Re-Taking History

Welcome back to Retaking History! I’m Mr. Borchers—

—and I’m Mr. Eckstaine. Today, we’re heading to the rolling plains of Montana in the summer of 1876. It’s a story you’ve probably heard before, at least in part: Custer’s Last Stand. But was it really a last stand, or just a tragic mistake?

 Exactly. The Battle of the Little Bighorn has been told and retold in movies, textbooks, even myths. But what really happened on that June day, when the U.S. Cavalry met the combined forces of the Lakota Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho? And why does this battle still echo in American history classrooms almost 150 years later?

 Stick with us for the next 20 minutes as we pull apart the myths, look at the choices of men like George Armstrong Custer, Sitting Bull, and Crazy Horse, and uncover what this clash tells us about the Old West.

And along the way, we’ll probably make a few references that will make you wonder if Marvel should make a Disney+ spinoff about Custer called Captain Bad Decisions.

Today, we rewind the tapes. We re-examine the evidence. And we ask the hard question: Did the Gulf of Tonkin Incident really happen? Or was it a lie that led the U.S. into the jungles of Vietnam—and to the deaths of over 58,000 Americans?

 Welcome back, time travelers! You’re tuned into Re-Taking History, the only history podcast where we break the rules, push the limits, and still somehow keep our jobs. Well, for now. But today, we’re going full rebellion as we jump into one of the wildest decades in American history—the 1960s! 

 Today, we’re diving into one of the biggest moments in American history—the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

In this episode of Retaking History, hosts Mr. Borchers and Mr. Eckstaine take listeners on a lively journey through the 1950s, an era of economic prosperity, suburban expansion, and cultural shifts. They explore key topics such as the impact of the G.I. Bill, the rise of Levittown and suburban living, the post-war Baby Boom, and the birth of rock ‘n’ roll. The episode also delves into the Beatnik movement, major political events like the Eisenhower presidency, and the growing influence of television. With humor and engaging dialogue, the hosts highlight how 1950s trends continue to shape modern society, even comparing teenage slang from then and now.

Today, we’re diving into a Cold War scandal so dramatic, it makes reality TV look boring. We’re talking about Julius and Ethel Rosenberg – the infamous couple accused of being Soviet spies.

 So, we’re diving into the Long Telegram – a letter that was longer than the last email chain your teacher sent about homework deadlines – and how it kick started the idea of containment.

Pearl Harbor. Today’s episode? We’re diving deep into one of the most intense, explosive, and downright crazy days in American history – the attack on Pearl Harbor. This one’s got it all: surprise attacks, conspiracy theories, and a whole lot of bad decisions.