Historically Speaking Podcast artwork

Historically Speaking Podcast

51 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 12 ratings

Uncommon history with an unconventional pair. Join married hosts Rebecca Robbins (a Broadway actress) and Kim Kimmel (her college history instructor) as they delve into topics that run the historical gambit. A gifted storyteller, Kim taught history at the collegiate level for 29 years while as a student, Rebecca always sat in the front row of his Western Civilizations class soaking up every word he said. For the record, she made an A in his class. She went on to pursue a Broadway career (The Phantom of The Opera, A Tale of Two Cities) while he continued to teach at her alma mater (Curtis Institute of Music). Though you couldn't get more different than these two with their 23-year age difference, together they bring history to life with their unique perspectives, entertaining banter, and shared love of the past. Sometimes quirky, sometimes obscure, this is the kind of history you’ll actually want to remember. Now in our Second Season. New episodes bi-weekly on Wednesday mornings.

History Education history biography education american history european history world history military history politics religion society
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Episodes

Arthur: The Man and The Legend

August 25, 2022 04:00 - 31 minutes - 21.7 MB

Legend has it that there once was a King named Arthur who allegedly lived in the late 5th and early 6th centuries and who, with his many companions, successfully fought off numerous enemies in Britain. But was there actually an historical Arthur of real flesh and blood? The Arthurian stories are arguably the greatest legends in Western history, and here in our 50th Episode we explore how the fabled Arthur compares with the historical one. Books: De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae by Gildas...

The Dreyfus Affair

August 11, 2022 04:00 - 29 minutes - 20.7 MB

It was a political scandal that rocked France to its core and proved to be a watershed event for European antisemitism. A French officer, Alfred Dreyfus, was accused of passing military secrets to the Germans. He was found guilty by a military tribunal and sent to Devil’s Island, one of the most notorious penal colonies in the world. What happened next will shock and appall you as it did not only France but the entire world. Here in Episode 49, we explore just how far the French military wen...

Some of History's Greatest Imposters

July 28, 2022 04:00 - 38 minutes - 26.2 MB

There have been many impostors throughout history and in this 48th episode we deal with six of them, two related to English history and four related to Russian history. All at one time or another had many who believed in them (or at least tried to use them for advantage). All six went a long way to pulling off their ruse and we discuss many of the details in this episode. Episode Notes: Ivan IV (the Terrible) was Grand Prince of Moscow from 1533 to 1547 and Czar of Russia from 1547 to 1584...

Hannibal Barca: Rome's Most Dangerous Enemy

July 13, 2022 04:00 - 39 minutes - 26.9 MB

After a six-week hiatus, we’re back and with a fast-paced adventure story that rivals even the best of Hollywood. It’s the story of Hannibal Barca. When outnumbered by the Roman military two to one, this fearless Carthaginian general, complete with eye patch and riding atop a black stallion, defied all odds in one of the bloodiest battles in all of antiquity, thus becoming one of the greatest military commanders the world has ever known. Join us as we delve into the life and times of this ex...

Cheating The Hangman

June 01, 2022 04:00 - 34 minutes - 23.7 MB

Imagine being hung three times… unsuccessfully. That’s exactly what happened to Englishman, John “Babbacombe” Lee in 1885. Or in the case of Herman Göring, being slipped a cyanide pill just hours before you were scheduled to be hung. Or foiling your pursuers by killing yourself first and being laid out in full regalia upon their arrival. Here in Episode 46, we explore seven individuals who cheated the hangman one way or another. Books: Antony and Cleopatra by Adrian Goldsworthy Queen Eliz...

Caligula and The Julio-Claudian Dynasty

May 18, 2022 04:00 - 33 minutes - 23 MB

“Let them hate me, so they but fear me.” ~ Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (aka Caligula) Caligula, the third Julio-Claudian emperor of the great Roman Empire, was known as a cruel, erratic, sex-crazed and delusional tyrant. Not only did he decree that his horse was a Roman consul, but he also marched his troops all the way to the English Channel only to have them pick up seashells, and he’s also said to have committed incest with all three of his sisters. Was he a madman or a victim of an...

South Africa: A Brief History

May 04, 2022 04:00 - 46 minutes - 31.8 MB

South Africa has a fascinating, complex, and often tragic history. From the migration of the Bantu to the settlements by the Dutch and British; from the Boar Wars to the fight to abolish apartheid, here in Episode 44, we explore the history of this geologically and culturally rich nation - a nation that is still striving to reach its full potential.  Books: A History of South Africa by Frank Welsh Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela Hero of The Empire by Candice Millard Cry, The Belo...

