S8 Ep231: 2. Future Fleets: Decentralizing Firepower to Counter Chinese Growth. Tom Modly warns that China's shipbuilding capacity vastly outpaces the US, requiring a shift toward distributed forces rather than expensive, concentrated platforms. He advocates for a
2. Future Fleets: Decentralizing Firepower to Counter Chinese Growth. Tom Modly warns that China's shipbuilding capacity vastly outpaces the US, requiring a shift toward distributed forces rather than expensive, concentrated platforms. He advocates for a reinvigorated, independent Department of the Navy to foster the creativity needed to address asymmetric threats like Houthi attacks on high-va...
5m Dec 22, 2025
5m
S8 Ep231: 1. Restoring Naval Autonomy: Arguments for Separating the Navy from DoD. Tom Modly argues the Navy is an "underperforming asset" within the Defense Department's corporate structure, similar to how Fiat Chrysler successfully spun off Ferrari. He suggests t
1. Restoring Naval Autonomy: Arguments for Separating the Navy from DoD. Tom Modly argues the Navy is an "underperforming asset" within the Defense Department's corporate structure, similar to how Fiat Chrysler successfully spun off Ferrari. He suggests the Navy needs independence to address critical shipbuilding deficits and better protect global commerce and vulnerable undersea cables from ad...
12m Dec 22, 2025
12m
S8 Ep230: PREVIEW Guest: Professor Richard Bell Summary: Professor Bell discusses his book on the American Revolution, focusing on the "darkest passage" of the war: British prison hulks in New York Harbor. He details the horrific conditions on the ship Jersey, wher
PREVIEW Guest: Professor Richard Bell Summary: Professor Bell discusses his book on the American Revolution, focusing on the "darkest passage" of the war: British prison hulks in New York Harbor. He details the horrific conditions on the ship Jersey, where the mortality rate reached 50%, and recounts the survival story of prisoner William Russell. 1776 NY HARBOR
4m Dec 22, 2025
4m
S8 Ep230: PREVIEW Guest: Victoria Coates Summary: Coates analyzes China's energy vulnerability, specifically its reliance on a "shadow fleet" importing Venezuelan oil. She suggests the US should interdict these shipments because China lacks a "Plan B." Forced to bu
PREVIEW Guest: Victoria Coates Summary: Coates analyzes China's energy vulnerability, specifically its reliance on a "shadow fleet" importing Venezuelan oil. She suggests the US should interdict these shipments because China lacks a "Plan B." Forced to buy licit, market-price oil from suppliers like the Saudis, Beijing would suffer significant costs to its economic growth. 1845 CARACAS
2m Dec 22, 2025
2m
S8 Ep230: PREVIEW Guest: Bill Roggio Summary: Roggio reports on the expansion of jihadist groups across Africa, including Somalia, Mali, and Burkina Faso. He warns that European powers have effectively abandoned these regions, allowing them to descend into chaos an
PREVIEW Guest: Bill Roggio Summary: Roggio reports on the expansion of jihadist groups across Africa, including Somalia, Mali, and Burkina Faso. He warns that European powers have effectively abandoned these regions, allowing them to descend into chaos and fall under jihadist control, while the US does only enough in Somalia to "keep the lid on." 1935 ETHIOPIA
2m Dec 22, 2025
2m
S8 Ep230: PREVIEW Guest: Mark Simon Summary: Simon discusses the sentencing of Jimmy Lai by the Chinese regime. He expresses doubt that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will use an upcoming business trip to demand the return of Lai, a British citizen, noting tha
PREVIEW Guest: Mark Simon Summary: Simon discusses the sentencing of Jimmy Lai by the Chinese regime. He expresses doubt that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will use an upcoming business trip to demand the return of Lai, a British citizen, noting that the Prime Minister is currently more focused on his own political survival. QING DYNASTY 1910-1940
3m Dec 22, 2025
3m
S8 Ep230: PREVIEW Guest: Professor John Yoo Summary: Professor Yoo supports a national security strategy that prioritizes the Western Hemisphere and homeland defense over conflicts in Europe or the Middle East. He argues that US leadership has overlooked vital eco
PREVIEW Guest: Professor John Yoo Summary: Professor Yoo supports a national security strategy that prioritizes the Western Hemisphere and homeland defense over conflicts in Europe or the Middle East. He argues that US leadership has overlooked vital economic ties with South America, Mexico, and Canada, and must return to these foundational security principles. 1876 BOLIVAR AT CARACAS
2m Dec 22, 2025
2m
