Here it is, FINALLY — the third installment of ‘The Mad Dream of Conquest’ series, about the Athenian expedition to Sicily during the Peloponnesian War in the 5th century BC. Enjoy! Join CJ as he discusses: The Syracusan reaction to news of a huge, inbound Athenian expeditionary force, including the wise advice of Hermocrates (that wasn’t sufficiently heeded at first) The arrival of the Athenians in the area, & initial difficulties & disappointments they began to encounter The debate among the 3 Athenian strategoi (Nicias, Lamachus & Alcibiades) over how to proceed, the strategy adopted, & the lack of significant progress The recall of Alcibiades to Athens for trial, & his subsequent escape Athenian successes in Sicily that they failed to capitalize upon sufficiently to defeat Syracuse prior to the onset of the winter of 414/415 Athenian & Syracusan diplomatic efforts during that first winter The success of Syracusan diplomacy (with the help of Alcibiades) in securing aid from Corinth & Sparta Gylippus, the Spartan strategos sent to take command of the Syracusan war effort against Athens Initial Athenian successes during the campaign season of 414 that (despite the death of Lamachus) drove the Syracusans to the brink of surrender The arrival of Gylippus in the nick of time, & his stunning successes in turning the tide of the war against Athens & nullifying their efforts to circumvallate & besiege Syracuse Nicias’ extremely downtrodden & pessimistic report back to Athens, sent during the winter of 414/413, in which he demanded that the Athenian Assembly either authorize the evacuation of his expeditionary force, or send him significant reinforcements (men, supplies, & money), along with a strong request that he (Nicias) be relieved of command if they chose the latter option As promised, here’s a zoomed out map of the expedition to Sicily, showing 1) how far the Athenians traveled, & 2) the relative locations of significant cities on Sicily & on the adjacent ‘toe’ of Italy , plus a more zoomed-in map of Syracuse, its harbors, & the surrounding territory. Like this episode? Support the DHP on Patreon! For the entire month of August 2026, CJ’s running a Back to (Dangerous History) School Special: There will be a 25% discount on the first year of an annual membership at any level of support, or 25% off the first month of a monthly membership (also at any level of support)! Just use coupon code 826 when signing up! You can also throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Throw CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qfrz9erz7dqazh9rhz3j7nv696nl52ux8unw79z Amazon Affiliate Links (buy ANYTHING – not just these specific items – from Amazon using any of these links & CJ gets a small commission at no cost to you!) The Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War Sparta’s Sicilian Proxy War by Paul Rahe The Rise & Fall of Athens by Plutarch Syracuse, 415-413 BC: Destruction of the Athenian Imperial Fleet by Nic Fields A War Like No Other: How the Athenians and Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War by Victor Davis Hanson Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Subscribe to the Dangerous History Podcast Youtube Channel Follow CJ on Twitter/X Follow the DHP on Instagram Follow the DHP on Facebook Hire CJ to speak to your group or at your event CJ’s PO Box Address (For Sending Him Items — Including, but not Limited to — Sacks of Gold Doubloons, Pieces of Eight, Freeze-Dried Flapjacks, etc. CJ Killmer Dangerous Media Productions 704 E Moody Blvd #43 Bunnell, FL 32110 The post Ep. 0290: ‘The Mad Dream of Conquest,’ Pt. III first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

Believe it or not, CJ has been doing the Dangerous History Podcast for 12 years now! Despite many trials & tribulations that have caused him to be slowed down or even knocked down, he has always staggered back up to his feet, wiped the blood out of his eyes, and resumed fighting the good fight of spreading brushfires of freedom via historical samizdat; and, with your help, he intends to keep doing it for at least another dozen (or couple dozen) years more! To commemorate this anniversary, in this episode, CJ shares & expounds upon a dozen of his many favorite quotes from the early 20th century American writer & social critic H.L. Mencken, including the quote that inspired the title of the DHP. (He also opens & closes the episode with inspirational poems by Edgar Albert Guest that encourage perseverance.) Like this episode? Please consider supporting the show via Patreon! You can also throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Throw CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qfrz9erz7dqazh9rhz3j7nv696nl52ux8unw79z Support the DHP via Amazon Affiliate Links (buy ANYTHING from Amazon using any of these links & CJ gets a small commission at no cost to you!) The Collected Works of Edgar A. Guest (“Don’t Quit” & “See it Through,” the poems that CJ read at the beginning & end of this episode, respectively, are by Edgar Albert Guest, who is one of CJ’s favorite poets & who is tragically underappreciated today) Notes on Democracy by H.L. Mencken A Mencken Chrestomathy: His Own Selection of His Choicest Writings The Vintage Mencken: The Finest and Fiercest Essays of the Great Literary Iconoclast The Underground History of American Education: An Intimate Investigation into the Prison of Modern Schooling by John Taylor Gatto Falling Down (1993, starring Michael Douglas) Additional Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon! Other ways to support the show (including CJ’s PO Box address) Subscribe to the Dangerous History Podcast Youtube Channel “The Ultimate History Lesson: A Weekend with John Taylor Gatto” (an extended, in-depth interview of the late, great critic of institutional schooling, conducted by Richard Grove of Tragedy & Hope) The post Ep. 0289: A Dangerous Dozen: 12 H.L. Mencken Quotes for the DHP’s 12th Anniversary first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

