Giants of History

Alexander Hamilton: Unbreakable | The Origin Story Part 1

Before he became a Founding Father, Alexander Hamilton was an impoverished boy in the Caribbean, burdened by abandonment, tragedy, and unimaginable loss. In this episode, we explore the extraordinary origin story of a young boy who refused to be defeated by circumstance, and the adversity that helped forge one of America's most remarkable figures.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Steel Soul

FDR rose up to meet many challenges throughout his life and presidency, but perhaps no challenge was as difficult to face as the one that he came up against in the summer of 1921

Mary Queen of Scots: Portrait of an Execution

In February 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots, faced the executioner's axe. Discover the dramatic final hours of the Scottish queen, whose life, faith, and claim to the English throne placed her on a collision course with Queen Elizabeth I.

Content Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of a historical execution that may be disturbing to some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

Ernest Hemingway: Part Two | Bloody Boot

In this second episode on Ernest Hemingway, we continue our exploration of Hemingway's time on the Italian war front during World War I. But growing tired of not being where the action is, Hemingway sets out in search of it, and on the night of July 8th, 1918, he finds it, or should we say...it finds him. And afterward, his life is never the same.

This episode draws primarily from Ernest Hemingway: A Life Story (1969) by Carlos Baker, along with historical accounts of Hemingway's experiences during World War I.

Ernest Hemingway: Part One | War Wish

In the summer of 1918, an 18-year-old Ernest Hemingway traveled to war-torn Europe, determined to experience the action of World War I. What began as an adventure would soon become a life-changing experience, helping shape the man, the legend, and the writer he would become.

This episode draws primarily from Ernest Hemingway: A Life Story (1969) by Carlos Baker, along with historical accounts of Hemingway's experiences during World War I.

Theodore Roosevelt: A Knockout in Albany

About 20 years before becoming president, Theodore Roosevelt was just a young politican beginning his career in the New York State Assembly. This is the story about how a confrontation inside an Albany saloon revealed the fighting spirit that would define his extraordinary life.

Ronald Reagan: The Jaws of Death

Long before he became the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan was a lifeguard on Illinois' Rock River, where he was credited with saving 77 lives over seven summers. This is the story of the remarkable rescue that landed him on the front page of a newspaper for the first time...

Eyewitness accounts are the best way to explore history.  In this episode, we explore one of the most famous executions in history through the eyes of those that were in the room on that day, February 8th 1587...the day that the life of Mary, Queen of Scots came to an end.  

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It's common knowledge that Vincent van Gogh cut off part of his ear at some point in his life.  But, most have no idea of the events that led up to that bloody Sunday night in Arles, France, just before Christmas in 1888.    

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Part two in a two part series exploring the life of American abolitionist, Frederick Douglass.

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