S8 Ep230: PREVIEW Guest: Tom Modly Summary: Former Acting Navy Secretary Modly advocates spinning the Navy off from the Pentagon to improve its standing. He highlights the dangerous disparity in industrial power, noting that China's shipbuilding capacity is nearly
PREVIEW Guest: Tom Modly Summary: Former Acting Navy Secretary Modly advocates spinning the Navy off from the Pentagon to improve its standing. He highlights the dangerous disparity in industrial power, noting that China'sshipbuilding capacity is nearly 250 times greater than the United States and is better positioned to convert commercial assets for wartime use. 1911 MAINE IN HAVANA HARBOR
2m Dec 22, 2025
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S8 Ep229: THE REIGN OF THE EMPEROR AND THE PROBLEM OF SUCCESSION Colleagues Gaius and Germanicus, Friends of History Debating Society, Londinium, 91 AD. In the final segment, Gaius and Germanicus analyze the New York Times characterizing the Trump presidency as a "
THE REIGN OF THE EMPEROR AND THE PROBLEM OF SUCCESSION Colleagues Gaius and Germanicus, Friends of History Debating Society, Londinium, 91 AD. In the final segment, Gaius and Germanicus analyze the New York Times characterizing the Trump presidency as a "reign," a term Gaius embraces as historically accurate for the current state of the American executive. Germanicus argues that the American pr...
13m Dec 22, 2025
13m
S8 Ep228: THE GILDED AGE, GROVER CLEVELAND, AND THE ASSERTION OF SOVEREIGNTY Colleagues Gaius and Germanicus, Friends of History Debating Society, Londinium, 91 AD. The second segment pivots to a historical comparison involving Grover Cleveland, the only American p
THE GILDED AGE, GROVER CLEVELAND, AND THE ASSERTION OF SOVEREIGNTY Colleagues Gaiusand Germanicus, Friends of History Debating Society, Londinium, 91 AD. The second segment pivots to a historical comparison involving Grover Cleveland, the only American president prior to Trump to serve non-consecutive terms, using his presidency to illustrate parallels between the "Gilded Age" and the 2020s. Th...
13m Dec 22, 2025
13m
S8 Ep228: THE ACTOR-EMPEROR AND THE SHIFT FROM DIGNITAS TO INTIMACY Colleagues Gaius and Germanicus, Friends of History Debating Society, Londinium, 91 AD. In this session, set against the backdrop of a cold winter in Londinium, Gaius and Germanicus explore the evo
THE ACTOR-EMPEROR AND THE SHIFT FROM DIGNITAS TO INTIMACY Colleagues Gaius and Germanicus, Friends of History Debating Society, Londinium, 91 AD. In this session, set against the backdrop of a cold winter in Londinium, Gaius and Germanicus explore the evolution of the imperial persona, drawing sharp parallels between the Roman Emperor Nero and modern American figures Bill Clinton and Donald Tru...
21m Dec 22, 2025
21m
S8 Ep227: THE MUTINY PLOT AND THE DECISION TO EXECUTE Colleague Richard Snow. Spencer's "mutiny" plot is revealed to a steward, triggering Mackenzie's paranoia. Mackenzie arrests Spencer, Cromwell, and Small without concrete evidence of an uprising. An irregular co
THE MUTINY PLOT AND THE DECISION TO EXECUTE Colleague Richard Snow. Spencer's "mutiny" plot is revealed to a steward, triggering Mackenzie's paranoia. Mackenzie arrests Spencer, Cromwell, and Small without concrete evidence of an uprising. An irregular council of officers, influenced by the captain's fear and the lack of a brig, decides the three men must be executed. NUMBER 7 v
8m Dec 22, 2025
8m
S8 Ep227: THE MUTINY PLOT AND THE DECISION TO EXECUTE Colleague Richard Snow. Spencer's "mutiny" plot is revealed to a steward, triggering Mackenzie's paranoia. Mackenzie arrests Spencer, Cromwell, and Small without concrete evidence of an uprising. An irregular co
THE MUTINY PLOT AND THE DECISION TO EXECUTE Colleague Richard Snow. Spencer's "mutiny" plot is revealed to a steward, triggering Mackenzie's paranoia. Mackenzie arrests Spencer, Cromwell, and Small without concrete evidence of an uprising. An irregular council of officers, influenced by the captain's fear and the lack of a brig, decides the three men must be executed. NUMBER 7
12m Dec 22, 2025
12m
S8 Ep227: THE OVERCROWDED SOMERS AND SPENCER'S ISOLATION Colleague Richard Snow. Snow describes the Somers as a fast, overcrowded school ship filled with teenage midshipmen. He details Spencer's isolation due to his physical disability and surly demeanor. Spencer v
THE OVERCROWDED SOMERS AND SPENCER'S ISOLATION Colleague Richard Snow. Snow describes the Somers as a fast, overcrowded school ship filled with teenage midshipmen. He details Spencer's isolation due to his physical disability and surly demeanor. Spencer violated protocol by mingling with the crew, while Mackenzie's rigid discipline clashed with the conditions on the small, flush-deck vessel. NU...
