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On today's UNCOVERED Anthony & Ron discuss the latest scandal surrounding the Epstein files and Trump's new strategy, as victims campaign for accountability. Plus, the Saudi Crown Prince in the Oval Office, Trump abusing female journalists, Lindsey Halligan's missteps in Comey's indictment, Texas gerrymandering controversy and much more! CHEF IQ: Get 30% off sitewide with code UNCOVERED at https://CHEFIQ.com PDS DEBT: Get your free assessment and find the best option for you right now at https://PDSDebt.com/UNCOVERED Former Federal Prosecutor Ron Filipkowski and British journalist Anthony Davis expose the epidemic of false propaganda pushing Republican politics to the extreme far-right. A new episode every Wednesday. Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meida... Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-p... The Influence Continuum: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-i... Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-c... The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-w... Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-... Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/major... Political Beatdown: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/polit... On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-de... Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-... Coalition of the Sane: https://meidasnews.com/tag/coalition-... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Andy Zaltzman is joined by Josh Gondelman and Anuvab Pal for an episode bursting with chaos, tangents, and stories so random they feel algorithmically generated.As Andy prepares to fly to Australia for The Ashes, the big question is: is he even slightly focused? The evidence suggests no.
Joseph Sternberg Joseph Sternberg analyzes the BBC political bias scandal, which is significant because the BBC is "omnipresent" and arranges the "mental furniture for British society," noting the BBC, funded largely by a mandatory license fee, faced allegations ranging from deceptive editing of President Trump's remarks to the Arabic service pushing Hamas propaganda potentially fueling anti-Semitism, while domestically discussing the UK Labour Party's dilemma over controversial immigration policies to control illegal channel crossings, a crisis that has strengthened Nigel Farage's Reform party.
SHOW 11-18-25 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR 1894 "THE ANGEL OF THE REVOLUTION" THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT GAZA. FIRST HOUR 9-915 Liz Peek Liz Peek discusses the "AI bubble," noting the Magnificent Seven stocks are priced to perfection amidst concerns that massive investments may not yield adequate returns, observes that although the market is "risk off" the US economy seems "okay" according to data points, and expresses alarm about New York Mayor-Elect Mamdani, a socialist without management expertise who is surrounding himself with ideologues, including Hassan Sheheryar, his transition director, who is "clearly anti-Semitic" and anti-Israel, raising significant concerns for the city.E 915-930 CONTINUED 930-945 Judy Dempsey Judy Dempsey addresses the rising costs and future decline of the global cocoa crop, linking it to transcontinental climate change caused by Amazon deforestation, criticizes the EU and NATO for reacting too slowly and lacking strategic vision concerning the Ukraine war and defense, notes European military infrastructure is inadequate for rapid deployment forcing reliance on ships instead of trains, and observes that while the Russian threat is understood by most member states, political fumbling in Germany is allowing the anti-NATO, pro-Russia AfD party to gain significant ground. 945-1000 Gregory Copley Gregory Copley discusses the US military presence off Venezuela, noting President Trump seeks a negotiated outcome with Maduro to avoid long-term intervention, covers Mohammed bin Salman's influence in the Abraham Accords and the challenge posed by Turkey-backed Hamas, analyzes the symbolic rail sabotage in Poland questioning Russian involvement, and addresses the declining viability of NATO's Article 5 and the potential for King Charles III to intervene in UK political chaos. SECOND HOUR 10-1015 Charles Burton Charles Burton discusses his book, The Beaver and the Dragon, illustrating China's fundamental untrustworthiness and statistical manipulation, which has intensified under centralized leadership, noting Canada's past cooperation with China's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) failed as officials often falsely reported data, and despite historical deception and security risks, there is a push in Canada to increase trade with China to offset trade issues with the United States, with Burton cautioning that trusting the Chinese Communist Party has always "gone badly wrong." 1015-1030 CONTINUED. 1030-1045 Jonathan Schanzer Jonathan Schanzer discusses Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), calling him a deeply flawed but essential leader driving Saudi modernization and normalization with Israel, with a "pathway to a Palestinian state" as the current diplomatic objective, emphasizing that resolving the Gaza situation and achieving broader peace hinges on eliminating Hamas, while the region faces long-term challenges from Iran and Turkey, the latter complicating Israel's security operations in chaotic Syria, with the UN endorsement of the Trump 20-point plan for Gaza reconstruction considered a landmark win. 1045-1100 CONTINUED CONTINUED KING CHARLES THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 Gregory Copley Gregory Copley discusses the US military presence off Venezuela, noting President Trump seeks a negotiated outcome with Maduro to avoid long-term intervention, covers Mohammed bin Salman's influence in the Abraham Accords and the challenge posed by Turkey-backed Hamas, analyzes the symbolic rail sabotage in Poland questioning Russian involvement, and addresses the declining viability of NATO's Article 5 and the potential for King Charles III to intervene in UK political chaos. 1115-1130 CONTINUED MBS 1130-1145 CONTINUED KING CHARLES 1145-1200 CONTINUED FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 Mary Kissel Mary Kissel addresses three foreign policy dilemmas: regarding Venezuela, the US military buildup is seen as leverage to force dialogue with Maduro following a successful playbook used against North Korea; in Europe, she notes a dichotomy between committed Eastern European states and "weaker lazier" Western powers regarding support for Ukraine; and the China dilemma involves whether to treat Beijing as a legitimate trading partner or an enemy narco-terrorist state responsible for exporting fentanyl precursors, with Kissel suggesting current US policy is confused and benefits the CCP. 1215-1230 1230-1245 oseph Sternberg Joseph Sternberg analyzes the BBC political bias scandal, which is significant because the BBC is "omnipresent" and arranges the "mental furniture for British society," noting the BBC, funded largely by a mandatory license fee, faced allegations ranging from deceptive editing of President Trump's remarks to the Arabic service pushing Hamas propaganda potentially fueling anti-Semitism, while domestically discussing the UK Labour Party's dilemma over controversial immigration policies to control illegal channel crossings, a crisis that has strengthened Nigel Farage's Reform party. 1245-100 AM
Business is war. Sometimes the prize is your wallet or your attention. Sometimes, it's just the fun of beating the other guy. The outcome of these battles shapes what we buy and how we live. Business Wars gives you the unauthorized, real story of what drives these companies and their leaders, innovators, investors and executives to new heights -- or to ruin. In the newest season of Business Wars, dive into the high-stakes race to supply the world's hottest weight-loss drug. Listen to Business Wars: The Race to Ozempic: https://wondery.fm/BW_IFDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Michelle throws herself into politics. The Scottish Independence referendum is on the horizon and Michelle becomes a key figure in David Cameron's ‘Better Together' campaign and is handed the key to the House of Lords. Just after 'Baroness More of Mayfair' moves in with her new boyfriend Doug, Covid hits the nation. When she hears that the NHS is facing a shortage of PPE, Michelle has an idea.Do you have a suggestion for a scandal you would like us to cover? Or perhaps you have a question you would like to ask our hosts? Email us at britishscandal@wondery.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Day 1,364.Today, as Ukraine confirms the latest use of US ATACMS missiles inside Russia and Britain tracks a Russian spy ship in UK waters, we examine growing pressure on President Zelensky to dismiss a senior official over the widening nuclear-energy corruption scandal – with Andriy Yermak increasingly in the spotlight. We also report on allegations that a former British civil servant committed war crimes in Ukraine, and discuss why Spain is attempting to return to Donald Trump's good graces with a new €1 billion purchase of U.S. weapons for Ukraine. Later, we speak with the Foreign Minister of Czechia, who says he expects imminent movement on efforts to unlock frozen Russian state assets. ContributorsDominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X.With thanks to Jan Lipavský, Foreign Minister of Czechia.SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:British ex-civil servant accused of Ukraine war crimes (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/11/19/british-ex-civil-servant-graham-phillips-ukraine-war-crimes/ Russian spy ship fires lasers to blind RAF pilots (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/11/19/russian-spy-blinds-military-pilots-spy-ship-lasers/ Scoop: U.S. secretly drafting new plan to end Ukraine war (Axios):https://www.axios.com/2025/11/19/ukraine-peace-plan-trump-russia-witkoff LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Oz talks to Nick McKeown, who is a member of the PM’s Council of Science and Technology, where he advises the British government on the best opportunities for economic growth in the tech sector. And according to Nick, that opportunity is AI Chips. He argues that the UK is in a good position to take second place in the race to design the next generation of AI chips and lays out how the British government can help make that happen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Send Me To Sleep Podcast - World's Sleepiest Stories, Meditation & Hypnosis
Tonight, Andrew reads Chapter 2, Part 2 of Carry On, Jeeves by P G Wodehouse, first published in 1925. Welcome to Send Me To Sleep, the place to find a good night's rest. My name is Andrew, and I help you fall asleep by reading relaxing books and stories.Join in with The Bedtime Book Club on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sendmetosleepco/If you find this podcast effective, please consider subscribing, so you can stay up-to-date with new weekly episodes and fall asleep consistently, each night. Start your 7-day free trial of Send Me to Sleep Premium today, and enjoy our two upcoming exclusive episodes: https://sendmetosleep.supercast.com/Vote on our next book: https://forms.gle/4YeriASaLju9Jqbz6Enjoying the show? Leave us a rating and review: Apple Podcasts - SpotifySign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on all of the sleepiest news: https://sendmetosleep.com/podcast/Visit our website: Send Me To Sleep - World's Sleepiest WebsiteAndrew presents a Premium preview of L M Montgomery's Short Stories, Parts 3 and 4, published in 1904Welcome to Send Me To Sleep, the place to find a good night's rest. My name is Andrew, and I help you fall asleep by reading relaxing books and stories.If you find this podcast effective, please consider subscribing, so you can stay up-to-date with new weekly episodes and fall asleep consistently, each night. Start your 7-day free trial of Send Me to Sleep Premium today, and enjoy our two upcoming exclusive episodes: https://sendmetosleep.supercast.com/Vote on our next book: https://forms.gle/4YeriASaLju9Jqbz6Enjoying the show? Leave us a rating and review: Apple Podcasts - SpotifySign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on all of the sleepiest news: https://sendmetosleep.com/podcast/Visit our website: Send Me To Sleep - World's Sleepiest WebsiteFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sendmetosleepco/Do not listen to this sleep story whilst driving or operating machinery. Please only listen to the Send Me To Sleep podcast in a safe place where you can relax and fall asleep.Please take a moment to fill out a survery about Send Me to Sleep: https://forms.gle/8mAjF9UBGXdk71Fn6Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sendmetosleepco/Do not listen to this sleep story whilst driving or operating machinery. Please only listen to the Send Me To Sleep podcast in a safe place where you can relax and fall asleep.Please take a moment to fill out a survery about Send Me to Sleep: https://forms.gle/8mAjF9UBGXdk71Fn6 Our AppsRedeem exclusive, unlimited access to premium content for 1 month FREE in our mobile apps built by the Slumber Studios team:Deep Sleep Sounds App: deepsleepsounds.com/sendmetosleepSlumber App: slumber.fm/sendmetosleep Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Send Me To Sleep Podcast - World's Sleepiest Stories, Meditation & Hypnosis
