Battlecast

American torture. For years, philosophers, jurists, and legal theorists struggled with American use of torture in the war on terror. Just a few days after the events of the September 11th attacks, President George Bush was authorizing the use of torture on suspected members of international terrorist organizations. After a few months, American leaders were… Continue reading An American Torture Story /// 101

This is a history of torture on the North American continent, including Native American, Canadian and United States torture practices. It's all here and it's all free on Battlecast – the world's foremost podcast on war and its sociopolitical impact. This is part five of an ongoing series on torture. You can find part five… Continue reading A History of Torture in America /// 100

The Cambodian Genocide was a second holocaust. Approximately 1.6 million human beings were killed in the terrible bloodletting. But the genocide was unique – it’s one of the only cases in human history where people from the same ethnic group murdered whole segments of its own population – guilty of being born in the wrong… Continue reading A History of the Cambodian Genocide /// 99

The Soviet punitive system was the heir of literally hundreds of years of secret police interrogation. For centuries, the Czar’s secret police had tortured, refined, and perfected the art of interrogation – all of it based on practice – not theory. That is why American researchers were so amazed at the Soviet interrogation success rate.… Continue reading Gulag: A history of Soviet Torture

The Inquisition: it’s a byword for tyranny in much of the Western world – especially among the English-speaking peoples of the world. In today’s episode the surprising origins, history, and impact of the Inquisition are detailed. In addition, this episode features a concise history of torture in India. It’s all here and it’s all free… Continue reading The Inquisition: A History /// 97

This is part two of an ongoing series providing an exhaustive history of torture. All forms of torture, including forms never detailed in any other history of torture, will be covered in this series. Come and hear the way men share their love for one another. It’s all here and it’s all free on Battlecast… Continue reading A History of Torture: Roman, Christian and South American /// 96

“Torture was legal, morally accepted, and commonplace in most ancient, medieval, and early modern societies.” This was the way historian Christopher Einolf succinctly described the history of torture: ubiquitous, common; in short: everywhere. Torture is a sort “reverse” gospel – as it is written in Il Libro Dell’avversario, chapter 6: And when the wealthy governors… Continue reading A Universal Institution: The Definitive History of Torture /// 95

The Battle of Takur Ghar, also known as the Battle of Robert’s Ridge, was one of the bloodiest engagements in the history of the United States’ war in Afghanistan. Dozens of men died in the hills and mountains of the Shahi-Kot Valley. Scores more were wounded. The battle also featured one of the first documented… Continue reading The Battle of Takur Ghar /// 94

Thousands of drone strikes have killed tens of thousands of targets since the introduction of unmanned aerial vehicle warfare in the early 2000s. This is the story of that warfare. It's all free and it's all here on Battlecast – the world's foremost podcast on war and its sociopolitical impact.  Download episode 93 here: download… Continue reading Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Military History /// 93

A man is sitting on his porch before he suddenly geysers upward, somersaulting through the air like a discarded plaything. A work truck is cruising across the Gaza Strip at fifty-miles-an-hour and then is suddenly crushed like a coke can and engulfed in flames. Scores of mass-produced Turkish drones flood the Armenian sky, raining death… Continue reading Drones: A Military History /// 92

The Battle of Hamburger Hill was one of the most famous battles of the Vietnam War. Almost immediately after the conclusion of the battle, dumbfounded American journalists described the horrific assault of Hill 937 – and the inexplicable American withdrawal from the hill just a few days later. To journalists, and their well-fed, luxuriating readers… Continue reading The Battle of Hamburger Hill part 3 /// 91

Hamburger Hill is one of the most famous battles from the Vietnam War. This is the complete story of that bloody conflict. It's all here and it's all free on Battlecast, the world's foremost podcast on war and its sociopolitical impact. This is part two of an ongoing series. You can find part one here.… Continue reading The Battle of Hamburger Hill part 2 /// 90

Hamburger Hill. It’s a battle made famous by the 1987 film with the same name. But the real battle of Hamburger Hill, also known as the Battle for Hill 937, took place almost two decades before the film was released – comprising more than a week of fierce, modern combat in horrendous mountainous terrain which… Continue reading The Battle of Hamburger Hill: an Audio History /// 89