4m Dec 22, 2025
4m
S8 Ep227: THE SOMERS MUTINY: SPENCER AND CAPTAIN MACKENZIE Colleague Richard Snow. Snow introduces the Somers mutiny, focusing on midshipman Philip Spencer, a troubled youth obsessed with pirates, and Captain Mackenzie. Mackenzie, who changed his name for an inheri
THE SOMERS MUTINY: SPENCER AND CAPTAIN MACKENZIE Colleague Richard Snow. Snow introduces the Somers mutiny, focusing on midshipman Philip Spencer, a troubled youth obsessed with pirates, and Captain Mackenzie. Mackenzie, who changed his name for an inheritance, is described as a "flogging captain" with a literary reputation and a morbid fascination with executions, setting the stage for tragedy...
14m Dec 22, 2025
14m
S8 Ep227: THE COCKPIT HUMILIATION AND FRANKLIN'S TRANSFORMATION Colleague Richard Munson. Munson describes the "Cockpit" humiliation in London, which transformed Franklin from a royalist mediator into a revolutionary. They discuss his founding of the American Philo
THE COCKPIT HUMILIATION AND FRANKLIN'S TRANSFORMATION Colleague Richard Munson. Munsondescribes the "Cockpit" humiliation in London, which transformed Franklin from a royalist mediator into a revolutionary. They discuss his founding of the American Philosophical Society to unify colonial science and his celebrity in France. Finally, Munson addresses modern skepticism regarding Franklin's scient...
7m Dec 22, 2025
7m
S8 Ep227: ELECTRICAL EXPERIMENTS AND THE FRANKLIN STOVE Colleague Richard Munson. The discussion focuses on Franklin's electrical experiments, including the Leiden jar and conservation of charge. Munson explains that the kite experiment had practical origins for li
ELECTRICAL EXPERIMENTS AND THE FRANKLIN STOVE Colleague Richard Munson. The discussion focuses on Franklin's electrical experiments, including the Leiden jar and conservation of charge. Munson explains that the kite experiment had practical origins for lightning protection. Additionally, Franklin's refusal to patent his stove invention highlights his joy in discovery and commitment to public be...
12m Dec 22, 2025
12m
S8 Ep227: FRANKLIN'S PRINTING SUCCESS AND SCIENTIFIC PURSUITS Colleague Richard Munson. Munson details Franklin's success in the "high-tech" printing industry, which generated the wealth necessary for his scientific pursuits. The segment covers his political battle
 FRANKLIN'S PRINTING SUCCESS AND SCIENTIFIC PURSUITS Colleague Richard Munson. Munson details Franklin's success in the "high-tech" printing industry, which generated the wealth necessary for his scientific pursuits. The segment covers his political battles with Thomas Penn regarding colonial governance and his transition into a full-time experimenter, driven by the Enlightenment's spirit of cu...
8m Dec 22, 2025
8m
S8 Ep227: ELECTRICAL EXPERIMENTS AND THE FRANKLIN STOVE Colleague Richard Munson. The discussion focuses on Franklin's electrical experiments, including the Leiden jar and conservation of charge. Munson explains that the kite experiment had practical origins for li
ELECTRICAL EXPERIMENTS AND THE FRANKLIN STOVE Colleague Richard Munson. The discussion focuses on Franklin's electrical experiments, including the Leiden jar and conservation of charge. Munson explains that the kite experiment had practical origins for lightning protection. Additionally, Franklin's refusal to patent his stove invention highlights his joy in discovery and commitment to public be...
9m Dec 22, 2025
9m
S8 Ep226: DUELING MONUMENTS AND THE HEART OF DARKNESS THEME Colleague Robert G. Parkinson. The feud extends into the 20th century with "dueling monuments" in Ohio, where the Cresap Society and local residents erect competing memorials near the site of Logan's Elm t
DUELING MONUMENTS AND THE HEART OF DARKNESS THEME Colleague Robert G. Parkinson. The feud extends into the 20th century with "dueling monuments" in Ohio, where the Cresap Society and local residents erect competing memorials near the site of Logan's Elm to debate the history. Parkinson concludes by returning to the "Heart of Darkness" theme, using Conrad's metaphor of "the flicker" to describe ...