The Counter Reformation

April 20, 2022 04:00 - 35 minutes - 24.3 MB

What do Georgetown University, St. Joseph’s University, and Loyola University have in common (besides basketball)? They were all founded by the Jesuits, and the Jesuit order of the Catholic Church was highly instrumental in the phenomenon known as the Counter Reformation. Once Luther, Calvin and others challenged the authority and teachings of the Catholic Church, the Church had no choice but to respond to these accusations and alternative beliefs. Here in Episode 43, we dive into the Counte...

Martin Luther & The Protestant Reformation

March 30, 2022 01:00 - 46 minutes - 31.9 MB

The Protestant Reformation was one of the single greatest events in the history of Western Civilization. Led by Martin Luther, this protestation against the Catholic Church altered all of Western history. Here in Episode 42, we take a closer look at this exceptional, though conflicted man, as well as other early protestant reformers like Ulrich Zwingli and the formidable John Calvin, who together rocked the very foundation of western Europe and even led to the founding of America itself. Bo...

The Crimean War

March 16, 2022 04:00 - 33 minutes - 23 MB

"Into the valley of death rode the six hundred." Here in Episode 41, we take a closer look at the events that inspired Lord Alfred Tennyson to write those words in his epic poem "The Charge of the Light Brigade". We also explore both the long-term and short-term causes of the Crimean War and why it was a "first" in many areas of modern warfare, interrupting as it did a largely peaceful 19th century Europe between 1815-1914.  Episode Edit: Just to be clear, the antagonists in the Crimean Wa...

Lawrence of Arabia

March 02, 2022 05:00 - 33 minutes - 23.4 MB

Lawrence of Arabia is the stuff of legend. There have been numerous books written and films made about him, but who was T.E. Lawrence actually? What made this man with so many talents, who was also immensely brave and resourceful, act and think as he did? Our 40th Episode explores some of the possible reasons.  Books: Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T.E. Lawrence Lawrence of Arabia: The Authorized Biography of T.E. Lawrence by Jeremy Wilson T.E. Lawrence by His Friends edited by Arnold Lawren...

The Black Death

February 09, 2022 05:00 - 27 minutes - 19.2 MB

Many diseases throughout history have wiped out entire families, villages or even towns, but nothing even comes close to the death and destruction that would become known as the Black Death. It made periodic appearances throughout the centuries, dying out for some and reemerging for others. Today, modern medicine can cure this disease, but even so, hundreds of people still die from this disease every year, even in America. So, what is it and how did it shape world history? We cover all that ...

The Scopes Monkey Trial

January 26, 2022 05:00 - 36 minutes - 25 MB

Imagine sitting in a 97-degree court room in the middle of July while you’re being prosecuted for a crime you’re not even sure you committed. This is exactly the situation twenty-four-year-old John T. Scopes found himself in during the summer of 1925. Almost overnight this trial became a national sensation and put the small town of Dayton, Tennessee on the map. It would involve two of the most famous attorneys of the day going head-to-head over a newly passed Tennessee State law called the B...

Napoleon: Part II

January 05, 2022 05:00 - 41 minutes - 28.5 MB

Napoleon, was he hero or villain? An enlightened genius or supreme egotist? Superb diplomat or an immoral usurper? All of the above? Continuing with Part II of our Napoleon series, we take a closer look into his greatest achievements as well as his greatest mistakes. From his coronation as Emperor at Notre-Dame in 1804 to his loss at Waterloo in 1815, this man’s story is seemingly inexhaustible. Has the world ever seen his equal either before or since? We’ll leave that for you to decide. No...

Napoleon: Part I

December 22, 2021 05:00 - 36 minutes - 24.8 MB

Are great leaders made or just born that way? It seems that in the case of Napoleon, he truly was born to lead. It is said that his troops would have followed him into the gates of hell. But how good or bad was he and what is his legacy? Here in Episode 36, we explore these questions and take a closer look into the early life of Napoleon from his upbringing on the island of Corsica through his early victories in Italy and elsewhere as well as his marriage to Josephine. Get ready because we p...

