History Loves Company

By Chester Sakamoto

What's History Loves Company about?

Take a trip back in time and experience history in a unique and immersive way--because history is shaped by all of us! Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/historylovescompany/support

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History Loves Company episodes:

06.27.2024
Rocking the Boat: A Look at the Oldest Manmade Mode of Transportation
Planes, trains, and automobiles...people will tell you they're faster, more efficient, and save travel time, but what if you'd like to experience the freedom (to say nothing of grandeur) of the open sea? For eons, boats and ships have allowed...
06.13.2024
All Aboard!: The Fascinating History of Trains
There's arguably not a more romantic mode of transportation than the train. Since their inception in the early 19th Century, various writers, singers, and artists have depicted and idealized this most unique and exciting form of transit. But it was...
06.06.2024
"The Great Crusade": The Allied Invasion of Normandy (Special on the 80th Anniversary of D-Day)
It marked a turning point World War Two. Had history played out differently, the outcome may very well have been different. Tens of thousands died and those who survived pushed on until all of Europe was wrenched from Nazi control....
05.30.2024
"Two Wheels Move Your Soul": The History of the Motorcycle
Tom Cruise in the classic film 'Top Gun' may have had "the need for speed," but so have generations of motorists, particularly the ones known as bikers. Indeed, the motorcycle has evolved into the vicious, powerful, and awesome two-wheeled vehicle...
05.23.2024
Fleming, Ian Fleming: The Man Behind James Bond
The James Bond film series has inspired several knockoffs and parodies since its inception in 1962, but prior to that, the suave Agent 007 began life on the page in a series of novels by British writer, Ian Fleming. But...
05.16.2024
We Are the "Champa-ions": The Fascinating History of the Champa Kingdom
Vietnam is a country with a rich (albeit complicated) history. Before communism, it was torn apart by civil strife, pegging northern forces against southern. Prior to that, it was under the colonial yoke, when France claimed it as part of...
05.09.2024
Mil Días del Odio: The Thousand Days' War
If you've ever seen the Disney film 'Encanto,' then you're familiar with the backstory as to how the Madrigal family came to be at their magical mountain refuge. It involves a conflict, a very real conflict, in fact, that shook...
05.02.2024
Do You Know the Way to Great Zimbabwe?: A Look at a Medieval African City
When it comes to Africa's vast history, people tend to focus on Egypt, the Kerma and Kush kingdoms of Sudan, or else the Mali Empire of Mansa Musa. But what of Sub-Saharan Africa? Surely, there must have been great cities...
04.25.2024
A Great Depression: The Dust Bowl
The 1930s were marked by economic toil both abroad and in the United States, as the Great Depression took a toll on the world economy. To add insult to injury, an environmental calamity of both natural and man-made factors, rocked...
04.18.2024
Göbekli Tepe: The Birth of Religion
Religion is one of humanity's oldest practices and likely stems from our need to explain the natural phenomena that surrounds us as well as our place among it. But while the religions to which we now adhere are attested to...
04.04.2024
Aqua Vitae: The Tantalizing Tale of the Fountain of Youth
"Pay your surgeon very well to break the spell of aging." So goes a lyric in the Red Hot Chili Peppers' hit song, "Californication." But what if you didn't have to go under the knife to get your youth back?...
03.28.2024
From Exile to [Re]-Emergence: The Expulsion of the Acadians
If you've ever been down to Louisiana, chances are you've noticed a great many French place names. Indeed, for a time in the 17th and 18th Centuries, this part of America was under French jurisdiction. But the people of French...
03.21.2024
I Want Candy: The History of Chocolate
Today, chocolate is beloved the world over as a delicious sweet treat that's best enjoyed at the end of a long and stressful day. But did you know that there was a time when it was made solely into a...
03.14.2024
Snake Charmer: Saint Patrick and Why There Are No Snakes in Ireland
In the West, snakes have a reputation, thanks to the Bible, of mistrust and deception, as it was a serpent in the Garden of Eden that tempted Eve to taste the forbidden fruit, thus leading to the Fall of Man...
03.07.2024
There Goes the Neighborhood: A History of Hollywood
Today, Hollywood is deemed the entertainment capital of the world and is, without question, the most famous section of Los Angeles. But did you know that it didn't begin life with the intent of becoming associated with the movies? Tune...
02.29.2024
"Leap" of Faith: A Brief History of the Leap Year
2024 is a leap year, and as this episode falls on the extra day in question, I thought it would be fun to examine the history of this most fascinating (and, at times, complicated) occasion. Celebrate February 29th with me...
02.22.2024
Jean Laffite: The Terror of the Caribbean (Part Two)
