Best The Northwest Nerd Podcasts (2025)

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It's a Dilly Dally summer 38:23

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25d ago38:23

38:23

Getting back at it feels so good, and we're on a roll. Join us for a random, funny episode where we discuss a little bit of this and that...skincare don't care, "we do not care club," summer bathing suits and making friends with influencers at waterparks, and how awesome it is being in our mid 40's. Let's not underestimate The Belle. We play a rous…

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Scott Anderson on the Iranian Revolution 52:51

1d ago52:51

52:51

Send us a text Let's predict a revolution! Scott Anderson joins me to discuss his book King of Kings: The Iranian Revolution: A Story of Hubris, Delusion and Catastrophic Miscalculation. Buy King of Kings Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Haley Cohen Gilliland on Argentina's History and the Mission of the Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo Who Fought to Find Their Lost Grandchildren 48:48

9d ago48:48

48:48

Send us a text Let's find family! Haley Cohen Gilliland joins me to talk A Flower Traveled in My Blood: The Incredible True Story of the Grandmothers Who Fought to Find a Stolen Generation of Children. Buy A Flower Traveled in My Blood Check out Haley's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Laurie Gwen Shapiro Talks Amelia Earhart, Her Husband George Putnam, and the Making of an American Icon 54:54

16d ago54:54

54:54

Send us a text Let's take to the skies! Laurie Gwen Shapiro joins me to talk The Aviator and the Showman: Amelia Earhart, George Putnam, and the Marriage that Made an American Icon. Buy The Aviator and the Showman Check out Laurie's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Scott Ellsworth on the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, a Country Divided, and the People Overlooked in Civil War History 37:45

23d ago37:45

37:45

Send us a text Let's look a different way! Scott Ellsworth joins me to talk his book Midnight on the Potomac: The Last Year of the Civil War, the Lincoln Assassination, and the Rebirth of America. Buy Midnight on the Potomac Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Amy Helen Bell Talks the Murders of the London Blitz and Stan Haynes Talks Roosevelt to Roosevelt 56:10

30d ago56:10

56:10

Send us a text Let's have two! In our first ever double episode, Amy Bell joins me to talk Under Cover of Darkness: Murders in Blackout London. Then Stan Haynes joins me to talk Roosevelt to Roosevelt: Presidential Nominating Conventions from 1904 to 1944. Buy Under Cover of Darkness Check out Amy's website Buy Roosevelt to Roosevelt Check out Stan…

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Surprise! It's a Wedding! 33:20

1M ago33:20

33:20

The Belle had an eventful fall. On this episode of the pod, The Nerd and Belle update the listeners on The Belle's wild plans for an unconventional wedding. So unconventional, the groom didn't even know about it. In typical Belle fashion, she pulled it off despite some adversity and tied the knot to the love of her life. Get all the deets here.…

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When Cancer Tried to Ruin the Podcast 31:07

1M ago31:07

31:07

We bet you thought you'd never hear from us again....well, we're back, but not without some bumps and bruises. Last summer (2024) The Nerd (Rachael) was in the thick of treatment for breast cancer. She was diagnosed in March and got the full meal deal of treatment until she finally made it through and treatment ended in February of 2025. She felt s…

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Nathalia Holt Tells the Story of the Roosevelt Brothers' Search for the Elusive Giant Panda 29:35

1M ago29:35

29:35

Send us a text Let's find a panda! Nathalia Holt joins me to discuss her book The Beast in the Clouds: The Roosevelt Brothers' Deadly Quest to Find the Mythical Giant Panda. Buy The Beast in the Clouds Check out Nathalia's Website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Eleanor Barraclough Talks the Viking Age and the Lives of Everyday Norsemen and Norsewomen 1:00:03

1M ago1:00:03

1:00:03

Send us a text Let's pillage (but also more than that)! Eleanor Barraclough joins me to talk her book Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age. Buy Embers of the Hands Check out Eleanor's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Nicholas Jubber Returns to Talk the Greatest Monsters of History Including Vampires, Rougarou, Dragons, and Even Godzilla 42:06

2M ago42:06

42:06

Send us a text Let's go monster hunting! Nicholas Jubber Returns to talk his book Monsterland: A Journey Around the World's Dark Imagination. Buy Monsterland Check out Nick's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Pulitzer Prize Winner Caroline Fraser Talks Ted Bundy, the Rise of Serial Killers, Pacific Northwest Life, and the Lead Crime Hypothesis 36:44

2M ago36:44

36:44

Send us a text Let's talk the age of serial killers! Pulitzer Prize winner Caroline Fraser joins me to talk her book Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers. Buy Murderland Check out Caroline's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Helen Carr Talks English Kings, Their Favorites, and the Upheaval of the 14th Century 38:52

