dangers and disasters in America’s natural world, from PFAS in the water and the budding Western water crisis to overtaxed American topsoil, along with what might help fix those issues. Find Chris on X here: Check out the American Conservation Coalition here:
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The Virginia Cavaliers: Myth or Reality?
04/18/2026
The Virginia Cavaliers: Myth or Reality?
Were the famed Virginia Cavaliers truly the architects of the Old Dominion, or are they merely a phantom of Southern chivalry's imagination? Did those proud and defiant Royalists, the "Distressed Cavaliers" of legend, ever actually flee to the Tidewater to escape the dreary tyranny of Oliver Cromwell's Protectorate, or is the "Cavalier" just a convenient myth—a mask worn by a merchant class in search of a noble pedigree? This episode resolves that perennial question. We discuss the reality of the Cavalier-Puritan split in America—a conflict of visions rooted in an irreconcilable divide between the Tobacco Plantations of the Virginia Gentry and the Gospel of Labor. We explore the offer of Cavalier sanctuary provided by Governor Sir William Berkeley, and how Virginia culture became Cavalier culture. Most of all, we discuss the reality of the Second Sons myth of the First Families of Virginia, and if there really were nobles in America's Old Dominion, or at least their second sons. This is the foundational story of the Tidewater Gentry and the rise of the First Families of Virginia. It is the tale of how a tobacco plantation economy was transfigured into a colonial aristocracy, how the fires of the English Civil War were reignited in the New World, and how Virginia became the land of the Cavaliers. 0:00 The Cavalier of Virginia: Man or Myth? 3:47 The English Civil War Comes to Virginia 5:59 Why Virginia Remained Cavalier 7:10: What the Conflict Between Puritan and Cavalier was All About 10:50 Were There Puritans in the Tidewater? 11:23 Puritan Levellers and Diggers Chase the Cavaliers Out of England 12:27 The Three Stages of Cavalier Migration to Virginia 17:21 The Cavaliers Define the Virginia Gentry 19:07 Governor Berkeley Invites the Cavaliers and Creates a Ruling Class 23:09 The Importance of the Anglican Church of Virginia 25:47 Virginia’s Cavalier Ruling Class Has Formed 26:46 Was the Virginia Cavalier Real? Richard of Jamestown, Internet Archive Book Images, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Astley Bernard, Unknown artistUnknown artist, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Rev. Hunt Reads, Internet Archive Book Images, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Pilgrim Fairmount, Internet Archive Book Images, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Westover Plantation, Internet Archive Book Images, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Berkeley, D.H. Maury (via Internet Archive Book Images), CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Church of All Saints, Lewis Hulbert, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Berkely, John Philip Davis via Frank X. Sadlier (via Internet Archive Book Images), CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Jamestonwn Church, Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Colonial Williamsburg, Harvey Barrison from Massapequa, NY, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Colonial Williamsburg Parish Church, Carolyn from Pemberton Township, NJ, USA, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Colonial Williamsburg, Mobilus In Mobili, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Settlers, Frank X. Sadlier (via Internet Archive Book Images), CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
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An Interview with Charles Murray: The Real Reasons Apollo Succeeded
04/15/2026
An Interview with Charles Murray: The Real Reasons Apollo Succeeded
How did NASA boldly advance the Apollo Program over the course of a decade to accomplish the greatest feat of mankind: the landing of humans on the Moon and their safe return to Earth? In this episode, Will sits down with Charles Murray—renowned author of The Bell Curve and Coming Apart—to discuss a lifelong passion project: the Apollo Program. While many focus on the astronauts, Murray’s book, Apollo: The Race to the Moon, tells the story of the engineers, the mission controllers, and the institutional genius that made the impossible a reality. What We Discuss: The Cold War Background: How the Bay of Pigs Disaster led to President Kennedy deciding to set the Moon as a benchmark of Space Race victory, and why he chose it, along with whether the Soviet space program was really that far ahead of America’s. They cover Von Braun and the Germans at the Marshall Space Center, the incredible story of the NASA Langley Research Center. The Engineering Talent Pool: How the mid-century U.S. produced an unprecedented concentration of technical brilliance, and how many of Apollo’s engineers came from backgrounds other than what one might expect. The Saturn V & The Lunar Module: Examining the "otherworldly" engineering and the sheer scale of the incredibly advanced spacecraft and rockets. Saving the Mission: How a handful of personnel in Mission Control made split-second decisions that saved the program from disaster, and how courageous decisions made by NASA leaders over the decade ensured Kennedy’s pledge was fulfilled. The SpaceX Connection: Why Elon Musk is the true heir to the Apollo legacy and how SpaceX mirrors the NASA of the 1960s. The Future of Human Achievement: What missions today could inspire the same civilizational impact as the moon landings. About the Guest: Charles Murray is a Hayek Emeritus Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. While widely known for his sociological work, his history of the Apollo program is considered a definitive look at the technical and organizational triumphs of the Space Race. Get Charles Murray’s book about Apollo here: See his other books here: Find his other work here: Note: I am an Amazon affiliate. Using the above Amazon links to Mr. Murray’s books is a way of supporting my work at no cost to yourself.
