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Dr. Larry P. Arnn, President of Hillsdale College, joins Hugh Hewitt on the Hillsdale Dialogues to continue a series on The Second World War, Churchill's sprawling memoir and history of World War II in six volumes. Release date: 15 August 2025 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last time we spoke about the fall of Shanghai. In October 1937 a small battalion led by Colonel Xie Jinyuan transformed the Sihang Warehouse into a fortress against the advancing Japanese army. These men, known as the "800 Heroes," became symbols of hope, rallying local citizens who provided vital support. Despite heavy casualties, they held out against overwhelming odds until a strategic retreat was ordered on November 1. As Japanese forces intensified their assaults, they breached the Chinese defenses and captured strategic positions along Suzhou Creek. The fighting was fierce, marked by desperate counterattacks from the besieged Chinese soldiers, who faced an unyielding enemy. By November 9, the Chinese faced a full retreat, their organized defenses collapsing into chaos as they fled the city. Desperate civilians sought refuge in the International Settlement but were met with hostility, exacerbating the terror of the moment. Amidst the turmoil, remaining forces continued to resist in pockets, holding out as long as possible. By November 11, Japanese troops raised their flag in the last stronghold, marking a grim victory.   #163 Crossing Nanjing's Rubicon Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. As the Japanese were mopping up Shanghai, Chiang Kai-Shek wrote in his diary on November 11th “I fear that they could threaten Nanjing”. Over In Shanghai, General Matsui Iwane was dealing with foreign correspondents, eager to learn what Japan's next move would be and to this he simply stated “For future developments, you had better ask Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek”. The correspondents were surprised by this response and pressed him further. He replied . “Chiang Kai-shek was reported to have predicted a five-year war, well, it might be that long. We don't know whether we will go to Nanjing or not. It all depends on Chiang.” At this point Shanghai was falling under Japanese control and now Matsui and his fellow field commanders were thinking, what's next? Nanjing was certainly the next objective. It was a common understanding amongst the Japanese leadership, that if the four main eastern cities of Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Nanjing were lost, Chiang Kai-Shek's government would collapse. Three of these cities had been taken, Nanjing was dangling like fresh fruit. Matsui's staff believed the Chinese units departing Shanghai would mount a stand immediately west of the city, probably a defensive line running from Jiading to Huangduzhen. On the night of November 11th, Matsui issued a command to all units in the Shanghai area to advance west along the railway towards Nanjing. Their first objective would be a line extending from Taicang to Kunshan. Chiang Kai-Shek was not only reeling from military defeats, but also the gradual loss of his German allies. The Germans were increasingly aligning with the Japanese. Chiang Kai-Shek was looking for new external help, so he turned to the Soviets. It was a marriage of convenience, Chiang Kai-Shek signed a non-aggression pact with the USSR that year and wasted no time pleading for aircraft and pilots. Moscow began sending them before the ink touched the paper. 200 aircraft and pilots in return for some essential minerals, wolfram and tungsten. The Sino-Soviet friendship even drew in an unlikely source of support, Sir Winston Churchill. The Soviet envoy to the UK described how during a meeting with Churchill “he greatly praised our tactics in the Far East: maintenance of neutrality and simultaneous aid to China in weaponry.” Soviet pilots found themselves dispatched to Nanjing where they were briefed by Yakov Vladimirovich Smushkevich, the deputy commander of the Soviet Air Force. “The Japanese armed forces are technically superior to the Chinese. The Chinese Air Force is a particular concern. Soviet pilots who have rushed to China's aid are currently in Nanjing. They are fighting valiantly.” Meanwhile back at Shanghai discipline and order that had characterized previous Chinese withdrawal had collapsed. Simply put, there were hundreds of thousands of men trying to retreat across the lower Yangtze region, it was a shitstorm. Many units had to disengage during combat with the enemy and scramble to pull out. Huang Qixiang, the deputy commander of the Chinese right flank in Shanghai, executed a strategic withdrawal moments before his command post succumbed to the advancing enemy forces. Just fifteen minutes after his departure, the area was overrun by Japanese troops. In a desperate bid to avoid capture, another general had to cross a creek, nearly drowning in the process. Rescued while barely clinging to life and drenched in icy water, he was welcomed by a peasant family who aided in his recovery before he resumed his arduous journey westward. The scale of this withdrawal, occurring both day and night, could hardly escape the enemy's notice, and its complexity made the operation increasingly difficult. The execution of the withdrawal exacerbated the situation significantly. Orders to abandon their positions started to trickle down immediately after the upper command made the decision. However, these orders reached the units in a disorganized manner. Many telephone lines had been sabotaged, and when soldiers were sent to relay the orders in person, they faced severe disruptions in the transportation network. Consequently, many units only became aware of the withdrawal when they witnessed the mass movements of their comrades heading westward. Upon realizing what was happening, many soldiers fled in a state of panic. There were no comprehensive plans outlining the retreat, no designated routes for the various units, nor any established timetables. The outcome was a chaotic scramble for survival. Soldiers who had fought side by side for three months suddenly found themselves competing against one another in a desperate race to escape. At bridges and other chokepoints, weary soldiers exhausted their last reserves of strength, brawling with their fellow troops to be the first to cross. Meanwhile, officers traveling in chauffeur-driven cars attempted to assert their rank to gain priority access to the roads, adding to the growing disorder that ensued. The massive army was hindered by its sheer size, resulting in miles of congested roads filled with men unable to move in any direction. This made them easy targets for Japanese aircraft, leading to a bloody cycle of repeated attacks. Planes adorned with the red Rising Sun insignia would emerge from the horizon, swooping down to strike at these vulnerable formations. As commander Chen Yiding recalled “The lack of organization and the gridlocked roads resulted in far more casualties than could have been avoided,”.  On November 12th, the newspaper Zhaongyang Ribao, published an editorial addressing the citizens of Nanjing, to remind them that tough times lay ahead now that Shanghai had fallen. The article stipulated they needed to prepare the city for the upcoming battle,  “Now, all the citizenry of the capital must fulfill their duty in a way that can serve as a model for the entire nation.” Nanjing in 1937 was a city touched by the war, but not enough to change the social fabric just yet. Cinema's remained open, the shopping arcade was crowded as usual, traffic was heavy along Zhongshan Road, order remained. Telephones remained on, except during air raids. Connections to the outside world functioned as they should, given this was the capital. The region had seen a good harvest in 1937, no one was going hungry. However as the front 200 miles away drew closer, bombing raids more frequent, fear of the enemy increased. Contact with the outside world gradually declined. By mid November the train link from Nanjing to Shanghai was severed.  While the fear amongst the populace increased, so did a newfound sense of common purpose against a common enemy. Poster calling for the Chinese to unite against the Japanese invaders were found throughout Nanjing. Residents were conscripted for various fortification efforts, with some receiving basic military training to help defend the city. Those who refused to cooperate faced severe penalties as “traitors,” while the majority willingly participated. Both military and civilian police were deployed throughout the city, diligently checking identities in an ongoing effort to root out spies and traitors. The authorities enforced a strict prohibition against discussing military matters in restaurants and other public venues. Then all the high ranking military officials and politicians families gradually began departing the city in secrecy. This was followed by said politicians and military officials. Twas not a good look. Nanjing soon saw its population decline from 1 million to half a million. Those who stayed behind were mainly the poor, or those anchored, like shopkeepers. Every day saw a steady stream of Nanjing citizens leaving the city over her main roads, fleeing into the countryside with carts full of belongings. On November 12th at 10am orders were issued for the Japanese to advance west. What had been a war of attrition, where inches of land were claimed with blood, suddenly it was a war of movement. As one Japanese soldier recalled “In the course of 50 days, I had moved only two miles. Now suddenly we were experiencing rapid advance”. As the Japanese came across small towns, they found large posters plastered on all the walls. These were all anti-japanese with some nationalist propaganda. The Japanese soldiers would tear them down and paint up their own messages “down with Chiang Kai-Shek!”.  Towns and cities west of Shanghai fell rapidly one after another, each succumbing to a grim pattern: swift conquest followed by widespread devastation. Jiading, a county seat with a population of approximately 30,000, succumbed to a prolonged siege. When the 10st division captured Jiading on November 13, after relentless shelling had leveled a third of the city, they began a massacre, indiscriminately killing nearly everyone in their path, men, women, and children alike. The battle and its aftermath resulted in over 8,000 casualties among the city's residents and surrounding countryside. One Japanese soldier referred to Jiading as “A city of death, in a mysteriously silent world in which the only sound was the tap of our own footsteps”.  On November 14, soldiers from the 9th Division reached Taicang, an ancient walled city designed to withstand lengthy sieges. As they crossed the 70-foot moat amid heavy fire, the Japanese troops confronted the formidable 20-foot-high city wall. After breaching the wall, their infantry swiftly entered the city and seized control. The destruction persisted long after the fighting ceased, with half of the city being devastated, including significant cultural institutions like the library, and salt and grain reserves were looted. It was as if the Japanese aimed to obliterate not just the material existence of the people but their spiritual foundation as well.  Casual cruelty marked the nature of warfare along the entire front, with few prisoners being taken. Ishii Seitaro, a soldier in the 13th Division's 26th Brigade, encountered a mass execution while marching alongside the Yangtze River. Several headless corpses floated nearby, yet three Chinese prisoners remained alive. A Japanese officer, personally overseeing the execution, wore a simple uniform, but the two ornate swords at his belt indicated his wealthy background. Approaching one prisoner, the officer dramatically drew one of the swords and brandished it through the air with exaggerated flair. In an almost theatrical display, he held it aloft, the blade trembling as if he were nervous. The prisoner, in stark contrast, exhibited an unnerving calmness as he knelt, awaiting his inevitable fate. The officer swung the sword down but failed to deliver a clean strike. Although he inflicted a deep gash to the prisoner's skull, it was not fatal. The prisoner collapsed, thrashing and emitting a prolonged scream that sent chills through those present. The officer, seemingly exhilarated by the anguish he caused, began wildly slashing at the figure until the screams subsided. Ishii turned away in horror, his mind swirling with confusion. Why were the Chinese being executed? Had they not surrendered?  Three months into the war's expansion to the Yangtze region, air raids had become an all too frequent menace in Nanjing. The first major raid came on August 15th and increased each week. On the night of August 27, approximately 30 bombs were dropped on Purple Mountain, specifically targeting the Memorial Park for Sun Yat-sen, aiming to hurt the morale of Nanjing's residents. As days melted into weeks and weeks stretched into months, the landscape of Nanjing transformed under the weight of war. Residents began constructing dugouts in courtyards, gardens, public squares, and even on streets. Foreigners painted their national flags on top of buildings and vehicles, attempting to avoid the risk of being machine-gunned by strafing aircraft. Each raid followed a predictable routine: sirens wailed loudly 20 to 30 minutes before the attack, signaling pedestrians to seek shelter and drivers to stop their engines. By the time a shorter warning sounded, the streets had to be cleared, leaving nothing to do but await the arrival of Japanese planes. Initially, the part-US-trained Chinese Air Force posed a considerable threat to Japanese bombers. The 4th and 5th Chinese Squadrons, stationed near Nanjing to defend the capital, achieved early success, reportedly downing six bombers during the first air raid on Nanjing. Much of the credit for these aerial victories belonged to Claire Chennault, a retired American Army Air Corps captain who had become an advisor to the Chinese Air Force, overseeing Nanjing's air defense. Chennault taught his pilots tactics he had developed in the US but had never fully implemented. His strategy was straightforward: three fighters would focus on one enemy bomber at a time. One would attack from above, another from below, while a third would hover in reserve to deliver the final blow if necessary. He instructed the Chinese pilots to target the engines rather than the fuselage, reasoning that any missed shots could hit the gas tanks located in the wing roots. This approach proved successful, leading to the loss of 54 Japanese planes within three days. For Chennault, it validated his belief that air superiority required a diverse range of aircraft, not just bombers. Nighttime raids, however, posed a greater challenge. Chennault, along with other commanders, sought solutions. Chinese General C.C. Wong, a German-trained artillery officer overseeing the country's anti-aircraft defenses, ensured that dozens of large Sperry searchlights were positioned throughout Nanjing in a grid pattern. This setup had a dual purpose: it would dazzle the Japanese bomber crews and highlight their planes in silhouette for Chinese fighters above to target. The bravery of the most skilled Chinese pilots occasionally gained media attention, making them local celebrities amidst an otherwise grim war environment. However, this bright moment faded quickly when the Japanese command decided to provide escorts for their bombers. Consequently, the elite of China's air force, its finest pilots and aircraft, were lost within weeks that fall. All air raids were brutal, but the worst assaults occurred at the end of September. As a radio broadcaster reported on September 25th “Gallons of civilian blood flowed today as Nanking endured three ferocious air raids”. In total, 96 Japanese sorties were launched on that day. Witnesses observed around a dozen Chinese aircraft retreating north across the Yangtze, initially believing they were fleeing, but some returned to confront the enemy. When Chinese fighters managed to down a Japanese bomber, the streets erupted in cheers as civilians momentarily forgot their fear. The primary aim of the September 25 attack appeared to be spreading terror among the civilian population. Chiang Kai-Shek wrote in his diary that day  “The repeated Japanese air raids over the past several days have had no impact on our military installations. Instead, civilian property has sustained significant damage.” Around 20 bombs struck the Central Hospital, one of Nanjing's largest medical facilities, causing extensive destruction and prompting the evacuation of its staff. Two 1,000-pound bombs exploded nearby, leaving large craters. Had these bombs landed slightly closer, they could have resulted in mass casualties among the hospital's 100 patients, including a Japanese pilot who had been shot down earlier that month. The air raids at the end of September prompted protests from the Americans, British, and French governments to Japan. In response, Tokyo issued a statement on September 30, asserting that while they were not intentionally targeting non-combatants, it was “unavoidable” for achieving military objectives that military airfields and installations in and around Nanjing be bombed.   The battle for Jiashan was among the fiercest in the southern Yangtze delta campaign in November 1937. Although Jiashan was a moderately sized town straddling a crucial railway connecting Shanghai to Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province. For the Japanese, seizing Jiashan was imperative for their westward advance; without it, their military progress would be severely hampered. Jiashan had endured three days of relentless bombing by the Japanese Air Force, driving most residents to flee into the surrounding countryside. Only about 100 remained, those who were too old or too sick to escape, abandoned by family or friends who lacked the means to assist them. The Japanese troops brutally bayoneted nearly all of these individuals and buried them in a mass grave just outside the town's northern gate. Jiashan was captured by the 10th Army, a division fresh from victories and eager to engage in combat, unlike the weary forces of the Shanghai Expeditionary Force further north. With less than a week of combat experience, the 10th Army's soldiers were hungry for a fight. The martial spirit of the 10th Army was exemplified by its commander, Yanagawa Heisuke. Born near Nagasaki in 1879, he was among a group of retired officers called back to active service as the war in China escalated unexpectedly. Having served in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 and taught at the Beijing Army College in 1918, Yanagawa had considerable experience in military affairs. However, his past exposure to China did not cultivate any empathy for the enemy. He was determined to push all the way to Nanjing, and once there, he intended to blanket the city in mustard gas and incendiaries until it capitulated. While Japanese commanders debated the value of capturing Nanjing, the Chinese were equally preoccupied with whether it was worth defending. Most military professionals viewed the situation as a lost cause from the start. After the fall of Shanghai, Chiang Kai-shek summoned one of his top commanders, Chen Cheng, to Nanjing for discussions. “How can Nanjing be held?” Chen Cheng shot back “Are you ordering me to hold Nanjing?” Chiang replied “I am not”. Chen Cheng stated frankly, “I believe Nanjing should not be held at all.” By mid-November, Bai Chongxi, one of China's most respected generals, advocated for declaring Nanjing an open city. He argued that defending it was not only unnecessary but also impossible. All available forces had been deployed to Shanghai and were now exhausted. Furthermore, no reinforcements would be forthcoming if they made a stand in Nanjing. Instead of stubbornly clinging to fixed positions, he preferred a more flexible defensive strategy. Zhang Qun, Chiang's secretary, supported Bai's stance, believing that while Nanjing should ultimately be abandoned, political considerations were paramount. If the Chinese simply withdrew and allowed the Japanese to occupy the city, it would undermine China's position in any future negotiations. The Japanese would not be able to present themselves as victors who had triumphed in battle. Similarly, Chiang's chief military advisor, General Alexander von Falkenhausen, was against attempting to hold Nanjing. He deemed it “useless from a military perspective, suggesting it would be madness.” He warned that if Chiang forced his army into a decisive battle with their backs to the Yangtze River, “a disaster would probably be unavoidable.” Chiang's head of the operations bureau Liu Fei argued Nanjing could not be abandoned without a fight as it would crush the NRA's morale. He believed that defending the city could be managed with as few as 12 regiments, although 18 would be feasible. Most at the meeting agreed and Chiang understood Nanjing's international recognition necessitated some form of defense, doomed or not. A second meeting was formed whereupon, Tang Shengzhi, a general staff officer whose loyalties were, lets be honest very flip floppy. During the warlord era, he routinely switched sides, especially against Chiang Kai-Shek. At the meeting Tang stated in regards to Nanjing's international prominence and being the final resting place of Dr Sun Yat-Sen “How can we face the spirit of the former president in heaven? We have no choice but to defend the capital to the death.” Chiang's commanders were all well aware of his intentions. The generalissimo was eager for a dramatic last stand in Nanjing to serve propaganda purposes, aiming to rally the nation and convey to the world that China was resolute in its fight against Japan. His commanders also recognized the rationale behind fighting for Nanjing; however, very few were inclined to embark on what seemed a likely suicide mission. The third meeting occurred the day after the second. Chiang opened by asking, as many anticipated, “Who is willing to shoulder the burden of defending Nanjing?” An awkward silence followed. Then Tang Shengzhi stepped forward. “Chairman, if no one else is willing, I will. I'm prepared to defend Nanjing and to hold it to the death.” Without hesitation, Chiang accepted his offer. “Good, the responsibility is yours.”A little refresher on Tang, he had played a role in Chiang Kai-shek's efforts to unify China by force in the 1920s, when the nation was a patchwork of fiefdoms. However, their relationship had soured on two occasions, forcing Tang into temporary exile, first to Japan and then to Hong Kong. The Japanese invasion of northeastern China in 1931 prompted a loose reconciliation, and since then, Tang had held several important positions, notably organizing war games simulating a Japanese assault on Nanjing. However Tang had often suffered from illness, and crucially, he had not led troops in the field against the Japanese since the onset of full-scale war that summer. Hailing from Hunan province, he was a typical provincial soldier and would likely face challenges commanding respect among elite divisions loyal solely to the central government in Nanjing. He was definitely not the first choice for such a significant task.  Amazingly, while tens of thousands of Chinese and Japanese were killing each other, while Japanese planes relentlessly bombarded Chinese cities including the capital, and while Japanese soldiers committed heinous atrocities against Chinese civilians, the two nations maintained diplomatic relations. China had a fully operational embassy in Tokyo, led by Xu Shiying, a 65-year-old diplomat. This surreal arrangement persisted because neither side was willing to officially declare war. In the fall of 1937, as Japanese armies were heavily engaged on two fronts within mainland China, Xu met with Japanese Foreign Minister Hirota Koki to propose a non-aggression treaty. The proposal was swiftly rejected in Nanjing. By November 1937, Xu was no longer at the forefront of events, and foreign observers shifted their focus from the capitals of the warring nations to Belgium. While large-scale battles raged along the lower Yangtze, representatives from 19 countries convened in Brussels to search for a way to end hostilities. Although China participated in the conference, Japan did not. Japan had received two invitations to join the talks, with its response to the second arriving in Brussels on November 12: a firm rejection. Japan asserted that it preferred direct bilateral negotiations with China, dismissing the Brussels conference held under the auspices of the Nine-Power Treaty, a pact signed in 1922 aimed at ensuring China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Japan argued that intervention by a collective body like the conference “would merely stir national sentiments in both countries and complicate efforts to reach a mutually satisfactory resolution.” The League of Nations had called for a Nine-Power conference a month earlier, which ultimately became a 19-power conference as other nations with interests in East Asia joined. From the outset, Japan opposed the assembly and was absent when the first plenary meeting commenced in Brussels on November 3. Japanese leaders feared that China might attempt to leverage the conference against Western powers, recalling how, in 1895, Japan had been denied its spoils following its first modern war with China due to the intervention of Russia, France, and Germany, who blocked Japan from claiming the strategic Liaodong Peninsula adjacent to Korea. China also exhibited a lukewarm attitude toward the conference. While Japan feared the potential outcomes, China was concerned about the lack of significant results. The proposal to transition discussions from the League of Nations, perceived as ineffective, to the even less authoritative Nine Powers, which lacked formal organization. Nonetheless, the Chinese chose to participate in Brussels, maintaining the pretense that something meaningful could be accomplished. Shortly after Japan's second rejection of the invitation, Wellington Koo made an impassioned plea in Brussels, stating, “Now that the door to conciliation and mediation has been slammed in your face by the latest reply of the Japanese Government, will you not decide to withhold supplies of war materials and credit to Japan and extend aid to China?” In reality, Koo understood that significant Western aid to China was highly unlikely, aside from token gestures. Previous international discussions had momentarily halted Japanese advances in the past; for instance, in 1932, Japanese troops had paused their movements in the Shanghai area just hours before the League of Nations General Assembly commenced. However, that was nearly six years earlier, and circumstances had changed dramatically since then. Rogue states had grown bolder, while democracies seemed increasingly timid. Thus, the Chinese agenda in Brussels was not primarily driven by hopes for substantial Western concessions. Instead, the delegates had been tasked by Nanjing to anticipate the post-conference landscape and to actively seek ways to encourage Europe and America to support Soviet military action against Japan.   China, long reliant on Germany as a diplomatic partner, increasingly felt betrayed, not just by Germany, but also by its fascist ally, Italy. Consequently, it began looking more favorably upon the Soviet Union, Japan's archrival in Northeast Asia, as its main source of international support. The Soviet Union exhibited a firmer stance than the Western democracies at the Brussels conference, joining China in advocating for collective security in Europe and Asia. On November 15th, a small group of officers from the 10th Army gathered for late-night discussions in an abandoned building north of Hangzhou Bay, where they would effectively decide the fate of China. Yanagawa Heisuke, the commander of the 10th Army, presided over the discussions. Fresh from the battlefield since the beginning of the month, he was eager to escalate the fight, a sentiment echoed among the others. It was an unusual meeting, where officers as low in rank as major were making decisions typically reserved for the highest echelons of political power. The agenda included a pivotal question: Should they adhere to Order No. 600 received from Tokyo a week prior, which instructed them to halt their advance along a line from Suzhou to Jiaxing? Or, should they disregard these explicit orders and push forward to seize Nanjing? While the Japanese Army had failed to completely annihilate the Chinese forces around Shanghai, there was a consensus that their adversary was now reeling from recent setbacks, presenting an opportune moment to strike decisively and secure a swift victory. The only remaining question was how aggressively to pursue this goal. Colonel Terada Masao, a senior staff officer within the 10th Army, spoke first. “The Chinese Army is currently retreating toward the capital. We should cross that line and pursue the enemy straight to Nanjing.” Major Iketani Hanjiro, a staff officer recently attached to the fast-moving 6th Division, then offered his input “From a tactical perspective, I completely agree with Terada that we should cross the line, but the decision to attack Nanjing should be considered not just tactically, but also politically. It's not that field commanders can't create a fait accompli to pressure our superiors in Tokyo. However, we must proceed with great caution”. A staff officer raised this question  “What if Tokyo orders us to pull back those smaller units?” Iketani responded “In that case, we will, of course, withdraw them to this side of the line”. Ultimately, Iketani's cautions were set aside, and Terada's aggressive approach prevailed. The majority agreed that the tactical circumstances presented a rare opportunity. Japanese troops in the Shanghai area were poised to advance west, not through small, individual skirmishes but with a substantial deployment of their forces. Officers estimated that if a decisive push was made immediately, Nanjing could fall into Japanese hands within 20 days. However Colonel Kawabe Torashiro, the newly appointed chief of the Army General Staff's Operations Section suddenly arrived at the theater. He was sent on a mission to assess whether the Central China Area Army should be granted greater operational freedom. It was well known in Tokyo that field officers were eager to capitalize on the momentum created by the collapse of Chinese defenses around Shanghai. Kawabe's task was to explore the possibility of allowing forces to cross the line from Suzhou to Jiaxing and move westward in pursuit of the retreating enemy. However, Kawabe was staunchly opposed to further military adventures in China. Kawabe was part of the dwindling faction of "China doves" within the Japanese military. As early as the summer of 1937, he had become alarmed by a letter from a civilian Japanese visitor to the Chinese mainland, warning that Japanese officers were attempting to engineer an “incident” with China to provoke open conflict. This would provide Japan with a pretext to expand its influence in northern China. Kawabe had attempted to alert his superiors, but his warnings fell on deaf ears. They had been lulled into a false sense of security by reports from China that dismissed all talk of war-mongering as baseless and alarmist. When he arrived to the front he stated “I am here to inspect conditions on the ground so that a final decision can be made on where to establish the operational restriction line”. Alongside him came General Akira Muto, recently appointed the commander of the Central China Area Army. He also happened to be one of the architects of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. Muto responded promptly: “The line currently stretches from Suzhou to Jiaxing, but we should consider crossing it. This will help us achieve our overall objectives in the theater.” Muto continued, arguing that the 10th Army should be permitted to advance to Huzhou, south of Lake Tai, effectively cutting off communications between Nanjing and the strategic city of Hangzhou. He further claimed that the Shanghai Expeditionary Force should be allowed to capture the vital city of Jiangyin, suggesting, perhaps overly optimistically, that its loss could lead to the fall of Chiang Kai-shek. Ultimately, Muto insisted, Nanjing should also be seized, which he asserted would bring an end to the war. Kawabe listened patiently, a practice he would repeat in the following days as other field officers echoed similar sentiments, eagerly expressing their desire to advance all the way to Nanjing. Yanagawa and his 10th Army exemplified this aggressive mindset. Nevertheless, just as the hawks within the Japanese military and the nation's political leadership appeared to be prevailing in the struggle over China policy, they faced unexpected challenges from a different direction. Germany, a power with ambiguous sympathies in East Asia, was quietly engaged in negotiations aimed at bringing peace. Oskar Trautmann, Germany's ambassador to China, had maintained an objective and neutral stance when he met with Chiang Kai-shek in early November to relay Japan's conditions for initiating peace talks. These conditions included extensive concessions in northern China, such as the withdrawal of all Chinese troops to a line south of Beijing and the establishment of a pro-Japanese regime in Inner Mongolia, bordering the Soviet-controlled Mongolian People's Republic. Chiang dismissed these demands outright, but Trautmann and his superiors in Beijing continued their top-secret efforts. Germany's motivation for seeking an end to the Sino-Japanese War was not rooted in a genuine love for peace, but rather in their embarrassment over witnessing their old Asian ally, China, fighting against their new partner, Japan. Herman Göring, president of the Reichstag and a leading figure in the Nazi party, told a Chinese visitor, “China and Japan are both friends of Germany. The Sino-Japanese War has put Germany between Scylla and Charybdis. That's why Germany is ready to seize the chance to become a mediator.” Germany also feared that a prolonged conflict in China could jeopardize its commercial interests in East Asia and weaken Japan's capacity to confront the Soviet Union, potentially freeing Moscow to allocate more resources to a fight in Europe. In essence, continued hostilities could significantly harm Germany. Japanese field commanders were frustrated by Germany's mediation efforts.  When news of Trautmann's mission leaked, the German diplomat faced severe criticism in the Chinese media, which deemed any negotiation with the "Japanese devils" unacceptable. Additionally, there was the matter of China's ties with the Soviet Union; employing a German mediator raised the possibility of cooperation among China, Japan, and Germany, potentially expanding the anti-Soviet bloc, which would, in turn, pressure Moscow to increase its support for China. By mid-November, however, the complexities of this diplomatic game started unraveling and then Japan took action. At 7:00 am on November 19, Yanagawa issued instructions to his troops in the field. “The enemy's command system is in disarray, and a mood of defeat has descended over their entire army. They have lost the will to fight. The main Chinese forces were retreating west of the line stretching from Suzhou to Jiaxing, and this withdrawal was soon likely to spiral into a full-scale retreat. We must not miss the opportunity to pursue the enemy to Nanjing.” I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. Shanghai had fallen, and the Japanese forces pursued their fleeing enemy further west. However they had orders to halt, but would they? Officers from top down deliberating on the issue, with the vast majority pushing for a drive to Nanjing. They thought it represented the end objective of the conflict. They would all be very wrong. 

