History That Doesn't Suck

By Prof. Greg Jackson

Society & Culture Education History

What's History That Doesn't Suck about?

HTDS is a bi-weekly podcast, delivering a legit, seriously researched, hard-hitting survey of American history through entertaining stories. To keep up with History That Doesn’t Suck news, check us out on Facebook and Instagram: @Historythatdoesntsuck; on Twitter: @HTDSpod; or online at htdspodcast.com. Support the podcast at patreon.com/historythatdoesntsuck.

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129: World War I Before the...

03.13.2023

“In Flanders’ fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row.” This is the story of the first two and a half years of the Great War, particularly, of the Western Front. These are the years leading to the ...

History That Doesn't Suck episodes:

03.13.2023 129: World War I Before the US (Military Tech, Trenches, Global Armies, Ypres, Verdun & the Somme) “In Flanders’ fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row.” This is the story of the first two and a half years of the Great War, particularly, of the Western Front. These are the years leading to the ...
02.27.2023 128: The Causes of World War I (From the Congress of Vienna to Franz Ferdinand & the Marne) “Sopherl, Sopherl! Don’t die on me. Live for our children.” This is the 99-year story of Europe’s descent into total war. The Napoleonic Wars devastated Europe. The continent’s five great powers responded by meeting in Vienna in 1815 to establish ...
02.13.2023 127: Mr. Wilson Goes to Washington (Progressive Policies & Foreign Affairs in South America) “It would be the irony of fate if my administration had to deal chiefly with foreign affairs.” This is the story of the lesser-known aspects of Woodrow Wilson’s presidency–the events outside of World War I. The Progressive Era is still ...
01.30.2023 Second Edition Episodes: A Discussion While discussed in passing in a few epilogues, the Prof. sits down with Kelsi to go deep on “second edition” or “remaster” episodes of HTDS. The conversation includes Greg’s guiding views and philosophy in making HTDS, a bit of HTDS ...
01.16.2023 7 (Second Edition): An Olive Branch Rejected: Bunker Hill, Tom’s a Royal Pain(e), & The Siege of Boston “Remember it is the fifth of March and avenge the death of your brethren!” This is the story of the expiration of hope for reconciliation between the American colonies and the "Mother Country." Bunker Hill's a blood bath. Congress isn’t ...
01.02.2023 6 (Second Edition): “The Shot Heard ’Round the World:” The Battle of Lexington & Concord "Fire, for God's sake, fire!" - Unkown British officer This is the story of the first battle of the American Revolution on April 19, 1775. We’re in Lexington, Massachusetts. Between Lexington’s Green, Concord’s North Bridge, and Colonel Smith’s troops returning ...
12.19.2022 126: Christmas Special 6: Jacob Riis’ “Is There a Santa Claus?” “Now, how would you like to be a reporter, if you have got nothing better to do?” This is the story of a reporter–a muckraker–answering a boy who wants to know if Santa Clause actually exists. And somehow, it’s an ...
12.05.2022 125: Epilogue: The Progressive Era So much to say–it’s been a while! Kelsi and Greg share stories that they wish made it into some episodes, but alas, just couldn’t (looking at you, Ellis Island). Greg expresses his deep sympathy for K-12 teachers that are expected ...
11.21.2022 124: The “Bull Moose” Election of 1912 “It’s true. But it takes more than that to kill a bull moose.” This is the story of one of the most unique, bitter, impactful, and noteworthy elections in US history: the presidential election of 1912. President William H. Taft ...
11.07.2022 123: The Wright Brothers Fly at Kitty Hawk “Not in a thousand years would man ever fly.” This is the story of two brothers and the dream of controlled, sustained, and powered flight in a heavier-than-air flying machine. The Wrights are a tight-knit bunch. A supportive family. So ...
10.24.2022 122: Halloween Special II: H.P. Lovecraft – “The Outsider” & “Dagon” “I am writing this under an appreciable mental strain, since by tonight I shall be no more.” This is the story of a lonely, isolated figure who escapes a decaying castle only to have a frightful realization. It is also ...
