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Historical Letters Podcasts

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We believe that when people think historically, they are engaging in a disciplined way of thinking about the world and its past. We believe it gives thinkers a knack for recognizing nonsense; and that it cultivates not only intellectual curiosity and rigor, but also intellectual humility. Join Al Zambone, author of Daniel Morgan: A Revolutionary Life, as he talks with historians and other professionals who cultivate the craft of historical thinking.
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Textory - The Podcast

Textory - The Podcast

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Who doesn’t like petty texts, celebrity gossip, dating advice, spicy song lyrics, or controversial opinions? Now imagine all that... but it’s historical. In this podcast we’ll be reading some juicy historical letters, diaries, articles and other piping hot tea. So get yourself something to drink and let’s jump into TEXTORY. Hosted by Karolina Żebrowska
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Because reading is interpretation, The Well Read Poem aims to teach you how to read with understanding! Hosted by poet Thomas Banks of The House of Humane Letters, these short episodes will introduce you to both well-known and obscure poets and will focus on daily recitation, historical and intellectual background, elements of poetry, light explication, and more! Play this podcast daily and practice reciting! The next week, get a new poem. Grow in your understanding and love of poetry by lea ...
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In a moment of fate in 2017, Dane is gifted a bundle of old love letters and theatrical scripts. They were written by a man named Daryl Allen in the years before AIDS took his life in 1991. Daryl was a bisexual man and amateur playwright who lived in San Francisco through the 70s and 80s. Along with the letters, Dane is given a task: tell Daryl’s story and give his theatrical work the audience it lost when his life was cut short by HIV. Over the next five years, Dane settles into the role of ...
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Iron Monkey presents: The Lazaretto Letters A weekly horror podcast. A found collection of unmailed, handwritten letters from 1922, read aloud for the first time in over a century. Within their pages lie tales of horror, the supernatural, mystery, and the bizarre. Some letters piece together a larger, hidden truth…an unsettling puzzle that unfolds across the series. Others stand alone, offering eerie glimpses into the strange and terrifying events that plagued the quarantine island. Performe ...
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Lore and Crime is a narrated, immersive podcast that brings dark historical tales to life. Each original episode blends true crime with eerie folklore, unraveling forgotten murders, strange disappearances, and haunted legends from around the globe. Perfect for fans of true crime, historical fiction, and supernatural storytelling. Step into a world where every crime has a haunting backstory. New episodes every other week. Follow now and never miss an episode!
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In 1971, two young Air Force veterans — Richard and Sarah Allgood — found themselves separated by the Vietnam War, yet connected through hundreds of heartfelt letters. Decades later, after their passing, their daughter discovered a preserved box of their correspondence: a story of love, family, courage, and hope written one letter at a time. The Allgoods: Vietnam Through the Eyes of Love shares these personal letters, weaving a timeless narrative of war, separation, and enduring devotion. Jo ...
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Renaissance England was a bustling and exciting place...new religion! break with rome! wars with Scotland! And France! And Spain! The birth of the modern world! In this weekly podcast I'll explore one aspect of life in 16th century England that will give you a deeper understanding of this most exciting time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Victor E History

Hollie Marquess

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This podcast showcases original historical research done by students at Fort Hays State University. You can listen to our students talk about a wide range of historical topics from various periods in history. Give us a listen and a shout out if you like what you hear!
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The Bible and Beyond

Early Christian Texts

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The Bible and Beyond podcast is a series of interviews with scholars who are able to unlock mysteries from extra-canonical books, forgotten scriptures, so-called 'gnostic' gospels, as well as the Bible. Host Shirley Paulson, Ph.D., and her guests explore historical and spiritual questions about Jesus, gender, women, salvation, healing, and the meaning of life. The discoveries these scholars share don't always fit with what we've been told, but time and again they lead us toward a deeper inti ...
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Finding Jane Austen

