In today's episode, Ritchie and Paul analyze a very unique decision - the decision by the United States to conduct Operation Paperclip. A secret government program to recruit scientists, engineers, and technicians from Nazi Germany who had worked on advanced weapons and technology during WW2. Was this deal with the devil worth it? Join us in our discussion to find out if this decision gave the United States an overall strategic advantage in what would immediately follow WW2, the Cold War with Russia. 

In this episode, Paul and Ritchie discuss Honest Abe (Abraham Lincoln) - the 16th President of the United States. We start with his background, his meteoric rise to White House, and ultimately his decision to NOT execute Confederate Leaders. Considering the carnage and massive loss of life that resulted from the Civil War, what propelled Lincoln to pursue a more diplomatic, less violent approach? Listen in as Paul and Ritchie discuss Lincoln's decision and try to better understand what his rational and if it was the correct one. 

In today's episode, Paul and Ritchie discuss Neville Chamberlain - is he the poster boy of appeasement? It is easy to throw judgements from the present onto the past. Ultimately, we know the policy of appeasement failed and is argued to be one of the leading causes for WW2. However, is it a fair judgement to characterize Neville Chamberlain by this one failure considering that the memory of WW1 was still alive and well? Join us in our discussion to better understand Chamberlain's legacy and his decision to appease Hitler. 

In this episode, Ritchie and Paul talk about the great Islamic leader Saladin and his successful efforts against the Crusading forces during the Second Crusade. We look at this rise to power, his success against the crusading forces, and ultimately his decision to take Jerusalem in a much more merciful manner than his crusading counter parts. We discuss the rational and strategy behind showing mercy and look deeper into what made Saladin such a unique and merciful leader.

Photos referenced during the podcast: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13G0qzZ8lF0FBIIkjCNu6jmoh6hWgbt_g?usp=sharing

In this episode, Ritchie and Paul talk about the great Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca and his bold decision to march his army (with war elephants) over the Alps to attack Rome. This decision is the precursor to one of the greatest military careers in the ancient world. In this episode, we explore how Hannibal brought Rome to the brink of destruction and how Hannibal changed the future of the Roman Empire forever. 

In this episode, Ritchie and Paul continue their discussion about Harry S. Truman and the momentous decision to drop two atomic bombs on Japan during World War II. In part 2, we delve into why ending the war as quickly as possible was paramount and how the introduction of the Soviet Union into the war with Japan changed the fate of East Asia for decades to come.

In this episode, Ritchie and Paul talk about Harry S. Truman, America's 33rd president, and the momentous decision to drop two atomic bombs on Japan during World War II. This decision is the defining moment in Truman's legacy and is a defining moment for America on the world stage. In this episode, we explore why Truman is sometimes known as "the accidental president" and how internal Japanese politics played a crucial role in Truman's decision to drop the bombs. We also delve into age-old questions like "was Japan already defeated and ready to surrender?" And "if dropping the bombs would have saved millions of lives."

In this episode, Ritchie and Paul talk about Sir John A Macdonald and the Pacific Scandal - the first major political scandal in post-confederation Canada. The scandal puts Sir John A. and his nation-making project at the epicentre of our discussion where we look to better understand the scandal and ultimately his decision to take a bribe. We explore what this teaches us about Canadian history, and how we can better understand his decision-making and the impact it had (if any) on his legacy and the legacy of Canada.