Tonight, Andrew reads Chapter 2, Part 2 of Carry On, Jeeves by P G Wodehouse, first published in 1925. Welcome to Send Me To Sleep, the place to find a good night's rest. My name is Andrew, and I help you fall asleep by reading relaxing books and stories.Join in with The Bedtime Book Club on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sendmetosleepco/If you find this podcast effective, please consider subscribing, so you can stay up-to-date with new weekly episodes and fall asleep consistently, each night. Start your 7-day free trial of Send Me to Sleep Premium today, and enjoy our two upcoming exclusive episodes: https://sendmetosleep.supercast.com/Vote on our next book: https://forms.gle/4YeriASaLju9Jqbz6Enjoying the show? Leave us a rating and review: Apple Podcasts - SpotifySign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on all of the sleepiest news: https://sendmetosleep.com/podcast/Visit our website: Send Me To Sleep - World's Sleepiest WebsiteAndrew presents a Premium preview of L M Montgomery's Short Stories, Parts 3 and 4, published in 1904Welcome to Send Me To Sleep, the place to find a good night's rest. My name is Andrew, and I help you fall asleep by reading relaxing books and stories.If you find this podcast effective, please consider subscribing, so you can stay up-to-date with new weekly episodes and fall asleep consistently, each night. Start your 7-day free trial of Send Me to Sleep Premium today, and enjoy our two upcoming exclusive episodes: https://sendmetosleep.supercast.com/Vote on our next book: https://forms.gle/4YeriASaLju9Jqbz6Enjoying the show? Leave us a rating and review: Apple Podcasts - SpotifySign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on all of the sleepiest news: https://sendmetosleep.com/podcast/Visit our website: Send Me To Sleep - World's Sleepiest WebsiteFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sendmetosleepco/Do not listen to this sleep story whilst driving or operating machinery. Please only listen to the Send Me To Sleep podcast in a safe place where you can relax and fall asleep.Please take a moment to fill out a survery about Send Me to Sleep: https://forms.gle/8mAjF9UBGXdk71Fn6Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sendmetosleepco/Do not listen to this sleep story whilst driving or operating machinery. Please only listen to the Send Me To Sleep podcast in a safe place where you can relax and fall asleep.Please take a moment to fill out a survery about Send Me to Sleep: https://forms.gle/8mAjF9UBGXdk71Fn6 Our AppsRedeem exclusive, unlimited access to premium content for 1 month FREE in our mobile apps built by the Slumber Studios team:Deep Sleep Sounds App: deepsleepsounds.com/sendmetosleepSlumber App: slumber.fm/sendmetosleep Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The Global Fresh Series is back with a triple-feature episode bursting with fresh trends and global milestones. We kick things off with the rising “sour grape” sensation taking over taste buds and social media. Then we dive into a historic turning point for British agriculture as the UK embraces precision breeding with a bold new regulatory framework. And finally, we head to Paris, where Natexpo 2025 returns after 17 years, spotlighting fruit, vegetables, and the booming organic sector. Join host Juanita Gaglio for a fast-paced journey through the stories reshaping the produce world.First Class Sponsor: Peak of the Market: https://peakofthemarket.com/ Premium Zag Technological Services, Inc.: https://www.zagtech.com/ Global Women Fresh: https://globalwomenfresh.com
The drum & bass veteran talks about bass music eras, dance culture in America and his new album, Contact. British artist Nicolaas Douwma, AKA Sub Focus, has been steadily putting out big-room drum & bass since the early 2000s. In more recent years, he's become staggeringly popular, releasing a string of Top 40 UK pop hits that have made him synonymous with a more mainstream sound. His influence looms large across a whole generation of young producers, particularly in the US. In this Exchange, Douwma sits down with Resident Advisor editor Gabe Szatan at the beautiful Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado. They speak about how he hit number one in the US dance music charts last year, as well as how drum & bass moved from being popular with a "secret clique of people" to becoming what, for lack of a better term, could be called "brostep." There's a new Sub Focus album dropping on November 21st called Contact, which includes collaborations with Grimes and Katy B. Grab your copy when it comes out. Watch this interview in full on our YouTube channel, or listen to the audio via SoundCloud, Spotify or Apple Music. -Chloe Lula
As Italy advances into Egypt, Britain quietly prepares its first major offensive — Operation Compass — in this tense buildup episode. We explore the friction between Churchill's impatient push for victory and General Wavell's insistence on realistic desert readiness, while massive reinforcements arrive: Matilda tanks, armored regiments, artillery, and supplies all vital to a bold strike through the Enba Gap. You'll also see how Italy's disastrous invasion of Greece shifts British priorities — from Egypt to the Balkans — with far-reaching consequences. This is the quiet storm before Operation Compass, where logistics, terrain, and leadership clash in the desert — setting the stage for one of WWII's most consequential early battles. Contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to advertise on History of the Second World War. History of the Second World War is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jesús returns for another episode, but this time we challenge each other with some phrasal verbs from America and Britain. We each have a secret list of 5 phrasal verbs, and our goal is to share one that the other doesn't know.While talking, we discover whether these phrasal verbs are used internationally, or only in one part of the world, and we also share examples from our own lives.Join us and level up your English vocabulary with phrasal verbs.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast351Get access to coaching, group classes, and 100s of bonus lessons and episodes on Level Up English.➡️ Become a Member Today: https://www.levelupenglish.school/join/➡️ Join the Free Mini Course - https://www.levelupenglish.school/mini⭐️ Join Level Up English - https://www.levelupenglish.school Become a member and get: Podcast Transcripts Private Podcast Group Classes Private Coaching And over 500 online lessons!
The Men of Micheaux share their thoughts on Netflix's Being Eddie documentary and what it says (and doesn't say) about Eddie Murphy. Vincent goes Six Degrees to two of his favorite British actors - Naomie Harris and Sophie Okonedo. And then they review a 2023 movie that may be the greatest rom-com of all time (when the subtitles are on). Podcast Shoutout: Truth Be Told: Time to Thrive Subscribe to the Mission on YouTube Rate & Review The Mission on Apple Email micheauxmission@gmail.com Follow The Mission on Instagram We are a proud member of The Podglomerate - we make podcasts work! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Dr James Loxton on how modern democracies can crumble as tyrannical leaders take hold, but also how freedom and democracy can rise again, from the Americas to Europe and into Asia.James grew up in stable Canada, where he spent his summers herding sheep in the middle of forest plantations.As a teenager, he hatched a plan to escape his "rough as guts" bush town and the life of a shepherd, moving to India on his own to finish high school.At an international school in Maharashtra, James' classmates taught him about the world outside of democratic Canada, and he became fascinated by military dictatorships and guerilla insurgencies. Later on, years of living in Latin America showed him firsthand how dictators operated, how they are feared and hated, but also revered and loved by some of the people they control.Now James, and many other political scientists, have their eyes turned to America, watching closely to see how the world's most powerful democracy is changing right before our eyes.Authoritarianism: A Very Short Introduction is published by Oxford University Press.This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris, executive producer is Nicola Harrison.It explores Donald Trump, Putin, USA, regime, dictators, ICE, Clinton, Epstein, politics, democracy, Chilean presidential election, Russia, China, Taiwan, Philippines, government, globalisation, Latin American politics, Whitlam, dismissal, divisive politics, left versus right, parliamentary versus presidential forms of government, united kingdom, British colonies, Javier Milei, Venezuela, Argentina, Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, Hugo Chavez, Maduro, elitism, drain the swamp, populism, power for the people, tariffs, Peru, Cuba, straw man, Stalin, Hitler, competitive authoritarianism, substance abuse, addiction, alcoholism, alcoholic mothers, homelessness, losing a mother.To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you'll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.
Scotland Yard has come under intense scrutiny for repeatedly opening and then quietly closing inquiries into Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. When allegations involving Virginia Giuffre and potential UK-based trafficking surfaced years ago, the Metropolitan Police declined to pursue a full investigation, claiming it was outside their jurisdiction and not the “appropriate authority” to handle the matter. Even as mounting media coverage, survivor testimony, and public pressure demanded action, the force appeared determined to distance itself rather than confront the implications of a high-profile trafficking network operating on British soil. Critics argue that closing the case so quickly—despite the gravity and credibility of the accusations—looked less like a procedural decision and more like an intentional effort to avoid political and institutional fallout.Years later, when Scotland Yard announced it was reviewing new allegations against Maxwell related to grooming and trafficking in the UK, there was a brief sense of hope that justice might finally be taken seriously. But the review ultimately stalled without becoming a full investigation, igniting outrage from advocates who accused the force of protecting the powerful rather than defending victims. The pattern is unmistakable: initiate interest only under pressure, then retreat the moment attention shifts. To many, it feels like a choreographed performance meant to pacify public outrage rather than uncover the truth—a police institution more concerned with shielding reputations than exposing the depth of a criminal enterprise tied to elite circles.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com
In this episode of When Nicole Met, Nicole catches up with a rider who has enjoyed one of the most memorable breakthrough seasons of the year. Katie Magee reflects on her Badminton debut, two British National Championship titles and the partnership with Treworra that has grown into a genuine five star force. From rebuilding after injury to the steady guidance of Nicola Wilson and the realities of running a busy yard in the North, it is an open look at what it takes to keep moving forward. Highlights: Badminton first timer experience and a top twelve finish Producing Treworra into a confident, consistent five star campaigner Returning from a heavy fall with renewed focus How Nicola Wilson has shaped her programme and mindset Life in the North with a full yard and family in the mix British Open victory and standing alongside world class combinations Early thoughts on 2026 with Badminton and Burghley on the horizon Guests: Katie Magee, a British five star rider based in the North of England, winner of two British National Championship titles and best first timer at Badminton 2025. This show is kindly supported by Bedmax, purpose-made, natural horse bedding designed to protect respiratory health, support hooves, and provide a clean, comfortable stable environment.
We were psyched to have Dayan on the pod with us this week, the British climbing team are at something of a high water mark at the minute and Dayan is right in the thick of it. Lots of chats about the competition scene and the many challenges it presents the climbers that are fighting to keep up with the level that increases year on year! Also, can these climbers who have only ever climbed inside go straight out and send 9A boulders? If you're enjoying the pod and would like to help us keep the lights on then please consider checking out our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/c/u70353823Support the show
This is the first episode in a new mini series on the rich and fascinating maritime history of Malta. The episode is recorded on a yacht in the centre of Valletta's historic Grand Harbour, at the opening of the Rolex Middle Sea Race, one of the world's most famous yacht races. Dr Sam Willis uncovers the history of the race and its magnificent historic surroundings with Liam Gauci from Heritage Malta, which safeguards Malta's many museums, historic sites and landmarks. They discuss the economic and strategic importance of the Grand Harbour, the fortified cities of Valletta and Birgu, and the mighty Fort St Elmo and Fort St Angelo. They explore the role of the Knights of St. John in shaping Malta's history. As the race gets underway with cannon fire from the historic battlements and the magnificent yachts sail past, they discuss the Rolex Middle Sea Race, which began in the 1960s in a fierce rivalry between British and Maltese sailors. It was designed as a major test of seamanship, the race starting and finishing in Valletta after a circumnavigation of Sicily, and all in the unstable weather of the Mediterranean Autumn. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
After Mount Vesuvius erupted - and original hosts Rome pulled out - the British Olympic council sent a letter, dated 19th November, 1906, agreeing to host the fourth modern Olympic games. With just two years to go, the event was put together hastily, and on a paltry budget; a stadium erected at the White City home of the Franco-British exhibition, and the chosen events ones that British athletes excelled at, including polo, lacrosse, tug of war, deer-shooting, and duelling. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly reveal what a ‘flip-flap' was; consider the calculation done to establish the length of the modern-day marathon; and establish how a small swig of champagne contributed to one of the Games' greatest ever controversies... Further Reading: • ‘The 08 Olympics... 1908, that is' (BBC News Magazine, 2008): http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7544392.stm • ‘Why Is a Marathon 26.2 Miles?' (HISTORY, 2014): https://www.history.com/news/why-is-a-marathon-26-2-miles • ‘The 1908 London Olympics - extracts from surviving footage of Track & Field and Marathon events' (BFI, 2012): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IqE2KEqZJI This episode first aired in 2021 Love the show? Support us! Join
JB White delivers a fiery, free-ranging episode from Tallahassee, unpacking everything from his recent account hack to a spirited back-and-forth with CannCon that sparks a deeper meditation on unity, dissent, and American political culture. Using their exchange as a springboard, JB dives into the geopolitical realignment around Trump, MBS, and Netanyahu, arguing that Israel and Saudi Arabia are cooperating far more closely than media narratives suggest. He warns listeners about the influence of the British deep state and the City of London, tying them to global left-wing operations, anti-Israel narratives, and the infiltration of conservative movements through strategically placed insiders. JB revisits early hacked posts from 2018, recounts the rise of Candace Owens and how she may have been targeted, and exposes the pattern of political operators embedded through marriage and influence networks. With riffs on Gaza, Ukraine, Tucker, Candace, Megan Kelly, Trump's BBC lawsuit, stablecoins, global realignment, and the hidden battles inside U.S. agencies, JB urges discernment, healthy friction, and unwavering commitment to Trump's long-game strategy.
