St. Moses the Black: From Outlaw to Saint
History doesn’t usually leave room for men like St. Moses the Black - a violent outlaw, gang leader, and feared killer who somehow became one of the most respected monks of the early Christian world. ...
23 Dec 20251h 5min
The Trưng Sisters: When Sisters Ruled an Empire
History doesn’t usually begin with two sisters on war elephants — but this one does. In 40 AD, the Trưng Sisters ignited a violent break from Han Dynasty rule, led armies commanded by women, seized mo...
17 Dec 202550min
The Taiping Rebellion: The Cult Leader Who Nearly Toppled an Empire
A failed civil-service exam. A month-long fever dream. And a man who woke up convinced he was Jesus Christ’s Chinese younger brother... This week, Ben teams up with historian and History on Fire host ...
11 Dec 20251h 19min
Pearl Harbor: The Cook, the Drunks, and the Battleship That Wouldn’t Die
On December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was hit with fire, chaos, and a surprise attack that should have shattered the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Instead, it produced some of the wildest, most unlikely heroes in A...
3 Dec 202557min
Alan Shepard: The Original Space Cowboy
America’s first astronaut wasn’t just a spaceman — he was a fighter pilot, a rule-breaker, and a straight-up menace to anyone who underestimated him. This week, Ben is joined by space historian Brando...
26 Nov 202558min
Majorian: The Roman Emperor Who Said “Not on My Watch”
History remembers the fall of Rome as inevitable... but buried in the chaos is one man who almost flipped the script. In today's episode, Ben is joined by Matthew and Matteo of the Lost Roman Heroes P...
19 Nov 20251h 13min
Staff Sgt. Drew Dennis Dix: Welcome to Hell, I’ll Be Your Tour Guide
In honor of Veterans Day, Ben Thompson and Producer Andrew Jacobs tell the story of Drew Dennis Dix. History is full of stories about impossible odds—but few come close to what Dix pulled off in Vietn...
11 Nov 202548min
Guy Fawkes: The Powder, the Plot, and the Punishment
History remembers Guy Fawkes as the man who tried—and failed—to blow up Parliament. But the real story is bigger, bloodier, and far more explosive. In this Bonfire Night episode, Ben Thompson is joine...
5 Nov 20251h 11min
