Best Martin Darlington Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 84: Just Mercy 1:24:13

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4+ y ago1:24:13

1:24:13

Episode 84: Just Mercy. This powerful but very entertaining movie depicts the efforts of lawyer Bryan Stevenson and his Equal Justice Initiative to force a retrial of Walter “Johnny D” McMillian in 1990s Alabama. Michael B Jordan and Jamie Foxx lead a strong cast in this quest for justice in the face of deep-rooted bigotry and bias. We examine the …

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Episode 83 Thoughts & Themes 3: Things We Think We Know 41:26

5y ago41:26

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In this, the final episode of 2020, Martin flies solo as he embarks on T&T 3, looking at common misconceptions through the medium of lemmings and trying to approach some complex societal issues from a fresh perspective. With a review and listener feedback at the end of the show along with festive greetings from the HbH crew, it’s a short farewell t…

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Episode 82: Gorillas in the Mist 1:43:26

5y ago1:43:26

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This week sees Martin joined by Sean Munger and Cody Climer from the Green Screen podcast as they join forces to examine this 1988 movie about primatologist Dian Fossey and her efforts to study and protect mountain gorillas in Rwanda. It’s a wide-ranging show and with due apologies for the length of time you’ve all had to wait for this episode, we …

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Episode 81: Battle of the Sexes 1:28:54

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Episode 81 Battle of the Sexes. 11th October 2020. In 1973, former men’s tennis No1 Bobby Riggs challenged women’s champion Billy Jean King to a $100k exhibition match. Riggs, an unapologetic chauvinist, gambler and hustler was 55 years old but still confident he could beat the best of the current female players. This week’s movie looks at the depi…

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Episode 80: Midway 2:24:10

5y ago2:24:10

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This week sees the welcome return of Ray Harris Jr from the long-running History of WWII Podcast as he joins Martin to examine 2019’s Midway, derided by critics yet loved by audiences. Not for the first time, we side very much with the audience and find ourselves surprised by director Roland Emmerich and writer Wes Tooke’s efforts to be as accurate…

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Episode 79: Thoughts & Themes 2 Race Through Time 1:01:55

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This week sees the second outing of the T&T supplementary. Join Martin as he examines the multiple issues involving the African American community in the US and how this has been depicted in a number of movies already covered by HbH including Glory, Selma and Hidden Figures, attempting to interpret the meanings, both obvious and subtle that these m…

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Episode 78: Sully: Miracle on the Hudson 1:40:15

5y ago1:40:15

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This week we are joined by Des Latham, regular guest host, this time in his capacity as the host of Plane Crash Diaries, Des being a keen aviator and student of aviation safety. We look at 2016’s Sully, detailing the incredible landing on the Hudson River in mid-New York by Captain Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger in January 2009 after his Airbus A320 …

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Episode 77. Thoughts & Themes 1: Hidden Meanings 43:51

5y ago43:51

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Episode 77 Thoughts & Themes 1: Hidden Meanings. Sunday 26th July 2020. Welcome to the first episode of Thoughts & Themes in which Martin will look for the themes and deeper meanings within Braveheart and Gladiator plus references to Kingdom of Heaven and 300. We look beyond the factual errors which all of the featured movies contain and ask whethe…

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Episode 76: The Highwaymen 1:22:44

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We dive into the 2019 Netflix movie starring Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson as the two ex-Texas Rangers who led the pursuit of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, seeking to bring to an end their murderous crime spree. The movie takes a very different perspective to the 1967 Bonnie & Clyde film and we will attempt to both fact-check this recent rele…

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Summer 2020 update and introductions 14:55

5y ago14:55

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News of the amended planned episodes plus a new addition to the HbH library; Thoughts and Themes will launch towards the end of July 2020, complete with a new variation of our theme music. https://historybyhollywood.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/99-the-tt-update-snippet.mp3By History by Hollywood

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Episode 75: Young Guns 1:57:46

5+ y ago1:57:46

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This week sees Martin joined by Chris Wimmer, host of both Infamous America and Legends of the Old West podcast series’ who brings an expert eye to the examination of 1988’s Young Guns, the story of Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County War, starring many of the so-called Brat Pack in the forms of Emilio Estevez, Charlie Sheen, Lou Diamond Phillips …

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Episode 74: The Coal Miner’s Daughter 1:16:50