2M ago38:52

38:52

Send us a text Let's pick a favorite! Helen Carr joins me to talk her book Sceptred Isle: A New History of the Fourteenth Century. Buy Sceptred Isle Check out Helen's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Alexander Rose Returns to Talk the Battle of the Atlantic and the Heist of a German U-Boat 43:01

2M ago43:01

43:01

Send us a text Let's go sub hunting! Alexander Rose returns to talk his book Phantom Fleet: The Hunt for Nazi Submarine U-505 and World War II's Most Daring Heist! Buy Phantom Fleet Check out Alex's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Martin Dugard Returns to Talk the History of Midway Island and the World War II Battle That Changed the Pacific Theater 32:55

3M ago32:55

32:55

Send us a text Let's turn the tide! Martin Dugard returns to talk his new book Taking Midway: Naval Warfare, Secret Codes, and the Battle that Turned the Tide of World War II. Buy Taking Midway Check out Martin's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Michelle Young Tells the Story of World War II Art Spy Rose Valland 30:33

3M ago30:33

30:33

Send us a text Let's track some art! Michelle Young joins the podcast to talk her book The Art Spy: The Extraordinary Untold Tale of WWII Resistance Hero Rose Valland. Come listen! Buy The Art Spy Check out Michelle's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Kate Summerscale Talks WWII Era Serial Killer Reg Christie and (Maybe?) the Execution of an Innocent Man 33:00

3M ago33:00

33:00

Send us a text Let's right a wrong! Kate Summerscale joins me to talk her book The Peepshow: The Murders at Rillington Place. Murder, yellow journalism, and justice denied. Come listen! Buy The Peepshow Check out Kate's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Todd Doughty Talks the Publishing Worldand How to Be More Grateful About the Little Things 36:29

3M ago36:29

36:29

Send us a text Let's be happy! Author and bigwig at Doubleday Books, Todd Doughty, joins me to talk the publishing world and his own book, Little Pieces of Hope: Happy-Making Things in a Difficult World. Buy Little Pieces of Hope Follow his Instagram Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Julie Satow Talks When Women Took Over the American Fashion Industry in 1900s New York City 36:37

4M ago36:37

36:37

Send us a text Let's go shopping! Julie Satow joins me to discuss her book When Women Ran Fifth Avenue: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion. Buy When Women Ran Fifth Aveune Check out Julie's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Russell Shorto Tells the Story of How New Amsterdam Became New York 31:17

4M ago31:17

31:17

Send us a text Let's do some renaming! Russell Shorto joins me to talk his book Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America. Buy Taking Manhattan Check out Russell's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Hallie Rubenhold Talks the True Crime Case of Dr. Crippen and What History Has Missed 35:03

4M ago35:03

35:03

Send us a text Let's tell the whole story! Hallie Rubenhold, celebrated author of The Five, joins me to talk her true crime book Story of a Murder: The Wives, the Mistress, and Dr. Crippen. Buy Story of a Murder Check out Hallie's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Comedian and Writer Mike Drucker Talks His Life in Video Games 38:49

4M ago38:49

38:49

Send us a text Let's boot up! Comedian and Writer (Full Frontal/The Tonight Show) Mike Drucker joins me to talk his book Good Game, No Rematch: A Life Made of Video Games. Buy Good Game, No Rematch Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Eric Vickrey Discusses Postwar Baseball, the Spokane Indians, and the Deadliest Accident in American Professional Sports 22:19

4M ago22:19

22:19

Send us a text Let's play ball! On this special baseball opening weekend episode, Eric Vickrey joins me to talk his book Season of Shattered Dreams: Postwar Baseball, the Spokane Indians, and a Tragic Bus Crash That Changed Everything. Come listen! Buy Season of Shattered Dreams Check out Eric's website Support the show…

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William Geroux Tells the Story of World War II Nazi POWs in America and a Risky Prisoner Swap 35:30

5M ago35:30

35:30

Send us a text Let's make an exchange! Author William Geroux joins me to discuss his book The Fifteen: Murder, Retribution, and the Forgotten Story of Nazi POWs in America. Come listen! Buy The Fifteen Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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NPR Correspondent Emily Feng Talks China and its People 35:05

5M ago35:05

35:05

Send us a text Let's bloom! NPR Correspondent Emily Feng joins me to talk her book Let Only Red Flowers Bloom: Identity and Belonging in Xi Jinping's China. I learned a lot and hope you do, too. Come listen! Buy Let Only Red Flowers Bloom Check out Emily's Website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Gary Krist Talks San Francisco's Turbulent History and an Unbelievable Gilded-Age Murder 34:26

5M ago34:26

34:26

Send us a text Let's go digging! Author Gary Krist joins me to talk his book Trespassers at the Golden Gate: A True Account of Love, Murder, and Madness in Gilded-Age San Francisco. Come listen! Buy Trespassers at the Golden Gate Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Gareth Harney Talks the History of Ancient Rome in Twelve Coins 32:32

