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John C. Fremont & The California and Oregon Trails (1841 – 1845): As the fur trade collapses, mountain men push into Oregon, carrying violence and disease in their wake. California, thinly held by a faltering Mexican government, stands exposed—vast, remote, and still largely unknown. Into this shifting frontier rides John C. Frémont, an obscure topographical engineer with powerful political allies, tasked with mapping the Oregon Trail but drawn ever southward. With the election of expansionist James K. Polk, Manifest Destiny becomes national policy and Texas is absorbed into the union. As clouds of war between Mexico and America begin to gather, what future awaits California on the edge of empire?

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John Sutter & the Land of Squatters (1836 - 1841): As new waves of settlers trickle into the west, California is propelled to the brink of chaos. Amid horse raids, propaganda, and ambition, the narratives of Texas' revolt and California's vulnerability collide. John Sutter, a Swiss immigrant, dares to carve out an empire in the volatile Sacramento Valley, while tensions between Native tribes and Mexican authorities ignite. As whispers of rebellion echo through the land, deception and dreams entwine in a battle for California's future. Who will emerge victorious in this high-stakes game of power and survival?

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Two Decades of the Don (1821 - 1836): In the wake of Mexico's newfound independence, California finds itself at a crossroads. The dismantling of the missions leaves Native Americans facing a precarious future, while the California Dons ascend to prominence, and the archetype of the American Cowboy takes root. The groundbreaking journey of a mountain man across the Sierras interweaves the destinies of east and west. Amidst this era of immense change and cultural collision, how will the destinies of California and San Francisco's diverse peoples and lands be reshaped? Which dreams will survive the tempest of progress?

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The Pacification of Alta California (1769 – 1821): As Spain's hold weakens, Alta California stands at a crossroads, with missions burgeoning and San Francisco coming to life. Amidst this era of change, what propels these pioneers into the heart of the unknown, and what are the stakes? This episode ventures into perilous sea voyages, shipwrecks that scar the coast, and pivotal encounters with Native Americans through the mission system. As we uncover the hidden tales of resilience and conquest, how will the fates of native tribes and Spanish settlers intertwine beneath the shadow of impending superpowers?

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The Age of Discovery (1400 - 1769):  Spanish conquistadors meet the advanced native civilizations of the Americas, leading to a clash akin to an invasive species disrupting a longstanding ecosystem. Tens of millions will perish before the dust settles. As English colonization builds, powerful new threats will set the stage for the birth of a city that will become the heart of the Manifest Destiny and the American Dream.

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Preview of The Savage West Podcast and Season 1, "A Port at the Edge of the World," which focuses on the colonial evolution of San Francisco through the discovery of gold in California in 1848.

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