5+ y ago1:16:50

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Episode 74 The Coal Miner’s Daughter. Sunday 7th June 2020. This episode examines the 1980 movie The Coal Miner’s Daughter, telling the story of the early life and subsequent early career of Loretta Lynn, one of the matriarchs of Country music, from her tough Kentucky childhood to becoming a Country legend, singing about the real life ups and downs…

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Episode 73: Zulu Dawn 2:17:41

5+ y ago2:17:41

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Episode 73 Zulu Dawn. Sunday 17th May 2020. This week we focus on 1979’s Zulu Dawn, a much-underrated and little-known prequel to 1964’s Zulu, concentrating on Lord Chelmsford’s advance into Zulu territory and the disastrous battle of Isandhlwana which took place the day before the action at Rorke’s Drift. For this episode we are delighted to welco…

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Episode 72: The People vs Larry Flynt 1:57:14

5+ y ago1:57:14

1:57:14

Whatever people think about Hustler magazine founder Larry Flynt, he fought a number of legal battles for the right to publish, battles which effectively became a universal fight for the right to free speech. This 1996 movie resonates today as we will look at the historical accuracy of the movie and some of the points for debate that it generates. …

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Episode 71 Denial 1:37:57

5+ y ago1:37:57

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Episode 71 Denial, 22nd March 2020. In our latest outing we examine 2016’s movie telling the story of Professor Deborah Lipstadt, an American historian and author who wrote a book about Holocaust deniers in which she named David Irving, a British amateur historian as a case in point. He sued her in 2000 in the UK’s civil courts and this movie tells…

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Episode 70.4 The Social Network Part 4 41:56

5+ y ago41:56

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Spoiler-free preview: Martin and Jules arrive at the conclusion of the movie, examine both its accuracy and entertainment but stress that despite the very high entertainment value, as far as provoking thought and discussion about wider topics, this movie is far greater than the sum of its parts. It’s been a lengthy journey, the total coverage actua…

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Episode 70.3 The Social Network Part 3 44:36

5+ y ago44:36

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Join Martin and guest-host Jules with the continuing story as the Winklevoss brothers turn up the heat on their efforts to stop Mark Zuckerberg developing his Facebook concept, still complaining that he had stolen their idea and we meet Sean Parker, portrayed by the annoyingly talented Justin Timberlake who leaps aboard the Facebook bandwagon, much…

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Episode 70.2 The Social Network Part 2 50:51

5+ y ago50:51

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Episode 70.2. The Social Network Part 2. This week sees us dive into the main body of the show for which we are joined by software engineer and HbH’s theme music composer Jules Cisek who has some fascinating insights into the world of IT and Silicone Valley, primed to hit us all with large dollops of factainment. Fabulously watchable though The Soc…

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Episode 70.1 The Social Network Part 1 39:24

5+ y ago39:24

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This week’s episode is 2010’s portrayal of the genesis of Facebook with Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg played by Jesse Eisenberg. Directed by Fight Club’s David Fincher and written by the West Wing screen writer Aaron Sorkin the movie has been praised for bravely stark portrayals of such recent events and active protagonists and equally c…

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Episode 69.2 Frost/Nixon Part 2 50:38

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Episode 69.2 Frost/Nixon Part 2. We rejoin the action as the interviews begin, the wily veteran politician determined to retain control of the narrative and to try and rehabilitate himself in the eyes of the American people. Frost’s research team, serious journalists, are desperate for their man to pin the ex-President down, ask some tough question…

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Episode 69.1 Frost/Nixon Part 1 50:47

5+ y ago50:47

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Episode 69.1 Frost/Nixon Part 1. Adapted from the play of the same name and starring the same two actors in the title roles, Michael Sheen and Frank Langella, this movie attempts to tell the story of a series of interviews between disgraced former US President Richard Nixon and a most unlikely interrogator in the form of British variety show host D…

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Episode 68 Shakespeare at the Cinema Part 2: Richard III (1955) 1:46:32

5+ y ago1:46:32

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Episode 68 Shakespeare at the Cinema Part 2: Richard III (1955). Laurence Olivier’s Richard III is renowned for portraying King Richard as a Machiavellian conspirator, reveling in his villainy and driven by personal ambition. To take as objective a view as possible, HbH is joined by a proper expert; author of historical fiction and host of The Wars…

