Fri, 17 June 2022
John Calvin is famous for putting together the first concise and complete doctrine for Reformed Christianity. His Institutes of the Christian Religion laid out precisely what it meant to be Calvinist in a way that Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli never did - they both left that task to their successors. Check out the website for more content. Become a Patron or join us on Glow for bonus content. Sources: The Institutes of the Christian Religion Try out Audible for a FREE TRIAL and support the show! |
Wed, 1 June 2022
Today I sit down with the author of Persians: The Age of Great Kings, Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones. This masterful new work of scholarship revisits our favorite Persian dynasty, the Achaemenids, but this time from THEIR point of view. It is a wonderful book and it is about time we got Cambyses' side of the story. Buy a copy of the book HERE. Visit our WEBSITE. Want to hear the whole Western Civ story again but with more detail? Ever get enough of Rome? (I know I don't.) Check out the Premium Feed. Support the show on PATREON. |
Fri, 6 May 2022
While Martin Luther thought his reformation was about theology and humankind's relationship to God, many people felt it was about a great deal more. The peasants of Germany, for example, heard Luther's words and thought this meant the time was right for REAL change on earth, not in heaven, but here in Germany and right now. Luther sides with the princes during the rebellion and, in the midst of all the chaos, Martin Luther gets married. Check out the WEBSITE for more content. Become a PATRON today and support the show. Sources: Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World Martin Luther: Renegade and Prophet
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Thu, 5 May 2022
Cinco de Mayo is Mexican Independence Day, right? Nope. Mexican Independence is nearly four decades before the battle from which we get Cinco de Mayo. The true story is soooo much more delicious than just an independence day. The real Cinco de Mayo is about Napoleon III's bizarre attempt to put an Austrian Archduke on the throne of a new Mexican Empire. If you liked this episode, you will LOVE the book. But it HERE. Check out our website for more content. |
Sun, 1 May 2022
In this bonus interview, I sit down with Jon Marshall and talk about his latest book: CLASH: Presidents and the Press in Times of Crisis. The book itself covers numerous United States Presidents all the way from John Adams to Donald Trump. Obviously the question of how the press treats each President and vice versa has been a hot topic of late, making Marshall's book extraordinarily topical and relevant. Pick up a copy of the book HERE. Check out our WEBSITE for more content. Want to support the show? Become a PATRON today and for two dollars per month get access to over fifty hours of bonus content with at least three more hours of bonus content per month. |
Fri, 18 March 2022
Pope Alexander VI, Rodrigo Borgia schemes to make his son Cesare the unrivaled master of Italy. Forming an alliance (and then unforming it before forming it again) with the French King Louis XII, Pope Alexander almost succeeds at making Cesare the duke of Naples and Romagna... almost. Sources: The Borgias: Power and Fortune The Borgias: The Hidden History Become a PATRON and support the show.
