Send a text In this special, bonus episode, I discuss the history of the relationship between the United States and Russia. We focus on the deterioration, starting with the idea that the US betrayed a promise to Gorbachev and the Soviets. Was a promise made? We look at the documentary evidence. From there we move on and look at the expansion of NATO and it's effect on how Russia views the US and it's military alliance. There is a lot here, so enjoy. Some important links: https://original.antiwar...
Mar 21, 2022•1 hr 5 min
Send a text I'm very excited to release this episode to the world. Originally it was supposed to focus on the men who eventually were promoted to 5 star admiral during the war. However, as I started writing it changed and thus so did the focus. Instead I decided to focus on one of the men, Fleet Admiral King, someone the average American is probably not familiar with. So enjoy! Today's show is sponsored by Unidragon Wooden puzzles. These awesome and unique puzzles make great gifts. Use coupon co...
Mar 07, 2022•32 min•Season 4Ep. 15
Send a text Today we take a look at the immediate aftermath of the attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor. Remember, the official beard products company of the show is Fable Beard Company. They have amazing products for great prices. Get a 15% discount on ALL orders when you use coupon code: Shawn15 at check out. You can also follow the link below: https://fablebeardco.com/discount/SHAWN15 Support the show...
Feb 07, 2022•27 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Send a text I recorded this episode with Scott Horton just a few days ago. We delve deep into Afghanistan and all sort of foreign policy issues. Enjoy! Huge thanks to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up here: https://podcorn.com/podcasters/ Remember, the official beard products company of the show is Fable Beard Company. They have amazing products for great prices. Get a 15% discount on ALL orders when you use cou...
Jan 17, 2022•1 hr 2 min
Send a text This is part of the episode I recorded for the Patreon only series "1983: The Year the World Almost Ended." It was orginally about 50 minutes long, but for public consumption I cut it down to far shorter. I hope you all enjoy this look at the Cold War in the 1960s. Huge thanks to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up here: https://podcorn.com/podcasters/ Remember, the official beard products company of t...
Jan 03, 2022•25 min
Send a text On this, the 80th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, we discuss the lead up to the Japanese attack on the U.S. Navy at Pearl. This episode is sponsored by Smile Brilliant. Looking to whiten your teeth for far less than what you will be charged at the dentist? Smile Brilliant has an amazing Cyber Monday sale that lasts until Christmas 2021. Head over to www.smilebrilliant.com and take advantage of some amazing offers. You can also use coupon code "American" to enjoy a very nice discount for...
Dec 07, 2021•46 min•Season 4Ep. 13
Send a text Finally we get to the end of our contextualizing episodes! I know, it's been a bit of a long road. This episode features a look at Europe. I know the season is about the Pacific, but we really need to at least address Europe so that's what we do here. This episode is sponsored by Smile Brilliant. Looking to whiten your teeth for far less than what you will be charged at the dentist? Smile Brilliant has an amazing Cyber Monday sale that lasts until Christmas 2021. Head over to www.smi...
Nov 29, 2021•31 min•Season 4Ep. 12
Send a text Today we continue discussing the road to war for the United States. This episode is sponsored by Politics and War. Politics & War is a free to play browser based persistent massively multi-player online game where you create your own nation and rule it. Check it out at www.politicsandwar.com This episode is sponsored by Beacon, the Navigation sharing app that allows you to share your ETA and arrival with one or more people while keeping your location private. Ever had to answer t...
Nov 22, 2021•24 min•Season 4Ep. 11
Send a text Today we finally start delving into the context to WWII from the American point of view. It's been a long road getting here, but finally we can put the American history back into the podcast. Support the show
Nov 15, 2021•23 min•Season 4Ep. 10
Send a text Today we look jump back into the Second Sino-Japanese War as we wrap up our exploration of events in Asia and prepare to look at the US in the years leading up to Pearl Harbor. Huge thanks to King of the World for sponsoring this episode. Check out this amazing 7 part podcast series at: King of the World Podcast. Today's show is sponsored by Unidragon Wooden puzzles. These awesome and unique puzzles make great gifts. Use coupon code history10 at checkout to receive 10% off on your or...