Staying Alive

December 08, 2021 05:00 - 37 minutes - 25.7 MB

“A leader is a dealer in hope.” —Napoleon Bonaparte Here in Episode 35, we take a closer look at two perhaps lesser-known great leaders in history. When all hope was lost and the odds were stacked against them, they defied all probability and led their men safely home. These are two of the most fascinating adventure stories ever told. Sir Ernest Shackleton and Xenophon did the extraordinary and both lived to tell their tales. Episode Notes: Shackleton's final Antarctic expedition of 1921-...

Hard to Kill

November 24, 2021 05:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MB

There are a handful of people in history who seem to have had an uncanny ability to escape death. Whether evading a lone assassin, dodging friendly fire during the heat of battle, or simply defying the laws of nature by smoking over 200 cigarettes a day, these four historical figures featured in Episode 34 proved they were all Hard to Kill. Books: The Reign of Elizabeth by J.B. Black Washington: The Indispensable Man by James Thomas Flexner  King Zog: Self-Made Monarch of Albania by Jame...

The Restoration & Charles II

November 03, 2021 04:00 - 45 minutes - 31.3 MB

The Restoration period is known as probably the most bawdy era in English history. And who was it that ushered in this remarkable age? Why, the Merry Monarch himself, Charles II. In addition to having a great fondness for the ladies and the good life, Charles had many remarkable qualities. Here in our first episode of Season 2, we take a closer look at this loveable rogue and the times in which he lived. Episode Edits: Charles had a stroke not months before his death but only about a week ...

The Salem Witch Trials

October 20, 2021 04:00 - 35 minutes - 24.3 MB

The years 1692-1693 were some of the darkest times in American history. They were the years when mass hysteria ruled the land and young girls were inexplicably stricken with fits of screaming, barking, shaking, and crying. It was a group of roughly 9 girls in Salem Village, Massachusetts, who were taken at their fantastical word of being physically tormented by certain members of their own village which eventually led to over 200 people being accused of witchcraft. Nineteen of those accused ...

Jack The Ripper

October 06, 2021 04:00 - 39 minutes - 26.9 MB

During the late summer and fall of 1888, a district in East London was being terrorized by an unknown Victorian serial killer. In a September 25th letter addressed to the Central News Agency, the yet to be identified murderer boasted of his recent killings and signed the letter “Jack the Ripper”. That name has endured for over 133 years, and the case remains open to this day. Why are we still fascinated by this case? With over 100 suspects, why was it never solved? Here in Episode 31, we wal...

A Handful of Holiday Histories

September 22, 2021 04:00 - 36 minutes - 25.4 MB

Everyone has their favorite holiday, but do you know how your favorite holiday came into being? The answers may surprise you. For instance, in 12th century England, New Year’s Day was celebrated on March 25th, but the ancient Celts celebrated their New Year (Sumhain) on November 1st. So why do we now celebrate the New Year on January 1st? And why do we now use the Gregorian Calendar as opposed to the Julian Calendar? Also, did the Druids really use human sacrifices during their celebrations?...

Macbeth: Fact or Fiction?

September 08, 2021 04:00 - 31 minutes - 21.9 MB

Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a fascinating figure- resourceful, brave, insightful, reflective, but it’s his inordinate ambition that leads to his downfall. Can the same be said of Scotland’s real Macbeth? Here in Episode 29, we unpack the characters in Shakespeare’s play Macbeth alongside their historical (or mythical) counterparts including Banquo, Malcolm, McDuff, even the witches. We also let you in on a few theatre traditions involving “The Scottish Play” as well as why you can never say the...

Joan of Arc

August 25, 2021 04:00 - 31 minutes - 21.3 MB

Almost six centuries have come and gone and we’re still talking about an illiterate peasant girl who only lived to be nineteen years old. Why? Not only did she inspire her nation by leading thousands of men into battle, but she also ushered in the end of the Hundred’s Year War thus saving her nation of France from English rule. Was she divinely inspired or was she a schizophrenic who heard the voices of martyred saints in her head? We may never know the answer to that question, but here in E...

Cuba: A Brief History

August 11, 2021 04:00 - 43 minutes - 29.7 MB

In October of 1492, Christopher Columbus landed on an island in the Caribbean Sea and christened it “Juana” in honor of Prince Don Juan, son of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. From there, Cuba would remain under Spanish rule for over 400 years. Eventually, the United States would help the Cuban people overthrow their colonial rulers just as America had done a century before. Thus began a long and contentious relationship between America and Cuba. Ironically, it was America who also assisted...