Here it is — the 2nd installment of CJ’s already-epic mini-series, ‘The Mad Dream of Conquest,’ set in the Peloponnesian War in 5th-century BC Greece. Join CJ as he shares an overview of some of the events of the first half of the Peloponnesian War, including: Spartan-led Peloponnesian invasions of Attica (the countryside around Athens), which used the traditional Greek tactic of ‘ravaging’ farms in order to try to provoke the Athenians to confront them in a decisive hoplite battle Athens’ refusal to do so, as they followed Pericles’ strategy of being purely defensive on land while waging naval & amphibious warfare against the coastal strongholds of the Peloponnesian League The horrific plague that afflicted Athens for the first few years of the war, which likely killed 20-30% of Athens, including, eventually, Pericles himself The leadership void left by Pericles, which was filled by men of much less competence, none of whom ever enjoyed the supermajority support that Pericles had The ‘Peace of Nicias,’ concluded in 421 BC, which was never fully adhered to & wouldn’t last long The growing political feud between Nicias & the Athenian doves vs. Alcibiades & the Athenian hawks The appeal for Athenian assistance from a few Sicilian poleis against Syracuse, the most powerful polis on that island, & the Athenian debates over the wisdom of intervening there, dominated by debates between Nicias & Alcibiades The decision of a majority of the Athenian Assembly to intervene on a massive scale Religious/political scandals that created serious potential problems for the Athenian expedition to Sicily on the eve of its departure The departure, to great fanfare, of a massive Athenian & allied force to Sicily Like this episode? Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon! You can also throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Throw CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qfrz9erz7dqazh9rhz3j7nv696nl52ux8unw79z Other ways to support the show (including CJ’s PO Box) Amazon Affiliate Links (buy ANYTHING from Amazon using any of these links & CJ gets a small commission at no cost to you!) The Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War A War Like No Other: How the Athenians and Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War by Victor Davis Hanson The Peloponnesian War by Donald Kagan The Life of Greece: The Story of Civilization, Vol. II by Will Durant Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Subscribe to the Dangerous History Podcast Youtube Channel Follow CJ on Twitter/X Follow the DHP on Instagram Follow the DHP on Facebook Hire CJ to speak to your group or at your event The post Ep. 0288: ‘The Mad Dream of Conquest,’ Pt. II first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

CJ decided he needed a break from modern US history as he continues to recover & reset his life, so this is the first episode of a new DHP miniseries set during the Peloponnesian War in 5th century BC Greece. The series will primarily focus on a famous Athenian military expedition to Sicily that occurred right in the middle of that conflict, an expedition that, to CJ, is eerily similar in some ways to the current war with Iran. This first episode, though, is backstory & world-building, setting the stage for the massive, complex & costly Peloponnesian War of 431-404 BC during which the Sicilian expedition occurred. Join CJ as he discusses: A brief overview of ancient Greek history, from the Bronze Age through the Persian invasions of 490 & 480 BC. The growing rivalries & tensions between the Peloponnesian League (led by Sparta) & the Delian League (led by Athens) in the aftermath of the Persian Wars, including Athens’ increasingly aggressive & destabilizing imperialism, & Sparta’s fears about it The rise of Pericles & the construction of the Athenian Long Walls The ‘first’ Peloponnesian War of ~460 BC-445 BC, which ended with a treaty known as “The Thirty Years’ Peace” The rising tensions & conflicts that caused the Thirty Years’ Peace to only last about half as long as it was intended to The ancient Greek historian Thucydides The escalating conflicts that led, in 431 BC, to the outbreak of the Second Peloponnesian War (sometimes just referred to as “The Peloponnesian War”), a conflict that would end up dwarfing the previous war in duration, cost, death & destruction Like this episode? You can throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Throw CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qfrz9erz7dqazh9rhz3j7nv696nl52ux8unw79z Amazon Affiliate Links (buy ANYTHING from Amazon using any of these links & CJ gets a small commission at no cost to you!) The Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War A War Like No Other: How the Athenians and Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War by Victor Davis Hanson The Peloponnesian War by Donald Kagan The Life of Greece: The Story of Civilization, Vol. II by Will Durant Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Subscribe to the Dangerous History Podcast Youtube Channel Follow CJ on Twitter/X Follow the DHP on Facebook Hire CJ to speak to your group or at your event Other ways to support the show The post Ep. 0287: ‘The Mad Dream of Conquest,’ Pt I first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

