History Unplugged Podcast

In this engaging discussion, Jack Weatherford, an expert on the Mongol Empire and author of notable works on Genghis and Kublai Khan, reveals the surprising maritime conquest of the Mongols. He explores Kublai Khan's transformation from a land-based conqueror to a naval powerhouse, detailing innovations like modern cartography and the introduction of paper money. Weatherford discusses the fierce battles against the Song Dynasty, the complexities of naval operations, and the eventual establishment of a vast maritime empire, reshaping trade and culture in China.

Robin Waterfield, a renowned scholar and author of the new translation of Aesop’s Fables, dives into the intriguing life of Aesop, a possibly non-existent, enslaved storyteller from ancient Greece. They explore how Aesop’s narratives critique societal norms and moral behavior, transcending simple children’s tales. The discussion also highlights the humor woven into these timeless fables and the challenges of translating them for modern audiences. Waterfield emphasizes the fables' lasting cultural impact and their complex themes, inviting new interpretations.

Dive into the legendary Battle of Thermopylae, where 300 Spartans versus a vast Persian army redefined heroism. Discover the strategic importance of this historic pass, influential in conflicts spanning 2,400 years, from Roman legions to World War II skirmishes. Learn about Leonidas' tactical decisions and the evolution of warfare tactics shaped by the terrain. The discussion even connects modern battles to the valor of ancient fighters, showcasing a spirit that has persisted through centuries.

Maximilian, the Austrian archduke and unlikely emperor of Mexico, shares a gripping tale of ambition gone awry. Lured by Napoleon III with promises of glory, he faced a brutal guerrilla war instead. The conversation reveals how Maximilian, with his charming ideals and a flair for grandeur, struggled against the tides of nationalism and his own naïveté. The tragic crescendo of his reign, marked by political maneuvers and cultural shock from his execution, offers a poignant reflection on monarchy's decline in the Americas.

Hear the harrowing firsthand accounts of hibakusha, survivors of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. They share their poignant stories and survivor guilt, revealing the chaos and silence of that fateful day. Explore the role of fate in their narrow escapes and the ongoing emotional struggles they face. The power of community shines through as survivors advocate for peace, while marginalized voices seeking recognition highlight the broader impact of the tragedy. These narratives offer profound insights into resilience and the quest for healing.

In this engaging discussion, guests Mark and Matthew Jacob, authors of 'Globetrotter: How Abe Saperstein Shook Up the World of Sports,' delve into the life of Abe Saperstein, the Jewish immigrant who founded the Harlem Globetrotters. They explore how Saperstein transformed basketball into a global phenomenon using innovative marketing techniques. The conversation touches on the evolution of professional sports, the rise of showmanship, and the pivotal role Saperstein played in the integration of sports and cultural diplomacy, all while pioneering the three-point shot.

Megan Gorman, author of "All the Presidents’ Money," guides us through the financial rollercoaster of U.S. presidents. Discover Harry Truman's midnight money worries and whether Calvin Coolidge was misled by a stockbroker during the Great Depression. Delve into George Washington's wealth gained through strategic marriage, contrasting the financial realities of leaders like Thomas Jefferson and Ulysses S. Grant. This enlightening discussion reveals that even the highest office in America doesn’t guarantee financial success.

Simon Mayall, author of "The House of War," dives into a gripping 1,300-year saga of conflict between Christendom and Islam. He discusses key historical events—from the Siege of Jerusalem in the 7th century to the fall of Constantinople. Mayall examines the rise of the Islamic caliphate and the Crusades, revealing how technological innovations impacted warfare. He also highlights the enduring effects of these clashes on today’s geopolitical landscape and addresses the use of historical narratives in shaping modern conflicts.

More Americans have peanut allergies today than at any point in history. Why? In 2000, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a strict recommendation that parents avoid giving their children peanut products until they're three years old. Getting the science perfectly backward, triggering intolerance with lack of early exposure, the US now leads the world in peanut allergies-and this misinformation is still rearing its head today.How could the experts have gotten it so wrong? Could it be that many modern-day health crises have been caused by the hubris of the medical establishment? Experts said for decades that opioids were not addictive, igniting the opioid crisis. They demonized natural fat in foods, driving Americans to processed carbohydrates as obesity rates soared.These failures of medical groupthink have been seen throughout history. Philosophers of the 16th century who claimed that blood circulated throughout the body (instead of resting in a layer below the epidermis) faced capital punishment. James Lind, who discovered that Vitamin C prevented scurvy, was ignored for 40 years. Ignaz Semmelweis was rejected by the medical community for suggesting that doctors should perhaps wash their hands before operating on patients.Today’s guest is Marty Makary, author of “Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets It Wrong, and What it Means for Our Health.” We see how when modern medicine issues recommendations based on good scientific studies, it shines. Conversely, when medicine is interpreted through the harsh lens of opinion and edict, it can mold beliefs that harm patients and stunt research for decades.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Appleton Oaksmith was a swashbuckling Civil War-era sea captain whose life intersected with some of the most important moments, movements, and individuals of the mid-19th century, from the California Gold Rush, filibustering schemes in Nicaragua, Cuban liberation, and the Civil War and Reconstruction. But in his life we also see the extraordinary lengths the Lincoln Administration went to destroy the illegal trans-Atlantic slave trade. That’s because he spent years working as an outlaw mariner for the Confederacy and later against the Klan.Oaksmith lived in the murky underworld of New York City, where federal marshals plied the docks in lower Manhattan in search of evidence of slave trading. Once they suspected Oaksmith, federal authorities had him arrested and convicted, but in 1862 he escaped from jail and became a Confederate blockade-runner in Havana. The Lincoln Administration tried to have him kidnapped in violation of international law, but the attempt was foiled. Always claiming innocence, Oaksmith spent the next decade in exile until he received a presidential pardon from U.S. Grant, at which point he moved to North Carolina and became an anti-Klan politician.To look at this story is today’s guest, Jonathan White, author of “Shipwrecked: A True Civil War Story of Mutinies, Jailbreaks, Blockade-Running, and the Slave Trade.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.