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Episode 68 Shakespeare at the Cinema Part 1: Henry V (1989) 1:37:33

5+ y ago1:37:33

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Episode 68 Shakespeare at the Cinema Part 1: Henry V (1989). In this week’s part of the Shakespearean episode we examine Kenneth Branagh’s 1989 adaption of Henry V. Martin flies solo though his monologue is supplemented by multiple clips from the movie, featuring a decent who’s-who of British stage and cinema. Culminating in the battle of Agincourt…

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Episode 67: The Insider Part 3 of 3 35:37

5+ y ago35:37

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Episode 67: The Insider Part 3 of 3. As we hurtle toward the end of another year and HbH’s third birthday, we conclude our look at The Insider, wrap up the reality and let you know what became of the various protagonists. https://historybyhollywood.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/67-the-insider-part-3-of-3.mp3…

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Episode 67: The Insider Part 2 of 3 39:29

6y ago39:29

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Episode 67: The Insider Part 2 of 3. We continue our focus on this powerful movie about Jeffrey Wigand, tobacco industry whistleblower and, aware of the time of year, take the opportunity to wish all of you a happy HbH holiday season. https://historybyhollywood.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/67-the-insider-part-2-of-3.mp3…

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Episode 67: The Insider Part 1 of 3 45:13

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Episode 67: The Insider Part 1 of 3. We embark on an examination of this 1999 film about a tobacco industry whistle-blower trying to get his story out on national television. Starring Russell Crowe, Al Pacino and Christopher Plummer, the protagonists face legal challenges by the huge tobacco corporations and for the journalists, resistance from the…

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Episode 66: The Untouchables Part 3 of 3 41:07

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Episode 66 The Untouchables Part 3 of 3. This week we conclude our examination of The Untouchables, wrapping up the movie but also looking at how the legends of Eliot Ness and Al Capone have grown in popular culture. Much of what is said about these two towering figures of early twentieth century crime-fighting is drawn from artistic sources such a…

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Episode 66: The Untouchables Part 2 of 3 40:21

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Episode 66 The Untouchables Part 2 of 3. We continue our examination of The Untouchables. With the team complete, Eliot Ness and his Untouchables can get to work taking apart Al Capone’s illicit booze trade. But at what cost? Join us to find out and how much of the movie’s drama is borne out by the real events of the period. https://historybyhollyw…

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Episode 66: The Untouchables Part 1 of 3 45:04

6y ago45:04

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Episode 66 The Untouchables Part 1 of 3. Welcome to our first three-part episode under our new format. This week we start our examination of The Untouchables, the 1987 star-studded story of Eliot Ness and his team, taking on Al Capone and the Mob in Prohibition-era Chicago. Starring Kevin Costner and Robert de Niro as the two antagonists, ably supp…

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Episode 65: Monster Part 2 37:29

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Episode 65: Monster Part 2. The concluding episode covering 2003’s Monster, about Florida serial killer Aileen Wuornos. We wrap up the movie synopsis, the final reality checks and draw our conclusions. We hope you join us. https://historybyhollywood.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/65-monster-part-2.mp3By History by Hollywood

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Episode 65 Monster Part 1 32:02

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Episode 65 Monster Part 1. 2003 saw the release of Monster, a ‘based-on-a-true-story’ account of female serial killer Aileen Wuornos in late 80s Florida. The portrayal of Aileen by Charlize Theron won her a Best Actress Oscar and the movie rates highly with both film critics and audiences. However, with news journalists the movie has been criticize…

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Episode 64: First Man Part 2 42:44

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Episode 64 First Man Part 2. We conclude our examination of 2018’s movie starring Ryan Gosling as Neil Armstrong and the first Moon landing. It’s a difficult film to summarise but as you’ll hear, we do our best to separate its accuracy from its level of entertainment. https://historybyhollywood.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/64-first-man-part-2.mp3…

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Episode 64: First Man Part 1 41:43

6y ago41:43

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Episode 64 First Man Part 1. Our episode this week focusses on 2018’s portrayal of Neil Armstrong’s journey to be the first human to set foot on the moon, both literal and figurative. Applauded by critics, less so by audiences, it’s nevertheless a fascinating subject. Our task will be to assess the accuracy of the movie and, just as importantly, it…

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Episode 63: Norma Rae Part 2 36:08