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Fri, 14 January 2022
Here's a super quick review of about one thousand years of church history. This will take us up to the tragic years of the Avignon Papacy. Check out more at our website: westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast Sources: |
Sat, 25 December 2021
In this bonus episode, I sit down with historian Jeremy Popkin and talk about his latest book: "A New World Begins". In this exhaustive and excellent history of the French Revolution, you get a complete sense of just how complicated was this all-important event in world history. You can purchase the book here: A New World Begins
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Fri, 17 December 2021
Here is a sneak peek of some of what goes on in our Patron's feed, available for $2 per month at patreon.com/westerncivdpodcast This is the first of four episodes detailing the lives of two of history's most important women: Cleopatra of Egypt and Eleanor of Aquitaine. In total, this four-part series covers their lives and the tumultuous times in which they lived in around six hours of total content. This is episode one of four. Check out more at westerncivpodcast.com or patreon.com/westerncivpodcast |
Tue, 19 October 2021
I sit down for an interview with historian and author Edward Shawcross to discuss his new book, The Last Emperor of Mexico. Did you know that in the 1860's Emperor Napoleon III of France tried to put an Austrian Archduke on the throne of Mexico? Did you know this is where we get the origin of Cinco de Mayo? Find out all this and more here and BUY THE BOOK. Check out more about the show at westerncivpodcast.com
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Fri, 23 July 2021
Columbus returns to Spain in chains only to have his fortunes reverse once more and set sail on his third voyage. Check out our website for more content at westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today and support the show for only $1.00 per month. For $2.00 per month gain access to over 20 hours (and always increasing) of bonus content. |
Fri, 11 June 2021
Christopher Columbus. The name itself conjures up so many different images. But how much of this son of Genoa do you really know? When the Spanish monarchs agreed to send three caravels across the Atlantic, did they have any idea what they had begun? We begin to answer all those questions and more here in this first part of our Columbus narrative. Check out more at westerncivpodcast.com |
Fri, 4 June 2021
There is perhaps no person who is less known today but more important to the Age of Discovery than Henry the Navigator. In thirty years he took an un-sailable ocean and turned it into a thoroughfare. His exploits gave Portugal unfettered access to the Western Coast of Africa and, sadly, brought Europe firmly into the slave trade. For more episodes check out westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today. For $2 per month, you can have access to over twenty hours of bonus content. Visit patreon.com/westerncivpodcast to learn more. |
Fri, 28 May 2021
A quick preview of my second installment to our Atlantis series: The Search For Atlantis: What We Know. In this episode, we cover Plato's dialogues and the Bronze Age Eastern Mediterranean. For those interested in purchasing the full episode, it is available for $.99 at westerncivpodcast.com or free to all Patrons at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast. For only $2 per month, become a Patron and enjoy access to over 50 bonus episodes.
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Fri, 23 April 2021
This time we begin our series covering the Reconquista. The Reconquista was the long and sometimes confusing process whereby the small Christian Kingdoms of Northern Spain slowly wrested control of the Iberian Peninsula from the Muslim caliphates that ruled it after defeating the Visigoths in 722 CE. In this episode, we cover the beginning of the struggle up to the pivotal 11th Century. Check out our website for more: westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today to support the show at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast |
Fri, 9 April 2021
A quick bonus look at my recently-recorded Shakespeare murder mystery novel: If It Were Done. To purchase the full audiobook, check out our website westerncivpodcast.com Or, become a Patron today for access to ALL our bonus episodes, audiobooks, and early episodes at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast |
Wed, 17 March 2021
St. Patrick's Day today is synonymous with drinking, the color green, and parades. But, it was not always that way. Learn about how the holiday developed and, over time, became a way for the Irish diaspora to celebrate their heritage. Become a Patron today at Patreon.com/westerncivpodcast for bonus episodes and full-length audiobooks. |
Fri, 19 February 2021
In this episode, we cover the Rus as they do battle with the Mongol's Golden Horde and medieval Russia begins to emerge around Moscow. Then, we turn back to the Holy Roman Empire for the first time since 1250 and see how developments within the empire lead to economic growth but also political decentralization. Check out our website for more content at westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today! For only $2.00 per month, you'll get access to over six hours of new content with new bonus content monthly. |
Fri, 5 February 2021
Today we wheel east and bring our narrative up to date for several regions we have not discussed in some time: Bohemia, Hungary, the Balkans, and Poland. We cover the early modern/renaissance history of each region. Check out our website for more! westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today! patreon.com/westerncivpodcast |
