Loud, fast-talking and deceptively funny, this politically-independent "forward-thinking pragmatist" looks at the events shaping our world through a uniquely American lens. It's smarter than you think, and faster than you expect.
In "Hardcore History" journalist and broadcaster Dan Carlin takes his "Martian", unorthodox way of thinking and applies it to the past. Was Alexander the Great as bad a person as Adolf Hitler? What would Apaches with modern weapons be like? Will our modern civilization ever fall like civilizations from past eras? This isn't academic history (and Carlin isn't a historian) but the podcast's unique blend of high drama, masterful narration and Twilight Zone-style twists has entertained millions ...
Dan talks with writer, broadcaster and journalist Zeinab Badawi about the ancient African kingdom of Kush and her book on African history.Por Dan Carlin
Is it safe to hand control of the deadliest army in the world to a 20-year old? If you are Thracian, Triballian, Illyrian or Theban, the answer is definitely no. Alexander becomes king and fights off threats to his rule in all directions.Por Dan Carlin
This show could also have been called “Violent Reflections” as Dan repurposes old work he did on the revolutionary era of the late 1960s. This is NOT a deep HH-style look at the period, but is instead a brief gaze at a potential “Past is Prologue” moment.Por Dan Carlin
What's the recipe for making a historically world-class apex predator? In the case of Alexander the Great, it might be the three Ns: Nature, Nurture, and Nepotism.Por Dan Carlin
What's the recipe for making a historically world-class apex predator? In the case of Alexander the Great, it might be the three Ns: Nature, Nurture, and Nepotism.
Investigative journalist Annie Jacobsen joins Dan to discuss the contents of her new book which, using insider and expert information, dramatically outlines how a nuclear war might unfold.Por Dan Carlin
This show starts off with an extended discussion of the genocide of Jews in the Holocaust and the associated dangers of extreme governmental power followed by an interview with Holocaust expert and historian Dan Stone.Por Dan Carlin
Pagan Viking Sea Kings spend the 10th and 11th centuries morphing into Christian monarchs. But with rulers like Harald Bluetooth and Svein Forkbeard it's debatable whether things will be any less horrific for Scandinavia's neighborsPor Dan Carlin
Coral Sea, Midway and Guadalcanal are three of the most famous battles of the Second World War. Together they will shift the momentum in the Pacific theater and usher in the era of modern naval and amphibious warfare.Por Dan Carlin
Japan's rising sun goes supernova and engulfs a huge area of Asia and the Pacific. A war without mercy begins to develop infusing the whole conflict with a savage vibe.Por Dan Carlin
Huns, Mongols, Turks, Scythians and other nomadic steppe tribes are longtime interests of Dan's. In this show he interviews historian Kenneth W. Harl who specializes in the study of those fascinating peoples. 1. Empires of the Steppes: A History of the Nomadic Tribes Who Shaped Civilization by Kenneth W. Harl 2. China Marches West: The Qing Conques…
Daniele Bolelli the fabulous host of “History on Fire” and I fanboy out over archaeology. We had some inexplicable audio problems at times with the recording, so hopefully that doesn't detract from the greatness of the guest.Por Dan Carlin
Dan tries focusing a much wider historical lens on perennial human issues like war, land ownership, immigration, ethnicity, environmental worries and the double-edged sword that is human inventiveness. 1. Agricola and Germania by Tacitus 2. A Most Dangerous Book: Tacitus's Germania from the Roman Empire to the Third Reich by Christopher B. Krebs…
Rick Rubin joins Dan to discuss human creativity. This unusual show evolves as it goes though and by the end covers a wide array of subjects and topics. By the end it isn't even clear who is asking questions and who is answering them. 1. “Broken Record” with Rick Rubin and Malcolm Gladwell https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/broken-record 2. “Tetragram…
This show picks up where Dan's Thor's Angels show left off. In the early Middle Ages Pagan Germanic-language speakers like the Vikings are a dying breed. Many of their contemporaries wish they'd die faster.Por Dan Carlin
This show picks up where Dan's Thor's Angels show left off. In the early Middle Ages Pagan Germanic-language speakers like the Vikings are a dying breed. Many of their contemporaries wish they'd die faster.