The drum & bass veteran talks about bass music eras, dance culture in America and his new album, Contact. British artist Nicolaas Douwma, AKA Sub Focus, has been steadily putting out big-room drum & bass since the early 2000s. In more recent years, he's become staggeringly popular, releasing a string of Top 40 UK pop hits that have made him synonymous with a more mainstream sound. His influence looms large across a whole generation of young producers, particularly in the US.In this Exchange, Douwma sits down with Resident Advisor editor Gabe Szatan at the beautiful Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado. They speak about how he hit number one in the US dance music charts last year, as well as how drum & bass moved from being popular with a "secret clique of people" to becoming what, for lack of a better term, could be called "brostep." There's a new Sub Focus album dropping on November 21st called Contact, which includes collaborations with Grimes and Katy B. Grab your copy when it comes out. Watch this interview in full on our YouTube channel, or listen to the audio via SoundCloud, Spotify or Apple Music. -Chloe Lula Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A British woman’s trip to Florida ended in murder, and now authorities say the man accused of killing her is behind bars. The accused killer says, she planned the whole thing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In The Castle: A History (Yale University Press, 2022) Dr. John Goodall presents a vibrant history of the castle in Britain, from the early Middle Ages to the present day. The castle has long had a pivotal place in British life, associated with lordship, landholding, and military might, and today it remains a powerful symbol of history. But castles have never been merely impressive fortresses—they were hubs of life, activity, and imagination. Dr. John Goodall weaves together the history of the British castle across the span of a millennium, from the eleventh to the twenty-first century, through the voices of those who witnessed it. Drawing on chronicles, poems, letters, and novels, including the work of figures like Gawain Poet, Walter Scott, Evelyn Waugh, and P. G. Wodehouse, Dr. Goodall explores the importance of the castle in our culture and society. From the medieval period to Civil War engagements, right up to modern manifestations in Harry Potter, Dr. Goodall reveals that the castle has always been put to different uses, and to this day continues to serve as a source of inspiration. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose doctoral work focused on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history
Ghislaine Maxwell is a British-born former socialite who became one of the most notorious figures in the Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking network. Born in France in 1961 and educated at Oxford, Maxwell moved in elite circles in the US and UK before being charged in 2020 with multiple federal crimes related to the recruitment, grooming, and trafficking of underage girls for Epstein and his associates. She was convicted in December 2021 on five counts—including sex trafficking of a minor, transporting a minor for unlawful sexual activity, and conspiracy—and sentenced to 20 years in prison in June 2022. Maxwell appealed but in September 2024 a federal appellate court upheld her convictions and sentence.Arthur L. Aidala is a veteran New York criminal-defense lawyer who has represented both Maxwell and Harvey Weinstein (the former Hollywood producer convicted of multiple sexual-assault charges) in their high-profile legal battles. In early 2023, Maxwell's legal team hired Aidala—formerly counsel to Weinstein—to lead efforts to overturn her 2021 conviction and obtain a new trial. Aidala's involvement underscores the overlap in legal strategy and defense networks between major sex-abuse cases of the past decade. Their shared lawyer highlights how legal resources circulate among high-stakes defendants in sexual-abuse cases, even when their factual circumstances differ significantly.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.
"Our seas around the UK are so busy. There are so many different activities that happen on it, from fishing to offshore wind, to cabling, to shipping... so looking after and building space for restoration and regeneration and reseeding the sea is so important."On this episode of Rewilding the World Ben Goldsmith is joined by Sandy Luk about the Marine Conservation Society's ambitious Wild Atlantic Coast campaign. It aims to restore seagrass meadows, kelp forests, oyster reefs and abundant wildlife along Britain's wildest coast.Ben Goldsmith is a British financier and rewilding enthusiast. Join him as he speaks to people from all over the world who champion nature and are helping to restore habitats and wildlife to some of the most nature depleted parts of our planet.This podcast is produced by The Podcast Coach.Text Rewilding the World here. Let us know what you think of the podcast and if there are any rewilding projects you would love Ben to feature in future episodes. Rewilding the World is brought to you by UNI, the world's first coral reef and river safe line of bodycare. These exceptional products are made with sustainably sourced natural ingredients. UNI are leading the way in guilt-free sustainable Body Care, from hand wash to shampoo, body serum and natural deodorants. Learn more at WeareUNI.com. Available in the UK at Space NK.
Formula 1 Chief Commercial Officer Emily Prazer joins The Big Impression to accelerate the motorsport's hold on Americans with year-round content and venue in Las Vegas. Episode TranscriptPlease note, this transcript may contain minor inconsistencies compared to the episode audio.Damian Fowler (00:00):I'm Damian Fowler.Ilyse Liffreing (00:01):And I'm Ilyse LiffreingDamian Fowler (00:02):And welcome to this edition of The Big Impression.Ilyse Liffreing (00:09):Today we're joined by Emily Prazer, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Grand Prix and the Chief Commercial Officer of Formula One. She's helping transform F1 into one of the fastest growing sports brands in the world, leading strategy partnerships and fan engagement across markets from Miami to Melbourne.Damian Fowler (00:30):Emily's here to talk about the road to the last Vegas Grand Prix on November the 22nd. Now, in its third year, the Vegas Grand Prix turns the strip into a global stage where sport, entertainment and culture collide under the neon lights.Ilyse Liffreing (00:46):I love that. From the 100 day countdown events to new sponsorship models and digital fan experiences, formula One is redefining what a modern sports brand can look like, especially in the U.S. market.Damian Fowler (01:02):In past years, the marketing around Las Vegas, the Grand Prix has felt like a crescendo building over several months. What's been your strategy this year as you build, it's the third year, right? As you build towards those?Emily Prazer (01:14):Yeah, this third year, so I think the difference this year is we've had two years of a foundation to figure out what works and what doesn't work, but equally we've had our building open all year, so prior, well the first year we're obviously building the building for those that dunno, it's called Grand Prix Plaza. It's the length of three NFL fields, so it's not small. It's designed and built to service the Formula One Paddock Club, which is the most high-end hospitality that we offer in Formula One. Underneath that is where the garages are and where the teams hang out, so it's quite a significant building. When we first moved to Vegas, we purchased the 39 acres of land and have invested around $500 million in this infrastructure and so the difference I think is obviously the first year we were building it, the second year we were getting to grips with owning such a significant property in Las Vegas and then moving into the third year of the event, the building's been open all year and we built something called F1 Drive, which is carting.(02:10):We've had a restaurant up there called Fool and Fork, which is Formula One, themed food and beverage as you'd expect. We built an immersive Formula one experience called F1 X and so the marketing's ramped up, but that's because locally we've been able to activate since the day after the race last year all the way through to this year, and obviously how we market is very different depending on what we're trying to do, whether it's selling tickets or whether it's driving foot traffic to the building. It's all the awareness that we need in Las Vegas to continue to grow our fan base.Damian Fowler (02:41):The a hundred day countdown, that's important,Emily Prazer (02:43):Right? That was a big one. We always go big around a hundred days. We did a strip takeover, we made sure people understood that it was a hundred days ago. We did similar for 50 days, so we use those milestones to make sure, obviously Vegas is somewhat a last minute market. Some Grand Prix go on sale and sell out in 90 minutes. We see the most amount of activity from a hundred days through to November.Damian Fowler (03:04):That's very interesting. How do you decide which moments where you target your marketing strategy in that a hundred day buildup?Emily Prazer (03:12):Oh, well, we're very fortunate that the racing continues For those, again, that aren't familiar, formula One is a 24 race calendar, which spans globally, so we typically go big around the big races as you'd expect. We've just come out of Singapore where hopefully people have seen that McLaren won the Constructors Championship. We'll go big again around Austin and Mexico. They're both feeder markets to the Las Vegas Grand Prix and we'll just continue to make sure we've got major announcements, whether it be food and beverage merchandise programming all the way through between now and race day.Ilyse Liffreing (03:42):Now, can you also talk a little bit about the F1 business summits because you're also launching that during race week? Sure. How intentional is the idea of making Vegas not just a race, but a business and cultural destination?Emily Prazer (03:56):Sure. Well, if you look at what Vegas do around other major sports, it's not that we're trying to reinvent the wheel, we're taking learnings from how well the NFL have operated there with the Super Bowl, even around WWE where you see them extend from a one or two day event through to a whole week. We are very fortunate that again, for those that dunno, formula One kicks off on Thursday with free practice, we have qualifying on Friday and then on Saturday is the race. And so we are lucky that we actually have really good opportunity for shoulder programming and so it was a lot of requests coming through from multiple stakeholders saying we'd love to get the ecosystem together and talk about how we've shifted Formula One culturally into something very different. Obviously it's a sport first and foremost, but I think everyone's now seeing the change into more of a lifestyle brand and a proposition around how we're executing with some partners, which I'm sure we'll get to, but I think a lot of it has been around how we kind of talk about that strategy and how we've grown the sport over the last five years.(04:54):So it was very intentional, it's had really great uptake and as you'll see as we get closer to the race, we'll start talking about what we're doing kind of Tuesday, Wednesday all the way through.Damian Fowler (05:04):It was interesting you brought up the mention of partners and the fact that Formula One now transcends the racetrack and I for one say follow some Formula One drivers on Instagram. How do you play into that whole notion now that Formula One is this lifestyle brand and what does that mean when it comes to partnerships?Emily Prazer (05:26):Well, we've been really fortunate that we've, formula One was bought by Liberty Media in 2017 and the handcuffs were taken off per se, where social media was something that didn't really exist in the sport prior to that and the drivers have done a great job and the teams have done a great job of giving us access collectively to the drivers. They're all a lot younger than they have been before, so we've been fortunate enough to help them build their profiles through social, but obviously the pivot came with Drive to Survive. Everyone knows that that was a big leap of faith that Formula One took to be able to give behind the scenes access. It's a complicated sport that had traditionally been kept to a different type of club and we've opened up those floodgates and obviously we're reaping the rewards of that at the moment.(06:10):It hasn't been easy, but ultimately when you have the likes of Netflix wanting to display what we do, hopefully everyone's seen the Formula One movie with Brad Pitt, which is now I think the highest grossing sporting movie of all time and Brad Pitt's highest grossing movie of all time. So that again, is a great explainer if you take that concept, the strategy around all of it has to create this always on dynamic, which isn't just about the 24 race weekends, it's about how to have brand extension through partnerships 24 7, 365 days a year that's come to life through our licensing business, which I can get to and also our sponsorship business, that the thought process was we want to sign less B2B organizations more consumer brands, not because we don't appreciate, we are always going to have a B2B element Formula One lives in that space, especially on the technical side of the sport, but as it talks about how we penetrate the fan base, how we acquire new fans and how we talk to fans differently.(07:06):One of the big pieces of it was, well, how do we show up in every shopping mall, not just in North America, but globally and using the likes of Lego? You would've seen our recent announcement with Tag Hoya. You now go to these shopping malls and you see these different brands actually activating and taking some learnings from how the US sports do it, where everywhere you go you can buy a t-shirt. I think one of my proudest moments was being at the Super Bowl last year in New Orleans and seeing people in the parade wearing Formula one T-shirts.(07:32):I was like, that shows that the strategy is working. In addition to we acknowledge that pricing of Grand Prix is expensive, they're also places you typically have to travel to, and so brand extension through license partners has been really important. We have something called F1 Drive, which we'll be rolling out, which is the carting proposition I mentioned in Vegas we have F1 arcade, which is now opening up and popping up all over North America. We have F1 exhibition, which is a tribute to the history of the sport and we'll keep growing as we want to keep penetrating and explaining to those fansIlyse Liffreing (08:07):Fans. That is really interesting hearing you describe just how different the strategy here is in the US too because F1 is such a global brand. How do you I guess, keep the brand though true to its global roots at the same time as also making it feel like America's race?Emily Prazer (08:25):Definitely not trying to make it feel like America's race. I think taking the learnings of how to speak to the audience we've acquired wherever we go, the benefit of being a global sport is we're global, but in each of those destinations we act very local. So when you're there, you very much know that when you're at the British Grand Prix that you're at Silverstone and there's all of the heritage around it, Monza, there's nothing more special in global sport in my opinion, than seeing the ZI on a Sunday run onto the grid with the Ferrari flags and what have you that you can't take that passion and bottle it up and just pop it into a US race. The US market is different, but if you look at how Miami has identified itself, you for sure know where you are. Same with Austin, where it's Texas and everybody is in cowboy boots and you know that you're in Texas and then Vegas takes it to a different level because we partner with our friends at the L-B-C-V-A and other partners in Vegas to bring that kind of extreme entertainment to life. So yeah, wherever you go, you really do know where you are and that's where I think the local element comes into play.Ilyse Liffreing (09:28):Has anything changed in the sports rights context in order for Formula One to really be able to create more social and organic marketing tied to the event?Emily Prazer (09:41):Yeah, I think it's that we've got the confidence to try different things and have given different types of access. So you'll see obviously that we have lots of short form content. Now we're noticing that this generation of fandom that we're trying to continue to excite wants to look at things slightly differently, whether it be through YouTube or TikTok. I think we're launching our first TikTok store in a couple of weeks, which I never thought we would be in a place to do, but it's a testament to where the sports got to. So I don't think the rights have changed. I think our approach to it has changed where we have the confidence because of the excitement around destinations like Las Vegas to shift our mindset. Like I say, we're not going to do it everywhere. We're going to pick specific places to test it, and Vegas for us for the last three years has served as that test testbed.