We look to the Romans, Mongols and British Royal Navy to see what traits are shared among successful militaries.  

Originally posted in 2024, our take on this "crazy" Woke 1.0 controversy

With my guest Jeremy Cordon of Goldbacks, we touch on gold in ancient and medieval history, but then fast forward to the Gold Standard, inflation and today's economy.  

Goldback.com

The world's greatest investor just retired.  What can he teach us about investing and life? The answers are mixed.  

Joined by my brother Chris, we explore ancient times through the movies.  Ben Hur, Gladiator, Ten Commandments and Alexander all get commentary.  

We look at the forces including the Civil War, Industry, Labor and Gov Reform that changed the country from a collection of states to the United States of America.  

Influencer?  Activist? Free?  We look at terms in our politics that are making our nation more stupid.  

We are joined on the podcast by Dean Kinzer, an expert in ancient coins.  Dean lays out how coins can be a guide of history.  We go from Rome of the Kings all the way to Constantine the Great.  

Notes:

kinzercoins.com

Ancient Coin Hour Podcast: open.spotify.com/show/1buAVE6eBf8Q6heObi5h9T

We look at the beginnings of Labor Day and what it means for our nation today.  

We look at the study of the cosmos moving from Aristotle to Ptolemy, from Al Tusi to Kepler and Galileo, from Herschal to Hubble and finish with modern Astronomy.

We go to late 19th Century America and look at the Captains of Industry.  Were they exploitative villains or builders of America's future?  

Is it fair to use sitcoms from 40 years ago as a marker of our history, and comparison with affordability today?  We explore using Married With Children, Roseanne, The Cosby Show and Brady Bunch.  

We look at the largest of the successor (Diadochi) kingdoms built after the death of Alexander. A mixed legacy of west meets east but also ending in ignominy.  

Show notes:

Antiochus the Great by Michael Taylor 

We talk with Jeremy Ryan Slate the founder of the Hidden Forces in History and Roman Pattern podcasts about Romans such as Aurelian, English Kings Henry V and VII, what we can learn today from Roman decline. 

Notes: 

Ronald Syme:  The Roman Revolution

We travel from 24th Century BC Akkad to the Napoleonic Era looking for good subjects worthy of portrayal.  Sargon, St. Louis and Nelson all make appearances. 

We look at Spielberg/Hanks, Ford/Wayne, Lean/Guinness and reluctantly Griffiths/Gish to view historical movies where a director and actor collaborated more than once. 

We take a walk through presidential history to ID financial chicanery in the executive branch 

We are joined on the podcast by Tim Queeney, author of Rope: How a Bundle of Twisted Fibers Became the Backbone of Civilization.  We travel from the stone age to Egypt, Polynesia, the Age of Sail and even go to Mars.  

We explore the 4th of July Holiday and on this, the 250th anniversary of our nation, all of the meanings of that great day.  

We look at modern America and hear from the Founders about what they would think of America 250 years after the new nation was born.  

We look at who was leading the American Revolution, what motivated them, and the principles upon which they built the nation.  

We look at the Obama (checks notes) Center and revisit its namesake's legacy.  

My brother Chris joins the podcast for quirky historical movies and we look at Imitation Game, Hugo, and Col. Blimp.  We also speculate on whether Elon Musk has scheduled blood transfusions.   

VP JD Vance noted this week that WW2 ended with a negotiation.  Also "most major" conflicts did.  We look to the historical record to test this contention.  

Jeff Mayhugh (projectnocap.com) comes back on the show to talk about how a larger, uncapped House of Representatives would help with gerrymandering, and a host of other ills. 

We look at LBJ's Great Society and determine its legacy.  

Every year I repost this episode at this time.  A history of the holiday that honors those whose sacrifice made all of this possible.  

We look at the career of Diocletian to determine the effectiveness of his reign and reforms.  

We travel to late 12th century Europe and meet two kings who started as allies and ended as bitter enemies.  Their rivalry changed Western European history.

We explore wars ranging from the American Revolution to the current situation in Iran and explore how nations get stuck.  

We are joined on the podcast by  Jack Henneman, founder of the History of the Americans Podcast.  We discuss Bacon's Rebellion and Colonial Virginia and a few other topics.  

Cato and Caesar were there at the end of the Roman Republic.  We look at the both men to try to gain insights into the end of an era.  

We begin with the founding of Antioch in 300 BC and to its last major sacking in 1268 AD, and all points in between.  

Our guest is Prof. William Anthony Hay, author of Lord Liverpool: A Political Life.  We discuss the Napoleonic Era and afterwards from a British perspective.  

We look at the the purpose, or non purpose, of the No Kings protests.  

We explore the Jewish, pagan, and Christian roots of the holiday of Easter.  

We meet Charles II of the English Restoration.  His life was the paradox of the Merry Monarch and a strategic, serious ruler.  

We look at Malthus, Erlich and Human prosperity in this episode.  

Joined by my brother Chris, we look at the Oscar race and wondering if politically correct positions and attractive actresses uglying themselves up is the path to victory.  

We go through every war and and general in history and choose the greatest based on battlefield brilliance, army build and strategic genius.    

We look at movies ranging from Young Mr. Lincoln to ... Lincoln.  From Fail Safe to The American President.  

We explore the 2nd half of The Wars of the Roses and meet with a host of disloyal figures including Warwick, Stanley, Clarence and most of all, Richard III 

We begin our exploration of the English Wars of the Roses noting that they emanated from the rule, or misrule, of the weak King Henry VI.  

We have a conservation with John Oller, author of The Swamp Fox, a book about Francis Marion, and Gangster Hunters, about the 1930s FBI. 

We wade into the current Helen of Troy in Nolan's Odyssey debate to discuss the diverse casting for selected movie roles.  

We look at the role of performance in government going back to the Egyptians, Akkadians and fast forwarding to FDR.  

Mike Coté of Rational Policy joins the podcast. We discuss current US policy regarding Greenland, Venezuela and China - and also have a shout out to Henry VIII.  

See Mike's blog and podcast - www.rationalpolicy.com

Recent Mike articles: 

nationalreview.com/2025/07/why-the-iranian-regime-is-still-uniquely-dangerous

providencemag.com/2025/12/the-case-for-interdicting-sanctions-evading-cargo-ships-1/

commentary.org/articles/mike-cote/anti-zionists-mainstream-neo-nazism/

In the light of the capture of Nicholas Maduro, we explore the original intention of the Monroe Doctrine, what it later became, and what such a doctrine means for America today.  

