Half True History

In episode 50 of Half True History, Dan Parrella tells Pedro Lima (and Chris Crespo) about the Congo Conference of 1884 and the various events and geopolitics that led to the European corporate capitalist machine divide up Africa and royally screw the entire place up for a very long time to come. Learn about the Songhai Empire selling slaves, abolitionism ending that revenue stream, the birth of Liberia, the unconquering of Ethiopia, the founding of Rhodesia and the De Beers diamond company, and more!

In episode 49 of Half True History, Dan Parrella tells Pedro Lima (and Chris Crespo) about the interesting parallels between concurrent and subsequent religions throughout the years, starting with the explosion of ideas and philosophies around 500 B.C. and the dominance of The Golden Rule. Dan also talks about the Creator God & the Destroyer God, the flood myths from Gilgamesh to Noah, the Garden of Eden, and the thing that unified the Devil, the Peacock Angel, Prometheus, and Loki, so enjoy this week's show and learn something about world religions for once.

In episode 48 of Half True History, Dan Parrella tells Pedro Lima (and Chris Crespo) about the history of the Aztecs and how they became a theological dictatorship that didn't exactly end well for anyone involved. Who was the Great Feathered Serpent? Why was there increased sacrifices? Was the whole culture based on re-education and indoctrination? How accurate are Mel Gibson movies? All of these questions get answered in this week's show!

In episode 47 of Half True History, Dan Parrella talks to Pedro Lima (and producer Chris Crespo) about protesting throughout history, and whether or not progress can be achieved peacefully. Dan goes over the parallels between the French and American Revolutions, the German anti-Nazi group The White Rose, the history of the police, radical suffragettes, and more!

(Pre-recorded before the pandemic shut everything down)

In episode 46, Dan Parrella explains to Pedro Lima (and producer Chris Crespo) what the opium wars in China were all about. Why did China call itseld the Middle Kingdom and why did Britain decide to introduce opium to their Eastern trading partners and what does France have to do with any of it? All of these topics and more get broken down in this week's show, enjoy!

(Pre-recorded before the pandemic shut everything down)

In episode 45, Dan Parrella explains to Pedro Lima (and producer Chris Crespo) why Cuba has has a long history of bad leadership. From Gerardo Machado to Miguel Díaz-Canel, Dan breaks down why their style of military dictatorships has always caused problems for the actual people of the country, and he suggests ways this problem could be fixed, but the leaders of several different countries will not like what he thinks needs to happen. Enjoy the show!

In episode 44 of Half True History, Dan Parrella tells Pedro Lima (and Chris Crespo) all about the Borgias, Italy's most notorious family, with a Pope who oversaw the Jubilee of 1500, which of course featured, The Contest. This story is bananas and full of mysterious falls down walls and off bridges as well as more than one possible murder by poisoning so we hope you enjoy as you sit around with your own family.

With guest Tony Stigma

Twitter - @teddystigma

Instagram - @realteddystigma

In episode 42, Dan Parrella and Pedro Lima invite friends Matthew and Adrienne Palmer to talk about the Crusades in this double-length show! Enjoy!

In episode 41, Dan Parrella connects with Pedro Lima (and Chris Crespo) via internet in order to remotely explain the timeline, circumstances and consequences of the plague a.k.a the black death. Dan talks about how it started in China and spread throughout Europe and Russia, how the first wave lasted five years, how the Mongols weaponized the plague, and how it traveled via rats and fleas stowing away on trade routes. Dan also explains the Statute of Labourers and how it led to the English Peasant's Revolt and the death of the feudal system, ushering in a golden age of workers. Enjoy the show!