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Tobacco and Plantations: The Making of the Old Dominion
04/11/2026
Tobacco and Plantations: The Making of the Old Dominion
his is the tale of how tobacco created the plantations in Virginia for which the Old Dominion is known, and how those plantations entrenched and solidified the power of the famous “Topping People” of Virginia, those First Families of Virginia and Virginia Gentry who ruled the state for decades. It is a tale of indentured servants in colonial Virginia and slave labor workforces on vast Virginia plantations. It is a tale of the Navigation Acts, of soil exhaustion, of Starving Times in Jamestown and dying gentlemen in their starched, ruffled shirts. This is the story of Virginia’s shift, brought about thanks to John Rolfe of Pocahontas fame, from the blighted land Captain John Smith and Gov. George Percy knew, to that flourishing and flowering Old Virginia of Robert “King” Carter, Thomas Lee, and the others of Virginia’s Golden Age. But most of all, this is the tale of tobacco and plantations in Virginia, and why they developed as they did.
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The History and Legacy of the Apollo Missions with Richard Easton
04/09/2026
The History and Legacy of the Apollo Missions with Richard Easton
In this episode, Will and Richard Easton, a historian of GPS and son of one of the inventors of GPS, discuss the history of the Space Race and Apollo missions. They go over the impetus for Eisenhower committing America to launching a satellite, the reasons for the Gemini and Mercury missions, why Kennedy settled on the moon mission, and how the Apollo program progressed. They discuss the technical advancements required to make Apollo happen, the characters and competence of the men involved, the scientific legacy of Apollo, and why the missions were ended. They discuss also why space exploration slowed to a crawl after Apollo 17, the challenges NASA faces, and the incredible technical competence shown by SpaceX, along with GPS and Richard’s book about its history. Note: the Apollo 16 CapCom whose name Richard could not remember is Charlie Duke Get Richard’s Book here: Get Michael Collins’s Book here: Get Charles Murray’s book about Apollo here:
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The Legacy of Lewis and Clark
04/04/2026
The Legacy of Lewis and Clark
In this concluding video on the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Will discusses what the legacy of these two great explorers is. He comments on their discovery that the Northwest Passage was a figment of the imagination, but how they nevertheless sparked a massive fur trade rush. He tells how Clark mapped the West with incredible accuracy and created a resource used for decades, how their careful cataloguing and preservation of natural specimens was an immense scientific accomplishment, and how they discovered and documented much of the West’s incredible species and beauty. He also discusses the death of Meriwether Lewis, and how Lewis’s incomprehensible failure to publish the Lewis and Clark Journals led to many of their greatest scientific accomplishments going unrecorded for almost a century.
