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Bonus Episode - Cuban Conspiracies and Schoolyard Chants
In this Bonus Episode Sebastian answers questions from listeners about the recent series on President McKinley. He discusses the challenges associated with using a book written by Karl Rove, conspira…
Published on 2 months, 2 weeks ago
Episode #232 - Why President McKinley? (Part III)
It's impossible to assess the historical reputation of President William McKinley without tangling with the Spanish-American War. In this final part of the William McKinley trilogy Sebastian gets int…
Published on 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Episode #231 - Why President McKinley? (Part II)
The 1896 election of William McKinley has been noted as an inflection point in American politics. But, historians are often conflicted about what story they want to tell. It could be seen as moment w…
Published on 3 months ago
Episode #230 - Why President McKinley? (Part I)
The 25th President of the United States, William McKinley, has recently been in the news. In the 2025 inaugural address it was announced that Alaska's highest peak would once again be known as Mt. Mc…
Published on 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Bonus Episode - Selkies, Spectacles, and Satire
In this Bonus Episode Sebastian takes questions about his recent exploration of mermaid mythology. He gets into the difference between Selkies and Mermaids, and wades into the murky waters of Scottis…
Published on 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Episode #229 - Real Mermaids?
Mermaids are part of countless mythological traditions found the world over. Almost ever culture has a belief in some form of human-fish hybrid. In the west the modern mermaid evolved as combination …
Published on 4 months ago
Episode #228 - You Talkin' About Myths, Baby? (ft. Liv Albert)
In this interview episode Sebastian speaks with podcaster, author, and host of Let's Talk About Myths, Baby Liv Albert. Liv has spent the last 8 years and 700 episodes of her podcast exploring the nu…
Published on 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Bonus Episode - Helots, Spartan Women, and Historical Fiction
In this bonus episode Sebastian responds to listener questions and comments about the Spartan series. He gets a chance to give some more details about the Helots and Spartan women. He also muses at l…
Published on 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Episode #227 - What is the Spartan Mirage? (Part III)
The famous Battle of Thermopylae forms the centerpiece of the Spartan Mirage. Legend has it that a tiny force of 300 Spartans took on over two million Persians and managed to hold them off for a rema…
Published on 5 months ago
Episode #226 - What is the Spartan Mirage? (Part II)
Did you know that the most famous Spartan poet may not have been from Sparta? He also may not have written many of the poems that bear his name. This is yet another example of the weird collection of…
Published on 5 months, 2 weeks ago