The Bar Stool Historian Podcast

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Lively discussion of historical topics through the lens of mass media and pop culture (e.g. books, films, TV, websites etc).

The Bar Stool Historian


    • Apr 5, 2020 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 53m AVG DURATION
    • 16 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Bar Stool Historian Podcast

    A Lost Colony from a Lost Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2020 35:33


    In newly unearthed audio from Oct. 2015 about then-newly unearthed archaeological evidence, Robo-Ed, Robo-Tim, and regular John discuss the lost Colony of Roanoke. Sponsor us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/user?u=32327644

    Vikings, Irishmen, and Tiger Kings (Oh, my.)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2020 53:35


    John, Ed, and Tim give recommendations for what to watch and what to read while you're in Corona lockdown.

    Yesterday in History (March 23rd)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2020 50:14


    The boys are back in town as they discuss yesterday in history, today. Patrick Henry, Werner Van Braun, NOT Coronavirus and Handel handling good things. Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/user?u=32327644

    You're the WORST!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2019 79:05


    Warning! This episode is not for the squeamish!In this shocking (and supersized) episode, we profile three of the most abhorrent members of the History Hall of Shame: Hitler's uber-quack personal physician/drug pusher; the putrid, ravenous 18th century freak/accidental secret agent Tarrare; and the murderous proto-Dracula Elizabeth Bathory. If you have the stomach to listen to all 79 minutes of this episode, you'll need to take a shower afterwards. Trust us.

    Welcome Back, Blame-O-Meter

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2019 58:13


    The Bar Stool Historian returns, along with their blame-assigning technological marvel, the Blame-O-Meter 5000!In this episode. we measure how much the phrase "Read my lips, no new taxes..." was to blame for George H. W. Bush's re-election failure.Plus, Tim recalls his personal experiences of growing up in the bad-old days of crime-ridden NYC. For context, we recommend watching this short documentary gem about the freelance video and photo journalists prowling the nighttime NYC crime beat in 1991. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDPr4y381Mw

    Night Wolves and Metal Noses

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2017 59:36


    A grab bag of historical curios: Presidential drinking habits; the assassination of a Kentucky governor; shadowy pro-Russian forces in the Balkans, and the brilliant eccentric Tycho Brahe.

    Getting Into the Colonial Spirit(s)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2017 60:40


    Interview with "Colonial Spirits" author Stephen Grasse and Reverand Michael Allen, plus taste tests of some 18th century drinks.

    Eleventh Hour Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2016 40:20


    A the last minute Veteran's Day episode of The Bar Stool Historian. Topics include: Future generals MacArthur and Patton meet on a World War I battlefield; The truly nightmarish story of the Sultana disaster in U.S. history; A tribute to Tim's Uncle Charlie.

    October (no, wait...November) Surprise

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2016 75:38


    Third party candidates of the 20th century, October Surprises, and the one-and-only "Lord" Timothy Dexter.

    Forty (Not "Fourty")

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2016 59:00


    Celebrate with us as we explore the significance of the number 40 throughout history and in current events. Plus, we reminisce about the most meaningful world events since 1976.

    "Pretium Iustum Est!"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2015 36:00


    Can you guess what items from the Middle Ages cost in modern dollars?

    Ep. #4: Blame-O-Meter

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2015 64:57


    Wild accusations and historical libel get hurled around in this installment of Bar Stool Historian! With the help of the Blame-O-Meter, an advanced piece of technology sent from the future, we assign blame through history.

    Post-Valentine's Day Special Mini-Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2015 9:33


    Inspired by Ask the Past, we try out some lines from John Gough's 1684 book, the Academy of Complements, on our unsuspecting spouses on Valentine's day. And so, in true click-bait fashion, we'll just say "their responses will shock you."

    Ep. #3: "In-Bred & Bog-Buttered"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2015 59:03


    A grab bag of historical curios, grotesqueries, and dubious culinary delights. Thrill to the sound of 90 year-old Confederate veterans sounding the old rebel yell. Get a case of positional vertigo from tracing the zig-zagging family tree of those ever-handsome Royal Habsburgs! Let your mouth water at the idea of eating medieval butter dug up from bogs.

    Ep. #2: "Wouldn't It Be Lice?"

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2014 45:49


    After weeks of Ebola dominating the headlines, we thought it appropriate to look at some of history's most civilization-altering diseases. John spins a yarn about how wild fornication in the streets of Naples just might have foiled a French king's plans to launch a crusade to the Holy Land in 1495. Tim tells the nightmarish tale of when the "Grandaddy of all Diseases" arrived in Europe, and explains the medicinal value of chickens. Finally, Ed recounts how Napoleon's 500,000 troops couldn't manage to conquer Russia (hint: it wasn't just the cold!), and gives a new meaning the expression "bad hair day."

    Ep. #1: "Hooked on a Schlieffen"

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2014 65:00


    World War I, plus Scottish independence

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