SEASON 4 (FINALE): The Mediterranean Prepares

EPISODE 71: El Cid, Pt. 5: Valencia

Rodrigo Díaz ends his story the only way he could—his way. Today, we ride into the unforgettable conclusion of Spain’s greatest hero, the legendary El Cid. Part history, part myth, all epic.

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If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app Buy Me A Coffee! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!

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Music:

Music for this episode is called “Al Andalus” by the incredibly talented (as you’ll hear) Shane Ivers. Check him out at https://www.silvermansound.com.

SEASON 4: The Mediterranean Prepares

EPISODE 70: El Cid, Pt. 4: The Road to Valencia

We’re entering the final act of a story centuries in the making. From the heights of Córdoba to the dust of Zaragoza, the Iberian Peninsula is now a battleground of faith, power, and legacy. As the Reconquista surges forward, we begin the closing chapters in the life of Spain’s greatest legendary warrior—El Cid.

No More Paywalls! How?

If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app Buy Me A Coffee! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!

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Music:

Music for this episode is called “Al Andalus” by the incredibly talented (as you’ll hear) Shane Ivers. Check him out at https://www.silvermansound.com.

SEASON 4: The Mediterranean Prepares

EPISODE 69: El Cid, Pt. 3: The Battle of Sagrajas

El Cid rides again—this time in exile, defending Zaragoza against his former countrymen. As Alfonso VI tightens his grip on Iberia, word spreads of a looming storm in the south. In Algeciras, a dark tide rises that will reshape the peninsula—and it all begins here, a decade before the First Crusade.

No More Paywalls! How?

If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app Buy Me A Coffee! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!

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Music:

Music for this episode is called “Al Andalus” by the incredibly talented (as you’ll hear) Shane Ivers. Check him out at https://www.silvermansound.com.

SEASON 4: The Mediterranean Prepares

EPISODE 68: El Cid, Pt. 2: The Fall of Toledo

The die is cast—Christian ambition crosses a new threshold as Toledo becomes the flashpoint between al-Andalus and the rising Christian kingdoms. Today, we mark the spark that ignites a century of conquest, conflict, and the forging of legends like El Cid. The battle for Spain begins here.

No More Paywalls! How?

If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app Buy Me A Coffee! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!

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Buy Me A Coffee!

Music:

Music for this episode is called “Al Andalus” by the incredibly talented (as you’ll hear) Shane Ivers. Check him out at https://www.silvermansound.com.

SEASON 4: The Mediterranean Prepares

EPISODE 67: El Cid, Pt. 1: Mercenary

Sword in hand and loyalty in flux, Rodrigo Díaz steps onto the stage—part man, part myth, all momentum. In this first chapter of our series on El Cid, we meet him not as the polished hero of legend, but as the fierce and brilliant mercenary he truly was. The age of epic has arrived.

No More Paywalls! How?

If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app Buy Me A Coffee! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!

Social Media:

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Buy Me A Coffee!

Music:

Music for this episode is called “Al Andalus” by the incredibly talented (as you’ll hear) Shane Ivers. Check him out at https://www.silvermansound.com.

SEASON 4: The Mediterranean Prepares

EPISODE 66: Sancho II vs. Alfonso VI

Before legends rise, kingdoms fall apart. Today, we dive into the bitter sibling rivalry between Sancho II and Alfonso VI—a dynastic tug-of-war that sets the stage for one of Spain’s greatest heroes to step into the fray. The legend begins in the shadows. 

No More Paywalls! How?

If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app Buy Me A Coffee! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!

Social Media:

YouTube: Fortune’s Wheel Podcast

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Buy Me A Coffee!

Music:

Music for this episode is called “Al Andalus” by the incredibly talented (as you’ll hear) Shane Ivers. Check him out at https://www.silvermansound.com.