Dr. Larry P. Arnn, President of Hillsdale College, joins Hugh Hewitt on the Hillsdale Dialogues to continue a series on The Second World War, Churchill's sprawling memoir and history of World War II in six volumes.Release date: 15 August 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello to you listening in London, England!Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds (and a bit more for courage) for Motivate Your Monday and your host, Diane Wyzga.It's true what they say: "A story grows in the gaps where the facts fall short." 47 and his cabal are exploiting the gaps to create cruel and obscene stories because they have no facts.Headlines that repeat 47's cruel and obscene stories like reign of terror, being on the eve of destruction, days of the dictator, subservience to the sociopath, and so on reinforce these stories. The more these stories are told without the counterbalance of truth, facts, good news, and how We the People are fighting back, the more these lies will take hold in our exhausted minds because these stories keep on gushing like torrents of water out of a broken fire hydrant.Hear me when I say this: I am no idiot. Treacherous times are alive and afoot. 47 and his criminally complicit cabinet, feckless GOP congress, and subservient SCOTUS on speed dial are after nothing short of the utter desecration of our country. So, We the People must continue to push back, show up, stand up, speak up, fight and ever fight!In the darkest days of World War II when all looked lost in the face of Nazi Germany's advance across Europe and the Dunkirk evacuation, Winston Churchill summoned the will of the British people against those odds.    His famous "We shall fight on the beaches" speech was a galvanizing address delivered to the House of Commons on June 4, 1940.Listen to a portion of history: “The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength. Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.”Imagine the immense sacrifice and effort required of the British people to face the adversity and pummeling hardships of war. And yet, they did with courage and determination, with unwavering resolve to resist the Nazi threat, even to the last person, if necessary.If the British defeated the Nazis - against all odds - who are we not to follow in their footsteps and prevail against the enemy within our shores? We have no Churchill to summon us to battle; but we shall fight and we shall win because We the People are defying them and their obscenely hateful stories.Thank you for listening and making good trouble to liberate the land of the free and the home of the brave.  You're always welcome: "Come for the stories - Stay for the magic!" Speaking of magic, I hope you'll subscribe, share a 5-star rating and nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, bring your friends and rellies, and join us! You will have wonderful company as we continue to walk our lives together. Be sure to stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website, check out the Communication Services, arrange a free, no-sales Discovery Call, and stay current with me as "Wyzga on Words" on Substack. Stories From Women Who Walk Production TeamPodcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story ArtsMusic: Mer's Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron MusicALL content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved.  If you found this podcast episode helpful, please consider sharing and attributing it to Diane Wyzga of Stories From Women Who Walk podcast with a link back to the original source.

