History Files

In this episode, I have a very special guest. Cameron Reilly is Australias first History Podcaster, all-around good bloke and professional storyteller. He has produced over 9 podcasts, authored books like the Psychopath Epidemic and written and directed "Marketing the Messiah". Our discussion is a deep dive into why you can sometimes never learn about the other side of history and why it is import...

This episode will focus on the Great Leap Forward and its disastrous effects on china and Mao's legacy. Also, we explore how Mao would inspire a cultural revolution in order to regain his lost power, at the cost of tradition, education and productive life. 

This time I am joined by Sophie and Mark, who will be picking up from ep 11 to speak about the consolidation of power. Understanding the cult of personality, need for jobs, desire for tradition, deep shame and politics can give listeners a more detailed image of the Third Reich. 

12 Mark Question - To What extent did the reforms of Deng Transform China?  This is also a source-based question, and our cover art is the source in question. Note, if you are listening on Apple podcast you will not see the custom cover art. So instead click the link https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Deng_Xiaoping_billboard_01.jpg  Host: Mark Guests: Thomas, Sophie, and Scott

In this episode, we compare the actions and impacts of the leaders of the Chinese Communist Party during the early years of Communist China. Scott, Luke, Thomas and Mark are back to decide between the impacts of Moa, Zhou and Deng. This is a great overview of the power struggles and decisions made by these three men, and the final decision is not what most people would expect. 

This is a short story of the actions of the White Rose, a youth league violently opposed to Nazi atrocities. Its members are largely unknown to the average person, and this story aims to rectify that fact.

In this episode, we are playing out the hypothetical scenario, what if Hitler died in operation valkyrie and the German army did not have a plan for the other Nazis? Who would be most likely to seize power? Who was closest to Hitler? Who had the most power and influence? This is a really fun debate, and you might be shocked by our final decision. 

In this episode, I am joined by Luke and Sam to discuss the conditions which produce dictatorships. This discussion will explore how the conditions of the Treaty of Versailles, and Germany's exclusion from the League of Nations ultimately set the groundwork for consolidation of power.

The criteria for this episodes debate is which US president had the greatest impact on the Cold War. We have majority support for JFK, but minds are swayed back and fought through the discussion. 

In this episode I bring in a good friend Peter Grace, with the USA national study outside of my wheelhouse, I had to bring in a 14-year expert on the subject. This discussion is so enlightening and shows the difference between a person that just knows facts and a real storyteller. We start in 1919, with America's identity crisis, the nation of religious alcoholics is betting big on the stock marke...

The criteria for this episodes debate is which Soviet Leader oversaw the most important period of the Soviet Unions history. Each debater takes a different leader and things really kick up a level in the second half of the debate after Blake says everyone is wrong! Find out why.