Famous Spies: The Male Edition

July 28, 2021 04:00 - 48 minutes - 33.1 MB

Spy: (noun) “A person employed by one nation to secretly convey classified information of strategic importance to another nation.” When someone says the word spy, the image that pops into most people’s minds is James Bond (for us here at Historically Speaking that would be Sean Connery, the original,) but the father of modern-day espionage can be traced all the way back to the court of Queen Elizabeth I. But no matter what century you are playing your deadly game, spying often times isn’t as...

Famous Spies: The Female Edition

July 14, 2021 04:00 - 38 minutes - 26.3 MB

Imagine being the most renowned woman in the world only to face a French firing squad for simply repeating the latest gossip, or having every one of your toenails ripped out one by one at the hands of a demonic Nazi interrogator, or filing down your own teeth in order to change your appearance so you could operate as a harmless old woman and pass Allied secrets right under the Nazis’ noses. Hard to imagine, right? Well, the trio of women featured in Episode 25 did exactly that and more. Thre...

Marxism: Explained From An Historical Perspective

June 30, 2021 04:00 - 36 minutes - 25 MB

You may have heard the phrase, “Marxism in theory has a lot of merit,” or “True Marxism has never really been tried.” Well, here in Episode 24, we break it all down as we explore the 6 principals of Marxism laid out by Karl Marx himself. We also delve into the life of Karl Marx along with his friend and co-author of the Communist Manifesto, Friedrich Engels, and take a closer look at the rise of the Frankfurt School and Critical Theory. Get ready, we packed a lot into this 36-minute episode....

The Underrated Calvin Coolidge

June 16, 2021 04:00 - 38 minutes - 26.3 MB

“Keep Cool with Coolidge” was one of the presidential campaign slogans for the 1924 election. What was so cool about Coolidge? Here in Episode 23, we give you our reasons why Calvin Coolidge gets our vote for the most underrated president in American history. Here’s a few teasers – he was the first president to appoint a woman to the Federal Judiciary, he extended American citizenship to Native Americans, he proposed the first federal anti-lynching laws, he was the last president to pay down...

Korea: The Forgotten War

June 02, 2021 05:00 - 41 minutes - 28.7 MB

The Korean War is the fifth most deadly war in American history, and it ranks among the top ten of any war in human history for the most casualties. So why is it called the Forgotten War? Technically, it wasn’t a war at all, but rather a U.N. “police action” which involved 1.8 million American soldiers and lasted from 1950-1953. Officially, the Korean War never ended, but rather an armistice was signed in 1953 ensuring a complete cessation of hostilities. Today, the only thing standing betwe...

The New Deal - America's Original Bailout Plan

May 19, 2021 04:00 - 35 minutes - 24.3 MB

In 1932, a newly minted phrase was on the lips of most Americans… “The New Deal.” It was first uttered by Franklin D. Roosevelt to an audience in Chicago during his acceptance speech for the Democratic nomination for President. It would soon become an American phenomenon and the largest governmental spending plan to date. Its intention – to put Americans back to work and revive the economy following a depression unleashed by the stock market crash of 1929. It was hailed as a huge success and...

How Hitler Happened - Part II

April 28, 2021 04:00 - 48 minutes - 33.5 MB

Economic depression, social unrest, a general discontent among the population – these are just a few of the reasons why Hitler happened. Charisma, personal drive, and bigger than life ideas for a better future for the country and the world at large – these are just a few of the reasons why it was Hitler. They said his eyes could draw you in, his persona was magnetic, and when he promised you something, you believed him. Instead of using his innate talents for good, Hitler chose to use them f...

How Hitler Happened - Part I

April 14, 2021 04:00 - 38 minutes - 26.2 MB

Lately, there have been headlines and comments among celebrities, news commentators and politicians to the effect – “This is how Hitler got into power!” or “This is why Nazism took over Germany!” So where is the truth? Are there analogies to be made between modern day America and the rise of Nazism? Can socialism and democracy co-exist? Is the term democratic socialist an oxymoron? Get ready for a deep dive into some cold, hard historical facts as we explore the answers to these difficult qu...

Tet Offensive: The Vietnam Turning Point

March 31, 2021 04:00 - 48 minutes - 33.6 MB

Tet: a word which has two very different meanings depending on who you ask. To the Vietnamese, it means the festival celebrating the Lunar New Year. To the American GI, it means hell and the turning point for America in the Vietnam War. On January 31, 1968, over 100 cities and villages in south Vietnam were attacked by the communist Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese People’s Army of Vietnam. By the end of 1968, over 14,000 American soldiers were dead as well as hundreds of thousands of Viet...