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Building Great Houses and What They Are with Gregory Treat
04/01/2026
Building Great Houses and What They Are with Gregory Treat
In this episode, Will and Gregory Treat, an attorney who helps families plan for multiple generations into the future. They discuss Great Houses—families that build a multi-generational legacy and use it to influence and lead their polities—and how such a concept is relevant today. They discuss democratic vs. aristocratic technologies, the mindset behind Great Houses, whether the form of wealth matters, some examples of Great Houses acting for the best in American life, and how technological change could lead to a very different world…that will likely still rely on Great Houses. Find Gregory Treat on Substack here: Listen to His Great Houses episodes here: Check out his consulting here: Read Will’s thoughts on this here:
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Lewis and Clark: The Triumphant Heroes Return
03/28/2026
Lewis and Clark: The Triumphant Heroes Return
The Corps of Discovery’s Permanent Party makes it back to St. Louis in this episode, finishing the grand march across a continent and back on which it set out two years prior. This is the tale of how the Lewis and Clark Expedition made it back from Fort Clatsop to St. Louis in one travel season. It’s the story of fighting up rivers, marching through the Bitterroot Mountains in a heavy season of snow, splitting the party up despite the immense risks so that the Marias River and Yellowstone River Valley could be explored as the party filled in the map and looked for commercial opportunity, and how the party split with Sacagawea when they returned to the Mandans. This is also the story of Pompey’s Tower, of a desperate fight with the Blackfeet Indians, of the discovery that the Northwest Passage was truly non-existent, of the wisdom of the Nez Perce Indians, of the first mountain man—a veteran of the Permanent Party, and of the tragic fate Lewis met with after an immensely successful journey
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Whitewater of Death: Lewis & Clark’s Desperate Descent Down to the Pacific after Braving the Bitterroot Mountains and Lolo Trail
03/22/2026
Whitewater of Death: Lewis & Clark’s Desperate Descent Down to the Pacific after Braving the Bitterroot Mountains and Lolo Trail
Emerging from the skeletal hunger and crushing snows of the Bitterroot Range and its Lolo Trail, the Lewis and Clark Expedition finally reaches the waters that will lead them to the Pacific. But the Permanent Party explorers in the Corps of Discovery quickly realize that their mountain ordeal was merely a prelude to further terrible ordeals to follow. This critical chapter captures the moment they commit themselves to the unyielding, ferocious whitewater of the great river descent, forced to navigate dangerous cascades in cumbersome, hand-carved dugout canoes. As the snow-dusted, jagged peaks from their past loom in the background, they are thrust into a relentless battle against a watery labyrinth that threatens to swallow the dreams of an "Empire of Liberty" whole. This is the tale of how the Lewis and Clark Expedition reached the Pacific. It is a tale of crushing snow and frigid temperatures in the Bitterroot Mountains, high-stakes negotiations with the Nez Perce, shooting the dangerous rapids after making dugout canoes, and a winter of misery spent at Fort Clatsop amongst the Clatsop Indians in steady rain. It is a tale of courage, of triumph over insurmountable odds, and of incredible leadership in the face of immense danger
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The Genius of Tom Wolfe, Destruction of Atlanta, and Decay of America's "Moral Tone" with Rowdy Yates
03/18/2026
The Genius of Tom Wolfe, Destruction of Atlanta, and Decay of America's "Moral Tone" with Rowdy Yates
In this episode, Will and Rowdy Yates discuss the two premier novels of American journalist and author Tom Wolfe—The Bonfire of the Vanities and A Man In Full. They discuss what Wolfe says about America and the men within it through the lens of the novels, from the decayed “moral tone,” as Wolfe put it, of cosmopolitan cities in the New South like Atlanta to the nature of class and wealth in America. They discuss everything from the mess that is Atlanta to Wolfe’s genius as an author, along with some of their favorite “laugh out loud funny” moments and characters in each novel. Further, they discuss how Wolfe portrays the Civil Rights grifters, new money, old money, and men who are out of place in a cosmopolitan world. Get Get here
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Survival or Extinction: Lewis & Clark Defeat Grizzlies and Waterfalls, Then Get Saved by a Miracle
03/15/2026
Survival or Extinction: Lewis & Clark Defeat Grizzlies and Waterfalls, Then Get Saved by a Miracle
What happens when the dream of an Empire meets the reality of a vertical wall of granite? In this episode, we follow the Corps of Discovery as they "step off the map" and enter the truly uncharted West. The journey becomes a high-stakes survival epic, beginning with the White Pirogue disaster, where Sacagawea’s calm resolve saves the mission’s intellectual legacy from the bottom of the Missouri. We witness the "rude awakening" of the American frontiersmen as they encounter the Beast of the Plains—the Grizzly Bear. From the near-fatal "Espontoon Incident" to the harrowing 18-mile portage around the Great Falls, this was the month that forged the "Permanent Party" into an ironclad force hardened by cactus-shredded feet and hailstorms the size of apples. The expedition reaches its breaking point at the Continental Divide, where Meriwether Lewis discovers that the "Northwest Passage" is a myth, leaving the expedition staring in the face of a labyrinth of snow-capped peaks. Just as starvation and defeat seem inevitable, the mission is saved by a miraculous reunion so improbable it would be dismissed as fiction. This is the moment Sacagawea recognizes the Shoshone Chief as her long-lost brother, Chief Cameahwait, turning a potential massacre into a diplomatic triumph. This is more than a trek; it is a masterclass in leadership at the edge of the world. Subscribe to The Old World as we detail the turning point of American history and the moment Jefferson’s Empire of Liberty finally found its path across a continent and to the Pacific.
