History on Fire

“You must still have chaos in yourself to be able to give birth to a dancing star” Friedrich Nietzsche“History as well as life itself is complicated—neither life nor history is an enterprise for those who seek simplicity and consistency.”Jared DiamondHe was the first American to receive a brown belt in Judo. He won the largest percentage of the vote ever by a third-party candidate.He once took a bullet to the chest shot at point blank range, and rather than going to the hospital went to deliver a 90 minute speech. He survived tragedies that would break lesser men.He spent his life fighting against the inner demons trying to destroy him. He was a perfect embodiment of what Nietzsche probably had in mind when he wrote, “You must still have chaos in yourself to be able to give birth to a dancing star." He was a warmonger with a diplomatic tact. He was a hunter and an environmentalist. He was a nerd and an athlete. He flirted with white supremacist ideas and yet was very progressive about race by the standards of his day. He was a big proponent of personal responsibility and supported quasi-Socialist policies.Love him or hate him, he was larger than life.He was Theodore Roosevelt.In this episode:-A sickly child discovers the joys of the strenuous life-Defeating fear by facing fear-Having the woman you love die in your arms; into the Dakota wilderness-“A six year old child on steroids”-"Black care rarely sits behind a rider whose pace is fast enough"-“Theodore had to hold on to his optimism very tight, otherwise he couldn’t get through the shadows, the darknesses, surrounding him”-Marriage # 2-Why telling Roosevelt “It will break you. You will yield. You are but human;” is a bad idea-The Rough Riders-Going to war against his own party-How Thomas Platt’s plan to eliminate Roosevelt gave him the presidency Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During a visit to a church in Sicily, a priest offered Caravaggio “holy water”. Caravaggio asked the old priest what it was for. “It will cancel your venial sins, my son,” replied the priest. “Then it’s no use—Caravaggio commented—My sins are all mortal.”Giles Lambert about Caravaggio and his friends “They provoked the Papal police, hung around with the many Roman women of easy virtue, drank excessively and frightened the bourgeoisie.”He was the greatest artist of his age, and also an outlaw whose passion for hookers was only second to his propensity for ending up in jail. Caravaggio was equally talented with paint and canvas as he was with the sword and with the art of breaking out prison. With the same hand with which he painted the most amazing masterpieces of the Renaissance, he stabbed pimps and bludgeoned cops. His art was as scandalous as his life: he brought a lowbrow brand of violent realism and sexuality to the traditional religious subjects that were commissioned by the Church: imagine Quentin Tarantino painting scenes from the Bible. But the more the elite hated him, the more the common people adored him. No painter of his day—and probably ever—was able to have such a magnetic effect on masses of people.This second and last part of the tale includes battles in the streets of Rome, Caravaggio’s revolutionary take on the origins of Christianity, the rivalry with Giovanni Baglione, Renaissance diss tracks, attempted murder over artichokes, the dubious diplomatic tact of using prostitutes as models for the Virgin Mary, the parallels between Caravaggio and Tupac, Caravaggio settling a grievance… with an ax, “Madonna dei Palafranieri”—Caravaggio’s middle finger to the Vatican, the duel with Ranuccio Tommassoni, a death sentence, ending up on the run, becoming a Knight of Malta, Mafia art thefts, breaking out jail, the attack in Naples, and becoming a legend. Caravaggio would have been able to relate to Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During a visit to a church in Sicily, a priest offered Caravaggio “holy water”. Caravaggio asked the old priest what it was for. “It will cancel your venial sins, my son,” replied the priest. “Then it’s no use—Caravaggio commented—My sins are all mortal.”Giles Lambert about Caravaggio and his friends “They provoked the Papal police, hung around with the many Roman women of easy virtue, drank excessively and frightened the bourgeoisie.”He was the greatest artist of his age, and also an outlaw whose passion for hookers was only second to his propensity for ending up in jail. Caravaggio was equally talented with paint and canvas as he was with the sword and with the art of breaking out prison. With the same hand with which he painted the most amazing masterpieces of the Renaissance, he stabbed pimps and bludgeoned cops. His art was as scandalous as his life: he brought a lowbrow brand of violent realism and sexuality to the traditional religious subjects that were commissioned by the Church: imagine Quentin Tarantino painting scenes from the Bible. But the more the elite hated him, the more the common people adored him. No painter of his day—and probably ever—was able to have such a magnetic effect on masses of people.This first part of the tale features a plague killing most of Caravaggio’s family, attempts at theocracy in the Milan of the late 1500s, the Italian Robin Hood Marco di Sciarra, street life in Rome, “no hope-no fear”, the Cenci execution, and Caravaggio becoming a superstar of the Roman art scene. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dive into the poignant legacy of Crazy Horse and the intricate history of American Indian struggles. Explore philosophical insights from Nietzsche that resonate with Crazy Horse's life and the bittersweet victories of the Lakota. Facing escalating military pressures post-Custer's defeat, tensions among tribal leaders deepen, revealing complex dynamics of leadership. As Crazy Horse's story unfolds, witness the tragic betrayals and emotional impact left on his community, culminating in a nuanced understanding of his enduring legacy.