Good news — things have finally stabilized for CJ & his family, & he has finally fully recovered from the illnesses that caused him to be hospitalized in March! He’s now back at the podcasting game full-force, hard at work on upcoming Dangerous History material, & this week he also returned Brave the New World, the weekly current events & media analysis show that he cohosts with Matt Carano. This DHP episode features the audio of CJ’s triumphant return to BTNW after a few months’ absence. Join CJ & Matt as they discuss the low- & even-lower-lights of current events in recent months, & try to come to grips with the insanity that the 2nd Trump administration is inflicting on the world. Like this episode? You can throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Throw CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qfrz9erz7dqazh9rhz3j7nv696nl52ux8unw79z Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Other ways to support the show (including CJ’s PO Box address) BTNW on Youtube BTNW on Spotify BTNW on Apple Podcasts Subscribe to the Dangerous History Podcast Youtube Channel Follow CJ on Twitter/X Follow the DHP on Instagram Follow the DHP on Facebook Hire CJ to speak to your group or at your event  The post Ep. 0286: Braving This Dystopian Timeline (w/Matt Carano) first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

The hits have just kept on coming! (And not in a good way.) For anyone who cares and/or is curious why CJ has been mostly incommunicado the past 2 months (other than angrily ranting against the insanity of current events on Twitter): In this special DHP episode he gives an update on the most recent trials & tribulations he & his family have been through, including (but not limited to) his wife being hospitalized twice, another major death in the family, & finally, CJ himself being hospitalized for almost a full week while being the sickest & in the worst pain he’s ever had in his entire life. (Fun times!) On the brighter side, the redemption in the third act is that CJ is still alive, still sober, & is (once again) getting back up to keep on fighting the good fight, so look for more Dangerous History coming your way as long as (knock on wood!) he can get a little bit of a respite from the near-constant dumpster-fires! Like this episode? You can throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Throw CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qfrz9erz7dqazh9rhz3j7nv696nl52ux8unw79z Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Subscribe to the Dangerous History Podcast Youtube Channel Follow CJ on Twitter/X Follow the DHP on Facebook Other ways to support the show The post “Rise, and Fight Again” first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

(*This is a reissue of a Dangerous History Episode first published in Aug. 2015) In this episode, CJ discusses two different paradigms of what war is supposed to be and how it is supposed to be fought.  One is the Western (or European) Way, which originated in Greece and from there filtered through the Romans to become the dominant paradigm among Westerners to this day. The other is the Eastern (or Asian) Way, which originated in China and from there filtered to other parts of the Asian world and beyond, and which forms the intellectual basis of much of modern unconventional tactics and strategy. Join CJ as he discusses: The origins of the Western Way and how it has evolved over the centuries The origins of the Eastern Way and how it has evolved over the centuries Why this matters to understanding the modern world in general, and the history of modern unconventional warfare in particular Like this episode? You can throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Throw CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qfrz9erz7dqazh9rhz3j7nv696nl52ux8unw79z Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Other ways to support the show (including CJ’s PO Box mailing address)The post DHP Ep. 74 Reissue: The Western Way of War vs The Eastern Way of War first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

This DHP episode features the audio of the third episode of Brave the New World, a new weekly current events & media analysis show that CJ is cohosting with his friend Matt Carano. Join CJ & Matt as they discuss some of the recent Epstein-related revelations & their implications for the past, present, & future of the US (& the world.) Like this episode? Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon You can also throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Throw CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qfrz9erz7dqazh9rhz3j7nv696nl52ux8unw79z Links Brave the New World on Youtube Brave the New World on Apple Podcasts Brave the New World on Spotify The Dangerous History Podcast Youtube Channel Follow CJ on Twitter/X Follow the DHP on Facebook Hire CJ to speak to your group or at your event Other ways to support the show The post Ep. 0285: Braving the New World first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

As CJ continues to struggle to navigate his family’s ongoing difficulties, he FINALLY managed to record a new DHP episode. This is a follow-up to the previous DHP episode (#283 “We Are Ruled by Psychopaths”), in which he delves into some topics not covered much, if at all, in that episode, including but not limited to: the difficulty of defining ‘psychopath vs. sociopath,’ reasons that non-psychopathic people might in some situations behave very similarly to a psychopath, the ‘Lucifer effect,’ how institutions tend toward psychopathic behavior, and more. Like this episode? You can throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Throw CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qfrz9erz7dqazh9rhz3j7nv696nl52ux8unw79z CJ’s Picks (Amazon Affiliate links to books referenced in this episode) Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us by Robert Hare Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Subscribe to the Dangerous History Podcast Youtube Channel Follow CJ on Twitter/X Follow the DHP on Instagram Follow the DHP on Facebook Hire CJ to speak to your group or at your event Other ways to support the show The post Ep. 0284: We Are Ruled By Psychopaths, Part 2 first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