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Lewis and Clark's Expedition Begins: From Fort Dubois to the Mandans, Past the Dangerous Teton Sioux
03/09/2026
Lewis and Clark's Expedition Begins: From Fort Dubois to the Mandans, Past the Dangerous Teton Sioux
This is the tale of how Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led the Corps of Discovery out of Camp Dubois and up the Missouri River, sailing, rowing and pushing a keelboat against the current and into history. It’s the story of their standoff with the Teton Lakota, their need for nine pounds of meat per man per day to make up for the caloric expenditure of the expedition, and of their time with the incredible Mandan Indians. It is a romantic story of adventure, an excruciating story of hard work on a merciless frontier, and an exciting tale of perseverance in the face of immense danger and terrible odds. This is also the tale of how the Corps of Discovery was hammered into being an effective unit with the lash, the tragic death of Sgt. Charles Floyd, and how the ingenuity of one blacksmith kept the men alive through a freezing and starving winter. This is the tale of the Corps of Discovery as it began the march that constituted its American Epic.
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What Life Was Like in Rhodesia and South Africa with Donald Maclean
03/04/2026
What Life Was Like in Rhodesia and South Africa with Donald Maclean
In this episode, Will and Donald Maclean, whose family moved to South Africa and spent a good bit of time in Rhodesia before its fall to Mugabe, discuss what life was like in Rhodesia and South Africa before they fell to Mugabe and Mandela, respectively. They begin by describing the First World nature of South Africa in the 1970s. They then describe life in Rhodesia over the 1970s, with a focus on the unique Rhodesian spirit and culture, particularly the polished nature of Rhodesian society and how they defeated sanctions. They then discuss what life was like in South Africa for its waning days, with a focus on Donald’s military service in the Angolan Border War in support of 32 Battalion, and the essentially evil nature of Nelson Mandela. They discuss the reality of apartheid, Mandela’s many crimes, and the utter destruction of South Africa under his rule.