Ready for an argument? Like Dan's quote voice? Waiting to hear Dan discuss boxing? Then you've hit the trifecta. Boxing expert Mike Silver and Dan discuss whether today's modern fighters could compete with those of yesteryear. 1. The Arc of Boxing: The Rise and Decline of the Sweet Science by Mike Silver 2. The Night the Referee Hit Back: Memorable…
Bill Barrett has been the voice of Dan Carlin’s podcasts since they began in 2005. In this retrospective Dan looks back at samples of Bill’s catalog of work.
Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook stop by to continue the conversation with Dan that began on their own podcast The Rest is History. 1. “Rubicon” by Tom Holland 2. “Dominion” by Tom Holland 3. “Persian Fire” by Tom HollandPor Dan Carlin
Professor Barry Strauss and Dan talk about Cleopatra, Mark Antony, Julius Caesar, Augustus Caesar and a host of historical luminaries in a tale worthy of Shakespeare as the Roman Republic goes down with the ships at Actium. Show Notes: 1. “The War That Made the Roman Empire: Antony, Cleopatra, and Octavian at Actium” by Barry Strauss 2. “The Art of…
The Atlantic Slave Trade mixes centuries of human bondage with violence, economics, commerce, geo-political competition, liberty, morality, injustice, revolution, tragedy and bloody reckonings. That sounds like a lot, yet this show merely scratches the surface of this enormous subject.Por Dan Carlin
The Atlantic Slave Trade mixes centuries of human bondage with violence, economics, commerce, geo-political competition, liberty, morality, injustice, revolution, tragedy and bloody reckonings. That sounds like a lot, yet this show merely scratches the surface of this enormous subject.
Author, actor and senior fellow at the Modern War Institute Max Brooks joins Dan to discuss asymmetrical warfare and related societal issues. 1. "On War" by Gen. Carl von Clausewitz 2. “The Art of War” by Sun Tsu 3. "War and Anti-War: Survival at the Dawn of the 21st Century” by Alvin and Heidi Toffler…
Iranian-born historian John Ghazvinian's new book is about the history of the U.S.-Iranian relationship. He and Dan discuss coups, oil, religion, history, arms deals, Shahs, U.S. presidents and wars. 1. “America and Iran: A History, 1720 to the Present” by John Ghazvinian.Por Dan Carlin
Elon Musk and Bill Riley from SpaceX join Dan to discuss the underappreciated role of science and engineering in war. As you might imagine, military aircraft feature prominently in the conversation. 1. The Wages of destruction by Adam Tooze2. The Art of War by Sun Tzu 3.The Wages of Destruction: The Making and Breaking of the Nazi Economy by Adam T…
Historian Dan Jones’ specialty is the Middle Ages. Dan Carlin adores the Middle Ages. Normans anyone? 1. Powers and Thrones: A New History of the Middle Ages by Dan Jones 2. The Templars: The Rise and Spectacular Fall of God's Holy Warriors by Dan Jones 3. The Wars of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors by Dan Jones 4…
Author Ian W. Toll who has written extensively on the Pacific Theater in the Second World War joins Dan to put the finishing touches on the Supernova in the East subject matter. 1. Pacific Crucible: War at Sea in the Pacific, 1941–1942 by Ian W. Toll 2. The Conquering Tide: War in the Pacific Islands, 1942–1944 by Ian W. Toll 3. Twilight of the God…
Dan discusses his background in miniature wargaming and then talks to one of the architects of a popular Second World War themed video game about the genre, its development, growth and challenges. 1. War Games through the Ages 3,000BC to 1,500AD by Donald F. Featherstone 2. How to Play War Games in Miniature: A Forgotten Wargaming Pioneer Early War…
When do spirit, tenacity, resilience and bravery cross into madness? When cities are incinerated? When suicide attacks become the norm? When atomic weapons are used? Japan's leaders test the limits of national endurance in the war's last year.Por Dan Carlin
When do spirit, tenacity, resilience and bravery cross into madness? When cities are incinerated? When suicide attacks become the norm? When atomic weapons are used? Japan's leaders test the limits of national endurance in the war's last year.
Revisionist History host Malcolm Gladwell joins Dan to discuss the development of U.S. precision bombing ideas, Curtis LeMay and the firebombing of Japanese cities.
In a show recorded before the recent House impeachment vote, Dan examines the damage caused by the iceberg we recently hit when Americans stormed the U.S. Capitol and tries to suggest how we might avoid hitting another one.