The Big Three--Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill--met and conferred together for the first time in November 1943. It was the most important meeting of world leaders since the Paris Peace Conference of 1919.

From the publisher: "An epic, riveting history based on new interviews and research that elucidates the approval, construction, and fateful decision to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.At 8:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945, the Japanese port city of Hiroshima was struck by the world's first atomic bomb. Built in the US by the top-secret Manhattan Project and delivered by a B-29 Superfortress, a revolutionary long-range bomber, the weapon destroyed large swaths of the city, instantly killing tens of thousands. The world would never be the same.The Hiroshima Men's vivid narrative recounts the decade-long journey toward this first atomic attack. It charts the race for the bomb during World War II, as the Allies fought the Axis powers, and is told through several key characters: General Leslie Groves, leader of the Manhattan Project alongside Robert Oppenheimer; pioneering Army Air Force pilot Colonel Paul Tibbets Jr.; the mayor of Hiroshima, Senkichi Awaya, who would die alongside eighty thousand fellow citizens; and Pulitzer Prize–winning writer John Hersey, who traveled to Japan for the New Yorker to expose the devastation the bomb inflicted on the city and to describe in unflinching detail the dangers posed by radiation poisoning.This thrilling account takes the reader from the corridors of power in the White House and the Pentagon to the test sites of New Mexico; from the air war above Germany to the Potsdam Conference of Truman, Churchill, and Stalin; from the savage reconquest of the Pacific to the deadly firebombing air raids across Japan. The Hiroshima Men also includes Japanese perspectives—a vital aspect often missing from Western narratives—to complete Iain MacGregor's nuanced, deeply human account of the bombing's meaning and aftermath."Ian MacGregor's website can be found at: https://iainmacgregor.com/Information on his book from Simon & Schuster can be found at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Hiroshima-Men/Iain-MacGregor/9781668038048Support our show and Reach out and Read of Tampa Bay at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistoryAxelbankHistory.com is designed by https://www.ellieclairedesigns.com/Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at https://twitter.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://instagram.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://facebook.com/axelbankhistory

Dr. Larry P. Arnn, President of Hillsdale College, joins Hugh Hewitt on the Hillsdale Dialogues to begin a series on The Second World War, Churchill's sprawling memoir and history of World War II in six volumes.Release date: 8 August 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Larry P. Arnn, President of Hillsdale College, joins Hugh Hewitt on the Hillsdale Dialogues to begin a series on The Second World War, Churchill's sprawling memoir and history of World War II in six volumes. Release date: 8 August 2025

Dr. Larry P. Arnn, President of Hillsdale College, joins Hugh Hewitt on the Hillsdale Dialogues to begin a series on The Second World War, Churchill's sprawling memoir and history of World War II in six volumes.Release date: 8 August 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NB To help you visualise: a tonne of gold would be about the size of a beachball, albeit one you couldn't lift, or a medium-sized suitcase. If it were a cube, it would have sides just under 15 inches/37.5 centimetres."The only thing that really frightened me during the war was the U-boat peril."Winston ChurchillNow that France had fallen, it was time for Operation Sea Lion: Germany's invasion of Britain. It would start with air and naval attacks to soften British defences before an amphibious assault. The Battle of Britain was about to begin.Britain had 501 tonnes of gold stored overseas, more than half of which was in Canada—over 10,000 bars. (Head of the Bank of England, Montagu Norman, had been buying Canadian mine production steadily through the 1930s.) But in the vaults of the Bank of England, it had some 1,100 tonnes of gold stored, along with another 800 tonnes stored for other nations. They could not let Adolf Hitler have it.Safety lay on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, but German U-boats were hunting. Over the course of the war, they would sink over 3,000 Allied ships. History was not reassuring either, given the sinking of SS Laurentic in 1917, when some 39 tonnes were lost to the bottom of the ocean just off the coast of Ireland.If you're enjoying this post, please like and share. Thank you:)But beyond keeping the gold from Hitler, Britain needed weapons, food and other war essentials. America's strictly enforced Neutrality Act meant Britain had to pay in gold or US dollars.In 1940, the British people were forced to register any securities — bonds and stock certificates — they owned. The Churchill government, with its newfound wartime powers, then confiscated them and, wishing to ship British wealth to safety in Canada, secretly moved them, along with several hundred tonnes of gold, to the Scottish port of Greenock. (Take note: your wealth is not safe if your country goes to war).From there, in June 1940, they were shipped to Halifax aboard the light cruiser HMS Emerald. HMS Emerald made it. The British treasure was put on trains, with the gold sent to Ottawa, and the securities shipped to Montreal, with the Bank of Canada now acting as a sort of surrogate Bank of England.Buying gold or silver to protect yourself in these ‘interesting' times? I urge you to. The bullion dealer I use and recommend is the Pure Gold Company. Pricing is competitive, quality of service is high. They deliver to the UK, the US, Canada and Europe or you can store your gold with them. More here.But the following month, July 1940, saw the big gamble. 1,500 tonnes of gold were loaded onto five ships. $163 billion worth in today's money. Offshore, they met the battleship HMS Revenge, a cruiser, and three destroyers, which served as their escort across the Atlantic: a flotilla of nine under the command of Admiral Ernest Archer. En route, two ships encountered fog and came to a halt for fear of icebergs. Another had engine trouble and had to drop out of the convoy, to be escorted by HMS Bonaventure. But somehow the mission was a success. Not a single bar went missing. It was the largest treasure shipment in history, either by land or sea.At one point, it was thought three cases were missing, but a mess steward who overheard a conversation between two officers said he had been tripping over something in the kitchen: three boxes had been stored among the whisky. Most of the gold was spent buying weapons and other essentials from the US, and never made it back to the UK.Perhaps they needn't have bothered. Over the next months, to the surprise of many, the Royal Air Force successfully defended British airspace against the German Luftwaffe. Victory in the Battle of Britain would be a turning point in the war. In September 1940, Hitler shelved Operation Sea Lion and his plans to invade Britain. He had other battles to fight.Stories like this fill the pages of The Secret History of Gold (although this one didn't actually make the cut).The Secret History of Gold is available to pre-order at Amazon, Waterstones and all good bookshops. I hear the audiobook, read by me, is excellent. The book comes out on August 28.Hurry! Amazon is currently offering 20% off. Until next time,Dominic This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theflyingfrisby.com/subscribe

As Churchill once said, "Truth must be surrounded by a bodyguard of lies," and this is never more true in wartime (or a presidential campaign). This week we discuss a deception operation during World War Two, its effect on the war, and the anatomy of both humans and the continent of Europe!We love hearing from you, so post your comments, questions, and ideas for new pop quizzes below.

In this podcast Richard Lucas interviews Marcus Gibson, author of The Greatest Force: How RAF Bomber Command Became the No.1 Factor in Britain's Total, Destructive Defeat of Nazi Germany (2025) in which he argues that RAF Bomber Command was the No.1 factor in Germany's defeat. Far from being ineffective and too costly, the book argues that the direct and indirect effects of bombing were instrumental in Germany's defeat. Gibson explains his motivations to write the book, argue that the Bomber Command are victims of a great injustice in the received view of their historical role, that the immense sacrifice of the air crews were not in vain, Among points that those interested in WW2 History may not have come across elsewhere was the large scale bombing of military targets, that better pilot training could have saved many lives, that the allies failed to appreciate how much impact bombing German coal mines could have played, and the advantages of the Mosquito over other available aircraft. The case of a re-evaluation of the Dresden raid in comparison to the Soviet assault on Breslau (now Wrocław) is powerfully made and that Churchill, Harris and Portal were largely united in their view that strategic bombing was the right way to take the war to Germany. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

Jak z więźnia wojennego stać się bohaterem narodu?

