It's a bonus episode week! We are happy to bring you our second installment of Vicki's Vexations. We are supplementing our season on empires with a discussion on nations and states. What do we mean when we use these terms? How do they differ? What is the relationship between them? Are all states just states of mind? It's a whacky, geeky day at Political MissAdventures!

This week on Political MissAdventures Helena tells us the dramatic story of the fall (and rise) of the Zulu Empire. We are headed to South Africa for an exciting second episode in our Imperial Implosions series.

Political MissAdventures is back with a NEW SEASON. We are pleased to kick off Imperial Implosions with the demise of the Carthaginian Empire. Vicki tells Helena about how the hegemonic rivalry between Carthage and Rome reshaped the political landscape of the ancient Mediterranean. Warning: this episode may contain elephants.

This week we interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to bring you a holiday special! This week we are celebrating America's Independence Day by discussing whether or not the U.S. is an empire. What is an empire? What characteristics make an empire an empire? Get your political science geek on with this week's Political MissAdventures!

This week we bring you our last ruined rebellion! We are going real old school as Helena tells us about the Great Jewish Revolt - An uprising against the Romans in the first century C.E. This conflict had a significant impact on Judaism and political ramifications for the Roman Empire. It's chaos, conflict, and a lot of cracks about Josephus on this week's episode of Political MissAdventures!

This week on Political MissAdventures Vicki and Helena discuss the Taiping Rebellion. This uprising lasted for 14 years and was led by a spiritual and political leader who preached the redistribution of property, gender egalitarianism, and no booze. This uprising had dramatic ramifications for peasants and royals alike. Check out one of the 19th century's deadliest conflicts on this week's episode of Political MissAdventures!

This week we are talking about a ruined rebellion that was ruined strictly in the short run. Helena brings us the gripping and exciting story of the Battle of Algiers, an uprising of Algerians against the French in the 1950s. Please be advised that this topic does cover some tough stuff so certain portions may not be appropriate for all audiences. This is an important episode in the history of the 20th century and we hope that you will join us!

This week, Political MissAdventures is going back down under! Our Ruined Rebellion is the Eureka Rebellion, in which angry gold miners faced off against the Australian authorities. Vicki makes only one attempt at a bad Australian accent. Helena gets to bust out her Irish accent. Penguins are mentioned.

We are very excited to bring you the Satsuma Rebellion! Helena and Vicki geek out on the opening up of Japan, the Meiji restoration, and the biggest of the uprisings that ensues. Helena spins a stirring tale of deep social and economic transformation. It's samurai vs. samurai et al this week on Political MissAdventures!

This week we are talking about Pugachev's Rebellion, the largest peasant revolt in Russian history. Vicki tells Helena about Pugachev's impersonation of the deceased Peter III and how this Cossack posed a significant threat to the reign of Catherine the Great. Please forgive the fact that Helena was feeling rather under the weather when we recorded!