Radio Free History
Radio Free History
Jay and Benn
Two autodidactic friends, Benn and Jay, who work technical and labor jobs, enjoy meeting up and talking about the books they read. They decided to start recording some of their conversations. Intro/Outro music: Topher Mohr and Alex Elena - Keep Dreaming (Creative Commons)
Braveheart Revisited
In 1995, Mel Gibson produced, directed, and starred in "Braveheart". The movie won five Oscars, including Best Picture, and forever left its thumbprint on both pop culture and Scottish nationalism, but it did not always prioritize historical accuracy. In this episode, our hosts take a deep dive into the age of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, and set the record straight on a crucial episode that forged the Scottish national identity.
May 16, 2024
2 hr 9 min
The Fall
Picking up where the last episode picked off, we've already looked at how an upstart German political party rose to prominence and took over most of Continental Europe. Today we look at where it all went wrong, from both a political and a military perspective. You'll also hear family anecdotes that you won't read in any history books.
May 10, 2024
1 hr 38 min
The Rise
When a political discussion gets empassioned, somebody always seems to bring up pre-WW2 Germany. And yet, it's amazing how few events are mentioned, other than the Nuremberg rallies, the invasion of Poland, and maybe the Treaty of Versailles. This is the first podcast in a series, really digging into the question of how Germany got to that point.
Apr 24, 2024
1 hr 5 min
Breaking the Bank
It seems like nobody can explain what exactly money is, or how the banking system works. That doesn't stop people from having all sorts of theories about inflation, the central bank, currency traders, and the money printer. Benn and Jay explore the history of money and banking, as they try to answer a deceptively simple question: What exactly is a U.S. Dollar?
Mar 25, 2024
2 hr 9 min
The Rise of the Sun that Never Set
The British Empire had a storied history, and at one point controlled more than 20% of the world's dry land. And yet, there are a lot of misconceptions about the Empire, even things as simple as the time period when it was at its strongest.
Mar 2, 2024
1 hr 31 min