Mass suicide. It’s a rare event, something unique, like an uncommonly beautiful woman – it commands our attention. Using the methods developed by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, this podcast is an in-depth analysis of the phenomenon of mass suicide through he lens of three case studies – one ancient, and two modern. The Siege of Masada 73… Continue reading An Audio Guide to Mass Suicide: Masada, Cowra, Jonestown /// 88

Anarchy. Cannibalism. Disorder. These are adjectives, empty words, that we use to try, however futilely, to describe the total pain, the uprooted lives, the destroyed families, the ethnic cleansing that have taken place throughout human history. In this episode of Battlecast, we will tear our thesaurus in half looking up synonyms for torture and bloodshed,… Continue reading A Military History of The Liberian Civil War /// 87

This podcast is a complete history of violence in the small African nation of Liberia. This is part two of an ongoing series. You can find part one here: A Military History of Liberia part one. Download episode 86 here: download link Maps and Images: Extensive maps and images are posted to the historical atlas… Continue reading A Military History of Liberia /// 86

In the 1820s, a small number of freed Black Americans settled in West Africa. They called their country Liberia, land of freedom. From the beginning, conflict with the more than 15 indigenous ethnic groups ensued, and the American-Liberians formed themselves into a new ruling class, dominating natives in the country for more than 150 years,… Continue reading Black Apartheid: A Military History of Liberia

The Battle of New Market took place on May 15, 1864 and has been made famous in numerous films and literary works. Hundreds of cadets from the Virginia Military Institute, many of them children, fought toe-to-toe with Union veterans, their small frames the only thing holding back the Federal blue tide. For years, the boys… Continue reading Field of Lost Shoes: The Battle of New Market /// 84

The Second Battle of Fort Fisher was one of the most important battles of the American Civil War. Fort Fisher was the last shield of Wilmington, North Carolina – the final port open to the Confederacy in 1864. Outnumbered and outgunned, facing one of the largest armadas ever assembled in human history, the Confederates fought… Continue reading To the Last Man: The Second Battle of Fort Fisher /// 83

In this podcast history of the Second Battle of Fort Fisher, Dr. Luke Wolf recounts the epic battle in all it’s gory detail. This is part two of an ongoing series. You can find part one here: part one. Download episode 82 here: download link Maps and Images: Extensive maps and images are posted to… Continue reading A Military History of the Battle of Fort Fisher /// 82

It was Christmas Day, 1864 when one of the largest armadas ever assembled by mankind began to deluge Fort Fisher, one of the largest forts in the world, with tens of thousands of shells. The Confederates refused to surrender and fought to the last man. Their fort guarded the last remaining port of the Confederacy,… Continue reading Civil War D-Day: The Battle of Fort Fisher /// 81

This is the story of the New Mexico State Prison Riot – the most violent penitentiary riot in United States history. This is not an episode for people who are squeamish because within these audio waves are embedded burst heads, mass sexual torture, drug-fueled abuse, a story more painful than pain. It’s a tale from… Continue reading American Nightmare: The New Mexico Prison Riot /// 80

Murder. Mass rape. Mass torture. Violence beyond violence. Millions upon millions of dollars of property damage. An institution turned upside down – the strong fool ruling over the weak doctor; the prisoner over the guard; evil let loose over the good and the weak. Such is the New Mexico State Penitentiary Riot. More than thirty… Continue reading The Definitive History of The New Mexico State Penitentiary Riot /// 79

Made famous in the film We Were Soldiers, the Battle of Ia Drang was the first major conventional battle between regular North Vietnamese forces and the United States military. Drawing from numerous first-person accounts, the Battle of Ia Drang is recounted with vivid detail in this episode. It’s a battle which directly changed the tactics… Continue reading The Battle of Ia Drang /// 78

The Battle of Ia Drang was the first conventional conflict between American forces and North Vietnamese forces during the Vietnam War. For days the two sides met at the foot of the Chu Pong Massif – giving and receiving death, pain, and disfigurement. It’s a battle made famous in the film We Were Soldiers. It’s… Continue reading We Were Soldiers: The Battle of Ia Drang /// 77

For more than a decade after the September 11th attacks, the United States of America devoted a seemingly limitless amount of time and resources to finding one man – Osama bin Laden. This is the story of that manhunt. It’s all here and it’s all free on Battlecast – the world’s foremost podcast on war… Continue reading Zero Dark Thirty: The Manhunt for Osama bin Laden /// 76