Thu, 26 November 2020
Now months into the siege, Mehmet and Constantine trade blows to determine the fate of Constantinople. Mehmet launches several new attacks, which the Byzantines hold off, but just barely. Then, with his army becoming increasingly disgruntled, Mehmet settles on one last attack. |
Sun, 4 October 2020
This is a bonus preview of the complete episode I did on the history of western thought covering Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. These three Greek thinkers form the cornerstone of western philosophy in many ways until this very day. The entire episode, which clocks in in just under two hours is available for purchase at our website: westerncivpodcast.com. Of course, the entire episode is available for free for Patrons. Become a Patron today for loads of bonus content at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast |
Fri, 19 June 2020
After Poitiers, Edward III, and his son, the Black Prince were flying high. They had the French King, John II, in captivity, and France was in turmoil. But, the fortunes of the Hundred Years War are fickle. This time, we follow Charles V, the new French King, as he rolls back English gains. Then, after the deaths of the Black Prince and Edward III, Richard II takes the throne and faces the Peasants Revolt of 1381. |
Sun, 7 June 2020
I have fifty copies of my novel, If It Were Done, free to give away on Audible. Please send me an email at westerncivpodcast@gmail.com for the promo code if interested. Or go to the website, westerncivpodcast.com. If you are not a member of Audible and are thinking about joining, here is a link you can use to access Audible and help out the show:https://www.audible.com/pd/B089MYT9H3/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-199604&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_199604_rh_us |
Fri, 5 June 2020
In this episode, we pick up the Hundred Years War where we left off after the English victory at Crecy. Now, Edward III and his son, Edward the Black Prince, press the English forces once more into France, resulting in the English victory at Poitiers. |
Fri, 15 May 2020
In this episode, I provide a complete recap of the Black Plague story arc from beginning to end in a highly condensed format. This episode covers the scientific nature of Yersinia Pestis, the spread of the Black Death through Europe in the mid Fourteenth Century, and the consequences of the plague, both long and short term. |
Wed, 15 April 2020
Today we take a look at food, cooking, and baking in the Middle Ages. We are going to focus on England and France because the types of food available would have varied so much by region that it would be impossible to give an effective overview if we did all of Europe. We will cover Medieval foods commonly eaten, the banquet, cooking techniques, and I even try my hand at a few Medieval European recipes. |
Fri, 18 January 2019
When we last left off, Henry of Normandy and Aquitaine had just become King Henry II of England. Now, in this episode, we will follow the reign of one of England's strongest kings as he navigates conflicts with Louis VII of France and his own Archbishop of Canterbury: Thomas Becket. This episode will take us to the succession of King Richard I (the Lionheart) and will be as far as we go in western European Medieval history before turning back to the Holy Land and Third Crusade. |
Fri, 7 December 2018
Audition Template: 1 Mono Host track (with Speech Volume Leveler), 1 Mono Interview track (with Speech Volume Leveler), 1 Stereo Sound FX with effects, 1 Stereo Music Bed track. 44.1k, 16 bit, Stereo Master. |
Mon, 15 October 2018
In this episode the First Crusade finally reaches Jerusalem. Once again, it turns into a make-or-break for the European invaders. |
Wed, 11 July 2018
Audition Template: 1 Mono Host track (with Speech Volume Leveler), 1 Mono Interview track (with Speech Volume Leveler), 1 Stereo Sound FX with effects, 1 Stereo Music Bed track. 44.1k, 16 bit, Stereo Master. |
Fri, 16 March 2018
In this episode, we swing south to the Iberian Peninsula to catch up on Islamic Spain and the small, Christian Kingdoms that surround it. We begin with the quick and total collapse of Visigoth Spain in 711 AD and end with the disintegration of the united Cordoba Caliphate between circa 1000 and 1035 AD. |
Mon, 1 January 2018
We resume our narrative in this episode circa 1000 AD in the Kingdoms of England and Normandy. Things are not going well in England. A series of inept English rulers allow different Scandinavian Kings to seize control over the English throne. Finally, when Edward the Confessor established himself as the English King things appear to be headed in the right direction. But, left without an heir, the question looms large in the distance: who will rule when he is gone? Then, a fishing trip gone really, really bad, has a very odd result when Harold Godwinson, the heir apparent, shows up in the court of William of Normandy. And all that sets the stage for one of the most unusual and fateful years in human history: 1066. |
Fri, 30 June 2017
In this episode, we delve into the murky past that is Anglo-Saxon England and consider the major impact that the influence of Christianity had on Anglo-Saxon culture and politics. Then, we examine the reigns of two critical Anglo-Saxon Kings: Aethelbald and Offa. Check out our website for more! westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today! patreon.com/westerncivpodcast |
Fri, 3 July 2015
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