(10:28):You'll see the collaborations alone that we do in the merchandise space we've not been able to replicate prior and we're proud of it. What we're doing there is giving us the confidence to deliver new partnerships across the sport. American Express is a prime example where they came in as a Vegas only partner, did a year of that, a year later became a regional partner, so they activated across the Americas and then a year after that became a global partner. So it's just showing that we can bring in these more consumer led brands, but also how we've shifted our mindset to be able to deliver against it.Damian Fowler (11:00):That happened very fast. It's kind of amazing. You touched on this a little bit, but the different audiences in the different markets. What have you learned after the first two years of hosting Grand Prix in the United States about American fans specifically?Emily Prazer (11:16):Just that you need to give them variety. They aren't going to come in and behave the same way as a traditional Motorsport fan that has been or has grown up with. The heritage of the British audience is a great example where I mentioned Silverstone goes on sale and sells out. We've had to adjust the product to make sure that we're very much catering to that audience and the programming around it, like we talked about, has been super important. People don't want to come just for one session, but they want the option to come and leave and go to a casino or go to a different show and what have you. So they're looking for all round entertainment, not just coming to watch the Formula One event, which we focus specifically on making sure that we deliver against.Damian Fowler (11:59):One thing that's interesting about Vegas as well is that it's a big draw for tourism globally as well and people fly in. So maybe that fan base is also kind of a mix of international and local.Emily Prazer (12:11):Yeah, well interestingly, we've seen the majority of our fan base come from Mexico, Canada, and within the United States. I think Vegas obviously is incredibly special that they cater to everyone. I think they have something like 150,000 hotel rooms that spam from five star all the way through, and so one of the things that we had to pivot from in the first year where we expected Vegas to be this really, really high end proposition was actually that we needed to cater for all different types of ticket package and hospitality package. So we've learned those differences. We thought that it would be very, very high end and mostly international. It's actually around 80% domestic, but drive in traffic and fly in traffic from other US markets in. Like I said, Canada and Mexico have been significant buyers of the Grand Prix and Vegas.Ilyse Liffreing (12:59):Very cool. I'm very curious what kind of feedback you've gotten so far from those fans, sponsors, broadcasters, anybody watching the sport in Vegas?Emily Prazer (13:09):Well, the sponsors love it because it's something different. Like I said, we put a lot of emphasis on the production. What we were all really surprised about was the quality of the racing. I think it has the most overtakes on the Formula one calendar, so that was something we weren't going to know until you can do simulations, but until you see cars going around the track in the first year, we didn't really acknowledge or understand how great the actual racing would be. So I think that was the biggest surprise around feedback and what the broadcasters and general audience have been quite positive about shifting. The mentality and mindset has been something that we're proud of, but it's all stemming from the confidence we've gained through promoting our own event.Ilyse Liffreing (13:47):When you look at success, what KPIs are you most interested in? Is it ticket sales or,Emily Prazer (13:54):I think it's all around halo effect for the sport ticket sales and revenue is obviously my ultimate goal. I'm the chief commercial officer of Formula One, so I don't think I can sit here and say otherwise, but brand extension and growing the fandom and being engaged, giving another touch point to the US audience when again, I mentioned Liberty bought Formula One in 2017, they were very clear that they had two very strategic objectives. One was growing the sport in the United States, the other was growing the sport in Asia and obviously Asia's taken a little bit longer for obvious reasons with COVID and what have you, but we're starting to see the momentum pick up again there. The US we heavily focused on signing Miami as a starting point as a partnership with the Miami Dolphins, which we're really happy with, proud of as they have shown us how to do it. Seeing how they put their event on before we even put on Vegas meant that we could really take their learnings. But yeah, the expectations are that we continue to grow it, that the production level remains incredibly high and that it's our tempo event in the Formula one calendar.Damian Fowler (14:55):Now, you mentioned the Netflix show Drive to Survive, and obviously there's been a lot of media around the importance of that show. Could you talk a little bit about the significance of that show, how it helps or not inspire marketing strategy?Emily Prazer (15:09):Yeah, it comes back to this always on point that I mentioned before, which is Formula One needs to be accessible for the next generation of fans to truly understand it and the next generation of fans care about the competitive nature of the racing, but they also want to understand the personalities behind the sport, and I think it gave us the opportunity to open up to be able to show who we all are. The technical terminology, the filming that went into that and the movie to be honest, has given us the opportunity to use that content to be able to explain what DRS means or what is the significance of each Grand Prix, what does it actually mean? So these drivers like the NFL, when a player puts on a helmet, it's hard to understand the emotion, but being able to get to know the drivers and the team behind the drivers, which is also incredibly important, has been really helpful in our marketing strategy.(16:01):But what it inspired was how do we talk to the different audience? Like I said before, you can't talk to that audience the same way that you talk to the 75-year-old fan that's been going to Silverstone since its inception. So a lot of it has been about how we change our thoughts around short form content and how we use different platforms. To talk to a different audience in different markets has just meant that we've had to learn how to engage and pivot from just broadcast on a Sunday to every minute of every day coming up with new ideas to talk to the fan base.Damian Fowler (16:34):That's pressure for sure. You also mentioned the different channels, and we do talk about a lot about how live sports is now available across many, many different channels and tech platforms are bidding next to traditional broadcasters. I wonder in the mix of things, and especially when it comes to the show and when you broadcast it, how important has that kind of explosion as it were of channels been?Emily Prazer (17:00):I mean we have been ahead on the curve on that somewhat for we are different. Formula One owns its own broadcast capability. We have an office or a building in the UK in Big and Hill and Kent for those that have been in London, been to Kent around London and it's incredible. We own and operate again the whole thing. So every camera, every fiber optic cable, everything you see at a Grand Prix is being produced by Formula One. We have remote operations at the track that go back to Big and Hill and we have 180 broadcasters globally. So we've always been slightly different to other mainstream sports in that regard because we produce our own show, which is helpful for us around sponsorship and what have you. But generally speaking, I think obviously the world is changing and we've got to make sure we keep up with it.Ilyse Liffreing (17:47):Looking forward, which marketing innovations, there's obviously a lot right now, but ai, contextual, programmatic, what excites you the most? Is there any digital marketing innovations?Emily Prazer (18:02):Yeah, I think AI is something that we are excited but cautious. Again, with the sport that's so technologically advanced, you've got to be thoughtful about how we use it. We also don't want to lock ourselves in one direction or the other. So we're doing a lot of work without Formula One has the most unbelievable roster of tech partners. If you think about Salesforce, AWS, Lenovo globin to name a few, they're going to tell us how to use AI to benefit our sport, not just commercially, but on the tech side. So we are very excited about it, not just from a marketing point of view, but from a just general point of view. How does AI benefit the sport? We're taking a massive amount of time to think about just general activations. I know that sounds kind of immature if you think about Formula One, but how do we bring different activity to the track outside of just races? I'm not sure if either of you saw what we did in Miami with Lego, where Lego built 10 full size cars for the drivers to race Lego cars around the track.Damian Fowler (19:05):I show my son that. That'sEmily Prazer (19:06):So cool. If you think about the content that that created around marketing, that was probably the most viral thing we've done in a very, very long time. So our marketing strategy at the moment is about solidifying the brand equity, making sure that we deliver against our partnership objectives and that we continue to grow our social platforms. I'm not going to say that we're not technically as advanced, but the data capabilities is all quite new to Formula One. Loyalty programs are all quite new to us, so for us, I keep coming back to it, but it's really about figuring out how to engage with the audience and have something to sell them. Again, we're a rights holder that doesn't have tons of assets to sell ourselves. We license a lot out, and so really it's about coming up with these creative ideas to be kind of 10 steps ahead of anyone else.(19:53):And I think we are in a very unique space. We're very lean, which means we can be very nimble. So when we're making a lot of these decisions, it's me going to Stefano who's the CEO of Formula one saying, how do you feel about us trying something like this? And that's again, where we link the Vegas piece together with the broader marketing strategy to continue to keep everyone engaged rather than it just being like a technical marketing play. Obviously we do that day in, day out, but I think for us it's the confidence we've got now to really push the boundaries and be the first to do a lot of different things, whether it be what we're doing in the broadcast around all of the different types of digital advertising and what have you. I think again, if you watch the races, you'll start to see that we are trying and testing new technologies in thatIlyse Liffreing (20:37):Way. And on that note, we talked a little bit before about the timing of the race in Vegas. InEmily Prazer (20:46):Vegas. Yeah.Ilyse Liffreing (20:47):Because it's a new time for you guys thatEmily Prazer (20:49):10:00 PM Yeah, we moved it forward from 10:00 PM to 8:00 PM which is great. I think a lot of people were struggling with how that's local time, right? Local time, yeah. When we first went to Vegas, the idea was that the timing would be in line with the boxing match or the show. So it wasn't done for any other reason than 10 o'clock on a Saturday night in Vegas is when typically you start seeing things happen. The difference being is that the distance or time you need to keep between certain amounts of sessions meant that it created gaps. So if there were delays that 10:00 PM could technically be pushed. And so we had our issues in the first year. We learned from those last year operationally delivered really well, but we still felt that it was slightly too late, hence the 8:00 PM start. So everything has shifted forward. We have F1 Academy this year, which we're really excited about, so that will, I think doors now open at 2:30 PM rather than four. So it means everything will be a lot earlier, but it's all for the show.Damian Fowler (21:48):And presumably you have a kind of global viewership as well, so that all impactsEmily Prazer (21:53):The trends. Yeah, I think it obviously will be beneficial to the east coast market, not so beneficial to the rest of the world, but we still feel good about the viewership numbers and what we're seeing. SoDamian Fowler (22:03):The true fans willEmily Prazer (22:05):Watch you, right? If not next. Exactly. Hands always come through. Exactly.Damian Fowler (22:08):Alright, so we've got some kind of quick fire questions here to wrap this up. So first off, what keeps you up at night in the lead up to this?Emily Prazer (22:16):Everything in the lead up? The lead up. I'm not sleeping at all my first year as A CEO, I think last year it would've been ticket sales. This year it's probably just security and all round operations. So as my role has expanded on the Vegas race particularly, it's just we are opening and closing the track every three hours. It's not like other street races keep their roads closed for up to seven days. We are having to keep it open and close it regularly. You're in one of the busiest roads in North America, so we don't really have much of a choice and we don't want to impact the locals any further. So I think it's just being responsible for the logistics is scary.Damian Fowler (22:58):Wow. I agree. Closing the road down is like mind blowing.Emily Prazer (23:00):Yeah, it is genuinely mind blowing. If you go to Vegas now, you can see that things are still are on their way to being built and it's like, oh wow, this is happening.Ilyse Liffreing (23:10):That is scary. I'm scary for you. What would you say is missing in the US sports sponsorship marketplace that you would love to see happen?Emily Prazer (23:19):Ooh, good question. I haven't thought about the answer to that. That's a hard one. I'm going to have to sit on that one for a minute. Don't worry. Yeah, I mean I can't speak for, I can only really speak for my sport, but I'd love to have the same access to the teams that N-F-L-N-B-A have as the rights holder. We definitely don't get to just sell the team IP as we see fit. We have something in Formula One called the Concord Agreement, which means that we have some restrictions there. But yeah, let me have a think about the broader space. Sorry. I like that answer One hit me.Damian Fowler (23:52):That's a good answer there. We can circle back and do it again if you want, but I like that to be honest. Okay. So which other sports or entertainment brands do you think are nailing their brand positioning right now?Emily Prazer (24:03):I think the NBA and the NFL, they just do it so unbelievably well and they have fandom here. I've never witnessed in the UK you very much see the fandom around a specific team. Here you see genuine fandom around the NFL. And what I love as a Brit in the US obviously is I still can't believe how each of the TV channels cross-promote each other for other games. So you'll be watching Fox and they'll be like, tune into CBS to watch this game. And you're like, oh wow. They really do do it for the greater good of the league. We would obviously it's different. We don't have multiple games in Formula One, but if I think about it in comparison to the Premier League, you really do follow the team. If I'm a Chelsea fan by the way, but I would watch Chelsea, I wouldn't then flip channels to watch Man United in the us.(24:57):I find myself on a Sunday watching three or four games and I'm like, I'm not even your core audience. It has to be something to do with the marketing that it's always there telling me what to do, telling me how to watch it. And I really admire, maybe this is actually the answer to the previous question. I actually admire how good they are at getting in my head because I think about it, I'm like, what games are on a Sunday or what playoffs are happening in the NBA and I go to watch it because it's there. Whereas like I said, premier League, as much as I'm a huge Chelsea fan and grew up with it, you just don't seem to be able to follow it like that.Damian Fowler (25:35):Yeah, that's very interesting. Would you say you were an NFL fan before you came to theEmily Prazer (25:39):Us? No, not at all. Didn't know the rules and now I'm like hardcoreDamian Fowler (25:42):Because of the marketing, I guess.Emily Prazer (25:43):Wow. Must be. They just got in my head.Damian Fowler (25:46):Amazing. Yeah. And that's it for this edition of The Big Impression.Ilyse Liffreing (25:54):This show is produced by Molten Hart. Our theme is by love and caliber, and our associate producer is Sydney Cairns.Damian Fowler (26:01):And remember,Emily Prazer (26:02):We've had to learn how to engage and pivot from just kind of broadcast on a Sunday to every minute of every day coming up with new ideas to talk to the fan base.Damian Fowler (26:13):I'm Damian. Ilyse Liffreing (26:14):And I'm Ilyse.Damian Fowler (26:14):And we'll see you next time. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