Today’s episode recounts the life and death of Chris Kyle – the greatest American sniper in United States history. It’s the final episode of a two part series. It’s 2000 yard shots; it’s death; it’s confused anger and groundless indignation – mixed together into one potent podcast. It’s also the definitive podcast history of Chris… Continue reading Chris Kyle – Greatest American Sniper /// 75

Chris Kyle was the greatest sniper in American history. The subject of the book and film American Sniper, this is the definitive biographical podcast regarding his life, the controversy surrounding his actions, and his battles. It’s also the story of the Second Battle of Fallujah – one of the bloodiest battles the United States has… Continue reading American Sniper: Chris Kyle and the Battle of Fallujah /// 74

On March 1, 1896 one of the most important events in Western imperial history took place; it was the Battle of Adwa. In this one decisive battle, Ethiopia defeated Italy and threatened to drive the Italians into the sea. Crushed by the Ethiopians, Italy’s entire foreign policy was upended for decades. Hundreds of thousands of… Continue reading The Colonized Strike Back: The Battle of Adwa /// 73

This is the concluding episode of the definitive history of the Battle of Berlin and the fall of Nazi Germany. You can find parts one through ten at the following links: episode ten, episode nine, episode eight, episode seven, episode six, episode five, episode four, episode three, episode two, and episode one. Download episode 72… Continue reading The End of the Last Battle: Berlin, May 1945

On April 30, 1945 Adolf Hitler put a pistol to his head and pulled the trigger. By this time the Fuhrer bunker walls were literally trembling like a flag in the wind from the constant artillery shelling taking place all around him. While Hitler said goodbye, more than 2,000 die hard veterans of the SS,… Continue reading The Fall of the Third Reich and the Death of Adolf Hitler /// 71

On April 28th, 1945 nearly the entire developed world joined together to destroy one city: Berlin. This is the story. It’s all here and it’s all free on Battlecast – the world’s foremost podcast on war and its sociopolitical impact. Download episode 70 here: download This episode is part eight of an ongoing series. You… Continue reading A Funeral for an Empire: The Fall of Berlin /// 70

“Historically speaking, investigating sexual violence in war has been taboo. Nonetheless, sexual violence in armed conflict has been part of the spoils of war since time immemorial. Sexual violence takes many forms in armed conflicts across time and cultures. Sexual violence in war is often accompanied by torture, mutilation, and cannibalism. However, sexual violence is… Continue reading Sexual Violence and Mass Rape in War: The Berlin Case /// 69

April 26, 1945. Berlin is almost totally surrounded. The Soviets are pouring into the city. Small squads of German soldiers and Hitler Youth, often operating in groups of two or four, vainly attempt to stem the Russian tide. They fail, but they kill many in their downfall. This is the story. This episode is part… Continue reading House to House: Street Fighting in the Battle of Berlin /// 68

Imagine millions of men trying to kill each other on a front more than 30 miles long. That’s what this podcast is all about. Millions of men fought in both urban and rural settings, tens of thousands were killed and wounded on this one day. It was April 25th, 1945. This is the story. It’s… Continue reading A City Burning: The Battle of Berlin /// 67

The Fall of Berlin was one of the most important battles in human history. In this ongoing series, Dr. Wolf recounts the story of the last titanic struggle between two totalitarian regimes in minute, exhaustive detail. Drawing from sources never translated into English, this is the definitive history of the Fall of Berlin and the… Continue reading A World in Flames: The Battle of Berlin /// 66

This is part four of the definitive podcast history of The Battle of Berlin. This special double episode covers April 21-23. You can find episode three here: episode three, episode two here: episode two, and episode one here: episode one. It’s one of the most exhaustive histories on the Fall of Berlin that’s ever been… Continue reading Twilight of the Idols: The Battle of Berlin /// 65

This is part three of the definitive podcast history of The Battle of Berlin. This episode covers April 20. You can find episode two here: episode two and episode one here: episode one. It's all here and it's all free on Battlecast, the world's foremost podcast on war and its sociopolitical impact. Download episode three… Continue reading A Military History of the Battle of Berlin /// 64

This is part two of the definitive podcast history of The Battle of Berlin. This episode covers April 17 through April 19. You can find episode one here: episode one. It’s all here and it’s all free on Battlecast, the world’s foremost podcast on war and its sociopolitical impact. Download episode 63 here: download link… Continue reading Der Untergang: The Fall of Berlin /// 63