“We are ruled by psychopaths.” CJ did not coin that phrase, but he repeats it often, and he means it both literally & emphatically. This may sound crazy to many, but that perception is often based on a very mistaken understanding of what the term ‘psychopath’ really means. Join CJ on a deep dive into the true nature of psychopaths, how to spot them, how they operate, & why it’s a very reasonable hypothesis to suspect that psychopaths are very disproportionately represented among corporate oligarchs, politicians, & government officials. Reminder: Now through the end of 2025, you can save 25% off an annual membership to CJ’s Patreon, or 25% off the first month of a monthly membership, with the offer code 1225 ! Like this episode? You can throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Throw CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qfrz9erz7dqazh9rhz3j7nv696nl52ux8unw79z Other ways to support the show (including CJ’s PO Box address) CJ’s Picks (Amazon Affiliate links to books referenced in this episode) Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us by Robert Hare Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work by Paul Babiak & Robert Hare The post Ep. 0283: We Are Ruled By Psychopaths first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

(This is a Christmas-season reissue of a vintage DHP episode made all the way back in 2015.) In the cold, damp, muddy ditches of the Western Front in December, 1914, the rank-and-file of the Allied and German armies spontaneously set aside their hatreds to take a break from mass-murdering each other, much to the dismay of their so-called ‘leaders.’ Join CJ as he discusses: The context of the Christmas Truce How it happened The aftermath, legacy, and lessons to be learned from it Now through the end of the year, you can sign up to support CJ on Patreon & use coupon code 1225 to save 25% off any level of annual pledge, or 25% off your first month of a monthly pledge! Like this episode? You can throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Throw CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qfrz9erz7dqazh9rhz3j7nv696nl52ux8unw79z Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Subscribe to the Dangerous History Podcast Youtube Channel Other ways to support the show John McCutcheon’s “Christmas in the Trenches” The King’s Singers perform “Stille Nacht” A 1981 BBC Documentary about the Christmas Truce that features firsthand accounts from Great War veterans who were still alive at that time The post DHP Ep. 89 Reissue: The Christmas Truce first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

Happy Armistice Day! In this episode, CJ covers the first 13 songs on his list of 25 More Favorite Antiwar Songs. (The remaining dozen will be covered in a supporters-only bonus episode exclusively for those excellent individuals who support CJ’s work on Patreon at the Journeyman Scholar Warrior Level & Higher.) Like this episode? You […] The post Ep. 282: 25 More of CJ’s Favorite Antiwar Songs (Part 1) first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

Way back in the long-ago before-times (2016), CJ put out an episode in which he listed & talked about 25 of his favorite antiwar songs. A lot of listeners at the time really liked it. CJ has been a musician even longer than he’s been a historian, so any chance he gets to combine his love of music & history is one he’s happy to take. For this (2025) Armistice Day, he’s FINALLY going to be putting out a sequel – “25 More of CJ’s Favorite Antiwar Songs” – which will be exactly what it sounds like. But before he puts that new one out, he decided to reissue the original from 2016, since his audience was a lot smaller 9 years ago than it is now, so the majority of current DHP listeners have never heard this one. (Plus it’s been only available on the private Patreon supporters feed for the last several years.) Hopefully it’ll whet everyone’s appetite for the soon-to-be-released, long-awaited sequel! Join CJ from 2016 as he discusses 25 of his favorite antiwar songs from a variety of genres. Once you’re done listening to the episode, check out this Youtube playlist of the songs discussed made back in 2016 by a listener named Jon.) Like this episode? You can throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Throw CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qy9ywk9vdlran8nc0t4urwfzfhcakwa5y5lwwf4 Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Get CJ’s Dangerous American History Bibliography FREE Subscribe to the Dangerous History Podcast Youtube Channel Follow CJ on Twitter/X Follow the DHP on Instagram Follow the DHP on Facebook Hire CJ to speak to your group or at your event Other ways to support the show The post DHP Ep. 130 Reissue: CJ’s 25 Favorite Antiwar Songs first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

In order to avoid cluttering up history episodes with this sort of stuff, CJ decided to make a stand-alone personal update episode to let anyone who cares know about all the continued Book-of-Job-ish stuff he’s been dealing with in recent months – including a major death in the family, deep depression shading off into suicidal ideation, & a horrific mystery illness that afflicted his household over the month of October – that have hobbled his content output, but how he made it through, is still alive & still sober, & how (fingers crossed, knock on wood, sacrifice a chicken to the chupacabra, etc, etc) in just the past few days he’s FINALLY been able to get back to something resembling full capacity. Like this episode? You can throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Throw CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qy9ywk9vdlran8nc0t4urwfzfhcakwa5y5lwwf4 Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Subscribe to the Dangerous History Podcast Youtube Channel Follow CJ on Twitter/X Follow the DHP on Instagram Follow the DHP on Facebook Other ways to support the show (including CJ’s current PO Box address) The post Back from the (Mostly) Dead first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