Nov 01, 2021•31 min•Season 4Ep. 9
Send a text Today's episode is the last of our two which take a look at the early years of the Chinese Republic and focus on the rise of Chiang and Mao's rise in the communist party. Huge thanks to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up here: https://podcorn.com/podcasters/ Today's show is sponsored by Unidragon Wooden puzzles. These awesome and unique puzzles make great gifts. Use coupon code history10 at checkout t...
Oct 18, 2021•49 min•Season 4Ep. 8
Send a text Today we discuss two of the most important figures in the 20th century: Chiang Kai-she and Mao Tse-dong. This is patron of two fairly long episodes discussing these two pivotal figures. Huge thanks to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up here: https://podcorn.com/podcasters/ Remember, the official beard products company of the show is Fable Beard Company. They have amazing products for great prices. Get...
Oct 04, 2021•40 min•Season 4Ep. 7
Send a text Today we begin a 3 episode look at China in the early 20th century. The second two episodes of this 3 set miniseries within season 4 will look at Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Tse-dong. Support the show
Sep 20, 2021•22 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Send a text Today we begin a series of episodes on the Sino Japanese War and early 20th Century Chinese history. Support the show
Sep 06, 2021•27 min•Season 4Ep. 5
Send a text Today we will take a look at the rise of "militant" Japan. Obviously this is quite important to the story as we go forward. Support the show
Aug 16, 2021•40 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Send a text Today we take a short walk through Japanese history in the early 20th Century. This is a fascinating time period as it is somewhat contradictory. Slowly but surely an authoritarian state is being created, but for a moment there is a bit of liberalism. Sadly that will be crushed in the 1920s as Japan puts itself on a path toward imperialism and conquest in Asia. Fable Beard Company is the official beard products company of the American history podcast. For great oils, beard balms and ...
Aug 09, 2021•20 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Send a text Today we travel back into the 19th century to look at the "Meiji Restoration." This is essentially the beginning of "modern Japan" and is quite important for us if we are to understand the Japanese in the years leading to World War II. Fable Beard Company is the official beard products company of the American history podcast. For great oils, beard balms and butters as well as beard wash and conditioner check out the link below. Use the coupon code: Shawn15 at checkout so you can rece...
Aug 02, 2021•21 min•Season 4Ep. 2
Send a text Finally, the day has arrived! We are now into "Season 4: WWII in the Pacific." I hope you all are as excited about this as I am. Season 4 will be the most ambitious one yet. There is a lot of history goodness to explore when it comes to WWII, and I think you all will love it. Or I hope you do. First we will start off looking at Japan and China, then move into the US and the lead up to Pearl Harbor. It will be evident why I'm taking this approach fairly quickly, as I see the war in th...
Aug 02, 2021•33 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Send a text The fourth, and final, bonus episode of July to celebrate our 4th Anniversary. I interview author Scott Horton, the libertarian foreign policy expert and author of the book "Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism." You can find Scott's work at antiwar.com and libertarianinstitute.org Purchase the book here: Enough Already . Support the show...
Jul 19, 2021•57 min
Send a text Amazingly we have hit the fourth anniversary. Back in 2017 I wasn't sure if I'd still be doing this in 2021. Heck, in April 2020 I wasn't sure any of us would still be around. LOL But here we are. Four years and almost 100 episodes later, the show is continuing to grow. This episode features an interview with me. This time I am the one being interviewed. The interviewer is a former student, George. He was a member of the class of 2012 and is a graduate of the University of Texas. Ins...
Jul 16, 2021•1 hr 45 min
Send a text This might be the start of a new tradition: a special bonus episode on the 4th of July. This first ever July 4 bonus is on, of course, the Declaration of Independence. I hope you enjoy it! Support the show
Jul 04, 2021•21 min
Send a text This is a discussion I recently had with Samantha Skory, a former student of mine who is now a college graduate and specializes in the Cold War. I have a feeling Sam is going to become a semi-regular guest on the show. I should say we are mostly talking about a book by former U.S. Ambassador to Russia, Michael McFall, but we are really all over the place here. Kind of a potpourri episode. Enjoy! Huge thanks to our friends at Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. Explore sponsorship op...
