

A Twist of History
Ballen Studios
The course of history never follows a straight line. And very often, we can pinpoint a remarkable, thrilling twist, which changes everything that follows. These are the epic stories that have shaped the world we now live in.From Ballen Studios, join us - for the most heart pounding podcast in history.New episodes every Wednesday.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 16, 2025 • 35min
The Gunpowder Plot
In 1605, a plot to kill the King of England was underway, and the man who attempted it, along with his name, would go down in infamy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jul 9, 2025 • 33min
The Titanic Question
What if a seemingly unremarkable choice could have prevented one of the most infamous disasters of all time?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jul 2, 2025 • 39min
The Hitler Intervention
Adolf Hitler's rise to power and the devastation that followed in his wake was hardly inevitable. In fact, if not for a single split-second decision by a woman you've probably never heard of, we might not know the name Hitler at all.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 25, 2025 • 41min
Fast Cars and Bootleggers
Mobsters, shootouts, and petal-to-the-metal police chases. This is prohibition-era America – a time when a group of adrenaline-fueled outlaws and their need for speed paved the way for a modern American pastime.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 18, 2025 • 38min
Inside The Madhouse
During the Gilded Age in New York City, the horrors of mental health care are exposed in explosive fashion, forever changing the way stories are uncovered.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 11, 2025 • 41min
How the Metric System Was Stolen
Why do Americans measure things in inches and pounds while the rest of the world uses centimeters and kilograms? The answer becomes clear when George Washington and Thomas Jefferson’s vision for the future clashes with a band of marauding pirates.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 4, 2025 • 44min
The Shakespeare Riot
New York City in the mid 1800s was run by violent gangs, corrupt politicians, and grifting opportunists who operated with no fear of punishment. It was like a powder keg ready to blow, and all it took to light the fuse, and change the future of law enforcement, was a performance of Shakespeare.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 28, 2025 • 34min
The Birth of Hollywood
If not for inventor Thomas Edison's iron grip over the nascent film industry, and a few defiant trailblazers, movies as we know them might have never come to be.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 21, 2025 • 40min
Robert E Lee's Lost Orders
Uncover the pivotal moment during the Battle of Antietam when a soldier stumbled upon Robert E. Lee's lost orders and cigars. The podcast delves into the Confederate invasion of Maryland, Lee's strategic intentions, and debates with Stonewall Jackson. Discover how McClellan’s discovery altered battle tactics and led to the bloodiest day in American history. The aftermath is explored, revealing how this single event influenced Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. Theories about the lost orders also provide intriguing speculation on how history could have changed.

May 21, 2025 • 32min
How Murder Went Viral
A shocking 1910 murder in London ignites a sensational media frenzy. A young fugitive's frantic escape unfolds as newspapers crave gripping crime stories. Alfred Harmsworth's innovative tactics lead to a global manhunt fueled by emerging wireless telegraphy. Inspector Dew's race against time to capture suspects is a thrilling chase. Photographers rush to document the unfolding drama, revealing the true identities of fugitives Crippen and Ethel. This case marks the dawn of modern manhunts, intertwining technology and tabloid culture.