Delve into the life of Crazy Horse, a revered Lakota leader, as he rises from humble beginnings to a symbol of responsibility within his community. Discover the devastating impact of buffalo hunting on indigenous tribes and the ensuing plight to protect their lands. Follow Crazy Horse's tumultuous journey rife with personal loss, internal conflicts, and evolving leadership dynamics. The struggle against U.S. expansion culminates in gripping military encounters, showcasing the Lakota's fight to preserve their way of life amid profound change.

The podcast dives into the chaotic aftermath of the Sand Creek Massacre, spotlighting the alliances and leadership of the Lakota and Cheyenne tribes. It examines Crazy Horse's tactical brilliance and the challenges U.S. forces faced in tracking Indigenous warriors. A chilling tale reveals the grim fate of a naïve photographer on the frontier. The intense conflicts at Fort Phil Kearney showcase the brutal realities of warfare, while reflections on defeat highlight shifting military strategies and the complex dynamics of Native American resistance.

Delve into the complex life of Crazy Horse, a Lakota warrior whose quiet strength and resistance became legendary. Explore the spiritual journey of vision quests that shaped him, alongside the humor and depth of the Heoka in Lakota culture. Discover the impact of external conflicts, including the Mexican-American War, on the Lakota community. Unravel the tragic events surrounding the Sand Creek Massacre, highlighting the rich yet painful history of Native American struggles against U.S. forces.

On July 11, 1804, the vice-president of the United States (Aaron Burr) and the first Secretary of the Treasury (Alexander Hamilton) decided to settle their grievances by drawing their pistols and trying to shoot each other dead. This is the story of the events leading Burr and Hamilton to stop exchanging words and begin exchanging lead. Also, in this episode: the good old days when killing people in a duel was no obstacle to gaining high political office (just ask Andrew Jackson), Abraham Lincoln and his freakish long reach, when the Senate floor was washed in blood, Hamilton’s mom was “whoring with everyone”, Burr’s obsession for women, “Great souls have little use for small morals”, Thomas Jefferson and Vito Corleaone’s advice, Plan B: take over Mexico, when the President wanted to hang his former vice-president, a perfect plan to get Americans more interested in politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this second and last part of this two-part series, we find out why it is a very bad idea to get on the wrong side of Parysatis, one of the most ruthless queens of the ancient world. We will also run into betrayal, prophetic dreams, epic battles, Xenophon’s rise to leadership, heartbreaking moments, tribal guerrillas in the mountains, poisoned honey, athletic competitions, sweet revenge, and the planting of the seeds for Alexander the Great’s campaigns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Legendary historian Will Durant has described the subject of this episode as “One of the great adventures in human history”. In the first part of this two-part series, we meet the main characters of our tale, when a band of over 10,000 Greek mercenaries agree to serve under the Persian prince Cyrus the Younger in a fratricidal civil war against Cyrus’ brother, King Artaxerxes II. This episode will also include a brief history of the Persian empire, tattooed, head-hunting + marijuana-consuming + sweat lodge-partaking tribal peoples, plagues, a cameo by Socrates, Machiavellian political games, the great battle of Cunaxa, and a eunuch worthy of Game of Thrones. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices