This week, we tell the story of the Finnish War hero, Simo Häyhä, also known as The White Death! 

Simo Häyhä was the legendary Finnish War hero, who served his country during the 1939-1940 conflict known as the Winter War against the former Soviet Union. Simo served a total of 98 days with 6th Battalion, Infantry Regiment 34 amassing over 500 kills. The war itself lasted 105 days, but Simo was wounded by an exploding bullet and hospitalized during the last week of the war. Simo’s nickname was The White Death of the Winter War, a nickname given to him by the Russians. 

In the heart of Rome, Italy, lies a massive stone amphitheater known as the Roman Colosseum. Commissioned around 70-72 A.D. by Emperor Vespasian of the Flavian Dynasty as a gift to the Roman people. The largest amphitheater in the Roman world would become a stage for Gladiator battles, animal hunts, staged naval battles and public executions. The bloody existence of the Colosseum would last nearly 400 years and claim over 400,000 lives along with over one million animals. After four centuries of victories and slaughter, this monument fell to neglect, and the section that collapsed in a 14th century earthquake was used as a source of building materials for Saint Peter’s Basilica among other buildings. Although only one third of the original Colosseum still stands, it remains a popular tourist destination, as well as a symbolic icon of Rome and its long, tumultuous history. 

Music by GeriArt from Pixabay
Music by 1tamara2 from Pixabay

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In today’s Christmas episode we will be covering the legend of St. Nicholas and how his story has traveled through time and welcomed its way into our shopping malls and Hallmark cards in the form of Jolly old Santa Claus. While diving into the jolly world of sleigh bells and reindeer, we will also be diving into Santa’s counterpart, the horned, half-goat, half-demon, Krampus! Who instead of giving gifts to the children on the nice list, punishes children who have misbehaved.

We have also included some fun Krampus Creepypasta's for you at the tail end of the episode!

CHECK THIS DUDE OUT FOR CREEPY HORROR STORIES!!!
J. Speziale - https://www.creepypasta.com/krampus/
https://jspeziale.com/

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This week we take you through the epic adventure of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

The exploration of the North American continent in the early 1800’s was the modern day equivalent of a trip to the Moon. President Thomas Jefferson ordered the expedition with 3 main objectives - to find a water route to the Pacific through the continent, to document unknown flora and fauna, and to make contact with the native tribes while extending a message of peace and cooperation to them from Washington D.C. It allowed the USA to gain a firm foothold beyond the Louisiana Territory in places like current day Oregon and Washington State where the British and Spanish were already staking a tentative claim. 

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The meaning of the name Torquemada is prophetic, because it means burnt tower in Spanish and being burnt at the stake was the fate of many victims of the Spanish Inquisition who refused to bend to the will of the Catholic Church at that time. The Inquisition was notorious for burning its heretics. So Torquemada, as the Grand Inquisitor, emerged as a sinister figure.

He was the mastermind behind the Spanish Inquisition and the one responsible for all of the cruelty and tragedy that the Jews suffered in Spain in the late 15th century, the first Grand Inquisitor. Think of the Spanish Inquisition as a mini holocaust and think of Torquemada as the Heinrich Himmler of that mini holocaust.

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Christopher Columbus, the man who is commonly known as the one who discovered America and sailed the ocean blue. Before recent events, there were statues across the United States and the world in honor of discovering America and paving the path to European colonization. When you judge this book by its cover, it looks like he has been rightfully honored for the courageous voyages he underwent. But as soon as you open that book, you may realize why his statues were toppled and beheaded around the world. 

A brilliant man and talented cartographer and navigator, he was also an egotistical leader that was obsessed with his own fame and stature, Christopher Columbus set out with the intent to find a new route to India, China, Japan and the Spice Islands, and mistakenly wound up in the Caribbean only to begin the genocide of the indigenous people. The picture of Christopher Columbus that we were painted in the public school system here in the States, was a partially false painting, and today we are here to lay it all out on the table for you.

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Andrew Jackson was the seventh president of the United States from 1829 to 1837. Before being elected to the presidency, Jackson gained fame as a general in the United States Army and served in both houses of the U.S. Congress.

Travel back to the Jackson era with Cooper and Gylnn for a rather entertaining discussion about why this man is considered an American Great (ass hole).

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Ching Shih was hands down the most successful pirate in the history of piracy. She (that's right, I said she) dominated the south-eastern Chinese Sea's with an iron fist, controlling a pirate armada consisting of about 1800 ships and several thousand men. Go ahead and compare that to the almighty Black Beard who only had 8 ships. 

From prostitute to pirate, Ching Shih lived an astounding life and went down in history as one of the most badass women in China and all the world. 

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