Snakes & Otters Podcast

Conan, what is best in life? To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women! We take on the life and career of one of our heroes, the rugged individualist and Zen anarchist, John Milius. And Martin loves the smell of napalm in the morning. And for further reading (although it is a little pricey) the guys recommend The Cinema of John Milius by Alfi...

Martin captains an episode examining the life and reign of Kaiser Wilhelm II's father, Frederick III. He reigned only 99 days, but if he had lived, could he have transformed the nascent German empire from Prussian militarism to a model constitutional monarchy? Would that have transformed Europe and prevented (or mitigated) the cataclysm of World War I?  Although they don't mention it in the episod...

Francis wants us to consider Christina Croft's  The Innocence of Kaiser Wilhelm II: and the First World War  and exonerate the Kaiser of his exclusive historical blame for WWI. Martin says "well the damn Russians were to blame anyway". Robert reminds us that history is always complicated. 

Martin reaches back to our Voltaire discussion to highlight another key figure, James Madison. We talk through Madison's formation and career as an Enlightenment figure and a giant among the Founding Fathers.  Although the guys didn't mention a particular book about James Madison in the episode proper, they all agree that perhaps the newest book on him,  The Three Lives of James Madison: Genius, P...

Francis leads the guys through a personal reflection on the life of St. Thomas More and why he's a hero worth emulating. Get out some tissues everybody.  And while there are tons and tons of works out there, both about and by Thomas More, Francis recommends grabbing first A Thomas More Source Book by renowned More scholar Gerard Wegemer from the University of Dallas, written in 2004.

Martin challenges the guys to think beyond the politics and explore the strategic options for British intervention in the American Civil War in 1862. Robert's up to the challenge and gives Martin all the argument he can handle.  For a good resource on the Civil War Battle of Hampton Roads and all the related materials that the guys discuss in this episode, check out  Reign of Iron: The Story of th...

The Snakes & Otters guys dive into an appreciation of the life of Queen Elizabeth II. All you tabloid types out there, be warned, Martin wants you to ease up. And Martin likes to get his way. There are tons and tons of books about Queen Elizabeth II, but the guys really loved watching the Netflix series The Crown , which has three seasons available as of November 2019. It's really worth checking o...

Robert suggests a new kind of discussion for us, an "alternative history". We wrestle with the question: what if Robert Kennedy isn't killed in June 1968? Does that alter America's trajectory through the 1970s and 1980s? Bonus feature, we have to edit out our first "f bomb". Francis, watch your mouth next time.  Once again, the guys did not mention it here, but still one of the better biographies...

We mean, it is obviously our favorite pastime, but what makes for a good read in history? Martin needs to get over his disappointment in Juliet Barker's Agincourt: Henry V and the Battle That Made England so Francis advocates for a fictionalized approach such as Bernard Cornwell's Agincourt to help. Unsatisfied, Robert gets existential on both their asses. 

Martin leads a "reach back" episode about Franz Ferdinand and why the Serbs thought he was worth shooting. Shoot a guy in a funny hat, start a war. Damn 1914 was weird. The story includes a juicy sex scandal, so be sure to download and give a listen.  Although the guys don't mention it by name, perhaps the best and most recent works about Franz Ferdinand is  The Assassination of the Archduke: Sara...

Robert, Martin and Francis talk about the nation's oldest continuous Shakespeare festival, right here in River City. We relish and review the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival 's Summer 2019 productions of King Lear, Henry IV Part 2 and As You Like It. Robert, as our resident theater buff, leads the way with some help from Francis as the resident Shakespeare expert.

Martin, Robert and Francis reach back to Episodes 5 and 6 and dig more into the legacy of the one and only Jack 'King' Kirby. He means everything to the visual appeal of the MCU.  Jack Kirby's output is so prolific that no one book could possible cover all the massive work that he did in his decades of comic book illustration. check out his Amazon Search Page for some great starting points!

Francis has us digging into Ronald Pestritto's Woodrow Wilson and the Roots of Modern Liberalism . Martin, Robert and Francis all agree, Wilson made a huge mess. So much for all those great American Ideals from Franklin and Voltaire. Wilson don't need them.

The Voltaire discussion continues! Francis is sticking with Voltaire: A Life by Ian Davidson, but Martin brings in Walter Isaacson's Benjamin Franklin to help Robert show Francis how wrong he is. 

Francis leads the discussion on that paragon of the Enlightenment, Voltaire. Francis thinks Americans owe him a lot. Martin and Robert say not so fast homey. Check out Voltaire: A Life by Ian Davidson, if, you know, you want to side with Francis. 

Part 2 of comics and culture! Robert, Martin and Francis talk you through how comics intersect with other media. In other words, we freaking love the MCU!  And yes, the guys don't mention it again here, but perhaps the best history of the comic book medium can be found in  Tales to Astonish: Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, and the American Comic Book Revolution . It's worth checking out!

Martin, Robert and Francis dig into the appeal of comic culture and make serious fun of Millennials. Why do the comics appeal to us? How have they turned into a multi-billion dollar media franchise? Even though the guys don't mention it specifically, perhaps the best history of the comic book medium can be found in  Tales to Astonish: Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, and the American Comic Book Revolution ....

Shakespeare: greatest writer in English language history or political hack? Martin, Robert and Francis rehabilitate Richard III, talk about Tudor Dynasty propaganda and there's Angel's Envy bourbon too! Check out Paul Murray Kendall's Richard III to know what we're on about.

The guys continue their discussion about who really should get the blame for World War I, using Christopher Clark's The Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went to War in 1914 as a springboard.  

Martin, Robert and Francis take on the big question about who really should get the blame for World War I, using Christopher Clark's The Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went to War in 1914 as a springboard. Bonus Feature - Martin calls the Russians "dicks" in the process!  

Join Robert, Francis and Martin as they tell you all about their new "history-philosophy-heroes-pop culture" Podcast called "Snakes and Otters" . . . and why you will love listening! In this first episode, the guys embark upon a whirlwind tour of what it means to be part of the Snakes & Otters world with a discussion about Arthur Herman's To Rule The Waves and the origins of the modern British Nav...