When last we joined our (anti-)hero, Jean Laffite had been imprisoned for the crime of piracy. But even bars couldn't keep this legendary figure at bay (maritime pun once again intended here). Tune in this week for the second part,...
02.15.2024
Jean Laffite: The Terror of the Caribbean (Part One)
Pirates have been romanticized in literature, film, and various forms of media since at least the 19th Century, but the truth is that the life or activities of a pirate were anything but romantic. Just ask Jean Laffite, the subject...
02.08.2024
Two Languages, One Nation: The Story of the Finland Swedes
Since at least the 12th Century, there has been a Swedish presence in Finland, so much so that they've since become known as a distinct ethno-linguistic group from the Finns. But this history has been far from easy and has,...
02.01.2024
Sugar-Pie, "Hunny"-Bunch: The Not-So-Sweet Life of Attila the Hun
Early Christians called him "the Scourge of God." Romans, the most powerful military force in the Ancient World, feared him. Every land from China to Italy experienced his wrath firsthand. He was Attila, leader of the Huns, and he's the...
01.25.2024
Cultural Kickstarter: The Olmec
There were several cradles of civilization throughout the world. The Nile in Egypt, the Tigris and Euphrates in Mesopotamia, the Yellow River in China...the list goes on and on. But in Mesoamerica, one noteworthy cradle of civilization was born on...
01.11.2024
Campus Tour: The History of Oxford University
Oxford University is considered one of the most prestigious institutions for higher learning in the world, but did you know that it was also the first university in England? Founded, in some form or other, in 1096, just thirty years...
01.04.2024
The Last Samurai: Saigo Takamori and the Satsuma Rebellion
The 19th Century was a tremendously exciting time for Japan. By then, the island country had been isolated from the rest of the world for some three centuries. But now, having been forced to open its doors by the Americans,...
12.21.2023
Saturnalia: The Pagan Origins of Christmas
Wreaths, gift-giving, elaborate feasting...these are just some of the traditional practices associated with Christmas. But it might surprise you to learn that the Christian holiday was by no means the first to incorporate such practices. That's because they were borrowed...
12.14.2023
"Make No Little Plans": The Haussmann Renovation of Paris
For the better part of a millennium, the city of Paris was more or less the same. A crowded, Medieval city of narrow, twisting streets and people living virtually on top of one another, it was, by the 19th Century,...
12.07.2023
Vive la France: How the French Kept Liquor Flowing During Prohibition
Today, the 18th Amendment, better known to history as Prohibition, is seen as one of greatest (to say nothing of disastrous) social experiments in American history. In that volatile thirteen-year period, the production and sale of alcohol was banned, at...
11.30.2023
Fantastic Voyage: Hanno the Navigator and the Exploration of West Africa
For centuries, Africa was known to Europeans as "the Dark Continent," not so much for the complexion of many of its native inhabitants inasmuch as for the fact that its interior remained largely unexplored. With the Age of Exploration came...
11.16.2023
Birth of a Nation: The Enduring Legacy of the Mayflower Compact
In the autumn of 1620, a rickety old ship made landfall just off the coast of what's now Massachusetts. Having been blown way off course on the journey over and as well as losing nearly half its crew on the...
11.09.2023
A Tale of Two Cities: The Venetian-Genoese Wars
Strategically located in the northwest and northeast corners of Italian Peninsula respectively, Genoa (or Genova) and Venice were, historically, two independent republics who grew rich through maritime trade. But as their wealth and power continued to grow, they soon each...
10.26.2023
"Circle" Back: A Case Study on Crop Circles
What do 17th Century England, the Devil, aliens and unusual weather patterns all have in common? They're linked to the mysterious and unusual phenomenon we now know as crop circles. What are some of the events from history regarding these...
10.19.2023
Something "Sphinx": The "Pungent" Tale of the Great Sphinx of Giza (and How It Lost Its Nose)
Few monumental sculptures throughout the world have captured humanity's collective imagination quite like the Sphinx. Now part of a vast archaeological complex at Giza in Egypt, it's served as a curiosity to several generations of visitors and even thinkers and...
10.12.2023
Dance 'Til You Drop: The Bizarre Dance Epidemic of 1518
These days, people dance 'til they drop for fun, often at competitions for prize money or other rewards. But in early 16th Century Strasbourg, a town now situated along the French-German border, dancing 'til one dropped took on an entirely...
10.05.2023
Cautionary Tale: The Myth of Atlantis
For the most part on this podcast, we've focused on the factual. History is, of course, chock full of a near-infinite selection of interesting stories that bear repeating. But what of the fictional? Surely, there's history behind such things that...
