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"In fourteen years Leopold has deliberately destroyed more lives than have suffered death on all the battlefields of this planet for the past thousand years..." - Mark Twain

In this episode of The Hungry Historian, we dive into one of the darkest and most disturbing chapters of colonial history: the reign of King Leopold II over the Congo Free State. 

What began as a supposed humanitarian mission quickly descended into a brutal system of forced labour, mutilation, and terror. All orchestrated to satisfy one monarch’s insatiable appetite for wealth and influence.

Follow along as the Hungry Historian discusses the tactics Leopold used to disguise exploitation as philanthropy, explore the violent machinery of the rubber trade, and follow the courageous voices who dared to expose the truth to the world. 

From Henry Morton Stanley’s expeditions to the global humanitarian campaign that eventually forced change, this episode unravels the layers of greed, deception, and suffering that defined the Congo under Leopold’s rule.

Join the Hungry Historian as he examines how this grim period reshaped international activism, challenged Europe’s imperial conscience, and left behind a legacy Congo continues to confront today.

As far as a Featured Recipe goes, this time around Chef Money is switching out his cooking apron for his bartender one, and presenting you with his spin on a classic bar shooter - the Black Russian 

Trust me, you'll need one or two of them following this tale of terror. It is not for the faint of heart.

Cheers!

Featured Recipe

Black Belgian

• 2 ounces of Vodka
• 1 ounce of Kahlúa
• Ice
• Rocks glass

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History isn’t just the tale of kings and queens, of armies and empires. It’s also the story of how we’ve suffered, how we’ve punished, and how far humanity has gone to make death a spectacle.

In this Halloween special, The Hungry Historian ventures into the blackest corners of the past. To the places where execution was an art form, and pain was meant to echo. 

From the slow scrape of the blade to the crack of the rope, from ingenious devices of torment to punishments so vile they were outlawed even by tyrants, this episode is a grim reminder that cruelty is as old as civilization itself.

You’ll hear about deaths meant not just to end life, but to send a message. The tools, the theatre, the terrifying imagination behind them. Ritualized agony. Sanctified suffering. Justice twisted into horror.

Across centuries and continents, we’ll unearth stories that reveal what happens when power, vengeance, and fear collide. A place where death becomes performance. These are the moments history tried to forget… but the screams still linger.

So dim the lights, pour yourself something strong, and settle in. Because tonight, The Hungry Historian isn’t serving comfort, nor is he in the pursuit of a goodnight story. 

Tonight, he is serving carnage.

⚠️ Listener discretion is very much advised. This one isn’t for the faint of heart.

Available now wherever you get your podcasts.

Cheers!

Ratcliffe's Colonial Catch

Ingredients:

• 5 pounds fresh mussels, scrubbed and debearded
• 1 can unsweetened coconut milk
• ⅓ cup fresh lime juice
• ⅓ cup dry white wine
• 1 ½ tablespoons Thai red curry paste
• 1 ½ tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon Fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 2 cups chopped fresh cilantro

*Featured Recipe directions and Chef tips available within the show

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"If a man can bridge the gap between life and death, if he can live on after he's dead, then maybe he was a great man." - James Dean

Before he was a legend frozen in time, James Dean was a small-town boy with a hunger for something greater. In this episode, The Hungry Historian explores the brief but blazing life of one of Hollywood’s most enduring icons. 

Follow along through his humble beginnings in Indiana to his meteoric rise in 1950s cinema, as Dean captured the restless spirit of a generation. This, before his sudden and tragic death in September 1955.

We’ll trace his path through East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause, and Giant; delve into the cultural storm he helped ignite; and examine how his untimely death transformed him from actor to myth. 

Decades later, James Dean remains more than a name. He’s an idea, a symbol of youth, rebellion, and the eternal chase for meaning under the glare of fame.

When it comes to Featured Recipes, this one is coming at the PERFECT time, for Canadians at least. You will definitely want to add Chef Money's "James Dean's Green Beans" to your upcoming Thanksgiving feast.

Cheers! 

James Dean's Green Beans

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs of fresh Green Beans, washed and chopped
• 1 cup Green Onions, washed and chopped
• 1 Lime, zested and juiced
• 1 tbsp Soy Sauce
• (at least) 2 cloves of Garlic, minced
• 1 tsp White Sugar
• 1/2 tsp Sea Salt
• 1 tbsp Vegetable Oil
• 1 tsp Chili Oil
• 1 tsp toasted Sesame Seeds (optional)

** Featured Recipe directions and Chef tips are available within the show or on the official Instagram account of The Hungry Historian (@hungry_historian)

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"The men were simply mown down. They advanced in lines which seemed to melt away under the enemy’s fire." — British officer reflecting on the Battle of Loos

In this episode join The Hungry Historian as he turns back to September 1915 and the bloody fields of northern France to examine the Battle of Loos. 

Often overshadowed today by the Somme and Passchendaele, Loos was nonetheless a watershed moment in Britain’s First World War experience. 