Finding Jane Austen

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250 years after her birth, Jane Austen remains a giant in the cultural zeitgeist. Her works have been adapted hundreds of times over multiple mediums, and she remains one of the most popular writers in the English language. Yet little is known about Jane Austen the person. The majority of her letters were likely destroyed, leaving us only 161. In the absence of her own direct testimony, where do we find the real Jane Austen? In her books? In her family and friends? In the "world" of Jane Aus ...
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E.M Blaiklock Legacy Podcast

Graeme Blaiklock, E . M Blaiklock

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Welcome to the Blaiklock Legacy Podcast, a heartfelt series celebrating the life, faith, and teachings of Uncle E. M. Blaiklock. Hosted by Graeme Blaiklock, this podcast features a diverse range of episodes—including readings, reflections, historical insights, and spiritual inspiration—dedicated to honoring his enduring legacy. Whether you're a longtime admirer, a student of his work, or simply curious about his impact, this series aims to deepen your understanding and appreciation of his co ...
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Historically Speaking

Historically Speaking

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Historically Speaking is that podcast that lifts up the old log of history and pokes at the things crawling underneath you never knew were there. Emus! Insane merchants! Bizarre deaths! Astronomers! Weird and creepy letters written by famous authors! This place has it all! Join Jack, Kelsey and Isaiah as they weekly delve in the weird, hilarious, and downright bizarre parts of the past you've never heard of but really should!
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Japanese America

Japanese America

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Welcome to "Japanese America," where the Japanese American National Museum unveils captivating stories that add a Nikkei slant to the American narrative. In each episode, we explore the unique experiences, challenges, and triumphs of Japanese Americans, illuminating their rich contributions to the mosaic of American life. From historical milestones to contemporary perspectives, join us for an insightful journey through the curated collection of the Japanese American National Museum, showcasi ...
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The Circular Letter presents the history of New Jersey Gun Control Law as it applies to "the Nation historical tradition of firearms regulation" and the constitutionality of the current Gun Control Laws. In Circular Letter 1, the evidence of Internal Political Power struggle between the traditional Sheriffs and the newly founded Police Departments prove that the 1924 Carry Permit Law did not "bear on the wisdom of the legislators." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Veterans Voices UK is a podcast dedicated to preserving the personal stories of British military veterans from across the generations. Through candid and heartfelt conversations, we explore not only their experiences of war and conflict but also the incredible people behind those stories. From World War Two to modern-day military operations, our episodes bring to life the challenges, sacrifices, and triumphs veterans face during their service and beyond. Each episode dives deep into the uniq ...
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Welcome to the podcast of the German Historical Institute London, a research centre for German and British academics and students in the heart of Bloomsbury. The GHIL is a research base for historians of all eras working on colonial history and global relations or the history of Great Britain and Ireland, and also provides a meeting point for UK historians whose research concerns the history of the German-speaking lands. In each podcast episode, ranging from interviews to lecture recordings, ...
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Rare Book Chat

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero

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Dive deep into the fascinating world of rare books with Rare Book Chat. Hosted by Michael DiRuggiero and Jeremy O'Connor, the co-founders of The Manhattan Rare Book Company, this podcast explores the unique and often valuable items that fill the world of rare books, manuscripts, letters, photographs, archives, and more. From historical documents to literary first editions, we'll discuss the stories behind these one-of-a-kind treasures. Join us as we explore the intricacies of the rare book t ...
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A podcast about clay and art and life. A celebration of the process of ceramics and all the failures and life lessons learned through clay and fire. Candid conversations about ceramics, pottery, sculpture, art and how that fits into our lives. A look at the historical and world perspective of ceramics and how do we still make new pots and art in our contemporary society? Most importantly this podcast is about people and relationships and the ceramics community in the 21st century.
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THIS MONTH IN HISTORY

Paul Letters and Noreen Mir (RTHK Radio 3)

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Each month historian Paul Letters delves back into events from This Month in History. The focus is on modern history, with anaylsis of how historical events shape our modern world. For example, we talked to the US fighter pilot who stepped into the March 1969 conflict between China and the USSR which caused the "Madman" nuclear alert.
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The John Batchelor Show is a hard news-analysis radio program on current events, world history, global politics and natural sciences. Based in New York City for two decades, the show has travelled widely to report, from the Middle East to the South Caucasus to the Arabian Peninsula and East Asia.
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Some Civil Words

