The Apple and The Hero

Send a text And we are at the end of season one! In this last episode we'll see the rising and falling of the great Julius Caesar. Did he want to save Rome, or was his plan to condemn it? You decide!

Send a text Here we are, almost at the end of the first season. We have one last path to thread on, and it's that of one of the greatest names in Roman history: Julius Caesar. His name and his deeds have traversed the centuries intact, and he also picked up more legends and myths that we can count. He's been hailed as a destroyer, for the Roman Republic breathed its last because of him,...

Send a text We're getting closer to the finish line for this deep dive into the Roman history of the monarchy and the Republic. Things are getting chaotic; the dividing lines between patricians and plebeians are getting more and more blurred, and champions of the plebs like the Gracchi brothers start popping up everywhere.  Rome is on the brink of chaos, and civil war is soon to follow. In a...

Send a text Drunk on victories Rome had thought itself beloved by the gods. The young Punic general, Hannibal Barca, though, had demonstrated how far from divine graces the Romans really were. With dwindling legionaries and no experienced commander, could the Romans really rally up once again to destroy their enemy? Will the lead of one single man, as capable as Publius Cornelius Scipio was, be en...

Send a text With the Samnites beaten and their territory conquered, Rome is finally ready to play the big game.  Having gained access to the Mediterranean, the previously landlocked Romans are ready to leave their marks on history and win the title of rulers of the sea. The only problem? They will need to fight Carthage for the privilege!

Send a text Now the undisputed ruler of Latium, Rome is finally ready to confront the enemies lying just over her borders. Can she win, or will the Samnites take everything? And why is Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, suddenly sticking his nose in the Italian Peninsula?

Send a text Desperate times call for desperate measures and, sometimes, the only thing needed to get out of a situation is a strong leader.  In this episode, we'll follow the lives of Cincinnatus and Camillus, two heroes who gave everything to save Rome during its darkest hours.

Send a text Rome has decided: after exiling the last of the kings, the citizens have chosen a republic as their new government.  But trouble is on the horizon as Tarquinius the Proud risks everything to get back the throne that was once his.  Faced with the might of Etruscan King Lars Porsenna, will the new Roman res publica survive?  

Send a text Love him or hate him, Romulus started Rome on a path to greatness, but he was only the first one. Six other kings followed him, giving Rome its costumes, culture, laws, and religious ceremonies.  The Seven Kings of Rome were much beloved by the Romans, each with their own quirky character. Did they exist? Does it matter?  If you want to get a possible answer to these questions, jump ab...

Send a text Couldn't get enough of Roman history after last episode? Then welcome back! In the last episode we've started our journey on the Roman cobblestones.  We've discovered a link between the mighty Troy and the new power in Latium, and we've seen how even blood ties can be broken, when there's the chance of becoming a ruler.  In this episode we're following Rom...

Send a text We're finally here! This episode marks the beginning of a deep-dive into Roman history! We start, like all good stories, at the very beginning where we'll meet the heroes and heroines who were said to have founded one of the biggest empires in history. Of course, we'll meet the twins, Romulus and Remus, and their furry babysitter, the lupa ; but we'll also see how,...

Send a text In this episode we continue with the captivating saga of Joan of Arc. Fresh from witnessing Charles VII's coronation, we now explore the complexities of her continued military leadership. Victories become elusive, political intrigue swirls, and Joan faces mounting criticism. We'll delve into the strategic missteps and shifting tides of the Hundred Years' War. Did Joan lo...

Send a text This episode plunges us into the extraordinary life of Joan of Arc, a young woman who defied expectations and changed the course of history. Born a peasant girl, Joan claimed divine visions urging her to lead the French army and crown Charles VII as king. We'll explore her early life and the turmoil of the Hundred Years' War, a brutal conflict that ravaged France. Witness Joa...

Send a text From Outlaw King to King of Scots: The Rise of Robert the Bruce This episode delves into the captivating story of Robert the Bruce, a Scottish nobleman who transformed from hunted outlaw to become King of Scotland and secure the nation's independence. We'll explore his early ambitions and struggles, the brutal defeats he faced at the hands of the English, and his unwavering d...

Send a text From Uprising to Betrayal: The Story of William Wallace In this episode we will walk into the life of William Wallace, a legendary Scottish warrior who became a symbol of resistance against English rule. This episode explores his rise from a nobleman seeking justice to a fearless leader who united the Scots in the First War of Scottish Independence. We'll witness the pivotal Battl...

Send a text  To the Ends of the Earth - Alexander's Adventure In the final chapter of our Alexander the Great series, we follow the conqueror on his relentless eastward march. Driven by boundless ambition, Alexander ventures deep into India, facing fierce resistance and exotic landscapes. Witness his army's grueling battles, their growing disillusionment, and the mutiny that finally halt...

Send a text From Greece to Babylon - Alexander's Conquest of Persia In the thrilling second episode of our Alexander the Great series, we witness the clash of empires. Following years of meticulous planning and strategic maneuvering, Alexander embarks on a daring campaign to conquer the mighty Persian Empire. We'll delve into the pivotal battles, including the legendary encounter at Gaug...

Send a text In the first episode of this three-part series, we delve into the formative years of Alexander the Great. Born into the Macedonian court of his ambitious father, King Philip II, Alexander's childhood was anything but ordinary. We'll explore his rigorous physical training, his encounter with the legendary horse Bucephalus, and the profound influence of his tutor, the renowned...

Send a text In this episode, we delve into a thrilling chapter of European history: the defiance of the Swiss people against the Habsburg dynasty in the 13th century. We'll explore the pivotal Battle of Morgarten, where a vastly outnumbered Swiss force dealt a crushing blow to the Habsburg army, marking a turning point in their fight for independence. But this episode goes beyond just tactics...

Send a text On a small piece of parchment and its legend rests the entire country of Switzerland and the mystique which the centuries have afforded to this document have given it almost the same status as a religious relic. Let’s go back to the Middle Ages, when the meeting of three men in pasture started one of the longest alliances in Europe. Welcome, to the Oath of the Rütli!

Send a text “Beware, lest this very spot where we are now encamped get its name from the calamity that shall befall your army and transmit the memory of it to your children’s children!” Bold words, spoken by the chief of a small, almost forgotten tribe to none other than Julius Caesar. It was with such a declaration that Divico, chief of the Tigurini, sealed his fate and that of his people in life...

Send a text "Tierra, tierra!" When the lookout from the Pinta yelled that he had seen the coast, little did Columbus and his men know that what seemed 'terra incognita' had been already discovered and colonised centuries before. In this episode we follow the longships of the first people to discover and settle the New World. Welcome, to the Age of the Vikings!

Send a text Choices made by someone else have the power to shape our own lives. Sometimes for better, sometimes for worse.  His father's choice had left Vlad III stranded at the Ottoman's court, preparing the soil for the horrors which were to come.  In this second and last part, we're going to see how Vlad III gained the bloodthirsty nickname of "The Impaler" and how a si...

Send a text Bloodthirsty monster or hero of a nation? Sometimes, in history, those are two sides of the same coin. The character we know now as the Prince of Darkness, the ultimate vampire, Dracula had a pretty human beginning. In this episode we're going to see the start of that story, how the choices of others shaped up the life of one child. Welcome to Wallachia, and the story of Vlad III...

Send a text “You must never come look for me on a Saturday, or everything will be lost to you forever!” These were the words spoken by Melusine, as she accepted the courtship of Raymondin count of Poitou.  This kind of story, where one of the main characters accepts a proposal only if specific conditions are met is as old as it is familiar to us. We know that if the promise is upheld then love and...