5M ago32:32

32:32

Send us a text Toss a coin to your nerd! Author Gareth Harney joins me to talk his book A History of Ancient Rome in Twelve Coins. Come listen! Buy A History of Ancient Rome in Twelve Coins Check out Gareth's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Nancy Goldstone Talks the Lives of the Rebel Empresses Elisabeth of Austria and Eugénie of France 43:36

5M ago43:36

43:36

Send us a text Let's rebel! Author Nancy Goldstone joins me to talk her new book The Rebel Empresses: Elisabeth of Austria and Eugénie of France, Power and Glamour in the Struggle for Europe. Come listen! Buy The Rebel Empresses Check out Nancy's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Richard Goodrich Returns to Talk the First Airshow in American History 35:46

6M ago35:46

35:46

Send us a text Let's take to the skies! Richard Goodrich returns to talk L.A. Birdmen: West Coast Aviators and the First Airshow in America. Come listen! Buy L.A. Birdmen Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Pulitzer Prize Winner Megan Mashall Talks Biography, Japan, Personal Loss, Family, and How the Little Things are What You Remember 43:47

6M ago43:47

43:47

Send us a text Let's talk about everything! Pulitzer Prize Winner Megan Marshall joins me to talk her new book After Lives: On Biography and the Mysteries of the Human Heart. So good. Come listen! Buy After Lives Check out Megan's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Rebecca Bratspies on the New York City Names Like Major Deegan, Outerbridge, and Hutchinson 32:21

6M ago32:21

32:21

Send us a text Let's figure out who we are cursing in traffic! Rebecca Bratspies joins me to talk her book Naming Gotham: The Villains, Rogues, and Heroes Behind New York's Place Names. It's not just for city folk. Come listen! Buy Naming Gotham Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Buddy Levy Returns Again To Talk Airships in the Arctic, Roald Amundsen, and a Rescue at the Top of the World 33:20

6M ago33:20

33:20

Send us a text Let's go north! Buddy Levy is back to talk his new book Realm of Ice and Sky: Triumph, Tragedy, and History's Greatest Arctic Rescue. Enough said. Come listen! Buy Realm of Ice and Sky Check out Buddy's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Patrick Winn on Drug Empires, Burma, The Wa State, and the DEA vs. the CIA 39:49

7M ago39:49

39:49

Send us a text Let's investigate a drug empire! Journalist Patrick Winn joins me to discuss Narcotopia: In Search of the Asian Drug Cartel That Survived the CIA. It's as wild as you expect. Come listen! Buy Narcotopia Check out Patrick's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Mark Galeotti Returns to Talk the Wars of Russian History, Putin's Historical Inaccuracy, and the Charm of The Great 39:17

7M ago39:17

39:17

Send us a text Let's jump into the forge! Mark Galeotti returns to talk his newest book, Forged In War: A Military History of Russia From Its Beginnings to Today. We talk wars, Putin, and how much we both enjoyed the Hulu series The Great! Come listen! Buy Forged in War Read his blog and Listen to his podcast In Moscow's Shadow Support the show…

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Elizabeth Reese talks the Return of American Revolution Hero the Marquis de Lafayette 34:13

8M ago34:13

34:13

Send us a text Let's welcome back the Marquis! Elizabeth Reese joins me to discuss her book Marquis de Lafayette Returns: A Tour of America's National Capital Region. I finally found someone to nerd out with about my favorite Frenchman. Come listen! Buy Marquis de Lafayette Returns Check out Elizabeth's website Support the show…

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April Balascio Talks About Being Raised By Her Father, Serial Killer Edward Wayne Edwards 42:19

8M ago42:19

42:19

Send us a text Let's make the call! April Balascio joins me to talk her book Raised by a Serial Killer: Discovering the Truth About My Father. Enough said. Come listen! Buy Raised by a Serial Killer Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Marcia Clark talks the OJ Simpson Trial and the True Crime Story of Barbara "Bloody Babs" Graham 40:12

8M ago40:12

40:12

Send us a text Let's go to court! Marcia Clark joins me to talk her book Trial by Ambush: Murder, Injustice, and the Truth about the Case of Barbara Graham. Yes, a little about OJ, too. Come listen! Buy Trial by Ambush Check out Marcia's Website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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John Oller on the FBI and the War Against American Gangsters Like John Dillinger, Babyface Nelson, and Bonnie and Clyde 30:52

9M ago30:52

30:52

Send us a text Let's join the war on crime! John Oller joins the podcast to talk his book Gangster Hunters: How Hoover G-men Vanquished America's Deadliest Public Enemies! Come listen! Buy Gangster Hunters Check out John's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Gladiator Historian Alexander Mariotti Talks Gladiator I and II, Spartacus, and the Glory of Rome 33:01

