Episodes

  • Roald Amundsen: The Ice-Cold Genius Who Outsmarted Antarctica

    Roald Amundsen: The Ice-Cold Genius Who Outsmarted Antarctica
    Apr 28 2026
    Before anyone had ever stood at the bottom of the world, one man decided he wasn’t going to discover the South Pole - he was going to win it. This week, Ben Thompson and guest Erik Slader of Epic Fails of History, dive into the ruthless, ice-cold brilliance of Roald Amundsen —the explorer who turned preparation into a weapon and left better-funded rivals frozen in his wake. From secretly pivoting his expedition plans to racing across Antarctica with dogs, skis, and terrifying efficiency, Amundsen didn’t just survive the harshest environment on Earth—he dominated it. This is a story of precision, deception, and the kind of calculated risk that either makes you a legend… or leaves you buried under a mile of ice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 17 mins
  • The Lancaster: Fire, Steel, and Survival at 20,000 Feet

    The Lancaster: Fire, Steel, and Survival at 20,000 Feet
    Apr 22 2026
    High above Nazi-occupied Europe, hundreds of Avro Lancasters tear through the darkness. No lights, no margin for error, and no guarantee of coming home. In this episode, Ben Thompson is joined by filmmaker David Fairhead to break down the brutal reality of flying Britain’s most feared bomber in World War II. From its origins as a flawed aircraft to becoming the backbone of the RAF’s bombing campaign, the Lancaster wasn’t built for comfort, it was built to carry destruction. Seven-man crews packed into a freezing metal tube faced flak, night fighters, and a nearly 50% casualty rate, all while navigating pitch-black skies in tight formation. But this isn’t just a story about a machine - it’s about the men inside it. The young crews who flew mission after mission knowing each one could be their last. The daring raids - from the Dam Busters to the destruction of the Tirpitz - that pushed the limits of what was possible. And the haunting reality of a war fought from 20,000 feet, where survival often came down to luck. It’s a story of fear, firepower, and endurance - of the aircraft that became the RAF’s sledgehammer, and the crews who swung it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 31 mins
  • Isabella of France: The She-Wolf Who Toppled a King

    Isabella of France: The She-Wolf Who Toppled a King
    Apr 16 2026
    They called her the “She-Wolf” - and not as a compliment. This week, Ben Thompson and Dr. Pat tell the story of Isabella of France, a queen who got sidelined, shut out, and underestimated… and responded by invading her own kingdom. Married to the deeply unpopular Edward II of England, Isabella watched her influence disappear, until she decided to take it back with an army. What follows is betrayal, alliance, and one of the cleanest coups in medieval history. With Roger Mortimer at her side, Isabella didn’t just challenge the crown of England, she ripped it off and handed it to her son. Power grab, revenge tour, regime change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • The AC-130: Death From Above (with Special guest Special Missions Aviator Anthony Dyer )

    The AC-130: Death From Above (with Special guest Special Missions Aviator Anthony Dyer )
    Apr 8 2026
    This week, Ben Thompson sits down with Special Missions Aviator Anthony Dyer to go inside the most feared aircraft in modern warfare—and the man pulling the trigger. From unleashing devastation in Afghanistan to pulling wounded soldiers out of the fire, this is what happens during the mission… and what it costs when you come home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    58 mins
  • The Vasa: Built to Dominate, Designed to Sink

    The Vasa: Built to Dominate, Designed to Sink
    Apr 1 2026
    In 1628, Vasa warship set sail as the most powerful warship Sweden had ever built—a floating symbol of ambition, wealth, and absolute confidence. It had more cannons, more firepower, and more swagger than anything else in the Baltic. It also had a fatal flaw. On its maiden voyage, in front of a cheering crowd and the entire city of Stockholm, the Vasa made it about three-quarters of a mile… before a light gust of wind tipped it over and sent it straight to the bottom of the harbor. In today's episode, Ben and Dr. Pat break down how a king’s ego, a rushed timeline, and some truly catastrophic engineering decisions combined to create one of the most spectacular failures in history—and why, somehow, that disaster is exactly what makes the Vasa so badass. Because sometimes being legendary doesn’t mean you won. Sometimes it means you failed so hard they’re still talking about it 400 years later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Liver-Eating Johnson: The Mountain Man Boogeyman

    Liver-Eating Johnson: The Mountain Man Boogeyman
    Mar 25 2026
    History is full of revenge stories - but almost none of them spiral into full-blown, years-long war against an entire nation. This week, host Ben Thompson is joined by producer Andrew Jacobs to dive into the blood-soaked legend of Jeremiah “Liver-Eating” Johnson -a mountain man who survived brutal winters, outlaws, and ambushes… and then allegedly spent years hunting down members of the Crow Nation after the murder of his family. It’s a story of myth vs. reality, frontier violence, and one man’s transformation into something closer to folklore than human. Because when your nickname is Liver-Eating, you’re already way past the point of reasonable behavior. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    54 mins
  • Ishtar: Seduction, Slaughter, and the Underworld Heist

    Ishtar: Seduction, Slaughter, and the Underworld Heist
    Mar 18 2026
    History’s earliest civilizations didn’t just invent writing, cities, and law, they also gave us one of the most unpredictable, volatile, and straight-up terrifying deities ever worshipped. Meet Ishtar: the Mesopotamian goddess of love, war, sex, power, and absolutely zero chill. Hosted by Ben Thompson with guest Dr. Patricia Larash, this episode dives into the legend of a goddess who could seduce kings, destroy armies, and then descend into the underworld on what might be the most ill-advised power move in mythological history. She’s been worshipped, feared, blamed for plagues, and credited with victory in battle -- all depending on what kind of mood she woke up in. From divine romances that ended in disaster to her infamous showdown with the Queen of the Dead, Ishtar’s story is a wild ride through ancient Mesopotamia’s greatest myths and a reminder that when you’re the most powerful being in the universe, consequences are more of a suggestion than a rule. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • El Cid: The Baddest Knight in Spain

    El Cid: The Baddest Knight in Spain
    Mar 11 2026
    Medieval Spain was a chaotic battlefield of rival Christian kingdoms, powerful Muslim emirs, shifting alliances, and nonstop war - and in the middle of it all rode Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, the legendary warrior history remembers as El Cid. Exiled by his own king, El Cid didn’t disappear quietly into the margins of history. Instead, he built an unstoppable reputation as a battlefield genius and mercenary commander, fighting for whoever would hire him and defeating just about everyone who stood in his way. His campaigns reshaped the balance of power in Iberia, culminating in the stunning conquest of the great city of Valencia, where he ruled as a warlord-king. In this episode Ben Thompson and Dr. Patricia Larash explore the life of one of the most legendary knights of the Middle Ages—a warrior whose story includes exile, epic sieges, brutal battlefield victories, and one final act so wild that even death couldn’t stop him from leading his army to victory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 10 mins