10.10.2022 121: Henry Ford: The Model T & Mass Production “Your car is self-contained–it carries its own power-plant … keep at it.” This is the story of the rise of the automobile and mass production. Powerful steam engines. Electric lights and telephones. The Second Industrial Revolution is radically remaking the ...
09.26.2022 120: From Atlanta to the NAACP, or Booker T. Washington v. W.E.B. Du Bois “I am not quite sure of the exact place or exact date of my birth, but at any rate, I suspect I must have been born somewhere and at some time.” This is the story of a hardening Jim Crow ...
09.12.2022 119: Women’s Suffrage & the Passage of the 19th Amendment “President Wilson, how long must we wait for liberty?” This is the story of women’s suffrage. According to the legal doctrine of coverture, a married woman is “covered” by her husband. Legally, economically, politically—she largely ceases to exist. Yet, does ...
08.29.2022 118: “The Island of Hope and Tears:” Ellis Island “That’s the light of freedom! Remember that. Freedom.” This is the story of 40% of modern America’s ancestors—this is the story of Ellis Island. Religious persecution. Economic devastation. Stifling political regimes. Whether fleeing for their lives or simply to improve ...
08.22.2022 Introducing: Short History Of... "Short History Of... is the podcast series hosted by John Hopkins. Each week, we'll transport you back in time to witness history's most incredible moments and remarkable people. New episodes Mondays." Follow Noiser Podcasts on Twitter @Noiser_Podcasts for updates. And ...
08.15.2022 117: Epilogue on Progressive Era Part I (Teddy Roosevelt) With the Presidency of Teddy Roosevelt covered, Greg sits down with Zach and Kelsi to talk favorite stories (especially those that didn’t make it in the episodes) and take in the big picture of this bigger-than-life President. Zach’s settled in. ...
08.01.2022 116: Teddy Roosevelt’s Foreign Policy: From Big Stick Diplomacy to the Panama Canal “I [will] be obliged to interfere, by force if necessary, if the Germans [take] any action which look[s] like the acquisition of territory in Venezuela.” This is the story of foreign policy (“Big Stick” Diplomacy) in the Theodore Roosevelt White ...
07.18.2022 115: History–Doomed to Repeat It? A Conversation with Lindsay Graham The Legendary podcaster and composer (but not US Senator) Lindsay Graham is a dear friend of HTDS and an integral part of the podcast's sound. Today, he gets behind the mic with the Prof. to interrogate the oft-repeated adage "those ...
07.04.2022 8 (2nd ed): Declaring Independence, the Rise of Alexander Hamilton, and the Fall of New York "I long to hear that you have declared an independency.” This is the story of independence and crushed hope. Congress is finally declaring independence but it isn’t a straightforward process. Delegates have different perspectives; John Adams and John Dickinson are ...
06.20.2022 114: A Square Deal (pt. 3): “Leave it as it is” (Teddy Roosevelt & Conservationism) “Very well then–I so declare it.” This is the story of the final “C” of President Theodore Roosevelt’s Square Deal: conservationism. Teddy loves the outdoors. He loves to challenge himself in the American wilderness. He also fears the nation’s natural ...
06.06.2022 113: A Square Deal (pt. 2): Consumer Protection–The FDA, & Ida Tarbell muckrakes Standard Oil “In Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress you may recall the description of the Man with the Muck Rake …” This is the story of another “C” in Teddy’s Square Deal: “consumer protection.” The nation is grappling with new ideas on how involved ...
05.23.2022 112: A Square Deal (pt. 1): Corp. Regulation—a coal strike, a trust, & Teddy’s Frenemy J.P. Morgan “If we have done anything wrong, send your man to my man and they can fix it up.” This is the first story of President Theodore Roosevelt’s Square Deal: “corporate regulation.” J. Pierpont Morgan hates economic volatility. He’s determined to ...
05.09.2022 111: The Assassination of Will McKinley & The Strenuous Life of Theodore Roosevelt “I wish to preach, not the doctrine of ignoble ease, but the doctrine of the strenuous life.” This is the story of (another) presidential assassination and the life of the man it brings to the White House: Theodore Roosevelt. Though ...