In this episode of Genetics in Your World, GSA Early Career Scientist Multimedia Subcommittee member Faye Romero interviews Dr. Gary Churchill of the Jackson Laboratory about longevity-associated loci in diversity outbred mice. Read Dr. Churchill's paper titled, “Analysis of lifespan across diversity outbred mouse studies identifies multiple longevity-associated loci,” published in the August 2025 issue of G3: Genes|Genomes|Genetics: https://doi.org/10.1093/genetics/iyaf081Music: Loopster Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ukraines præsident, Volodymyr Zelenskyj, har længe haft heltestatus i Vesten. Han er blevet kaldt en moderne Churchill – en nutidig heltefigur. Men denne sommer, 22. juli, vedtog Ukraines parlament en lov, der placerede landets to vigtigste antikorruptionsorganer under præsidentens kontrol. Internationalt var der vrede og bekymring, og i Ukraine gik folk på gaden i protest mod loven og mod præsidenten, der siden har skyndt sig at genindføre organernes uafhængighed. Men er skaden sket? Gæst: Simon Kruse, Berlingskes sikkerhedspolitiske korrespondent Vært: Anne Sofie AllarpSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 People will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think.The victim of mind-manipulation does not know that he is a victim. To him, the walls of his prison are invisible, and he believes himself to be free.Medical science has made such tremendous progress that there is hardly a healthy human left.The deepest sin against the human mind is to believe things without evidence.Never have so many been manipulated so much by so few.... the greater part of the population is not very intelligent, dreads responsibility, and desires nothing better than to be told what to do. Provided the rulers do not interfere with its material comforts and its cherished beliefs, it is perfectly happy to let itself be ruled.The propagandist's purpose is to make one set of people forget that certain other sets of people are human.Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens to you.Reality cannot be ignored except at a price; and the longer the ignorance is persisted in, the higher and more terrible becomes the price that must be paid.There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self.This Power Elite directly employs several millions of the country´s working force in its factories, offices and stores, controls many millions more by lending them the money to buy its products, and, through its ownership of the media of mass communication, influences the thoughts, the feelings and the actions of virtually everybody. To parody the words of W. Churchill, never have so many been manipulated so much by few.Dictators can always consolidate their tyranny by an appeal to patriotism.Most ignorance is vincible ignorance. We don't know because we don't want to know.The question of the next generation will not be one of how to liberate the masses, but rather, how to make them love their servitude.People often ask me what is the most effective technique for transforming their life. It is a little embarrassing that after years and years of research and experimentation, I have to say that the best answer is - just be a little kinder.Love casts out fear; but conversely fear casts out love. And not only love. Fear also casts out intelligence, casts out goodness, casts out all thought of beauty and truth.If most of us remain ignorant of ourselves, it is because self-knowledge is painful and we prefer the pleasures of illusion.My Video:  Quotes Aldous Huxley  https://youtu.be/WP90lcPVNHEMy Audio: https://divinesuccess.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/Podcast4/Quotes-Aldous-Huxley.mp3

Rory Sutherlandtook a TOTALLY new angle to this conversationRory like you've never heard him before.ON THE MENU:Bottle Neck Theory: how brands can use Bottle Neck Theory to grow their brand, Bottle necks will moveThe 7th Law of Persuasion: “Confession works well in the church and well in the advertising room”Bryon Sharp: Mental Availability vs. Physical Availability: most brands struggle with one or the otherNassim Taleb, KFC Salads,Marketeers Need to think like M16 Detectives: We need more models, Cop DNA model you need different modelsNassim Taleb Predicatablity vs. Randomness in Brand Building: Exposure to natural variation in stimulus is healthy for humansWill Guidara Pursue Contradictory Goals “Excellence & Hospitality” + “Surprise & Consistency”How Couples Sexting in 1980'sChurchill's Marketing Secrets to win world war twoSmart answers lie in dumb questionsM16 and Bletchley Park Hiring tactics for Challenger Brands: Hire someone who's mentally unusual, then find a role for themJOB Descriptions are DUMB. Hire someone who's mentally unusual, then find a role for themA lot of people do nothing, some people do a lotJust because it makes sense, doesn't make it trueWe underestimate the power of randomness in Everyday lifeRick Rubin: You're measured on your outputs “Distraction is not procrastination”What are we trying to do here really?Exposure to natural variation in stimulus is healthy for humansHow this plays into branding, I.e. predictability vs randomnes.18.Engineering solutions are deterministic, Change behaviour it's cheaper, probabilistic19. The Disney Question: just because it makes sense, doesn't mean it's true.20. The Dunbar Number No One Can Make Meaningful Relationships Past 150 People Humans Can Only Have About 150 Friends Max ==============================================

“Plans are of little importance, but planning is essential” That quote from Winston Churchill perfectly captures the dilemma we face when it comes to planning.  You can subscribe to this podcast on:  Podbean | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify | TUNEIN Links: Email Me | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Linkedin The Time-Based Productivity Course Get Your Copy Of Your Time, Your Way: Time Well Managed, Life Well Lived The Time Sector System 5th Year Anniversary The Working With… Weekly Newsletter Carl Pullein Learning Centre Carl's YouTube Channel Carl Pullein Coaching Programmes Subscribe to my Substack  The Working With… Podcast Previous episodes page Script | 379 Hello, and welcome to episode 379 of the Your Time, Your Way Podcast. A podcast to answer all your questions about productivity, time management, self-development, and goal planning. My name is Carl Pullein, and I am your host of this show. Planning and organising have their place. Yet, there is a danger of taking them too far and using them as an excuse or as a way to procrastinate.  Ultimately, whatever you are planning to do will eventually need to be done. The goal, therefore, is to get to the doing part as quickly as possible.  One of the dangers of David Allen's Getting Things Done book, is the emphasis on organising and doing the weekly review. It's a procrastinators heaven. An authority in the the productivity space giving you “permission” to spend two to four hours a week planning and reviewing and another large proportion of your time organising and reorganising your lists.  Don't get me wrong. Both planning and organising have their place and as Winston Churchill says, “planning is essential”, but it's a thin line between helpful and unhelpful planning and organising. In today's episode, I will share with you some ideas that you can use to ensure that you are following some sound principles with your planning and reviewing.  So, that means it's time to hand you over to the Mystery Podcast Voice for this week's question. This week's question comes from Sally. Sally asks, hi Carl, I'm struggling to get myself organised. I have so many things on my desk and on my computer's desktop I don't know where to start. I feel like all I do all day is plan what to do and tidy up my lists. How do you avoid over planning and organising?  Hi Sally, thank you for your question. Firstly, I must admit I have been down this road of over-planning and organising.  I read Getting Things Done in 2009 and loved it. I ditched my Franklin Planner, the “tool” I had been using consistently for over fifteen years, bought myself a nice Quo Vadis notebook (the paper quality was better than Moleskine) and spent a whole weekend setting up the notebook as a GTD tool.  I also printed out the GTD weekly review checklist from David Allen's website and stuck that into the back go my planner and became a GTDer.  It took me seven years to realise that I wasn't getting anything significant done. I had a lot of ideas, plans and goals, yet all I seemed to be doing was reviewing, planning and doing the easy things from my context lists.  Replying to emails was much easier than sitting down to write the first chapter of the book I wanted to write. Spending more time mind mapping the presentation I had to give on Friday seemed more important than opening up Keynote and designing the presentation.  Yet, ironically, it was an end of year review that forced me to face up to reality and see that while I was excellent at planning and reviewing, I had become terrible at doing the work.  And this is one of the most common problem areas I see with many of my coaching clients. The fixation on having everything perfectly organised and planned.  You see, the problem here is not that everything is neatly organised and you have the plans to do whatever it is you want to do. The problem is nothing is being done to do those plans.  While I was working on my recent Time-Based Productivity course, the project note I had for it was a mess. I had a lot of notes, ideas and thoughts. Yet, I maintained a strict next actions list at the top of the project note as well as links to the documents I was working on.  It didn't matter that below those items was a horror show of ill-thought out ideas and random thoughts. They were there in case I got stuck somewhere. What mattered was the important information was clear and at the top of the note.  The note was designed so that the work got done. It was not designed to look pretty.  I've seen clients with thirty page Word documents detailing their department's plans for the year. It's written in some vague management language that leaves a lot to interpretation. It's as Winston Churchill once said of a similar document from the government's treasury department: “This paper, by its very length, defends itself from ever being read.” You can spend hours going through a document like that, and nothing will ever get done.  What matters is knowing what the department's objectives are and what needs to be done to accomplish them.  That does not need thirty pages. That can be summarised on one page, at most.  If you're working in an organisation that loves using management speak to communicate their ill-thought through ideas, one of the best ways to navigate these documents is to establish what the ultimate goal is.  What are the targets, or in management speak “KPI's” (Key Performance Indicators)? Once you know how you or your department will be measured, you can use your own experience and knowledge to put in place a plan to achieve those targets.  Ultimately, your boss, and their boss, are concerned about your targets. How you achieve those targets are less important, although they should always be achieved legally, of course.  In many ways translating these verbose annual planning documents is the role of the departmental managers. This means translating them into actionable items so that everyone in the team clearly understands what they are aiming for. This then reduces the necessity of further planning meetings and everyone can get on and achieve the objectives.  And this is the same for individuals.  When we plan things out we are exploring options, considering best ways to do things and perhaps thinking of potential outcomes.  While these exercises do have their place, they cannot replace doing the work.  The objective, therefore, is to figure out as quickly as possible what you need to do to get the work completed.  My wife bought me a new iron and ironing board for my birthday. I love ironing, I find it relaxing. I've learnt that no matter how big the pile of ironing is, the pile is not going to diminish by more planning and strategising. The only way the pile of ironing will shrink is for me to plug my iron in, set up my ironing board and get started.  Now years of ironing has taught me to begin with the clothes that require a cooler setting and finish with clothes that require a hotter setting such as linen shirts. That's experience, although, I remember being taught that one by my grandmother many many years ago.  The final part of this is choosing when to do the ironing. For me, I find ironing after I've been sat down for a long time works best. I'm stood up and have to move around to hang my shirts up after they're ironed. So, doing the ironing in the afternoon or early evening works best for me.  Given that I generally do the ironing once a week, all I need to decide is when. When will I do it? That's the only planning I need to do with something I routinely do.  When it comes to organising, I'm always surprised how so many people have missed one of the best features of computers and technology. It's not so you can sit and stare at a screen for hours on end. It's the speed at which a computer can organise your files.  You can choose to organise your files by date created, date modified, title, type of document or by size. The only thing you need to do is to put the file into a folder.  If you were to keep things as simple as possible, two folders one for your personal life and one for your professional life would work. (And I know a lot of people who do just that and can find anything they need with the use of a keyboard shortcut or a few typed letters.  While travelling last month, I had all my flight confirmation emails and car hire documents stored in Evernote in its own notebook. Before we set off, I made sure this notebook was downloaded to my phone so that no matter where I was in the world, I was not going to be relying on flakey internet.  This meant, when we finally reached the car hire desk at 11 p.m. At Dublin Airport, all I needed to do was open Evernote, type Europcar in the search and all my details we instantly on my screen ready to show the assistant.  Most notes apps people are using today have incredibly powerful search features built in. Evernote was build on its search features. I'm frequently amazed at how quickly Evernote can find something I vaguely think might be in there.  I remember my wife trying to sort something out for me on a Korean website while we were sitting in cafe. She asked me if I remembered my password for a particular website I had not used for over ten years.  I opened up Evernote and typed in the name of the website and in less than second the login and password details were there. My brain cannot work that fast when trying to recall something from ten years ago.  What this means is you do not need to spend days or months trying to come up with a “perfect” notes organisation system. You could quite easily operate on a simple professional and personal folder system.  You'd still be able to find anything you were looking for, and all you would need to do is to learn how to use the search features.  So, Sally, if you want to get things organised, let your computer do the work for you. Start by creating a simple folder structure of personal and work, and organise your documents there first.  As you're doing this I would add that you ensure the title of the documents and files are clear. Sometimes we download something from the internet and we end up with a jumble of letters and numbers. While your computer will be able to tell you when you downloaded it and what the file type is, it won't be able to tell you what it is. That part of the organising process is on you.  If you wish to have a little more structure than simply personal and professional you can modify things later. The goal here is to begin the cleaning up process.  And don't forget the delete key. It's your best friend when cleaning up.  Once you've tidied everything up and you know where everything is, when it comes to what to do next will naturally follow.  This organising may take you a weekend to do. Yet, that investment in time will be well worth it. You'll feel less anxious, lighter and will have begun developing confidence in your system. That's a very nice place to be.  I hope that has helped, Sally. Thank you for your question and thank you to you too for listening. It just remains for me to wish you a very very productive week.   