Jun 07, 2021•1 hr 6 min
Send a text Huge thanks to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up here: https://podcorn.com/podcasters/ Thank you very much to Wooga's new podcast June's Journey for sponsoring the show. I love this podcast and I know you will to. Check them out on iTunes and wherever you listen to podcasts. June's Journey Fable Beard Company is the official beard products company of the American history podcast. For great oils, bear...
May 17, 2021•33 min•Season 3Ep. 32
Send a text Today we discuss the end of the New Deal and its' critics in the 1930s. Yes, there were (and still are) critics of FDR's policies. Huge thanks to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up here: https://podcorn.com/podcasters/ Thank you very much to Wooga's new podcast June's Journey for sponsoring the show. I love this podcast and I know you will to. Check them out on iTunes and wherever you listen to podcas...
May 03, 2021•21 min•Season 3Ep. 31
Send a text Today we look at FDR's New Deal. It's been a long time coming, and this episode is quite large, but we think it is worth it. Enjoy! This episode is sponsored by Wooga's new podcast June's Journey. Check it out at: June's Journey Remember, the official beard products company of the show is Fable Beard Company. They have amazing products for great prices. Get a 15% discount on ALL orders when you use coupon code: Shawn15 at check out. You can also follow the link below: https://fablebe...
Apr 19, 2021•41 min•Season 3Ep. 30
Send a text Today we have a super long episode detailing FDR and his life before he became president. FDR was the most important president of the 20th century, whether or not you like him and his policies. Thus this is one of our largest episodes (if not the largest one) yet. This episode is sponsored by Nordpass. If you are tired of remembering passwords, Nordpass is just what you are looking for. Get 50% off your order when you follow the link: https://nordpass.com/shawn or use code Shawn at c...
Apr 05, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 29
Send a text In this fairly long episode we discuss the various possible causes and I settle on one in particular that best explains what happened. The basis for our argument is the book by the late great Murray N. Rothbard America's Great Depression. Fable Beard Company is the official beard products company of the American history podcast. For great oils, beard balms and butters as well as beard wash and conditioner check out the link below. Use the coupon code: Shawn15 at checkout so you can r...
Mar 15, 2021•42 min•Season 3Ep. 28
Send a text Today we start talking about Hoover and the Great Depression. There is a lot of myth surrounding Hoover AND FDR. We will bust the myth that Hoover was a "do nothing" "free market" kind of leader. Instead today you discover that the blue print for the New Deal was actually the programs Hoover did try and implement, but to no avail. Fable Beard Company is the official beard products company of the American history podcast. For great oils, beard balms and butters as well as beard wash a...
Mar 01, 2021•28 min•Season 3Ep. 27
Send a text Our old friend Jerry from the Presidencies podcast makes his return. This time we discuss Calvin Coolidge and Amity Shlaes biography about him, Coolidge . Check out Jerry's podcast at: http://presidencies.blubrry.com Fable Beard Company is the official beard products company of the American history podcast. For great oils, beard balms and butters as well as beard wash and conditioner check out the link below. Use the coupon code: Shawn15 at checkout so you can receive 15% off all ord...
Feb 15, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Season 3Ep. 26
Send a text We get a bit closer to the Great Depression as today we discuss the Depression of 1920 and the Presidency of Warren G. Harding. Fable Beard Company is the official beard products company of the American history podcast. For great oils, beard balms and butters as well as beard wash and conditioner check out the link below. Use the coupon code: Shawn15 at checkout so you can receive 15% off all orders. https://fablebeardco.com/discount/SHAWN15 Fable also has AMAZING CBD products, inclu...
Feb 01, 2021•23 min•Season 3Ep. 25