We go from Edward IV of England to Mohammad to Gaius Marius to find historical figures who made impressive comebacks.  

In this episode we explore the date of Jesus' birth and what keeping Christmas means.  

We explore a towering figure of naval warfare and ask whether he stands atop all of history's admirals.  

We look at one of the towering figures of conservativism and explore whether his policies would work today.  

What is Thanksgiving really about?  We explore on this episode.  And Happy Thanksgiving America!

In one of of the most important podcasts I have ever done, this provides a clear outline of conservatism against that of the left, and other right wing ideologies.  It also illustrates a way forward for our nation.  

Joined by my brother Chris for a look at what made 70s movie unique, and what ended that period.  

We go back to the 1980s, and before, to see the root causes of shutdowns and look at 1996, 2013 and 2018 versions.  

We go from peasant Liu Bang to peasant Diocletian to explore rulers who rose to the Top.  

We look at the complexity of the Holy Roman Empire, its dispersal of power and need to compromise, and compare it with the United States government of today.  

We look at recent DOD Secretary Pete Hegseth's big speech on the warrior ethos through the prism of history.  

We feature Jeff Mayhugh of the No Cap Fund who discusses the history of Congress, and his efforts to expand the House of Representatives to make it more, well, representative.  

To learn more about the No Cap Fund please 

My fellow Americans, arm yourselves with pitchforks and torches as I unveil a way to close our $1.7 trillion deficit and try to pay down the debt.  

We take a look at gov. run groceries in the US, and other nations, and at the grocery business itself to discover whether it is a good idea. Hint, it is not.   

Josh Lewis, founder and publisher of the Saving Elephants podcast, a show that brings conservatism to the Millennials, joins us for a discussion about conservatism, congress and Chester Arthur.

We continue our series on the origins of the Civil War taking a look at the society of the South and the States Rights vs. Slavery Arguments

We explore the recent upsurge of support for the old Confederacy and provide arguments about the origins of the Civil War

We explore books about the Roman Republic, Colonial America, England, the Ancient Greeks and more.  

Joined by my brother Chris, we look at movies ranging from the Lost Weekend to Arthur to When a Man Loves a Woman.  

We look at ancient Egypt, Rome and China, Medieval Europe and Modern America to find the best leader upgrades.  

We hear from Professor Eric Heinze who expresses both his praise, but also provides a critique of the leftist approach to history.  Heinze goes after traditional history but does not spare the left over lack of historical criticism of Soviet, Cambodian and Cuban regimes.    

We go from Akbar to Washington to Edward I, and their ignoble successors.  

AI? Robots? Machine Learning? Fear of technology is not new.  We go to 19th century Britain to meet the Luddites, a group who also experienced technological change. 

We begin by exploring protests in the ancient world, stop in Medieval England, and come to the present day.  We also explore the mindset of protests today.  

We look at six presidents who chose not to seek another term including Joe Biden.  What were the motivations and decision drivers.  

We talk with Salina Baker, author of The Line of Splendor, a historical novel about Nathanael Greene.  We explore the general's life and the Revolutionary War.  

We compare and contrast riots in Ancient Alexandria with modern Los Angeles, including the current unrest.  

We hear from a man who was born in 1932 about what life was like in 1930s and 1940s America.  

It is vital as a nation that we honor and remember those whose sacrifice has given all that we have.  

We are joined on the podcast by Prof. Matt Tuininga.  We discuss a critical aspect of Early American history, the conflict of New England puritans and the native Americans in the region.   

We go back to the Egyptians, Popes, and even some American scandals to see bribery history and then explore whether the Qatari "gift" of a jet is a bribe.  

What has Congress done in the past four months?  Now, what has the executive tried to do?  This is an illustration of a century long process of power to the executive.  We trace this evolution's historical roots.  

We are thinking about the Roman Empire! We are joined by Professor David Parnell for a discussion about Flavius Belisarius and the 6th Century Romans.  

A few weeks ago we saw the blunders.  Now the diplomatic wins ranging from ancient Egypt to the Marshall Plan.  

We compare the 1950s, and the 1980s Japanese scare to today to learn how manufacturing, as part of our economy, has changed.  

We cover the Opium Wars, the Taiping Civil War and Stephen Platt's new book: Raider.  We also take a look at current China.  

We look at 17th century Spain as an example of how a great power can decline and fail when it takes on too much debt.  A lesson for the US.  

History denigrating the United States, celebrating dictators and crafting false and misleading narratives used to be the purview of the left.  Now we have it on the right. 

We compare the 1995 Best Picture Oscars with 2025. Then my brother Chris and I ask the question: What the heck happened?

Think the Oval Office imbroglio with Zelensky, Vance and Trump was bad?  We have at least ten worse diplomatic blunders.   

Amidst lots of boasting among MAGA this is a warning against hubris.  We have seen "permanent" majorities be not so permanent.  

Were the crusades about liberating the holy land, the clash of Christianity vs. Islam, or western colonization?  We explore all these views and provide a descriptor of some key events.  

We explore the inaugural addresses of Cleveland, Coolidge, FDR, Reagan and more recent presidents to understand the role of executive power.  

We look at the 1890 McKinley Tariff, 1930 Smoot Hawley (anyone?) and Trump's Tariff schemes.  

Our Republic was built to resist single person rule in the guise of monarchs or cults.  We go to medieval England and meet Henry III then move to the present to illustrate this point.  

We explore Los Angeles' Past and take a look at its present.  

Having spent 12 years marketing to the Healthcare Industry, I am astonished how little Americans know of this system.  Providing history and a primer to help.  

What are the most influential figures, trends or events that future historians will look back on from this past year?  We assemble a list as the most important of 2024.  

We go back prior to the 500s to find the most influential historical figures.  Confucius, Cyrus and Jesus all make the list.   

Beneath the horror of the murder of healthcare CEO Brian Thompson lies a virulent anti-capitalism.  We look at our healthcare system, and the incredible value of capitalism.  

We cover everything from academic myths to Prof. Reilly's move to the right to Gladiator II.  Come for the myth breaking, stay for some provocative takes. 

The leviathan that is our federal government is too big for outsider, learn on the job types.  If you want real reform, you need willing insiders who know how to get things done.  We look at Martin Luther, Diocletian and Steve Jobs to see why.  