Mischief Tales

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A podcast where we connect historical events with current headlines by looking at letters, memoirs, speeches, song and even poetry of the people living in those times. If you have any ideas for topics, reach out on social media (@mischieftales) or email us at [email protected] Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mischieftales/support
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Fruit Love Letters

Whetstone Radio Collective

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Fruit Love Letters is a curious dive into the Anthropocene through fruit-colored glasses. Host Jessamine Starr may not be a botanist, historian, farmer or an expert on fruit, but as a chef in Atlanta she's simply had a lifetime love affair with it. So, she began penning love letters to fruit. This podcast pairs those letters with her desires to learn more. From the miraculous survival adventure of the avocado, to the nurturing personality of a fig, we’ll traverse the world of fruit through e ...
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Dearest Suzie

Alexander Lowie

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Welcome to Dearest Suzie, a podcast and photo series that brings to life the personal letters, diary entries, and photographs of U.S. Army helicopter pilot William “Bill” Lowie during his service in the Vietnam War. In this introductory episode, host Alexander Lowie—Bill’s grandson and an anthropologist—sets the stage for a journey through family history and wartime memories. With the 60th anniversary of the Vietnam War approaching, Alexander will share Bill’s experiences in a unique “on thi ...
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Law of Code

Jacob Robinson

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Discussions with regulators, top lawyers and entrepreneurs about the legal framework for blockchain technology. We look at international regulations, trends, and jurisprudence impacting crypto and its related parts.
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Tu'un Dali

Luis López Resendiz , Janet Martinez

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A podcast for Indigenous people by Indigenous people. Our love letter to Oaxacalifornia. Hosted and produced by Luis A. Lopez-Resendiz and Janet Martinez.
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World Heritage Site Audio Tour: This tour takes you around the historical highlights of the city, via many of Bath's captivating museums. Marvel at the impressive architecture and see how residents would have lived in Georgian times. In the Footsteps of Jane Austen: Jane Austen was one of Bath's most famous residents, with two of her novels set in the city. This tour takes you around the highlights of Bath and includes extracts from Jane Austen's novels and letters.
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Through different episodes and interviews, we’ll embark on a captivating journey exploring the transformative and enriching power of literature to add depth and meaning to our lives. Brought to you by the University of New England Literary Worlds Research Group, this podcast celebrates the power of collaboration across linguistic, geographical, historical, and cultural boundaries. Join us as we explore groundbreaking research, hear from emerging and established scholars, and dive deep into t ...
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John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, inspired a generation that transformed America. But not everyone knows the stories behind the man - his experiences as a young serviceman in World War II, how he wrote some of his most memorable speeches, what sparked him to set the country on a path to the moon. Join Matt Porter and Jamie Richardson of the JFK Library Foundation as they dig into the archives at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston and intervi ...
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Stuck on a family history brick wall? It's time to add the most powerful tool to your genealogy toolkit: Artificial Intelligence. Welcome to Ancestors and Algorithms, the definitive guide to revolutionizing your family tree research with AI. Forget the hype and confusion. This isn't just another podcast about AI; this is your hands-on, step-by-step masterclass using AI. Each week, host and researcher Brian demystifies the technology and shows you exactly how to apply AI tools to find ancesto ...
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Stratford Mail

Stratford Hall Historic Preserve, Dr. Gordon Blaine Steffey, Director of Research

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Finally, a history podcast for folks on the go! Who can spare an hour these days? Give us about 20 minutes, and we'll inform and entertain you! From Stratford Hall Historic Preserve in Westmoreland County, Virginia, join Vice President of Research and Collections Dr. Gordon Blaine Steffey as he reads over the shoulder of letter-writers of yesteryear. What to expect? Once a month we feature an historical letter from a onetime resident, associate, ally, or friend of Stratford Hall. Whether the ...
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Fudd Busters