Don't Stop Believing, Part 3 A sermon by Pastor Richard Sfameni, Lead Pastor at Victory Church in Providence, RI I. Introduction Welcome and purpose of the podcast: sharing powerful messages from services. Victory Church's mission: reaching the lost, restoring the broken, reviving believers. Call to engagement: readiness to receive the Word of God. Message title: "Don't Stop Believing" (better phrased as "Keep Believing"). Central theme: The necessity and critical importance of living by faith. II. The Nature and Gift of Faith Biblical definition: Faith as the “substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is confidence in God's promises and His character. Every believer has a “seed/measure” of faith—faith given by God (Romans 12). Faith as a muscle: grows stronger through use, challenges, and spiritual exercise. Warning against comparing levels of faith among believers. Personal testimony: growth through spiritual trials and resistance, analogy to physical training. III. The Importance of Faith (Scriptural Emphasis) Essential for pleasing God: “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). Two elements: belief that God exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. Faith is required in every circumstance; God knows individual limits and provides grace for endurance. IV. Faith as the Primary Metric in the Church Examination of Paul's concern for faith in the church (1 Thessalonians 3). Paul's repeated focus on the faith of the congregation rather than external measures. What Paul didn't emphasize: not the size, budget, or facilities of the church. Critique of cultural (non-biblical) values in assessing church success. Dangers of equating “bigness” or material signs with spiritual greatness. Examples: 85% of American churches have fewer than 200 people, illustrating that size is not the key measure. Example from church history: Charles Spurgeon's conversion in a small chapel, demonstrating greatness is about spiritual impact, not size. V. Keeping Faith Central The importance of keeping “the main thing the main thing”—focus on the growth and exercise of faith. Individuals and churches must prioritize spiritual metrics over worldly metrics. VI. Lessons from the Heroes of Faith Review of “the cloud of witnesses” in Hebrews 11-12. Faith exemplars: those who faced challenges and saw God's faithfulness. The value of biographies/autobiographies of Christians for practical insights into a life of faith. Example: George Mueller's dependence on faith for provision. Recognition of current church members as examples of faith and faithfulness. VII. Hindrances to Faith Identifying and “laying aside every weight”: Bitterness, unforgiveness, distractions, and past failures. Analogy of running a race: shed anything that slows spiritual progress. Biblical example: Paul “forgets what is behind and presses on.” The need for “divine forgetfulness” and remembrance of what matters (the cross, God's promises). VIII. Perseverance of Faith Faith requires perseverance, endurance—keep moving forward despite obstacles and struggles. Examples of perseverance from secular figures (Walt Disney, Einstein, Churchill, Lincoln) to illustrate endurance. Claim: with the Spirit of God, believers have even greater potential for perseverance. Encouragement for listeners to resolve to succeed and trust in God's enabling power. IX. The Focus of Faith: Fixing Eyes on Jesus The source and goal (“author and finisher”) of faith is Jesus. Spiritual direction comes from focusing on Christ—not on people or circumstances. Analogy: Just as a runner focuses on the finish line, Christians must fix their gaze on Jesus. Biblical example: Peter walking on water by looking at Jesus, sinking when distracted by the storm (Matthew 14). Isaiah 26:3—Perfect peace comes from “mind stayed on Thee.” Hymn: “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” used to reinforce the point. The danger of spiritual distraction; importance of continual refocusing on Christ. X. The Cross as Spiritual North Point Story: Beach analogy—currents can pull us off course unnoticed, requiring realignment. The cross of Christ as a central, guiding reference for believers. Regular course corrections are necessary due to “the currents” of worldly distractions and sin. Importance of always coming back to Christ and the cross. XI. Application and Call to Action Self-examination: Is your faith growing? Are you focused on Jesus? Urge to lay aside distractions/weights and make the necessary spiritual adjustments. Invitaton for reflection, response, prayer, and renewed commitment as the service closes.

In this podcast Richard Lucas interviews Marcus Gibson, author of The Greatest Force: How RAF Bomber Command Became the No.1 Factor in Britain's Total, Destructive Defeat of Nazi Germany (2025) in which he argues that RAF Bomber Command was the No.1 factor in Germany's defeat. Far from being ineffective and too costly, the book argues that the direct and indirect effects of bombing were instrumental in Germany's defeat. Gibson explains his motivations to write the book, argue that the Bomber Command are victims of a great injustice in the received view of their historical role, that the immense sacrifice of the air crews were not in vain, Among points that those interested in WW2 History may not have come across elsewhere was the large scale bombing of military targets, that better pilot training could have saved many lives, that the allies failed to appreciate how much impact bombing German coal mines could have played, and the advantages of the Mosquito over other available aircraft. The case of a re-evaluation of the Dresden raid in comparison to the Soviet assault on Breslau (now Wrocław) is powerfully made and that Churchill, Harris and Portal were largely united in their view that strategic bombing was the right way to take the war to Germany. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/british-studies

If there's one thing Candace Parker does best, it's winning. In today's episode, Ryan sits down with basketball legend Candace Parker to talk about championships, pressure, and what it takes to be one of the greats. Candace talks about how being elite changes the way you see the world (and yourself), why winning never really feels like enough, and what happens when your whole identity is built around being the best. She opens up about legacy, ambition, parenting, and why she doesn't go a year without reading The Alchemist. Candace Parker is one of the most influential athletes of all time. After being selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks, following a champion career at Tennessee, Parker went on to become the first player to earn WNBA MVP and Rookie of the Year honors in the same season, win three WNBA championship titles, and take home two Olympic gold medals. Be sure to grab a copy of Candace's book: The Can-Do Mindset: How to Cultivate Resilience, Follow Your Heart, and Fight for Your Passions Follow Candace on Instagram and X @CandaceParker

In this podcast Richard Lucas interviews Marcus Gibson, author of The Greatest Force: How RAF Bomber Command Became the No.1 Factor in Britain's Total, Destructive Defeat of Nazi Germany (2025) in which he argues that RAF Bomber Command was the No.1 factor in Germany's defeat. Far from being ineffective and too costly, the book argues that the direct and indirect effects of bombing were instrumental in Germany's defeat. Gibson explains his motivations to write the book, argue that the Bomber Command are victims of a great injustice in the received view of their historical role, that the immense sacrifice of the air crews were not in vain, Among points that those interested in WW2 History may not have come across elsewhere was the large scale bombing of military targets, that better pilot training could have saved many lives, that the allies failed to appreciate how much impact bombing German coal mines could have played, and the advantages of the Mosquito over other available aircraft. The case of a re-evaluation of the Dresden raid in comparison to the Soviet assault on Breslau (now Wrocław) is powerfully made and that Churchill, Harris and Portal were largely united in their view that strategic bombing was the right way to take the war to Germany. 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

In this podcast Richard Lucas interviews Marcus Gibson, author of The Greatest Force: How RAF Bomber Command Became the No.1 Factor in Britain's Total, Destructive Defeat of Nazi Germany (2025) in which he argues that RAF Bomber Command was the No.1 factor in Germany's defeat. Far from being ineffective and too costly, the book argues that the direct and indirect effects of bombing were instrumental in Germany's defeat. Gibson explains his motivations to write the book, argue that the Bomber Command are victims of a great injustice in the received view of their historical role, that the immense sacrifice of the air crews were not in vain, Among points that those interested in WW2 History may not have come across elsewhere was the large scale bombing of military targets, that better pilot training could have saved many lives, that the allies failed to appreciate how much impact bombing German coal mines could have played, and the advantages of the Mosquito over other available aircraft. The case of a re-evaluation of the Dresden raid in comparison to the Soviet assault on Breslau (now Wrocław) is powerfully made and that Churchill, Harris and Portal were largely united in their view that strategic bombing was the right way to take the war to Germany. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/german-studies

This Pudding Has No Theme: Kevin Hinchey Fifty-first Episode: Kevin is a graduate of Fairfield University and NYU's Graduate Film School, a writer, a film professor, a filmmaker, a screenwriter, and was a member of the Writers Guild of America (West) in California for nearly 40 years. He's also one of the most prolific storytellers I know. Most recently he was the co-director, writer, and researcher of the documentary film, Love, Work and Knowledge: The Life and Trials of Wilhelm Reich. He's currently writing a play about Ulysses S. Grant. Kevin has been a friend for more than 30 years. He once told me that, in expressing his dissatisfaction with a dessert, Winston Churchill is reputed to have said, “This pudding has no theme.” When I invited Kevin to join me on The Anxious Voyage, he accepted on the condition that we adopt Churchill's expression as our theme for the show. And so, we shall. Please join us for a themeless hour of stories, banter, friendship, and creativity. Video Version: https://www.youtube.com/live/t01TXwSJJ6o?si=VvbebMPR7aNIl66A Learn more about Mark here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4cXoftnMYJ7bREYG-K9eng https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-anxious-voyage/about/?viewAsMember=true https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095313165139 https://www.linkedin.com/in/markobrien/ https://www.facebook.com/MarkNelsonOBrien https://www.facebook.com/MartinTheMarlin/ mark@obriencg.com

Charles de Gaulle is one of the greatest figures of twentieth century history. If Sir Winston Churchill was (in the words of Harold Macmillan) the "greatest Englishman In history", then Charles de Gaulle was without a doubt, the greatest Frenchman since Napoleon Bonaparte. Why so? In the early summer of 1940, when France was overrun by German troops, one junior general who had fought in the trenches in Verdun refused to accept defeat. He fled to London, where he took to the radio to address his compatriots back home. “Whatever happens,” he said, “the flame of French resistance must not be extinguished and will not be extinguished.” At that moment, Charles de Gaulle entered history. For the rest of the war, de Gaulle insisted he and his Free French movement were the true embodiment of France. Through sheer force of his personality and the grandeur of his vision of France, he inspired French men and women to risk their lives to resist the Nazi occupation. Usually proud and aloof, but almost always confident in his own leadership, he quarreled violently with Churchill, Roosevelt and many of his own countrymen. Yet they knew they would need his help to rebuild a shattered France. Thanks to de Gaulle, France was recognized as one of the victorious Allies when Germany was finally defeated. Then, as President of the Fifth Republic, he brought France back from the brink of a civil war over the war in Algeria. And, made the difficult decision to end the self-same war. Thereafter he challenged American hegemony, took France out of NATO, and twice vetoed British entry into the European Community in his pursuit of what he called “a certain idea of France.” Julian Jackson, Professor of History at Queen Mary College, University of London, past winner of the Wolfson History Prize and the winner in 2018 of the Paris Book Award for his book on De Gaulle--De Gaulle (Harvard University Press, 2018)--has written a magnificent biography, the first major reconsideration in over twenty years. Drawing on the extensive resources of the recently opened de Gaulle archives, Jackson reveals the conservative roots of de Gaulle's intellectual formation and upbringing, sheds new light on his relationship with Churchill, and shows how de Gaulle confronted riots at home and violent independence movements abroad from the Middle East to Vietnam. No previous biography has so vividly depicted this towering figure whose legacy remains evident in present-day France. In short Professor Jackson has written a superb book, which in every way possible is a glittering ornament in the biographical art. Charles Coutinho holds a doctorate in history from New York University. Where he studied with Tony Judt, Stewart Stehlin and McGeorge Bundy. His Ph. D. dissertation was on Anglo-American relations in the run-up to the Suez Crisis of 1956. His area of specialization is 19th and 20th-century European, American diplomatic and political history. It you have a recent title to suggest for a podcast, please send an e-mail to Charlescoutinho@aol.com.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

Dr. Larry P. Arnn, President of Hillsdale College, joins Hugh Hewitt on the Hillsdale Dialogues for his series on "Churchill the Writer." On this episode, Dr. Arnn and Hugh continue their discussion of My Early Life, which covers Winston Churchill’s life from 1874-1904.Release date: 25 July 2025 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Larry P. Arnn, President of Hillsdale College, joins Hugh Hewitt on the Hillsdale Dialogues for his series on “Churchill the Writer.” On this episode, Dr. Arnn and Hugh continue their discussion of My Early Life, which covers Winston Churchill's life from 1874-1904.

