Long Story Short
18 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 year ago -Drawn together by a shared love of obscure history and vulgar one-upmanship, new-parents Kris and Leah explore the unsung stories of humankind in rip-roaring, commute-sized bites.
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Episodes
016 - The Afterbirth of a Revolution, Part Two
March 26, 2023 19:27 - 2 hours - 126 MBThe finale of a sixteen-part series about twentieth-century Romania, this episode explores the debauched presidency of Romania's final autocrat, the Trump-analogous Traian Băsescu, the restoration of confidence and economy alike under the administration of former schoolteacher Klaus Johannis, and the present issues facing the country, most notably being a border crisis, a NATO bid, and the looming threat of Russian invasion. Series: Ceaușescu's Downfall (16/16) Music: "Tú Serás Mi Baby" by...
015 - The Afterbirth of a Revolution, Part One
January 21, 2023 06:12 - 3 hours - 212 MBThe fifteenth of a sixteen-part series about twentieth-century Romania, this episode explores the immediate chaos following the execution of the Ceaușescus - a chaos likely orchestrated by provisional president Ion Iliescu in order to legitimatize his seizure of the throne - and a handful of similarly-corrupt figures who colluded with the international elite to surreptitiously privatize Romania's state industries during her period of supposed-liberalization and reconstruction. Series: Ceauș...
014 - High Stakes at Târgoviște, Part Two
September 12, 2022 00:27 - 4 hours - 231 MBThe fourteenth of a sixteen-part series about twentieth-century Romania, this episode explores the life of Vlad Dracula, "the Impaler", a clever and relentless man of gruesome legend; his triple-crossing of two heavyweights of consequence - the Hungarian Catholic John Hunyadi, AKA the "White Knight of Wallachia", and the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, conqueror of Constantinople; and the long-awaited trial and execution of deposed despots Nicolae and Elena Ceaușescu. Series: Ceaușescu's Downfall...
013 - High Stakes at Târgoviște, Part One
March 25, 2022 01:34 - 2 hours - 146 MBThe thirteenth of a sixteen-part series about twentieth-century Romania, this episode explores Nicolae Ceaușescu's final speech and the revolution that rose partway through it: from turbulence in a reluctant crowd to a night of fear and fighting, and the mid-morn insurrection that forced their dotard dictator into literally taking flight to save his life — if only for the meanwhile... Series: Ceaușescu's Downfall (13/16) Guest: Jake "Man Dog" Nutting. Music: "Cohen's Masterpiece" by Garry...
One-Shot #002 - The Princess Stinkmess
January 12, 2022 21:29 - 1 hour - 94.8 MBIn this one-shot episode of Long Story Short, Kris and Leah explore the word “fart” and its synonyms, notable farts of the animal kingdom, the chemical curiosities of a fart, and the many different ways one could hide or cherish a fart. Series: One-Shots, Episode 002 Outro: "Toxic Coffee" by Aesop Rock x Britney Spears mashup (YouTube) Mentioned: Australian fart-bullying case; Herring fishy fart-talk; Whale poonado; OSHA on Hydrogen-Sulfide; Uranus is full of farts; Vsauce on human holes;...
012 - A Great Upheaval, Part Two
December 31, 2021 01:10 - 2 hours - 129 MBThe twelfth of a sixteen-part series about twentieth-century Romania, this episode explores the life of rocketry pioneer Hermann Oberth, Silviu Brucan's dissenting "Letter of the Six", and the Transylvanian pastor László Tőkés, whose secret interview for Canadian television ultimately led to Ceaușescu's downfall. Series: Ceaușescu's Downfall (12/16) Outro: "Ketamine" by Versatile (YouTube) Special guests: visiting us from the faraway City of Angels are voice-over artist Alex a.k.a. Maveri...
011 - A Great Upheaval, Part One
December 12, 2021 21:41 - 2 hours - 135 MBThe eleventh of a sixteen-part series about twentieth-century Romania, this episode explores the construction of Ceaușescu's absolutely-massive palace, the dissent of writer Paul Goma, the defection of Securitate chief Jon Mihai Pacepa, the Jiu Valley miners' strike, and the slow collapse of the state economy. Series: Ceaușescu's Downfall (11/16) Outro: "On Point" by Old Man Saxon (YouTube)
010 - Every Party Needs a Pooper and That’s Why We Invited Ceaușescu, Part Two
November 08, 2021 17:40 - 2 hours - 143 MBThe tenth of a sixteen-part series about twentieth-century Romania, this episode explores the rise of "honorary scientist" Elena Ceaușescu, the lives of those rascally Ceaușescu Kids, Nicolae's first efforts as "Conducător 2.0", and a flashback to Trajan's Bridge, as well as the etymologies of Romania and the Romani. Series: Ceaușescu's Downfall (10/16) Outro: "The Power of Music (Old Spice)" by melodysheep (YouTube, Bandcamp) Further reading on nomadic magic-peoples: "Jedis, Pastafarians...
009 - Every Party Needs a Pooper and That’s Why We Invited Ceaușescu, Part One
June 11, 2021 23:32 - 1 hour - 108 MBThe ninth of a sixteen-part series about twentieth-century Romania, this episode explores the baby-boom of Decree 770 and the distressing consequences of natalism, Romania's lovely-but-brief affair with Westernization, and the influence that North Korea and China bore on Ceaușescu's gestating cult of personality. Series: Ceaușescu's Downfall (9/16) Outro: the ProleteR remix of Frank Sinatra's "That's Life." Further reading on the children of Bucharest's underground: Vice, National Geograp...
008 - Now THAT's What I Call Communism, Part Two
March 30, 2021 20:29 - 1 hour - 80.2 MBThe eighth of a sixteen-part series about twentieth-century Romania, this episode explores the character arc of the O.G. "Iron Lady," Ana Pauker, the isolationist endeavors of the despot Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej, and the last-minute compromise that put Nicolae Ceaușescu in control of Soviet Romania. Series: Ceaușescu's Downfall (8/16) Recommended: from Messy Nessy, What History Didn’t Tell Us about the Nazi “Super Baby” Breeding Program (2017).
007 - Now THAT's What I Call Communism, Part One
February 18, 2021 00:20 - 1 hour - 99 MBThe seventh of a sixteen-part series about twentieth-century Romania, this episode explores the dawn of Soviet leadership under the blockhead brute Petru Groza, the dethronement of King Michael, the gruesome Pitești Experiments, and the origins of Jack Lemmon-lookalike Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej and his dog-brained protégé, Nicolae Ceaușescu. Series: Ceaușescu's Downfall (7/16)
One-Shot #001 - An Arse Full of Farts
December 19, 2020 02:42 - 1 hour - 73.5 MBIn this one-shot episode of Long Story Short, Kris and Leah explore the science behind flatulence, the foods that promote it, and the anatomy of the anus, as well as the origins of the apple and the private letters of author James Joyce. Series: One-Shots, Episode 001
006 - Fascism's Dirty Hiccup, Part Two
October 09, 2020 14:33 - 1 hour - 88.8 MBThe sixth of a sixteen-part series about twentieth-century Romania, this episode explores the blunders and horrors of the Odessa Campaign, the life of Soviet sniper Lyudmila Pavlichenko, and the last days of dictator Ion Antonescu. Series: Ceaușescu's Downfall (6/16) Recommended: from The Washington Post, If Trump had been in charge during World War II, this column would be in German, by Max Boot. Music credits: "The Black Waltz," Scott Buckley; a repetitive version of "All Star" by Sma...
005 - Fascism's Dirty Hiccup, Part One
August 18, 2020 23:03 - 1 hour - 89.4 MBThe fifth of a sixteen-part series about twentieth-century Romania, this episode explores the driving tension between co-rulers Ion Antonescu and Horia Sima, the intervention of one Adolf Hitler, and a divided nation's steep careen into genocide. Series: Ceaușescu's Downfall (5/16)
004 - Carol at the Dawn of War, Part Two
July 15, 2020 23:30 - 1 hour - 72 MBThe fourth of a sixteen-part series about twentieth-century Romania, this episode explores the outbreak of World War II, Romania's unintentional alignment with the Axis Powers, and King Carol Two's usurpation by the antisemite General Ion Antonescu. Series: Ceaușescu's Downfall (4/16) Recommended: from the New Yorker, Francis Fukuyama Postpones the End of History, and, for more on the poet Benjamin Fondane, see this 'Tears in the Fence' article. For all else, see OpenArticle.xyz.
003 - Carol at the Dawn of War, Part One
July 15, 2020 23:25 - 1 hour - 62.7 MBThe third of a sixteen-part series about twentieth-century Romania, this episode explores the noble perseverance of Prime Minister Armand Călinescu, the looming presence of Adolf Hitler over Romania's oil, and the Soviet-soiled lifeline extended by Turkey. Series: Ceaușescu's Downfall (3/16) Recommended: for those who like to read, OpenArticle.xyz.
002 - The Kings Of Romania, Part Two
July 15, 2020 23:20 - 1 hour - 65.9 MBThe second of a sixteen-part series about twentieth-century Romania, this episode explores Corny Codreanu's violent climb toward legitimizing his fascist faction (a period rich with assassinations), the interloping of Octavian "Goldfish" Goga's National Christian Party, and King Carol Two's desperate feint to conserve and consolidate power. Series: Ceaușescu's Downfall (2/16) Recommended: an article by Tobias Jones about fascism's resurgence in Italy, via the Guardian, and OpenArticle....
001 - The Kings Of Romania, Part One
July 15, 2020 23:15 - 1 hour - 75.4 MBThe first of a sixteen-part series about twentieth-century Romania, this episode explores the origins of Unified Romania, the early reign of the vain and blundering King Carol Two, and the rise of the ultranationalist Legionnaires, a faction of death-fetishists led by a charismatic so-called-prophet Corneliu "Corny" Codreanu. Series: Ceaușescu's Downfall (1/16) Recommended: for those who like to read, OpenArticle.xyz.