15-Minute History

Join us as we discuss the three short stories of heroes and learn what you can expect this season as we show you the people, places, and events in history that have contributed to the good we see in our world today. 

Welcome to season six of 15-Minute History! Listen as we tell you three short stories of heroes. This season is about the people, places, and events in history that have contributed to the good we see in our world today. It is about showing the progression of the lives of those who came before and gaining insight into their motivations for taking action for the good of us all. It is about those who became a light in the dark, those who felt fear but still acted, and those who pushed past the confines of the moment to do that which we can take strength from today. It is about the person who might seem particularly ordinary, who, put into a situation where conviction trumps convenience, decides that action takes priority over words. This season is about heroes. 

We are pleased and excited to welcome back Dr. Dominic Selwood to discuss the passing of Queen Elizabeth, her legacy, and the probable changes to the monarchy as a result. Dr. Selwood also provides historical context for the ceremony, the coming coronation of King Charles III, and explains the true power of the crown in Great Britain. We hope you enjoy every moment as Dr. Selwood provides his authoritative take on this monumental current event.  Read more about British history through Dr. Selwood's new book, "Anatomy of a Nation:  A History of British Identity in 50 Documents", where he conducts a lively study of, and musings around, 50 documents – spanning 950,000 years of British history – which reads almost like a thriller as we follow the twists and turns of the country’s tumultuous fate. "Anatomy of a Nation" is available wherever books are sold.  Dominic Selwood is a historian, journalist and barrister. He is a bestselling author and novelist, and a frequent contributor to national newspapers, radio and TV including The Telegraph, The Independent, The Spectator, The Catholic Herald, Sky News, and the BBC. He has a doctorate in history from the University of Oxford and a masters from the Sorbonne. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Society of Antiquaries. He graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and served as an officer in the British Army. He lives in London with his family. 

In this redux episode, we detail the rich history of the English royal family, the House of Windsor.

The 15-Minute History team remembers Queen Elizabeth II. 

Join us for part two of our interview with Ray Boomhower about his book, Richard Tregaskis: Reporting under Fire from Guadalcanal to Vietnam. In this special discussion, Mr. Boomhower explains why Tregaskis felt compelled to go to the front, the reasons he felt the burden to tell the story of the soldier in combat, how he saw reporting change during Korea and Vietnam, and more. Ray E. Boomhower is a senior editor at the Indiana Historical Society Press, where he edits the popular history magazine Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History. A former newspaper reporter, Boomhower has written extensively on World War II media history, including biographies of such noted war correspondents as Scripps-Howard columnist Ernie Pyle and Time magazine reporter Robert L. Sherrod. Boomhower has also published biographies of fighter ace Alex Vraciu, war photographer John A. Bushemi, Mercury astronaut Gus Grissom, long-form journalist, and political speechwriter John Bartlow Martin. Richard Tregaskis: Reporting under Fire from Guadalcanal to Vietnam is available wherever books are sold.

Join us for part one of our interview with Ray Boomhower about his book, Richard Tregaskis: Reporting under Fire from Guadalcanal to Vietnam. In this special discussion, Mr. Boomhower explains why Tregaskis is considered one of the bravest war correspondents of all time, what compelled him to take the dangerous assignments, breaks down what drove him to go back to the front lines after being severely injured, and more.  Ray E. Boomhower is a senior editor at the Indiana Historical Society Press, where he edits the popular history magazine Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History. A former newspaper reporter, Boomhower has written extensively on World War II media history, including biographies of such noted war correspondents as Scripps-Howard columnist Ernie Pyle and Time magazine reporter Robert L. Sherrod. Boomhower has also published biographies of fighter ace Alex Vraciu, war photographer John A. Bushemi, Mercury astronaut Gus Grissom, long-form journalist, and political speechwriter John Bartlow Martin. Richard Tregaskis: Reporting under Fire from Guadalcanal to Vietnam is available wherever books are sold. 

Join us for part two of our interview with James Philips to discuss his book, Two Revolutions and the Constitution | How the English and American Revolutions Produced the American Constitution. In this discussion, we talk about taxation without representation, what it means to put principles ahead of prosperity, the Articles of Confederation...and more. James D.R. Philips studied at the Universities of Oxford and Sydney and holds degrees in liberal arts and in law. He has been a successful mergers and acquisitions attorney for more than thirty years and is a visiting lecturer at the University of Sydney's Law School. He held leadership positions at two law firms and is now a non-executive director of several organizations, including a leading Australian public-policy-research institute. Philips first read the American Constitution in school and began reading about the English revolutionary and American colonial periods in 2005.

Join us for part one of our interview with James Philips to discuss his book, Two Revolutions and the Constitution | How the English and American Revolutions Produced the American Constitution. In this special discussion, we talk about the origins of the book, the links between the US and British constitutions, the power of personality within history...and more. James D.R. Philips studied at the Universities of Oxford and Sydney and holds degrees in liberal arts and in law. He has been a successful mergers and acquisitions attorney for more than thirty years and is a visiting lecturer at the University of Sydney's Law School. He held leadership positions at two law firms and is now a non-executive director of several organizations, including a leading Australian public-policy-research institute. Philips first read the American Constitution in school and began reading about the English revolutionary and American colonial periods in 2005.

Join us for part two of our interview with the eminent British historian, Dr. Dominic Selwood about his book, Anatomy of a Nation: A History of British Identity in 50 Documents. In this special discussion, Dr. Selwood continues explaining specific historical moments in British history, the importance of not looking for the simple answer to complex problems (historical and current), and tells us why everyone should be a student of history.  Dr. Dominic Selwood is a historian, journalist, and barrister. He is a bestselling author and novelist, and a frequent contributor to national newspapers, radio, and TV including The Telegraph, The Independent, The Spectator, The Catholic Herald, Sky News, and the BBC. He has a doctorate in history from the University of Oxford and a masters from the Sorbonne. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Society of Antiquaries. He graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and served as an officer in the British Army. He lives in London with his family. https://www.dominicselwood.com/ Twitter: @DominicSelwood.