Why Wars Happened History Podcast

The CIA and the Space Race — retold by Hollywood legends. In this episode of Why Wars Happened, Jeremy Fox, Sir Howard Stringer, and Jeff Bewkes reveal how they’re reinventing history through immersive audio dramas. From Central Intelligence (Kim Cattrall) to Buzz (John Lithgow), discover the hidden espionage, moon landing drama, and storytelling secrets behind their work. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Wel...

Germany didn’t just “unify” — it was engineered through secret deals, ruthless power grabs, and reckless ambition that exploded into global war. In this episode of Why Wars Happened, historian Katja Hoyer reveals how Bismarck’s strategy and Wilhelm II’s rise lit the fuse for World War I. Once you hear it, you’ll never look at Europe the same way again. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:58 Europe After Na...

The U.S. Marines had a soldier who fought with Chinese communists before WWII — and then created America’s first Special Forces. In this episode of Why Wars Happened, Stephen Platt uncovers the forgotten story of Evans Carlson, the man who defied military tradition, clashed with generals, and built the Marine Raiders. His ideas shaped modern warfare, but the military wanted him erased. Timestamps:...

The words you speak exist because of war. From Vikings raiding villages to Normans conquering England, battles rewrote the English language forever. In this episode of Why Wars Happened, Dr. Colin Gorrie uncovers how Rome, the Vikings, and the Normans all left fingerprints on every sentence you speak today. Once you hear it, you’ll never look at English the same way again. Timestamps: 00:00 – Welc...

For 300 years, Germany couldn’t escape war. Border fights, rival powers, endless battles — conflict shaped its destiny. Oxford historian Peter Wilson joins Why Wars Happened to explain why German-speaking Europe was trapped in war after war, from the Holy Roman Empire to Prussia’s rise and Bismarck’s empire. Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 00:50 – Guest: Peter Wilson 01:29 – Germany’s fragmented...

The Ottomans nearly broke Europe — but their rise wasn’t just about armies. Weather, pirates, and shocking alliances decided history. Historian Si Sheppard joins Why Wars Happened to reveal the surprising reasons behind the Ottoman Empire’s explosive power — and why its wars looked nothing like what you learned in school. Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened 00:51 – Meet Si Sheppard 01...

A king killed in battle. Princes who vanished. A dynasty born in blood. Historian Michael Jones joins Why Wars Happened to uncover the shocking truths of Bosworth 1485 — the day Richard III fell and the Tudors rose. Shakespeare twisted the story, but what really happened that changed England forever? ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Why Wars Happened Podcast 00:53 Introducing Today's Guest: Mich...

Forget what Hollywood told you — Spartan warriors weren’t what you think. Historian Roel Konijnendijk (and longtime r/AskHistorians mod) joins Why Wars Happened to bust myths, expose ancient tactics, and reveal what Greek warfare really looked like — from militias to Persian deals that changed history. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to the Why Wars Happened Podcast 00:50 Meet Roel Konijnendijk: E...

Pearl Harbor had a spy most people have never heard of. Leon Carroll Jr. joins Why Wars Happened to uncover the forgotten story of Douglas Wada, a Japanese-American intelligence officer whose work in Hawaii helped shape the earliest days of WWII. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened 00:50 – Meet Leon Carroll Jr. 01:41 – Douglas Wada: The All-American Kid 03:05 – Rise of the Office of...

A war that raged for over a century — and decided the fate of Europe. Lord Jonathan Sumption, UK Supreme Court justice and historian, joins Why Wars Happened to expose the brutal politics, shocking trials, and bloody battles of the Hundred Years’ War. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to the Why Wars Happened History Podcast 00:50 Introducing Lord Jonathan Sumption 01:29 The Epic Journey of Writing...

Crusades, cathedrals, and kings who fought their way to empire. Historian Justine Firnhaber-Baker joins Why Wars Happened to reveal how France was built through power struggles, chivalry, and wars that set the stage for centuries of European conflict. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened 00:49 – Meet Justine Firnhaber-Baker 01:38 – The Capetian Dynasty’s legacy 02:39 – Personal resear...

They fought Hitler — but almost turned on each other. Historian Tim Bouverie joins Why Wars Happened to expose the secret rivalries, betrayals, and mistrust that nearly shattered the Allied powers during WWII. Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt — the alliance was never as solid as you were told. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened 00:49 – Meet today’s guest: Tim Bouverie 01:10 – What Allie...

What’s it like to command a war you can’t control? General George Casey Jr., former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, pulls back the curtain on the Iraq War — the decisions, the chaos, and the lessons the military didn’t want you to see. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened 00:50 – Meet General George Casey 01:32 – Role & responsibilities of the U.S. Army Chief of Staff 04:50 – How...

