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Strife! History's Conflicts

Strife! History's Conflicts

By: John R. Huber
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 Strife! History’s Conflicts immerses you in the chain reactions that shape nations, fuel wars, and ignite revolutions. Each episode kicks off with a gripping narrative, breathing life into the past through the eyes of those who experience it—beyond the cold dates and battlefield stats. Blending sharp historical insight, decision-making analysis, and deeply human stories, it provides a richer, more empathetic view of how history shapes lives.John R. Huber World
Episodes
  • Manifest Destiny's Shadow: Bullets and Benevolence in the Philippines (1899-1902)

    Manifest Destiny's Shadow: Bullets and Benevolence in the Philippines (1899-1902)
    Sep 3 2025
    The U.S. seizes the Philippines after the Spanish-American War, promising liberation but delivering conquest. This episode uncovers the brutal conflict that follows, as American troops enforce "benevolent assimilation" through scorched-earth campaigns, concentration camps, and massacres. Through survivor accounts and suppressed documents, we expose the gap between imperial rhetoric and the reality of bloodshed. From Mark Twain's scathing condemnations to the war's half-million dead, this is the story America tries to forget—and why its ghosts still haunt U.S.-Philippine relations today.If you’re hooked on the untold stories behind history’s turning points, don’t stop here—step into the complete Strife! series, where the full, chronological journey unfolds with depth you won’t get on the podcast. I’ll be sharing a handful of stories here, but most of the powerful narratives—the ones that really pull back the curtain—are only in the books and audiobooks.Start with Strife! Asia’s Inevitable and Unavoidable Descent into World War II—a gripping account from the Opium Wars to Japan’s brutal expansion, brought to life through raw firsthand stories and the latest historical research.Then take on Strife! Europe’s (Un)Avoidable Descent into World War II—where the ghosts of Versailles, rising fascism, and one diplomatic failure after another lead to catastrophe. Each chapter begins with a cinematic moment before unraveling the deeper political chaos behind it.And for strategy buffs, The Ardennes (Counter) Offensive: A Decision Analysis of Allied and German Strategy Leading Up to the Greatest Battle of World War II offers a bold, decision theory–infused retelling of the Battle of the Bulge. See how split-second choices shaped the course of the war—what looked like madness was often high-stakes calculation.All three books are available exclusively on Amazon in print and ebook. Want the full experience? The Strife! audiobooks—narrated by the outstanding Ty Lasky—and The Ardennes (Counter) Offensive, voiced by Anthony Proctor, are available now on Audible.And if you want to master decision-making yourself—whether for business, personal life, or any high-stakes moment—Think Fresh, Decide Best: Mastering Decisions Without Losing Your Cool is highly recommended. This practical guide blends real-world examples, proven tools, and a touch of humor to help you turn uncertainty into clarity and make the best choices with confidence.The stories you hear on this podcast are just the beginning. The ones you don’t hear? They’re waiting for you in Strife! and Think Fresh, Decide Best.Strife! Asia's Inevitable and (Un)Avoidable Descent into World War IIhttps://www.amazon.com/Strife-Asias-Inevitable-Avoidable-Descent/dp/B0F2ZZ2BP1Strife!: Europe's Inevitable and (Un)Avoidable Descent Into World War IIhttps://www.amazon.com/Strife-Europes-Inevitable-Avoidable-Descent/dp/B0FJ83LL6WThe Ardennes (Counter) Offensive: A Decision Analysis of Allied and German Strategy Leading Up to the Greatest Battle of World War II https://www.amazon.com/Ardennes-Counter-Offensive-Decision-Analysis-ebook/dp/B0C659QKD9Think Fresh, Decide Best: Mastering Decisions Without Losing Your Coolhttps://www.amazon.com/Think-Fresh-Decide-Best-Mastering-ebook/dp/B0DJ8RY8V4
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    20 mins
  • Michigan vs. Ohio: Before the Helmet, There Was the Musket — The Toledo War (1835–1836)

