Conflicted: A History Podcast

On March 20th, 1995, the Tokyo subway system was flooded with sarin nerve gas in a coordinated terrorist attack by the religious cult Aum Shinrikyō. Led by the charismatic new-age guru, Shoko Asahara, the well-funded and technologically ambitious Aum organization manufactured and deployed chemical weapons in an attempt to bring about the end of the world. In the chaos that followed, 13 people were killed, thousands were injured, and the international community shuddered at the possibility of future attacks by fringe political groups.    SOURCES: Amarasingam, A. (2017, April 5). A history of sarin as a weapon. The Atlantic.  Cotton, Simon. “Nerve Agents: What Are They and How Do They Work?” American Scientist, vol. 106, no. 3, 2018, pp. 138–40.  Danzig, Richard; Sageman, Marc; Leighton, Terrance; Hough, Lloyd; Yuki, Hidemi; Kotani, Rui; Hosford, Zachary M.. Aum Shinrikyo: Insights Into How Terrorists Develop Biological and Chemical Weapons . Center for a New American Security. 2011. Gunaratna, Rohan. “Aum Shinrikyo’s Rise, Fall and Revival.” Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses, vol. 10, no. 8, 2018, pp. 1–6.  Harmon, Christopher C. “How Terrorist Groups End: Studies of the Twentieth Century.” Strategic Studies Quarterly, vol. 4, no. 3, 2010, pp. 43–84. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/26269787.  “IHT: A Safe and Sure System — Until Now.” The New York Times, 21 Mar. 1995. Jones, Seth G., and Martin C. Libicki. “Policing and Japan’s Aum Shinrikyo.” How Terrorist Groups End: Lessons for Countering al Qa’ida, RAND Corporation, 2008, pp. 45–62.  Kaplan, David E. (1996) “Aum’s Shoko Asahara and the Cult at the End of the World”. WIRED.  Lifton, Robert Jay. Destroying the World to Save It: Aum Shinrikyo, Apocalyptic Violence, and the New Global Terrorism. 1999. Murakami, Haruki. Underground: The Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche. Translated by Alfred Birnbaum and Philip Gabriel. 2001. Murphy, P. (2014, June 21). Matsumoto: Aum’s sarin guinea pig. The Japan Times.  Reader, Ian. Religious Violence in Contemporary Japan: The Case of Aum Shinrikyo.  2000. Tucker, Jonathan B. “Chemical/Biological Terrorism: Coping with a New Threat.” Politics and the Life Sciences, vol. 15, no. 2, 1996, pp. 167–83.  Ushiyama, Rin. “Shock and Anger: Societal Responses to the Tokyo Subway Attack.” Aum Shinrikyō and Religious Terrorism in Japanese Collective Memory., The British Academy, 2023, pp. 52–80.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the summer of 1960, Israel triumphantly announces capturing Adolf Eichmann, igniting global controversy. The public reacts ecstatically, while Argentina protests. Legal chess plays out as Eichmann's lawyer, struggling with a damning defense, faces intense scrutiny. The trial reveals heartbreaking survivor testimonies and powerful insights from Hannah Arendt on the banality of evil. Public and international reactions to the verdict showcase the trial's profound impact on justice and remembrance for Holocaust victims.

The daring hunt for Adolf Eichmann unfolds as Mossad confirms his identity in Argentina. Listeners learn about his clever postwar escape, using the alias Ricardo Klement. The operation to capture him is meticulously planned, involving stakeouts and a secretive exfiltration. Tensions rise as agents navigate ethical dilemmas and the political landscape of a Nazi haven. A revealing interrogation follows, shedding light on Eichmann’s mindset. This thrilling tale of pursuit and justice against a backdrop of history is not to be missed!

The hunt for Adolf Eichmann unfolds as a thrilling tale of espionage and moral dilemmas. A West German lawyer uncovers a tip leading to Buenos Aires, where Eichmann lives under the alias Ricardo Clement. The chilling logistics of the Nazi Final Solution and Eichmann's detached role are explored alongside the motivations driving Israel's emergent intelligence agency, Mossad. With the world watching the Nuremberg trials, the pressure mounts on Israeli officials to act decisively against a man who escaped justice for far too long.