10m Dec 22, 2025
10m
S8 Ep226: JEFFERSON, LUTHER MARTIN, AND THE CANONIZATION OF A FALSE ACCUSATION Colleague Robert G. Parkinson. Thomas Jefferson publishes "Logan's Lament" to argue against French theories of American inferiority, but in doing so, he canonizes the false accusation ag
JEFFERSON, LUTHER MARTIN, AND THE CANONIZATION OF A FALSE ACCUSATION Colleague Robert G. Parkinson. Thomas Jefferson publishes "Logan's Lament" to argue against French theories of Americaninferiority, but in doing so, he canonizes the false accusation against the Cresap family. This sparks a bitter feud with Luther Martin, a Cresap in-law, who attacks Jefferson to clear the family name. Despite...
10m Dec 22, 2025
10m
S8 Ep226: THE TRAGIC FATE OF LOGAN AND JEFFERSON'S DISCOVERY Colleague Robert G. Parkinson. The narrative reveals the tragic fate of the Mingo leader, Logan. In 1794, a surveyor encounters a Native American who admits to killing his uncle, Logan, near Lake Erie aro
THE TRAGIC FATE OF LOGAN AND JEFFERSON'S DISCOVERY Colleague Robert G. Parkinson. The narrative reveals the tragic fate of the Mingo leader, Logan. In 1794, a surveyor encounters a Native American who admits to killing his uncle, Logan, near Lake Erie around 1780. The nephew explains that Logan had become too powerful and unpredictable a figure during the Revolutionary War, necessitating his si...
6m Dec 22, 2025
6m
S8 Ep226: CRESAP'S RIFLEMEN, DEATH IN NEW YORK, AND A HERO'S FUNERAL Colleague Robert G. Parkinson. Michael Cresap leads his riflemen to Boston, fueled by press coverage depicting them as America's invincible "secret weapons" against the British. However, upon arri
CRESAP'S RIFLEMEN, DEATH IN NEW YORK, AND A HERO'S FUNERAL Colleague Robert G. Parkinson. Michael Cresap leads his riflemen to Boston, fueled by press coverage depicting them as America's invincible "secret weapons" against the British. However, upon arrival, the troops prove undisciplined, leading George Washington to regret their presence. Suffering from illness, likely malaria, Cresap attemp...
11m Dec 22, 2025
11m
S8 Ep226: LORD DUNMORE'S WAR AND CRESAP'S PATRIOT TURN Colleague Robert G. Parkinson. Following the massacre, Logan abandons diplomacy for vengeance, killing nearly twenty people and provoking Lord Dunmore's War. Simultaneously, the Continental Congress calls for r
LORD DUNMORE'S WAR AND CRESAP'S PATRIOT TURN Colleague Robert G. Parkinson. Following the massacre, Logan abandons diplomacy for vengeance, killing nearly twenty people and provoking Lord Dunmore's War. Simultaneously, the Continental Congress calls for rifle companies to join the revolution in Boston, and Michael Cresap is surprisingly tapped to lead a Maryland unit. Parkinson notes the irony ...
7m Dec 22, 2025
7m
S8 Ep226: THE YELLOW CREEK MASSACRE AND THE TRUE PERPETRATORS Colleague Robert G. Parkinson. This segment details the chaotic environment following the British withdrawal from Fort Pitt, which created a power vacuum and a border war between Pennsylvania and Virgini
 THE YELLOW CREEK MASSACRE AND THE TRUE PERPETRATORS Colleague Robert G. Parkinson. This segment details the chaotic environment following the British withdrawal from Fort Pitt, which created a power vacuum and a border war between Pennsylvania and Virginia. Amidst this tension, the Yellow Creek massacre occurred on April 30, 1774, where settlers lured Logan's family—including his mother, broth...
12m Dec 22, 2025
12m
S8 Ep226: BEWILDERMENT, THE OHIO COMPANY, AND COLONIAL EXPANSION Colleague Robert G. Parkinson. Parkinson explains that "bewilderment" is the central theme of his book, drawing a thematic parallel to Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness to describe the confusion and v
BEWILDERMENT, THE OHIO COMPANY, AND COLONIAL EXPANSION Colleague Robert G. Parkinson. Parkinson explains that "bewilderment" is the central theme of his book, drawing a thematic parallel to Joseph Conrad'sHeart of Darkness to describe the confusion and violence of the early American frontier. The conversation shifts to the Ohio Company, a massive land speculation venture involving George Washin...
