***NOTE: I was not able to upload this episode as one file which is not what I originally planned. So I had to break it in half.

In this episode, I begin a deep dive into Hernando de Soto who, in so many ways, absolutely represents the conquistador era. I over Soto's travails through Panama with Balboa, in Nicaragua on his own, in Peru with Pizarro, and, ultimately, to La Florida. Soto would die in the wilds of Arkansas, still searching for that El Dorado he would never find.

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Today I sit down with author Jason Voiovich and discuss his most recent book: Booze, Babe, and the Little Black Dress. Jason and I talk about all manner of topics related to the Roaring Twenties, everything from Prohibition and speakeasies to baseball and the radio. It is a fantastic book and, as always, Jason is an engaging interview.

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After so many battles and insurgencies today the Inca Empire finally runs out of gas. The Inca free state is destroyed and the last Inca Emperor is executed. Then I examine some of the common themes that run through the stories of our two conquistadors: Cortés and Pizarro.

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Francisco Pizarro failed to recognize the growing discontent from Almagro's old faction and, today, it costs him his life. Gonzalo, his brother, outlives him by a little over three years and dies challenging the Spanish crown for the right to rule Peru. Meanwhile, Manco Inca mistakenly trusts yet another Spaniard and this time it, likewise, costs him his life.

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I was fortunate enough to take a short trip to Colombia: Medellin and Cartagena. Colombia is a wonderful country to visit. I decided to do a short show with my recommendations for traveling in Colombia and a few pitfalls to avoid.

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Website: www.westerncivpodcast.com
Avianca: https://www.avianca.com/us/en/
La Causa: https://www.lacausa.com.co/
Alambique: http://www.alambiquemedellin.com/
Coffee Tour: https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g297478-d14045057-Coffee_Tour_In_Horse_Riding_and_Lunch_In_Medellin-Medellin_Antioquia_Department.html
Guatape: https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g297478-d15567422-Full_Day_Guatape-Medellin_Antioquia_Department.html
Celele: https://celelerestaurante.com/en/home/

In this episode, Manco Inca flees to the Amazon to avoid capture with Gonzalo Pizarro in hot pursuit. But before that can happen, Hernando Pizarro exacts revenge on Diego de Almagro by executing the man in cold blood. As a result, Hernando returns to Spain to explain his conduct - leaving two Pizarro brothers in Peru.

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Diego de Almagro returns from conquering the wealthy Inca Empire of the south. Just kidding. There is no southern Inca Empire, as Almagro and his royally ticked-off, men now understand. Fuming and frostbitten, Almagro returns to the scene to find Hernando and Gonzalo Pizarro holed up in Cusco surrounded by Manco Inca's army. Eager to exploit the situation, he reaches out to both groups to try and ensure that he, Almagro, is the new lord of Cusco moving forward.

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Manco Inca now has the Spaniards in Peru on the ropes. Hernando and Gonzalo Pizarro are trapped in Cusco. Francisco Pizarro is likewise trapped in what will become Lima. The brothers are desperate to help each other but Manco's armies have the mountain passes sealed shut. This time, Manco comes tantalizingly close to ending the Pizarro family business once and for all. And then it all falls away...

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Manco Inca launches his Great Rebellion in Peru. While Francisco Pizarro is pinned down in Lima, Manco seeks to crush the remaining Pizarro brothers in Cuzco.

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Up to this point, Francisco Pizarro has done a fantastic job of following the conquistador playbook. But now the weakness of the Pizarro family business - namely Francisco's brothers - comes into play. Juan and Gonzalo Pizarro torment Manco Inca to the point that he has no choice but to begin the Great Rebellion.

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