The Battle of Berlin was one of the most important battles in human history. One of the greatest cities ever built, a city whose culture had transformed the Western world, was utterly destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of Germans were killed, wounded, or captured. Hundreds of thousands of Soviets lost their lives. Millions of women were… Continue reading Downfall: The Battle of Berlin /// 62

The Imjin War was one of the bloodiest conflicts in human history. Hundreds of thousands were killed. Hundreds of thousands were enslaved. Entire regions were depopulated – former provincial capitals turned into ghost towns. In this episode there is weeping without end; pain without ceasing. An entire people abused and mistreated. This is the story… Continue reading Samurai Onslaught: The Japanese Invasion of Korea /// 61

In this third episode of an ongoing series, Dr. Luke details the massive Chinese counterattack which spilled across the Chinese-Korean border in the winter of 1593. Tens of thousands of Chinese soldiers linked up with tens of thousands of Korean guerillas and warrior monks to drive the samurai across the Korean peninsula and into the… Continue reading A Military History of the Imjin War /// 60

Admiral Yi Sun-sin single-handedly safeguarded the entire existence of the Korean people. Without this one man Korean culture, the Korean language, and Korean political independence would have ceased to exist. Sun-sin is one of the greatest military minds in recorded human history. This is his story. It’s all here and it’s all free on Battlecast… Continue reading Admiral Yi Sun-sin: Military Genius and Savior of Korea /// 59

The Imjin War, also known as the Japanese invasions of Korea, were a series of conflicts which took place in Korea after the unification of Japan by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, were killed or enslaved by the samurai invaders. The Korean people may have ceased to exist as an unique people if… Continue reading Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the Japanese Invasions of Korea: The Imjin War /// 58

The Cuban Revolution was one of the most important events in military, diplomatic and political history. Here is the story of the men who tore a revolution from nothing, and sent the world to the very brink of nuclear destruction. It’s all here and it’s all free on Battlecast – the world’s foremost podcast on… Continue reading Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and the Cuban Revolution /// 57

During the 1950s, two wealthy brothers named Fidel and Raul Castro, along with their Argentinian medical doctor Che Guevara Lynch, upturned the entire Western hemisphere. Whole industries, where Americans had spent tens of millions of dollars on gambling or prostitution, were suddenly wiped out. Hundreds of thousands of Cubans fled the advent of Castro’s regime… Continue reading A Military History of the Cuban Revolution /// 56

The Rhodesian Bush War was just the start of modern Zimbabwe’s tragedy. In today’s special double episode we pick up where we left off: in the middle of the bloody Rhodesian Bush War. Tens of thousands of people lost their lives in the conflict. Hundreds of thousands more lost everything they owned in the struggle.… Continue reading The Rhodesian Bush War and the Rise and Fall of Zimbabwe /// 55

The Rhodesian Bush War was one of the bloodiest conflicts since the Second World War. Tens of thousands were killed. Tens of thousands more were wounded. Hundreds of thousands of African civilians were moved from their ancestral homes and concentrated in “protective villages” – a massive movement of population that in itself demonstrates the tremendous… Continue reading The Rhodesian Bush War – a Forgotten African War /// 54

The First Chimurenga was a near simultaneous uprising by the veteran warriors of the Ndebele tribe and their former serfs of the Shona tribe against the few thousand settlers who had colonized Rhodesia during the first decade of its existence. Tens of thousands of people died – including many women and children – no one… Continue reading A Military History of Rhodesia and Zimbabwe: The First Chimurenga /// 53

In 1890, the country of Rhodesia/Zimbabwe did not exist. What did exist were two regions dominated by the Ndebele tribe, a tribe who broke off from the battle-hardened Zulu. The area of modern-day Zimbabwe was called Matabeleland and Mashonaland. The Ndebele ruled over the Shona like Spartans over Helots. In the early 1890s, British settlers… Continue reading A Military History of Rhodesia and Zimbabwe: The First Matabele War /// 52

The 2012 Benghazi Attack on two isolated American diplomatic and intelligence compounds is a well-known story to millions of film-viewers across the world. In tonight’s show, a few Americans will battle for their lives against overwhelming odds. It’s a case study of static defense warfare in the modern setting: cut off and alone – hundreds… Continue reading 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi and the 2012 Benghazi Attack /// 51