Dr. Larry P. Arnn, President of Hillsdale College, joins Hugh Hewitt on the Hillsdale Dialogues for his series on "Churchill the Writer." On this episode, Dr. Arnn and Hugh continue their discussion of My Early Life, which covers Winston Churchill’s life from 1874-1904.Release date: 25 July 2025 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was one of the most dramatic political upsets in British history. Just weeks after leading Britain to victory in Europe, wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill was defeated in a landslide by Clement Attlee and the Labour Party in the 1945 general election. How did the Conservatives lose so decisively? What did Labour offer that resonated so strongly with a war-weary public? And how did this election shape the foundations of Britain's modern welfare state?For this, we're joined by David Runciman, host of 'Past Present Future' and 'Postwar', a 20-part series for Radio 4 that explores the seismic 1945 election. Dan and David discuss the personalities, policies, and pivotal moments that brought about the dawn of a new age.Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore.Join Dan and the team for a special LIVE recording of Dan Snow's History Hit on Friday, 12th September 2025! To celebrate 10 years of the podcast, Dan is putting on a special show of signature storytelling, never-before-heard anecdotes from his often stranger-than-fiction career, as well as answering the burning questions you've always wanted to ask!Get tickets here, before they sell out: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/dan-snows-history-hit/We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on.You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com.

Charles de Gaulle is one of the greatest figures of twentieth century history. If Sir Winston Churchill was (in the words of Harold Macmillan) the "greatest Englishman In history", then Charles de Gaulle was without a doubt, the greatest Frenchman since Napoleon Bonaparte. Why so? In the early summer of 1940, when France was overrun by German troops, one junior general who had fought in the trenches in Verdun refused to accept defeat. He fled to London, where he took to the radio to address his compatriots back home. “Whatever happens,” he said, “the flame of French resistance must not be extinguished and will not be extinguished.” At that moment, Charles de Gaulle entered history. For the rest of the war, de Gaulle insisted he and his Free French movement were the true embodiment of France. Through sheer force of his personality and the grandeur of his vision of France, he inspired French men and women to risk their lives to resist the Nazi occupation. Usually proud and aloof, but almost always confident in his own leadership, he quarreled violently with Churchill, Roosevelt and many of his own countrymen. Yet they knew they would need his help to rebuild a shattered France. Thanks to de Gaulle, France was recognized as one of the victorious Allies when Germany was finally defeated. Then, as President of the Fifth Republic, he brought France back from the brink of a civil war over the war in Algeria. And, made the difficult decision to end the self-same war. Thereafter he challenged American hegemony, took France out of NATO, and twice vetoed British entry into the European Community in his pursuit of what he called “a certain idea of France.” Julian Jackson, Professor of History at Queen Mary College, University of London, past winner of the Wolfson History Prize and the winner in 2018 of the Paris Book Award for his book on De Gaulle--De Gaulle (Harvard University Press, 2018)--has written a magnificent biography, the first major reconsideration in over twenty years. Drawing on the extensive resources of the recently opened de Gaulle archives, Jackson reveals the conservative roots of de Gaulle's intellectual formation and upbringing, sheds new light on his relationship with Churchill, and shows how de Gaulle confronted riots at home and violent independence movements abroad from the Middle East to Vietnam. No previous biography has so vividly depicted this towering figure whose legacy remains evident in present-day France. In short Professor Jackson has written a superb book, which in every way possible is a glittering ornament in the biographical art. Charles Coutinho holds a doctorate in history from New York University. Where he studied with Tony Judt, Stewart Stehlin and McGeorge Bundy. His Ph. D. dissertation was on Anglo-American relations in the run-up to the Suez Crisis of 1956. His area of specialization is 19th and 20th-century European, American diplomatic and political history. It you have a recent title to suggest for a podcast, please send an e-mail to Charlescoutinho@aol.com.   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

Listen in as I speak with Stephan Kesting—martial artist, author, and serious outdoor adventurer. In this episode, we're diving into highlights from his incredible solo 1,000-mile canoe journey from Missinipe, Saskatchewan to Arviat, Nunavut. He paddled and portaged through some of Canada's most remote wilderness, following the Churchill, Reindeer, Cochrane, and Thlewiaza Rivers, crossing massive lakes like Reindeer and Nueltin, and making his way down through the Barren Lands all the way to the shores of Hudson Bay.It's a wild story of grit, solitude, and survival.If you want the full trip report, check it out at grapplearts.com/solo, and if this kind of adventure speaks to you, Stephan's book Perseverance: Life and Death in the Subarctic is a must-read. https://www.amazon.ca/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612Huge thanks to Mannmade Cycles for sponsoring the My Back 40 PodcastSave 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout.Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout.Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support.Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for keeping me rolling!

Charles de Gaulle is one of the greatest figures of twentieth century history. If Sir Winston Churchill was (in the words of Harold Macmillan) the "greatest Englishman In history", then Charles de Gaulle was without a doubt, the greatest Frenchman since Napoleon Bonaparte. Why so? In the early summer of 1940, when France was overrun by German troops, one junior general who had fought in the trenches in Verdun refused to accept defeat. He fled to London, where he took to the radio to address his compatriots back home. “Whatever happens,” he said, “the flame of French resistance must not be extinguished and will not be extinguished.” At that moment, Charles de Gaulle entered history. For the rest of the war, de Gaulle insisted he and his Free French movement were the true embodiment of France. Through sheer force of his personality and the grandeur of his vision of France, he inspired French men and women to risk their lives to resist the Nazi occupation. Usually proud and aloof, but almost always confident in his own leadership, he quarreled violently with Churchill, Roosevelt and many of his own countrymen. Yet they knew they would need his help to rebuild a shattered France. Thanks to de Gaulle, France was recognized as one of the victorious Allies when Germany was finally defeated. Then, as President of the Fifth Republic, he brought France back from the brink of a civil war over the war in Algeria. And, made the difficult decision to end the self-same war. Thereafter he challenged American hegemony, took France out of NATO, and twice vetoed British entry into the European Community in his pursuit of what he called “a certain idea of France.” Julian Jackson, Professor of History at Queen Mary College, University of London, past winner of the Wolfson History Prize and the winner in 2018 of the Paris Book Award for his book on De Gaulle--De Gaulle (Harvard University Press, 2018)--has written a magnificent biography, the first major reconsideration in over twenty years. Drawing on the extensive resources of the recently opened de Gaulle archives, Jackson reveals the conservative roots of de Gaulle's intellectual formation and upbringing, sheds new light on his relationship with Churchill, and shows how de Gaulle confronted riots at home and violent independence movements abroad from the Middle East to Vietnam. No previous biography has so vividly depicted this towering figure whose legacy remains evident in present-day France. In short Professor Jackson has written a superb book, which in every way possible is a glittering ornament in the biographical art. Charles Coutinho holds a doctorate in history from New York University. Where he studied with Tony Judt, Stewart Stehlin and McGeorge Bundy. His Ph. D. dissertation was on Anglo-American relations in the run-up to the Suez Crisis of 1956. His area of specialization is 19th and 20th-century European, American diplomatic and political history. It you have a recent title to suggest for a podcast, please send an e-mail to Charlescoutinho@aol.com.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biography

Charles de Gaulle is one of the greatest figures of twentieth century history. If Sir Winston Churchill was (in the words of Harold Macmillan) the "greatest Englishman In history", then Charles de Gaulle was without a doubt, the greatest Frenchman since Napoleon Bonaparte. Why so? In the early summer of 1940, when France was overrun by German troops, one junior general who had fought in the trenches in Verdun refused to accept defeat. He fled to London, where he took to the radio to address his compatriots back home. “Whatever happens,” he said, “the flame of French resistance must not be extinguished and will not be extinguished.” At that moment, Charles de Gaulle entered history. For the rest of the war, de Gaulle insisted he and his Free French movement were the true embodiment of France. Through sheer force of his personality and the grandeur of his vision of France, he inspired French men and women to risk their lives to resist the Nazi occupation. Usually proud and aloof, but almost always confident in his own leadership, he quarreled violently with Churchill, Roosevelt and many of his own countrymen. Yet they knew they would need his help to rebuild a shattered France. Thanks to de Gaulle, France was recognized as one of the victorious Allies when Germany was finally defeated. Then, as President of the Fifth Republic, he brought France back from the brink of a civil war over the war in Algeria. And, made the difficult decision to end the self-same war. Thereafter he challenged American hegemony, took France out of NATO, and twice vetoed British entry into the European Community in his pursuit of what he called “a certain idea of France.” Julian Jackson, Professor of History at Queen Mary College, University of London, past winner of the Wolfson History Prize and the winner in 2018 of the Paris Book Award for his book on De Gaulle--De Gaulle (Harvard University Press, 2018)--has written a magnificent biography, the first major reconsideration in over twenty years. Drawing on the extensive resources of the recently opened de Gaulle archives, Jackson reveals the conservative roots of de Gaulle's intellectual formation and upbringing, sheds new light on his relationship with Churchill, and shows how de Gaulle confronted riots at home and violent independence movements abroad from the Middle East to Vietnam. No previous biography has so vividly depicted this towering figure whose legacy remains evident in present-day France. In short Professor Jackson has written a superb book, which in every way possible is a glittering ornament in the biographical art. Charles Coutinho holds a doctorate in history from New York University. Where he studied with Tony Judt, Stewart Stehlin and McGeorge Bundy. His Ph. D. dissertation was on Anglo-American relations in the run-up to the Suez Crisis of 1956. His area of specialization is 19th and 20th-century European, American diplomatic and political history. It you have a recent title to suggest for a podcast, please send an e-mail to Charlescoutinho@aol.com.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/european-studies

(***TIMESTAMPS in description below) ~ Carl Barney is a libertarian philanthropist and former owner of a network of for-profit colleges across the United States. A vocal advocate of Ayn Rand's Objectivism, he has donated millions to promote individual rights, free-market principles, and philosophical education through institutions like the Ayn Rand Institute and the Prometheus Foundation. PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/JulianDorey CARL's LINKS - IG: https://www.instagram.com/thecarlbarney/?hl=en - WEBSITE: carlbarney.com - BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Experiment-Revolutionary-Way-Increase/dp/B0DQ9MTKKD FOLLOW JULIAN DOREY INSTAGRAM (Podcast): https://www.instagram.com/juliandoreypodcast/ INSTAGRAM (Personal): https://www.instagram.com/julianddorey/ X: https://twitter.com/julianddorey ****TIMESTAMPS**** 00:00 – Abbey Road, Ghosts, XPrize, De-Aging, 120 Years, Sleep, Post-WWII England 11:11 – Siblings, Struggle, Dream at 17, Backpacking, Kindness, India, Sri Lanka 17:42 – Family Distance, Travel Wisdom, Curiosity, Bulgaria, Turkey 1959, India 1960, Education 30:31 – Churchill, Australia, Outback Job, America 1964, Energy, Self-Discovery, Late Calling 40:02 – Age 23–39, Soul, Passion Money, Life Design, Sky Not Falling, Wealth ≠ Joy 52:18 – Accidental Wealth, Zen, Education, Gratitude, Ayn Rand, Values, Purpose 59:02 – Management, Career Schools, No Fluff, 1985, $1M Debt, 100 Campuses, Factory Floor 01:09:15 – Higher Ed Crisis, Socialism, Political Drift, Foreign Influence 01:19:16 – Populism, Disenfranchised, Student Debt, Government Mistakes, AI Professors 01:35:20 – AI Brains, “Playing God?”, Human AI, Global Tuition, 24/7 Learning 01:46:23 – Online U, No Fluff, Avatar Debates, Critical Thinking, Reason, Objectivity, Truth 01:56:02 – Non-Profit Model, Gov Pressure, Self-Funded, Happiness 02:06:29 – Baseline Joy, Steve Jobs, Engine Failure, PreQuest, Legacy Gifts 02:16:11 – Near Death, System Issues, Habits, Read. Think. PLAN. 02:26:17 – Elon Musk, Idealism vs Reality CREDITS: - Host, Editor & Producer: Julian Dorey - COO, Producer & Editor: Alessi Allaman - https://www.youtube.com/@UCyLKzv5fKxGmVQg3cMJJzyQ - In-Studio Producer: Joey Deef - https://www.instagram.com/joeydeef/ Julian Dorey Podcast Episode 323 - Carl Barney Music by Artlist.io Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SummaryThis is a sermon every discouraged believer needs to hear. Drawing from the final chapter of Habakkuk, this is a word for every weary warrior in ministry. Even when the fig tree doesn't blossom, when everything's failing, and joy feels like a distant memory — there is still a reason to rejoice.From Winston Churchill's resilience to the pressure of modern ministry, this message walks through the power of gratitude, obedience, and spiritual deliverance as keys to finding joy again. You'll laugh, reflect, and most importantly — be renewed in God's joy.Chapters00:00 - Intro: Next Gen Friday and Churchill's Humor01:55 - The Power of the Happy Warrior04:22 - Habakkuk's Complaint & Collapse of Israel06:40 - Our World Today: A Modern Parallel08:35 - When Ministry Feels Hopeless10:27 - The Exhaustion of Overwork12:43 - When Your Prayers Sound Like Habakkuk14:26 - The Curse of Comparison15:38 - The Pressure of the Hourglass17:08 - Where's the Joy At?20:28 - The Command to Rejoice Always22:04 - Gratitude Sparks Joy25:22 - Obedience Unlocks Joy27:41 - When You Need Deliverance30:32 - Performance Mentality and Joy Thieves32:50 - Becoming a True Happy Warrior34:11 - Joy Gives You Strength36:00 - The Neuroscience of Joy38:17 - What If Joy Is the Secret to Revival?40:07 - Let God Be God — Rejoice41:23 - The Final Word: Draw from the Wells of SalvationShow NotesALL PROCEEDS GO TO WORLD EVANGELISMLocate a CFM Church near you: https://cfmmap.orgWe need five-star reviews! Tell the world what you think about this podcast at: • Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apple.co/3vy1s5b • Podchaser: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/taking-the-land-cfm-sermon-pod-43369