7m Dec 22, 2025
7m
S8 Ep226: LOGAN'S LAMENT AND THE CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY Colleague Robert G. Parkinson. Host John Batchelor introduces Professor Robert G. Parkinson and his book, Heart of American Darkness, which investigates the complex relationship between colonials and Native
LOGAN'S LAMENT AND THE CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY Colleague Robert G. Parkinson. Host John Batchelor introduces Professor Robert G. Parkinson and his book, Heart of American Darkness, which investigates the complex relationship between colonials and Native Americans in 1775. The discussion focuses on a famous document known as "Logan's Lament," published in the Pennsylvania Journal, in which a M...
10m Dec 22, 2025
10m
S8 Ep225: THE SCANDAL'S LEGACY AND POST-CIVIL WAR DIVORCE Colleague Barbara Weisberg. Weisberg discusses the scandal's legacy, noting that divorce rates spiked significantly after the Civil War, though the guilty party was legally forbidden to remarry. She explains
  THE SCANDAL'S LEGACY AND POST-CIVIL WAR DIVORCE Colleague Barbara Weisberg. Weisbergdiscusses the scandal's legacy, noting that divorce rates spiked significantly after the Civil War, though the guilty party was legally forbidden to remarry. She explains that this public trial shattered the privacy of the elite, proving to the public that the upper classes were deeply flawed. NUMBER 8
7m Dec 22, 2025
7m
S8 Ep225: CONFESSION, DIVORCE, AND THE STRONG V. STRONG TRIAL Colleague Barbara Weisberg. Weisberg recounts Mary's confession of her affair and pregnancy to Peter. Although divorce was taboo in their social circle, Peter eventually sues to claim full custody of the
CONFESSION, DIVORCE, AND THE STRONG V. STRONG TRIAL Colleague Barbara Weisberg. Weisbergrecounts Mary's confession of her affair and pregnancy to Peter. Although divorce was taboo in their social circle, Petereventually sues to claim full custody of their daughters, asserting his patriarchal rights. The resulting "Strong v. Strong" trial becomes a sensational public spectacle covered daily by n...
12m Dec 22, 2025
12m
S8 Ep225: THE UNRAVELING OF THE STRONG MARRIAGE Colleague Barbara Weisberg. Weisberg details the unraveling of the Strong marriage as Mary grows restless at the Waverly estate. Amidst the onset of the Civil War, Mary begins an affair with Peter's brother, Edward, w
 THE UNRAVELING OF THE STRONG MARRIAGE Colleague Barbara Weisberg. Weisberg details the unraveling of the Strong marriage as Mary grows restless at the Waverly estate. Amidst the onset of the Civil War, Mary begins an affair with Peter's brother, Edward, who is grieving his own wife. The segment ends tragically with the death of Mary's young daughter. NUMBER 6
7m Dec 22, 2025
7m
S8 Ep225: THE MARRIAGE OF PETER STRONG AND MARY STEVENS Colleague Barbara Weisberg. Weisberg introduces the marriage of Peter Strong and Mary Stevens, scions of wealthy New York families. Despite a storybook beginning, they move to Peter's mother's estate in Queens
THE MARRIAGE OF PETER STRONG AND MARY STEVENS Colleague Barbara Weisberg. Weisbergintroduces the marriage of Peter Strong and Mary Stevens, scions of wealthy New York families. Despite a storybook beginning, they move to Peter's mother's estate in Queens to secure his inheritance. This arrangement isolates Mary, who must live among her in-laws rather than in her own home. NUMBER 5
11m Dec 22, 2025
11m
S8 Ep225: MANIFEST DESTINY, FEMINISM, AND RACIAL COMPLEXITIES Colleague Alan Taylor. Taylor contrasts Jane McManus Cazneau, who coined "Manifest Destiny" and sought to expand slavery southward, with Jane Grey Swisshelm, a feminist abolitionist. He highlights the er
MANIFEST DESTINY, FEMINISM, AND RACIAL COMPLEXITIES Colleague Alan Taylor. Taylor contrasts Jane McManus Cazneau, who coined "Manifest Destiny" and sought to expand slavery southward, with Jane Grey Swisshelm, a feminist abolitionist. He highlights the era's racial complexities, noting that while Swisshelm opposed slavery, she vehemently advocated for the extermination of Native Americans in Mi...