The OSS

March 17, 2021 04:00 - 38 minutes - 26.6 MB

What do John Ford, Moe Berg, Julia Child and Nelson Eddy have in common? They all stepped away from their respective careers during WWII and joined a newly formed organization called The Office of Strategic Services a.k.a. the OSS. In short, they were spies for a group that was the forerunner to both the CIA and the Army’s Special Forces. From Julia’s special recipe for shark repellent, to John Ford’s undercover training films for secret agents, to Moe’s training of Slavic-American recruits ...

Controversial Supreme Court Decisions

March 03, 2021 05:00 - 37 minutes - 26 MB

The Supreme Court agrees to hear about 100-150 of the more than 7,000 cases that it is asked to review each year. Decisions made by the 9 Justices that sit on the Court are considered final… unless overturned by a subsequent decision. For many seeking justice, it is their last hope. From Dred Scott to Brown vs Board of Education to Obergefell vs Hodges, here in Episode 16, we take a look at a handful of Supreme Court decisions that, for better or worse, changed America.  Episode Edits Dred...

The Adams Family

February 17, 2021 05:00 - 33 minutes - 23.3 MB

Alcoholism, depression, suicide… you think you know the Adams family? There’s a few details about this family that you may not have heard in history class. Here in episode 15, we explore four generations of Adams from our second US President to the Pulitzer Prize-winning Henry Brooks Adams. With their extraordinary intellect and iron resolve, these men (and the women behind them) made immeasurable contributions not only to the founding of this country, but also to international relations and...

Presidential Powers: Pardons, Executive Orders, Proclamations, and Signing Statements

February 03, 2021 05:00 - 38 minutes - 26.8 MB

Do you know which president holds the record for presidential pardons? The answer may not be as clear cut as you might think. How about which president signed almost as many executive orders as all his predecessors combined? And just for the record, do you know which President implemented the most proclamations? Presidential powers are complex and fascinating; some are enumerated in the Constitution while some are not. Here in Episode 14, we take you on a whirlwind tour of the powers wielded...

Presidential Powers: Pardons, Executive Orders, Proclamations, and Signing Statements

February 03, 2021 05:00 - 38 minutes - 26.8 MB

Do you know which president holds the record for presidential pardons? The answer may not be as clear cut as you might think. How about which president signed almost as many executive orders as all his predecessors combined? And just for the record, do you know which President implemented the most proclamations? Presidential powers are complex and fascinating; some are enumerated in the Constitution while some are not. Here in Episode 14, we take you on a whirlwind tour of the powers wielded...

Teddy: The Maverick

January 20, 2021 05:00 - 40 minutes - 27.6 MB

Maverick: (noun) an unorthodox or independent minded person. Most people know him as our 26th president and the man who uttered the phrase, “Speak softly and carry a big stick,” but there’s far more to Theodore Roosevelt than meets the eye. From sickly, asthmatic child to conservationist, cowboy, boxer, explorer, author, orator, and perpetual adventure seeker, here in Episode 13, we take a closer look, not just at “President” Roosevelt, but the Renaissance man who stirred an entire nation to...

Kidnapped!

January 06, 2021 05:00 - 41 minutes - 28.6 MB

Don’t take candy from strangers! That phrase came into being in 1874 because little Charley Ross, age 4, took candy from two men in a horse-drawn carriage and was never seen again. The kidnapping case of Charles Lindbergh, Jr. took the entire nation by storm in 1932 and became known as the crime of the century leading to the execution of German immigrant, Bruno Richard Hauptman. Here in Episode 12, we take a closer look into these cases as well as three other high profile kidnapping cases. ...

Unexplained Historical Events

December 30, 2020 05:00 - 42 minutes - 29.1 MB

When a German Zeppelin burst into flames over Lakehurst, New Jersey, speculation began almost immediately that it was sabotage, but was it?  How is it possible for 5,000 men to simply disappear in a country the size of South Carolina with their only trace being a stone inscription dated 108 AD? Why would a captain and his crew abandon a perfectly sound ship that contained 6 months of food and supplies? These are some of the unexplained historical events that baffle historians to this day. He...

