Best Grinder Rules Podcasts (2026)

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CIAC Championship Recap | The Meat Grinder Podcast (S8, E16) 2:01:47

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14d ago2:01:47

2:01:47

Welcome back to another episode of The Meat Grinder, your weekly dose of high school football in Connecticut. What a finish to the CIAC playoffs! There were wire-to-wire finishes, late-game heroics and historic feats by dominant teams. We’ll break down all the results, hear from players and coaches, and take a look at the final GametimeCT Top 10 po…

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CIAC Championship Preview + Predictions | The Meat Grinder Podcast (S8, E15) 1:20:37

20d ago1:20:37

1:20:37

Welcome back to another episode of The Meat Grinder, your weekly dose of high school football in Connecticut.It's time for the CIAC championships! The schedule is set for Saturday, and all that's left is for the teams to battle it out and see who will be crowned a state champion. But first, we'll recap how we got to these final pairings after a wil…

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CIAC Quarterfinal Wrap & Semifinal Preview Show | The Meat Grinder Podcast (S8, E14) 1:16:44

20d ago1:16:44

1:16:44

Welcome back to another episode of The Meat Grinder, your weekly dose of high school football in Connecticut. Wow, what a quarterfinal round in the CIAC playoffs! We saw upsets, blowouts, game-winning touchdowns and game-saving defensive plays. We’ll recap all of it, and we’ll also look ahead to a jam-packed semifinal round, where we break down eve…

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The 2025 CIAC Quarterfinal Preview Show | The Meat Grinder Podcast (S8, E13) 1:26:30

30d ago1:26:30

1:26:30

Welcome back to another episode of The Meat Grinder, your weekly dose of high school football in Connecticut.It's time for the CIAC playoffs! With the regular season in the rearview, it's time to take a look at each playoff bracket for each class, as we'll breakdown the matchups and give our predictions for the quarterfinals. We'll also recap some …

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Gearing Up for the Turkey Week Extravaganza | The Meat Grinder Podcast (S8, E12) 1:37:42

1M ago1:37:42

1:37:42

Welcome back to another episode of The Meat Grinder, your weekly dose of high school football in Connecticut. It's our Thanksgiving football week preview episode! We'll breakdown all the important games on the slate that have playoff implications and hometown bragging rights. We'll also do more playoff point calculations. They break down those game…

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28 Teams Playoff Bound, 20 Spots Up for Grabs | The Meat Grinder (S8, E11) 1:26:52

1M ago1:26:52

1:26:52

Welcome back to another episode of The Meat Grinder, your weekly dose of high school football in Connecticut. Fall state championships are over, and all the focus has turned to football as the season nears the home stretch. With Thanksgiving football only a couple weeks away, the class playoff pictures are starting to take shape, and in this episod…

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Wild Week, Wilton Wins Again and even More Upsets | The Meat Grinder Podcast (S8, E10) 1:22:22

2M ago1:22:22

1:22:22

Welcome back to another thrilling episode of The Meat Grinder, your weekly dose of high school football in Connecticut. It was a wild Week 9 in CIAC football, with huge upsets across the board on Friday night, as teams like Greenwich, Windsor, and Fairfield Prep all went down. St. Joseph head coach Joe Della Vecchia also reached a huge milestone on…

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New Britain, Ellington refuse to lose! | The Meat Grinder Podcast (S8, E9) 1:24:14

2M ago1:24:14

1:24:14

Welcome back to another thrilling episode of The Meat Grinder, your weekly dose of high school football in Connecticut. One ranked matchup highlighted Week 8’s slate of games, and it ended with No. 8 St. Joseph on top over No. 10 Staples. No. 3 Greenwich took care of business as well over Fairfield Ludlowe, as did No. 2 Killingly. No. 4 Fairfield P…

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Defense rules again as No. 1 New Canaan wins showdown vs. No. 2 Greenwich | The Meat Grinder Podcast (S8, E8) 1:24:18

2M ago1:24:18

1:24:18

Welcome back to another thrilling episode of The Meat Grinder, your weekly dose of high school football in Connecticut. On this week's episode, SPB and Pete will recap the No. 1 New Canaan vs. No. 2 Greenwich matchup on Friday as well as another ranked battle on Saturday. Plus other action across the state. We'll also take a look at the GametimeCT …

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The midseason report & mock fantasy draft l | The Meat Grinder Podcast (S8, E7) 1:25:41