A British man and his skydiving instructor survive, falling 11,000 feet to the ground after a parachute malfunction. AND An 8-year-old boy with a rare health condition experiences life as a firefighter for the day. To see videos and photos referenced in this episode, visit GodUpdates! https://www.godtube.com/blog/man-survives-skydiving-accident.html https://www.godtube.com/blog/life-as-a-firefighter-for-the-day.html Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit meetthemess.substack.comMove over, Meet the Press—it's time to MEET THE MESS!This week on the podcast, Jen and Karyn are back! The House voted to release the Epstein files, but will it actually happen? Meanwhile, Trump delivers a completely bananas speech to McDonald's franchise owners and tells a female reporter, “Quiet, piggy.”Also on deck: a behavioral scientist breaks down what it means when someone does (or doesn't) return their cart. Plus, Kim Kardashian fails the bar exam, the FDA removes the black box warning from menopause hormone therapy, and a flamingo escapes a British zoo and decides to retire on a beach in the south of France. And finally, do you have a preferred font?On Meet the Mess, bestselling authors Jen Lancaster & Karyn Bosnak dive into the messiest news stories and hottest topics of the week to give a fresh and entertaining take on current events and life in general. An extended video version with the “Hot Mess of the Week” is available to paid Substack subscribers. Visit meetthemess.substack.com for more.Meet the Merch:• https://www.etsy.com/shop/MeetTheMessConnect with us on Instagram:• https://www.instagram.com/meetthemesspod• https://www.instagram.com/jennsylvania• https://www.instagram.com/karynbosnakConnect with us on TikTok:• https://www.tiktok.com/@meetthemess• https://www.tiktok.com/@karynbosnak
Imagine a very creative sixth grader decided to do a musical book report on Princess Diana and you get the 2021 film, Diana: The Musical. LIVE from Largo in Los Angeles, Paul declares his love of the film's stage design and gives us a taste of his British accent which is completely chuffed now, innit bruv? June schools Paul and Jason on the history of the Royals and Jason ponders if Paul reveals TOO MUCH of his personal information. (Ep. #291 Originally Released 04/21/2022) • Go to hdtgm.com for tour dates, merch, FAQs, and more• Have a Last Looks correction or omission? Call 619-PAULASK to leave us a voicemail!• Submit your Last Looks theme song to us here• Join the HDTGM conversation on Discord: discord.gg/hdtgm• Buy merch at howdidthisgetmade.dashery.com/• Order Paul's book about his childhood: Joyful Recollections of Trauma• Shop our new hat collection at podswag.com• Paul's Discord: discord.gg/paulscheer• Paul's YouTube page: youtube.com/paulscheer• Follow Paul on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/paulscheer• Subscribe to Enter The Dark Web w/ Paul & Rob Huebel: youtube.com/@enterthedarkweb• Listen to Unspooled with Paul & Amy Nicholson: unspooledpodcast.com• Listen to The Deep Dive with June & Jessica St. Clair: thedeepdiveacademy.com/podcast• Instagram: @hdtgm, @paulscheer, & @junediane• Twitter: @hdtgm, @paulscheer, & msjunediane • Jason is not on social media• Episode transcripts available at how-did-this-get-made.simplecast.com/episodesGet access to all the podcasts you love, music channels and radio shows with the SiriusXM App! Get 3 months free using the link: siriusxm.com/hdtgm Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Andrew Lownie joins Joanna Coles to examine wild new reporting that Jeffrey Epstein tried to hire a British sniper to kill Prince Andrew — a story now echoed by two separate sources. Joanna presses into the fever-dream paranoia that surrounded Epstein in his final years and the ripple effects now hitting the palace. Lownie, author of the bombshell book ‘Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York,' explains why, if true, this plot reframes Epstein's reach and the danger surrounding everyone in his orbit. And Joanna ends by asking the blunt question lingering under all of it: what else was Epstein willing to do that we still don't know? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
British politicians have been warned by the security services that they face a significant risk of espionage from the Chinese state, after an MI5 alert identified two LinkedIn profiles it says have been operating on behalf of China's Ministry of State Security. The UK Security Minister Dan Jarvis has warned that the government won't tolerate covert attempts by China to interfere in the UK's sovereign affairs.In the Philippines, prosecutors have charged several people in connection with an ongoing corruption scandal linked to inadequate or non-existent flood defences. Also: the global vaccine alliance GAVI says it has prevented nearly one and a half million deaths from cervical cancer through a three-year vaccination campaign in low-income countries. How AI could help speed up research into ways of stopping anti microbial resistance. A human rights group accuses the French oil giant, Total, of complicity in war crimes at one of its gas sites in Mozambique. Cambridge Dictionary names ‘parasocial' as its Word of the Year for 2025 - and should there be a universal scale to measure spice levels?The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk
President Trump reverses course again on the Epstein files, after spending the week attacking Republicans who planned to vote for the release. That, plus we learn of a woman with real superpowers, the British government withholding important *****-19 data, and Sam talks Skankfest!Give the gift of a retreat this holiday season at www.quince.com/brokensim!Use the code "BROKEN" for 15 percent off at theperfectjean.nyc/BROKEN!Visit HIMS.com/BROKENSIM for your free online visit!For Sam's dates visit samtripoli.com/events!More stuff: Get episodes early, and unedited, plus bonus episodes: patreon.com/brokensimulationSocial media: Twitter: @samtripoli, @johnnywoodard Instagram: @samtripoli, @johnnyawoodardBroken Simulation Hosts: Sam Tripoli, Johnny Woodard
Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff One of the great chapters in the epic story of the Charlotte Mason method involves the introduction of the complete method, principles and practices, into the established British schools of Gloucestershire. H. W. Household began this project with five schools in 1917, and by May 1920 he had gone to … The post Certain Difficulties first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.
Welcome back to This Week in Work, the show where behavioural science meets workplace culture — brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network. This week, Al and Leanne unpack one of the darkest stories in British business — and what it reveals about organisational failure and human systems.
Hello, and welcome to the Reloading Podcast here on the Firearms Radio Network. Tonight the gang is bringing back the cartridge corner Cartridge corner: Snider The .577 Snider (14.7×51mm) cartridge was a British black powder metallic centrefire cartridge, which fired a 0.577-inch (14.7 mm), 480-grain (31 g) lead projectile, primarily used in […] The post Reloading Podcast 559 – Nick picked the topic appeared first on Firearms Radio Network.
Classical learning has deep roots in the United Kingdom. Yet many schools in England, Scotland, and Wales have drifted toward child-led, utilitarian models that leave students unformed and unmoored. At the same time, a quiet renewal is beginning to take shape.In this episode, British educator Jamie Burns, founder of the Fellowship for Classical Learning, joins host Davies Owens to share how he rediscovered classical Christian education, why he believes it is the answer to the UK's educational crisis, and how God is using a small group of families to start new schools in London and Cardiff.Jamie traces his own story, from an average state education to rich conversations around his family's dinner table, through years in mainstream schools, and finally to an “aha” moment listening to Andrew Kern that gave him language for what he had always felt. Along the way he offers a clear, inside look at the current state of education in England, Scotland, and Wales, and the surprising ways classical ideas are resurfacing in policy, practice, and school life.
Uranus is the seventh planet of the solar system, so it’s a long way from both the Sun and Earth. Right now, it’s about 1.7 billion miles away. At that distance, under especially dark skies it’s barely bright enough to see with the eye alone. It’s easy to pick out with binoculars, though. This is an especially good week to look for the planet because it reaches opposition, when it lines up opposite the Sun. It rises around sunset and is in view all night. And it shines brightest for the entire year. In early evening, it’s close to the lower right of another good binocular target, the Pleiades star cluster. Even though Uranus is sometimes visible to the eye alone, it’s so faint that no one realized it was planet for a long time. Every astronomer who saw Uranus logged it as a star, missing out on a chance at immortality. It was officially discovered as a planet by British astronomer William Herschel, in 1781. But even he was fooled by it for a while. When he first saw it, he thought it was a comet. But calculations of its orbit showed that the object was much too far away to be a comet – it had to be a planet, and a big one. Herschel wanted to call it George’s Star after his patron, King George III. Astronomers outside Britain weren’t crazy about that. So almost 70 years later, they finally named it for a Greek god of the sky: Uranus. More about Uranus tomorrow. Script by Damond Benningfield
Hello, and welcome to the Reloading Podcast here on the Firearms Radio Network. Tonight the gang is bringing back the cartridge corner Cartridge corner: Snider The .577 Snider (14.7×51mm) cartridge was a British black powder metallic centrefire cartridge, which fired a 0.577-inch (14.7 mm), 480-grain (31 g) lead projectile, primarily used in the Snider–Enfield rifle. Early .577 Snider cartridges were made from a composite design using paper and brass foil with a stamped metallic base and primer, much like the first generation of Martini-Henry cartridges. Later cartridges (after the design had been proved with the Martini-Henry cartridges) were made from drawn brass, much like modern small arms ammunition. The .577 Snider cartridge was eventually replaced in service by the .577/450 Martini–Henry cartridge in the 1870s. The .577 Snider cartridge is considered by most commentators to be obsolete, with large scale commercial production having ceased in the 1930s. Suicide hotline 988 or 800-273-8255 https://walkthetalkamerica.org/ For Active Military or veterans, www.militaryonesource.com Reviews: Reloading Podcast Merch link Please remember to use the affiliate links for Amazon and Brownells from the Webpage it really does help the show and the network. Also visit https://huntshootoffroad.com/shop/ and use code RLP10 to save 10%on your Brass Goblin gear. Patreons New Patreons: Current Patreons: Aaron R, AJ, Alexander R, Anthony B, Mr. Anonymoose, bt213456, Bill N, Brian M, Carl K, Chris S, KC3FHH, Ryan J, D MAC, David S, Drew, Eric S, Fatelvis111 Gerrid M, Jack B, Jason R, Jim M, Joel L, John C, Kalroy, Jason R. Joseph B, Brewer Bill, Larry C, Lonnie K, Mark H, Mark K, Vic T., Matthew T, David D, michael sp, Mike St, Mitchell N, Nick M, Nick R, N7FFL, Paul N, Peter D, Richard C, Riley S, Robert F, Russ H, Socal Reloader RP, T-Rex, Tony S, Winfred C RLP pledge link Thank you for listening. How to get in contact with us: Google Voice # 608-467-0308 Reloading Podcast website. Reloading Podcast Facebook Reloading Podcast on Instagram Reloading Podcast on MeWe Reloading Podcast on Discord The Reloading Room Buckeye Targets
This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a look at the preparation for the Japanese invasion of Malaya in December 1941. The guys dig into the Japanese outlook on the region, the reasons for invasion, as well as the invasion plans. Digging into the personalities involved, Jon dishes out the goods on Brooke-Popham, Percival, Yamashita and others. A fascinating discussion on the Japanese plan of attack and lack of British preparedness (and why that was) follows. Dig into this one as we set up the greatest disaster in British military history. #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #essex #halsey #taskforce38 #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #mastersoftheair #8thairforce #mightyeighth #100thbombgroup #bloodyhundredth #b17 #boeing #airforce wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #oldbreed #1stMarineDivision #thepacific #Peleliu #army #marines #marinecorps #worldwar2 #worldwar #worldwarii #leytegulf #battleofleytegulf #rodserling #twilightzone #liberation #blacksheep #power #prisoner #prisonerofwar #typhoon #hurricane #weather #iwojima#bullhalsey #ace #p47 #p38 #fighter #fighterpilot #b29 #strategicstudying #tokyo #boeing #incendiary #usa #franklin #okinawa #yamato #kamikaze #Q&A #questions #questionsandanswers #history #jaws #atomicbomb #nuclear #nationalarchives #nara #johnford #hollywood #fdr #president #roosevelt #doolittle #doolittleraid #pearlharborattack #salvaged #medalofhonor #british #raf #royalairforce
Today's guest is Nick Masca, Head of Data Science for Growth & Personalisation at Marks and Spencer. Marks and Spencer plc is a prominent British multinational retailer headquartered in London, England, known for offering a wide range of clothing, beauty items, home goods, and food products. Nick joins us on the program to surmise his views on the data-driven challenges currently facing the retail and eCommerce sectors. With a focus on change management rather than traditional digital transformation, Nick outlines the key obstacles retail leaders encounter when leveraging data tools to optimize processes like price setting, supply chain efficiency, and customer experience. He shares insights on the friction that arises when introducing automation, particularly in areas like content development, and how data teams can work closely with stakeholders to ensure seamless implementation. If you've enjoyed or benefited from some of the insights of this episode, consider leaving us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts, and let us know what you learned, found helpful, or liked most about this show!