SEASON 4: The Mediterranean Prepares

EPISODE 65: A Tale of Two Empires

Today, two powers rise—one from the burning sands of North Africa, the other from the highlands of Christian Iberia. The Almoravids bring zeal and unity to a fractured al-Andalus, while Fernando of León and Castile shapes a legacy that will echo far beyond his reign. But not all ascents end in glory.

No More Paywalls! How?

If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app Buy Me A Coffee! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!

Social Media:

YouTube: Fortune’s Wheel Podcast

Meta: https://www.facebook.com/fortunes.wheel.3 

X: https://twitter.com/WheelPodcast

Buy Me A Coffee!

Music:

Music for this episode is called “Borders” by the incredibly talented Danijel Zambo. Check him out at https://uppbeat.io/t/danijel-zambo/borders. [License Code: ZMKNFN3S9R6BYWFC]

Music for this episode is called “Al Andalus” by the incredibly talented (as you’ll hear) Shane Ivers. Check him out at https://www.silvermansound.com.

***This is a newly released (former Anchor Bonus) episode from the beginning of March, 2022. ENJOY!!! This was formerly Episode 60. Sorry for the mess up in the order of episodes, folks. Shouldn't happen again!

SEASON 4: The Mediterranean Prepares

EPISODE 60 (BONUS): Iberia Has No End

Today’s episode lays the groundwork. Before our next legendary figure steps onto the stage, we zoom out to understand the bigger picture in Iberia—who holds power, who’s on the rise, and what fault lines are just waiting to crack. It’s all about context—and it matters more than ever.

No More Paywalls! How?

If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app Buy Me A Coffee! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!

Social Media:

YouTube: Fortune’s Wheel Podcast

Meta: https://www.facebook.com/fortunes.wheel.3 

X: https://twitter.com/WheelPodcast

Buy Me A Coffee!

Music:

Music for this episode is called “Al Andalus” by the incredibly talented (as you’ll hear) Shane Ivers. Check him out at https://www.silvermansound.com.

SEASON 4: The Mediterranean Prepares

Miniseries: Medieval West Africa

EPISODE 64: Trouble From Within

Today, we peel back the layers of early West African power to reveal the cracks forming in Wagadu—the empire we often call “proto-Ghana.” We also meet the Sanhaja, the Berber tribes who move between worlds, shaping the future of the Sahara and the Sahel. As Wagadu’s façade begins to splinter, new forces stir in the desert shadows.

No More Paywalls! How?

If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app Buy Me A Coffee! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!

NOTE: DISREGARD ANY MENTION OF PATREON. That account has been closed in the process of tearing down of any paywalls! 

Social Media:

YouTube: Fortune’s Wheel Podcast

Meta: https://www.facebook.com/fortunes.wheel.3 

X: https://twitter.com/WheelPodcast

Buy Me A Coffee!

Music:

Music for this episode is called “Borders” by the incredibly talented Danijel Zambo. Check him out at https://uppbeat.io/t/danijel-zambo/borders. [License Code: ZMKNFN3S9R6BYWFC]

SEASON 4: The Mediterranean Prepares

Miniseries: Medieval West Africa

EPISODE 63: Wagadu Uncovered

Today, we dive deeper into the splendor, wealth, and power of early and medieval West Africa—a region too often overlooked, yet absolutely central to the story of the medieval world. From the rise of powerful kingdoms to thriving centers of learning and trade, this episode explores the rich and complex legacy of a land that was anything but isolated.

No More Paywalls! How?

If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app Buy Me A Coffee! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!

NOTE: DISREGARD ANY MENTION OF PATREON. That account has been closed in the process of tearing down of any paywalls! 

Social Media:

YouTube: Fortune’s Wheel Podcast

Meta: https://www.facebook.com/fortunes.wheel.3 

X: https://twitter.com/WheelPodcast

Buy Me A Coffee!

Music:

Music for this episode is called “Borders” by the incredibly talented Danijel Zambo. Check him out at https://uppbeat.io/t/danijel-zambo/borders. [License Code: ZMKNFN3S9R6BYWFC]