Firearms Radio Network

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Fuddbusters combats myths and misinformation in the 2A world. Join host Matt Larosiere, a gun rights lawyer and auto mechanic, in exposing the truth about current events, as well as historical events related and adjacent to your right to keep and bear arms.
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Dispatches from the Disputed Texas Territories explores the Texas–Northern Mexico borderlands through compact, document-style vignettes—telegrams, letters, interviews, notices, and field notes. Each piece is grounded in family records and told with careful dramatization to show daily grit, faith, humor, and the long echo of Indigenous and Tejano roots: river crossings, kin networks, settlements near San Antonio, and a frontier always in motion. Episodes stand alone yet connect across time. F ...
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Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology keeps pace with important advances in all spheres of the neurologic and ophthalmologic sciences. Clinicians and researchers worldwide report on recent developments in diagnosing and treating ophthalmologic, neurologic, endocrine, inflammatory, and neoplastic conditions affecting the oculomotor and visual systems. The Journal publishes original, peer-reviewed articles on both clinical and basic aspects of neuro-ophthalmology. Other regular features include revie ...
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Mania

Harlequin Grim

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The Mania Podcast explores dark, historical stories, casting light on wicked events and individuals from before modern times. From Victorian superstitions to bizarre, Medieval witchcraft, our labyrinth of iniquity, mystery, and nightmares await. Here, the dead return to share their tales, only now the living listen.
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This is going to be the best damn Morning Show you've ever listened to "one day", but till then I'm gonna try to keep you up to date with a bunch of useless information , historical trivia no one cares about, and my personal opinions that no one could live with out. So sit down, tune in, and enjoy your new favorite podcast, and then you can listen to my show. Your new choice for the morning news. Follow me on: Twitter: @ScottHay86 Instagram: scotthay86 I'll be talking at you tomorrow.
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How do we separate history from myth? Both atheists and Christians often assume they're worlds apart, but in the early years of Christianity, skeptics and believers shared more common ground than you might imagine. In this podcast, we'll explore the ancient texts, archaeological finds, and scholarly debates that both sides use to argue their case. From examining Roman historians' accounts of Jesus to decoding early Christian writings and the surprising historical parallels, this is your invi ...
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GirlSpeak

Girl Museum

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Explore the art, history, and culture of girlhood around the world. Our monthly journeys include conversations and interviews about Girl Museum's exhibitions, projects and more on the topics of art, history, material culture, and social issues that center girls' points of view. Episodes are narrated by members of Girl Museum, the first and only museum in the world dedicated to celebrating girlhood. Hosted by Ashley E. Remer and the Girl Museum team. Our music is by Chan A-V.
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The Hotshot Wake Up