My guest today is a British game designer whose ingenuity and persistence turned a bedroom project into one of the most iconic multiplayer series in video games. In 1991, he took the characters from the popular Amiga game Lemmings and placed them in a game of his own, a simulation of artillery fire. At school, the game proved popular among his friends, so he worked on it further, replacing the Lemmings with worms, and calling it Total Wormage. The teenager's project quickly captured the attention of the industry, launching a career that saw my guest move from lone coder to a key creative figure at Team17. While Worms became a global phenomenon, spawning countless sequels and spin-offs, he has remained driven by a passion for experimentation, curiosity, and the simple joy of making things that people love to play.Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsoleTake the Acast listener survey to help shape the show: My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin Survey 2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Now that we have your attention, it's another episode of our Jeopardy! podcast! Googling ourselves leads to some mixed results but there were no mixed results for new champ Harrison Whitaker this week, as he steamrolls the competition on his way to a fantastic week and perhaps superchampdom. Plus, we wonder about his British accent, we dive deep on Queensland, and a contestant gets absolutely brutalized by Ken in the anecdotes. If you wanna get brutalized by more of our content, you can head on over to patreon.com/jeopardypodcast and donate to the show! You'll get a new bonus episode every month, access to our entire back catalogue immediately, and access to our very cool Discord, where we're always talking Jep! (and other stuff). Join today! SOURCE: The Moreton Bay Courier: "The Arrival and Reception of His Excellency Sir George F. Bowen"; Brisbane Times: "Proclamation Day, When Queensland Became a New Colony" by David Gibson; Queensland State Archives: "The Birth of Modern Queensland" Special thank you as always to the J-Archive and The Jeopardy! Fan. This episode was produced by Producer Dan. Music by Nate Heller. Art by Max Wittert.
The story of the lands between the Forth and Humber from the end of the Roman period to the Viking kingdom of York is one of the most richly fascinating in British history. This the age of Lindisfarne and of Bede; of the dramatic hills, valleys and ancient routeways that link the Irish Sea and the North Sea; of names that resonate even now: Edwin, Oswald, Hild, Cuthbert, Wilfrid; of conquest, conversion and the legacies of intellectual giants. Northumbria AD 367-867: Earth Hall, Ring Gift and Heaven's Field (Birlinn, 2025) by Max Adams and Colm O'Brien is a history of Early Medieval Northumbria that explores themes of landscape, power, creativity and intellect. Fresh archaeological evidence and research in historical geography shed light on the fascinating story of how land was managed, exploited and deployed as an expression of power by both secular and ecclesiastical forces, and aspects such as the role of élite women in shaping politics and religion is given new focus. Dr. Adams and Dr. O' Brien show conclusively how Northumbria's political, cultural and religious elements coalesced to forge a creative powerhouse which shaped the world we have inherited. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
Not very long ago, a British scholar named Bebbington worked to give a definition of the history of British Evangelicalism. But there was one phrase in his formulation that was interesting: social reform. So, should “social reform” occupy a spot of primacy in believers' lives? Join Kevin as we dive into the question of whether 21st-century Evangelicals are truly evangelical! // Download this episode's Application & Action questions and PDF transcript at whitestone.org.
Hello again Pacific War Week by Week listeners, it is I your dutiful host Craig Watson with more goodies from my exclusive patreon podcast series. This is actually going to be a two parter specifically looking at the failure and responsibility of Emperor Hirohito during the 15 year war Japan unleashed in 1931. Again a big thanks to all of you for listening all these years, you are all awesome. Hello everyone, a big thanks to all of you who joined the patreon and voted for this to be the next episode, you all are awesome. Now I realize very well when I jumped into my former patreon episode on Ishiwara Kanji, I fell into a rabbit hole and it became a rather long series. I wanted to get this one done in a single episode but its also kind of a behemoth subject, so I will do this in two parts: this episode will be on Hirohito's failure and responsibility in regards to the China War from 1931-1941. The next one will cover Hirohito's failure and responsibility in the world war from 1941-1945. I am not going to cover the entire life of Hirohito, no what I want is to specifically cover his actions from 1931-1945. Nw I want you to understand the purpose of this episode is to destroy a narrative, a narrative that carried on from 1945-1989. That narrative has always been that Emperor Hirohito was nothing more than a hostage during the war years of 1931-1945. This narrative was largely built by himself and the United States as a means of keeping the peace after 1945. However upon his death in 1989 many meeting notes and diaries from those who worked close to him began emerging and much work was done by historians like Herbert P Bix and Francis Pike. The narrative had it that Hirohito was powerless to stop things, did not know or was being misled by those around him, but this is far from the truth. Hirohito was very active in matters that led to the horrors of the 15 year war and he had his own reasons for why or when he acted and when he did not. For this episode to be able to contain it into a single one, I am going to focus on Hirohito's involvement in the undeclared war with China, that's 1931-1941. For those of you who don't know, China and Japan were very much at war in 1931-1937 and certainly 1937 onwards, but it was undeclared for various reasons. If you guys really like this one, let me know and I can hit Hirohito 1941-1945 which is honestly a different beast of its own. For those of you who don't know, Hirohito was born on April 29th of 1901, the grandson of Emperor Meiji. Hirohito entered the world right at the dawn of a new era of imperial rivalry in Asia and the Pacific. According to custom, Japanese royals were raised apart from their parents, at the age of 3 he was placed in the care of the Kwamura family who vowed to raise him to be unselfish, persevering in the face of difficulties, respectful of the views of others and immune to fear. In 1908 he entered elementary education at the age of 7 and would be taught first be General Nogi Maresuke who notoriously did not pamper the prince. Nogi rigorously had Hirohito train in physical education and specifically implanted virtues and traits he thought appropriate for the future sovereign: frugality, diligence, patience, manliness, and the ability to exercise self-control under difficult conditions. Hirohito learnt what hard work was from Nogi and that education could overcome all shortcomings. Emperor Meiji made sure his grandson received military training. When Emperor Meiji died in 1912, Hirohito's father, Yoshihito took the throne as emperor Taisho. Taisho for a lack of better words, suffered from cerebral meningitis at an early age and this led to cognitive deficiency's and in reality the Genro would really be running the show so to say. When Taisho took the throne it was understood immediately, Hirohito needed to be prepared quickly to take the throne. After Meiji's funeral General Nogi politely told the family he could no longer be a teacher and committed seppuku with his wife. He wrote a suicide letter explained he wanted to expiate his disgrace during the russo japanese war for all the casualties that occurred at Port Arthur, hardcore as fuck. Hirohito would view Nogi nearly as much of an iconic hero as his grandfather Meiji, the most important figure in his life. Hirohito's next teacher was the absolute legendary Fleet Admiral Togo Heihachiro who would instill national defense policy into him. Hirohito would be taught Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahans theories as all the great minds were taught at the time. Now I know it sucks but I cant delve deep into all this. What I want you to envision is a growing Man, instilled with the belief above all else, the Kokutai was most important. The Kokutai was the national essence of Japan. It was all aspects of Japanese polity, derived from history, tradition and customs all focused around the cult of the Emperor. The government run by politicians was secondary, at any given time the kokutai was the belief the Emperor could come in and directly rule. If you are confused, dont worry, I am too haha. Its confusing. The Meiji constitution was extremely ambiguous. It dictated a form of constitutional monarchy with the kokutai sovereign emperor and the “seitai” that being the actual government. Basically on paper the government runs things, but the feeling of the Japanese people was that the wishes of the emperor should be followed. Thus the kokutai was like an extra-judicial structure built into the constitution without real legal framework, its a nightmare I know. Let me make an example, most of you are American I imagine. Your congress and senate actually run the country, wink wink lets forget about lobbyists from raytheon. The president does not have actual executive powers to override any and all things, but what if all Americans simply felt he did. Thus everyone acted in accordance to his wishes as they assumed them to be, thats my best way of explaining Japan under Hirohito. Emperor Taisho dies in 1926, and Hirohito takes the throne ushering in the Showa Era. He inherited a financial crisis and a military that was increasingly seizing control of governmental policies. Hirohito sought to restore the image of a strong charismatic leader on par with his grandfather Meiji, which was sorely lacking in his father Taishos reign. He was pressured immediately by the Navy that the national sphere of defense needed to be expanded upon, they felt threatened by the west, specifically by the US and Britain who had enacted the Washington Naval Treaty. Hirohito agreed a large navy was necessary for Japan's future, he was a proponent of the decisive naval battle doctrine, remember his teacher was Togo. From the very beginning Hirohito intensely followed all military decisions. In 1928 the Japanese covertly assassinated the warlord of Manchuria, Zhang Zuolin. The current prime minister Tanaka Giichi had performed a thorough investigation of the incident and presented his report to Hirohito on December 24th of 1928. He told Hirohito he intended to court martial the criminals, purge the army and re-establish discipline. However the rest of Tanaka's cabinet wished to allow the army to deal with the matter and quiet the entire thing down. Hirohito responded by stating he had lost confidence in Tanaka and admonished his report. Hirohito allowed the army to cover up the incident, he sought to have it hushed up as well. Thus Hirohito had indulged the army in its insubordination and the kwantung army officers now felt they could take matters into their own hands. Also in 1928 the Tanaka cabinet failed to endorse the international protocol banning chemical and biological warfare. The next year the privy council, pressured by the military, failed to ratify the full geneva convention of prisoners of war. Hirohito in response began doing something Emperor Meiji never had done, he began to scold officials to force them to retire from positions. Tanaka Giichi was bullied out. Hirohito then stated his endorsement of Hamaguchi Osachi as Tanaka's successors. Just a few months after Hamaguchi cabinet formed, Hirohito overrode the advice of his naval chief of staff and vice chief of staff, Admiral Kato and Vice Admiral Suetsugu. The Americans and British were hinting they might form a naval alliance against Japan if she did not abide by the Washington Conference mandates on naval tonnage. Kato and Suetsugu refused to accept the terms, but prime minister Hamaguchi stood firm against them. The navy leaders were outraged and accused Hamaguchi of signing the treaty without the support of the Navy General Staff thereby infringing upon the “emperor's right of supreme command”. Two months after signing the treaty, Hamaguchi was assassinated and upon learning of this Hirohito's first concern apparently was “that constitutional politics not be interrupted”. The military felt greatly emboldened, and thus began the age of the military feeling “its right of supreme command”. Generals and Admirals fought back against arms reduction talks, discipline within the officer corps loosened, things spiraled out of control. Alongside this came the increasing cult of the emperor, that they were all doing this in his name. When rumors emerged of the emerging Mukden Incident in 1931, Hirohito demanded the army be reigned in. Attempts were made, but on September 18th of 1931, Kwantung army officer detonated an explosion at Liut'iaokou north of Mukden as a false flag operation. The next day the imperial palace were given a report and Hirohito was advised by chief aide de camp Nara Takeji “this incident would not spread and if the Emperor was to convene an imperial conference to take control of the situation, the virtue of his majesty might be soiled if the decisions of such a conference should prove impossible to implement”. This will be a key theme in Hirohito's decision making, protect the kokutai from any threats. As the Mukden incident was getting worse, the Kwantung officers began to demand reinforcement be sent from the Korea army. The current Wakatsuki cabinet met on the issue and decided the Mukden incident had to remain an incident, they needed to avoid a declaration of war. The official orders were for no reinforcements of the Korea army to mobilize, however the field commander took it upon his own authority and mobilized them. The army chief of staff Kanaya reported to Hirohito the Korea army was marching into Manchuria against orders. At 31 years of age Hirohito now had an excellent opportunity to back the current cabinet, to control the military and stop the incident from getting worse. At this time the military was greatly divided on the issue, politically still weak compared to what they would become in a few years, if Hirohito wanted to rule as a constitutional monarch instead of an autocratic monarch, well this was his chance. Hirohito said to Kanaya at 4:20pm on September 22nd “although this time it couldn't be helped, [the army] had to be more careful in the future”. Thus Hirohito accepted the situation as fait accompli, he was not seriously opposed to seeing his army expand his empire. If it involved a brief usurpation of his authority so bit, as long as the operation was successful. Within two weeks of the incident, most of Japan had rallied being