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How Meriwether Lewis Forged the Corps of Discovery: Preparing for the Lewis and Clark Expedition
03/03/2026
How Meriwether Lewis Forged the Corps of Discovery: Preparing for the Lewis and Clark Expedition
This is the tale of how Captain Meriwether Lewis forged the Corps of Discovery and prepared for the grand expedition he and William Clark led across the American West to explore the Louisiana Purchase. It is a tale of studying the natural world with President Thomas Jefferson in Monticello, studying everything from naturalism to medicine in the salons and parlors of Philadelphia, painstakingly selecting the perfect equipment—including his famous lead powder cannisters and variation of the Model 1792 Rifle—and then selecting William Clark as his co-captain. This is also the tale of whom Lewis and Clark selected for the Corps of Discovery, primarily in terms of what characteristics they selected for when choosing their companions. From the special talents of some of the bold adventurers to the general skills needed for exploring the frontier, this is the tale of how they were selected so that Jefferson’s vision of exploring the route to the Pacific could be fullfilled
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Lewis and Clark: Why Jefferson Chose Meriwether Lewis to Explore the Empire of Liberty
02/28/2026
Lewis and Clark: Why Jefferson Chose Meriwether Lewis to Explore the Empire of Liberty
This is the story of the Corps of Discovery, the famous Meriwether Lewis and William Clark-led American Army expedition to explore and map a route across the American continent and to the Pacific Ocean. In this episode, Will tells the tale of why President Thomas Jefferson dreamed of exploring and settling the American West, who Lewis and Clark were, why Jefferson chose Lewis to lead the Corps of Discovery, and how the Virginia backgrounds of all three men shaped their outlook of the American West and the expedition itself. Will also describes how Jefferson managed to get the funding for the expedition through a skeptical Congress, how the Louisiana Purchase changed the expedition in a major way, and how the travels of Scottish-born British adventurer Alexander Mackenzie impelled Jefferson and Lewis, then an Army officer and fellow Virginia Piedmont tobacco planter serving as his secretary in the White House, to act quickly.
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The Last White Rajah of Sarawak: How Vyner Brooke Went From Rajah to Not
02/25/2026
The Last White Rajah of Sarawak: How Vyner Brooke Went From Rajah to Not
This is the story of Vyner Brooke, the Third and Last White Rajah of Sarawak. In this episode of the Old World, Will tells the tale of how Vyner Brooke lost the Raj of Sarawak primarily due to the Japanese invasion of Borneo to take the Miri oil fields he controlled at the beginning of World War II, and his own feeling that he was an anachronism and democracy was coming. In this episode, we tell the tale of what life was like in wartime Sarawak, how the Japanese invasion went, Vyner’s refusal to stand and fight the Imperial Japanese from the deep jungles of Sarawak, how the Dayaks resisted the Japanese occupiers, and how the destruction of the Miri oil fields and Kuching left Sarawak destroyed. We then show why Vyner decided to give it up to become the Crown Colony of Sarawak, and how that sparked a familial war between him and the Rajah Muda that ended in tragedy. Finally, we show how the Brooke legacy has been kept alive, including in Sarawak, where they remain beloved.
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Vyner Brooke: The Last of the White Rajahs of Sarawak, Pt. 1
02/21/2026
Vyner Brooke: The Last of the White Rajahs of Sarawak, Pt. 1
This is the story of Vyner Brooke, the Third and Last White Rajah of Sarawak. In this episode of the Old World, Will tells the tale of how different Vyner was from the Second White Rajah of Sarawak, Charles Brooke, and how Vyner managed to inherit his splendorous kingdom despite his father’s dislike of him. it is a tale of intrigue, deadly jungle expeditions, and high-stakes diplomacy. From there, we tell the tale of how Vyner Brooke turned Sarawak into what Sir James Brooke always knew it could be. The oil fields of Miri, famous pepper fields of Sarawak’s hills, Borneo Company Limited-run gold and antimony mines, and much more drive Sarawak’s success and turn it into a thriving commercial colony. We also show how Vyner used clever infrastructure developments, such as rail, radio, and port investment, to make Sarawak more prosperous than it had ever been, just before the disaster that ended the White Rajahs struck.
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The State of South Africanization in America with Dan Lyman
02/18/2026
The State of South Africanization in America with Dan Lyman
In this episode, Will and Dan Lyman discuss the present state of South Africanization in America, and whether things are getting worse or better. They describe the border situation, how Trump is doing with deportations, law and order in American cities, and much else! Find Dan on X here: Find Border Hawk here: Check out Will’s new YouTube channel here:
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The Story of Charles Brooke, Part II: The Expansion of Sarawak
02/17/2026
The Story of Charles Brooke, Part II: The Expansion of Sarawak
he story of Charles Brooke, the Second White Rajah of Sarawak, resumes in this episode. Picking up with the passing of his uncle, Sir James Brooke, the first White Rajah of Sarawak, in 1868, we tell the great colonial adventure tale of how Charles Brooke massively expanded the Raj of Sarawak across much of Borneo. This is the tale of how Charles fulfilled his uncle’s dream of making Sarawak not just safe and stable for the natives or romantic for European adventurers, but also prosperous and well-developed. This is a tale not just of defeated pirates and headhunters in teh steamy jungles of Borneo, nor just of gunboat diplomacy when facing off with the Sultan of Brunei, but of smart diplomatic moves and stead colonial expansion. It’s the story of how Charles outfoxed the British North Borneo Corporation, how he expanded his personal empire, and what smart moves he made to develop Sarawak with modern infrastructure. Finally, we tell the sad and sorry story of Charles Brooke’s personal life, such as his marriage to the Ranee of Sarawak, Margaret, and the death of their children in Suez.