(Originally published Oct. 2016) In 1066, the course of English history was dramatically altered, as the realm was conquered by Normans from across the Channel. Join CJ as he discusses: Some backstory on Medieval England & Normandy The death of Edward the Confessor & coronation of Harold Godwinson William of Normandy’s preparations for invasion to seize the English crown The invasion of Northern England by Harald Hardrada of Norway, and Harold Godwinson’s defeat of this force at Stamford Bridge William’s invasion of Southern England shortly after Stamford Bridge The climactic Battle of Hastings,  a hard-fought battle that was ultimately won by the forces of William The aftermath and legacies of the Norman conquest of England This is an episode that got a lot of positive feedback back when it was originally published, but the DHP’s audience was a lot smaller then than now, & CJ figures a lot of DHP listeners haven’t checked this one out as it’s a stand-alone episode kind of overshadowed by some of his big series. Like this episode? You can throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Throw CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qy9ywk9vdlran8nc0t4urwfzfhcakwa5y5lwwf4 Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Subscribe to the Dangerous History Podcast Youtube Channel Follow CJ on Twitter/X Follow the DHP on Instagram Follow the DHP on Facebook Other ways to support the show (including CJ’s PO Box address) The post DHP Ep. 122 Reissue: Principal Ruffian & Chief Among Plunderers: The Norman Conquest of England first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

CJ has started to compile all episodes of his acclaimed 2016 History of American Slavery series into collected volumes, just like he’s already done with his American Revolution & Not-So-Civil War series (and as he will soon start doing with the Woodrow Wilson series), with the episodes curated together into volumes & all announcements, ads, etc, removed. These will be available in CJ’s Patreon shop (and in fact, the first 2 volumes are already up as of now, with the rest to follow shortly.) They can be purchased a la carte whether you’re a Patreon supporter of CJ’s work or not, but CJ’s Patreon supporters at the Scholar Warrior level ($20/month) & higher will get access to ALL volumes of this collection at no extra charge; in addition, CJ’s Patreon supporters at all levels get a discount code to save 15% on purchase of any & all items in CJ’s Patreon shop that are not already included free of charge as part of their membership benefits. Join CJ in 2016 as he discusses: Some basic introductions & things to keep in mind for this series A very brief overview of the prior history of slavery in history The origins of European involvement in the African slave trade, beginning with the Portuguese in the 15th and 16th Centuries The beginnings of slavery in the European colonies The question of the relationship between racism & slavery, and some possible sources of antiblack racism on the part of Europeans Like this episode? You can throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Throw CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qy9ywk9vdlran8nc0t4urwfzfhcakwa5y5lwwf4 Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Subscribe to the Dangerous History Podcast Youtube Channel Follow CJ on Twitter/X Follow the DHP on Instagram Follow the DHP on Facebook Other ways to support the show The post DHP Ep. 95 Reissue: A History of American Slavery, Part I: Origins of Atlantic Slavery first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

CJ is back with a beast of a DHP episode that he’s been brewing laboriously for over a month, if not two. On June 8th, 1967, during the Six Day War, the USS Liberty, a virtually unarmed signals intelligence ship operating off the coast of Egypt, was attacked by Israeli planes & torpedo boats. […] The post Ep. 0281: “The Best-Planned Mistake”: The Israeli Attack on the USS Liberty first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

In this episode, CJ shares his thoughts on the meaning, significance, & fallout of the “debate” that took place a few weeks ago on the Joe Rogan Experience between Dave Smith & Douglas Murray, especially in regards to credentialism & the Cult of the “Expert,” as well as the phenomenon of the Neo-Neocons (next-generation Neoconservatives) […] The post Ep. 280: Don’t Be Neo-Neoconned! (Thoughts on the Dave Smith/Douglas Murray Debate) first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

For this DHP episode, CJ was very happy to be joined by veteran independent researcher, journalist, & media producer James Corbett of CorbettReport.com to talk about James’ recently published book Reportage: Essays on the New World Order. Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Other ways to support the show Get CJ’s Dangerous American History […] The post Ep. 279: Reportage on the Psychopaths Who Rule Us (w/James Corbett) first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

