Episode #138 – Any Questions? (2021)
Season 6 wraps up with Sebastian taking questions from the listeners! He gets into everything from the name of the podcast, to his most loved shows, to the nature of humanity itself. Tune-in and find out how obscure Canadian playwrights, stubborn Stratfordians, and a “wombly child” all play a role in the story. (more…)
Episode #137 – What’s the Deal with Guns, Germs, and Steel? (Part II)
Is Jared Diamond’s 1997 bestseller a work of staggering genius, or a piece of intellectual garbage? Has it moved our understanding of humanity forward, or has it set us back by decades? Are these binary choices ridiculously limiting? Totally! In this episode Sebastian does his best to parse the good ideas from Guns, Germs, and Steel, while also engaging with some of the best and most memorable criticisms of the book. (more…)
Episode #136 – What’s the Deal with Guns, Germs, and Steel? (Part I)
When Sebastian first read Jared Diamond’s Pulitzer Prize winning book Guns, Germs, and Steel as an undergrad, he thought it was brilliant. That was until a Professor he deeply respected, dismissed it as being little better than the Da Vinci Code. It turns out that while the 1997 bestseller earned many high profile plaudits, it also spawned legions of of critics. What’s in this book that has inspired such passionate responses? Did Jared Diamond crack the code of human history, or was he playing a little too fast and loose with his pop-science? (more…)
Episode #135 – Who Won the War of 1812? (Part III)
Every spring thaw between 1812 and 1814 seemed to inaugurate a completely new war in North America. The momentum in the War of 1812 would swing wildly between the Americans and British until the two sides eventually hammered out a peace in 1814. Before the war was over the Niagara frontier would be desolated, York and Washington would both be ravaged by fire, and thousands would be dead. The war also remained somewhat inconclusive. Can Sebastian make a thoughtful case about who the true “winner” of 1812 really was? (more…)
Episode #134 – Who Won the War of 1812? (Part II)
When Sebastian first learned about the War of 1812 when he was a Canadian middle-schooler, there were two words he was told he had to remember of the test: manifest destiny. Back then it was heavily implied that this nefarious ideology was the most important cause of the war. Since then historians have largely dismissed this interpretation. But, that is just the start of misconceptions about this conflict. Canada beat the odds by resisting the first American invasion in 1812. How was this even possible? (more…)
Episode #133 – Who Won the War of 1812? (Part I)
American historians sometimes refer to War of 1812 as the “Forgotten War”, but this has never really sat well with Canadians. You know who has not forgotten about the War of 1812? Canada, that’s who! In the Anglo-Canadian historical imagination the War of 1812 looms large. Canadians (and especially Ontarians) learn that 1812 was a hard won Canadian victory against American aggression. But, it turns out, many Americans have learned that the war was more of a stalemate, and might even be considered an American victory. Who has it right? (more…)
Episode #132 – Does Ethiopia Have the Ark of the Covenant? (Part II)
Ethiopia’s history is nothing short of remarkable. The East African nation is home to one of the worlds oldest Christian traditions. For centuries the country was ruled by a line of kings who claimed to be descended from the biblical King Solomon. They also claimed to be the caretakers of the long lost Ark of the Covenant. However, Ethiopian archaeology and other historical sources can sometimes complicate these claims. (more…)
Episode #131 – Does Ethiopia Have the Ark of the Covenant? (Part I)
The Ark of the Covenant is one of the most fascinating objects mentioned in the Old Testament. The ancient Israelites believed the Ark held a divine power that made them unstoppable on the battlefield. When Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587BC, most assumed the Ark was lost. That is, except the Ethiopians. According to many pious Ethiopian Christians, the Ark was not destroyed in the sack of Jerusalem, because the Ark wasn’t there that day. (more…)
Episode #130 – Was There a Real Gilgamesh? (Part II)
The search for a historical Gilgamesh is filled with red herrings. As Mesopotamia’s best loved epic hero images of Gilgamesh are littered throughout the ruins of the ancient cities of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Kings looking to bolster their image would claim that Gilgamesh was their “friend and brother”. But despite these bits of historical misdirection, there is some evidence hinting at a real man behind the myth. (more…)
Episode #129 – Was There a Real Gilgamesh? (Part I)
The oldest known piece of literature on the planet is the epic tale of Gilgamesh, king of the Mesopotamian city-state of Uruk. The story was a staple of middle-eastern storytelling for well over a thousand years. However, after the destruction of Assyrian city of Nineveh in the 600’s BC, key manuscripts were lost and the tale faded from memory. When the story was rediscovered in the late 1870’s, by an unlikely assistant curator in the British Museum, it resumed its place among the great works of world literature. But the rediscovery came with questions. Was anything in this epic tale based in fact? Could the Epic of Gilgamesh actually be used to substantiate history as revealed in the Old Testament? (more…)
Episode #128 – Did St. Patrick Kill a Wizard?