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How Charles Brooke Defeated Rentap the Pirate and Saved James Brooke, the White Rajah of Sarawak
02/14/2026
How Charles Brooke Defeated Rentap the Pirate and Saved James Brooke, the White Rajah of Sarawak
Dive into the legend of Sir Charles Brooke, the Second White Rajah of Sarawak, and the tales of his daring battles against Iban pirates and Kongsi Chinese rebels in Sarawak’s deepest, darkest jungles, and the burned city of Kuching! This is the history of Sir Charles Brooke, the Second White Rajah of Sarawak, from the time of his arrival in Sarawak as a young officer in his uncle’s Raj, and how he became the key figure on whom Sir James Brooke consistently relied. It’s an exciting tale of how Charles defeated Rentap the Iban pirate king in his Mount Sadok fortress, how he saved the Raj in its darkest hour, and how he became the second Rajah of Sarawak, instead of his brother, Brooke Brooke. Subscribe for more colonial history and adventure stories! Make sure to like the video if you love adventure tales. Don't forget to comment your favorite historical figure below, so I can add him to the lineup!
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How Sir James Brooke Survived the 1857 Kongsi Rebellion, and Saved the Raj of Sarawak
02/11/2026
How Sir James Brooke Survived the 1857 Kongsi Rebellion, and Saved the Raj of Sarawak
The White Rajah's saga concludes as we follow Sir James Brooke first into the heart of Sarawak's jungle as he fights Rentap, the last pirate king of Sarawak, in a massive jungle battle. We then turn to the city of Kuching tell the tale of how the Chinese Kongsi Rebellion of 1857 almost ended the White Raj of Sarawak for good when they sacked Kuching and destroyed the Rajah’s Astana palace, with Sir James just barely escaping into the Sarawak River in his pyjamas, but was saved at the last moment by the stern bravery of Charles Brooke and the fortitious arrival of a key piece of naval technology. From the muddy waters of Sarawak’s pirate and rebel-infested rivers, we then turn back to England, where Sir James finds peace and cool in retirement as his state is rebuilt thanks to the kind efforts of Baroness Angela Burdett-Coutts, the beautiful heiress Sir James could have, but didn’t, marry. We end with a brief summary of his life and accomplishments, preparing to turn to the second rajah.