(To celebrate 4/20, please enjoy this reissue of a DHP Episode from 2019.) At the 2019 Midwest Peace & Liberty Fest in Delton, Mich., CJ took the occasion of Michigan’s recent legalization of marijuana to do a DHP Villains feature on the man who is arguably the most important of the Founding Fathers of the US government’s war on drugs. Join CJ as he discusses the career of Harry J. Anslinger, from his early life to working for the State Department, then the Treasury Department, culminating in his tenure as first Commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics from 1930-62, during which time (among other things) he presided over the beginning of the federal government’s criminalization of marijuana and the continuous amping-up of the drug war and its penalties; along the way we’ll also cover Anslinger’s racism & xenophobia, as well as his connections to the OSS and CIA, including lending those agencies some of his top agents for shady purposes, including some of the MK-Ultra experiments. Links Hire CJ to speak to your group or at your event Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Other ways to support the show Get CJ’s Dangerous American History Bibliography FREE Like this episode? You can throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Throw CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qfrz9erz7dqazh9rhz3j7nv696nl52ux8unw79zThe post Reissue Ep. 184: DHP Villains: Harry Anslinger (CJ’s Presentation from the 2019 Midwest Peace & Liberty Fest) first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

April 19th, 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of the REAL American Declaration of Independence, when thousands of average, non-elite Americans declared their independence by deed over a year before the “leaders” in Philadelphia decided to declare it with ink & parchment. Because of this, and because I’ve recently published the collection of the entire Dangerous History American Revolution series in my Patreon shop, I decided to temporarily reissue DHP episode 59 (originally published in April 2015 & no longer available on the public DHP feed), which centers on the crucial year of 1775. Join CJ as he discusses: Some thoughts on Great Man historical narratives An overview of what was happening in terms of rising tensions in late-1774 and early-1775, much of which related to British attempts to limit colonists’ access to weapons and gunpowder A fairly detailed account of the Battle of Lexington & Concord on April 19, 1775 The actions of the Continental Congress, including the appointment of George Washington as Commander of the new Continental Army, and its consequences for the war and the future of America Ethan Allen & his Green Mountain Boys Some other early battles The situation as of the close of 1775 Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Other ways to support the show Get CJ’s Dangerous American History Bibliography FREE Subscribe to the Dangerous History Podcast Youtube Channel Like this episode? You can throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Throw CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qfrz9erz7dqazh9rhz3j7nv696nl52ux8unw79z External Links Map of Lexington & Concord Charleston Law Review article “How the British Gun Control Program Precipitated the American Revolution” by David B. Kopel The post Reissue: DHP Ep. 59: The American Revolution, Part II: 1775 first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

In this installment of the Woodrow Wilson series, he gets us into war. Join CJ as he discusses Woodrow Wilson’s presidency from late-1916 through early April of 1917, when he gives one of the most famous and (tragically) influential speeches in American history, asking Congress to pass a war resolution against Germany in order to […] The post DHP Ep. 278: DHP Villains: Woodrow Wilson, Pt. 14 first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

For this DHP episode, CJ was joined by Alex Von Sternberg of History Impossible, who lives in the LA area & recently put out an episode about natural disasters & their significant-but-oft-overlooked social & political effects. Join CJ & Alex as they discuss natural disasters in general, the California wildfires in particular, California’s oligarchical corruption, […] The post Ep. 0277: Californication Conflagration (w/Alex Von Sternberg) first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

This DHP episode features an interesting conversation CJ had with a listener named Frank (who’s a physicist currently working in academia) in the aftermath of the 4th & final session of CJ’s recently-concluded DHP Live-ceum course “The Decline & Fall of the Soviet Empire,” in which, following some discussion of details about the end of […] The post Ep. 0276: Back in the USSA first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

CJ has had a particularly difficult last 5 years or so, including battling alcoholism & depression, only to have his wife become disabled just as he was starting to come out of those struggles, which gave him & his family a bunch of new stresses, including severe financial ones that he’s still trying to battle […] The post Archetopical Ep. 4: A Book of Job Survival Manual first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

Join CJ as he continues his coverage of the life & career of Woodrow Wilson through 1916, culminating in Wilson’s successful-but-close reelection campaign that November. (Apologies for the not-pristine audio — there’s some clipping I didn’t notice during recording. I did my best to clean it up in post, but it’s still a little distorted […] The post Ep. 0275: DHP Villains: Woodrow Wilson, Part 13 first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

Join CJ as he shares some thoughts & analysis about how the 2024 election played out, its significance in the context of American political history, and some historical parallels. Links Sign up to take CJ’s “Decline & Fall of the Soviet Empire” Dangerous History Live-Ceum Course (which will start on Tues, 12/3) Support the Dangerous […] The post Ep. 0274: Election Reflections first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

Unfortunately, CJ did not have time to do both an election episode & a Halloween episode this year, so he opted for the latter. (Next October, assuming the DHP is still around & CJ isn’t a homeless beggar, and assuming World War 3 and/or Civil War 2 aren’t disrupting everything, CJ will do Halloween DHP […] The post Ep. 0273: Civil Religion, Party Systems, & the 2024 Election first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

