The Tattooed Historian Show

What was it like for Gen. George Washington's army during the winter of 1778 around Valley Forge? We've heard many of the stories, and plenty of myths, surrounding that fateful winter. But did you know that there was a large foraging expedition that ensured the army would survive? On this episode, I ask Ricardo Herrera to talk with us about how Washington's army got to Valley Forge, wh...

Dr. Emily A. Owens joins me to discuss her book, "Consent in the Presence of Force: Sexual Violence and Black Women's Survival in Antebellum New Orleans." Dr. Owens details some of the major themes of the book and chats with me about the ideas of freedom, consent, and power in New Orleans and beyond in the years before the Civil War. You won't look at the French Quarter the same...

I was thrilled to have Jermaine Fowler on to discuss his bestselling book, "The Humanity Archive: Recovering the Soul of Black History from a Whitewashed American Myth." We discussed a variety of topics including Black History Month, accessibility to historical information at local libraries, speaking to each other about tough histories, and more.

When we think about pirates, we often think of Jack Sparrow. But how about two badass women in the 18th century named Anne Bonny and Mary Read? Dr. Rebecca Simon, author of "Pirate Queens: The Lives of Anne Bonny & Mary Read," joins me to discuss these two women who have been mythologized for many years. 

Dr. Tim Cook joins me once again to plug his newest book, "Lifesavers and Body Snatchers: Medical Care and the Struggle for Survival in the Great War." Tim's work is fantastic, very readable, and so thought-provoking. His latest work uncovers some of the lesser-known details about medical care on the Western Front including the harvesting of organs from the fallen. 

Back in February, my wife Jen (The Jaunty Crow) and I embarked on an epic journey to Kentucky to see the Ohio Valley Military Society's Show of Shows in Louisville. Billed as the largest militaria show in the world, the Show of Shows did not disappoint! In this episode, Jen and I give you our top picks for various categories of militaria we saw there!

The incomparable Gary Gallagher returned on a live stream to discuss his latest edited work, "Bruce Catton: The Army of the Potomac Trilogy," published by the Library of America. We'll learn how much Catton impacted Gary and how his work is so timeless for any Civil War historian.  This audio was pulled directly from the live stream event. 

Dr. Tanya L. Roth joined me to discuss her book, Her Cold War: Women in the U.S. Military, 1945-1980 , published by UNC Press. I was very excited to help Dr. Roth get the word out about her work and how we can learn so much from the experience of women in the military and how that impacts the present. The military is a microcosm of society and Dr. Roth's book is an amazing resource to showcase tha...

His comrades called him “Killer.” Of the elite paratroopers who served in the venerated “Band of Brothers” during the Second World War, none were more enigmatic than Ronald Speirs. Rumored to have gunned down enemy prisoners and even one of his own disobedient sergeants, Speirs became a foxhole legend among his troops. But who was the real Lieutenant Speirs? In Fierce Valor, historians Jared Frede...

In March 1943, in their first fight with the Germans, American soldiers in North Africa were pushed back fifty miles by Rommel’s Afrika Korps and nearly annihilated. Only the German decision not to pursue them allowed the Americans to maintain a foothold in the area. General Eisenhower, the supreme commander, knew he needed a new leader on the ground, one who could raise the severely damaged moral...

Gary Gallagher, the man who needs no introduction in the Civil War field, joined me late last year to talk about the newest book he edited entitled, "Civil War Witnesses and Their Books: New Perspectives on Iconic Works." We discussed the importance of understanding memoirs, their messages, and their intended audiences. Don't get caught up in believing every word you read in a memoir. Too often, t...

Dr. Jonathan S. Jones (VMI) joined me to discuss how video games can or may influence our understanding of the past. We are being inundated with historical themes on PCs and consoles. How do these experiences impact our historical understanding? Are they a hindrance or an asset? Are they both?

I was super happy to talk with my wonderful friend, Ranger Steve Phan, about the Camp Nelson National Monument in Kentucky. Steve and the staff have been doing some tremendous work there to bring the story of that location to life for visitors. It's always fun to talk with Steve! 

I was so pleased to be joined on Twitch by Dr. Anne Ladyem McDivitt to discuss her book, "Hot Tubs And Pac Man: Gender and the Early Video Game Industry in the United States." Anne was an amazing guest who provided some great insights into the video game industry of the 1950s-1980s, with a heavy dose of the 70s and 80s. It brought back a lot of memories of being a kid in the 80s! 

I was so pleased to be joined by Kent Masterson Brown for a live stream discussion in November. We talked about his latest book, "Meade at Gettysburg," and shared a few laughs. Kent is a great historian and friend and I'm sure you'll get a lot out of this discussion if you are the least bit interested in the Civil War or the Battle of Gettysburg

Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky joined me to discuss her book "The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution." The book was published in 2020 and we didn't get around to speaking about it due to the pandemic until this year. But it was a great discussion and I hope that you enjoy it!

John Rees, author of "‘They Were Good Soldiers’: African–Americans Serving in the Continental Army, 1775-1783," and Marvin-Alonzo Greer, one of my favorite and trusted voices on African-American history and interpretation join me to discuss John's book and more! This was a great conversation and I think you're going to enjoy it.

I was honored to have Dr. Tim Cook on a livestream back in June. Tim is an amazing historian and I was thrilled that he wanted to talk about historical memory, one of my favorite subjects. We discussed one of his books, "The Fight for History: 75 Years of Forgetting, Remembering, and Remaking Canada's Second World War," and much more!

My discussion with Dr. Spencer McBride about his book "Joseph Smith for President: The Prophet, the Assassins, and the Fight for American Religious Freedom." This was an interesting discussion about Joseph Smith's bid for the White House in the 19th century and his vision of freedom in America at the time.

Blake Ball, the author of Charlie Brown's America: The Popular Politics of Peanuts, joins me to discuss his book and Charles Schultz. This was an awesome conversation and I was so happy to have Blake on to talk about something which impacted a lot of lives, cartoons!

For the final episode of this 5-part series, I'm joined by Dr. Susannah Ural, Dr. Stephanie Seal Walters, and Dr. Anne Sarah Rubin to discuss historical memory of the Civil War in Mississippi. We tackle key issues that arose during and after the war and how these impact us to this day. Please check this one out! It is still very relevant!

Episode 4 of 5 takes us on a unique journey. We are honored to have one of the best interpretive rangers out there, Ranger Barney Schoby of Natchez National Historical Park, join us and showcase his presentation on the USCT troops from Mississippi and beyond. This episode turns into a sermon of history! You don't want to miss this!

In Part 3 of our series, we discuss The Process of Emancipation with Dr. Susannah Ural, Dr. Stephanie Seal Walters, and special guest, Dr. Max Grivno. What was Emancipation like from 1863 into the Reconstruction Era? This was an amazing live stream and I'm honored to bring you this deep discussion to the podcast. Enjoy!

The second installment of my collaboration with the Civil War & Reconstruction Governors of Mississippi digital history project concerns women in Mississippi during the Civil War. What were some wartime pressures placed upon the women of the state? Did women assert their rights on the home front more so than before the war? What about Unionist sentiments among the population? I'm joined by Dr. Sus...

Welcome to episode 1 of a five-part series detailing The Civil War & Reconstruction Governors of Mississippi digital history project. This project is going to be a major player in the humanities and this is your introduction to it. I'm joined by Dr. Susannah Ural and Dr. Stepanie Seal Walters, both of whom have dedicated so much time and effort to this project. We're also joined by Jeff T. Giambro...