2M ago1:25:41

1:25:41

Welcome back to another thrilling episode of The Meat Grinder, your weekly dose of high school football in Connecticut. It's the midway point in the CIAC football season, so on this week's episode, hosts Sean Patrick Bowley and Pete Paguaga will take a look at how things stands in each Class as well as do a "fantasy football draft" of some of the t…

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Wilton's rout of No. 5 Staples highlights bye week of stunners | The Meat Grinder Podcast (S8, E6) 1:15:43

3M ago1:15:43

1:15:43

Welcome back to another thrilling episode of The Meat Grinder, your weekly dose of high school football in Connecticut. On this week's episode, SPB and Pete discuss two huge, but very different upsets to Top 10 teams: Wilton's rout of No. 5 Staples and Cheshire's 28-27 takedown of No. 4 Hand on a two-point conversion in overtime. They were two of a…

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Conard-East Hartford’s 154-point shootout shatters state record on ‘Super Saturday’ | Meat Grinder Podcast (S8, E5) 1:24:41

3M ago1:24:41

1:24:41

By GameTimeCT

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FCIAC dominance sets up Super Saturday of showdowns | Meat Grinder Podcast (S8, E4) 1:24:28

3M ago1:24:28

1:24:28

WELCOME BACK to another thrilling edition of THE MEAT GRINDER, your weekly dose of High School Football in Connecticut. Join Sean Patrick Bowley and Pete Paguaga LIVE at 7:30 p.m. as they discuss a wild Week 3, including Waterbury's Career Academy's historic win over Ansonia, Staples' win over West Haven on a game-winning field goal, the most recen…

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The Wallace & Shea Rebellions rule Week 2 | The Meat Grinder CT HS Football Podcast (S8, E3) 1:17:10

3M ago1:17:10

1:17:10

WELCOME BACK to another thrilling edition of THE MEAT GRINDER, your weekly dose of High School Football in Connecticut. Join Sean Patrick Bowley and Pete Paguaga as they discuss what happened in Week 2 of the 2025 Connecticut high school football season. This week, the guys discuss two of the biggest results in Week 2, and they both happened under …

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Hand serves its barbecue chicken dish cold | The Meat Grinder (S8, E2) 1:20:28

4M ago1:20:28

1:20:28

This week on the Meat Grinder, hosts Pete Paguaga and Sean Patrick Bowley break down an enlightening Week 1 of Connecticut High School Football Alliance games, including the big one at Dalling Field in Trumbull where Bobby Reh, the son of a St. Joseph state champ, rallied Hand to a thrilling, buzzer-beating victory over the No. 4-ranked Hogs — serv…

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The 2025 CT High School Football Preview Show! | The Meat Grinder (S8, E1) 1:38:22

4M ago1:38:22

1:38:22

It's the SEASON 8 Premiere of THE MEAT GRINDER, Connecticut High School Football podcast from GameTimeCT. In the FIRST episode of the 2025 season, PETE'S BACK! Join Pete Paguaga and Sean Patrick Bowley as they look back on the offseason changes, say good bye to those lost, hello to 22 new coaches, unveil the preseason GametimeCT Top 10 Poll and, at…

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INTERVIEW: Hollywood’s Secret CIA & Moon Landing Project 31:59

4M ago31:59

31:59

The CIA and the Space Race — retold by Hollywood legends. In this episode of Why Wars Happened, Jeremy Fox, Sir Howard Stringer, and Jeff Bewkes reveal how they’re reinventing history through immersive audio dramas. From Central Intelligence (Kim Cattrall) to Buzz (John Lithgow), discover the hidden espionage, moon landing drama, and storytelling s…

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INTERVIEW: Germany’s Deadly Secret Blueprint 31:38

4M ago31:38

31:38

Germany didn’t just “unify” — it was engineered through secret deals, ruthless power grabs, and reckless ambition that exploded into global war. In this episode of Why Wars Happened, historian Katja Hoyer reveals how Bismarck’s strategy and Wilhelm II’s rise lit the fuse for World War I. Once you hear it, you’ll never look at Europe the same way ag…

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INTERVIEW: The Soldier the U.S. Tried to Forget 30:27

5M ago30:27

30:27

The U.S. Marines had a soldier who fought with Chinese communists before WWII — and then created America’s first Special Forces. In this episode of Why Wars Happened, Stephen Platt uncovers the forgotten story of Evans Carlson, the man who defied military tradition, clashed with generals, and built the Marine Raiders. His ideas shaped modern warfar…

