Podcasts about Normandy

George S. Patton is considered one of America’s greatest generals for his blitzes across Europe in World War 2. He is celebrated for breaking out of Normandy because his Third Army push out of their holdings along the coast, unleashing a lightning-fast armored blitz across northern France that routed retreating German forces and liberated Paris months ahead of schedule. And following the Third Army’s dramatic relief of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, the American press and public widely lionized Patton as a national hero who spearheaded the drive into Germany. When he returned stateside in June 1945, he received massive ticker-tape parades and hero’s welcomes in Boston, Los Angeles, and Denver, drawing crowds of hundreds of thousands. Officially, the military affirmed his heroism by awarding him two Distinguished Service Crosses—the nation’s second-highest valor award, explicitly citing his "extraordinary heroism" under enemy fire in both world wars. He was immortalized in the George C. Scott movie ‘Patton’, and has persistently been named in polls as the greatest American military commander of all time. But that’s not how some of his fellow generals saw it. In 1947, Omar Bradley, who had commanded all American ground forces in Europe, wrote a single sentence that should have ended the most persistent myth of the war: "Many people give Patton and his Third Army credit for the breakout from Normandy. He had nothing to do with its planning or execution." Patton arrived after the hole had been punched and drove through open country against almost no opposition. First Army veterans had a phrase for it: "He did not break out. He walked out." Today's guest is James Ellman, author of Patton Reconsidered: General George S. Patton Jr. as a Wartime Commander. We look at the mythology of Patton and see there’s an argument to be made his image was wildly inflated as part of a media campaign, and he had serious shortcomings as a strategist. We discuss how the single most important factor in Patton's career was a friendship with a next-door neighbor named Eisenhower who saved him from dismissal at least five times, how Patton's men posed as First Army soldiers to steal fuel convoys in a scheme that almost certainly got other Americans killed, and why four other American army commanders achieved comparable victories without any of the scandals and are completely forgotten today. Ellman argues that calling Patton a military genius does a disservice to every soldier who served under him and every general who performed as well or better without the drama, and that the traits the Patton legend celebrates, recklessness, insubordination, contempt for logistics, and mistreatment of troops, are exactly the ones the modern US military should be discouraging, not enshrining.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The C-47 Dakota, or Skytrain as it was known in American service, was one of the most important aircraft of the Second World War. It carried paratroopers into battle, towed gliders packed with men and equipment, flew vital supplies to surrounded troops, and crossed some of the most inhospitable terrain on Earth. Yet the crews who flew these missions are often overshadowed by the fighter aces and bomber crews. Their job demanded a different kind of courage. Flying unarmed, often at low level and in tight formation, they were expected to stay on course, arrive on time and, even under heavy fire, resist the instinct to take evasive action. Whether over Normandy, Arnhem, Bastogne or the Himalayas, they played a vital role in Allied victory. Joining me today is Scott McGaugh, author of 'Into the Firestorm: The Allied Heroes Who Flew World War II's Most Daring Missions', to tell the story of the transport pilots who flew these extraordinary missions. You can also find Into the Firestorm on  Audible and Spotify.   patreon.com/ww2podcast  

Pique-nique sur la plage de galets, mer verte et falaises, goélands à surveiller de près (Lisa ne leur fait plus confiance !), puis une halte inattendue. Une journée à Dieppe comme on les aime. A slow, easy summer day in Normandy: a beach picnic, wary seagulls, sketchbooks pulled out on the pebbles, and a blissful stretch of reading by the sea at a real beachside library. This episode is designed for repeated, phrase-by-phrase listening — natural, everyday French exactly as it's spoken, with the kind of expressions worth memorizing because you'll actually use them. The vocabulary stays accessible (B1–B2) — a picnic, a walk along the cliffs, a bakery stop — while the storytelling itself, with its warmth and gentle asides (a grandfather's hospital stay mentioned almost in passing, a daughter's simple declaration of happiness), offers B2–C1 listeners an example of natural, understated French narration. Autres épisodes à écouter aujourd'hui :  1544 — Le Pollet
https://onethinginafrenchday.podbean.com/e/1544-%e2%80%94-le-pollet/ 1550 — Paroles de Dieppe : Ghislaine et La Bonne Sainte-Rita
https://onethinginafrenchday.podbean.com/e/1550-%e2%80%94-paroles-de-dieppe-ghislaine-et-la-bonne-sainte-rita/ 1698 — Raconter les vacances à Dieppe — la rencontre avec Olwen Morris, pianiste anglaise nonagénaire à Dieppe
https://onethinginafrenchday.podbean.com/e/1698-%e2%80%94-mercredi-4-septembre-2019-%e2%80%94-raconter-les-vacances-a-dieppe-2/ Dieppe · Le Pollet · pique-nique · bibliothèque de plage · boulangerie Masson · spoken french · learn french · french stories · french daily life · authentic french · real french · normandy What is Le Pollet in Dieppe? Best beaches to visit in Dieppe France What is a beach library (bibliothèque de plage)? Best bakeries in Dieppe France Things to do in Dieppe with family French phrases for a beach picnic How to practice natural spoken French What is a château-musée in Dieppe? French podcast for repeated listening practice Best day trips from Rouen to the coast