Everybody Loves a Winner

December 23, 2020 05:00 - 36 minutes - 25 MB

History is full of winners and losers, but rarely do you come across an individual who is a winner 100% of the time. Sometimes faced with insurmountable odds, these five military leaders always found a way to win. Whether facing Hannibal’s elephants in Zama, battling across the breadth of a river in Worcester or commencing a battle at 11pm to take their Ottoman enemies by surprise, these military geniuses of the Western world were the original action heroes not just of their time, but throug...

Sensational Marriages

December 16, 2020 05:00 - 42 minutes - 29.1 MB

Imagine being uninvited to perform at a presidential inauguration because of whom you just married or buying a baby carriage for an infant who, 21 years later, would become your spouse, or how about finding out the person you just married wasn’t actually divorced from their previous spouse. Without a doubt, history is full of sensational marriages and here, in episode 9, we explore a handful of them. Get ready, these are some unusual and fascinating stories.  Episode Edits:   Any backgroun...

Two Sides of The Same Coin

December 09, 2020 05:00 - 30 minutes - 20.7 MB

Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum was invented by one of Hollywood’s greatest beauties. An Associate Justice of the Minnesota State Supreme Court was also known by millions as a Purple People Eater. A record 11 Academy Awards were given to a film based on a book written by a Civil War general. Who were these people? In this episode, we explore 6 individuals who had surprising hidden talents that were wildly different from what they were ultimately known for. Episode Edits:  Alan Page playe...

Everyone Has Something to Hide

December 02, 2020 05:00 - 42 minutes - 29 MB

Warren G. Harding did what in a White House Closet? Who was FDR with when he died? JKF had how many women while he was president? These are just a few of the questions that get answered in this week’s episode as we delve into secrets that could have brought down political careers, administrations, and even entire governments (and some secrets that actually did!) This may be our best episode yet, and who doesn’t love an intriguing, salacious scandal or two?   Episode Edits:  John Profumo re...

Wanted For Treason: Plots and Rebellions in Early America

November 25, 2020 05:00 - 40 minutes - 27.8 MB

From the very founding of the United States to the Whisky Rebellion to John Brown’s raid at Harper’s Ferry, Americans have always had a voracious drive to fight for what they believe – even if that means treason. In the words of Benjamin Franklin, "We must all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." What galvanizes people to fight for their cause even if it means the hangman’s noose? Here we explore some of America’s earliest rebellions from Fries Rebellion over tax...

Spies Within: Alger Hiss and Julius & Ethel Rosenberg

November 18, 2020 05:00 - 39 minutes - 27.4 MB

Since its very inception, America has always had to be on the lookout for spies not just from foreign adversaries, but also from its own citizens. Alger Hiss, along with Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, all American citizens, were former members of the Communist Party (a party that still exists in America today.) They were all accused of passing American secrets to the U.S.S.R. in the 1940’s and were brought to trial in the early 1950’s. In this episode, we take a deep dive into what those three ...

Did They REALLY Say That?

November 11, 2020 06:00 - 39 minutes - 27.4 MB

You can find quotes in most places these days, on cards, shirts, magnets, hanging in offices or you may even have one hanging over your fire place. In this episode, we explore some of the most famous historical quotes from "Let them eat cake!" to "When going through hell, keep going." and we also do some fact checking as to whether the famous people they're attributed to actually said them.  We also take a look into the times and circumstances in which they may (or may not) have been said be...

Cleopatra: Did She Do It For Love or Country

November 04, 2020 05:00 - 31 minutes - 22 MB

Everyone knows the Hollywood Cleopatra, but what about the woman trying to preserve her family’s 275-year-old dynasty, the woman trying to keep Egypt safe from the ever-reaching grasp of Roman rule? Were her bedroom alliances with Caesar and Mark Anthony done out of love for these powerful Roman men or to save herself and her country? Would her first-born child by Caesar be strong enough to continue the Ptolemaic Dynasty and ally himself with Rome? This episode is jam packed with fascinating...

And The Winner Goes To… A look back at unusual Presidential elections in America’s history

October 28, 2020 04:00 - 34 minutes - 23.5 MB

If you think politics has never been as controversial as it is today, wait until you hear this episode. For example, in the 1876 election 20 electoral votes were in dispute, Tilden needed only one of those votes and Hayes needed all 20. Guess who became president? We cover 4 different types of elections from America’s past to try to shed some light on the possibilities that may be just around the corner.   Episode Edits:   * Bush won the 2000 election by 537 votes, not the 567 mentioned in ...