EP31 Kushite Conversations
Dan talks with writer, broadcaster and journalist Zeinab Badawi about the ancient African kingdom of Kush and her book on African history.
Episodes
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History: Addendum
Interviews, musings and extra material from the makers of Dan Carlin's Hardcore History. If it did not fit in the HH feed it's probably here
Episodes
EP30 So, you say you want a revolution?
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.
EP29 The Handmaidens of the Apocalypse
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.
EP28 Superhumanly Inhuman
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.
EP27 More Steppe Stories
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 Conquest of Central Eurasia by Peter C. Perdue
EP26 Dig This!
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.
EP25 The Long View
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
EP24 Manifesting the Muse with Rick
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. “Tetragrammaton” podcast with Rick Rubin https://tunein.com/radio/Tetragrammaton-with-Rick-Rubin-p3496748/ 3. “From Cyrus to Alexander: A History of the Persian...
EP23 Boxing with Ghosts
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 Moments from the World of Boxing by Mike Silver 3. Stars in the Ring: Jewish Champions in the Golden Age of Boxing: A Photographic History by Mike Si...
EP22 The Fabulous Bill Barrett
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.
EP21 Hollandansandbrook
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 Holland
EP 20 A Republic Lost at Sea
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 War” by Sun Tzu 3. Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History “Death Throes of the Republic”
EP19 Asymmetrical Perspectives
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
EP18 Iranian Interconnections
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.
EP17 Engineering Victory with Elon
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 Tooze
EP16 Powers Thrones and Dan Jones
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. The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England by Dan Jones 5. Crusaders: The Epic History of the Wars for the Holy Lands by Dan Jo...
EP15 The Supernova Coda
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 Gods: War in the Western Pacific, 1944-1945 by Ian W. Toll
EP14 The Game of War
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 Wargames by Joseph Morschauser
EP13 Gladwell and the Bomber Mafia
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.
EP12 Wolf Pack Hunting with Hanks
Tom Hanks joins Dan to talk about his new Second World War naval-themed film “Greyhound”. This is an hour-long conversation with two fans of History geeking out over the past.” Show Notes:
EP11 Toronto Redux
Description: Canadian television personality, radio and podcast host Jeff Marek takes over the show and interviews Dan. Show Notes:
EP10 Strangelove Whisperings
Description: In a world that can sometimes be obsessed with the current threat du jour, author Fred Kaplan reminds us that one of the all-time great threats to us all hasn't gone anywhere. Notes:
EP9 Glimpses of Olympias
Description:Philip II of Macedonia and his son Alexander the Great are two of the most impressive figures in history. Few could contend with either man. One woman held her own with both of them. Alexander's mother Olympias. Notes:
EP8 Caesar at Hastings
Description: Could militaries separated by ten centuries compete on a battlefield? In this alternative history experiment two armies that successfully invaded Britain a millennium apart are matched. Which side would you bet on? Show Notes:
EP7 Hardcore History On Fire
Dan and History on Fire host Danielle Bolelli do a crosscast together about Nazis, political spectrums, U.S. Presidents they want back and some other stuff. Basically it's a typical phone call between these two guys that an audience gets to hear for once. Show Notes: Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler
EP6 On The Vietnam War with Sir Max
Description: This show comes in two parts, an overview of the Vietnam War era by Dan, followed by a conversation with famed writer, historian and war correspondent Sir Max Hastings about his experience in Vietnam and his new book on the Vietnam War. Show Notes:
EP5 Nightmares of Indianapolis
Description: Imagine actual people living for real through the plot of several disaster and survival movies combined. That's what the crew of the USS Indianapolis experienced after it was torpedoed at the very end of the Second World War. Show Notes: 1. "In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors" by Doug Stanton 2. "The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes - and Why" by Amanda Ripley This episode is brought to you by Audible
EP4 Exposing the Hart of The Great War
Dan and the British Imperial War Museum's famed First World War historian Peter Hart talk about one of their favorite mutual interests...World War One. The Last Battle: Victory, Defeat, and the End of World War I by Peter Hart The Great War: A Combat History of the First World War by Peter Hart Gallipoli by Peter Hart The Somme: The Darkest Hour on the Western Front by Peter Hart Somme Success: The Royal Flying Corps and the Battle of The Somme 1916 by Peter Hart Jutland, 1916: Death in the Grey...
EP3 A Four-Star Conversation
Dan talks about history, war and philosophy (and where those three subject might converge) with Four-Star General and former U.S. Air Force Chief-of-Staff Merrill McPeak. Books: Roles and Missions by General Merrill A. McPeak The Vietnam Chapters: Air Combat in Southeast Asia by General Merrill A. McPeak Below The Zone by General Merrill A. McPeak Hangar Flying by General Merrill A. McPeak
EP2 Rome Through Duncan's Eyes
History podcasting legend Mike Duncan and Dan talk about Mike's new book on the pivotal early era of Rome's road from Republic to Empire.