It marked the first large-scale use of poison gas by British forces, the baptism of fire for Kitchener’s New Army of volunteers, and a clash that revealed the deep rifts between Britain’s military leaders, most notably the strained relationship between Generals Haig and French.

Follow along with The Hungry Historian as he explores the strategies and missteps, the personal accounts from soldiers in the trenches, and the sheer human cost of a battle where bravery was too often met with futility. 

From the hope of a breakthrough to the harsh reality of stalemate, Loos remains a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made and the lessons learned during the early years of the Great War.

As for today's Featured Recipe, Chef Money is stopping by to give you a quick and easy recipe for the most classic of sides inspired by a character in today's tale - General French Fries

Cheers!

General French Fries

Ingredients 

• 5-6 large potatoes
• 2 TBSP of olive oil
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 2 TBSP corn starch
• salt and pepper to taste 

** Featured Recipe directions and Chef tips available within the show!

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"Assassination has never changed the history of the world." - Benjamin Disraeli

From Abraham Lincoln’s fateful night at Ford’s Theatre, to the near-misses that almost changed the course of American politics forever, presidential assassinations and assassination attempts have left lasting marks on the nation’s history. 

In this episode, join the Hungry Historian as he dives into the stories behind the tragedies, close calls, and how these moments of violence reshaped presidencies, altered legacies, and tested the resilience of American democracy.

As a Featured Recipe, Chef Money is coming at you with an Italian classic thats been inspired by one of the President’s featured in today's episode. A dish that he has been calling "Garfield's Lasagna".

Cheers!

Garfield's Lasagna 

Ingredients:

• Ground beef
• Italian sausage
• Canned tomatoes 
• Tomato paste
• Stock/white wine
• Oven ready lasagna noodles
• Marble cheese
• Mozzarella 
• Parmesan
• Ricotta
• Onion
• Garlic
• Basil
• Oregano
• Chili flakes
• One egg
• Olive oil
• Tinfoil
• Parsley *optional

**Featured Recipe directions and Chef tips available within the show 

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“Travellers intending to embark on the Atlantic voyage are reminded that a state of war exists between Germany . . . and Great Britain . . . and that travellers sailing in the war zone on ships of Great Britain or her allies do so at their own risk.” - German Advertisement the day the Lusitania set sail

On May 7th, 1915, the British ocean liner RMS Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat off the coast of Ireland, killing nearly 1,200 people. The disaster unfolded at a pivotal moment in World War I, when submarine warfare was transforming the rules of naval conflict and blurring the line between civilian and military targets.

Join The Hungry Historian, as he explores the Lusitania’s role as a passenger liner, a wartime symbol, and—potentially—a vessel carrying contraband munitions. Come along as he examines the German rationale for the attack, Britain’s wartime policies, and the controversy over what exactly lay in the ship’s cargo holds.

Dive deeper into the tragedy itself, and consider the broader impact: how the sinking influenced international opinion, intensified debates over American neutrality, and became one of the most consequential maritime disasters of the 20th century.

As a Featured Recipe, Chef Money is stopping by with his latest culinary creation and one from the depths of his own recipe rolodex. This time, it'll be your diet that'll "set sail" after you get a taste of the Chef's "Chocolate Mousse-itania."

Cheers!

Chocolate Mousse-itania

Ingredients:

• 3 eggs, separated
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• 2¼ cups heavy whipping cream divided
• 7 oz semi-sweet chocolate finely chopped
• whipped cream – garnish
• chocolate shavings – garnish 
• slice of orange or zest – garnish
• raspberries - garnish

**Featured Recipe directions and Chef Tips available within the show**

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“Canada emerged as a political entity with boundaries largely determined by the fur trade. … The present Dominion emerged not in spite of geography but because of it.” — Harold Innis 

From the fur-clad frontiers of Rupert’s Land to the corridors of British colonial power, the Hudson’s Bay Company stood as one of the most influential and controversial forces in North American history. In this episode, join The Hungry Historian as he paddles into the heart of Canada’s colonial past, where commerce and conquest went hand in hand, and explore the Company’s transformation from a remote trading enterprise into a sprawling commercial empire. 

Between 1750 and 1870, the HBC faced fierce competition from the North West Company, expanded deep into the continent’s interior, and forged alliances and rivalries with Indigenous nations. Follow along as The Hungry Historian traces the dramatic events that led to the merger of 1821, the Company’s growing role in politics and settlement, and its eventual sale of vast territories to the new Dominion of Canada. 

This is a story of profit and power, survival and sovereignty—played out against the backdrop of the wilderness, and written in beaver pelts, treaties, and the tides of empire. 

Cheers!