9M ago33:01

33:01

Send us a text Let's enter the arena! Gladiator Historian Alexander Mariotti Talks Gladiator I and II, Spartacus, and the Glory of Rome! Why go to the movies when you can get everything you need right here? Come listen! Check out Alexander's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Erik Rebain Reveals the Untold Story of the Life of the Infamous Nathan Leopold of the Leopold and Loeb Murder 34:36

9M ago34:36

34:36

Send us a text Let's tell the whole story! Erik Rebain joins me to discuss his book Arrested Adolescence: The Secret Life of Nathan Leopold. Turns out murder was just the tip of the iceberg. Come listen! Buy Arrested Adolescence Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Helen Castor Talks Shakespeare, Richard II, Henry IV, and the Rebellion That Had to Happen 55:45

9M ago55:45

55:45

Send us a text Let's seize the throne! Helen Castor joins me to talk her new book The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV. It's one of the best books of 2024. Come listen! Buy The Eagle and the Hart Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Tabitha Stanmore Talks The History of Cunning Folk, Magic, and Why They Aren't Witches 29:38

9M ago29:38

29:38

Send us a text Let's be cunning! Tabitha Stanmore joins me to discuss her book Cunning Folk: Life in the America of Practical Magic. She explains why cunning folk weren't burned at the stake like witches. Buy Cunning Folk Check out Tabitha's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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YouTube Star Adrian Bliss Talks about the Greatest Nobodies of History Including Leonardo da Vinci's Ferret, Henry VIII's Groom of the Stool, and Many More 27:34

10M ago27:34

27:34

Send us a text Let's remember the nobodies! Social media titan and now author Adrian Bliss joins me to talk his new book The Greatest Nobodies of History: Minor Characters from Major Moments. It's hilarious and its got real history in it! Come listen! Buy The Greatest Nobodies in History Support the show…

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Retired Homicide Detective Kim Mager Tells the Story of Interrogating Serial Killer Shawn Grate 40:13

10M ago40:13

40:13

Send us a text Let's get a confession out of him! Retired Homicide Detective Kim Mager tells the story of interrogating serial killer Shawn Grate and her book about it, A Hunger To Kill. Buy A Hunger to Kill Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Dan Jones on the Greatest Warrior King in English History Henry V 40:04

10M ago40:04

40:04

Send us a text Let's talk about more than just Agincourt! Dan Jones joins me to talk his new book Henry V: The Astonishing Triumph of England's Greatest Warrior King. He's more than just what the bard told you. Buy Henry V Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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H.W. Brands on the Battle for American Isolationism Before World War II Between Charles Lindbergh and the America First Movement vs. President Franklin Roosevelt 47:35

10M ago47:35

47:35

Send us a text Let's let the people decide! H.W. Brands joins the podcast to talk his book America First: Roosevelt vs. Lindbergh in the Shadow of War. One of the best books of the year. Come hear about it! Buy America First Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Jack Carr and James Scott on The Terminal List, the 1983 Marine Barracks Bombing, in Beirut and the Beginning of the War on Terror 39:18

11M ago39:18

39:18

Send us a text Let's remember some heroes! Authors Jack Carr (the Terminal List guy, duh) and James M. Scott join me to talk their collaboration and their new book Targeted: Beirut: The 1983 Marine Barracks Bombing and the Untold Origin Story of the War on Terror. Come listen! Buy Targeted Check out Jack's website Check out James's website Support …

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Abbott Kahler Returns to Tell A True Story of Sex, Murder, and Utopia at the Dawn of World War II 28:53

11M ago28:53

28:53

Send us a text Let's take over an island! Author Abbott Kahler returns to talk about her bonkers new book, Eden Undone: A True Story of Sex, Murder, and Utopia at the Dawn of World War II. Seriously, how could you not want to hear more with that tagline? Come listen! Buy Eden Undone Check out Abbott's Website Support the show…

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Ben Macintyre Tells the Story of the 1980 Iranian Embassy Hostage Crisis in London and the SAS Operation to Save the Hostages 37:28

11M ago37:28

37:28

Send us a text Let's storm the building! One of my personal favorites, Ben Macintyre, joins the podcast to talk his new book The Siege: A Six-Day Hostage Crisis and the Daring Special-Forces Operation That Shocked the World. Need I say more? Buy The Siege Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Rachel Kousser on the Forgotten Years of Alexander the Great 33:54

11M ago33:54

33:54

Send us a text Let's head to the ocean! Author Rachel Kousser joins me to talk her book Alexander at the End of the World: The Forgotten Final Years of Alexander the Great. Come listen! Buy Alexander at the End of the World Check out Rachel's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd