History Every Day

19/12/2020

In today's episode we take a critical look at Martin Luther, hero of the Protestant Reformation, and debunk some pervasive myths about this volatile character.

24/09/2020

In today's Throwback Thursday episode we wade into an event so misunderstood and intentionally misrepresented that almost everyone today accepts the falsehoods as fact. Let's correct that by taking an honest look at the Spanish Inquisition.

11/09/2020

Never forget.

In today's episode, I want to introduce you to a hero of the September 11th attacks who should never be forgotten: Rick Rescorla.

07/09/2020

The Alamo. The place and what happened there in 1836 is known around the world. In today's episode we'll separate the fact from the fiction of what you've heard over the years; I think there will be at least a few surprises.

04/09/2020

In today's episode we look at five essential books on Ernest Hemingway's time in Paris in the 1920s, a pivotal period in literary history.

02/09/2020

In today's episode we look at a myth that arose up after World War One which directly led to the rise of Hi**er and the N***s: the myth of the "stab in the back."

31/08/2020

In today's episode we're looking at some myths surrounding Russia's role in what they call The Great Patriotic War (and what the rest of the planet calls World War II).

29/08/2020

Today is Independent Bookstore Day across the United States, and today's episode looks at why our independent bookstores matter now more than ever (yes, for history lovers too). Ensuring they survive the current health and economic crisis is as important as the survival of any of our local small bus...

28/08/2020

An episode you can't refuse.

The Godfather is one of the greatest films ever made; it also, intentionally or not, totally shaped the way we see the Mafia and its history. In today's episode we look at this phenomenon and what it means for both history and us today.

27/08/2020

On today's Throwback Thursday episode we'll be discussing the literary ambulance drivers of World War I. If you've never heard about these courageous volunteers who became some of the best-known authors of the 20th century, some of the names may surprise you.

26/08/2020

In today's episode we take a look at a neglected literary art form: the hagiography. Is it real history or pious hoax? Let's find out.

25/08/2020

In today's episode we combine two things I love most: history and Bruce Springsteen. More specifically, we'll look at the history as well as the misunderstandings and misinterpretations that have sprung up around one of his most famous songs: "Born in the USA."

24/08/2020

In today's episode we look at five enduring myths about ancient Rome, the greatest empire the world has ever known.

22/08/2020

In today's episode I want to address a question I've gotten recently: does revisionist history really matter? It absolutely does, and we'll explain why.

21/08/2020

Today's episode is a flashback for Flashback Friday, and after more than 50 episodes, this one is also the most played. In it we tackle a historical "what if" and some myths that have grown up around most people's answer to this question: what if John F. Kennedy had not been assassinated in Dallas o...

19/08/2020

The musical "Hamilton" is once again all the rage right now, but this episode is not about the famous title character of Lin-Manuel Miranda's smash play. Rather, today we look at another character who looms large (to say the least) in Hamilton's story: Aaron Burr.

17/08/2020

Today's episode takes a brief look at what constitutes "popular" history and what makes it different from academic history.

15/08/2020

He's much more than "that guy on the T-shirt."

In today's episode we take a look at a man who was a giant in his own time, but is now known mainly as "that guy on the T-shirt." Let's meet Ernesto Guevara de la Serna, better known as Che.

14/08/2020

We've talked on this podcast about how important books are to learning history. Today we look at some times when individuals, nations, and even religions tried to shape history in their image in the most direct, destructive way possible: through the burning of books and libraries.

13/08/2020

In today's Throwback Thursday episode we offer five books everyone should read as they seek to understand history. Some you may recognize, and some you may never have heard of, but all are worth your time.

12/08/2020

In today's episode we turn once again to the great monarchs of England. This time we're exploring facts and debunking myths about the woman who was the daughter of Henry VIII and perhaps England's greatest ruler: Queen Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen.

10/08/2020

In today's episode we lool at the historical phenomenon of "the good old days." Those idyllic days of eras past, viewed honestly, weren't that idyllic after all.

09/08/2020

The Catholic Church has played a pivotal role in history for almost 2000 years. It is also the subject of more than a few myths, and today we're going to dispel some of those myths.

08/08/2020

Let's set sail.

In today's episode we set sail on a voyage of debunking some long-held maritime myths from the Age of Exploration.

07/08/2020

Today we're taking a critical look at a sacred cow in American "historical" programming: Schoolhouse Rock.

06/08/2020

It's rare that movies about historical events get the actual history right, but there are exceptions. In our first Throwback Thursday episode we're looking at five films that got history right, and were highly entertaining as well.

05/08/2020

As debate rages over how best to reopen schools during a pandemic, it's a good time to take a closer look at this first place most of us are exposed to history, both real and revisionist. How do we get the textbooks and what the kids are taught? The answers may surprise you.

05/08/2020

In today's episode we look at one of the most misunderstood military leaders in American history: George Armstrong Custer.

03/08/2020

A shameless cross-promotion.

In today's brief episode we're not talking history, but rather inviting you to check out our other podcast, Bookish. If you love history you should be a reader, and if you're a reader you'll love Bookish. It can be found at anchor.fm/bookish.

02/08/2020

In today's episode we look at the facts and the fiction about the greatest Roman in history: Julius Caesar.

01/08/2020

We all think we know the truth about the American Revolution, but do we really? In today's episode we debunk three prevasive myths about America's favorite war.

30/07/2020

We tend to take the quotes we read from historical figures for granted, but we really shouldn't. In today's episode we look at just a few of the countless misquotes, misattributed quotes, and outright false quotes we have accepted as true for centuries.

29/07/2020

We've all heard that history repeats itself, and there are some astonishing similarities between the response to the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic and the COVID-19 pandemic today. Let's look at some of them.

28/07/2020

Today's episode corrects the common misconception that the 1980s were not a great literary decade. We may not immediately remember it that way, but the history bears it out. And if you are a fan of books and all things literary, be sure to check out my other podcast, Bookish, here: anchor.fm/bookish...

27/07/2020

In today's episode we return to the subject of the American Civil War, specifically an issue that is hotly debated today: Confederate monuments and statues in the public square. Let's look at the real history here; it may surprise you.

25/07/2020

Hollywood is great at entertaining, but often horrible at presenting historical events (with some notable exceptions we covered in an earlier episode). In today's episode we look at eight movies that got history really wrong.

24/07/2020

In today's episode we explore some facts and some myths about the most forgotten war in American history: the War of 1812.

23/07/2020

In today's episode we take a historically honest look at one of the sacred cows of American history: Robert E. Lee.

22/07/2020

In today's episode, we separate fact from fiction about one of the most famous leaders of all time: Napoleon Bonaparte.

21/07/2020

On this date in history, the great Ernest Hemingway was born. Let's meet the man who wasn't just a legend, but also one of the greatest writers of all time.