We look at the recently completed 2024 election through a historical prism.  

For a break from politics I am joined by my brother Chris for a discussion of FUTURE movies, ones on Earth, dystopian, and truly alien.  

2024 will be a very close election. We look at seven different presidential contests that were won with razor thin margins.  

We go back to the end of the WWI to begin a tale of a "temporary" rent control, that is now over 100 years old.  

Get ready to rumble!  It is a throwdown between two holidays vying for the same day.  We look at the history of both and the real reasons the left wants Indigenous Peoples Day in, and Columbus out.

Writers, journalists and historians often compare Rome to modern day America.  Though there are definite similarities, and lessons to be learned, these claims are false.  

We compare the book and movie Dune with a certain 7th century historical figure who uniquely founded a great religion and a world empire.  

The GOP is at a crossroads.  We look to two figures who define the choices.  We look at Buchanan's politics, their influence on the current GOP, and Reagan's views for perspective.  

The GOP is at a crossroad.  We look to two figures who define the divide.  We start with Buchanan's revisionist history to gain insights.  

Russian history is about the country losing in the short term, and winning in the long term.  

Spawned by a guest on Tucker Carlson's show,  there is a debate that Churchill was the villain of World War II or least morally equivalent with Hitler.  This podcast refutes this rubbish and proposes Carlson's true intentions. 

You feelin them good vibrations?  I'm not.  A look through American History for them good vibes! 

We look at the Chinese Tang Dynasty - and Joe Biden's Mind - and look at those factors that determine the decline of our American Republic.  

Everyone is railing against the elites, but those pointing figures are notably among the ... elite.  Where does this emanate and what does this mean for our politics.  

The tragedy of this past weekend in which Corey Comperatore was killed, and former President Trump nearly so, illustrates that assassinations are again with us.  This is a brief history of assassinations, motivations and how it applies to war.  

Joined by my brother Chris, we look at Unbroken, The Longest Day, and Napoleon.  We also look at a few others including Dune and Opperheimer.  

We look at four different aspects of four different revolutions (American, French, Chinese, Russian) to learn what makes the American Revolution exceptional.  

We explore what is, and what is not, the purpose of the American Revolution.  We hear from Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. 

We look at the later years of the American Revolution including the British Southern Strategy.

It is a presidental election year so once again the Electoral College is under fire.  We explore the reasons to keep the college, and the true motivations behind those who wish to remove it.  

From Cahill to Tuchman, from McCullough to Roberts we provide a series of authors and books to fill your bookshelves, and your minds, with great history.  

We provide a brief history of flags including ones from the Revolution, their symbolism, and why a Supreme Court Justice flag controversy is about a lot more than flags.  

Posted annually on this critical day, we explore the meaning of Memorial Day and here from those who gave "the last full measure of devotion" so that we can enjoy our lives.  

What do fights between members of Congress and Kansas City Kickers have in common?  We explore the arguments of the roles of women in our society.  

A significant part of the protests roiling our campuses, and university history courses involve Settler Colonialism.  We explore the history of this concept and see how it fits into today's discourse. 

Five problems with our colleges and how to fix them.  

Ben Connelly, founder, publisher and writer for Hardihood Books joins the podcast to discuss non-fiction, science fiction and many other writings.  

 We look at the incomparable Louis XI of France to see what an energetic, focused, comprehensive foreign policy looks like.  

We have been hit by a wave of protests in the past few years.  Some vandalize works of art and others block key roadways.  We look at the history of some protests, and ask, what is the price of Free Speech.  

A look at American History through the 14 most crucial moments from 1763 - 1859.  We focus on Independence, the Constitution and the formidable Andrew Jackson.

We look at Civil Wars in Ancient Rome, modern Russia, China, and Spain and briefly at our own Civil War. We also address the question: is a 2nd American Civil War in the offing?  

World War I caused the deaths 20 Million including 9.7 military fatalities involved in a war that could have been avoided, and one that changed civilization forever.    

Have you noticed a certain childishness on the part of our leaders, and many fellow Americans?  Explore this trend and look for its causes.  

We explore the shifts in the party system from the early Republic to the Progressive Era and ask: Are we seeing a significant party shift in real time?  

The latest academic ranking of presidents is out.  I discuss the bias inherent in these rankings and propose a better way to look at our presidents. 

Jeff Mayhugh of the Politics and Parenting Podcast joins to discuss some of his key historical influencers including Truman, Madison and Lincoln.  We also discuss some contemporary politics through the prism of history.  

My brother CL and I discuss movies from 2023 including the Oscar nominees.  We go from Barbie to Oppenheimer, from Napoleon to The Holdovers with many movie stops along the way.  

We explore necessary government institutions such as the Army, the FBI and the IRS to see the challenges they face today, and possible fixes.  

I spent nearly 2 years with the AMA, an organization that should be vital to medicine but is too focused on leftist issues.  

We explore the influence of 1960s radicals, federal student loans and the administrative bloat on the academy. We then provide seven ways to fix what ails our university system. 

We begin this four part series with a look at the rot of the academy through the prism of the Claudine Gay scandal.  

We provide a history of Taiwan, the Chinese Civil War, and the the state of the island today.  

We go to ancient Japan, Star Trek and our two current presidential leads for 2024 to explore the concept of form without substance.  

We take a look through early VP's and then breakdown why Trump chose Pence, and will not be choosing Haley as his 2024 running mate.

We look at movies ranging from Lincoln to Elizabeth to Napoleon to find out why so many historical movie biographies are not historically accurate. 

Mike Coté, founder and publisher of the Rational Policy blog and podcast, joins the Conservative Historian with a discussion covering many historical eras and contemporary politics.  

Many of the arguments from both sides of the Israeli Palestinian debate depend on history.  We take a look through the centuries to determine which argument has more merit.  

What is the purpose of Thanksgiving.  History has the answers.  

This podcast features Josh Lewis, founder of Saving Elephants (savingelephantsblog.com), a blog dedicated to reigniting conservatism for millennials.  AD and Josh discuss how to apply conservatism to the issues of today.  Burke, Kirk and even Trump come up in the conversation.  

Do debates, a staple of political campaigns, actually matter.  We take a run at several of them ranging from Lincoln Douglas to Trump Biden to get the answer.  