    Michigan vs. Ohio: Before the Helmet, There Was the Musket — The Toledo War (1835–1836)
    Aug 27 2025
    Before Michigan and Ohio faced off on the gridiron, they clashed over a swamp. In this episode of Strife! History’s Conflicts, we dive into the Toledo War (1835–1836)—a territorial dispute that involved pride, politics, mismatched militias, and one unfortunate barroom stabbing.Through vivid narrative and sharp analysis, we explore how a butter knife becomes a war relic, how governors duel with legislation instead of swords, and how the Upper Peninsula ends up Michigan’s unlikely prize. It’s a story of theatrical defiance, federal compromise, and statehood shaped by surveyor errors and tavern bravado.No shots fired. No winners declared. Just the rivalry that echoes from swamp to stadium.If you’re hooked on the untold stories behind history’s turning points, don’t stop here—step into the complete Strife! series, where the full, chronological journey unfolds with depth you won’t get on the podcast. I’ll be sharing a handful of stories here, but most of the powerful narratives—the ones that really pull back the curtain—are only in the books and audiobooks.Start with Strife! Asia’s Inevitable and Unavoidable Descent into World War II—a gripping account from the Opium Wars to Japan’s brutal expansion, brought to life through raw firsthand stories and the latest historical research.Then take on Strife! Europe’s (Un)Avoidable Descent into World War II—where the ghosts of Versailles, rising fascism, and one diplomatic failure after another lead to catastrophe. Each chapter begins with a cinematic moment before unraveling the deeper political chaos behind it.And for strategy buffs, The Ardennes (Counter) Offensive: A Decision Analysis of Allied and German Strategy Leading Up to the Greatest Battle of World War II offers a bold, decision theory–infused retelling of the Battle of the Bulge. See how split-second choices shaped the course of the war—what looked like madness was often high-stakes calculation.All three books are available exclusively on Amazon in print and ebook. Want the full experience? The Strife! audiobooks—narrated by the outstanding Ty Lasky—and The Ardennes (Counter) Offensive, voiced by Anthony Proctor, are available now on Audible.And if you want to master decision-making yourself—whether for business, personal life, or any high-stakes moment—Think Fresh, Decide Best: Mastering Decisions Without Losing Your Cool is highly recommended. This practical guide blends real-world examples, proven tools, and a touch of humor to help you turn uncertainty into clarity and make the best choices with confidence.The stories you hear on this podcast are just the beginning. The ones you don’t hear? They’re waiting for you in Strife! and Think Fresh, Decide Best.Strife! Asia's Inevitable and (Un)Avoidable Descent into World War IIhttps://www.amazon.com/Strife-Asias-Inevitable-Avoidable-Descent/dp/B0F2ZZ2BP1Strife!: Europe's Inevitable and (Un)Avoidable Descent Into World War IIhttps://www.amazon.com/Strife-Europes-Inevitable-Avoidable-Descent/dp/B0FJ83LL6WThe Ardennes (Counter) Offensive: A Decision Analysis of Allied and German Strategy Leading Up to the Greatest Battle of World War II https://www.amazon.com/Ardennes-Counter-Offensive-Decision-Analysis-ebook/dp/B0C659QKD9Think Fresh, Decide Best: Mastering Decisions Without Losing Your Coolhttps://www.amazon.com/Think-Fresh-Decide-Best-Mastering-ebook/dp/B0DJ8RY8V4
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    36 mins
  • The Boys Who Cried For Their Mothers: Denmark's Mine-Clearance Tragedy (May to August 1945)

    The Boys Who Cried For Their Mothers: Denmark's Mine-Clearance Tragedy (May to August 1945)
    Aug 20 2025
    In the summer of 1945, as Europe celebrates peace, a different horror unfolds along Denmark’s western coast. Thousands of German boys—some as young as thirteen—are forced at gunpoint to clear over a million landmines with their bare hands. They are children who have been fed Nazi lies, now paying for a war they barely understand.This is the story of the mine rats: starving, terrified boys who weep for their mothers as they crawl through the dunes, disarming explosives with little more than a stick and a prayer. Nearly half will die or be maimed. Those who survive carry the scars forever.In this harrowing episode, we examine history’s most shameful postscript—where the victors become tormentors, and children become casualties of peace.If you’re hooked on the untold stories behind history’s turning points, don’t stop here—step into the complete Strife! series, where the full, chronological journey unfolds with depth you won’t get on the podcast. I’ll be sharing a handful of stories here, but most of the powerful narratives—the ones that really pull back the curtain—are only in the books and audiobooks.Start with Strife! Asia’s Inevitable and Unavoidable Descent into World War II—a gripping account from the Opium Wars to Japan’s brutal expansion, brought to life through raw firsthand stories and the latest historical research.Then take on Strife! Europe’s (Un)Avoidable Descent into World War II—where the ghosts of Versailles, rising fascism, and one diplomatic failure after another lead to catastrophe. Each chapter begins with a cinematic moment before unraveling the deeper political chaos behind it.And for strategy buffs, The Ardennes (Counter) Offensive: A Decision Analysis of Allied and German Strategy Leading Up to the Greatest Battle of World War II offers a bold, decision theory–infused retelling of the Battle of the Bulge. See how split-second choices shaped the course of the war—what looked like madness was often high-stakes calculation.All three books are available exclusively on Amazon in print and ebook. Want the full experience? The Strife! audiobooks—narrated by the outstanding Ty Lasky—and The Ardennes (Counter) Offensive, voiced by Anthony Proctor, are available now on Audible.And if you want to master decision-making yourself—whether for business, personal life, or any high-stakes moment—Think Fresh, Decide Best: Mastering Decisions Without Losing Your Cool is highly recommended. This practical guide blends real-world examples, proven tools, and a touch of humor to help you turn uncertainty into clarity and make the best choices with confidence.The stories you hear on this podcast are just the beginning. The ones you don’t hear? They’re waiting for you in Strife! and Think Fresh, Decide Best.Strife! Asia's Inevitable and (Un)Avoidable Descent into World War IIhttps://www.amazon.com/Strife-Asias-Inevitable-Avoidable-Descent/dp/B0F2ZZ2BP1Strife!: Europe's Inevitable and (Un)Avoidable Descent Into World War IIhttps://www.amazon.com/Strife-Europes-Inevitable-Avoidable-Descent/dp/B0FJ83LL6WThe Ardennes (Counter) Offensive: A Decision Analysis of Allied and German Strategy Leading Up to the Greatest Battle of World War II https://www.amazon.com/Ardennes-Counter-Offensive-Decision-Analysis-ebook/dp/B0C659QKD9Think Fresh, Decide Best: Mastering Decisions Without Losing Your Coolhttps://www.amazon.com/Think-Fresh-Decide-Best-Mastering-ebook/dp/B0DJ8RY8V4
    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
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