The Bar Stool Historian Podcast

In newly unearthed audio from Oct. 2015 about then-newly unearthed archaeological evidence, Robo-Ed, Robo-Tim, and regular John discuss the lost Colony of Roanoke. Sponsor us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/user?u=32327644

John, Ed, and Tim give recommendations for what to watch and what to read while you're in Corona lockdown.

The boys are back in town as they discuss yesterday in history, today. Patrick Henry, Werner Van Braun, NOT Coronavirus and Handel handling good things. Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/user?u=32327644

Warning! This episode is not for the squeamish!

In this shocking (and supersized) episode, we profile three of the most abhorrent members of the History Hall of Shame: Hitler's uber-quack personal physician/drug pusher; the putrid, ravenous 18th century freak/accidental secret agent Tarrare; and the murderous proto-Dracula Elizabeth Bathory. If you have the stomach to listen to all 79 minutes of this episode, you’ll need to take a shower afterwards. Trust us.

The Bar Stool Historian returns, along with their blame-assigning technological marvel, the Blame-O-Meter 5000!

In this episode. we measure how much the phrase "Read my lips, no new taxes..." was to blame for George H. W. Bush's re-election failure.

Plus, Tim recalls his personal experiences of growing up in the bad-old days of crime-ridden NYC. For context, we recommend watching this short documentary gem about the freelance video and photo journalists prowling the nighttime NYC crime beat in 1991. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDPr4y381Mw

John, Ed, and Tim have pulled together another grab bag of historical curiosities, with a pinch of current events tossed in for good measure.

Episode highlights include:

• The drinking (and non-drinking) habits of 2oth Century American presidents.
• Gubernatorial assassination and general mayhem in Kentucky.
• Shadowy pro-Russian forces in Montenegro, and the attempted coup d'etat that nobody seemed to notice.

Plus, our first nomination for a "Dexty" award, in honor of this podcast's patron saint, Lord Timothy Dexter.

Is there any kind of unifying theme for these topics? Hmm...maybe.

New Glarus Fat Squirrel Ale (Wisconsin only)

Bell's Winter White "Belgian Inspired" Wheat Ale

Macallan 15-year Triple Cask Scotch Whisky

Ed, John (suffering from a miserable cold), and Tim (hobbled by influenza), dive into the instructive and wildly entertaining book, Colonial Spirits: A Toast to Our Drunken History, and chat to its equally instructive and entertaining creators, author Steven Grasse and illustrator Michael Allen.

Colonial Spirits: A Toast to Our Drunken History

Other highlights include:

- A dizzying treatment of Ben Franklin's "Drinker's Dictionary."

- How to make Cock Ale in the original 18th century way. 

- Taste tests of Cranberry Shrub, Milk Punch, the Hot Flip, and Ginger Liqueur.

Plus, a reflection on the end of the Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey Circus after nearly 150 years. (And do you remember that unicorn?)

Old Dutch, by QC Malt

Lemon Shrub, by QC Malt

Alesmith Brewing Company's Nut Brown Ale

Veteran's Day Parade, 11/11/2016, New York City - Photo by Tim

We pulled our microphones together at the last minute to deliver this Veteran's Day episode of The Bar Stool Historian. 

Topics include:

• Future generals MacArthur and Patton meet on a World War I battlefield.
• The truly nightmarish story of how hundreds of returning Civil War veterans perished in the worst maritime disaster in U.S. history.
• A tribute to Tim's Uncle Charlie.

Get your tissues for this one.

World War I memorial at East 67th and 5th Ave, Manhattan - 11/11/2016 - Photo by John

The great early 19th-century American eccentric, "Lord" Timothy Dexter strolls his demesne pondering a 108 year-old curse.

With an election just a couple days away, we're off to the races with presidential candidates of and other overachieving eccentrics.

Topics include:

• The third party candidates of the 20th century who helped shape today's political landscape. 
• October Surprises that jolted 19th century POTUS races.
• The one-and-only "Lord" Timothy Dexter, the bats**t crazy Newburyport merchant who fell repeatedly ass-backwards into a fortune.

And as promised in the show...we give you Lord Dexter's grand "palace", bedecked with statues of other great men.

Check out "Lord" Timothy Dexter's completely insane autobiography (of sorts) "A Pickle for the Knowing Ones, or Plain truths in a homespun dress."

Urban Legend Brewing Company's You Big Dummy Imperial Red Ale

Shipyard Brewing Company's Pumpkinhead Ale

Bronx Brewery's American Pale Ale

John, Tim and Ed kick off Bar Stool Season 2 with a celebration of our 40th birthdays.  Join us as we explore (and in Tim’s case, severely criticize) the mystical number  40 and its special place in history. 

Topics include:

• The most meaningful events of the last 40 years (including the true story of when Tim and John met Mikhail Gorbachev.)
• The Lykov family, who survived 40 years in the Siberian Wilderness without seeing another human.
• WD-40
• Japanese fanatical holdouts, possibly wearing diapers.
• Out of nowhere swipes at New York Comic Con.
• Yeti!!!!

(As you'd expect, the whole number 40 theme completely breaks down in a few points in the show. Wild tangents aplenty!)

Lagavulin 16

Brooklyn Defender IPA

Sam Adams Scotch Ale

Goose Island Winter Ale