We complete our Persia/Iran history with a deeper look at the Iranian Islamic Republic spending time with their leaders, and understanding their aims.  It is a sobering experience.  

In 1979 Iran ended 2,500 years of monarchial rule in favor of a theocratic regime.  We look at two Shahs to see what occurred.  

To understand Iran, the source of so many of the problems of the Middle East, we go through Persian History to learn how the current Iran was created.  

Hamas was not the first group to sow terror in the Middle East. In Medieval Times another group of fanatics ruled by fear.  Learn how the Mongols defeated them, and what lesson we learn from that story.  

My brother Gus rejoins the podcast to ponder whether movies are there for our education, or for escape from our daily lives.  We cover everything from 12 Angry Men to Stand and Deliver in our quest.  

Do you think of the Roman Empire every day?  We are here to weigh into the debate! 

In an era in which less than 30% of Americans attend an organized religion, something will fill the spiritual void.  We explore how climate change is more religion than science.  

We take a brief look at the life of Attila and the short lived Hunnic Empire.  

For this one we stay in Europe and look at the careers of Charles V Habsburg, Edward III of England and Louis XIV of France.  We then compare to our modern politics. The distinction of one of these rulers is the word retirement.  

Isolationism is back but not better.  We look to the fate of the Chinese Ming Empire, the European Age of Exploration and our own politics.  

There are big lies, small lies, and lying in plain sight.  We look at history where decision were based on lies, except all the participants knew it was fiction.  

Vice Presidents were not always the loyal attack dogs of their presidents.  We take a look at some of the more alarming Veeps in history, and compare them with today.  

We travel from Assyria to Greece, China, India and the Victorians in our search for masculinity and history and continue to find one societal bond tying it together.  

We look at masculinity and the role of men, today and in the past in this two part series.  

The release of Oppenheimer reignited the debate about Truman's use of the atomic bomb to end World War II.  We weigh in on the controversy.  

We look at words commonly used in our discourse today such as forgiven, free and insecurity and how they are used to warp our discussions.  

We look at the history of the powerful AFT and its role in American education.  

The reactions to the recent US Supreme Court decisions around affirmative action, student debt and free speech were similar to that of a child denied a McDonald's Happy Meal.  We look at these reactions and explore their origins.  

We travel from ancient Persia to Medieval Italy to modern Russia to learn about mercenaries.  

We look at demographic trends today and fertility issues in history.  Do we need less people or more?  We make the case for the latter.  

We look at archeology from the fictional Indiana Jones to the real Walter Andrae and what it means for historians through the lens of learning about the ancient Assyrians.  

It's movie time so we are having my brother back on.  We ask why those in power think of themselves as outsiders, the best war movies, and why British actors are superior to American ones. 

A brief history of Memorial Day with a few stories of those who gave us our freedom at the cost of their "last full measure of devotion." 

We break down the Netflix "documentary" and make suggestions on why the producers of this work made some interesting, and historically inaccurate, choices.  

The left thinks we need more leisure time and is using some spurious history to make their case.  We go from Medieval Europe to Ancient China to see comparisons with workers today.  

We go from Tudor England to WWI Russia and back to modern times to see what happens when we have leadership vacuums.  

We go to the business side on this one to show why Bud Light, and so many other companies, are making seemingly self destructive marketing decisions.  

Regardless how you feel about Trump, the history and politics are clear, he will not win in 2024.  

We go from the Crusades to Agincourt to 1950s Elections in a quest to learn that doing the same thing over again is not a recipe for victory.  

This week we saw the Left act in the Trump indictment. But how will the Right react? Though the Left never seems to anticipate reactions, they always occur.  We look at governance, education, SCOTUS, Nixon, and even stolen elections to see a distinct pattern.  

In this podcast we look at the fog of war and move from WWII North Africa to the Euphrates to the Swiss Mountains, and meet a great historian along the way.  

Those who have the label RINOs can still be conservative. And those throwing around that term, are often not. 

So I am using the new term CINO, a conservative in name only. We look at the history of conservatism to obtain a definition and look at who fits our new label, and who is the real thing.  

Why the Founders fought the revolution, the economics of slavery or the founding of the nation, the 1619 Project gets is wrong, again, and again. Now it is Hulu's turn.  Also here is the link to our first piece on the project from 2020 - 

We explore the history of national anthems and the introduction of an alternative for African Americans.  

It is a movie topic so that means once again my brother Gus joins me to discuss historical movies and the Academy Awards.  

There are many pining for a time before the industrial age because things were so much better.  We contend with that sentiment and note that life for humanity in the 21st Century is better than what came before.  

We provide a conservative antidote to the usual, diseased progressive orthodoxies extolled during Black History Month.  

Unfortunately, tyranny is not brittle or weak, nor is it an aberration.  Liberty and Freedom are what we must constantly maintain.  We explore the threats through using the Star Wars canon, and historical examples to illustrate our points.  

We explore the hard way through Hercules, Gouverneur Morris, and The Who's Pete Townsend.  All of this is not so subtle encouragement for our newly minted House of Representatives.  

This is a scary podcast. Ghouls, Ghosts and Goblins? No, far more frightening. Santos, McCarthy, Gaetz and Boebert.  We talk about the history of the House of Representatives. Take a listen, if you dare! (cue evil laugh)

Does the US have strong allies?  We look at Ming China and World War I, among others, to learn the  answer.  

Trump's record is now 1-4 in elections.  Yet a hard rump of the GOP still supports him including evangelicals.  How did a twice divorced, four time bankrupt, philanderer come to dominate one of the two political parties in the US.  We provide our thoughts. 

We look to Michelangelo, Mozart, and JFK to give us some insight as to why people gave so much of their money to 30-year-old "wunderkind" Sam Bankman-Fried. 

Not content with owning education, entertainment and the media, the left moves onto business.  Learn more in this special Conservative Business segment.  

Having a politician fight for you is good, and having one who can win is great.  But what does winning actually look like?  We compare Jackson, Grant and Donald Trump to explore the differences.  

We have lost a great historian with the death of Thomas Cahill.  We discuss his books and why his work was so compelling.  

We look at Cultural Appropriation, try to define it, and go back to the Norse and the Romans to see where it might exist.  

A society is shaped by our popular stories.  We look at stories ranging from Beowulf to the Hindu Gita.  We also note the progressive takeover of our most popular stories to shape culture in their desired image.  