The Hotshot Wake Up

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A podcast and newsletter by firefighters about wildfire and the world. Crew Supervisor and Ex Hotshot overhead. Call it like it is. Monthly Substack subscriptions go towards supporting this content and helping firefighters in need. https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/
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US BOLSTERS PACIFIC SOCIETAL RESISTANCE AS CHINA ENTRENCHES IN PALAU AND YAPColleague Cleo Paskal. Cleo Paskal details the intensifying struggle for influence in Oceania, specifically regarding Palau and Yap, which are vital for defending the corridor between Hawaii and the Philippines. In Palau, a new comprehensive agreement aims to counter China'…
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PREVIEW DION'S RETURN AND DESCENT INTO TYRANNY Colleague Professor James Romm. Professor Romm discusses Dion, a returning exile who liberated Syracuse but eventually adopted dictatorial tactics and authorized political assassinations. Although Dion attempted to establish a pluralistic government, he struggled against "white hot" revolutionary passi…
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PREVIEW PLATO'S FIRST VISIT AND POLITICAL EXPERIMENTS Colleague Professor James Romm. This segment examines Plato's invitation to Syracuse by Dion, who sought an intellectual ally against the court's riotous lifestyle. Viewing the city as a "laboratory for political innovation," Plato investigated the autocratic experiments of Dionysius the Elder, …
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PREVIEW THE STRATEGIC FORTRESS OF SYRACUSE Colleague Professor James Romm. Romm details the military might of Syracuse under the Dionysius dynasty, specifically describing "the island," a peninsula connected to the mainland by a causeway. Protected by walls and a natural fresh water spring, this zone became an unassailable fortress that allowed the…
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The expansion of gambling in Colorado means added temptations for problem gamblers. It’s led the state to invest millions of dollars to treat gambling addictions. We look at the changes to gambling in Colorado and talk with a therapist and a Denver man in recovery. Then, he dedicated his career to treating patients with lung cancer and never expect…
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Send us a text In 1662, the Royal Society of London adopted a motto that promised a revolution: Nullius in verba—or, on the word of no one. It was a bold renunciation of authority in favor of evidence, yet behind this polished veneer of the Enlightenment lay a messier reality marked by class-coded science and imperial gatekeeping. Even as Society p…
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In this episode, Jacob Robinson and Jonathan Schmalfeld break down the biggest U.S. crypto law and policy developments of the month, from the SEC’s moves toward bringing public markets on-chain to major CFTC moves on derivatives, prediction markets, and collateral. The conversation also covers crypto tax proposals, DeFi governance disputes, banking…
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FERGUSON'S ANALYSIS, THE EMPEROR SYSTEM, AND AUGUSTAN AUTHORITY Colleagues Gaius and Germanicus, Friends of History Debating Society, Londinium, 91 AD. The speakers critique historian Niall Ferguson's recent characterization of Donald Trump as a composite of Andrew Jackson, William McKinley, P.T. Barnum, and Richard Nixon. Germanicus dismisses Ferg…
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As befits the time of year, we will be reading six poems of Advent and Christmas during this season of the Well-Read Poem, which is a re-airing of episodes from Season 14. We have selected certain familiar ones, which may yet contain certain surprises in their authorship and composition history, as well as some less well-known pieces which we hope …
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THE WAR OF THE WORLDS, OPEN BORDERS, AND ELITE DETACHMENT Colleagues Gaius and Germanicus, Friends of History Debating Society, Londinium, 91 AD. The discussion turns to domestic turmoil, using H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds as a metaphor for the modern refugee crisis and the rejection of border enforcement by Western elites. Gaius argues that t…
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THEATER, BATTLESHIPS, AND THE ILLUSION OF AMERICAN POWER Colleagues Gaius and Germanicus, Friends of History Debating Society, Londinium, 91 AD. Gaius and Germanicus discuss the theatrical nature of American imperial power under Donald Trump, positing that the administration utilizes military displays—such as missile strikes on empty targets in Nig…
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NOBEL SNUBS AND LATER CONTROVERSIES Colleague Professor Paul Halpern. In the aftermath of the Big Bang's confirmation, Gamow fought for recognition of his prior theoretical contributions before his death in 1968. Halpern discusses the controversy surrounding the Nobel Prize for nucleosynthesis, which was awarded to William Fowler but excluded Hoyle…