A few weeks ago, CJ FINALLY won the War of Art when it came to starting a second podcast, something he’s been seriously thinking about & planning for over 5 years. The podcast is called Archetopical, and has its own separate podcast feed from the DHP. You can find it here, or search for it […] The post Archetopical Ep. 1: The Hero’s Journey first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

Join CJ as he discusses the real political origin story of Kamala Harris, which is Establishment-approved Corporatist Progressivism (NOT communism!) Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Sign up for CJ’s upcoming online DHP Live-Ceum class, Decline & Fall of the Soviet Empire Other ways to support the show Get CJ’s Dangerous American History Bibliography […] The post Ep. 0272: Young Kamala & the Rainbow Sign first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

In this episode, CJ revisits DHP Episode 34, “The Iron Law of Oligarchy,” from 2014, in preparation for an upcoming mini-series on oligarchy & CJ’s argument that modern democracy is just oligarchy with extra steps. Join CJ as he discusses: A little bit about German sociologist Robert Michels, who first described this law The Iron […] The post DHP Special: Revisiting “The Iron Law of Oligarchy” first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

In 1919, the Supreme Court of the United States voted unanimously to uphold the conviction of Socialist Party activists whose only crime was distributing a pamphlet critical of conscription during American participation in the First World War, even though the pamphlet did not advocate any lawbreaking — not even civil disobedience. Links Support the Dangerous […] The post Ep. 0271: Schencking the First Amendment first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

In this dozenth episode in the Wilson series, join CJ as he discusses the ways in which the Wilson administration & Corporate America (especially the House of Morgan) was decidedly un-neutral in regard to the First World War over the course of 1915. Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Other ways to support the […] The post Ep. 0270: DHP Villains: Woodrow Wilson, Part 12 first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

What if I told you that we can connect Woodrow Wilson to the Nazis in a single degree of separation? No, this is not the zillionth illustration of Godwin’s Law that you’ve seen this week; it is simply little-known historical fact. In this dose of Dangerous History, we’ll talk about the little-known eugenicist psychiatrist who […] The post Ep. 0269: Woodrow Wilson’s Eugenicist: The Curious Case of Dr. Edwin Katzen-Ellenbogen first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

(Originally published Aug., 2024) Join CJ on 2 work commutes in Silver Bullet v.3.0 as he discusses his provisional thoughts on the near-assassination of Donald Trump that took place in July of 2024, as well as some historical precedents and context for it. Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Other ways to support the […] The post Ep. 0268: The Praetorians Strike Back? (Thoughts on the Trump assassination attempt) first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

(Originally published Feb., 2024) No, you’re NOT hallucinating — after the longest hiatus between episodes since I started the Dangerous History Podcast back in 2014, I FINALLY managed to record & publish a new DHP episode. Join CJ as he shares reads excerpts from & discusses a very interesting CIA manual on assassinations from the […] The post Ep. 0267: A Study of Assassination first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

(Originally published Oct., 2023) This installment in the Woodrow Wilson series covers the period of the Wilson presidency from the summer of 1914 through the end of that year, when he said he wanted to keep the US neutral & out of the war, & still seemed to at least kinda mean it. (*Apologies for the lackluster […] The post Ep. 0266: DHP Villains: Woodrow Wilson, Part 11 first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

(Originally published June, 2023) We’ve all heard of the famous ‘butterfly effect.’ But is there a plausible, realistic, alternative historical scenario in which the US & the world could’ve been spared the worst aspects of Woodrow Wilson’s presidency merely by altering one seemingly minor detail of the 1912 election? Yes there is. Join CJ in […] The post Ep. 0259: A Butterfly Saves the World…from Woodrow Wilson?: An Alt-Hist DHP Microdose first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

(Originally published May, 2023) Join CJ as he discusses the life & death of the Seminole leader Osceola, who was a key resistance leader in the early stages of the Second Seminole War (1835-42), the longest & costliest Indian war in US history, in which the US government was using force to ethnically cleanse the […] The post Ep. 0258: DHP Heroes: Osceola (CJ’s talk from the 2023 Florida LP Convention) first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

(Originally published May, 2023) This DHP episode features CJ’s talk from the March, 2023 Self Reliance Festival in Tennessee, in which he discusses some of the most common unfortunate historical phenomena that tend to occur when empires are declining & falling. Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Other ways to support the show Subscribe […] The post Ep. 0257: What to Expect When Your Empire’s Collapsing first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

(Originally published Feb., 2023) CJ returns to the story of the man he loves to hate! This time, we’re going to take a detour from the chrono-narrative of Wilson’s presidency; this one is going to focus on Wilson’s beliefs, statements & actions on race throughout his career as an academic & politician. Was Woodrow Wilson […] The post Ep. 0251: DHP Villains: Woodrow Wilson, Part 10 first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