Every election now comes prepackaged with hyperbole about its importance.  We look back to a time, the midterms of 1894, in which the scope of politics was changed.  

The concept of gaslighting is not new, it just seems to be used in voluminous ways in 2022.  We explore the term, some history, and how it affects the politics of today. 

We go back to the Platonic Academy and then up to modern times to see the K-12 takeover by the 1960s ideology now ruling the Universities.  

Bel's brother Gus once again joins the podcast to discuss movies and history.  Hard hitting questions include the goal of movies today,  which was the best Thor, and Will Smith's slap or be slapped moment.  

James Sweet writes a compelling piece on history,  gets pilloried by the woke mob, then apologizes for his heresy. 

Are the American people regressing in intelligence?  We travel to 19th century America, and 7th century China looking for answers.  

Biden has acquired a group of progressive, tame historians to stoke his dreams and drain our wallets.  We explore the vaunted perch of presidential historian in this podcast.  

Has the United States gone Bananas? (sorry) We explore the history of the term Banana Republic and decide whether the US is becoming one.  Next week we will look Old Navy(s) and close historical Gaps. (SORRY again). 

We bring our SCOTUS history to the present day and meet people such as Bork, Kennedy, Thomas and Kavanaugh. We conclude with a call to bring our institutions back to the original missions upon which they were founded.  

The landmark Roe V. Wade decision in the early 1970s did not come fully formed.  We explore the road to Roe and the judicial activism that made it possible.  

In Two Presidents and a Marshall we look at Court Packing and Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka.  

In all of the triumphs and failures of our judicial branch, Plessy was the worst.  We explore the history of this ruling.  

We start with the medieval star chamber, move to the Constitution and Article III, and go through Marbury and Dred Scott.  We also take a few stops to look at Dobbs.  

Just when we need serious people, serious policies, and are facing serious times, our dialog have reached the unserious stage.  Learn more about unserious acts in history.  

Game of Thrones was once a cultural touchstone. A sequel (actually prequel) is coming and the reaction is a big shrug.  What did this show teach us about history and story telling and the real historical record.  

In 1974 Gerald Ford faced sky high inflation, even greater than ours in 2022.  This is a tale of how the 38th President addressed this hot BUTTON issue.  

History is replete with fakery.  We go from Stuart England to medieval Germany to Cardiff New York to find fakeries.  We also look at fakery being perpetuated today that will be history tomorrow.  

For complex, societal problems, including school shootings, there are no easy answers.  We explore this concept through a historical prism.  

We dip into the vast well of podcasts to pull out a gem. We talk about the Greeks, history itself, and what it means to be a hero today.  

The leaders of our armed services extoll the value of diversity for military success.  What does history tell us about this? We go to the Persians and the Mongols to find out.  

I have seen the light, like Paul on the road to Damascus I am completely different and now want to put the woke into historical movies.  I am joined by my brother Gus for this episode and we cover everything from Patton to It's a Wonderful Life.  

Money is a proven historical motivator.  We explore the role of money in history, and today.  

What do 19th century financier Jay Gould, the Ottoman Sultans and Joe Biden have in common? They were, and are pretty cynical folks.  See just how cynical in this podcast.  

We meet Lenin and Stalin and one of the most brutal regimes in history.  

Russia, though under the thumb of a brutal dictator is not like Cuba or North Korea.  It has nukes certainly, but it is also the largest nation on Earth.  How did it get so large? And what does Russian Historical expansion have to do with Ukraine.  Learn more in this podcast. 

We go to the second of our four part series and explore the time of the first Tsars to the reign of Peter the Great, roughly the late 1400s to 1725.  We see the pulls of East and West, and the establishment of an authoritarianism that exists to the present day.  

The horrible war now taking place in Ukraine raises many questions but chief among them is why this war, and why now. Several pundits are providing various reasons or trying to explain Putin's thoughts.  But those provided by the Russian President are false justifications.  We explain why in this podcast.  

Who make the best presidents? Legislators? Governors? Veeps? We take a look through American presidents to make that determination.  

So many Independent movies have pretentions to insight and poignancy.  Most are rubbish.  But the zany 1980s comedy, Back to School, starring Rodney Dangerfield no less, provides perceptions most "deep" movies miss.  

As Biden and his team contemplates a presidential reset, they would be in good company.  Lincoln, Wilson, Clinton and Van Buren all had to reset.  But can Biden do so? We explore the possibilities in this podcast.  

What does the late, but still great singer Meat Loaf have to teach us about maturation and mortality? Quite a lot as it turns out.  

There have always been ghosts in the machine.  Unanticipated aspects that inadvertently emerge apart from the initial plan.  What are these ghosts in history and in our own society.  

In 1381 the peasants of England revolted against unjust rule.  It ended when they acquiesced to the promises of a 14 year old boy.  What does this episode in history tell us of freedom and risk in society.   

From 1775 through 1949, four revolutions remade the modern world.  How is the American Revolution different from that of the French, Chinese and Russian Revolutions? Download and find out.  

We look at historical figures so invested in their belief systems, they would would be willing to make any sacrifice.  We also look at those who do not.  

We move from the Americas to China to Africa for some grand historical mistakes.  

What is the role of government? Protection from foreign foes? Bridges?  Behavior modification? And what does this role have to do with Augustus Caesar and fertility in the Roman Empire?  Find out more in this podcast

Many listeners come to our podcasts for hard hitting, fact based history and political commentary.  Well this is not that type of podcast. Instead I am joined again by my brother Gustavus and we take a journey through historically accurate movies.  On this journey we stop off at Master and Commander,  Happy Days, Gandhi, The Civil War and Gilligan's island.  

Where did the concept of using our public schools as indoctrination centers for progressive thought emanate?  Two figures, Woodrow Wilson, and American Educator John Dewey.  

Our relationship with public education is very much in the news today.  What were the beginnings of that education and how should we consider our role today?  

I know that bomination is not a word but the Biden bill is an Abomination in all its bloated glory.  How is this bill like the original Trojan Horse?  Learn more in this podcast.  

We do not have nobility but demographic trends means we treat our children as royalty.  What does this entail for the Republic?  

What is the difference between performance, as in carrying out an action, and performance as an act of entertainment.  We look to Boris Yeltsin, Julius Caesar, Margaret Thatcher and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for answers.  

Where did social security emanate? And what is its current state? We answer these questions and more, with some historical digressions.  

In the podcast we look at a possible root of the Afghanistan withdraw debacle while looking at several Civil War figures who figured prominently in the American military.  

We walk through a history Afghanistan from Alexander to the Mongols to the modern day Taliban.  We ask what this means for U.S. Foreign policy and our view our American abroad.  

We begin with Sun Tzu and take a look at militaries from the Macedonians to the 16th century Koreans.  We wrap up asking whether the US is ready for the next, inevitable, conflict.  

We change from our long form style to touch on a number of relevant topics including China, Cuba, the Media and the NFL.  

Historically, monarchs have tended to see the state, the needs of their subjects, and their own beliefs and desires as one in the same.  We have a political faction that echoes that sentiment.  Learn what Henry VIII and Marcus Aurelius tell us about these fusions, and what it means for voting today.  

Who are the science deniers?  We look at the use of science to justify public policy and hear from Aristotle, Galileo, Isaac Newton, and the great 80s pop artist Thomas Dolby.  

We go from the banks of the Nile to the Ancient Chinese Empires to Medieval Barons and restive British colonists to explore that challenging dynamic of taxation.  We also look at our modern US tax situation and ask whether it is good to a be millionaire in California.  

We discuss the challenges that woke and Critical Race Theory ideology create in the movie industry today, particularly in the making of historical movies.  

Hollywood has made movies about Cleopatra, Sir Thomas More and innumerable ones about World War II.  This is a list of movies that should be made.  

We go from Medieval France to Medieval Japan to 20th Century Germany and back to Tudor England on a tour of figureheads throughout history.  Clovis, Kammu and Hindenburg all make an appearance.  So does a 78 year old American President.  

On my Twitter feed I am often castigated for essentially doing what the left does with history: cherry picking a fact, and spinning a conservative narrative.  That is not conservative history so here I attempt to define it by citing everyone from Herodotus to the Mongols to Barack Obama.  

A military exists for two primary reasons: to deter and if necessary, destroy foreign aggression towards the citizenry.  Yet in 2021 our military is asked to be diverse, to help with equity and even to (somehow) combat climate change.  We take a look at militaries throughout histories, the successful and not so successful and bring these lessons to our times.  

We outline the Arab/Islamic conquests of the Middle East to 1948.  From there we view the history of Israel to the modern day and explain our support for the Jewish nation.  

The Israeli Palestinian conflict is in the news - again.  We go back over 4,000 years to the beginning of the Jewish nation and walk through their history up to 1948.   This Part I of a history of the Jews and Israel.  In Part II we go form 1948 until the present day.  

In some ways TV can do history better than theatrical releases because they simply have more time.  But even more than movies, they often take artistic license with the narrative.  We look at 10 total TV shows and mini-series based in history and discuss where some get it right, and where they go it so woefully wrong.  

Before back tracking, Coke, Delta and a host of other companies began their conversion to the Church of Woke.  Why would large companies wish to enter the political fray?  We provide a guide in this podcast.  

Peanut allergies, a mortal threat to some, came about because human anti-bodies mistakenly see peanuts as a threat.  So what are threats to our Republic that are mistaken and what are real?  We explore in this podcast.  

We take a look at the Jim Crow era (the real one) and compare it to 2021.  We find the rhetoric around the New Jim Crow, Jim Crow 2.0 or the worst of them, Jim Crow on Steroids, to be deceptive, self serving, purposefully divisive, spurious, and wrong.  

For the bulk of human history the age of 65 was not time to contemplate retirement but rather a sign of madness because almost no one lived that long.  There were exceptions such as Pepi II of Egypt but they were the outliers.  Today we have 45 million people over that age.  In the near future China will have 332 million (more than total US population) over that age.  This has policy implications for COVID-19 and far beyond.  We discuss historical life spans and contemplate the future of aging in the U.S. 

History is rife with examples of crises that compelled necessary transformation.  The United States is not in that state.  Yet without a mandate, and having lost many of the key arguments in favor of more government, the left now uses the concept of "crisis" to drive their agenda.  We look at crises from the Romans to the Japanese to determine what a real crisis consists.  

Asian Americans have encountered unique forms of discrimination the history of the United States, even from such beloved presidents such as Franklin Roosevelt.  Yet today they are in terms of several income and wealth measures, the most successful group in the nation.  We explore this history and what it means for 2021.  

No, it is not what you are thinking you maniacs.  This is about the concept of both current and historical figures cultivating a certain image, then in a single moment the true person is shown - the naked moment.  

Media is intended as a conveyance of information in the form of news, facts and data.  Opinion is a judgement not necessarily based in fact.  Which do you think our media practices today?  Has media ever really provided news.  

We get it - you are probably on Meghan overload but we explore two aspects of this interview that have been lightly covered. What is the relationship of our government to the concept of Chief of State, a role in the UK held by the monarchy.  And why so little comment on the relationship of racism to the billionaire who conducted the interview?  

In just the past 10 years, those who claim a religion has dropped precipitously. But who needs religion when we have politics to fill the spiritual gap.   

Hollywood movies tend to be dominated by liberal thought.  We are changing that with fixes to seven movies, including Avatar and Good Will Hunting that will speak to the conservative in all of us.  

Both the Republican Party leadership and a good chunk of its base still adheres to Donald Trump.  This podcasts explores how history, and simple math, make this a dire prospect.  

There is lot of American History, innumerable Lincoln biographies and a bunch of "America is bad" canon.  We leave the shores of the U.S. to Sub-Saharan Africa to learn about Mansa Musa, and what this subject means to today's historical debates.  

Amidst a financial crisis, banker JP Morgan stepped in solved the issue preventing financial calamity.  Since, then, any crisis, both real and made up, have been conjured to justify governmental intervention.  Will the GameStop short squeeze be different?  We talk about everything from short squeezes to Roman banking. 

A central pillar of conservatism is the preservation of freedom of speech, in all its sometimes ugly aspects.   But we also believe that as a republic, officials elected by the people should be the primary determinants of governance.  Activism often subverts this principle and lately, is having a perverse affect on our politics.  

There is a movement afoot among the progressives who run Big Education to try to omit ancient history from the curricula to make room for Critical Race Theory and programs like the 1619 Project.  Ancient History has a lot more to teach us and in the podcast, we learn from one of the most influential figures of that, or any other time.  