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The Lewis and Clark Expedition with Warren Steury
02/11/2026
The Lewis and Clark Expedition with Warren Steury
In this episode, Will and Warren Steury discuss the history and importance of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. They discuss its historical background, the preparation phase, the course of the expedition, and remarkable incidents that occurred during it, as well as the character of Meriwether Lewis. They also discuss the death of Lewis, his failure to publish the journals, and the legacy of the expedition. Note: The Sergeant mentioned by Warren was Sgt. Charles Floyd, not Sgt. George Floyd. Find Warren on X here: Check out his Meriwether Academy here: Check Will’s new YouTube show out here:
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The Reality of South Africanization with Roman Cabanac
02/04/2026
The Reality of South Africanization with Roman Cabanac
In this episode, Will and Roman Cabanac, a South African, discuss the reality of life in a South Africanizing world. They discuss the complex political situation in South Africa, what the crime and infrastructure situation is like, how to deal with such a world, and how to succeed despite the race communism. They also discuss what Westerners can learn from South Africa’s experience. Find Roman on X here: Check Will’s new YouTube show out here: And read his thoughts about South Africanization here:
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The Legend of Sir James Brooke: The Adventurer's Throne
02/03/2026
The Legend of Sir James Brooke: The Adventurer's Throne
In this episode of The Old World, Will tells the history of Sir James Brooke, the first White Rajah of Sarawak, from the time of his birth in the glorious Raj of the East India Company to his privately funded and high-stakes battle against poison blow-dart-wielding headhunters in the steaming jungles of Borneo to become a Rajah, a feat never equalled by any other European. It’s an exciting tale of stormed barricades, gunboat diplomacy with a private yacht, and bravery in the face of immense adversity. Read more about James here: Follow us on Instagram here: All pictures are public domain from Wikimedia Commons, except the following: Map of the British East India Company Dominions: Moll, Herman, -1732, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons First image of the First Anglo-Burmese War: Myanmar’s Defence Services Museum, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Datu Patinggi Ali picture: Alena Murang, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Image of Dayak with dart gun: AnonymousUnknown author, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Picture of the jungle: Internet Archive Book Images, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons Last picture, of the house in Kuching credit: Frank S. Marryat, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
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The Fall of Rhodesia and Britain with Zoomer Historian
01/28/2026
The Fall of Rhodesia and Britain with Zoomer Historian
In this episode, Will and Zoomer Historian do a deep dive into Rhodesian and British imperial history. They discuss how Rhodesia became the land of excellence it was, what sort of men the Rhodesians were, and whether Cecil Rhodes was a great man or great villain. They also comment on whether the British Empire should be viewed positively or negatively by the right, how a shift in post-war ideology shaped Rhodesia’s downfall and the Empire’s collapse, and what hope there is for modern Britain. Check out Zoomer’s Substack here: Find him on X here: Read Will’s thoughts on the book by Peter Baxter they reference here:
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What Rhodesia’s Fall Teaches Us with Jonas Nilsson
01/21/2026
What Rhodesia’s Fall Teaches Us with Jonas Nilsson
In this episode, Will and Jonas discuss the history of Rhodesia, focusing on how it created a new people out of the unique conditions it found in Africa, and how a change in the Western ideology doomed it. The comment on Sweden’s role in destroying colonial Africa, the ideology of decolonization, Orania, South Africa, and what we in the West can learn from Rhodesia’s fall. Check out Jonas’s article on Rhodesia here: Get his book on Orania here: Get his book on migration here:
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The Only Good Causes are Lost Causes with Richard Nichols
01/14/2026
The Only Good Causes are Lost Causes with Richard Nichols
In this episode, Will and Richard discuss the plague of spite-driven decline through the lens of Richard’s fabulous novel, Lost Causes. They discuss Rhodesia, the decay of Britain, the slovenliness of society, and how all of the societal disasters we see around us stem from the same source. They also comment on the Confederacy, Jamaica, and how the IRA became a leftist parody of itself. Get Richard’s book here: Find Richard on X here:
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Statecraft and Becoming a Modern Minuteman with Moritz Bierling
01/07/2026
Statecraft and Becoming a Modern Minuteman with Moritz Bierling
In this episode, Will and Mortiz discuss the failing institutions in America, the problems lurking across much of the West, and how he is helping combat it by teaching men to be Modern Minutemen. They discuss what that means, what civic actions it can translate into, the importance of language, and how teach and use statecraft to our advantage Find Moritz on Substack here: Check out his Modern Minuteman project here:
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Why Rhodesia Lost the Bush War with Voodoo 6
12/31/2025
Why Rhodesia Lost the Bush War with Voodoo 6
In this episode, Will and Voodoo discuss the history of the Rhodesian Bush War and how strategic mistakes turned a successful tactical effort into a lost war. They discuss the three main stages of the war, how Rhodesian tactics developed throughout, and why the Rhodesians ultimately lost despite winning every battle. They also discuss what Rhodesia’s weaknesses were, when the war could have been won, and how missed opportunities led to their ultimate defeat. Find Voodoo on X here: Get his book here: Read about the CIA’s involvement in Rhodesia’s defeat here:
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