Ukraine and History w/ Ben Sawyer of Middle Tennessee State and “The Road to Now” Podcast

Where and when did Ukraine begin? What role did the Rus, the Cossacks, the post Tsarists and the Soviets play? What is Putin’s motive and what his seriously questionable historical justification? Why should we not say “The Ukraine” in discussions? How does nationalism play into world politics, and what place does it have in the…

Millions Fall: The Destruction of Trees During the Civil War

An army moves on its stomach, the saying goes. But a 19th century army also moved on its wood. A look at the environmental impact of the Civil War, particularly on forests. Millions of trees were needed for the conflict, to provide very temporary housing, roads, bridges, and fuel. They could stop cavalry charges, pretend…

The War in the Former Yugoslavia (Bosnian War) and the Dayton Accords, w/ Alex Hastie of “Ohio v. The World” Podcast

No one outside the Balkans could foresee the brewing conflict as parts of a former communist country sought independence. The result was destructive war with multiple actors, civilian deaths and war crimes in a civilized area. In no area was this felt more than the city of Sarajevo, where the world had watched the Winter…

The Anguish of Calvin Coolidge w/ David Priess

The President Calvin Coolidge most know in history is the man who put America’s business squarely with business and said very little. Less known is that Coolidge suffered a great tragedy while in the White House, and it may have affected what kind of President he was. or not. We talk to David Priess. Chief…

Abyssinia

Italy’s undeclared but oft-threatened invasion of Ethiopia in 1935 was brutal and illegal. Ethiopia was outmatched in numbers of weapons and technology, including a frightening new technology they had no answer for. Considering that, the defenders did mount an unexpected defense for longer than the world expected. The war presaged the Second World War. It…