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Episode 63 Norma Rae Part 2. This week we conclude our examination of this movie, following the battles of Norma Rae, a Southern States textile worker for union recognition in her mill. https://historybyhollywood.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/63-norma-rae-part-two.mp3By History by Hollywood

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Episode 63: Norma Rae Part 1 32:33

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Episode 63 Norma Rae Part 1. This week sees us examining this 1979 movie about a Southern States textile worker, Norma Rae of the title fighting to gain Union representation at her mill. For playing the title role, Sally Field won the Best Actress Oscar and it has been widely praised for its depiction of the long and often bitter fight of the worki…

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Episode 62: Reversal of Fortune 2:19:48

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Episode 62: Reversal of Fortune. This week sees us joined again by guest co-host Sean Munger of the wonderful Second Decade Podcast. This is one of Sean’s favourite movies and he has a lawyer’s insight into the legal battle described as New York socialite Claus von Bulow (Jeremy Irons) tries to have his conviction reversed for attempted murder of h…

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Episode 61: Thirteen Days 1:36:46

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https://historybyhollywood.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/61-thirteen-days-1.mp3By History by Hollywood

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Episode 60: Breaker Morant 2:22:03

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Episode 60: Breaker Morant. We are delighted to be joined by Des Latham, host of The Anglo-Boer War Podcast as we examine this 1980 movie’s depiction of an early 1900s British war crimes trial held in South Africa, little known outside Australia and South Africa but within those countries, a case that still resonates loudly today. Rated 100% by cri…

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Episode 59: Supplementary 4 The Ones That Got Away Part 2 2:04:54

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Some real POWs who survived Japanese work camps. As can clearly be seen, the depiction in the movie shows rather too healthy-looking POWs. We Are Not Afraid, Seth Cagin and Philip Dray, the book detailing the events depicted in Mississippi BurningBy History by Hollywood

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Episode 58: Kingdom of Heaven 1:56:09

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Ibelin, Balian’s castle and farmThe crusader army’s route of advance towards HattinThe view from the slopes of Hattin towards Tiberias (which lies just beyond the labelled town of Kfar Hitim) and the Sea of Galilee. The red marker is on the summit of the hill at Hattin where the last Crusaders surrendered. Krak des Chevaliers (not to be confused wi…

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Episode 57: The Great Escape 2:05:08

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Guy Walter’s book: The Real Great Escape which was our primary source for our research. Sean Munger’s YouTube episode about Stalag Luft III: Jens Muller’s account of the escape from one of the three men who made a ‘home run’: Book about Squadron Leader Frank McKenna, Special Investigation Branch RAF and his hunt for the Great Escape Murderers. (Thi…

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Episode 56: The Favourite 1:00:47

6+ y ago1:00:47

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By History by Hollywood

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Episode 55: Bohemian Rhapsody 1:21:34

6+ y ago1:21:34

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The Show Must Go On: Queen and Adam Lambert documentary was shown on ABC on 29th April 2019. The usual streaming services haven’t yet picked it up but here are links to YouTube with the show split into two parts. It is highly recommended.By History by Hollywood

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Episode 54: I, Tonya 54:58

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Episode 54: I, Tonya This2017 movie details the rise and fall of Tonya Harding, an American figureskater who rose to prominence and then notoriety in the early 1990s. A gritty,darkly humorous movie with some superb performances, notably Margot Robbie inthe title role and Alison Janney, who was to win a Best Supporting ActressOscar for her role as T…

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Episode 53: Gallipoli 1:18:45

6+ y ago1:18:45

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Mel Gibson and Mark Lee Mark Lee interview 2018: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDsgNj38290By History by Hollywood

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Episode 52: The Right Stuff 2:11:57

6+ y ago2:11:57

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Link to Sean Munger’s The Second Decade podcast website. This is as recommended as anything we’ve ever recommended…. so to speak. https://seconddecade.net/ Antoher link, this time to Des Latham’s excellent Anglo-Boer War podcast which is as hard hitting as it is entertaining. A playful delivery doesn’t detract from the drama of the conflict. We rat…

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Episode 51: Bonnie & Clyde 1:10:04

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A version of the movie poster for the original release in 1967. The real Bonnie Parker and Clyde BarrowThe ambush site where Bonnie and Clyde were shot to death by retired Texas Rangers Frank Hamer and Maney GaultBy History by Hollywood