In 1894 Jacob S. Coxey led a march on Washington.  Coxey wanted to compel the national government to provide unemployed workers with jobs, and do so in a peaceful manner.  This was the first time that such a march had been conducted as most protests of this type was aimed at local governments.  Additionally, to ensure a peaceful protest, Coxey dressed his own 17 year old daughter as the Goddess of Peace.  Though initially unsuccessful, many of Coxey’s goals were later enacted.  Contrast this with the protest on January 6, 2021.  Learn more in this podcast.  

Ida Tarbell has been continuously celebrated by her attack on John D. Rockefeller and his Standard Oil Corporation.  Her narrative, which set a "standard" for journalism and history, was based on half truths and personal bias.  

When Lucius Cornelius Sulla marched on Rome, he set a precedent but the seeds of his march were sown before his decision.  When thugs invaded out capitol building on January 6, 2021, it was unprecedented but the seeds were sown before Donald Trump's incitement.  

The seeds are recent adoptions by right wing elements of the Left's playbook: victim status, grievance and anger.  So do conservatives wish to adopt these divisive and toxic attributes or is there a better way?  

Regardless of all the challenges and theories, Joe Biden will be the next president of the United States.  This podcast shows that had Donald Trump handled two critical days differently, he would still be president after January 20th, 2021.  

This is the second part to our piece about the monopolistic power of Big Education.  

In this two part podcast, we explore supposed monopolies such as Standard Oil, IBM and now, Facebook.  Were these entities "harmful" to consumers?  In Part II we explore a TRUE monopoly and we shall see whether it is harmful.  

The gun revolutionized feudal and early modern society.  The information age is having the same effect on gender roles.  Learn more in this podcast.  

The academy, many journalists and additional platforms teach that the reason nations in Africa, South America and South Asia cannot prosper is the legacy of colonialism.  This podcast provides a different perspective.  

Is Jill Biden a real doctor?  Is questioning whether she is a real doctor make one a misogynist? Is Edith Boling Wilson an archetype for the incoming administration.  We answer these questions and more! 

For over 60 years, Walter Williams offered a different view on race, poverty, and liberty.  This past week he passed away and he will be sorely missed.  Learn more about this great man and his views.  

Some of the movies you might know (Braveheart, 300) but have you heard of Dragon Blade?  That is the movie where the guy from Say Anything who holds a boom box above his head portrays a Roman General - in China!  Smoke these movies, but do not inhale for historical accuracy.  

In 2004, during a stirring Democratic National Convention address, Barack Obama made an implicit promise with the American people.  If we elected him, he would help guide us to a post racial nation.  In 2020 he has wrote his third (and counting) autobiography, The Promised Land.  What is this Promised Land and what happened to the promise of Barack Obama.  

Here we take a look at 14 books that are must (and entertaining) reading for any historians book shelf.  

The Electoral College has been a part of elections in 58 contests.  In the age of Trump this 200 year old system is under fire.  Learn why it is vital to the health of our Republic to keep the Electoral College firmly in place.  

We are told to be "great."  But what does this really mean?  It often entails making big things happen.  This can often be a good thing, but not always.  

Like so much media today, the content of NPR and PBS carries a bias, a specific viewpoint.  It is not enough that we disagree with the leftist content and opinions extolled on through the Corporation of Public Broadcasting.  We oppose the government being in the new opinion business altogether.  

We have now featured 58 presidential elections, and have 45 or 46 presidents (depending on the recounts).  Not all of the disparity of these numbers are due to deaths in office nor those wishing to serve one term.  Eight presidents have lost elections having served one term.  And as of this writing, it could nine.  Learn more about those who ran but came up short.  

In the final excerpt from our book we provide two pieces of free content.  The first is a column on Climate Change entitled Climate Change - 200 Million Years Ago. The second piece is a slice from a ranking of the greatest admirals in history.  The book is available in hard cover and Kindle versions on Amazon.  

Progressives make their plans on the reordering of society with total certitude.  History proves this is not a good thing.  Learn more in this podcast.  

As the election nears its conclusion (at least until the recounts begin) Biden is being supported by none other than the "Boss" himself, Bruce Springsteen.  Art can transcend the vision of the artist and this in case, it does.  Bruce's earliest, and most popular works, are anthems to conservatism.  Listen here to find out how.  

What is the secret to predicting presidents?  Why has the media become so divisive?  Was Lawrence of Arabia or Citizen Kane the best movie ever made?  We tackle these issues and many more.  I am joined in the studio by a guy who is like a brother to me.  Well actually he is my brother and his take on presidents and movies is - unique!  

In this excerpt from the Conservative Historian Book - Collected Works, we look at the criteria for ranking out 45 presidents.  We also offer a sneak peak at number 16 (hint, the skipper of PT 109.  

Our new book, Conservative Historian - Collected Works is available for sale on Amazon.  This is an excerpt from the first essay in the book called "On History."  This essay addresses the best goal for a historian and how history is used in the United States today.  Hope you like this free excerpt! 

Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of BLM,  just signed a big deal with Warner Media to produce original content.  Shelby Steele, a prominent, conservative author, and his son Eli, had their new documentary about Michael Brown cancelled by Amazon.  This is the tale of black voices in America today.  

Jefferson and Madison died in poverty.  Barring a timely loan, John Adams might have faced the same fate.  There are questions today about Joe Biden's family making money in corrupt fashion but for Post Presidents, there is no need to cross ethical lines.  There are a myriad of legal ways to make vast amounts of money all  in the light of day.  Learn more on this podcast.  

Fourth Dynasty Egypt was the preeminent nation of its age, then they spent their resources on the pyramids.  The Moguls towered over India, then Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal.  By contrast the Persians and Romans built roads and bridges.  So what is 21st Century America spending on today?  Buildings? Infrastructure? Or something else?  Learn more in this podcast.  

According to the Left and much of our media, we must lament the scourges of systematic racism, disease, and hunger in America.  But how do these lamentations compare with the facts, both of today, and of history?  Learn more in this podcast.  

The Sneetches was not just a parable about race, but about status signaling. Yertel the Turtle was not just about totalitarianism but about arrogance.  What can these stories teach us about the college experience?  Learn more here.  

In 1944, Franklin Roosevelt dumped VP Henry Wallace from the ticket. Why? That was the last time that a person running for president knew they would not finish their term.  The progressive Wallace was dumped for the stalwart Harry S Truman.  2020 could be such as year because Joe Biden will not finish his term making the choice of Harris all the more important.  