5m Dec 22, 2025
5m
S8 Ep225: MEXICO'S CIVIL WAR AND THE MCLANE-OCAMPO TREATY Colleague Alan Taylor. Taylor describes the brutal civil war in Mexico between Conservatives and Liberals led by Melchor Ocampo, who sought to reduce Church power. To fund this war, Ocampo negotiated the McL
MEXICO'S CIVIL WAR AND THE MCLANE-OCAMPO TREATY Colleague Alan Taylor. Taylor describes the brutal civil war in Mexico between Conservatives and Liberals led by Melchor Ocampo, who sought to reduce Churchpower. To fund this war, Ocampo negotiated the McLane-Ocampo Treaty, offering the US transit corridors across Mexico for money, though the US Senate ultimately rejected it. NUMBER 3
14m Dec 22, 2025
14m
S8 Ep225: THE 1850s POLITICAL BREAKDOWN AND THE ROAD TO FORT SUMTER Colleague Alan Taylor. Taylor analyzes the 1850s political breakdown, from John C. Calhoun's defense of states' rights to Stephen Douglas's disastrous Kansas-Nebraska Act. He explains that while ra
THE 1850s POLITICAL BREAKDOWN AND THE ROAD TO FORT SUMTER Colleague Alan Taylor. Tayloranalyzes the 1850s political breakdown, from John C. Calhoun's defense of states' rights to Stephen Douglas'sdisastrous Kansas-Nebraska Act. He explains that while radicals like John Brown embraced violence, the Northernmajority prioritized preserving the Union over abolition, hoping to contain rather than en...
6m Dec 22, 2025
6m
S8 Ep225: THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, TUBMAN, AND DIVERGENT ABOLITIONIST PATHS Colleague Alan Taylor. Taylor discusses the Underground Railroad's informal network and Harriet Tubman's repeated risks to rescue enslaved people. He contrasts Frederick Douglass's integra
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, TUBMAN, AND DIVERGENT ABOLITIONIST PATHS Colleague Alan Taylor. Taylor discusses the Underground Railroad's informal network and Harriet Tubman's repeated risks to rescue enslaved people. He contrasts Frederick Douglass's integrationist, political approach with Martin Delany's black nationalist separatism. Additionally, he notes how Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's ...
12m Dec 22, 2025
12m
S8 Ep224: cTRADE SEMINARS, HEALTH INSPECTIONS, AND A PROPER DESK Colleague Oliver Darkshire. The guest describes attending a trade seminar in York, noting that booksellers are typically reclusive rather than social. He recounts a health and safety inspection that l
TRADE SEMINARS, HEALTH INSPECTIONS, AND A PROPER DESK Colleague Oliver Darkshire. The guest describes attending a trade seminar in York, noting that booksellers are typically reclusive rather than social. He recounts a health and safety inspection that left the official in a "fugue state" due to the shop's conditions. Finally, Oliver celebrates eventually receiving a desk he fits under. NUMBER ...
5m Dec 21, 2025
5m
S8 Ep224: SMOGS, DRACULAS, AND THE SHOP'S RESIDENT GHOST Colleague Oliver Darkshire. Oliver categorizes customers, such as "Smogs" seeking treasures and "Draculas" obsessed with specific themes. He discusses book runners, discovering moldy copies of Edwin Drood, an
SMOGS, DRACULAS, AND THE SHOP'S RESIDENT GHOST Colleague Oliver Darkshire. Oliver categorizes customers, such as "Smogs" seeking treasures and "Draculas" obsessed with specific themes. He discusses book runners, discovering moldy copies of Edwin Drood, and surviving government apprenticeship inspections. Additionally, he recounts shadowing thieves and the shop's ghost, a former owner killed by ...
17m Dec 21, 2025
17m
S8 Ep224: APPRENTICESHIP AT HENRY SOTHERAN'S ANTIQUARIAN BOOKSHOP Colleague Oliver Darkshire. Darkshire describes his apprenticeship at Henry Sotheran's, noting the shop's silent atmosphere and his odd interview regarding trombone playing. He details the "higgledy-
APPRENTICESHIP AT HENRY SOTHERAN'S ANTIQUARIAN BOOKSHOP Colleague Oliver Darkshire. Darkshire describes his apprenticeship at Henry Sotheran's, noting the shop's silent atmosphere and his odd interview regarding trombone playing. He details the "higgledy-piggledy" layout where buildings merge and his assignment to a tiny desk, suitable for a "Victorian gentle woman," positioned as the "first li...