They jumped into darkness with almost no chance of survival. Bestselling author James Donovan joins Why Wars Happened to reveal the untold story of the 82nd Airborne on D-Day — chaos, courage, and the impossible mission that made victory possible. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened 01:08 – The 82nd Airborne’s D-Day mission 03:34 – Strategic importance of bridges 05:53 – Challenges &...

A single code cracked. A single battle turned the war. Bestselling author Martin Dugard joins Why Wars Happened to take you inside the Battle of Midway — code-breaking, naval showdowns, and the fight that changed the Pacific forever. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened 00:52 – Meet Martin Dugard 01:22 – The success of the Killing series 03:47 – Writing cinematic history 06:39 – Strat...

Before Braveheart, the real fight for Scotland was even bloodier. Historian Michael Brown (University of St. Andrews) joins Why Wars Happened to uncover the shocking truth about the Wars of Independence — Wallace, Robert the Bruce, brutal battles, plagues, and the birth of the Stewart dynasty. This isn’t just legend — it’s the story of freedom, identity, and survival. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome...

Weapons that didn’t exist. Myths that fueled invasion. Secrets from inside the White House. Journalist Robert Draper (NYT, To Start a War) reveals how Bush’s team pushed America into Iraq — the intelligence failures, the power struggles, and the legacy still haunting U.S. policy. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened 00:49 – Robert Draper & his access to sources 02:32 – The Gulf Wa...

He was in the room when the invasion was planned. Colonel Kevin Benson takes us inside Operation Iraqi Freedom — the war games, the chaos, and why “catastrophic success” became the Army’s nightmare phrase. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction to Why Wars Happened 00:45 – Meet Colonel Kevin Benson 01:30 – Operation Iraqi Freedom overview 04:52 – Challenges & planning the Iraq War 08:11 – Naming op...

For one week, the world stood seconds from nuclear war. Bestselling author Jeff Shaara joins Why Wars Happened to expose the CIA failures, backchannel deals, and hidden plots that defined the Cuban Missile Crisis — the closest we’ve ever come to the end. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened 00:46 – Meet Jeff Shaara (The Shadow of War) 03:32 – The Bay of Pigs: Prelude to crisis 06:55 –...

The Declaration nearly collapsed before it was signed. Historian Tom McMillan joins Why Wars Happened to reveal the secret debates, bitter fights, and forgotten figures behind 1776. It wasn’t destiny — it was chaos, compromise, and near failure. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened 00:48 – Meet historian Tom McMillan 01:48 – The American Revolution: setting the stage 02:59 – Declarati...

Apple’s Masters of the Air shows the air war — but the real story is even darker. John Orloff (Band of Brothers, Masters of the Air) takes us behind the scenes of the 100th Bomb Group: the brutal missions, impossible survival rates, and the hidden history that shaped the series. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to John Orloff and His Work 00:34 The Art of Scene Cuts and Structure 01:41 Developing M...

They called it The Bloody Hundredth — for a reason. Historian Donald L. Miller and HBO producer Kirk Saduski join Why Wars Happened to reveal the terrifying reality of the 100th Bomb Group — B-17 missions over Europe, sky-high casualty rates, and the true stories behind Masters of the Air. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction to Why Wars Happened 00:37 – Meet Donald L. Miller & Kirk Saduski 01:45...

Gas, trenches, and strategy gone wrong. Dr. Nick Lloyd (King’s College London) reveals the real story of World War I — Germany’s blunders, chemical warfare horrors, and why WWI was anything but “the war to end all wars.” ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Why Wars Happened 00:45 Interview with Dr. Nick Lloyd 01:03 Writing The Western Front 03:55 How World War I Began 07:39 Belgium’s Role in WWI 11...

Over 370,000 Nazi POWs lived in America — and some brought violence with them. Historian William Geroux joins Why Wars Happened to uncover the hidden world of Nazi POW camps in the U.S. — farm labor, secret Nazi control, daring escapes, and a shocking murder conspiracy buried in history. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Why Wars Happened 00:46 Introducing Today's Guest: William Geroux 01:07 Nazi...

The Civil War didn’t end the way you think. Historian Michael Vorenberg joins Why Wars Happened to reveal the secret peace talks, Lincoln’s hidden struggles, and the fragile deals that almost broke before Appomattox. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened 00:46 – Meet Michael Vorenberg 01:02 – Lincoln’s Peace and the Fight to End the War 01:32 – The Challenges of Declaring Peace 02:39 –...