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THE ACCIDENTAL DISCOVERY OF THE BIG BANG Colleague Professor Paul Halpern. Halpern explains how a horror movie inspired the Steady State theory, which posits that new matter is continuously created to maintain cosmic density. Ironically, Hoyle coined the term "Big Bang" as a derisive label during a radio broadcast, preferring his continuous creatio…
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STELLAR ORIGINS AND COMPETING COSMOLOGIES Colleague Professor Paul Halpern. The focus shifts to Fred Hoyle, whose musical mother taught him to read via silent film subtitles. Halpern details Hoyle's journey to Cambridge, where his ambition to work in nuclear physics was interrupted by WWII radar research. Hoyle became fascinated by astronomy, event…
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FROM REVOLUTION TO QUANTUM TUNNELING Colleague Professor Paul Halpern. This segment introduces the parallel early lives of physicists George Gamow and Fred Hoyle. Halpern describes Gamow's youth in revolutionary Russia, noting the irony that his father once taught Leon Trotsky. Gamow studied under Alexander Friedmann, who applied general relativity…
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IMPORTING THE MAFIA STATE: THE 2014 MOSCOW DINNER AND THE ROOTS OF TRUMP'S RUSSIAN ENTANGLEMENTS Colleague Craig Unger. Investigative journalist Craig Unger analyzes a pivotal February 2014 dinner in Moscow attended by Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, and prominent Russian oligarchs like Roman Abramovich and Viktor Vekselberg. Occurring just weeks befo…
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STARSHIP: THE FULLY REUSABLE ARCHITECTURE FOR MARS Colleague Eric Berger. At Boca Chica, Texas, SpaceX transformed a swamp into "Starbase," a modern rocket factory for the Starship and Super Heavy launch system. Starship represents the endgame of Musk's vision: a fully reusable rocket larger than the Saturn V, designed to be caught by "chopstick" a…
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THE CHUTE SHOW AND THE RACE FOR COMMERCIAL CREW Colleague Eric Berger. SpaceX competed with Boeing to restore NASA's ability to launch astronauts, a program politically legitimized by Boeing's participation. Developing the Crew Dragon required rigorous testing, particularly by a team nicknamed the "Chute Show" who tested parachutes in the desert. W…
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STARLINK: THE ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR MARS Colleague Eric Berger. To finance the massive costs of the Mars program, SpaceX developed Starlink, a constellation of thousands of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites designed to provide global internet. While previous attempts at LEO constellations were deemed impractical due to manufacturing challenges, SpaceX…
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THE TRIUMPH OF LANDING AND THE MYSTERY OF AMOS-6 Colleague Eric Berger. In December 2015, SpaceX achieved a historic milestone by landing a Falcon 9 booster at Cape Canaveral, a feat made possible by Air Force support despite fears that the sonic booms might damage nearby spy satellites. The rocket utilized autonomous avionics to execute the landin…
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PUSHING BOUNDARIES WITH DENSIFIED PROPELLANT AND BARGE LANDINGS Colleague Eric Berger. Following the 2015 launch failure, SpaceX introduced the "Falcon 9 Full Thrust," which utilized densified propellants—super-chilled liquid oxygen—to increase fuel mass by up to 12% for greater efficiency. This technology required tight launch windows but was esse…
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RISKING IT ALL TO DOCK DRAGON WITH THE ISS Colleague Eric Berger. To fund its Mars ambitions, SpaceX needed NASA contracts to deliver cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) using the Dragon spacecraft. Unlike traditional capsules, Dragon integrated propulsion directly into the vehicle to support future reusability. Behind schedule, SpaceX c…
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THE STRUGGLE TO BUILD AND TRANSPORT THE FIRST FALCON 9 Colleague Eric Berger. Moving from the single-engine Falcon 1 to the nine-engine Falcon 9 involved a "long hot summer" of grueling 100-hour weeks for young engineers in Texas. The team faced immense challenges integrating complex plumbing and flight computers for the first time. Lacking a ship …
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THE AUDACITY OF THE MARS COLONIZATION VISION Colleague Eric Berger. In September 2016, Elon Musk presented a vision in Guadalajara that sounded like science fiction: a plan to colonize Mars to prevent a potential extinction event. Despite a recent rocket explosion, Musk proposed a "grandiose architecture" involving massive reusable rockets designed…