09.28.2023
Gone Platinum: The Amazing Tumaco Culture
The Southern Colombian and Northern Ecuadorian coasts are home to a large rainforest, likely one of the wettest in the world. With average annual rainfall exceeding over forty feet (around thirteen meters) per year, it hardly seems the place for...
09.21.2023
"On Such a Winter's Day": The Decembrist Revolt
Everyone knows about the October Revolution, the genesis of the greater Russian Revolution that took place in the final days of the Great War (World War One). But what many people don't realize is that this wasn't the first revolution...
09.07.2023
Thirst For Blood: The Decline and Fall of a Wallachian Prince
Last time, we charted Vlad the Impaler's ascent to the Wallachian throne and how he earned his notorious moniker. But even he couldn't rule forever and the latter half of his life reflects this as he became embroiled in conflict...
08.31.2023
"Bloody" Hell: The Meteoric Rise of Vlad the Impaler
In the years since the late 19th Century, the name Dracula has conjured up images of a vampire living in a secluded castle, but what if I told you that the name comes directly from an actual historical figure? Not...
08.24.2023
"I'm Your Venus": The Mysteries of the Venus of Willendorf
The human desire to create art isn't a new one. In fact, it dates back to our very beginnings, when various hunter-gatherer societies wandered the world in search of food and proverbial greener pastures. One such work to survive from...
08.17.2023
Whose Side Are You On?: The Story of the San Patricios
With the Great Famine in 1845 in Ireland, millions of destitute Irish fled to the United States in search of a better life. But their arrival on these shores was anything but warm and welcome. So harshly were they treated...
08.10.2023
"The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name": Decriminalizing Homosexuality in Britain
With both societal and government acceptance of homosexuality in Britain these days, it's hard to imagine that there was ever a time when such expressions were outlawed. And yet, throughout much of that country's history, gay men were chastised, shunned,...
08.03.2023
Mixed Signals: The Fascinating History of the Traffic Light
We use them every day. Whether on foot or bicycle, by car or bus, the traffic signal has become so integral to our daily lives that we're hardly conscious of them anymore. But did you know that several makes and...
07.20.2023
Ig-pay Atin-lay: The Amusing History of Pig Latin
Chances are, you heard it in school, or else used it yourself so as not to have your other classmates (or worse, the teacher) eavesdrop. And yet, while it may have played a fundamental, to say nothing of fun, role...
07.13.2023
The Wild One: The Tale of Butch Cassidy (Part Two)
No longer safe in the United States with so many local law enforcement agencies hot on their trail, Butch Cassidy, Harry Longabaugh and the latter's girlfriend, Etta Place, make for South America, where they plan to start life anew. But...
07.06.2023
The Wild One: The Tale of Butch Cassidy (Part One)
Several outlaws shaped and defined the myth of the American West, though were as wild and tenacious as the man known to history as Butch Cassidy. From humble beginnings in the wilds of Utah, he'd go on to gain notoriety...
06.29.2023
California, Here I Come: Impressionism in the Golden State
The artistic movement known as Impressionism conjures up specific ideas and images. It's most commonly associated with France, where it was born in around 1870. But by the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, it had made its way to...
06.15.2023
Pure Poetry: The Life and Times of Sayat-Nova
While not the inventor of Armenian literature, the 18th Century poet, Sayat-Nova, is considered to be one of its greatest and most important contributors. Still, this legendary figure remains elusive, even little known, outside his Georgian homeland as well as...
06.08.2023
The Kids Are Alright: How the Zazous Defied Fascism
Youth subcultures are nothing new. It seems that each generation has its group of youngsters who see to it to rebel against conformity and the status quo. But one of the most surprising and daring of these came about at...
06.01.2023
Spilling the Tea: The History of a Beloved Beverage
Today, tea is known the world over for its many health benefits as well as its rich taste. There are also countless varieties from all corners of the globe, but where did this mysterious drink come from? Pull up a...
05.25.2023
"Alea iacta est": The Battle of Piave
While there were six great nations who officially squared off against one another during World War One, it's important to remember that it was, in fact, a global conflict, meaning that several other nations, whether willingly or unwillingly, became involved....
05.18.2023
"Lord, Help Your Servant Onfim!": The Schoolday Struggles of a 13th Century Russian Boy
Ask any child and they'll likely tell you that schooling's both a bore and a chore. Based on the subject of today's episode, it's a sentiment that hasn't changed all that much. Join me as we take a look at...