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INTERVIEW: How War Created the English Language 52:51

5M ago52:51

52:51

The words you speak exist because of war. From Vikings raiding villages to Normans conquering England, battles rewrote the English language forever. In this episode of Why Wars Happened, Dr. Colin Gorrie uncovers how Rome, the Vikings, and the Normans all left fingerprints on every sentence you speak today. Once you hear it, you’ll never look at En…

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INTERVIEW: The Empire That Couldn’t Stop Fighting 31:39

5M ago31:39

31:39

For 300 years, Germany couldn’t escape war. Border fights, rival powers, endless battles — conflict shaped its destiny. Oxford historian Peter Wilson joins Why Wars Happened to explain why German-speaking Europe was trapped in war after war, from the Holy Roman Empire to Prussia’s rise and Bismarck’s empire. Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 00:50 –…

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INTERVIEW: The Empire That Nearly Ruled the World 30:27

5M ago30:27

30:27

The Ottomans nearly broke Europe — but their rise wasn’t just about armies. Weather, pirates, and shocking alliances decided history. Historian Si Sheppard joins Why Wars Happened to reveal the surprising reasons behind the Ottoman Empire’s explosive power — and why its wars looked nothing like what you learned in school. Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcom…

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INTERVIEW: The Battle That Created the Tudors 45:26

6M ago45:26

45:26

A king killed in battle. Princes who vanished. A dynasty born in blood. Historian Michael Jones joins Why Wars Happened to uncover the shocking truths of Bosworth 1485 — the day Richard III fell and the Tudors rose. Shakespeare twisted the story, but what really happened that changed England forever? ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Why Wars Happ…

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INTERVIEW: The Spartan Myth EXPOSED 1:11:12

6M ago1:11:12

1:11:12

Forget what Hollywood told you — Spartan warriors weren’t what you think. Historian Roel Konijnendijk (and longtime r/AskHistorians mod) joins Why Wars Happened to bust myths, expose ancient tactics, and reveal what Greek warfare really looked like — from militias to Persian deals that changed history. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to the Why War…

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INTERVIEW: The Forgotten Spy Who Fought Pearl Harbor 37:14

6M ago37:14

37:14

Pearl Harbor had a spy most people have never heard of. Leon Carroll Jr. joins Why Wars Happened to uncover the forgotten story of Douglas Wada, a Japanese-American intelligence officer whose work in Hawaii helped shape the earliest days of WWII. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened 00:50 – Meet Leon Carroll Jr. 01:41 – Douglas Wada: T…

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INTERVIEW: The War That Wouldn’t End with UK Supreme Court Justice, Lord Jonathan Sumption 30:42

6M ago30:42

30:42

A war that raged for over a century — and decided the fate of Europe. Lord Jonathan Sumption, UK Supreme Court justice and historian, joins Why Wars Happened to expose the brutal politics, shocking trials, and bloody battles of the Hundred Years’ War. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to the Why Wars Happened History Podcast 00:50 Introducing Lord Jo…

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INTERVIEW: The Kings Who Built France in Blood 30:54

7M ago30:54

30:54

Crusades, cathedrals, and kings who fought their way to empire. Historian Justine Firnhaber-Baker joins Why Wars Happened to reveal how France was built through power struggles, chivalry, and wars that set the stage for centuries of European conflict. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened 00:49 – Meet Justine Firnhaber-Baker 01:38 – The…

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INTERVIEW: The Allies Who Secretly Hated Each Other 32:14

7M ago32:14

32:14

They fought Hitler — but almost turned on each other. Historian Tim Bouverie joins Why Wars Happened to expose the secret rivalries, betrayals, and mistrust that nearly shattered the Allied powers during WWII. Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt — the alliance was never as solid as you were told. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened 00:49 – M…

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INTERVIEW: The Iraq War Secrets They Don’t Teach You 36:38

7M ago36:38

36:38

What’s it like to command a war you can’t control? General George Casey Jr., former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, pulls back the curtain on the Iraq War — the decisions, the chaos, and the lessons the military didn’t want you to see. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened 00:50 – Meet General George Casey 01:32 – Role & responsibiliti…

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INTERVIEW: The Paratroopers Who Changed D-Day 39:00