At the heart of Britain's war time alliance was a deep wariness at what the outcome of the war would portend. Churchill was desperate for the USA to enter the war and Roosevelt saw the struggle against fascism as vital to America's security, but the US president like Wilson before him imagined a world without European empires. In this episode we examine James Barr's excellent book Lords of the Desert and explore the origins of wartime Anglo American rivalries in the Middle East.Newsflash: You can find everything Explaining History on Substack, join free hereHelp the podcast to continue bringing you history each weekIf you enjoy the Explaining History podcast and its many years of content and would like to help the show continue, please consider supporting it in the following ways:If you want to go ad-free, you can take out a membership hereOrYou can support the podcast via Patreon hereOr you can just say some nice things about it here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our joy and satisfaction come from talking about prayer. Today, we turn our hearts to focus on the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. The context is again, "Success is never final; failure is never fatal, it is courage, born of faith that counts." ( a slight modification of the Churchill quote.)Our implied example, as we pray for revival in Puerto Rico, is the growth of the church. God's work is not done until every tribe and tongue knows the invitation of salvation. Our express example is the Apostle Paul. In Philippi, Paul, far from the travel, persecution, and beatings of his life, could have kicked back and rested, rejoicing in the spread of the gospel. Yet, he exhorts us to follow his example.:"Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained." Philippians 3:13-16Our So What? We can know what God has wrought for us and through us, but while we are alive, we press on until we see our Savior face to face. "What a man is on his knees before God, that he is and nothing more." Robert Murray M'CheyneeDonation link:https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=G9JGGR5W97D64Or go to www.freerangepreacheronprayer.com and use the Donations tab.Assistant Editor: Seven Jefferson Gossard.www.freerangepreacheronprayer.comfreerangeprayer@gmail.comFacebook - Free Range Preacher MinistriesInstagram: freerangeministriesAll our Scripture quotes are drawn from the NASB 1977 edition.For access to the Voice Over services of Richard Durrington, please visit RichardDurrington.com or email him at Durringtonr@gmail.comOur podcast art was designed by @sammmmmmmmm23 InstagramSeason 007Episode 063

We've heard about Putin bluffing. Abraham Lincoln was an accomplished poker player and Churchill dabbled at chess. But to our mind it is Backgammon that best reflects both politics and life decisions. It's a game of skill, luck, reversals and socializing. So could world leaders use Backgammon to help them develop their empathy, strategic thinking, resilience, and make better decisions? In this conversation, Jason Pack is joined by Marc Olsen – fellow Backgammon Grandmaster, former professional footballer, and the CEO and Founder of Backgammon Galaxy. Together they explore the multifaceted world of Backgammon. They unpack how it is a metaphor for life, decision-making, and the balance between order and disorder.  They discuss Marc's journey from professional football to becoming the CEO of Backgammon Galaxy, the conformism of Scandinavian society, and how a rebellious nature led Marc to discover Austrian school economics. Plus: the emotional aspects of learning through games, the relevance of game theory in the Enduring Disorder, and the unique features of Backgammon that make it a rich learning experience. And as they Order they Disorder – how Backgammon can foster empathy and social skills, and the potential of Backgammon as a tool for cross-cultural connection, especially in the Middle Eastern region. Producer: George McDonagh Subscribe to our Substack - https://natoandtheged.substack.com/ Disorder on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DisorderShow  Show Notes Links: For more on Backgammon Galaxy visit - https://www.backgammongalaxy.com/  To watch the 2024 World Backgammon Championship Final commentated by Marc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d7-ky1bROk  For a very fun video produced by Marc and featuring Jason about the World Backgammon Championship: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TebkgCNS7OI  For Marc on the Gentleman Scofflaw podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-gentleman-scofflaw-podcast/id1216891117?i=1000650103880  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The last few years have awakened many people to just how much we have been lied to. And this realization is causing many on the Right to reevaluate our understanding of history to see what went wrong. This is leading to some productive discussions…and some other discussions that are becoming quite dark. Today we address three points in history to ask the question “Does the revisionist narrative have a point?” Get ready as we question Winston Churchill's legacy, Franco and the Spanish Civil War and Decolonization and Rhodesia. -----⭐ SPONSOR: Good Ranchers Serve only the best meat this summer for your BBQs and pool parties! Over 85% of grass-fed beef sold in U.S. stores is imported, but Good Ranchers offers 100% American-sourced meat, supporting local farms. We eat Good Ranchers every single day and we know you'll love it. Good Ranchers is donating a portion of all July sales to the Texas Flood Relief and Recovery fund. Your purchase will help support Texans and American Ranchers impacted by the floods.

durée : 00:58:51 - Les Grandes Traversées - Les racines du jeune Winston disent tout. Partons donc au Palais de Blenheim, où la lignée des Marlborough, dont Churchill, a vécu et grandit. Ce château, "un peu notre Versailles", raconte un Churchill aventurier, avec une destinée. Né en 1874 au Palais de Blenheim, en Angleterre, Winston Churchill a grandi près de sa grand-mère, bien plus que de ses parents, comme le voulait l'usage parmi les aristocrates de l'époque. Celui que l'on surnommait "le vieux lion" a raconté ses jeunes années dans un livre publié en 1930, My Early life. En observant cette atmosphère marquée par l'imaginaire de la guerre et des batailles à Blenheim, on comprend que le petit Winston était en vérité un "soldat né". L'écrivain en herbe Le poète franco-britannique Michael Edwards évoque la prévalence des mots dans la jeunesse de Churchill : "Son premier souvenir, c'était une phrase. Il dit qu'à l'âge de quatre ans, lorsqu'il était en Irlande, et que son grand-père, le duc de Marlborough, a inauguré, dévoilé une statue à un grand militaire, il a prononcé un discours, et Churchill pense se rappeler une phrase : 'Et d'une salve cinglante, il fracassa les lignes ennemies.' Je trouve ça très intéressant parce que la phrase est merveilleuse. Il se peut que Churchill l'ait un peu réaménagé, mais la phrase est très puissante, très anglaise et très rythmée. Il avait le sens de la langue et il avait acquis, en quelque sorte, toutes les possibilités de l'anglais. Il connaissait les ressources de l'anglais comme un vrai écrivain." Churchill le comique Une fameuse anecdote racontée par le concerné veut que le jeune Winston ait été tout à fait déconcerté par un cours de latin portant sur la déclinaison du mot "mensa", la "table". Alors que son professeur s'efforçait de lui enseigner le vocatif — "mensa" — en expliquant qu'il s'agissait du cas à employer pour s'adresser à l'objet en question, Churchill répondit malicieusement qu'il ne parlait jamais aux tables... "Ce que j'ai remarqué dans ce livre My Early Life, raconte Michael Edwards, c'est que c'est un grand livre comique. La comédie ne le quitte jamais, qu'il parle de l'armée, qu'il aimait énormément, et où il trouvait beaucoup de glamour dans le sens anglais du mot, beaucoup de panache, de couleurs, etc. Ou qu'il parle de l'école, qu'il parle de ses amis politiciens ou qu'il parle de ses discours, etc. Il y a toujours des traits d'humour." L'officier au panier percé Le jeune Churchill manquait d'argent. Bien que sa famille eût été fortunée, Winston se voyait régulièrement refuser les sommes d'argent qu'il demandait à sa mère, à 20 ans, pour satisfaire les standards de la vie d'officier. L'écrivain Eric Simon raconte : "Il a toujours eu des problèmes d'argent parce que, disons-le, il vivait vraiment au-dessus de ses moyens." Il parvint à se constituer des ressources complémentaires grâce au journalisme : "Il a commencé à avoir une dérogation de son officier supérieur pour qu'il puisse écrire des articles. À l'époque, on lui payait en article 5 pounds (...). 5 pounds, ce serait à peu près aujourd'hui 250 livres de l'article. C'est grâce à la presse qu'il a pu tenir son standing de jeune officier, fréquenter un club, offrir le Champagne et le Porto à ses amis, comme un officier devait vivre." L'écriture se frayait ainsi un chemin dans la vie du jeune homme, avant même la consécration du prix Nobel.

durée : 00:58:48 - Les Grandes Traversées - Qu'a fait Churchill dans l'entre-deux-guerres ? Secrétaire d'État aux colonies puis Chancelier de l'Échiquier, l'homme devient politique. Il reste historien, écrit "The World Crisis" et se méfie de l'ombre fasciste qui avance sur l'Europe. Soldat né, Churchill était déjà, durant la Première Guerre mondiale, Premier Lord de l'Amirauté. Après son renvoi faisant suite au désastre des Dardanelles, le militaire s'impose en homme politique durant l'entre-deux-guerres en préparant la défense de l'Angleterre contre la montée du nazisme. Dans cet épisode, la visite des War Rooms de Londres, qui abritaient les états-majors ainsi que le cabinet de guerre du gouvernement britannique durant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, anime le récit d'un Churchill chef de guerre, symbole d'espoir avant la victoire. Lui collent à la peau son mauvais caractère, mais surtout son courage, aujourd'hui consacré. L'homme de la plus belle heure "Le Herr Hitler a prétendu qu'il pouvait tordre le cou de l'Angleterre comme le cou d'un poulet". Et Churchill montre son cou, qui est un cou de taureau, comme ça, et dit, "hein, quel cou !" Et puis, il se montre lui-même et il dit, "quel poulet" !" L'écrivain Jean Blot relate la prestance, et les indéniables qualités oratoires de Winston Churchill. Nul doute à ses yeux que l'homme a sauvé l'humanité et marqué les générations qui l'ont côtoyé. "C'est aussi l'homme qui a formulé de la façon la plus belle et la plus définitive ce qu'il a d'ailleurs lui-même, je crois, appelé "their finest hour", c'est-à-dire l'heure la plus belle où vraiment l'espoir de l'humanité s'est trouvé concentré sur cette petite île qu'est l'Angleterre." Belliqueux plutôt que belliciste L'historien et biographe du "vieux lion" François Kersaudy écarte l'idée que Churchill aurait été un va-t-en-guerre : "Churchill, c'est un belliqueux quand la guerre est déclarée, mais ça n'est pas un belliciste. C'est-à-dire que c'est quelqu'un qui va faire de son mieux, avant les deux guerres d'ailleurs, pour éviter que la guerre ne se déclare. Mais alors, une fois qu'elle est déclarée, alors là, il devient effectivement belliqueux." N'étant pas passé par l'état-major faute d'y avoir été accepté, Churchill n'a pas reçu de formation en stratégie militaire. Il prend pourtant les devants et s'improvise stratège, tout en évitant les dérives autoritaires, raconte encore François Kersaudy. "Comme ce n'est pas Staline, comme ce n'est pas Hitler, comme ce n'est pas un dictateur, lorsqu'il a des idées stratégiques un petit peu farfelues ou diplomatiques, du reste, il y a autour de lui des gens dévoués, pondérés, des vrais professionnels, eux, qui le retiennent par les basques et qui lui indiquent assez clairement ce qu'il peut faire et ce qu'il ne peut pas faire."