04.25.2022 110: Epilogue to the Age of Imperialism Greg, Zach, and Kelsi sit down for a chat about America’s surprisingly compact burst of turn-of-the-century overseas expansion (Age of Imperialism). They talk through an overarching overview of the era; highlight some of the things that, while in previous episodes, ...
04.11.2022 109: The Election of 1900 & the Rise of Anti-Imperialism “Only dead men can tell the truth in this world. It can be published after I am dead.” This is the story of imperialism and presidential politics: the election of 1900. US President William McKinley is looking for reelection. The ...
03.28.2022 108: G.O. 100, “The Water Cure,” & The Law of War in the Early-20th Century with Professor Ryan Vogel The ugliest aspects of the Philippine-American War raised questions of legitimate warfare. Specifically, they required the US to think through a military code of conduct from the Civil War: General Order 100, or the “Lieber Code.” But what is the ...
03.14.2022 107: The Philippine-American War “Co … wards! Assassins!” This is the story of the Philippine-American War. Having bested the Spanish in war, the United States now lays claim to holding sovereignty over the Philippines. President William McKinley asserts that the US is enacting “benevolent ...
02.28.2022 106: The US Annexation of the Hawaiian Kingdom “You have my love, and with sorrow I dismiss you.” This is the story of the Hawaiian Kingdom’s end. Queen Liliuokalani hates the Constitution of 1887–or “Bayonet” Constitution, as it’s known, since her predecessor and brother King Kalakaua signed it ...
02.14.2022 105: “A Splendid Little War:” The Spanish-American War and Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders “Sergeant, the Spanish bullet isn’t made that will kill me.” This is the story of the Spanish-American War. George Dewey’s squadron is in Manila Bay. Henry Glass is bombarding Guam’s Apra Harbor. Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders are charging up Kettle ...
02.07.2022 Introducing...History Daily! Today, the Prof would like to provide you with a little bonus: an intro to the podcast History Daily! We will hear two tales related to the era HTDS is in now: the first flight of the Wright Brothers and ...
01.31.2022 104: The Road to the Spanish-American War “Remember the Maine, to hell with Spain!” This is the story of the road to war for American Empire. Ruled by Spain, Cuba has nonetheless been at odds with the Crown for decades. The Caribbean isle has rebelled and warred ...
01.17.2022 5 (Second Edition): “Delenda est Bostonia:” A Continental Congress, Paul Revere Rides, and the First Shot at Lexington “Lay down your arms, you damned rebels, or you are all dead men.” This is the story of the First Continental Congress and the build-up to the Battle of Lexington and Concord. In the wake of the Coercive (Intolerable) Acts, ...
01.03.2022 4 (Second Edition): “Boston Harbor a Tea-Pot This Night:” The Boston Tea Party “We have only been making a little salt-water tea.” This is the story of the Boston Tea Party. The East India Company and the needs of the global British Empire are intertwined, and Parliament–ready for a third tax initiative in ...
12.20.2021 103: A Gilded Age Christmas: Joseph Pulitzer’s Christmas Tree Fund “Santa can’t fool [me], since the holes in [my] stockings are too big for anything to be put in.” This is the story of Gilded Age giving. Of 30,000 destitute children having a better Christmas because of one man who ...
12.06.2021 2 (Second Edition): Patrick Henry & the Sons of Liberty Lose It over Taxes (the Sugar Act & the Stamp Act) “Liberty, Property, and no stamps!” This is the story of Parliament’s first ever attempt to tax the North American colonies: the Sugar Act and the Stamp Act. His Majesty’s government might have won the Seven Years War, but it went ...
11.22.2021 102: Epilogue to the Gilded Age Greg sits down with Zach and Kelsi for a chat. They make a rather … LIVE(ly) announcement … then proceed to talk about electricity, tycoons, and the New South. But the conversation can’t end without Greg and Zach nerding out ...
