The incredible true story of America’s first foreign war that most history classes skip over.

In 1801, President Thomas Jefferson faced a crisis: North African pirates were capturing American ships and enslaving sailors. European powers paid tribute to avoid attacks, but Jefferson refused. His decision launched the First Barbary War (1801-1805)—a conflict that would birth the U.S. Navy tradition and give us the Marine Corps’ famous battle cry: “to the shores of Tripoli.”

This episode covers:
• Why Barbary pirates targeted American merchant ships
• The dramatic capture and burning of the USS Philadelphia
• Stephen Decatur’s daring nighttime raid that amazed Admiral Nelson• Commodore Edward Preble’s transformation of the U.S. Navy
• William Eaton’s impossible 500-mile desert march with just 8 Marines
• The legendary Battle of Derna that became Marine Corps legend

Featuring diplomatic intrigue, naval battles, desert warfare, and the young nation’s first steps onto the world stage. Perfect for fans of military history, naval warfare, and early American history.

Runtime: 28 minutes

#BarbaryWar #AmericanHistory #HistoryPodcast #ThomasJefferson #USMarines #NavalHistory #MilitaryHistory #Pirates #TrueHistory #WarHistory #1800s #MarineCorps #HistoricalPodcast #EducationalPodcast #USHistory #BarbaryPirates #NavalWarfare #Tripoli #StephenDecatur #HistoryLovers #LearnHistory #HistoryBuff

What do ancient Babylonians, exploding bamboo, and your abandoned gym membership have in common? They’re all part of the bizarre, beautiful, and kind of sad story of New Year’s traditions.

We’re diving DEEP into why we make resolutions (hint: we’ve been doing it for 4,000 years), why they fail spectacularly (spoiler: 92% crash and burn), and why we literally explode things in the sky every December 31st.

This episode is part history lesson, part therapy session, and part roast of our collective inability to stick to anything we promise ourselves after too many drinks on December 31st.

If you’ve ever failed a resolution (so… everyone), this one’s for you.

#NewYearsResolutions #NewYears2026 #Resolutions #GoalSetting #NewYear

#podcast #historypodcast #Educationpodcast #Comedypodcast #Culturepodcast

Explore the powerful story of two battleships that define America’s World War II journey in the Pacific. The USS Arizona (BB-39) marks where it all began—December 7, 1941—when 1,177 sailors and Marines lost their lives in the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor. Less than a thousand yards away stands the USS Missouri (BB-63), where the war ended with Japan’s surrender on September 2, 1945.

In this episode, we dive deep into the history of BB-39, from her commissioning in 1916 to her catastrophic loss at Pearl Harbor. We explore why ships are referred to as “she,” the decision to leave the Arizona as a war grave, and the creation of the iconic memorial that spans her sunken hull. We also examine the profound relationship between the Arizona and Missouri—how these two ships together tell the complete story of sacrifice, resilience, and ultimate victory.

We honor Lou Conter, the last survivor of the Arizona who passed away in 2024 at age 102, and discuss what it means now that we’ve lost all living witnesses to that fateful morning. The responsibility to remember falls to us.

From the tears of the Arizona—oil still leaking from her hull—to the surrender deck of the Mighty Mo, this is a story of loss and triumph, of beginning and ending, of two battleships forever linked at America’s most sacred naval memorial.

Perfect for history enthusiasts, military history buffs, and anyone planning to visit Pearl Harbor.

**Episode Length:** Approximately 40 Minutes

#PearlHarbor #USSArizona #USSMissouri #BB39 #NavalHistory #WWII #MilitaryHistory #PacificWar #December7th #DayOfInfamy #BattleshipRow #PearlHarborMemorial #NavyHistory #WWIIHistory #HistoryPodcast #AmericanHistory #MightyMo #NeverForget #RememberPearlHarbor #NavalHistoryPodcast #WarHistory #HistoricalPodcast #MilitaryPodcast #Hawaii #FordIsland #USSArizonaMemorial #BattleshipMissouri #WWIIVeterans #LouConter #GreatestGeneration