the kwantung army's cause. Hirohito knew it was a false flag, all of what they had done. Hirohito planned the lightests punishments for those responsible. Hirohito then officially sanctioned the aerial strike against Chinchou, the first air attack since ww1. A message had gone out to the young officers in the Japanese military that the emperors main concern was success; obedience to central command was secondary. After the Mukden incident Prime Minister Wakatsuki resigned in december after failing to control the army and failing to contain the financial depression. The new Priminister Inukai took to action requesting permission from Hirohito to dispatch battalions to Tientsin and a brigade to Manchuria to help the Kwantung army take Chinchou. Hirohito responded by advising caution when attacking Chinchou and to keep a close eye on international public perception. Nevertheless Chinchou was taken and Hirohito issued an imperial rescript praising the insubordinate Kwantung army for fighting a courageous self defense against Chinese bandits. In a few more years Hirohito would grant awards and promotions to 3000 military and civil officials involved in the Manchurian war. When incidents broke out in Shanghai in 1932 involved the IJN, Tokyo high command organized a full fledged Shanghai expeditionary force under General Shirakawa with 2 full divisions. But within Shanghai were western powers, like Britain and America, whom Hirohito knew full well could place economic sanctions upon Japan if things got out of hand. Hirohito went out of his way to demand Shirakawa settle the Shanghai matter quickly and return to Japan. And thus here is a major problem with Hirohito during the war years. On one end with Manchuria he let pretty much everything slide, but with Shanghai he suddenly cracks the whip. Hirohito had a real tendency of choosing when he wanted to act and this influenced the military heavily. On May 15th of 1932, young naval officers assassinated prime minister Inukai at his office. In the political chaos, Hirohito and his advisors agreed to abandon the experiment in party cabinets that had been the custom since the Taisho era. Now Hirohito endorsed a fully bureaucratic system of policy making, cabinet parties would no longer depend on the two main conservative parties existing in the diet. When the diet looked to the genro as to who should be the next prime minister, Hirohito wrote up “his wishes regarding the choice of the next prime minister”. Loyal officials backed Hirohito's wishes, the cult of the emperor grew in power. To the military it looked like Hirohito was blaming the party based cabinets rather than insubordinate officers for the erosion of his own authority as commander in chief. The young military officers who already were distrustful of the politicians were now being emboldened further. After Manchuria was seized and Manchukuo was ushered in many in the Japanese military saw a crisis emerge, that required a “showa restoration' to solve. There were two emerging political factions within the military, the Kodoha and Toseiha factions. Both aimed to create military dictatorships under the emperor. The Kodoha saw the USSR as the number one threat to Japan and advocated an invasion of them, aka the Hokushin-ron doctrine, but the Toseiha faction prioritized a national defense state built on the idea they must build Japans industrial capabilities to face multiple enemies in the future. What separated the two, was the Kodoha sought to use a violent coup d'etat to do so, the Toseiha were unwilling to go so far. The Kodoha faction was made up of junior and youthful officers who greatly distrusted the capitalists and industrialists of Japan, like the Zaibatsu and believed they were undermining the Emperor. The Toseiha faction were willing to work with the Zaibatsu to make Japan stronger. Hirohito's brother Prince Chichibu sympathized with the Kodoha faction and repeatedly counseled his brother that he should implement direct imperial rule even if it meant suspending the constitution, aka a show restoration. Hirohito believed his brother who was active in the IJA at the time was being radicalized. Chichibu might I add was in the 3rd infantry regiment under the leadership of Colonel Tomoyuki Yamashita. This time period has been deemed the government by assassination period. Military leaders in both the IJA and IJN and from both the Kodoha and Toseiha began performing violence against politicians and senior officers to get things done. A enormous event took place in 1936 known as the february 26 incident. Kodoha faction officers of the IJA attempted a coup d'etat to usher in a showa restoration. They assassinated several leading officials, such as two former prime ministers and occupied the government center of Tokyo. They failed to assassinate the current prime minister Keisuke Okada or take control over the Imperial palace. These men believed Japan was straying from the Kokutai and that the capitalist/industrialists were exploiting the people of the nation by deceiving the emperor and usurping his power. The only solution to them was to purge such people and place Hirohito as an absolute leader over a military dictatorship. Now the insurrectionists failed horribly, within just a few hours they failed to kill the current prime minister, and failed to seize the Sakashita Gate to the imperial palace, thus allowing the palace to continue communicating with the outside, and they never thought about what the IJN might do about all of this. The IJN sent marines immediately to suppress them. The insurrectionists had planned to have the army minister General Kwashima who was a Kodoha backer, report their intentions to Hirohito who they presumed would declare a showa restoration. They falsely assumed the emperor was a puppet being taken hostage by his advisers and devoid of his own will. At 5:40am on February the 26th Hirohito was awakened and informed of the assassinations and coup attempt. From the moment he learnt of this, he was outraged and demanded the coup be suppressed and something I would love to highlight is he also immediately demanded his brother Prince Chichibu be brought over to him. Why would this be important? Hirohito believed the insurrectionists might enlist his brother to force him to abdicate. Hirohito put on his army uniform and ordered the military to “end it immediately and turn this misfortune into a blessing”. Hirohito then met with Kwashima who presented him with the insurrectionists demands to “clarify the kokutai, stabilize national life and fulfill national defense, aka showa restoration”. Hirohito scolded Kwashima and ordered him to suppress the mutiny. On the morning of the 27th Hirohito declared administrative martial law on the basis of Article 8 of the Imperial Constitution, pertaining to emergency imperial ordinances. Formally he was invoking his sovereign power to handle a crisis. Hirohito displayed an incredible amount of energy to crush the mutiny as noted by those around him at the time. Every few hours he demanded reports to be given to him by top officials and at one point he was so angry he threatened to lead the Imperial Guard division himself to go out and quell it. Hirohito met with Chichibu and its alleged he told his brother to end any relationships he had with the Kodoha members. By february 29th, Hirohito had firmly crushed the mutiny, most of the ringleaders were arrested. In april they were court martialed secretly without even given a chance to defend themselves in court and 17 were executed by firing squad in July. As a result of it all, the Kodoha faction dissolved and the Toseiha faction reigned supreme. On the morning of July 8th of 1937 came the Marco Polo Bridge incident, a nearly identical false flag operation to what occurred at Mukden in 1931. Hirohito's reaction was first to consider the possible threat of the USSR. He wondered if the communists would seize the opportunity to attack Manchukuo. This is what he said to Prime Minister Konoe and army minister Sugiyama “What will you do if the Soviets attack us from the rear?” he asked the prince. Kan'in answered, “I believe the army will rise to the occasion.” The emperor repeated his question: “That's no more than army dogma. What will you actually do in the unlikely event that Soviet [forces] attack?” The prince said only, “We will have no choice.” His Majesty seemed very dissatisfied. Hirohito demanded to know what contingency plans existed. After this he approved the decision of the Konoe cabinet to move troops into Northern China and fixed his seal to the orders of dispatch. The emperor had tacitly agreed to it all from the start. With each action taken for the following months, Hirohito would explicitly sanction them after the fact. In his mind he kept thinking about a fight with the USSR, he believed he had no choice in the China matter. All of his top ranking officials like Sugiyama would tell him “even if war with China came… it could be finished up within two or three months”. Hirohito was not convinced, he went to Konoe, to imperial conferences, to other military officials to get their views. None convinced him but as Hirohito put it “they agreed with each other on the time factor, and that made a big difference; so all right, we'll go ahead.” Two weeks into the conflict, the kwangtung army and Korean army were reinforced by 3 divisions from Japan and on July 25th were reaching Beijing. What did the man who was not responsible in such decision making say? On July 27 Hirohito sanctioned an imperial order directing the commander of the China Garrison Force to “chastise the Chinese army in the Peking-Tientsin area and bring stability to the main strategic places in that region.” Hirohito wanted a killing blow to end the war, and thus he escalated the incident. Historian Fujiwara Akira noted “it was the [Konoe] government itself that had resolved on war, dispatched an army, and expanded the conflict,” and Hirohito had fully supported it” Chiang Kai-shek abandoned northern China pulling into the Interior and unleashed a campaign in Shanghai to draw the Japanese into a battle showcased in front of western audiences. Chiang Kai-shek tossed the creme of his military all into Shanghai to make it as long and explosive as possible to try and win support from other great powers. On August 18 Hirohito summoned his army and navy chiefs for a pointed recommendation. The war, he told them, “is gradually spreading; our situation in Shanghai is critical; Tsingtao is also at risk. If under these circumstances we try to deploy troops everywhere, the war will merely drag on and on. Wouldn't it be better to concentrate a large force at the most critical point and deliver one overwhelming blow? Based on our attitude of fairness, Do you, have in hand plans for such action? In other words, do we have any way worked out to force the Chinese to reflect on their actions?” The chiefs of staff returned 3 days later with an aerial campaign to break China's will to fight and strategic cities needed to be seized. Hirohito gave his sanction and on August 31st gave the order “for the Dispatch of the North China Area Army. [D]estroy the enemy's will to fight and wipe out resistance in the central part of Hepei Province,” Over the course of weeks Hirohito sanctioned 6 troop mobilizations to the Shanghai area where the fighting had bogged down. Then he sanctioned 3 divisions from Taiwan to Shanghai, but for units in northern Manchuria to stand guard firmly in case the USSR attacked. The entire time this was happening both China and Japan referred to it as an incident and not a real war lest either of them lose the backing of their great power allies. Japan needed oil, iron and rubber from America, China was likewise received materials from the USSR/America/Britain and even Germany. By november the war was not going well and Hirohito had the Imperial Headquarters established within his palace as a means to exercise his constitutional role as supreme commander, the army and navy would act in concert. For a few hours in the morning a few days every week, the chiefs of staff, army and navy ministers and chiefs of operations would meet with Hirohito. At these imperial conferences Hirohito presided over and approved decisions impacting the war. This was Hirohito's device for legally transforming the will of the emperor into the will of the state. Hirohito not only involved himself, sometimes on a daily basis he would shape strategy and decide the planning, timing and so on of military campaigns. He even intervened in ongoing field operations. He monitored and occasionally issued orders through commanders to subordinate units. Now I can't go through the entire 1937-1945 war and showcase all the things he did but I will highlight things I think we're important. On November 9th, the Shanghai battle was finally falling apart for the Chinese as they began a withdrawal to the Nanking area some 180 miles away. The Japanese forces chased them and for the first time were really coming into direct contact with Chinese civilians, when it came to Shanghai most had evacuated the areas. The Japanese burned, plundered and raped villages and towns as they marched towards Nanking. On december 1st, Hirohito's imperial HQ ordered the 10th army and Shanghai expeditionary force to close in on Nanking from different directions, a pincer maneuver. Prince Asaka took command of the Shanghai expeditionary force and General Matsui commanded the Central China Area Army consisted of the Shanghai force and 10th army. Asaka led the forces to assault the walled city of Nanking with a population estimated to be 4-5 hundred thousand and it would fall on December 13th. Was there an order to “rape Nanking”, no. The Imperial HQ did not order the total extermination of the Chinese in Nanking, they had ordered an encirclement campaign. However, the standing orders at this time were to take no prisoners. Once Nanking fell, the Japanese began to execute en massage military prisoners and unarmed troops who surrendered willingly. There was a orgy of rape, arson, pillage and murder. The horror was seen in Nanking and the 6 adjacent villages over the course of 3 months far exceeding any atrocities seen during the battle for Shanghai or even the march to Nanking. General Nakajima's 16th division on its first day in Nanking was estimated to have murdered 30,000 POWs. Estimate range insanely, but perhaps 200,000 POW's and civilians were butchered over the course of 6 weeks. Prince Asaka the 54 year old grand uncle to Hirohito and other members of the Imperial Family commanded the attack on Nanking and supervised the horrors. 