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THE COLLAPSE OF 1989 AND THE MODERN AUTHORITARIAN PIVOT Colleague Professor Sean McMeekin. In the final segment, McMeekin challenges the narrative that the 1989 collapse was solely a popular uprising. Instead, he argues it was a "top-down disintegration" caused by the withdrawal of Soviet force via the "Sinatra Doctrine" (letting satellites go thei…
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THE COLD WAR TRAP AND GORBACHEV'S MISCALCULATION Colleague Professor Sean McMeekin. The timeline shifts to the Cold War rivalry, arguing that Soviet aggression was driven by a genuine belief—shared by the CIA—that their economic system would eventually outproduce the West. The invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 became a trap, as the US applied "hard p…
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THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION: THE CULT OF YOUTH AND ANARCHY Colleague Professor Sean McMeekin. This segment covers the chaos of the mid-1960s Cultural Revolution. Mao mobilized a "cult of youth" to destroy the "old"—teachers, books, and cultural heritage—in a bid to purge rivals and reinvigorate the revolution. McMeekin describes this as the "nihilistic…
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MAO'S XENOPHOBIC REVOLUTION AND THE GREAT LEAP FORWARD Colleague Professor Sean McMeekin. Moving to China, McMeekin explains that Mao Zedong's ideology was a "bizarre melange" of Marxism, class envy, and intense xenophobia. Unlike European communists, Chinese communism was driven by a deep resentment of foreign imperialism. The conversation analyze…
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STALIN VS. TROTSKY AND THE LOGIC OF THE GREAT TERROR Colleague Professor Sean McMeekin. The discussion turns to the rivalry between Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin. While Trotsky was an inflexible ideologue advocating for permanent revolution, Stalin was a "savvy political operator" willing to be ideologically flexible to consolidate power. The segm…
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LENIN'S INNOVATION: REVOLUTIONARY DEFEATISM AND GLOBAL CIVIL WAR Colleague Professor Sean McMeekin. Focusing on Vladimir Lenin, this section examines how he radicalized Marx's vision through the concept of "revolutionary defeatism." Lenin believed that disastrous imperial wars, like World War I, should be welcomed as catalysts to turn international…
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THE LINEAGE OF VIOLENCE: FROM BABEUF TO THE PARIS COMMUNE Colleague Professor Sean McMeekin. This segment explores the intellectual roots of communist violence, starting with the French agitator Gracchus Babeuf. Inspired by radical Enlightenment thinking, Babeuf advocated for the abolition of private property and explicitly called for "cleansing po…
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TIANANMEN SQUARE AND THE UNMASKING OF THE COMMUNIST PROJECT Colleague Professor Sean McMeekin. The conversation begins with the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, framed not as an anomaly but as the definitive "unmasking" of the communist regime. While the protests initially gathered to mourn reformer Hu Yaobangand coincided with Gorbachev's visit, th…
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JULIE MANET, THE VALUE OF TRANSIENCE, AND THE AVANT-GARDE Colleague Sebastian Smee. Berthe Morisot's legacy was carried on by her daughter, Julie Manet, to whom Berthe wrote a tender deathbed letter expressing that Julie had provided her solely with happiness. Morisot's work exemplifies the concept of "transience value"—the idea, later articulated …
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MANET'S FINAL YEARS AND THE POSTHUMOUS HONOR OF MORISOT Colleague Sebastian Smee. Following the war, Manet painted a series of intimate portraits of Berthe Morisot, capturing her erotic restlessness and "black" mourning attire. Since they could not marry, Manet seemingly facilitated her marriage to his brother, Eugène, who became a supportive husba…
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PLEIN AIR PAINTING AND THE IMPRESSIONIST FOCUS ON THE PRESENT Colleague Sebastian Smee. The Impressionists revolutionized art by painting en plein air (outdoors), prioritizing the sincerity of what they saw in front of them over the carefully composed conventions of the studio. They sought to capture fleeting effects of light and color with directn…
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THE DEVASTATION OF BLOODY WEEK AND MORISOT'S RESOLVE Colleague Sebastian Smee. In May 1871, French government forces retook Paris during "Bloody Week," a period of atrocity where summary executions were rampant and the streets "ran red with blood." In response, Communards burned major landmarks, including the Tuileries Palace and the Hôtel de Ville…