9m Dec 21, 2025
9m
S8 Ep224: ONCE UPON A TOME: A MISSION TO EVALUATE A REMOTE LIBRARY Colleague Oliver Darkshire. Guest Oliver Darkshire discusses his memoir, Once Upon a Tome, recounting a "mission" to a remote house to evaluate a library. After a difficult trek through woods, he di
ONCE UPON A TOME: A MISSION TO EVALUATE A REMOTE LIBRARY Colleague Oliver Darkshire. Guest Oliver Darkshire discusses his memoir, Once Upon a Tome, recounting a "mission" to a remote house to evaluate a library. After a difficult trek through woods, he discovered moldy French texts he couldn't read and sinister spiritual works on exorcism. He also introduces Sotheran's hidden London location. N...
9m Dec 21, 2025
9m
S8 Ep223: AUSTRALIA'S SUMMER WEATHER FORECAST AND CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS Colleague Jeremy Zakis. Jeremy Zakis reports that while New South Wales is currently experiencing stormy weather, the Bureau of Meteorology predicts a catastrophically hot summer influenced by s
AUSTRALIA'S SUMMER WEATHER FORECAST AND CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS Colleague Jeremy Zakis. Jeremy Zakis reports that while New South Wales is currently experiencing stormy weather, the Bureau of Meteorology predicts a catastrophically hot summer influenced by stratospheric warming over Antarctica. Despite the heat, Australians maintain Christmas traditions involving outdoor barbecues, street cricket,...
13m Dec 21, 2025
13m
S8 Ep222: AUSTRALIA DOMINATES ENGLAND IN THE ASHES CRICKET SERIES Colleague Jeremy Zakis. Zakis analyzes the Ashes series, noting England's poor performance and failure to execute their aggressive "Bazball" strategy effectively. Conversely, Australia's consistent,
AUSTRALIA DOMINATES ENGLAND IN THE ASHES CRICKET SERIES Colleague Jeremy Zakis. Zakisanalyzes the Ashes series, noting England's poor performance and failure to execute their aggressive "Bazball" strategy effectively. Conversely, Australia's consistent, conservative playing style has fatigued the English team, leading to early victories. Captain Pat Cummins has returned to the field as the fina...
10m Dec 21, 2025
10m
S8 Ep222: DALLAS MEETS A SLEEPY LIZARD; DESTRUCTIVE COCKATOOS RETURN Colleague Jeremy Zakis. Zakis describes a surprisingly friendly encounter between his dog, Dallas, and a "sleepy lizard," a reptile known to bite hard when threatened. Meanwhile, flocks of cockato
DALLAS MEETS A SLEEPY LIZARD; DESTRUCTIVE COCKATOOS RETURN Colleague Jeremy Zakis. Zakis describes a surprisingly friendly encounter between his dog, Dallas, and a "sleepy lizard," a reptile known to bite hard when threatened. Meanwhile, flocks of cockatoos have returned to the neighborhood, causing significant damage by stripping pine trees and destroying a neighbor's roof, earning a reputatio...
7m Dec 21, 2025
7m
S8 Ep222: VENOMOUS SNAKES ON BEACHES AND A KOALA RESCUE Colleague Jeremy Zakis. Due to extreme heat and population growth, Eastern Brown snakes are appearing in unusual locations, such as inside surfers' bags on sandy beaches. Zakis also recounts a heartwarming sto
VENOMOUS SNAKES ON BEACHES AND A KOALA RESCUE Colleague Jeremy Zakis. Due to extreme heat and population growth, Eastern Brown snakes are appearing in unusual locations, such as inside surfers' bags on sandy beaches. Zakis also recounts a heartwarming story from Brisbane where a bus driver rescued a distressed koala from heavy traffic, transporting it to safety.
12m Dec 21, 2025
12m
S8 Ep221: ELECTION NIGHT LANDSLIDE AND POLITICAL REALIGNMENT Colleague David Pietrusza. On election night, early returns from Connecticut signaled a massive victory for Roosevelt, contradicting the predictions of the Literary Digest straw poll. Roosevelt won a hist
 ELECTION NIGHT LANDSLIDE AND POLITICAL REALIGNMENT Colleague David Pietrusza. On election night, early returns from Connecticut signaled a massive victory for Roosevelt, contradicting the predictions of the Literary Digest straw poll. Roosevelt won a historic landslide, capturing 46 states and sweeping huge Democraticmajorities into Congress. This victory marked a permanent political realignme...
