Admiral James Stavridis once commanded fleets as Supreme Allied Commander of NATO. Now he commands a collection of 5,000 rare books. Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea changed Stavridis’ life. In this episode, the admiral sits down with Shilo Brooks to discuss the themes of hardship, pride, and resilience that appear in Santiago’s epic struggle at se ... Show More
Feb 5
David Mamet vs. the Snobs
Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright David Mamet spent his childhood cutting class and reading at the local library. His first pick was Sinclair Lewis’s Main Street, which he pulled off the shelves at just 11 years old. Decades later, David thinks the book is terrible, its author “a ... Show More
1h 3m
Jan 29
Colin Quinn on Incels, Woke Activists, and Peaking at 14
In this episode, legendary comic Colin Quinn dives into a cult classic that still makes him cry with laughter: John Kennedy Toole’s A Confederacy of Dunces. The novel follows the misadventures of an overweight, pretentious misanthrope still living with his mother in 1960s New Orl ... Show More
52m 57s
Jan 22
Dante: The Most Famous, Least Read Poet
Dante Alighieri is one of the most consequential poets in human history, and his The Divine Comedy is essential to understanding Western civilization itself. And yet, though most of us have heard of Inferno, Dante remains one of the least read of all the greats. His masterpiece u ... Show More
48m 44s
Feb 2025
Admiral McRaven’s Advice Will Leave You SPEECHLESS 2.0 (MUST LISTEN)
<p>Admiral William H. McRaven, a retired United States Navy SEAL, best known for his leadership in special operations, delivers one of the most POWERFUL motivational speeches. </p><br><p>"The little things in life matter, If you can't do the little things right, you'll never be a ... Show More
27m 54s
Jul 2024
621 War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
For Virginia Woolf, Leo Tolstoy was "the greatest of all novelists," and her argument was simple: "[W]hat else can we call the author of War and Peace?" In this episode, Jacke takes a look at Tolstoy's original plans for the novel; the unusual nature of the book, which Henry Jame ... Show More
1h 27m
Aug 2024
233 - Hearts of Steel: One sailor's Journey with the Royal Navy
<p>In this episode of the WW2 podcast, we'll explore the Royal Navy from 1918 to the end of the Second World War and one man's career. Not an officer, but a regular sailor: Herbert Leeder, who chalk up 27 years of service. Following the career of one sailor is an interesting way ... Show More
50m 58s
Sep 2024
9/11: Rescue on the Water (Replay)
HISTORY This Week returns with new episodes starting September 16th! In the meantime, listen to a favorite classic from the archives.
September 11, 2001. On a clear and sunny day, Captain Richard Thornton is piloting his ferry boat back and forth between New Jersey and New York ... Show More
30m 7s
Sep 2017
Episode Eleven: Cadet Paille-au-nez
Napoleon grows up: surviving military school, coping with the death of his father, and becoming an officer in record time. Also discussed: Bourrienne's problematic 'Memoirs,' Napoleon's love of books, talking to girls, and how the Bonapartes were like the Bluths Learn more about ... Show More
40m 6s
Jan 2025
How to Build a Life Full of Meaning and Purpose (ft. Arthur Brooks)
Today, I sit down with Arthur Brooks, a renowned social scientist and happiness expert, for a deep dive into the realms of meaning, faith, and love. Our conversation takes unexpected turns as we explore the intersection of spirituality, psychology, and personal growth. From discu ... Show More
1h 14m
Nov 2023
Joshua Chamberlain: From Stuttering Child to Civil War Hero to Polyglot Governor of Maine
Before 1862, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain had rarely left his home state of Maine, where he was a trained minister and mild-mannered professor at Bowdoin College. His colleagues were shocked when he volunteered for the Union army, but he was undeterred and later became known as on ... Show More
27 m