Nearly six months into an escalating conflict with Iran, the White House has unveiled "Operation Economic Outcast" - a sweeping financial campaign aimed at completely isolating Tehran from the global economy. Speaking on direct orders from Donald Trump, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the offensive, framing the measures as an economic equivalent to the Normandy landings. The objective is clear: cut off every remaining financial artery and economic lifeline sustaining the regime until Iran stands completely isolated on the world stage. But does the U.S. also risk tensions with China? Independent media has never been more important. Please support this channel by subscribing here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkbwLFZhawBqK2b9gW08z3g?sub_confirmation=1 Join this channel with a membership for exclusive early access and bonus content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkbwLFZhawBqK2b9gW08z3g/join Five Minute News is a MeidasTouch Podcast, covering politics, inequality, health and climate - delivering independent, unbiased and essential news for the US and across the world. Visit us online at http://www.fiveminute.news Follow us on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/fiveminutenews.bsky.social Follow us on Instagram http://instagram.com/fiveminnews Support us on Patreon http://www.patreon.com/fiveminutenews You can subscribe to Five Minute News with your preferred podcast app, ask your smart speaker, or enable Five Minute News as your Amazon Alexa Flash Briefing skill. CONTENT DISCLAIMER The views and opinions expressed on this channel are those of the guests and authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Anthony Davis or Five Minute News LLC. Any content provided by our hosts, guests or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything, in line with the First Amendment right to free and protected speech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Samedi, 8 heures du matin : direction Dieppe, avec Felicia, Lisa et Pietro. Le grand marché du samedi, les commerçants qu'on retrouve avec plaisir, une librairie pleine de souvenirs... Cet épisode, c'est le début d'une journée entière passée à Dieppe, "comme avant". This episode drops you into a real Saturday morning at one of Normandy's largest outdoor markets : vendors calling regular customers by name, a bookshop conversation. It's designed for learners who want to hear French exactly as it's spoken in daily life. The vocabulary itself sits comfortably in the B1–B2 range — market produce, everyday shopping exchanges, simple past-tense storytelling. But the real value for more advanced listeners (B2–C1) is in the natural rhythm of spontaneous speech: overlapping remarks, a stranger's aside about being hungry, a bookseller's offhand comment about unusually large summer crowds — the kind of implicit, unscripted texture that only comes from real conversation. D'autres épisodes à écouter aujourd'hui :  1548 — Paroles de Dieppe : Antoine et le pâté au Neufchâtel
https://onethinginafrenchday.podbean.com/e/1548-%e2%80%94-paroles-de-dieppe-antoine-et-le-pate-au-neufchatel/ 1705 — Conseils lecture : Les victorieuses de Laetitia Colombani
https://onethinginafrenchday.podbean.com/e/1705-%e2%80%94-jeudi-19-septembre-2019-%e2%80%94-conseils-lecture-les-victorieuses-de-laetitia-colombani/ 1711 — Le conseil de lecture de Mila : La plus précieuse des marchandises
https://onethinginafrenchday.podbean.com/e/1711-%e2%80%94-jeudi-3-octobre-2019-%e2%80%94-le-conseil-de-lecture-de-mila-la-plus-precieuse-des-marchandises/ 1717 — Le conseil de lecture de Vanessa : Une femme en contre-jour de Gaëlle Josse
https://onethinginafrenchday.podbean.com/e/1717-%e2%80%94-vendredi-18-octobre-2019-%e2%80%94-le-conseil-de-lecture-de-vanessa%c2%a0-une-femme-en-contre-jour-de-gaelle-josse/ marché de Dieppe · Normandie · Neufchâtel · prune de Jumièges · spoken french · learn french · french stories · french daily life · authentic french· real french · life in france · norman market What is the market day in Dieppe France? Best markets to visit in Normandy What is Neufchâtel cheese? Where to buy prune de Jumièges? Things to do in Dieppe France French phrases for shopping at a market How far is Dieppe from Paris? Can you take a ferry from Dieppe to England? French podcast for natural spoken conversation Best bookshops in Dieppe France

Each year, millions of gardeners prowl the globe seeking ‘aha!' moments that they can bring back to their own gardens at home. Are you one of them?Leslie has been visiting gardens abroad for decades, and over the last two years, Marianne has built a company dedicated to bringing great gardens to great groups of people. Together they're heading to Normandy next week to see gardens such as Giverny, Jardins d'Etretat, Chateau de Boutemont, Le Jardin Plume, and Chateau Champ de Bataille. And they want to do it right.So what is the BEST way to see a garden when you finally decide to go? Do you study? Do you wing it? Do you spend hours behind your phone taking the perfect shot only to find you can't remember the garden because you never experienced it? And what on earth do baby faces have to do with a garden anyway?!? Thankfully, you don't need a visa or a VISA to journey with them today. All aboard! Next stop: Garden Inspiration!

