Anatomy of a Nation | Special Interview with Dr. Dominic Selwood (Republish)

Join us as we discuss Sir Isaac Newton, his discoveries, his impact, and how he was a hero in natural philosophy.

17 Apr 202324min

The two men walked out the door and into the garden. The weather was warm, with the sun falling over the horizon, almost blinding them as it set. They talked and strolled to an apple tree and sitting beneath it, sipped their tea as they watched the tall grass move against the wind. One of the men turned to his friend and spoke. “You know, I was just in the same situation not long ago, when the notion of gravitation came into my mind.   “I’m sure it weighed on you heavily,” said the man with a chuckle.   The other man merely smiled and looked out across the field in deep contemplation.   “It was occasioned by the fall of an apple,” he said finally. “And I wondered to myself, why should that apple always descend perpendicularly to the ground…?” Join us as we teach you about Sir Isaac Newton, his discoveries, his impact, and how he was a hero in natural philosophy.

10 Apr 202315min

It’s Wednesday, October 26, 1881. The sun has begun its descent into the western sky, its light reflecting off the heat waves coming from the hot desert soil. Four men walk through the entrance to a corral. They have come to disarm five gunslingers who have openly broken the law and made threats against them. When they finally stop walking, the group of four stands six to ten feet away from the men they are there to apprehend. Few words are exchanged. The leader, Virgil Earp, commands the criminals to throw down their arms. Of the five, Ike Clanton and Billy Claiborne fled the scene. The remaining three draw their weapons. The four marshals draw theirs. Within thirty seconds, it’s over. As the smell of burnt powder and dust clears in the arid air, three outlaws are dead, three lawmen are wounded, and one stands coolly in the wake of the violent exchange. A close friend later in life quoted his demeanor, temperament, and lack of anxiety as, “a person whom I regarded as absolutely destitute of physical fear. His daring and apparent recklessness in time of danger is wholly characteristic.” This man was Wyatt Earp. Join us in this redux episode as we teach you about Wyatt Earp, his demeanor, achievements, and what made him a man of legend. We will have an all-new episode next week.

3 Apr 202316min

Join us as we discuss the most decorated ship in the history of the US Navy, the USS Enterprise.

13 Mar 202327min

The name “Enterprise” is not exclusive to fictional starships or the space shuttle; in fact, nineteen ships of the British Royal Navy and nine of the United States Navy have born the name (spelled either with an S or a Z). Undoubtedly, the most famous USS Enterprise is the World War Two-era aircraft carrier, which fought in more battles in the Pacific War than any other vessel, earned twenty battle stars, and is today the most decorated ship in American naval history. “The Big E,” (first of her many nicknames) was commissioned in May 1938 and attached to the Atlantic fleet for her first year of service. As tensions rose with Japan and the Navy Department realized the importance of aircraft carriers in the Pacific, the Enterprise was transferred to the Pacific Fleet and based first at San Diego and then at Pearl Harbor. Join us as we teach you about the most decorated ship in the history of the US Navy, the USS Enterprise. We talk about her history, engagements, and why she was called, The Grey Ghost. When it comes to the United States Navy, names carry with them the legends of those ships which came before, and history will surely not forget the name Enterprise.

6 Mar 202315min

Join us for our interview with the author, historian, and Emeritus Law Professor, Norman S. Poser about his book, "From the Battlefield to the Stage | The Many Lives of General John Burgoyne". In this special discussion, Professor Poser explains the origins of the book, discusses the character traits of General John Burgoyne, his many interests and assignments all over the world, and his impact on our world today (beyond the defeat at Saratoga). "Burgoyne is remembered today as the man who 'lost' America. His other roles - dashing cavalry colonel of the Seven Years War, satirical London playwright, reformer Member of Parliament, a gambler in the clubs on St. Jame's Street, conversationalist who graced London society for over thirty years - have been largely forgotten. A century after his death, George Bernard Shaw tried to correct the narrow legacy that history gave him. Recognizing Burgoyne's 'talent, artistic, satirical, rather histrionic, and his fastidious delicacy of sentiment, his fine spirit and humanity.' Shaw gave him...the nickname of 'Gentleman Johnny', which has stuck." - Norman S. Poser Norman S. Poser's previous historical books are Lord Mansfield: Justice in the Age of Reason and The Birth of Modern Theater: Rivalry, Riots, and Romance in the Age of Garrick. An Emeritus Law Professor at Brooklyn Law Schook, he lives with his wife in New York. Before retiring and becoming a full-time author passionate about the Georgina era on both sides of the Atlantic, he was an internationally respected academic for many years. Prior to this, he was Chief of the Office of Regulation and an Assistant Director at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. He was also a consultant to the World Bank in Central America, the Central Bank of Brazil, and the Ministry of Finance in India. He graduated Class of '49 at Harvard College, and from Harvard Law School in 1958.

27 Feb 202344min

Join us as we discuss Horatio Nelson, his life, achievements, and why he is considered one of the greatest heroes in British (and world) history.

20 Feb 202330min

He was on the quarterdeck when he realized it. The smoke was thick between the two ships and it was hard to make any sense of the melee. His men pushed forward against the other crew as grenades and musket fire came from the masts. The sun was low on the horizon and the impending dark blended into a sea of undefined movement. The world was noise. One of the enemy sailors slashed at him. He parried the blow and drove the man’s sword into the deck of the ship. Turning the blade upward, he cut across the man’s gut and kicked him aside as he focused on the fight in front of him. The chaos slowed and his senses focused, giving him almost perfect clarity. He immediately turned to his second in command and ordered them to keep engaging. He jumped onto the railing of his ship to bypass the hordes of men and ran across it before jumping back to his deck and going into his quarters. He burst into the main room and peered out the window to the other ship, gauged the distance, and then broke the windows of the cabin until all the shards were gone. He backed up, took a deep breath, and ran to the window. Jumping through it, he crashed through the glass of the enemy’s captain’s quarters. Immediately after hitting the carpet, he did a forward roll, sprang to his feet, and surveyed the room. After a moment, he saw the other man standing in the corner, his eyes wide, his sword drawn. He drew his own sword and pointed the tip at the man in the corner. “You sir, are a coward.” Not another word was spoken. And when he left the cabin and entered into the wider battle, he left nothing behind. Join us as we teach you about Horatio Nelson, his life, achievements, and why he is considered one of the greatest heroes in British (and world) history.

13 Feb 202316min