Faces Of History

Step beyond the myths and memes and into the candlelit truth behind the world’s most misunderstood secret society. In this episode of Faces Of History, Thee Duke Of New York guides you through the birth, life, and legend of the Illuminati — the tiny Bavarian circle of thinkers that became a centuries-old symbol of conspiracy, control, and the power of free thought. Who were they really? Why did th...

“Join Thee Duke Of New York on Faces Of History as we travel back to the breadlines, dust storms, and shuttered banks of the Great Depression. Discover how it began, how families survived, how leaders tried to fix it — and why this hard chapter still holds vital lessons for us today. History breathes here — lean in and listen.” “Could the world face another Great Depression today? What lessons sho...

Join Thee Duke Of New York as we climb aboard Apollo 11 — the mission that turned three test pilots into legends and Earth’s dream of touching the stars into a footprint in lunar dust. From the farm fields of Ohio to the cold expanse of the Sea of Tranquility, discover the full, human story of Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins — and why their leap still echoes today. Faces Of History: the past is ali...

Step into the shadows with Thee Duke Of New York as Faces Of History unpacks the raw, violent, breathtaking story of Caravaggio — the Baroque master who broke every rule and changed art forever. From plague-stricken childhood to Rome’s smoky taverns, from murder and exile to paintings that still blaze with shocking realism — discover the man who turned saints into sinners and sinners into saints....

Who was Iry-Hor — the forgotten name carved in the oldest royal tombs of Abydos? Join Thee Duke Of New York as we travel back more than 5,000 years to explore the life, reign, and legacy of Egypt’s earliest known king. Discover how a simple mudbrick tomb and a scratched serekh helped birth a civilization of pyramids, gods, and pharaohs that still captivates us today. This is Faces Of History: Phar...

Join Thee Duke Of New York in this episode of Faces Of History as we sail beside Amerigo Vespucci — the Florentine merchant whose name gave birth to ‘America.’ Discover his childhood, his voyages along South America’s coast, how he challenged Columbus’s maps, and why his legacy still shapes how we see the world today. A vivid story of curiosity, ambition, and the power of a name. “Do you think Ves...

In this powerful episode of Faces Of History, Thee Duke Of New York takes you through the life of Jefferson Davis — the frontier boy who rose to lead the Confederacy into rebellion and ruin. From his Kentucky childhood to the halls of Congress, from battlefield courage to the marble myths that still divide America today — this is the story of how ambition, conviction, and the cruel defense of slav...

Join Thee Duke Of New York as he takes you back to 1963 — when two students, Vivian Malone and James Hood, faced down segregation at the University of Alabama and forced the doors of education wide open for generations to come. Discover their quiet courage, their triumphs, and the echoes of their legacy today. What doors in your world still need pushing open? Vivian Malone, James Hood, University...

Tonight on Faces Of History, Thee Duke Of New York takes you deep into the shadowed heart of Uganda’s darkest chapter — the rise and reign of Idi Amin Dada. From his lonely childhood in the savannas of Koboko to the rivers of blood that ran through Kampala, discover how a giant of a man became a monster in a general’s hat — and why his ghost still warns us about the fragile line between power and...

Step into the story of Walter Elias Disney — from a barn in Missouri to a castle that never sleeps. This episode of Faces Of History with your host, Thee Duke Of New York, traces the boy who drew mice on barn walls and ended up building an empire of dreams. Discover how Walt Disney battled bankruptcy, betrayal, and doubt to create a world where the lights never really go out. What’s YOUR favorite...

In this rich episode of Faces Of History, Thee Duke Of New York takes you skyward into the life of Gustave Eiffel — the boy from Dijon who built bridges that defied gravity and an iron tower that became the soul of Paris. Discover his humble beginnings, his battles, the scandal that nearly ruined him, and his quiet final years turning his tower into a laboratory for the future. More than an engine...

In this immersive episode of Faces Of History, Thee Duke Of New York brings to life Athelstan, the first true King of England. Discover how a boy born in a time of chaos united the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, defeated Viking and Celtic threats, and laid the foundations for the England we know today. From childhood promise to the thunder of Brunanburh, step into the world that shaped our island’s destiny...