What's History Loves Company about?

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History Loves Company episodes:

Rocking the Boat: A Look at the Oldest Manmade Mode of Transportation

All Aboard!: The Fascinating History of Trains

"The Great Crusade": The Allied Invasion of Normandy (Special on the 80th Anniversary of D-Day)

"Two Wheels Move Your Soul": The History of the Motorcycle

Fleming, Ian Fleming: The Man Behind James Bond

We Are the "Champa-ions": The Fascinating History of the Champa Kingdom

Mil Días del Odio: The Thousand Days' War

Do You Know the Way to Great Zimbabwe?: A Look at a Medieval African City

A Great Depression: The Dust Bowl

Göbekli Tepe: The Birth of Religion

Aqua Vitae: The Tantalizing Tale of the Fountain of Youth

From Exile to [Re]-Emergence: The Expulsion of the Acadians

I Want Candy: The History of Chocolate

Snake Charmer: Saint Patrick and Why There Are No Snakes in Ireland

There Goes the Neighborhood: A History of Hollywood

"Leap" of Faith: A Brief History of the Leap Year

Jean Laffite: The Terror of the Caribbean (Part Two)

Jean Laffite: The Terror of the Caribbean (Part One)

Two Languages, One Nation: The Story of the Finland Swedes

Sugar-Pie, "Hunny"-Bunch: The Not-So-Sweet Life of Attila the Hun

Cultural Kickstarter: The Olmec

Campus Tour: The History of Oxford University

The Last Samurai: Saigo Takamori and the Satsuma Rebellion

Saturnalia: The Pagan Origins of Christmas

"Make No Little Plans": The Haussmann Renovation of Paris

Vive la France: How the French Kept Liquor Flowing During Prohibition

Fantastic Voyage: Hanno the Navigator and the Exploration of West Africa

Birth of a Nation: The Enduring Legacy of the Mayflower Compact

A Tale of Two Cities: The Venetian-Genoese Wars

"Circle" Back: A Case Study on Crop Circles

Something "Sphinx": The "Pungent" Tale of the Great Sphinx of Giza (and How It Lost Its Nose)

Dance 'Til You Drop: The Bizarre Dance Epidemic of 1518

Cautionary Tale: The Myth of Atlantis

Gone Platinum: The Amazing Tumaco Culture

"On Such a Winter's Day": The Decembrist Revolt

Thirst For Blood: The Decline and Fall of a Wallachian Prince

"Bloody" Hell: The Meteoric Rise of Vlad the Impaler

"I'm Your Venus": The Mysteries of the Venus of Willendorf

Whose Side Are You On?: The Story of the San Patricios

"The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name": Decriminalizing Homosexuality in Britain

Mixed Signals: The Fascinating History of the Traffic Light

Ig-pay Atin-lay: The Amusing History of Pig Latin

The Wild One: The Tale of Butch Cassidy (Part Two)

The Wild One: The Tale of Butch Cassidy (Part One)

California, Here I Come: Impressionism in the Golden State

Pure Poetry: The Life and Times of Sayat-Nova

The Kids Are Alright: How the Zazous Defied Fascism

Spilling the Tea: The History of a Beloved Beverage

"Alea iacta est": The Battle of Piave

"Lord, Help Your Servant Onfim!": The Schoolday Struggles of a 13th Century Russian Boy

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