11.16.2021 Introducing...Eclipsed! Stories you never knew you never knew. From Campside Media, ECLIPSED is a new weekly narrative history podcast. Hosted by writer and internet-dweller Bijan Stephen (The Verge, The Believer), each episode features a story hidden in the shadow of another ...
11.08.2021 101: The New South, Jim Crow (Plessy v. Ferguson), & the Death of Frederick Douglass “Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?” This is the story of the Gilded Age below the Mason-Dixon Line. In the years since the Civil War, the cotton industry has ...
10.25.2021 100: Halloween Special! Edgar Allan Poe: The Tell-tale Heart, The Cask of Amontillado, & The Raven ‘How, then, am I mad? Hearken! and observe how healthily—how calmly I can tell you the whole story.” This is the story of a man driven to madness by a pale blue eye; the story of a man who’s vowed ...
10.11.2021 99: The Gilded Age’s Singer Sewing Machines & Dangerous Bananas w/ Dr. Ben Sawyer of The Road To Now Did Singer Sewing Machines take over the world? And are bananas as dangerous as they appear in cartoons? The answer to both of these questions are a resounding “yes!” in the Gilded Age. Listen in as the Prof. discusses these ...
09.27.2021 98: Silver & Gold: From Grover Cleveland to William Jennings Bryan & William McKinley “You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.” This is the story of Gilded Age’s later presidencies. Grover “the Good” Cleveland is known as a man of integrity and honesty. Those characteristics alone are enough to get him ...
09.13.2021 97: The Gilded Age’s Robber Barons: John D. Rockefeller & Andrew Carnegie “Someday, some-time, when I am a man, I want to be worth a hundred thousand dollars!” This is the story of two of the United States’ most wealthy industrialists. John D. Rockefeller is the son of a con artist; he ...
08.30.2021 96: The War of the Currents: (Thomas Alva Edison v. Nikola Tesla & George Westinghouse) “Tesla, you don’t understand our American humor.” This is the story of opinionated inventors with very different views on electric lighting; a story of invention, genius, conniving, and even electrocutions. This is the War of the Currents. Thomas Alva Edison ...
08.16.2021 95: "Several Thousand Things that Won't Work:" Thomas Alva Edison and His Electric Light “I have got so much to do and life is so short, I am going to hustle.” This is the story of trial and error, of determination, and science merging with business. Electric lights have been around since the early ...
08.02.2021 94: Epilogue to Gilded Age Part I (or Gilded Age interlude w/ Significant HTDS Updates) An epilogue. Or interlude? Well, we aren’t done with the Gilded age, but we have too much behind-the-scenes HTDS evolution to discuss! So here we are. Zach is moving up from intern to writer status. Longtime HTDS team member Kelsi ...
07.19.2021 93: La Liberté éclairant le monde: Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi’s Statue of Liberty “Vive l’entente fraternelle des deux républiques !” This is the story of the Statue of Liberty. In 1865, Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi (or “Auguste,” as his friends call him), claims to have attended a dinner at which his French colleagues and friends ...
07.05.2021 History That Doesn’t Suck, LIVE: The Boston Massacre, or the Incident at King Street “Damn ye, rascals, what did ye fire for?” This is the story of the Boston Massacre (or, for you loyalists out there, the “incident” at King Street), which the Prof. recounted LIVE this 4th of July weekend for the largest ...
06.21.2021 92: The Brooklyn Bridge, or the Story of the Roebling Family “John Roebling has not the leisure to wait upon any man.” This is the story of a bridge and a family. John Roebling is weary of the oppressive, bureaucratic Prussian government. He’s heard from his professor–Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel–that the ...
06.07.2021 91: The Gilded Age, Industrialization, and Assassination of President James Garfield “What is the chief end of man? A: To get rich.” This is the story of the Gilded Age and its first three presidents: Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, and Chester A. Arthur. Mark Twain calls this era a ...

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