Journey back over 13,000 years in this immersive episode of Faces Of History. Join Thee Duke Of New York as we uncover the world of the Clovis People — the Ice Age hunters who crossed frozen lands to become North America’s earliest known culture. Discover how they lived, how they hunted mammoths with fluted spear points, and why they mysteriously vanished. Their tools, stories, and footprints rema...

In this episode of Faces Of History, Thee Duke Of New York takes you to the year 325 AD, to the Council of Nicaea — where fierce debates shaped the Christian faith forever. Discover how the council forged Jesus Christ into a divine hero, creating the first “superhero” figure whose story would captivate billions for centuries. Dive deep into the theological battles, the politics, and the legacy of...

Join Thee Duke Of New York on Faces Of History as we step into a dusty attic in 1826 to meet Joseph Nicéphore Niépce — the quiet French inventor who captured the first photograph and changed how we see the world forever. Discover his life, his struggles, and the window view that froze time for the very first time. "If you could travel back and show Niépce the world of images we live in today,...

Step back into the dust and despair of Ethiopia’s great famine, 1983–1985 — a tragedy that claimed over a million lives and shocked the world into action. With Thee Duke Of New York as your guide, discover how drought, dictatorship, and denial created a perfect storm of hunger — and how the faces of the famine still haunt the living. Listen, remember, and never forget. Why do you think famines sti...

Step into the forests of the 18th century with Faces Of History. Join Thee Duke Of New York as he uncovers the life of Thayendanegea — known to history as Joseph Brant — the Mohawk war chief who walked the line between empire and tradition, faith and survival. Discover how a boy born in a longhouse became a feared warrior, a British diplomat, and a controversial legend whose legacy still shapes th...

In this episode of Faces Of History, Thee Duke Of New York unravels the life of Arius — the 4th-century priest whose radical question about the nature of Christ split Christianity and changed it forever. From his humble beginnings in Alexandria to his fiery debates and the eerie circumstances of his death, discover the story of a man branded heretic by some and visionary by others. What do you thi...

Join Thee Duke of New York as Faces of History steps into the haunting, beautiful life of Lili Ilse Elvenes — known to the world as Lili Elbe. Born Einar Wegener, this Danish painter risked everything to become one of the first known recipients of gender-affirming surgery. This episode dives deep into her childhood, her love story with Gerda, the science that reshaped her body, and the price she p...

John Dickinson is often overlooked in the shadow of louder revolutionaries, but his pen and principles shaped the very foundation of America. Join Thee Duke of New York as we unravel the life of the Penman of the Revolution — from his colonial upbringing and powerful essays to his struggle between loyalty and liberty, his military and political service, and his enduring legacy as a founding father...

Nkosi Johnson was not supposed to be heard — yet his voice forced a nation and the world to face the truth about HIV and AIDS. From a mother’s desperate hope to a government’s deadly denial, tonight’s Faces of History dives deep into the life of a child who refused to hide — and paid the price for all of us. Join Thee Duke of New York as we remember Nkosi’s courage, his legacy, and the uncomfortab...

Join Thee Duke of New York on Faces of History for an unforgettable journey into the life of Clara Barton — the shy New England girl who transformed into the fearless ‘Angel of the Battlefield,’ tracking the missing, comforting the dying, and founding the American Red Cross. Discover how Clara Barton’s defiance, compassion, and unbreakable spirit continue to shape the world we live in today. Would...

Step inside the velvet rope and beyond the silk robe as Thee Duke of New York unravels the controversial, complicated life of Hugh Hefner — the man who built an empire on pleasure, scandal, and a relentless fight against America’s moral codes. From a lonely Midwestern boy with a pencil and a dream to the king of the Playboy Mansion, this 45-minute episode of Faces of History pulls no punches in ex...

In this episode of Faces of History, Thee Duke of New York unveils the man who built modern American finance: John Pierpont Morgan. From a sickly child in Connecticut to the titan who saved the US Treasury and commanded Wall Street from behind closed doors, JP Morgan’s story is one of power, ambition, scandal, and legacy. Step inside the boardrooms, the midnight meetings, and the art-filled chambe...

In this episode of Faces of History, Thee Duke of New York explores the astonishing rise and catastrophic fall of Bernie Madoff — once a titan of Wall Street, later exposed as the architect of the largest Ponzi scheme in history. From his humble beginnings to his decades-long fraud, legal battles, and lasting legacy, this episode dives deep into the man behind the headlines and the lessons his sto...