Today we travel back nearly a millennia to investigate the House of Normandy, the beginning of the line of non-English Kings. William the Conqueror was the first Norman (French) king of England defeating King Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. What follows is the wild ride of William, his wife Matilda of Flanders and their three sons, Robert, William Rufus and Henry. This is a true battle of brothers, with twists no one saw coming that will have repercussions for the rest of time. Also playing an enormous role in this saga, the wife and queen of Henry I, Matilda of Scotland. Sponsors Upgrade your every day! Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to Quince.com/TRASHYROYALS. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and UK, too! Vinted. See what's hiding in your closet – you might be surprised how much you can earn with Vinted! Download the Vinted app for free to start listing with no seller fees, and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US. Listen ad-free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/trashyroyalspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠. To advertise on this podcast, reach out to ⁠⁠⁠⁠info@amplitudemediapartners.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Full Text of Readings Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 421 The Saint of the day is Saint John Eudes Saint John Eudes' Story How little we know where God's grace will lead. Born on a farm in northern France, John died at 78 in the next “county” or department. In that time, he was a religious, a parish missionary, founder of two religious communities, and a great promoter of the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. John joined the religious community of the Oratorians and was ordained a priest at 24. During severe plagues in 1627 and 1631, he volunteered to care for the stricken in his own diocese. Lest he infect his fellow religious, during the plague he lived in a huge cask in the middle of a field. At age 32, John became a parish missionary. His gifts as a preacher and confessor won him great popularity. He preached over 100 parish missions, some lasting from several weeks to several months. In his concern with the spiritual improvement of the clergy, John realized that the greatest need was for seminaries. He had permission from his general superior, the bishop, and even Cardinal Richelieu to begin this work, but the succeeding general superior disapproved. After prayer and counsel, John decided it was best to leave the religious community. That same year John founded a new community, ultimately called the Eudists—the Congregation of Jesus and Mary–devoted to the formation of the clergy by conducting diocesan seminaries. The new venture, while approved by individual bishops, met with immediate opposition, especially from Jansenists and some of his former associates. John founded several seminaries in Normandy, but was unable to get approval from Rome—partly, it was said, because he did not use the most tactful approach. In his parish mission work, John was disturbed by the sad condition of prostitutes who sought to escape their miserable life. Temporary shelters were found, but arrangements were not satisfactory. A certain Madeleine Lamy, who had cared for several of the women, one day said to him, “Where are you off to now? To some church, I suppose, where you'll gaze at the images and think yourself pious. And all the time what is really wanted of you is a decent house for these poor creatures.” The words, and the laughter of those present, struck deeply within him. The result was another new religious community, called the Sisters of Charity of the Refuge. John Eudes is probably best known for the central theme of his writings: Jesus as the source of holiness; Mary as the model of the Christian life. His devotion to the Sacred Heart and to the Immaculate Heart led Pope Pius XI to declare him the father of the liturgical cult of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Reflection Holiness is the wholehearted openness to the love of God. It is visibly expressed in many ways, but the variety of expression has one common quality: concern for the needs of others. In John's case, those who were in need were plague-stricken people, ordinary parishioners, those preparing for the priesthood, prostitutes, and all Christians called to imitate the love of Jesus and his mother.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Remember ICE? Remember when every arrest was treated like the Normandy invasion? CNN had dramatic music. MSNBC had crying anchors. Somebody on The View was one tissue away from needing CPR. You would've thought ICE agents were kicking down the doors of orphanages. Where are those stories now? Where are the massive protests? Where's Antifa? Where are the college students chaining themselves to Starbucks because America deported somebody with six felony convictions? Gone. What happened? Did ICE stop? No. Did deportations stop? No. Did immigration suddenly become less important? No. What stopped... ...was the media's ability to manufacture outrage. That's a huge difference. Kevin Jackson has been called, the "white-collar" Joe Rogan. Given their similar backgrounds in TV, comedy, and martial arts, it's easy to see why people enjoy Kevin's show so much. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On the eve of D-Day, the fate of the world hangs not on the beaches of Normandy, but deep within a secret Nazi facility in occupied France. Here, in a claustrophobic, slave-driven mine codenamed Noball 109, German scientists are racing to perfect a terror weapon that would render the Allied invasion obsolete: atomic-tipped V-2 rockets aimed at the heart of London Enter Miriam Maduro, a ghost haunted by her past. A brilliant and courageous Dutch-Jewish SOE agent, she has already been captured, tortured, and escaped the Nazis once. Now, the British pull her from the shadows for an offer she can't refuse: undertake a suicide mission to infiltrate and destroy the rocket facility, and they will guarantee safe passage for her young son and sister from Palestine to England. John Winn Miller is an award-winning investigative reporter, foreign correspondent, editor, newspaper publisher, screenwriter, movie producer, and novelist. The Lexington, Ky., native was a foreign correspondent for The Associated Press and Wall Street Journal/Europe based in Rome, Italy; a reporter and editor at the Lexington (KY) Herald-Leader; executive editor of the Centre Daily Times (State College, Pa.) and the Tallahassee Democrat; and was publisher of The Olympian in Olympia, WA., and The Concord (N.H.) Monitor. He also helped produce four independent feature films: “Hitting the Cycle” with Bruce Dern; “Armed Response”; “Band of Robbers,” written and directed by Adam and Aaron Nee, and “Ghost in the Family.” Miller and his wife Margo live in Lexington Their daughter Allison Miller is an actress-screenwriter-director who most recently starred on the ABC series “A Million Little Things.”

  [X] SB – Former NBA player officially wants WNBA You know what I love about the media these days? They're absolutely convinced they're still in charge. It's adorable. They're like the mall cop giving directions after the mall closed three years ago. "Sir, you'll need to move your vehicle. And no, there isn't even a Sears here anymore." That's the legacy media. They still think they decide what America talks about. They don't. America decides. The media reacts. And nothing proves it better than what isn't happening anymore. Remember ICE? Remember when every arrest was treated like the Normandy invasion? CNN had dramatic music. MSNBC had crying anchors. Somebody on The View was one tissue away from needing CPR. You would've thought ICE agents were kicking down the doors of orphanages. Where are those stories now? Where are the massive protests? Where's Antifa? Where are the college students chaining themselves to Starbucks because America deported somebody with six felony convictions? Gone. What happened? Did ICE stop? No. Did deportations stop? No. Did immigration suddenly become less important? No. What stopped... ...was the media's ability to manufacture outrage. That's a huge difference. Kevin Jackson has been called, the "white-collar" Joe Rogan. Given their similar backgrounds in TV, comedy, and martial arts, it's easy to see why people enjoy Kevin's show so much. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Brandon is late to the party with the Joker sequel, we head to the beaches of Normandy for a weather forecast in Pressure and it's back to NYC with your friendly, neighborhood Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Brand New Day! Be sure to follow all of the hijinks on our Facebook page and on Instagram! Follow Mitch on Twitter and bluesky and Letterboxd. Follow Brandon on bluesky and Letterboxd.