There are few Christian saints more misunderstood than St. Patrick. Ireland’s patron saint is best known for driving the snakes off the island, but that isn’t even close to the most interesting thing about him. Both the legend of St. Patrick and the details of his real life have been poorly remembered. Driving the snakes out of Ireland is nothing compared to the wizard duels described in the medieval sources. Have we completely missed the boat on what makes St. Patrick worth remembering? (more…)
Episode #127 – Who Was the Blood Countess? (Part II)
In 1611 a the Hungarian Countess, Elizabeth Bathory, was confined to her castle of Cachtice, never to leave again. This sentence was imposed on her by the Lord Palatine of Hungary. But strangely, even though Bathory had been accused of some truly heinous crimes, she was never formally charged, or given a proper trial. If she was so clearly guilty, then why was she denied due process? Elizabeth’s case becomes even more suspicious once you consider that most of the testimony used to incriminate her was either procured through torture, or was riddled with hearsay and inconsistencies. Is it possible that she was actually the victim of a conspiracy? (more…)
Episode #126 – Who Was the Blood Countess? (Part I)
Throw the name Elizabeth Bathory into your favourite search engine and you will quickly find superlatives like “history’s most prolific female serial killer” and leading questions like “Was Dracula Woman?” She is a figure with a reputation so terrifying that her name has been endorsed by Black Metal bands as a suitably evil band name. In 1611 the Hungarian Countess was imprisoned for allegedly torturing and killing as many as 600 young maidservants. It was not long before a vampire-like legend grew up around Bathory. (more…)
Bonus Episode – What Did He Say About Karate?
In episode #125 a historical myth about the origins of karate snuck past Sebastian! In this bonus episode the host does his darndest to set the record straight. Many thanks to listener Philipp Surkov for pointing out the error and recommending sources. (more…)
Episode #125 – What Are the Origins of Martial Arts? (Part II)
Martial arts myths are have been described as “savvy marketing”. But, the most enduring bits of of fake martial arts history also combine Zen tradition, a Confucian veneration of the past, and a healthy dose of nationalism. Schools of martial arts will sometimes bend over backwards to prove that their form is a “pure” expression of their particular national culture. Sebastian is joined by history podcaster, and martial artist, Daniele Bolelli, to help separate the fact from the fiction. (more…)
Episode #124 – What Are the Origins of Martial Arts? (Part I)
Asian martial arts are often coated in a thick layer of of legend. Many fighting styles have elaborate origin stories and mystical founding fathers. These stories often help enhance the prestige of a particular school and inspire new students. However, the “histories” of many of these martial arts disciplines are completely made up. (more…)
Episode #123 – Should We Trust Nostradamus? (Part II)
These days Nostradamus is best known for the predictions found in his book The Prophecies. But, surprisingly, that book only became popular after the French seers’ death. During his lifetime Nostradamus was better known for his yearly almanacs. Still, there is something about the poetic style of The Prophecies that has kept it evergreen where his almanacs have faded into obscurity. What is it about The Prophecies that has kept people engaged over the centuries? (more…)
Episode #122 – Should We Trust Nostradamus? (Part I)
The 16th century French prophet, Nostradamus, has a way of rearing his head anytime humanity finds itself in the midst of a crisis. Anytime there’s a collective tragedy, the world is plunged into conflict, or society finds itself on the cusp of painful transition, you will find someone waving a copy of Nostradamus’ Prophecies. But how accurate were Nostradamus’ predictions? (more…)
Episode #121 – What is Ghost River?
In 1763 twenty indigenous people in the colony of Pennsylvania were murdered by an armed gang. The victims had been a peaceful group of Conestogas, who had been wrongfully accused of aiding in violent raids against the settlers. The infamous attack would go down in history as the Conestoga massacre. However, almost immediately after the murders the meaning of the event became the source of a fierce war in the press. (more…)
Episode #120 – Who Was the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans? (Part III)
What does a Voodoo Queen even do? It turns out that much of it had to do with a ceremony in New Orleans known as St. John’s Eve. Much of Marie Laveau’s legend is deeply tied to that yearly voodoo ritual. Marie Laveau was said to lead the wild bacchanalian rite, however, there are some who think that the most famous description of Marie Laveau’s St. John’s Eve misidentified the voodoo priestess. Perhaps Marie Laveau hadn’t been there at all. Maybe an imposter had been in her place. (more…)
Episode #119 – Who Was the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans? (Part II)
Voodoo might be one of the most misunderstood religious traditions in the world. This unique combination of traditional West African spirituality and Roman Catholicism has been slandered for centuries as an evil form of black magic. This dark reputation was reinforced by pulpy articles written by white authors in the 19th century, sensationalizing voodoo rituals. These unflattering depictions of voodoo have coloured the way many have perceived the life and legacy of New Orleans’ most famous voodoo practitioner, the Voodoo Queen, Marie Lavaeu. But what did a Laveau voodoo ritual actually look like? (more…)
Episode #118 – Who Was the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans? (Part I)
One of the many things that makes New Orleans one of the most unique cities in North America is its history of Voodoo. When it comes to New Orleans Voodoo there is no figure more important than the great Marie Laveau. But despite her enormous fame in the city of New Orleans she remains an enigmatic and often misunderstood figure. The thick layer of legend that surrounds this remarkable woman can be hard for even the most dedicated investigator to penetrate. Who really was the voodoo queen of New Orleans? (more…)
Episode #117 – What Went Down On Easter Island? (Part II)
The island of Rapa Nui, or Easter Island, has been called “the clearest example of a society that destroyed itself.” For years it was taken for granted that the people of Rapa Nui had depleted their natural resources in pursuit of bigger and better stone statues called Moai. However, recent scholarship has called into to question the widely known story of ecological collapse. Were the people of Rapa Nui really the authors of their own destruction, or has this narrative been unfairly exaggerated? (more…)
Episode #116 – What Went Down On Easter Island? (Part I)
Easter Island, or Rapa Nui as the indigenous islanders call it, may be the most misunderstood place on planet Earth. For centuries outsiders have tried to unravel what they perceived to be the islands many mysteries. How did stone age people manage to get to such a remote island? How did these people build the island’s remarkable statues? What caused this unique society to collapse? Recent research has completely upended many previous assumptions about this storied island. Was the mysterious collapse even a collapse at all? (more…)