durée : 00:58:45 - Les Grandes Traversées - Il reçoit le prix Nobel de littérature en 1953, notamment "pour ses brillantes qualités oratoires dans la défense des grandes valeurs de l'humanité". Son épouse, Clémentine, reçoit le prix pour lui. Qui est l'écrivain Churchill ? L'histoire retient de Winston Churchill son rôle de leader politique et militaire, véritable figure de proue de la victoire des Alliés à l'issue de la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Pourtant, moins connue du grand public, sa carrière d'écrivain lui a aussi valu le prix Nobel de littérature en 1953. Une récompense qui distingue un grand œuvre porteur "de valeurs humaines". Un style littéraire unique au service de l'histoire et de la politique Churchill était un écrivain talentueux et un orateur engagé, mais aussi un stratège politique. Jean-Claude Zilberstein, éditeur passionné, souligne l'admiration que suscite l'œuvre de Churchill, notamment ses mémoires et ses discours, véritables joyaux d'un style unique, rythmé et puissant. Sa maîtrise de la langue, en anglais comme en français, et son sens aigu de la formule ont marqué durablement la littérature et la politique. Au-delà de l'écriture, il est présenté comme un homme de théâtre capable de captiver ses auditeurs par des discours vibrants, notamment ceux prononcés en 1940 à la Chambre des communes.  Les spécialistes rapprochent l'homme d'État d'écrivains britanniques classiques comme Evelyn Waugh ou P.G. Wodehouse, le plaçant dans une tradition littéraire mêlant humour, conservatisme et finesse stylistique. Son œuvre, marquée par une conscience historique profonde héritée de ses lectures, représente un témoignage précieux sur son époque. Un héritage littéraire et historique durable L'Académie suédoise, en lui décernant le Nobel de littérature, a récompensé non seulement sa maîtrise de l'histoire et de la biographie, mais aussi les "valeurs humaines" de son œuvre et de ses discours. Malgré son absence à la cérémonie, Churchill envoya Lady Clementine, son épouse, prononcer son discours de réception. Encore un signe, s'il en fallait un, que l'homme était partagé entre ses trois grandes passions, " le métier des armes, la politique et l'écriture", résume l'historien François Kersaudy. Ses mémoires furent toutefois le fruit d'un travail collaboratif : des assistants préparaient les premiers brouillons, tandis que l'homme d'État passait de longues heures à peaufiner son style, reconnaissable à ses formules percutantes et son rythme narratif. Avant publication, les écrits de Churchill sont soumis à relecture. Et ils passent ainsi "par tout le monde, par ses anciens collègues, par le Foreign Office, par le ministère de la Guerre, par les services secrets, par le roi, par le gouvernement, par le général Eisenhower" et n'échappent pas à une certaine censure, explique François Kersaudy. Un procédé de bonne guerre et assez commun,"pour éviter les gènes diplomatiques", poursuit l'historien Robert Tombs. Si certains critiques questionnent l'authenticité des ouvrages du "vieux lion" en rappelant le recours aux prête-plume pour leur rédaction, d'autres reconnaissent en Churchill un écrivain puissant, vivant et accessible, aux antipodes d'un Charles de Gaulle à la prose plus austère. Roger Katz, libraire à Londres, témoigne d'ailleurs de l'engouement toujours plus vif pour les livres de Churchill. Ce succès durable témoigne de la place centrale qu'occupe l'homme politique dans la mémoire collective britannique et mondiale.

durée : 00:58:47 - Les Grandes Traversées - Dépressif, alcoolo-tabagique, peintre, amoureux de l'art et des animaux, sir Winston Churchill est un homme qu'il faut découvrir en faisant le tour, notamment en comprenant ce qu'il a fait quand il s'est retiré de la vie politique. À Chartwell, dans l'intimité de la demeure de Winston Churchill, se dévoile l'univers personnel de l'ancien Premier ministre britannique. Passion pour la peinture, lutte contre la dépression et héritage familial tissent le portrait d'un homme aux multiples facettes. Une salle à manger, une toile, une époque La visite commence dans la salle à manger de Chartwell, que Churchill avait aménagée bien avant de s'y installer définitivement. Rien n'est laissé au hasard, et l'on découvre un espace à la fois bourgeois et vivant, utilisé pour le thé plus que pour les repas. C'est aussi là qu'il a peint Bottlescape, un tableau né d'un jeu familial qui consistait en ce que ses enfants rassemblent les bouteilles éparpillées dans la maison. La peinture apparaît comme le reflet d'un moment intime, presque ludique. Un peintre amateur à l'âme tourmentée La peinture de Churchill ne laisse pas indifférent. Jean Blot, écrivain et biographe, compare avec une pointe d'ironie le style de Churchill à celui de Hitler : "un art sentimental de jeunes filles bien élevées", techniquement maîtrisé, mais sans audace. Cette observation ouvre une réflexion plus large : malgré leurs antagonismes politiques, les deux hommes partagent une certaine candeur restée intacte. Winston Churchill peignait pour se libérer, en amateur passionné, exposant même sous pseudonyme en France. Dans les tranchées de la Somme, il s'acharnait à reproduire la couleur exacte des cratères d'obus – un détail qui en dit long sur sa rigueur et sa persévérance. Dans Churchill d'Angleterre, l'écrivain Albert Cohen voyait en cet homme la force du prophète, la qualité du poète révélant à son pays sa grandeur. Un extrait lu à l'antenne rappelle la ferveur avec laquelle Albert Cohen célébrait Winston Churchill, louant sa détermination et sa bonté. Mais Churchill savait aussi manier l'ironie, comme en témoigne une anecdote rapportée par l'un de ses gendres : à la question "qui auriez-vous aimé être ?", Churchill répondit : "Mussolini, parce qu'il a fait fusiller son gendre" – un trait d'humour noir typique de son esprit caustique. Famille, alcool et zones d'ombre La face sombre de Churchill n'est pas éludée. Son alcoolisme – il buvait du matin au soir, mais sans perdre le contrôle – contraste avec le destin tragique de ses enfants : trois sur quatre sont morts des conséquences de leur alcoolisme. Son fils Randolph, malgré un réel courage et une intelligence certaine, ne parvint jamais à sortir de l'ombre paternelle. Quant à Churchill lui-même, il faisait face à des épisodes dépressifs qu'il appelait son "Black dog" : des phases de mélancolie profonde, parfois suicidaires, qui jalonnèrent toute sa vie.

durée : 00:58:38 - Les Grandes Traversées - Winston Churchill occupe une place centrale dans l'imaginaire britannique. Symbole de résistance pour certains, figure controversée pour d'autres, son image évolue au rythme des débats mémoriels et des mutations de la société britannique contemporaine. Des décennies après la Seconde Guerre mondiale, l'ancien Premier ministre britannique demeure une figure à la fois complexe et fascinante. Son portrait se dessine en nuances : chef de guerre visionnaire, homme ancré dans le XIXe siècle, mythe vivant, voire personnage de roman. Un hommage national devenu universel L'émission s'ouvre sur la solennité de la mémoire française : Winston Churchill y est salué comme un artisan majeur de la libération de la France et de l'Europe. À travers une anecdote touchante, "un télégramme signé Churchill reçu dans un village français en 1949". Le récit montre combien son nom résonne avec un prestige presque sacré. Ce souvenir personnel devient le symbole d'un hommage collectif qui traverse les générations. Un fait troublant est évoqué : certains jeunes doutent de l'existence réelle de ce dernier. Ce décalage générationnel souligne le glissement de l'homme vers la légende. Il devient une figure héroïque, incarnation de la résistance, de l'unité alliée et du soutien à Charles De Gaulle. Cette aura quasi mythologique brouille la frontière entre l'histoire et la fiction, transformant Churchill en icône culturelle presque détachée du réel. "Churchill est à la fois un mythe national et une figure profondément clivante" Winston Churchill, héros incontestable de 1940, est aussi un homme de paradoxes. Visionnaire durant la guerre, il reste profondément marqué par le colonialisme et une nostalgie de l'Empire britannique. Pourtant, il initie des réformes sociales majeures : journée de huit heures, salaire minimum et allocations chômage. Conservateur aux idées tranchées, il est aussi un modernisateur pragmatique. Son portrait historique est tout sauf lisse : c'est celui d'un homme tiraillé entre le XIXe et le XXe siècle. Le philosophe Jean-Claude Monod le souligne : "Churchill est à la fois un mythe national et une figure profondément clivante". Au fil des interventions, se dessine un Churchill plus humain, parfois fantasque. Son élégance étudiée, ses fameux cigares — fumés jusqu'à sept par jour — et son perroquet au langage fleuri sont autant d'éléments qui participent à la construction d'un personnage haut en couleur. Ces détails révèlent un homme profondément attaché aux rituels et à une certaine forme d'aristocratie britannique. Cette dimension intime le rend paradoxalement plus proche, plus accessible. Churchill, vu depuis la France : une mémoire active Si Churchill reste une icône nationale au Royaume-Uni, il semble susciter un intérêt tout particulier en France. À Londres, la bibliothèque de l'Institut français accorde une place plus grande à De Gaulle, mais les Français, eux, continuent de s'interroger avec admiration sur Churchill. Contrairement au général français statufié, Churchill demeure un personnage “vivant” : imparfait, vibrant, incarnant une certaine idée de l'Angleterre.

What happens when the world's biggest economy turns its back on global trade? In today's episode, host Adam McCauley is joined by renowned financial journalist and economist Philip Coggan to examine the far-reaching consequences of Donald Trump's trade war. Drawing parallels with Churchill's economic decisions in the early 20th century, Coggan argues Trump's tariff measures and isolationist rhetoric argues that we are witnessing the dismantling of a global economic order that has underpinned international cooperation and prosperity since World War Two.  and reflections on income inequality, global credibility, and economic nationalism, this is a vital conversation for anyone seeking to understand what Trump's trade war really means for the future of the global economy. Drawing on insights from his new book The Economic Consequences of Mr Trump, Coggan explores how Trump's shifting economic alliances, combative stance towards China, and disregard for multilateral institutions are reshaping the global financial landscape. Together, they discuss the weakening of the Western alliance, the future of US–UK relations, and how America's trading partners — and rivals — might respond to this new era of unpredictability. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events  ...  Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Larry P. Arnn, President of Hillsdale College, joins Hugh Hewitt on the Hillsdale Dialogues for his series on "Churchill the Writer." On this episode, Dr. Arnn and Hugh continue their discussion of My Early Life, which covers Winston Churchill’s life from 1874-1904.Release date: 11 July 2025 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DL Kody describes some previous advice from Mrs Whitehall as "wading in, handbag first" in this episode. What a delightful turn of phrase! Plus, a lovely idea for childhood keepsakes and can Mr Whitehall possibly recommend just ONE book about Sir Winston Churchill?JOIN THE WITTERING WHITEHALLS FOR THEIR BARELY (A)LIVE TOUR: https://thewitteringwhitehalls.co.uk/You can email your questions, thoughts or problems to TheWitteringWhitehalls@gmail.comOr, perhaps you'd like to send a WhatsApp message or Voice note? Why not?! Send them in to +447712147236This episode contains explicit language and adult themes that may not be suitable for all listeners.

This week on the Mark Levin Show, there's a fake MAGA faction within conservatism that harbors dangerous ideologies, including affinities for Hitler sympathizers and antisemitic rhetoric. Darryl Cooper promotes revisionist history, such as portraying Churchill as a villain and Hitler as misunderstood. Later, the big, beautiful bill is not perfect, but it's pretty good. Republicans didn't have enough votes to cut anymore. Democrats are trying to tell you there are Medicaid cuts. No, it's cutting off people who shouldn't be getting Medicaid. The Texas flood has caused immense heartbreak, with over 100 dead and more than 160 missing. Among the tragic stories are two young sisters, aged 13 and 11, found drowned but holding hands. Mother Nature can be a monster. Also, President Trump has had enough of Putin. Putin is a genocidal maniac responsible for slaughtering Ukrainian civilians, but there are some in Fake MAGA who root for Russia. Lower federal courts are ignoring Supreme Court rulings, with judges defying the Constitution and law on immigration. In LA, a judge rules that ICE roundups are racist, alleging indiscriminate arrests of brown-skinned people at Home Depots, car washes, farms, etc., due to ethnicity and a 3,000-daily quota. In addition, in New Hampshire, a judge upholds birthright citizenship via national injunction, citing long-standing practice over constitutional analysis. The media ignore this, while actions persist. The judges have changed, not the Constitution. Also, President Trump has made enormous progress domestically and internationally, but institutions are being turned against Americans. Democrats will inevitably win elections and use the permanent government, courts, and administrative state to try to permanently embed their ideology, making it irreversible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Monday's Mark Levin Show, the catastrophic flash flooding along the Guadalupe River in Central Texas over the weekend claimed at least 91 lives, with around 20 people still missing. The disaster struck Kerr County, particularly devastating Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp, where 27 campers and counselors, including young teens and the camp director, perished while trying to save others.  It's disgusting that the media and Democrats immediately politicize the event, blaming climate change or budget cuts. Also, there's a fake MAGA faction within conservatism that harbors dangerous ideologies, including affinities for Hitler sympathizers and antisemitic rhetoric. Darryl Cooper promotes revisionist history, such as portraying Churchill as a villain and Hitler as misunderstood. Later, the big, beautiful bill is not perfect, but it's pretty good. Republicans didn't have enough votes to cut anymore. Democrats are trying to tell you there are Medicaid cuts. No, it's cutting off people who shouldn't be getting Medicaid. A Convention of States can fix systemic spending issues. Afterward, a district judge in Boston issued a temporary restraining order blocking the defunding of Planned Parenthood as part of the big, beautiful bill President Trump signed. This ruling, which contradicts a Supreme Court decision limiting nationwide injunctions by lower courts, violates constitutional separation of powers. Congress and the president, as elected branches, have the authority to defund organizations, not a district judge.   Finally, FBI Director Kash Patel, Deputy Director Dan Bongino, and Attorney General Pam Bondi aren't covering up a Jeffrey Epstein "client list" after a DOJ-FBI memo denied its existence and reaffirmed Epstein's suicide. These three have integrity and lack a motive for a cover-up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Johnny Burtka, President of Intercollegiate Studies Institute, shares his book: Gateway to Statesmanship: Selections from Xenophon to Churchill.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.