(Originally published Oct., 2022) In part 1 of 2, join CJ as he discusses the Motion Picture Association of America’s so-called “Hays Code” (officially: “A Code to Govern the Making of Motion Pictures”), which rigidly controlled the content of most American movies from the early-1930s to the late-1960s. Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon […] The post Ep. 0242: Hays Codes, Part 1: The Old Hays Code first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

(Originally published July, 2022) Finally! Here it is – the longest and, I believe, the most important Dangerous History Podcast episode I’ve done to date! (I recorded the first of many segments for this episode all the way back in April, and had been researching & composing notes for it for many months before that!) […] The post Ep. 0236: WWI Propaganda in the US Part 1: Perfidious Albion’s Propaganda first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

(Originally published Dec., 2021) Harkening back to a DHP series on important concepts & theories from 5 years ago, CJ decided to put together another such series for 2021, this time zeroing in on 13 concepts & theories that have been on display in a big way since the beginning of Covid Madness (and all […] The post Ep. 0229: The Dirty Baker’s Dozen, Part 1 first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

(Originally published Nov., 2021) Finally, here it is: The ninth installment in CJ’s meticulous & merciless dissection of the life & career of Woodrow Wilson Join CJ as he discusses some of Wilson’s major speeches & domestic policy achievements, as well as some of his major personal/family changes, which took place during 1914, his second […] The post Ep. 0227: DHP Villains: Woodrow Wilson, Part 9 first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

(Originally published July, 2021) For this 8th installment in the Wilson series, we will focus on the beginning of Wilson’s presidency, including his Cabinet selections, inauguration, and early successes in pushing his agenda through Congress in his first year in office, especially in regard to the passage of the 1913 Revenue Act and the Federal […] The post Ep. 0222: DHP Villains: Woodrow Wilson, Part 8 first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

(Originally published Feb., 2021) Here’s the seventh installment in the DHP’s ongoing coverage of the life & career of Woodrow Wilson. Join CJ as he discusses the 1912 election, which resulted in Woodrow Wilson’s election to the presidency. Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Other ways to support the show Subscribe to the Dangerous […] The post Ep. 0217: DHP Villains: Woodrow Wilson, Part 7 first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

(Originally published Oct., 2020)   Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Other ways to support the show Subscribe to the Dangerous History Podcast Youtube Channel Get CJ’s Dangerous American History Bibliography FREE Hire CJ to speak to your group or at your event Like this episode? You can throw CJ a $ tip via […] The post Ep. 0210: DHP Villains: Woodrow Wilson, Part 6 first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

(Originally published Aug., 2020) Here it is, the giant deep dive overview episode of Woodrow Wilson’s decades of academic output! (Remember, I dive down these nightmarish rabbit-holes so you don’t have to!) Here CJ dissects Woodrow Wilson’s beliefs in painstaking detail, using the mountain of  of essays, articles, books, speeches & lectures produced by the […] The post Ep. 0207: DHP Villains: Woodrow Wilson, Part 5 first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

(Originally published Feb., 2020) In this fourth installment in the epic DHP Villains Woodrow Wilson series, we’re detail-stripping what CJ considers to be perhaps the single most important piece of writing in Woodrow Wilson’s career, the essay “The Study of Administration,” which was published in the July 1887 issue of Political Science Quarterly, when Wilson was […] The post Ep. 0197: DHP Villains: Woodrow Wilson, Part 4 first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

(Originally published Dec., 2019) In this third instalment in the DHP coverage of Woodrow Wilson, we focus on Wilson’s years as President of Princeton University, 1902-1910. Join CJ as he discusses: The changes and reforms Wilson implemented at Princeton, and others he tried (but failed) to implement His increasingly contentious relationship with some of the […] The post Ep. 0192: DHP Villains: Woodrow Wilson, Part 3 first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

(Originally published Sept. 2019) Part 2 of CJ’s deep dive into the life & career of Woodrow Wilson covers most of Wilson’s career in academia, stopping just as he’s about to become president of Princeton University. Join CJ as he discusses: Woodrow Wilson’s time as a graduate student at Johns Hopkins University Woodrow Wilson’s time […] The post Ep. 0187: DHP Villains: Woodrow Wilson, Part 2 first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

(First published Aug., 2019) Here it is, the first installment in CJ’s DHP Villains hit-piece on The Worst President (So Far!) in US History, Woodrow Wilson. (And that’s no small matter considering how badly CJ thinks of most American presidents!) In this first installment, we’re covering Wilson’s early life & education, stopping just before his […] The post Ep. 0186: DHP Villains: Woodrow Wilson, Part 1 first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.