Every schoolchild in the English-speaking world learns William the Conqueror's name. What most of them never hear is that William spent his final years bitter about another Norman knight — a man his own contemporaries considered the more accomplished conqueror of their generation.His name was Robert Guiscard. He was born to a minor noble family in Normandy with too many sons and too little land. He arrived in Southern Italy as a bandit stealing horses in Calabria. Twenty years later he was Duke of Apulia, had defeated the Byzantine Emperor in battle, and was planning to march on Constantinople itself. When William landed at Hastings in 1066, Guiscard had already been ruling more Italian territory for seven years than William would ever hold in England.And Guiscard wasn't alone. He was one of twelve brothers. Between them, the sons of a minor Norman lord named Tancred de Hauteville built the Kingdom of Sicily — a multicultural state employing Muslim scholars, Byzantine bureaucrats, and Latin monks in the same government. From Robert Guiscard's ducal title in 1059 to Napoleon's dissolution of the kingdom in 1816, that political architecture ran for 725 years.Today I'm joined by Memory Medieval to walk through the Norman conquest history didn't teach you.Follow Memory Medieval on X: @MemoryMedieval Substack: memorymedieval.substack.com Feigned Flight publication: feignedflight.com════════════════════════════

This episode tells the dramatic story of an Army veteran who served in three wars, World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Al Ungerleider's first taste of combat came on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. He went on to march towards Germany, liberating a Nazi concentration camp along the way. Brig. General Al Ungerleider retired from the Army after 36 years of service. His final active-duty assignment was commanding the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. Al Ungerleider is a true American hero. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Composer Missy Mazzoli discusses her opera The Galloping Cure, which fuses a live orchestra with electronic beats and features a charismatic antihero and talking dogs. An allegory for a crisis which has become a worldwide epidemic, the production by Opera Ventures Productions and Scottish Opera receives its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival and is a reimagining of a story by Franz Kafka. Artist Joyce W Cairns is one of Scotland's most renowned painters, and in 2018 she was elected the first President of the Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture. She talks to us about making the move from mythological to autobiographical painting and about how she was inspired to create her impressive War Tourist series of paintings - drawn from research in Normandy and Tunisia - after inheriting a suitcase of her father's World War II memorabilia. And as the heatwave continues across parts of the UK and Europe, we ask how cultural institutions are responding. Is the closure of galleries due to uncomfortable temperatures going to become the norm? Presenter: Kirsty Wark Producer: Mark Crossan

The French President, Emmanuel Macron, has promised to commit every available resource to contain the flames from the raging wildfires. In Spain, the prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, has warned of difficult times ahead with temperatures forecast to hit forty Celsius from Tuesday. Also, the United Nations body which fights AIDS has said the world risks a resurgence of ‌the HIV epidemic due to funding cuts. President Trump has told reporters that the US is in "very deep talks with Iran" but that he would be ready for "strong military action" if diplomacy failed. In Kenya, activists launch a high-profile legal case which claims hazardous pesticides and herbicides that are meant to make farming more efficient have been harming people's health. Gianni Infantino, the head of football's world governing body, FIFA, has told critics of his handling of several high-profile controversies at the recent men's World Cup that they had missed the joy and togetherness experienced by millions of fans. And the UN cultural organisation, UNESCO, has unusually awarded World Heritage status to a battle ground: the Normandy beaches used for the D-Day landings in 1944.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk Photo: A Military Emergencies Unit (UME) worker carries a hose during a wildfire in San Martin de Valdeiglesias, Madrid, Spain, July 26, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Ana Beltran

We'd looked at photos of Mont-Saint-Michel for years. They didn't prepare us for what it's actually like to walk toward it. In this episode, we share what it's really like to spend a full day at Mont-Saint-Michel — the walk in from the parking area, the climb to the abbey, a lunch mistake worth avoiding, and why we think this is one of the best day trips in Normandy. Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure. Quick Answer: Is Mont-Saint-Michel Worth a Day Trip? Yes — if you give it a full day and base yourself in Normandy (we stayed in Bayeux) rather than doing a rushed round-trip from Paris. Between the walk in, the village, and the abbey climb (roughly 350 steps once you reach the entrance), you'll want 5–7 hours minimum to do it without feeling rushed. Episode Highlights Why we based ourselves in Bayeux, not Paris Mont-Saint-Michel is doable as a day trip from Paris, but by the time you factor in travel time both ways, you're spending nearly as much time in transit as at the destination. Staying in Normandy (we used Bayeux as our base for both the D-Day sites and Mont-Saint-Michel) let us take the day at a slower pace. Parking, the shuttle, and why we walked Private vehicles can't cross onto the island — everyone parks on the mainland. From there, you can take a free shuttle (runs roughly every 15 minutes) or walk the causeway, which takes about 30–40 minutes. We walked, and it turned into one of our favorite parts of the day: the view builds gradually instead of arriving all at once. First impressions and the causeway The geography is what makes this place — a rock rising out of the bay with an entire medieval village built up its side and the abbey crowning the top. Trail markers near the entrance are a reminder that pilgrimage routes still end here today, just as they have for centuries. Entering the village The main street climbs steadily from the gates toward the abbey, lined with shops, cafés, and a few small hotels. A small number of residents still live and work on the island. It's touristy, but it doesn't feel manufactured — you can still picture daily medieval life happening here. Our lunch mistake We ate at Le Logis Saint Catherine partway up the hill. The menu posted outside didn't match the one we were handed once seated (higher prices, smaller selection), and we were too hungry to go looking elsewhere. The food and the courtyard view over the bay were genuinely good — but if that matters to you, confirm the menu before you sit down, or eat before you start the climb. The climb to the abbey (bring the right shoes) Walking through the village is uphill almost the entire way, and once you reach the abbey entrance itself, there's still about 350 steps to the top where guided tours begin. It's manageable — we saw families and visitors of all ages make it — but budget more time than you think you'll need, especially after a meal. Touring the abbey The included guided tour runs 30–45 minutes in English or French, and you sign up for a specific tour time when you buy your ticket (a separate step from the ticket purchase itself — easy to miss). Tour groups are capped at 10–12 people, so slots fill fast even though hundreds of people hold tickets for the same