5m Dec 21, 2025
5m
S8 Ep221: THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: CLASS WARFARE AND THE BLACK VOTE Colleague David Pietrusza. Alf Landon proved a poor campaigner, taking long vacations and delivering ineffective radio speeches. Conversely, Eleanor Roosevelt became a powerful surrogate, campaigning fo
THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: CLASS WARFARE AND THE BLACK VOTE Colleague David Pietrusza. Alf Landonproved a poor campaigner, taking long vacations and delivering ineffective radio speeches. Conversely, Eleanor Roosevelt became a powerful surrogate, campaigning for the black vote in the North, even as Franklin refused to support anti-lynching laws to appease Southern Democrats. The campaign climaxed with...
16m Dec 21, 2025
16m
S8 Ep221: THE REPUBLICAN FIELD AND THE SELECTION OF ALF LANDON Colleague David Pietrusza. The Republican Party sought a candidate to challenge Roosevelt, dismissing a return of Herbert Hoover and bypassing isolationist William Borah. They settled on Kansas Governor
THE REPUBLICAN FIELD AND THE SELECTION OF ALF LANDON Colleague David Pietrusza. The Republican Party sought a candidate to challenge Roosevelt, dismissing a return of Herbert Hoover and bypassing isolationist William Borah. They settled on Kansas Governor Alf Landon, known as the "Kansas Coolidge," a progressive Republican who had balanced his state's budget. Despite Landon being a lackluster s...
9m Dec 21, 2025
9m
S8 Ep221: THE POWER AND DECLINE OF WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST Colleague David Pietrusza. Media magnate William Randolph Hearst, who controlled a vast empire of newspapers and radio stations, shifted from a Roosevelt supporter in 1932 to a fierce critic by 1936. Hearst
THE POWER AND DECLINE OF WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST Colleague David Pietrusza. Media magnate William Randolph Hearst, who controlled a vast empire of newspapers and radio stations, shifted from a Rooseveltsupporter in 1932 to a fierce critic by 1936. Hearst's reputation suffered after a controversial meeting with Adolf Hitler, which he attempted to downplay, but which accelerated his decline in po...
9m Dec 21, 2025
9m
S8 Ep221: MANAGING THE LEFT: SOCIALISTS, COMMUNISTS, AND THE POPULAR FRONT Colleague David Pietrusza. Roosevelt contended with established leftist parties, including the Socialists led by Norman Thomas and the Communist Party USA under Earl Browder. While the Socia
MANAGING THE LEFT: SOCIALISTS, COMMUNISTS, AND THE POPULAR FRONT Colleague David Pietrusza. Roosevelt contended with established leftist parties, including the Socialists led by Norman Thomas and the Communist Party USA under Earl Browder. While the Socialists appealed to urban intellectuals, the Communists, following Stalin's "popular front" strategy against Hitler, tacitly supported Roosevelt...
7m Dec 21, 2025
7m
S8 Ep221: THE TOWNSEND PLAN, FATHER COUGHLIN, AND THE THIRD PARTY THREAT Colleague David Pietrusza. Dr. Francis Townsend's popular plan for old-age pensions pressured Roosevelt, who disliked "the dole," into creating Social Security. Concurrently, Father Charles Co
THE TOWNSEND PLAN, FATHER COUGHLIN, AND THE THIRD PARTY THREAT Colleague David Pietrusza. Dr. Francis Townsend's popular plan for old-age pensions pressured Roosevelt, who disliked "the dole," into creating Social Security. Concurrently, Father Charles Coughlin, the influential "Radio Priest," turned against Roosevelt after feeling used and ignored, specifically following a meeting at Hyde Park...
14m Dec 21, 2025
14m
S8 Ep221: POPULIST THREATS FROM THE SOUTH: HUEY LONG AND THE TALMADGES Colleague David Pietrusza. Roosevelt faced significant challenges from Southern populists who threatened to split his support in the solid South. The most dangerous was Huey Long of Louisiana, w
POPULIST THREATS FROM THE SOUTH: HUEY LONG AND THE TALMADGES Colleague David Pietrusza. Roosevelt faced significant challenges from Southern populists who threatened to split his support in the solid South. The most dangerous was Huey Long of Louisiana, whose left-wing "Share Our Wealth" program promised massive redistribution of assets. Long planned to siphon votes in 1936 to ensure a Republic...
8m Dec 21, 2025
8m