In the conclusion of the series, Justinian and Theodora face a cascade of setbacks and disasters. The Empress hatches a plan to destroy John the Cappadocian. Belisarius learns of Antonina’s serial infidelity. A deadly Plague threatens to bring the Byzantine empire to its knees.    SOURCES: Bridge, Antony. Theodora: Portrait in a Byzantine Landscape. 1978. Potter, David. Theodora: Actress, Empress, Saint. 2015. Parnell, David Alan. Belisarius & Antonina: Love and War in the Age of Justinian. 2023. Hughes, Bettany. Istanbul: A Tale of Three Cities. 2017. Sarris, Peter. Justinian: Emperor, Soldier, Saint. 2023. Kaldellis, Anthony. The New Roman Empire: A History of Byzantium. 2023. Cesaretti, Paolo. Theodora: Empress of Byzantium. 2003. Procopius. The Secret History.  Procopius. The Wars of Justinian.  Phillips, Robin. West, Jeff. Who in the World Was The Acrobatic Empress? 2006. Norwich, John Julius. Absolute Monarchs: A History of the Papacy. 2011. Evans, James Allan. The Empress Theodora: Partner of Justinian. 2002.  Holmes, Nick. Justinian’s Empire: Triumph and Tragedy. 2024.  Charles Rivers Editors. Justinian the Great: The Life and Legacy of the Byzantine Emperor. 2014. Captivating History. The Byzantine Empire. 2018 Captivating History. The Vandals. 2018 Dahm, Murray. Combat: Byzantine Cavalryman vs Vandal Warrior. 2023. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/01/03/gods-librarians Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the Nika Riots behind them, Justinian and Theodora rebuild Constantinople and pursue a bold new agenda for the Byzantine Empire. Belisarius sails to war against the Vandal Kingdom. John the Cappadocian seeks to drive a wedge between the imperial couple.    SOURCES: Bridge, Antony. Theodora: Portrait in a Byzantine Landscape. 1978. Potter, David. Theodora: Actress, Empress, Saint. 2015. Parnell, David Alan. Belisarius & Antonina: Love and War in the Age of Justinian. 2023. Hughes, Bettany. Istanbul: A Tale of Three Cities. 2017. Sarris, Peter. Justinian: Emperor, Soldier, Saint. 2023. Kaldellis, Anthony. The New Roman Empire: A History of Byzantium. 2023. Cesaretti, Paolo. Theodora: Empress of Byzantium. 2003. Procopius. The Secret History.  Procopius. The Wars of Justinian.  Phillips, Robin. West, Jeff. Who in the World Was The Acrobatic Empress? 2006. Norwich, John Julius. Absolute Monarchs: A History of the Papacy. 2011. Evans, James Allan. The Empress Theodora: Partner of Justinian. 2002.  Holmes, Nick. Justinian’s Empire: Triumph and Tragedy. 2024.  Charles Rivers Editors. Justinian the Great: The Life and Legacy of the Byzantine Emperor. 2014. Captivating History. The Byzantine Empire. 2018 Captivating History. The Vandals. 2018 Dahm, Murray. Combat: Byzantine Cavalryman vs Vandal Warrior. 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After being crowned Emperor and Empress of the Byzantine Empire, Justinian and Theodora face their first major test as rulers, the deadly Nika Riots of 532 AD. SOURCES:Bridge, Antony. Theodora: Portrait in a Byzantine Landscape.Potter, David. Theodora: Actress, Empress, Saint. Parnell, David Alan. Belisarius & Antonina: Love and War in the Age of JustinianHughes, Bettany. Istanbul: A Tale of Three Cities. Sarris, Peter. Justinian: Emperor, Soldier, Saint. Cesaretti, Paolo. Theodora: Empress of Byzantium.Procopius. The Secret History. Phillips, Robin. West, Jeff. Who in the World Was The Acrobatic Empress? Norwich, John Julius. Absolute Monarchs: A History of the PapacyEvans, James Allan. The Empress Theodora: Partner of Justinian. Holmes, Nick. Justinian’s Empire: Triumph and TragedyCharles Rivers Editors. Justinian the Great: The Life and Legacy of the Byzantine Emperor.Captivating History. The Byzantine Empire. 2018 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From 527 to 565 AD, Emperor Justinian I and his Empress Theodora ruled over the Byzantine Empire in Constantinople. Together, they reshaped the Mediterranean world, weathering political upheaval, wars of conquest, and an outbreak of bubonic plague. In this first installment of a multi-part series, we explore the early years of New Rome’s greatest power couple. Rising from a disreputable background in the brothels of Constantinople, the actress-turned-informant Theodora catches the eye of Prince Justinian, heir to the Byzantine throne...SOURCES:Bridge, Antony. Theodora: Portrait in a Byzantine Landscape.Potter, David. Theodora: Actress, Empress, Saint. Parnell, David Alan. Belisarius & Antonina: Love and War in the Age of JustinianHughes, Bettany. Istanbul: A Tale of Three Cities. Sarris, Peter. Justinian: Emperor, Soldier, Saint. Cesaretti, Paolo. Theodora: Empress of Byzantium.Procopius. The Secret History. Phillips, Robin. West, Jeff. Who in the World Was The Acrobatic Empress? Norwich, John Julius. Absolute Monarchs: A History of the PapacyEvans, James Allan. The Empress Theodora: Partner of Justinian. Holmes, Nick. Justinian’s Empire: Triumph and TragedyCharles Rivers Editors. Justinian the Great: The Life and Legacy of the Byzantine Emperor.Captivating History. The Byzantine Empire. 2018 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The tumultuous 1971 war between India and Pakistan is explored, highlighting India's race to capture Dacca. Delve into the psychological toll on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman during his long imprisonment. Witness India's strategic naval operations and Nixon's diplomatic maneuvering at the UN. The liberation of Bangladesh unfolds amidst moral dilemmas and intense military action. The episode concludes with Mujib's triumphant return and the profound human cost of the conflict, setting the stage for new political dynamics in South Asia.

Witness the turmoil of the 1971 Bangladesh War as tensions escalate between India and Pakistan. Indira Gandhi weighs her options, responding to a massive refugee crisis while grappling with U.S. indifference. Discover the contrasting views of Archer Blood and Henry Kissinger on U.S. involvement. The podcast highlights George Harrison's charity concert, which raises awareness, alongside India's covert support for the Mukti Bahini guerrillas. As diplomatic efforts flounder, the countdown to decisive military action in December begins.