"In the dark days during the spread of the Covid 19 virus, three brave men decided to risk everything by talking about it . . .

Well, we're not quite THAT brave, but we do talk a lot about the Great Covid Quarantine of 2020.

Join the guys as we talk about how things are going, and some of the important things they've learned so far in what the old Chinese curse called "interesting times".

And you can see a special video version with the guys in their quarantine getup on our YouTube channel! Just search Snakes and Otters on YouTube to find us!

Martin captains our 50th episode and the guys rise to the special occasion. Francis kicks off with words of wisdom from Leo Tolstoy. Martin jumps back in with the Chairman of the Board, Francis Albert Sinatra, and Robert hammers it all home with Lao Tzu. Yes you read that right, Tolstoy, Sinatra and Lao Tzu. All to give hope and purpose during COVID-19 isolation. Bonus, Chef's parents and the Loch Ness monster make a surprise appearance. 

Our quotes this time:

• Francis – “A man on a thousand-mile walk has to forget his goal and say to himself every morning, 'Today I'm going to cover twenty-five miles and then rest up and sleep.” (Leo Tolstoy)

Robert captains the first of 4 Civil War episodes, discussing the pivotal battles that led from the dismissal of George McClellan to the rise of US Grant. In today's episode we talk Ambrose Burnside and the disaster that was Fredricksburg. Some sources we use include The Civil War by Geoffrey Ward with Ric and Ken Burns, and we heartily applaud Jeff Shaara's Gods and Generals.

The guys look back with nostalgia at the old classic TV cop shows and what they meant. 

Want a challenge? Try talking about Winston Churchill in less than an hour. The guys examine the life of British statesman Winston Churchill. There's a lot to unpack.

Martin doesn't mention it, but he's read what's considered the sine qua non of modern Churchill bios, Martin Gilbert's 1 volume Churchill: A Life.

Benjamin Disraeli, Helmuth von Moltke (the Elder) and Ronnie James Dio. Yep. The guys take quotes from a British statesman, a German field marshal and a rock n roll singer to give you April's words to live by. And like always, it works. 

Our quotes this time:

• Francis – “Don’t complain, don’t explain.” (Benjamin Disraeli)

Martin captains an episode on the pivotal elections of 1824 and 1828. The guys then turn it into a character study of Old Hickory, Andrew Jackson. 

That's right listeners, pop culture time and Francis is thrilled that we put this one on the schedule. We talk about the appeal and cultural impact of the James Bond Franchise, including the original Ian Fleming novels and the Eon Productions films.

"Do you expect us to talk?"

"No, Snakes & Otters, I expect you to die."

Martin leads the way in an exploration of General W. T. Sherman. Prickly, irascible, narcissistic, yet devoted to Grant and Lincoln. Political connections all over, but no interest in a political career. Yet he was key to saving the Union in the Civil War. 

Martin focuses on Lee Kennett's Sherman: A Soldier's Life and Victor Davis Hanson's The Savior Generals to get the guys started. 

Robert captains and lets Martin start off linking some Clint Eastwood (The Good, The Bad and The Ugly) words with Huey Newton. Francis moves from there to David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia to eviscerate tribalism and Robert hones in on sinfulness and selfishness. And it all connects. In other words, same thing we always do.

Our quotes this time:

• Martin – “There are two people in this world, those with loaded guns and those who dig.” – (Sergio Leone)