Thirty years ago David Souter, nominated by a Republican president, won confirmation by a vote of 90-9. Amy Coney Barret will be lucky to get 53 votes. What has happened in the past 30 years, and over the course of the history of our Republic, that has changed in regard to SOTUS. 

What happens to BLM when police reform is achieved?  What about Fair Fight, Cut 50 and Know Your Rights Camp? Is the reason for being to achieve racial equality or to perpetuate its own existence?  The People's Party existed for about eight years then went away.  But that will not happen with BLM.  To learn more, listen in.  

Did Grigory Potemkin really build fake villages to fool his empress (and lover)? Whether he did or did not the term Potemkin Villages has come to mean a facade put in place of something real.  Joe Biden is the Potemkin candidate and his managers are running a Potemkin campaign.  Learn more in this podcast.  

The construction of the Maginot Line was the best military decision of of 1914.  Unfortunately it was built 20 years later.  We like to use history to help us inform our decisions but we often are fighting the last battle, not the present one.  The election dates of 1968, 1972 and 2016 are batted about in regard to 2020.  Why is this wrong? Learn more in this podcast.  

Before Biden chose Harris, there was Adams, Burr and even Teddy Roosevelt.  The history of those running for Vice President is long, and sometimes tortuous.  Yet as Adams stated, "I am Vice President. In this, I am nothing, but I may be everything.” 

The BLM protesters brought a guillotine to Washington D.C. and murdered Donald Trump and Jeff Bezos (??) in effigy.  What do we know about the real use of this terror device. What do we know about the French Revolution and its, and socialism's, intellectual godfather Jean Jacques Rousseau? Learn More in this podcast.  

In the fifth century CE, the Western Roman Empire fell and with it we moved from the Ancient to the Medieval worlds.  What was lost an what are the lessons for America today?  This podcast features Thomas Cahill, Vince Lombardi, St. Patrick and Augustine of Hippo.  

Now that election season is in full swing we will be inundated by "this is the most important election ever" rhetoric.  Is this really the case? Maybe.  But for a historical view into American elections that actually DID CHANGE everything, please listen to this podcast.  Bel Aves. 

What does 4th Century Alexandrian Professor, a 12th century English Royal Family, a 13th century Mongolian, and a 20th century Rwandan Hotel Owner have in common?  They are all part of our Top 20 Historical Movies.  

Instead of issuing three different pieces seperately, we put the following together because they are all about COVID-19.  
Story 1 - A History of Pestilence 
Story 2 - Authoritarianism and Conronavirus
Story 3 - The Link of Coronavirus and Climate Change

The use of class envy to accrue political power is centuries old.  But even the Romans did not have to deal with Marxism.  This podcast shows why Marxism is still with us, despite the failures of its economics, and its horrific history of mass murder.  

For millennia, colleges have served the purposes of providing instruction, storing knowledge, and creating a platform for critical thinking.  But what is the role of the university today in the United States. This podcast explores the purposes of the university and questions their relevancy.  

History is rife with heroes. But what was the common thing about historical heroes?  And what does the Woke Left's self conception of their heroism mean for our society?  Learn more on this podcast.  

What do the Seven Deadly sins, particularly lust, greed and envy tell us about marriage, capitalism and socialism?  Learn more here.  

It is one thing when an individual player denigrates the nation that made it possible for them to earn millions from playing a game.  It is quite another for the sports league themselves to support this. Add to this the selective condemnation of America but the muzzling of any comment about Chinese crackdown on Hong Kong or treatment of Uighers, and it is time to (SADLY) leave the support of sports behind.  

When Ottoman founder Osman dreamed of taking Constantinople he was following the money.  When Pope Urban II dreamed of retaking the holy land, he inoked the wealth that crusaders might accrue.  Both men were following the money.  This is really what the New York Times pivot from news organization to opinion provision is about.  

There are several arguments for reparations. Land was promised by Sherman. Injustices have been perpetuated through the centuries.  The example of the West Germans in the early 1950s.  If we can conjure $2 trillion for COVID relief, we can do reparations.  This podcast explores all of these reasons and provides some alternative views.  

For decades conservatives have spent money on a university system, and been taxed accordingly, to support an institution that increasingly is more an indoctrination factory than a place where critical thinking occurs.  It is time we considered defunding the system.  

Gene Roddenberry's creation was radical in the 1960s.  What does it have to say about 2020. And what about the new iterations of the franchise?  

Their is little argument that racism exists in the U.S., but what about systemic racism. What systems are keeping inequalities and lack of opportunities in place?  This podcast presents an alternative view on some of the systems that should looked at to create better opportunities for all Americans.  

With Congress abrogating their responsibilities to either the executive branch (the ACA) or to the Supreme Court (addition to Title VII in Clayton), it is time to reconsider term limits.  Members spend their time fund raising, and avoiding critical votes, in order to keep getting reelected.  Let's make it easier for them.  

When Rob Reiner's and Aaron Sorkin's The American President was released in 1995, their fictional president was to the left of Bill Clinton.  In many ways "President Shepherd" was the president the creators wanted.  Yet in 2020, the fictional Shepherd would be woefully out of date with his advocacy for Free Speech and antiquated love of country.  See just how much liberal ideology has changed by listening today.  

Democrats are very good at using crises to advance their agenda and there are a host roiling the country.  Unfortunately, Trump is not providing the type of leadership necessary to lead the country, and to articulate a conservative vision to get us through these times.  The CH is not Never Trump territory, but we are missing a voice.  Here is why.  

Infrastructure! It is the answer to ...everything! Actually it often is a boondoggle for politicians to provide a governmental panacea on the economy.  

There is a theory that affluence leads to successful marriages and strong families.  But that is  backwards.  Two-parent households lead to affluence, and strong families.  

What is the REAL goal of the 1619 Project? Is it offering an additional history of slavery and its impact on American History?  Or is it about about the insertion of leftist ideology and the selling of of a curriculum?  

China's past drives much of its present and future.  Experience a brief walk through of China's past and what it means today.  

Twelve Years! (Actually more like 10 years and five months) until Armageddon.  We need a solution now and this podcast has it!  

Americans have rights enumerated int the Declaration including Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.  But politicians today would say that healthcare is also a "right."  We explore this issue in this podcast.  

Some movies depict historical events and figures.  Other movies, that are supposedly historical, are actually ideological.  This list is the latter group.