Storytime with the Historists

In this episode Jen leads Matt through the complex tapestry of Latin American history and the military coups that played a significant role in shaping the political landscape for decades. Why should you care about these events? In this episode, we’ll unpack the dynamics of military coups, focusing on Guatemala and Chile, to reveal what these historical events mean for contemporary society and gove...

This is a bit of a special episode as we have decided to add an episode to our strategy of tension series based on events that have occurred at the start of 2026. The U.S. is engaging in military incursions and diplomatic interventions  in Venezuela and Cuba respectively. These actions have been justified under what has been called, as of this recording, either the Trump Corollary to the Monroe Do...

Last week we started our investigation of the strategy of tension in Italy by exploring the overt ways in which far-right groups and NATO secret military forces tried to overtly undermine the center-left governments in Italy in the post World War 2 era. This week Jen and Matt pick back up with the P2 Masonic Lodge, bloody bombings campaigns, the kidnapping and assassination of Aldo Moro, and a con...

This episode is for the European history heads! Matt and Jen continue their exploration of the strategy of tension, this time by analyzing the Italian Years of Lead. This event is a true implementation of the strategy of tension, a phrase coined to describe the bloody attacks during Italy's "long 1970s".  Join us as we delve into the complex history of the Italian Years of Lead, exploring the inte...

In this episode, Matt and Jen delve into the Weather Underground's radicalization and violent actions during the 1970s, explore their motivations, analyze the internal dynamics of the group, and the consequences of their actions, including the tragic Greenwich Village explosion. The discussion also touches on the role of COINTELPRO in monitoring and infiltrating radical groups, and the broader imp...

This week we start a multi-part series on political violence across the 20th century. We are kicking things off here in the U.S. by examining a largely memory holed element of the 1960's counter culture: The Weather Underground. Join us as we dust off those old Bob Dylan records and channel our inner Boomer to tell the story of how "great" things used to be during America’s Days of Rage. Show Note...

Season 4! We are back, and this week we have a real witches brew going: boredom, religious zealotry, greed, and PTSD all combined to create the chaos that was The Salem Witch Trials. Join us as we conjure one of our most requested stories! Show Notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WVERhu9y7zXEbyVbKVBT6B122OT5TUiYPwyec3kgkos/edit?usp=sharing Abington Ridge Collective Soundcloud: https://sound...

In this episode, Jen and Matt are joined by guest Steve Heimler from Heimler's History to dissect the unbelievable story of how greed and cultural misunderstandings led to the Opium Wars and eventually, China’s Century of Humiliation. Show Notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KjKXgudvIKo7nXOQYgSv5VUfSe4A4E5v6mWtwwNRSNM/edit?usp=sharing Heimler's History: https://www.youtube.com/@heim...

In this episode, Jen and Matt revisit China - this time during the Ming Dynasty and the amazing voyages of Zheng He. But first, we FINALLY close out our Mongol series before re-establishing the Middle Kingdom.

In this episode, Matt and Jen go in depth about the different waves of Ska music and why it hasn't always had the best reputation - even though it's such an awesome blend of music. Show notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TAaMU0o0MWQL0ekRMBcZDFHfJ1u3guns5Yni4pkc-ik/edit?usp=sharing Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3ux8AhIwAdxnID8GMdfZrW?si=7a638450a6304fcb Every Noise at...

In this episode, your hosts Matt and Jen debate whether the positives outweigh the negatives in our (ever increasingly), interconnected world; thanks, globalization? Show notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eLEHKyc6fHTVmmmYg-5XUOHeauuAlL8D1FpW1R1MjXw/edit?usp=sharing Abington Ridge Collective Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/tTPBP

In the finale of our three-part series, Matt and Jen wrap up the disastrous Varennes trip that leads to the execution of King Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette after a new radical phase of the revolution begins.

In this episode, Jen and Matt continue to the absolutely ridiculously disastrous story of King Louis XVI's attempt to escape from Varennes, where the royal family is captured by the village idiot!

In this episode, Jen and Matt discuss the disastrous first steps of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette as they try to escape from Varennes, and halt the French Revolution.

In this (ZOMBIE!) episode, Jen and Matt trace the origins of Zombies to the Atlantic Slave Trade and enlighten on the impact of zombies on pop culture. Check out the show notes here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-OdKtHR3sTKduENFhZRqMWome9JSo2sq5FBFai5Yv6s/ A huge thank you to the Abington Ridge Collective and David for the awesome music, we REALLY appreciate it. Check them out at: https://s...

In this episode, Jen and Matt finish the explosive story of the siege of Constantinople. Flamethrowers, hand to hand combat, tunnel rats...it's the early modern version of COD.

In this episode, Matt and Jen take you to Anatolia to tell the incredible story of the Ottoman siege of Constantinople Show Notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s6PlLn31WpFRbx1ihaxBEMSNVAjk88OcptrdLsWf4ms/edit?usp=sharing Abington Ridge Collective Soundcloud: ⁠https://on.soundcloud.com/tTPBP

In this episode, Jen and Matt discuss the the grizzly ending of one of the first Islamic Empires - The Umayyad Caliphate.  

In this episode, Matt and Jen continue their discussion on the assassination of Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba, and the probable CIA involvement in the assassination. We finish with discussion of the ethics of fighting bad, and if there is a limit to what states should do to achieve righteous goals.

In this episode, your hosts Jen and Matt, finish off the story of the Russo-Japanese War, and the devastating effects is has on Russia.  Listen in!

In the second part of this 3-part series, Jen and Matt take a deeper look at some of the battles during the Russo-Japanese war, and the impact they have on both Japan and Russia

In this episode, Matt and Jen visit Japan and Russia and see how these late comers to the imperialist game end up on a collision course towards war in 1904

In this episode, Jen and Matt take on the story of the noble Samurai, which leads them to discover the man known as the Devil Daimyo.

In this episode, Jen and Matt unpack the story of Thanksgiving and delve into what is fact and what is fiction. We welcome back special guest Tyler Arko to the show as well! Episode notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bI6_OZKmM6HAXu2Qxhuks5s6QLQBbEOYwUC0DcPb-FA/viewer

In this episode, Jen and Matt delve into the dark days of the Black Death as they discuss the Genoese Death Fleet and make connections to today's pandemic.