49 year old General Prince Higashikuni chief of the army air force alongside Prince Kan'in knew of the atrocities occurring. Army minister Sugiyama knew, many middle echelon officers of the Imperial HQ knew. Hirohito was at the top of the chain of command, there is no way he was not informed. Hirohito followed the war extensively, reading daily reports, questioned his aides. It was under his orders that his army “chastise China”, but did he show any concern for the breakdown of his army's discipline? There is no documented evidence he ordered an investigation, all we are met with as historians is a bizarre period of silence. Hirohito goes from supervising the war with OCD precision, to silence, then back to normal precision. Did Hirohito show anything publicly to show angry, displeasure or remorse, at the time he energetically began spurring his generals and admirals on their great victories and the national project to induce “Chinese self-reflection”. On November 24th Hirohito gave an after the fact sanction to the decision of General Matsui to attack and occupy Nanking. Hirohito was informed the city was going to be bombarded by aircraft and artillery and he sanctioned that as well. That was basically him removing any restrictions on the army's conduct. On December 14th the day after Nankings fall, he made an imperial message to his chiefs of staff expressing his pleasure at the news of the city's capture and occupation. Hirohito granted General Matsui an imperial rescript for his great military accomplishments in 1938 and gave the order of the golden early to Prince Asaka in 1940. Perhaps Hirohito privately agonized over what happened, but publicly did nothing about the conduct of his armed forces, especially in regards to the treatment of POW's. Emperor Hirohito was presented with several opportunities to cause cease-fires or peace settlements during the war years. One of the best possible moments to end it all came during the attack on Naking when Chiang Kai-sheks military were in disarray. Chiang Kai-shek had hoped to end the fighting by enticing the other great powers to intervene. At the 9 power treaty conference in Brussel in november of 1937, Britain and the US proposed boycotting Japan. However the conference ended without any sanctions being enacted upon Japan. The Konoe government and Imperial HQ immediately expanded the combat zone. Chiang Kai-shek in desperation accepted a previous offer by Germany to mediate. Oscar Trautmann, the German ambassador to China attempted to negotiate with Japan, but it failed. China was offered harsh terms; to formally recognize Manchukuo, cooperate with it and Japan to fight communism, permit the indefinite stationg of Japanese forces and pay war reparations. On January 9th of 1938, Imperial HQ formed a policy for handling the China incident which was reported to Hirohito. Konoe asked Hirohito to convene an imperial conference for it, but not to speak out at it “For we just want to formally decide the matter in your majesty's presence.” Konoe and Hirohito were concerned with anti expansionists within the army general staff and wanted to prevent German interference in Japanese affairs. On January 11th, the policy was showcased and adopted, there would be no peace until Chiang kai-shek's regime was dissolved and a more compliant regime followed. Hirohito presided over the conference in full army dress uniform and gave his approval. He sat there for 27 minutes without uttering a word, appearing to be neutral in the matter, though in fact he was firmly backing a stronger military policy towards China. The Konoe cabinet inaugurated a second phase to the China incident, greatly escalating the war. By this point in time Japanese had seen combat casualties at 62,007 killed, 160,000 wounded. In 1939 it would be 30,081 killed, 55,970 wounded, then 15,827 killed and 72,653 wounded in 1940. Major cities were under Japanese control ranging from the north east and south. Chiang Kai-shek fled to Chongqing, the war was deadlocked without any prospect of victory in sight. On July 11 of 1938, the commander of the 19th division fought a border clash with the USSR known to us in the west as the battle of Lake Khasan. It was a costly defeat for Japan and in the diary of Harada Kumao he noted Hirohito scolded Army minister Itagaki “Hereafter not a single soldier is to be moved without my permission.” When it looked like the USSR would not press for a counter attack across the border, Hirohito gave the order for offensives in China to recommence, again an example of him deciding when to lay down the hammer. Konoe resigned in disgrace in 1939 having failed to bring the China war to an end and being outed by his colleagues who sought an alliance with Germany, which he did not agree with. His successor was Hiranuma a man Hirohito considered a outright fascist. Hiranuma only received the job because he promised Hirohito he would not make enemies of Britain or the US by entering in a hasty alliance with Nazi Germany. However his enter prime ministership would be engulfed by the alliance question. In May of 1939 there was another border clash with the USSR, the battle of Khalkhin Gol. This one was much larger in scale, involving armored warfare, aircraft and though it seems it was not used, the Japanese brought biological warfare weapons as well. The Japanese had nearly 20,000 casualties, it was an unbelievable defeat that shocked everyone. Hirohito refrained from punishing anyone because they technically followed orders based on a document “outline for dealing with disputes along the manchurian soviet border” that Hirohito had sanctioned shortly before the conflict arose. In July of 1939, the US told Hiranuma's government they intended not to renew the US-Japan treaty of commerce and navigation. Until this point Roosevelt had been very lenient towards Japan, but now it looked to him war would break out in europe and he wanted Japan to know they could expect serious economic sanctions if they escalated things. Hirohito complained to his chief aide de camp Hata Shunroku on August 5th “It could be a great blow to scrap metal and oil”. Then suddenly as Japan was engaging in a truce with the USSR to stop the border conflict, Germany shocked the world and signed a nonaggression pact with them. This completely contravened the 1936 Japan-German anti-comintern pact. Hiranuma resigned in disgrace on august 28th. Hirohito was livid and scolded many of his top officials and forced the appointment of General Abe to prime minister and demanded of him “to cooperate with the US and Britain and preserve internal order”. Then Germany invaded Poland and began a new European War. Abe's cabinet collapsed from the unbelievable amount of international actions by January 14th 1940. Hirohito appointed Admiral Yonai as prime minister and General Tojo to vice army minister. As we have seen Hirohito played a active role appointing high level personnel and imposed conditions upon their appointments. Hirohito dictated what Yonai was to do, who he was to appoint to certain positions so on and so forth. When a large part of the military were calling for an alliance with Germany, Hirohito resisted, arguing Japan should focus on the China war and not ally itself to Germany unless it was to counter the USSR. Three months passed by and Germany began invading western europe. Norway fell, Denmark fell, Luxembourg, Belgium, the netherlands and then France, it was simply stunning. While Japan had been locked in a deadlock against China, Germany was crushing multiple nations with ease, and this had a large effect on asia. Britain, France and the Netherlands could not hope to protect their holdings in asia. But Hirohito kept pressuring Yonai not to begin any talks of an alliance, and the military leaders forced Yonai's cabinet to collapse. So Hirohito stood by while Hiranuma, Abe and Yonai met each crisis and collapses. He watched as the China war went nowhere and the military was gradually pushing for the Nanshin-ron doctrine to open a southern war up with the west. Not once did he make a public effort on his lonesome to end the war in China. Japan's demands of China were unchanged, relations with the west were getting worse each day. The China war was undeclared, hell it was from the Japanese viewpoint “chastising China”. Japan was no respecting any rules of war in China, atrocities were performed regularly and for that Hirohito shared responsibility. For he alone was free to act in this area, he needed to act, but he did not. He could have intervened and insisted on respecting the rules of war, especially in regards to POW's and the results could have been dramatically different. Hirohito bore direct responsibility for the use of poison gas upon Chinese and Mongolian combatants and non combatants even before the undeclared war of 1937. Then on July 28th of 1937 Hirohito made his first directive authorizing the use of chemical weapons which was transmitted by the chief of the army general staff prince Kan'in. It stated that in mopping up the Beijing-Tientsin area, “[Y]ou may use tear gas at suitable times.” Then on September 11th of 1937 he transmitted again through Kan'in the authorization to deploy special chemical warfare units in Shanghai. Gas weapons were one weapon the imperial HQ, aka Hirohito held effective control over throughout the China war. Front line units were never free to employ it at their own discretion, it required explicit authorization from the imperial HQ. During the Wuhan offensive of August to October 1938, imperial HQ authorized the use of poison gas 375 separate times. Hirohito authorized on May 15th of 1939 the carrying out of field studies of chemical warfare along the Manchukuo-soviet border. In 1940 Hirohito sanctioned the first experimental use of bacteriological weapons in China, though there is no documented evidence of this, given the nature of how he micro managed everything it goes without saying he would have treated it the same as the poison gas. He was a man of science, a person who questioned everything and refused to put his seal on orders without first examining them. Imperial HQ directives went to unit 731 and as a rule Hirohito overlooked them. There again is no documents directly linking him to it, but Hirohito should be held responsibility for strategic bombing campaigns performing on cities like Chongqing. Alongside such horror Hirohito sanctioned annihilation campaigns in China. Such military campaigns were on the scale of what occurred at Nanking. Take for example the Hebei offensive which saw the infamous “three alls policy, burn all, kill all, steal all”. Before Pearl Harbor and the ushering in of the war against the west, look at the scene that had unfolded. China and Japan were not officially at war until December of 1941. Not to say it would have been easy by any means, but look at the countless opportunities the man, emperor, so called god if you will, held in his hands to stop it all or at the very least stop escalating it. Why did he not do so? To protect the Kokutai. Above all else, the role and survival of the emperor's divinity over the people of Japan was always at the forefront of his mind. He did what he thought was always necessary to thwart threats internal and external. He allowed his military to do horrible things, because they did so in his name, and likewise they were a threat to him. I know its abrupt to end it like this, but for those of you who perhaps say to yourself “well he really was powerless to stop it, they would have killed him or something”, who chose suddenly to intervene in 1945 and made the decision to surrender?
Scotland Yard has come under intense scrutiny for repeatedly opening and then quietly closing inquiries into Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. When allegations involving Virginia Giuffre and potential UK-based trafficking surfaced years ago, the Metropolitan Police declined to pursue a full investigation, claiming it was outside their jurisdiction and not the “appropriate authority” to handle the matter. Even as mounting media coverage, survivor testimony, and public pressure demanded action, the force appeared determined to distance itself rather than confront the implications of a high-profile trafficking network operating on British soil. Critics argue that closing the case so quickly—despite the gravity and credibility of the accusations—looked less like a procedural decision and more like an intentional effort to avoid political and institutional fallout.Years later, when Scotland Yard announced it was reviewing new allegations against Maxwell related to grooming and trafficking in the UK, there was a brief sense of hope that justice might finally be taken seriously. But the review ultimately stalled without becoming a full investigation, igniting outrage from advocates who accused the force of protecting the powerful rather than defending victims. The pattern is unmistakable: initiate interest only under pressure, then retreat the moment attention shifts. To many, it feels like a choreographed performance meant to pacify public outrage rather than uncover the truth—a police institution more concerned with shielding reputations than exposing the depth of a criminal enterprise tied to elite circles.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.
Audra McElyea returns to talk about her new locked-room, cancel-culture thriller Not Good People, a twisty ensemble mystery set in a blizzard-stranded Blue Ridge Mountain castle. Audra shares how a decades-old British play inspired her to blend popcorn-thriller pacing with a deeper moral reckoning, how she crafted eleven interconnected characters through actor-based mannerisms, and why the story's escalating secrets force readers to examine not just the cast—but themselves. Check Out Author Social Media PackagesCheck out the Bookwild Community on PatreonCheck Out My Stories Are My Religion SubstackGet Bookwild MerchFollow @imbookwild on InstagramOther Co-hosts On Instagram:Gare Billings @gareindeedreadsSteph Lauer @books.in.badgerlandHalley Sutton @halleysutton25Brian Watson @readingwithbrianMacKenzie Green @missusa2mba
Paralympic champion turned open-water pioneer Melanie Barratt shares her extraordinary story of resilience, courage and reinvention. Born with severe visual impairment, Melanie rose to the top of British swimming before stepping away from elite competition to explore new challenges. In 2024, Melanie made history as the first blind woman to swim the English Channel solo - an achievement she says means even more to her than her Paralympic gold medals.In this powerful conversation with Sue Anstiss, Melanie reflects on the joy of discovering water as a child, the pressures and triumphs of Atlanta and Sydney and why she walked away at the height of her career. She explains how open water swimming became her “happy place,” and why conquering the Channel was truly life-changing.Melanie also talks about “blind pride,” her golden prosthetic eye and the importance of representation, as well as her current mission to make open water events more accessible for swimmers with disabilities. Her story is one of breaking barriers, redefining limits and finding empowerment in nature.A conversation that will inspire us all to believe we can overcome fear and dive headfirst into whatever challenge calls us next.Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award.Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here: https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangersHosted by Sue AnstissProduced by Sam Walker, What Goes On MediaA Fearless Women production
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