entry window. After the guided portion, you're free to explore on your own. Walking the bay — and why we didn't do it ourselves At low tide, the water pulls back dramatically, exposing sand and mudflats around the mount. It's not illegal to walk out on your own, but it's strongly discouraged — there are pockets of quicksand that aren't obvious, and the tide comes in fast (our guide described it as "the speed of a galloping horse"). If this interests you, hire a licensed local guide. What we'd do differently Arrive earlier for cooler temperatures and better light, eat before the climb rather than mid-schedule, and walk the causeway again — some of our favorite photos were taken before we ever reached the gates. Planning Your Visit: Practical Details Village access: Free, always. Only the abbey at the top requires a ticket. Abbey ticket prices (2026): €16 high season (April 1–September 30), €13 low season (October 1–March 31). Booking window: Tickets are timed entry and release about 30-60 days ahead of your visit date on the official site — abbaye-mont-saint-michel.fr. Put the release date on your calendar; popular time slots fill up. Guided tour sign-up: Included in your abbey ticket, but requires a separate time-slot booking — look for "guided tour with ticket" or select "I already have a ticket" if booking it after the fact. Hours: Vary seasonally with daylight; last entry is one hour before closing. The climb: Uphill through the village, plus ~350 steps once inside the abbey grounds. Restrooms: Available at the visitor center by the parking lot (free) and near the village entrance. Limited and inconsistent once you're higher up — go before you start climbing. Drones: Strictly forbidden and fineable. An action camera on a pole is your best alternative for aerial-style shots. Overnight stays: Possible in the village, but you'll need to carry your own bags in (the shuttle is your friend for this) — pack light. What3Words for the classic photo spot: ///muddier.graphs.accordingly FAQ Is Mont-Saint-Michel worth visiting if I only have one day? Yes, but plan for a full day rather than a half-day. Between the walk from parking, the village, and the abbey tour, most visitors need 5–7 hours. How many steps are there at Mont-Saint-Michel? Roughly 350 steps once you reach the abbey entrance, on top of a steady uphill walk through the village streets to get there. Can I drive onto Mont-Saint-Michel? No. All private vehicles park on the mainland; you reach the island by free shuttle or by walking the causeway (30–40 minutes). Is it better to visit Mont-Saint-Michel from Paris or from Normandy? Basing yourself in Normandy (we used Bayeux) gives you a slower, less rushed day. A Paris day trip is possible but adds significant travel time on both ends. Can you walk out onto the bay at Mont-Saint-Michel? It's allowed but strongly discouraged without a guide — there are areas of quicksand and the tide comes in quickly. Guided bay walks are available and recommended if you're interested. Resources Mentioned Official abbey tickets: abbaye-mont-saint-michel.fr Lunch spot: Le Logis Saint Catherine (confirm the menu before being seated) What3Words classic photo location: ///muddier.graphs.accordingly Have questions about planning your own Normandy or Mont-Saint-Michel trip? Find us at sunshinetravelers.com or on social @sunshinetravelerspodcast. More Resources & Links: Get Our FREE Ultimate Packing Guide See ALL our Favorite Travel Resources Want to learn more about making money planning and booking travel for yourself and others. Learn more at https://www.sunshinetravelersexperiences.com/become-an-advisor Follow Sunshine Travelers Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Read more about this and other travel destinations on our BLOG Follow our travels on TikTok @sunshinetravelerspodcast Follow us on X @sunshinetrvlrs Connect with us on LinkedIn @sunshinetravelerspodcast Get travel tips and follow our travels on Instagram: @sunshinetravelerspodcast Follow us on Facebook @sunshinetravelerspodcast Connect with us on Threads @sunshinetravelerspodcast See our travel videos on YouTube @sunshinetravelerspodcast Save our travel ideas on Pinterest @sunshinetravelerspodcast Music: This Acoustic Happy Music by Dmitrii Kolesnikov from Pixabay

Send us Fan MailEpisode 271 – The Beast of Brotonne Forest | William Marshal Hunts a Medieval WerewolfFreshly knighted, William Marshal, Gervais, and the flamboyant Percy of Northumberland travel into the ancient Brotonne Forest after reports of a terrifying beast killing villagers in medieval Normandy.What begins as a simple hunt soon becomes something far darker.As the villagers clear centuries-old woodland in the name of progress, Fenrir senses something ancient awakening beneath the forest. A mysterious child carries an impossible acorn from a tree that should never bear fruit again, while strange tracks reveal that whatever stalks Brotonne Forest is no ordinary wolf.Then Fenrir discovers something he believed impossible.A member of his own ancient wolf family still survives.This dark fantasy episode blends medieval history, supernatural horror, werewolf mythology, Norman France, folklore, and humour as William Marshal faces his first mission as a newly made knight.If you enjoy medieval fantasy, werewolves, historical fiction, supernatural mysteries, ancient forests, folklore, and long-form audio drama, this episode is for you.Written by Fenrir Thorvaldsen and Gregory Alexander-Sharp. New episodes weekly—join the pack!Support the show • Books in the universe available on Amazon • Private Facebook group for Lunatics.Books by Fenrir ThorvaldsenAuthors' page on Amazon.https://amzn.to/3OJkzD0The Werewolf's Story by Fenrir Thorvaldsenhttps://amzn.to/4aX18xP Books by Gregory Alexander-SharpAuthors' page on Amazonhttps://amzn.to/4cTtf3CIl Lupo by Gregory Alexander-Sharphttps://amzn.to/4aZyCvABuy us a coffee at this link right here:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/WerewolfwilGrendel Press, our horror genre partnerThe best indie house publishers of horror in the blooming worldhttps://grendelpress.com/Grendel's very own cool Podcast.https://grendelpress.com/sinister-soup. Join the Lunatics at the Private Facebook Group.Facebook Grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/werewolfthepodcast/Greg's X profile: @SempaiGregFenrir's X profile: @FenThorvaldsenWerewolf the Podcast X profile: @AWerewolfsStoryWilShop at Dead_End_Society on Vinted.https://www.vinted.co.uk/member/3159606835Intro partnership with Grendel Press.Intro partnership with Grendel Press.https://grendelpress.com/ Outro partnership with Grendel Press.https://grendelpress.com/Support the show

Firefighters in France say they are still not in control of an unprecedented wildfire that's spreading towards the southwest city of Bordeaux. The city's mayor says he's preparing for all eventualities. The massive blaze, in the Gironde region, is one of several wildfires burning across France.Also in the programme: the Normandy beaches used for the D-Day landings are to be given UNESCO World Heritage status; and the Irish Gaelic football team breaks a so-called "curse" after winning the All-Ireland championship for the first time in 75 years.(Photo: Fire engines carry out edge protection and mop-up operations on a wildfire in Marcheprime, in the Gironde region of France. Credit: Manon Cruz/Reuters)

President Macron is visiting the Gironde region of France to show support for emergency crews battling around the clock to bring a huge wildfire under control. Also: Dozens of people are to make victim impact statements at the sentencing hearing of a funeral director, who gave families the wrong ashes and failed to bury bodies. And the D-Day landing beaches in Normandy are granted UNESCO World Heritage Status.