7M ago39:00

39:00

They jumped into darkness with almost no chance of survival. Bestselling author James Donovan joins Why Wars Happened to reveal the untold story of the 82nd Airborne on D-Day — chaos, courage, and the impossible mission that made victory possible. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened 01:08 – The 82nd Airborne’s D-Day mission 03:34 – St…

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INTERVIEW: The Battle That Saved America 32:27

8M ago32:27

32:27

A single code cracked. A single battle turned the war. Bestselling author Martin Dugard joins Why Wars Happened to take you inside the Battle of Midway — code-breaking, naval showdowns, and the fight that changed the Pacific forever. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened 00:52 – Meet Martin Dugard 01:22 – The success of the Killing seri…

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INTERVIEW: The War That Made Scotland 39:44

8M ago39:44

39:44

Before Braveheart, the real fight for Scotland was even bloodier. Historian Michael Brown (University of St. Andrews) joins Why Wars Happened to uncover the shocking truth about the Wars of Independence — Wallace, Robert the Bruce, brutal battles, plagues, and the birth of the Stewart dynasty. This isn’t just legend — it’s the story of freedom, ide…

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INTERVIEW: The Secrets Bush Didn’t Want Out 29:42

8M ago29:42

29:42

Weapons that didn’t exist. Myths that fueled invasion. Secrets from inside the White House. Journalist Robert Draper (NYT, To Start a War) reveals how Bush’s team pushed America into Iraq — the intelligence failures, the power struggles, and the legacy still haunting U.S. policy. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened 00:49 – Robert Drap…

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INTERVIEW: The Colonel Who Planned the Invasion 51:33

8M ago51:33

51:33

He was in the room when the invasion was planned. Colonel Kevin Benson takes us inside Operation Iraqi Freedom — the war games, the chaos, and why “catastrophic success” became the Army’s nightmare phrase. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction to Why Wars Happened 00:45 – Meet Colonel Kevin Benson 01:30 – Operation Iraqi Freedom overview 04:52 – Challe…

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INTERVIEW: The Week the World Almost Ended 33:52

8M ago33:52

33:52

For one week, the world stood seconds from nuclear war. Bestselling author Jeff Shaara joins Why Wars Happened to expose the CIA failures, backchannel deals, and hidden plots that defined the Cuban Missile Crisis — the closest we’ve ever come to the end. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened 00:46 – Meet Jeff Shaara (The Shadow of War) …

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INTERVIEW: The Secret Vote That Almost Failed 49:10

9M ago49:10

49:10

The Declaration nearly collapsed before it was signed. Historian Tom McMillan joins Why Wars Happened to reveal the secret debates, bitter fights, and forgotten figures behind 1776. It wasn’t destiny — it was chaos, compromise, and near failure. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened 00:48 – Meet historian Tom McMillan 01:48 – The Americ…

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INTERVIEW: The True Stories Behind Masters of the Air 46:28

9M ago46:28

46:28

Apple’s Masters of the Air shows the air war — but the real story is even darker. John Orloff (Band of Brothers, Masters of the Air) takes us behind the scenes of the 100th Bomb Group: the brutal missions, impossible survival rates, and the hidden history that shaped the series. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to John Orloff and His Work 00:34 The …

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INTERVIEW: The Bomber Group the Nazis Feared Most 46:32

9M ago46:32

46:32

They called it The Bloody Hundredth — for a reason. Historian Donald L. Miller and HBO producer Kirk Saduski join Why Wars Happened to reveal the terrifying reality of the 100th Bomb Group — B-17 missions over Europe, sky-high casualty rates, and the true stories behind Masters of the Air. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction to Why Wars Happened 00:3…

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INTERVIEW: The War the Generals Got Wrong 47:33

9M ago47:33

47:33

Gas, trenches, and strategy gone wrong. Dr. Nick Lloyd (King’s College London) reveals the real story of World War I — Germany’s blunders, chemical warfare horrors, and why WWI was anything but “the war to end all wars.” ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Why Wars Happened 00:45 Interview with Dr. Nick Lloyd 01:03 Writing The Western Front 03:55 Ho…

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INTERVIEW: The Nazis Who Lived in America 30:28

10M ago30:28

30:28

Over 370,000 Nazi POWs lived in America — and some brought violence with them. Historian William Geroux joins Why Wars Happened to uncover the hidden world of Nazi POW camps in the U.S. — farm labor, secret Nazi control, daring escapes, and a shocking murder conspiracy buried in history. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Why Wars Happened 00:46 In…

