Hundred Proof History

Yeehaw pardners! It's time to take a trip down to the greatest state in the US of A and find out how it came into existence by pure blind luck and complete jackassery. Join the least disciplined army to ever win a war as they earn minor victories, suffer devastating massacres, and then eventually stumble into military glory.  Grab some whiskey and some undeserved hubris for this episode of Hundred Proof History titled Texas Revolution...Declaration of Incompetence!

It's the exciting conclusion to our Rasputin series! Will Russia save the day and win World War I? Will Rasputin become the hero and make it out alive? Will the Russian monarchy last another 200 years? The answers will be revealed! Right now! No. None of that happens. But what does happen is pretty crazy and worth a listen so grab a drink and enjoy Rasputin Part II: Ain't No Party Like a Communist Party!

At the turn of the 20th century, things weren't going great for Russia and its ruler Tsar Nicholas II.  He had led a disastrous war against the Japanese and a small revolution had stripped him of most of his monarch power. After years of trying, he and his wife Alexandra, finally had a son, but that kid turned out to have a life threatening condition that required constant care.  And if things weren't bad enough, they were about to meet their future religious advisor who was a hard drinking, sex crazed peasant from Siberia. Over the next decade, this holy man would lead a very interesting life and would become the target of a media frenzy. Today on HPH we're diving into the first of two parts on this man and attempting to separate fact from fiction.  Grab your vodka and strap in for another wild ride through Russia in this episode of Hundred Proof History titled Rasputin...The Dick That Destroyed An Empire!

In this bonus mini-episode we're taking a look at the life and times of Tarrare, the late 18th century Frenchman who ate literally everything he could. That's all we can really say without spoiling anything from the story, but man is it a weird, wild note from history that we couldn't wait to share with you. So grab a drink and listen and the next time you wander aimlessly to the fridge to grab yet another quarantine snack, you'll still be able to say "At least I'm not as bad as Tarrare."

If you like what you hear, head on over to http://www.patreon.com/100proofhistory

In 1628 a Dutch ship, Batavia, left the port of Amsterdam on an eight month journey to the Spice Islands of Java, hoping to return with tons of valuable spices.  Instead there was a sexual assault, a mutiny, a violent shipwreck, a struggle to survive, a homicidal psychopath who had over a hundred people murdered, and a miniature civil war. I mean, really, the story has something for everyone...unless you like happiness and a lack of torment or suffering, but if that's the case you definitely shouldn't be listening to this podcast.  For the rest of you degenerates, it's time to hoist the mainsail, sing a sea shanty, down a bottle of rum, and head out on the adventure that is this episode of Hundred Proof History titled Batavia...Setting Sail for HELL!

In the early 1790's the French Revolution was in full swing and they were choppin' off the heads of anyone who even slightly opposed the ideals of the revolution. In 1794 even the man who came up with the whole idea and who had been the loudest voice for the common man was led to the guillotine. In this episode of HPH, Greg and Chris are taking a look at this idealistic leader and the role he played in the French Revolution.  Grab some wine, some fancy soft cheese, and of course your baguette, and enjoy this episode of Hundred Proof History titled Maximilien Robespierre: How To Get A Head In Paris!

In the mid 5th century a group of nomads known as The Huns invaded Italy and threatened to take the city of Rome and destroy the Western Roman Empire.  The Huns were brutal and skilled warriors who had appeared less than a hundred years earlier and had constantly proven to be a formidable foe for the Roman Empire. This was all the more true after the year 434 when their new leader proved that he was just as cunning and just as ruthless as any Roman emperor.  Grab a drink and join us for this tale of ancient glory in this episode of Hundred Proof History titled Attila the Hun: The Empire Strikes Out!

It's the exciting conclusion to the Donner Party series!  Over the past two weeks Greg and Chris have been detailing all of the horrible, horrible things that the Donner Party had to endure to make it to the Sierra Nevada Mountains and then to try and escape said mountains.  In this week's episode, the boys are detailing the multiple rescue attempts and, yeah, more humans will be eaten.  Actually, this might be the darkest (and...coincidentally...our favorite) part of the story.  So grab a drink, tell the kids to shelter in place in another room, and enjoy this episode of Hundred Proof History titled The Donner Party Part III: Shit Somehow Gets Worse!

In the last episode of HPH, we began to tell you about history's worst road trip: The Donner Party migration of 1846. In that episode we had a good deal of death and suffering, but it was all just the tip of the poop iceberg.  In this episode, Greg and Chris are diving into the story of the party members who decided to walk out of the Sierra Nevada Mountains to seek help.  They were known as the snowshoe group because they wore snowshoes. They would also become known as The Forlorn Hope because it all just goes horribly wrong. And if you like hearing about how 19th century settlers cooked human hearts over an open fire, then boy is this the episode for you!  Grab a drink and enjoy this episode of Hundred Proof History titled The Donner Party Part II: Yes. We. Cannibal!