In this week's episode, I answer worldbuilding questions about my setting of Andomhaim, and discuss the future of THE GHOSTS series. This coupon code will get you 25% off the ebooks in The Ghosts series at my Payhip store: JULYGHOSTS The coupon code is valid through August 10, 2026. So if you need a new ebook this summer, we've got you covered! TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Introduction and Writing Updates Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 313 of The Pulp Writer Show. My name is Jonathan Moeller. Today is July the 24th, 2026 and today we're answering world-building questions about Andomhaim, which is the setting of my Frostborn, Sevenfold Sword, Dragontiarna, Dragonskull, Shield War, and Blades of Ruin series. We also have one bonus world-building question about the Caina series. Before we get into all that, we will have Coupon of the Week and a progress update on my current writing, publishing, and audiobook projects. Let's start with Coupon of the Week. This week's coupon code will get you 25% off the ebooks in The Ghosts series at my Payhip store. That code is JULYGHOSTS. As always, the coupon code and the link to my Payhip store will be available in the show notes for this episode. This coupon code will be valid through August the 10th, 2026, so if you need a new ebook for this summer, we have got you covered. Now let's have an update on my current writing, publishing, and audiobook projects. I'm pleased to report I am done with the rough draft of Cloak of Frost. It was just slightly over 100,000 words. Now I am writing a bonus short story called Metal Soldiers, and [newsletter] subscribers will get a free ebook copy of Metal Soldiers when Cloak of Frost comes out, which if all goes well, should be sometime in August. So I think this is an excellent time, therefore, to subscribe to my new release newsletter. My secondary project is Blade of Visions, and I am 11,000 words into that. There's also a good deal of news about audiobooks. Dragon-Mage, as narrated by Leanne Woodward, is finished and is rolling out to the various stores right now. As of this recording, you can get it at my own Payhip store, Google Play, and Kobo (with more stores soon to follow). Recording on Stealth and Spells Online: Final Quest is very nearly done, and I hope to have more news on that soon. Brad Wills is currently working on Blade of Thieves and Hollis McCarthy is recording Cloak of Worlds. So we should have a wide variety of audiobooks coming for you soon. 00:02:00 Questions about Caina Before we get to our main topic, we have a bonus question about Caina. When I said my next project was going to be Cloak of Frost, I got a couple of questions like this: Just wondering when/if there will be another Caina novel to look forward to? The answer is not right now, but maybe later. I am glad and appreciative that people want more Caina books. That said, I don't want more than three unfinished series at any one time, and I've got three right now with Blades of Ruin, Cloak Mage, and Half-Elven Thief. So I'm not starting anything new until one of the three is done. If you reach the end of Ghost in the Siege, which is the latest current Caina book, you know that the series was at a pretty significant stopping point. If I want to keep going, I need to think long and hard about how to do it right. I do have a couple of ideas, but I need to think about them some more. It's almost like we'd have to shift to a slightly different genre of fantasy than the Caina books have been previously. The tricky part is Caina has changed a great deal since Child of the Ghosts. The tricky part in that is that sequels in a long-running series need to be more of the same, but also something different. There have been 35 Caina novels. So I've done that quite a bit. But Caina has had some experiences that have very much changed her life. To use a rough comparison, it's like she became a justice on the US Supreme Court or the governor of one of the five largest US states in the sense that once you've had change in your life that significant, your life will never be the same afterwards. And without spoilers, Caina had a shift that big at the end of Ghost in the Siege. So more Caina is definitely a possibility, but I need to think about it some more and it definitely won't be before 2027 until I finish one of my three currently unfinished series. 00:03:35 Main Topic of the Week: Andomhaim Worldbuilding Questions Now onto our main topic, which is I had some world-building questions about Andomhaim from Frostborn come in lately. So I thought I would answer them here. Question #1: Why hasn't the Heptarchy invaded Andomhaim again? The answer is money, basically. Remember that the ultimate purpose of the Heptarchy is to provide an endless supply of sacrificial victims for the Seven Temples' altars so the seven urdmordar who rule the Heptarchy can endlessly feed. These seven urdmordar don't have much interest in the day-to-day governance, so their spiderling priestesses essentially run the Heptarchy as an exceptionally malignant theological bureaucracy. However, while the priestesses are evil, they're efficient and very good at their jobs. In practice, the Heptarchy tends to operate more like an imperial confederation or a very loose federal government than an actual empire. Kingdoms, tribes, and city states have a great deal of autonomy so long as one, taxes are paid in time and two, sacrificial victims are taken to the temples on time. To help encourage this, all the various local rulers in the Heptarchy tend to have priestess advisors who make sure that the rulers make the "correct" decisions. So when things go awry, the Seven Temples have a wide array of tools to deal with difficulties, from assassinating and replacing truculent rulers with more tractable successors all the way up to exterminating entire populations and settling new colonists upon the depopulated lands. The difficulty of the Heptarchy is that the seven urdmordars are gluttons and gluttony is impossible to satiate. So when the Heptarchy learned of Andomhaim and the possibility of an entirely new land to conquer and feed upon, of course they had to conquer it. The priestesses built an enormous fleet and gathered a vast army and sent it three and a half thousand miles across the ocean to Andomhaim. Of course, if you've read the Dragontiarna series, you know that this didn't go well. The Heptarchy seized the Isle of Kordain and had early successes in Andomhaim, but Agravhask, the commander of the invasion force, was secretly a disciple of the Warden of Urd