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INTERVIEW: The Peace That Almost Didn’t Happen 35:56

10M ago35:56

35:56

The Civil War didn’t end the way you think. Historian Michael Vorenberg joins Why Wars Happened to reveal the secret peace talks, Lincoln’s hidden struggles, and the fragile deals that almost broke before Appomattox. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened 00:46 – Meet Michael Vorenberg 01:02 – Lincoln’s Peace and the Fight to End the War…

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INTERVIEW: Catholic Secrets of the Habsburg Dynasty 40:02

10M ago40:02

40:02

What does it mean to be a Catholic Archduke in the modern world? Archduke Edward Habsburg — Ambassador to the Vatican and direct descendant of Europe’s most legendary dynasty — joins Why Wars Happened to share the traditions, values, and faith that carried the Habsburgs through centuries of war and crisis. From Catholic family life to royal resilie…

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INTERVIEW: The Empire That Went to War Broken 34:27

10M ago34:27

34:27

Austria-Hungary went to war already collapsing. Historian Geoffrey Wawro reveals how disaster on the Eastern Front, broken alliances, and internal chaos doomed the Habsburg Empire in WWI. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Why Wars Happened 00:37 Meet Dr. Geoffrey Wawro 01:37 The Eastern vs. Western Fronts: Key Differences 03:24 How Railways Shaped…

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The Battle That Became a Meat Grinder 54:03

11M ago54:03

54:03

The Somme was more than a battle — it was slaughter. Historians Dan Hill and Spencer Jones expose the truth about trench life, gas attacks, artillery barrages, and why WWI became the war of endurance. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Why Wars Happen Podcast 00:45 Meet the Guests: Dan Hill and Dr. Spencer Jones 01:50 Creating Battlefield Tours and…

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The Governor Who Went Too Far | America Before the Revolution 10:46

11M ago10:46

10:46

When power was stripped from the Assembly, open defiance shook the colony—and the king’s response changed everything. Colonial Virginia plunged into crisis when Governor Howard tried to strip the Assembly of its authority. From controlling court appeals to handpicking record keepers, his crackdown sparked outrage and drove the Assembly into open re…

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INTERVIEW: The Wars That Broke Soldiers’ Minds 38:48

11M ago38:48

38:48

Bayonets. Muskets. No mercy. Historian Alexander Burns uncovers why 18th-century battles were pure hell for soldiers — brutal close combat, shifting tactics, and the psychological toll of nonstop fear. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened 00:37 – Meet Dr. Alexander S. Burns 01:18 – The art of writing history 02:43 – Mapping historical …

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The Royal Governor Who Crushed Virginia | America Before the Revolution 16:52

11M ago16:52

16:52

After Bacon’s Rebellion, betrayal, secret letters, and royal crackdowns left the colony on the edge of collapse. Governors fell, the Assembly was silenced, and King James II himself stepped in. Was this the moment the seeds of revolution were truly planted? This is a story of betrayal, rebellion, and royal control that pushed the colony closer to r…

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INTERVIEW: The Paratroopers Who Fell into a Trap 46:43

11M ago46:43

46:43

They dropped miles off target — straight into Nazi territory. Historian Stephen Rabe tells the story of the “lost paratroopers” of D-Day and the villagers of Graignes who risked everything to protect them from SS reprisals. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened 00:46 – Meet Stephen G. Rabe 02:02 – The lost paratroopers of Normandy 02:45…

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Tobacco Riots in Virginia | America Before the Revolution 17:28

11M ago17:28

17:28

Step into the turmoil of 17th-century Virginia, where a colony on the brink of collapse fell into the hands of Lord Culpeper—a governor more interested in luxury than leadership. As tobacco prices crashed and the Navigation Acts strangled trade, anger spread across the colony until it exploded into the infamous tobacco riots. Instead of calming ten…

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INTERVIEW: The Wildest Comedy About the Revolution You Never Saw 25:53

11M ago25:53

25:53

What happens when you mix the American Revolution with awkward modern time travelers? Sarah Peters (showrunner of Making History) joins Why Wars Happened to reveal the hilarious chaos of writing one of TV’s strangest takes on history. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Meet Sarah Peters 00:48 Inside Making History 02:17 Behind the Scenes Secrets 03:24 Time Travel …