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THE RISE OF THE PARIS COMMUNE FOLLOWING THE SIEGE Colleague Sebastian Smee. By March 1871, following a winter of starvation where Parisians ate rats and zoo animals, the city's radical Republicans revolted against the provisional government. The radicals, frustrated by the government's failure to break the Prussian siege and the subsequent humiliat…
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POLITICS, WAR, AND THE REPUBLICAN SPIRIT OF THE IMPRESSIONISTS Colleague Sebastian Smee. Édouard Manet was a passionate Republican who loathed the authoritarian rule of Napoleon III, a sentiment rooted in his witnessing the 1848 uprising and his travels to Rio where he saw the horrors of slavery. His political activism influenced the Impressionist …
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THE ARTISTIC AND ROMANTIC BOND BETWEEN BERTHE MORISOT AND ÉDOUARD MANETColleague Sebastian Smee. Berthe Morisot and her sister Edma were talented painters from a haute bourgeois family who successfully exhibited at the Salon, though society expected them to eventually prioritize marriage over art. In 1869, the unmarried Berthe met Édouard Manet at …
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THE 1874 EXHIBITION AND THE BIRTH OF IMPRESSIONISM Colleague Sebastian Smee. In the spring of 1874, a group of painters including Degas, Monet, Pissarro, and Renoir gathered at the studio of the photographer Nadar to exhibit their work outside the established "Salon" system. This group, organizing themselves as the "Société Anonyme," had grown tire…
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Send us a text On December 28, 1971, the waiting continues. Sarah is exhausted, uncomfortable, frightened, and deeply ready for labor to begin. Dick writes from Vietnam after a quiet day, counting the hours without news and aching to call home. Together, these letters hold the tension of late pregnancy, long-distance fear, and the steady reassuranc…
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.SURVIVAL STORY: WOMAN OUTLASTS SNAKE TRAPPED IN HER SHOE Colleague Jeremy Zakis. In Southwest Sydney, a woman survived a bite from a deadly eastern brown snake that became entangled in the loop of her trainer shoe. Displaying remarkable calm, she remained still to slow the venom's spread while waiting for emergency services. A snake catcher carefu…
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ENGLAND SECURES SURPRISE VICTORY AMIDST ASHES CONTROVERSY Colleague Jeremy Zakis. Zakisreports that England unexpectedly won the fourth Ashes test despite playing poorly earlier in the series. The match ended quickly, causing controversy regarding the Melbourne pitch and accusations of poor play on both sides. Commentators blame England's aggressiv…
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DALLAS THE DOG TEAMS UP WITH MAGPIES TO FIGHT COCKATOOS Colleague Jeremy Zakis. Zakisrecounts how his dog, Dallas, successfully chased destructive cockatoos off their property. While usually friendly, Dallasidentified the birds as enemies, aided by territorial magpies that swooped in to drive the cockatoos away. Although cockatoos are often conside…
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SUN, SAND, AND SANTAS IN BOARD SHORTS: AN AUSTRALIAN CHRISTMAS Colleague Jeremy Zakis. Jeremy Zakis describes Christmas in Australia as the polar opposite of the Northern Hemisphere, featuring clear skies and temperatures in the mid-80s ideal for outdoor barbecues. While Queensland faced heavy rain and floods, most of the country enjoyed hot weathe…
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THE ATOMIC BOMB AND POST-WAR LEADERSHIP Colleague Craig Symonds. Nimitz and King believed a naval blockade could force Japan's surrender without a costly invasion, which they feared would result in millions of deaths. Nimitz was informed early about the atomic bomb to ensure it wouldn't interfere with operations. After the war, despite resistance f…
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TYPHOONS, KAMIKAZES, AND UNFORGIVING WARFARE Colleague Craig Symonds. Halsey's aggression led to disaster when he twice steered the fleet into typhoons, causing significant loss of life and ships. Despite inquiries recommending Halsey's removal, Nimitz retained him to maintain public morale. The war grew grimmer with the invasion of Iwo Jima, where…
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THE TURKEY SHOOT AND THE WORLD WONDERS Colleague Craig Symonds. During the Battle of the Philippine Sea, Spruance prioritized protecting the Saipan beachhead, resulting in the "Turkey Shoot" that decimated Japanese air power but allowed enemy ships to escape. Later, at Leyte Gulf, the Japanese lured Halsey's Third Fleetaway with empty carriers, lea…
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AMPHIBIOUS LESSONS AND INTERNAL RIVALRIES Colleague Craig Symonds. The Central Pacific drive began with the bloody assault on Tarawa, revealing the difficulties of amphibious warfare against coral reefs and the temper of Marine General Holland "Howlin' Mad" Smith. Nimitz also managed friction with his deputy, John Towers, an aviator who believed on…
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