Featured Recipe

Beaver Tails

Ingredients:

•  ¾ Cup whole milk warm
• 2 ¼ Teaspoons active dry yeast
• 3 Tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2 Tablespoons canola oil
• 2 Tablespoons butter melted
• 1 Teaspoon salt
• 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 2 ¼ Cups all-purpose flour
• 2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 2 Cups granulated sugar
• Canola or vegetable oil as needed, for deep frying

**Featured Recipe directions and Chef Tips are available within the episode or on the official Instagram of The Hungry Historian (@hungry_historian) or The Hungry Historian YouTube channel**

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“The Beaver does everything perfectly well: it makes kettles, hatchets, swords, knives, bread; in short, it makes everything.” - Unknown Innu Hunter 

On this episode of The Hungry Historian, our historical hero ventures deep into the northern Canadian wilderness to trace the origins and rise of one of the oldest and most influential commercial enterprises in North America — the Hudson’s Bay Company. 

Founded in 1670, but rooted in the explorations of the 1660s, the HBC was more than just a fur trading outfit; it was a geopolitical force that shaped the continent.

Join him as he explores the bold expedition of Radisson and Groseilliers, learn about the royal charter, and the Company’s dominance over Rupert’s Land — a vast swath of territory that would come to define the future of Canada. 

From rivalries with the French and the Compagnie du Nord, to Indigenous partnerships, brutal winters, and fierce competition during the height of the fur trade, this period from the mid seventeenth century to the late eighteenth lays the groundwork for centuries of economic, cultural, and political change.

But before you grab your snowshoes, and head out into the heart of the Canadian wilderness, you'll want to make sure to whip up a batch of Chef Money's featured recipe to take along with you.

This time, the Chef brings to you a modern Canadian delicacy and one that fits perfectly with this series - Beaver Tails.

Cheers!

Beaver Tails

Ingredients:

• ¾ Cup whole milk warm
• 2 ¼ Teaspoons active dry yeast
• 3 Tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2 Tablespoons canola oil
• 2 Tablespoons butter melted
• 1 Teaspoon salt
• 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 2 ¼ Cups all-purpose flour
• 2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 2 Cups granulated sugar
• Vegetable or canola oil as needed, for deep frying

** FEATURED RECIPE DIRECTIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON PART II

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"From Paints to Saints and the beachs between, visit the Normandie region through the eyes of the Hungry Historian."

On this second episode of a two part look back at his travels through France and Belgium, the Hungry Historian is once again joined by his Mrs (The Hungry Herstorian) as he leaves the beaches of Normandy in the rear view and heads for his next adventure. 

Follow along as he walks the beach at Dieppe, the trenches of Beaumont-Hamel and Vimy Ridge, and the foxholes of the 101st Airborne at Bastogne.

If that's not your cup of tea, don't fret, because the Hungry Historian also reflects on his visits to the cathedrals of Rouen and Dieppe, the sites and sounds of Paris, and all the culinary an  cocktail stop in between.

Meanwhile, Chef Money is LITERALLY saucing up a Featured Recipe based on arguably the best dish that the Hungry Historian had on his trek through western Europe. A sauce so delicious that it doesn't even have a known name, so the Chef has taken to calling it "Money Sauce."

Cheers!

Money Sauce 

Ingredients:

1 cup of butter (divided) 
1 medium shallot or half a yellow onion 
1 package of tarragon
1 package of parsley (or a big handful if it's from your garden - equal parts to the tarragon)
4 sage leaves
4 Basil leaves
1 TBSP creamy Dijon
1 egg yolk 
1 tsp worcestshire 
1 tsp nutmeg 
5 walnuts 
1 TBSP anchovy paste 
5-10 capers 
1/4 of a small lemon 
Pepper to taste

** Featured Recipe directions and Chef Money tip available within the episode**

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"From Paints to Saints and the beachs between, visit the Normandie region through the eyes of the Hungry Historian."

On this first episode of a two part look back at his travels through France and Belgium, the Hungry Historian lands in Paris and heads for his base of operations, the Normandie capital city of Caen.

Follow along as he walks the beaches and bunkers that saw the D-Day invasions over 80 years ago. If that's not your cup of tea, don't fret, because the Hungry Historian also reflects on his visits to Claude Monet's house on Giverny, and the historic abbey at Mont Saint-Michel.

Meanwhile, Chef Money is LITERALLY saucing up a Featured Recipe based on arguably the best dish that the Hungry Historian had on his trek through western Europe. A sauce so delicious that it doesn't even have a known name, so the Chef has taken to calling it "Money Sauce."

Cheers!

Money Sauce 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of butter (divided) 
• 1 medium shallot or half a yellow onion 
• 1 package of tarragon
• 1 package of parsley (or a big handful if it's from your garden - equal parts to the tarragon)
• 4 sage leaves
• 4 Basil leaves
• 1 TBSP creamy Dijon
• 1 egg yolk 
• 1 tsp worcestshire 
• 1 tsp nutmeg 
• 5 walnuts 
• 1 TBSP anchovy paste 
• 5-10 capers 
• 1/4 of a small lemon 
• Pepper to taste

** Featured Recipe directions and Chef Money tip available within the episode**