Morlemoch, and he seized control of the Heptarchy force and used it to further the Warden's goals. The Visionary foresaw this happening, but didn't care because it gave her an opportunity to try and capture her old enemy, Tarmyntir. So the Heptarchy didn't conquer Andomhaim, and then 10 years later they lost control of the Isle of Kordain, their only stronghold near Andomhaim. To put this situation in contemporary terms, this is a significant geopolitical setback or to put it in popular vernacular, it's "taking a massive L." The Seven Temples spent a colossal fortune on the invasion force and in return got back exactly nothing. Even evil sorcerous empires are bound to the laws of economics. In The Ghosts books, the Umbarian Order failed to figure this out. And it would take a while for the Heptarchy to pay for and assemble another invasion force of that size. And since the first invasion force had failed, there wasn't much appetite for pulling together a second one. So now the official policy of the Heptarchy towards Andomhaim is quiet CIA-style subversion. The Spider Cult was founded to secretly bring nobles and wealthy merchants to the worship of the Seven Temples. It might take a century or so, but the plan is to eventually place a spider cultist on the throne of Andomhaim and then send a sympathetic ruler an army to back him or her up. Of course, the Brotherhood of the Ravens is aware of this and has been fighting the Spider Cult in the shadows. So that is why the Heptarchy hasn't tried to invade Andomhaim again- it costs too much, the outcome is uncertain, and the priestesses have decided a careful subversion (which costs much less than an invasion) will work out better in the long run. Question #2: Is Blades of Ruin really inspired by the English Civil War of 1138 to 1153 AD? Yes. Why? Because alcohol and boats are a very bad combination. In the 12th century, the Kings of England were also the Dukes of Normandy and were more interested in Normandy than in England, so they spent a great deal of time on both sides of the English Channel. In November of 1120, King Henry I wanted to return to England, but allowed much of his retinue to travel on another ship. That included his heir and only legitimate son William, several of his bastard children, and numerous high ranking members of his court. Everyone on William's ship was quite drunk, including the crew, and decided it would be a good idea to try and overtake King Henry's ship on the English Channel at night in November. Remember how I said alcohol and boats were a bad combination? William decided that he wanted to overtake his father's ship, and since a significant portion of everyone on his ship was drunk, they ended up crashing into some rocks, the ship sank, and most of the passengers and crew drowned, including William. For Henry, this was an absolute disaster since he had put a lot of work into setting up William as his heir. Henry then settled on his daughter Matilda as his heir and forced his vassals to take oaths so they would support her as his successor. When Henry died in 1135, Matilda assumed the throne, but her cousin Stephen of Blois seized the crown instead. Many of the lords of England were leery at the idea of a female monarch and Stephen was amiable and well-liked. Matilda was also imperious and had a knack for offending people at the worst possible time. The resultant civil war became known as the Anarchy and it ebbed and flowed until 1153. Both Stephen and Matilda held the upper hand at various times, but could never manage to achieve a total victory. Many of the nobles went local warlord, raising their own forces and building their own castles to protect themselves from their neighbors, which led to widespread chaos and violence. Finally, by the end of the 1140s, most of the nobles were sick of the war and put increasing pressure on Stephen and Matilda to find some sort of negotiated solution. Matilda's vigorous son Henry began to insert himself and he convinced Stephen to name him as his heir. When Stephen died, Henry became the undisputed king in 1154 and the war was over. Henry II would prove to be a vigorous king, but his inability to share power with his sons would cause him a lot of trouble in the final years of his reign. So you can see how Zelos Pendragon and Rhamnousia Pendragon from Blades of Ruin are very loosely based on Stephen and Matilda, though with some differences. Stephen and Matilda were cousins while Zelos and Rhamnousia are half siblings. For that matter, Henry I died of natural causes and was not assassinated by a sinister cult of sorcerers who wanted to engineer a civil war for nefarious purposes. Question #3: Were the Free Companies in Blades of Ruin inspired by Glenn Cook's The Black Company? First of all, The Black Company is a fantasy classic and everyone should read it. I think it's even in Kindle Unlimited at the moment. But the Free Companies and Blades of Ruin weren't inspired by The Black Company. They were inspired by the Hundred Years' War between England and France from 1337 AD to 1453 AD. Medieval warfare relied heavily on knights and vessels, but it always employed mercenaries. One of the problems in the Anarchy were the large number of Flemish mercenaries infesting in the country, who frequently turned full brigand. But feudalism was based on holding land and as the Middle Ages progressed, money and the cash economy became more and more important while knighthood became increasingly performative and ceremonial. Professional soldiers were generally more useful and more reliable than arrogant and headstrong knights. These trends played a big part in the Hundred Years' War and every time the kings of England campaigned in France, they frequently hired mercenaries and they generally let the mercenaries rampage through the French countryside and plunder whatever they wanted since that was cheaper than actually feeding them. The Free Companies really got going after the Battle of Poitiers in 1356. The French were decisively defeated, King John II of France went back to England as a prisoner, and the national government in France essentially collapsed. The English discharged many of their mercenaries, who formed into companies and began systematically looting the French countryside. When official hostilities broke out between the English and the French again, the English hired the companies back. As the fortunes of France and England waxed and waned during the war, some of the companies wandered into Italy and made good money playing the Italian city states against each other. One of the most famous of the companies was The White Company, commanded by Sir John Hawkwood. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle famously killed off Sherlock Holmes so he could turn his attention to writing historical fiction about the White Company. This was somewhat less than financially successful, so Doyle went back to writing Holmes after a few years, though he always regarded his historical novels as better than his Holmes stories. Rannister and the Grand Company in Blades of Ruin were loosely based off of Werner von Urslingen and the Great Company. Von Urslingen's personal model was "The enemy of God, the enemy of piety, and the enemy of mercy." He apparently had those actual words inscribed on his breastplate. The Great Company spent a lot of time fighting in Italy and extorting money from the city-states until the White Company defeated them at the Battle of Canturino in 1363. In real life, of course, the Free Companies did not have orcs in the ranks or sorcerous advisors. However, the real life Free Companies were just as brutal and rapacious as those in the Blades of Ruin series, sometimes often more so, since they were essentially organized bands of brigands. Eventually in the wake of the Hundred Years' War, stronger national governments arose in England and France, and the concept of the Free Companies gradually became obsolete. Kings found their own professional armies to be much more reliable than the Free Companies, though of course the idea of mercenaries never went away and remains to this day. Those standing armies would cause their own problems throughout history. Question #4: How did the warlocks of Vhalorast conquer Urd Maelwyn if the dark elves are so much more powerful than orcs? Two reasons. First, the Warlocks of Vhalorast were a lot more powerful than anyone suspected. The Sovereign and the high Maledicti priests were strong enough to keep the Vhalorasti warlocks in check and compel them to obedience since saying no to someone like Khurazalin from Sevenfold Sword was a spectacularly bad idea. But after the final defeat of the Sovereign, the Vhalorasti orcs were free to do as they liked. Second, the dark elves are chronically unable to work together without betraying each other constantly. The dark elven love of cruelty often manifests as a love of treachery, which frequently leads them to making very stupid decisions. In real life, you often see people who are addicted to various lusts, vices, and addictions making bad decisions, and the dark elves often took that up to 11. By contrast, while the warlocks of Vhalorast are very bad people, they are orderly and organized and they don't often betray each other. Indeed, "brother and sister warlocks" are supposed to extend respect to each other and the Council of Masters harshly punishes anyone who violates certain rules of conduct. So the warlocks of Vhalorast can cooperate a lot more effectively than the dark elves. To put it in Dungeons & Dragons terms, the dark elves are chaotic evil (sometimes urging on stupid evil), but the Vhalorasti warlocks are firmly lawful evil. When the Visage seized control of Urd Maelwyn, she thought to rebuild the Sovereign's Empire and forced a confrontation with Vhalorast. That ended with the Vhalorasti orcs and Warlocks destroying the Vistage's army, seizing Urd Maelwyn and taking the Visage herself back to Vhalorast in chains. Of course, the warlocks had help from the Disciples of Vhalzarok, but more on that will be revealed in later books of Blades of Ruin. Question #5: Why aren't there any dwarves in Owyllain? That is because none of them settled in Owyllain. The dwarves first came to the Frostborn world slightly before the urdmordar. About 15,000 years ago, the dark elves were frantically summoning new kindreds to throw in battle against the high elves. The dwarves came to Andomhaim somewhere near the Torn Hills close to Urd Morlemoch. The dwarfs who sided with the dark elves became the dvargir and probably began cheating the dark elves at every turn because they were better organized. The dvargir became to the dark elves the sort of military subcontractor who overcharges, over promises, and then drastically under-delivers while keeping to the letter of the contract. The dwarves founded nine different underground kingdoms and most of them are relatively close to Andomhaim. Only three of them still survive to the modern period. Question #6: Why aren't there any orcish Swordbearers or Soulbearers? For two reasons. First, Ardrhythain would be reluctant to make soulblades for orcs because orcs already have battle fury and the soulblades inspire a hatred of dark magic in their bearers. There's a chance an orc with a soulblade would go absolutely berserk when fighting an urvaalg or a dark wizard. Second, and this is the more important reason, the orcs didn't actually ask. Due to their threefold law, the high elves are very limited in how they can interact with other kindreds. Ardrhythain created the soulblades and found the Magistri among the humans of Andomhaim because the Keeper of Andomhaim of the time specifically asked. Ridmark was only able to command the high elves of Cathair Ereniel in The Shield War because he was the Shield Knight. The high elves can only help if asked and then only provide the specific help requested if it is in accord with the threefold law. The temptation within them to simply rule over weaker kindreds for their own good is very strong, but if they do that, they turn into dark elves. To get around that problem is one of the reasons Ardrhythain created the Swordbearers. Andomhaim definitely would've been destroyed centuries ago if not for the Order of the Soulblade. That's also the reason Ardrhythain created the Guardians, to help protect both nations and places of power that the high elves otherwise could not protect directly. Question #7: Is Andomhaim very different in Talembur's time than it was in Ridmark's? Andomhaim is at a slightly more advanced technological level as of the Blades of Ruin series, but it is a good deal richer and more prosperous than it was in Ridmark's time. Part of that is that Accolon Pendragon' successors ruled wisely and well, and Andomhaim avoided the sort of destructive civil war that is currently afflicting Owyllain. Andomhaim also hasn't had to face an external war on the scale of the Frostborn or the Heptarchy in that time. Granted, there have been wars with outside adversaries like the Mhorites, but nothing like the Heptarchy War. Additionally, adding the Isle of Kordain to the realm and the discovery of the sea compass let Andomhaim's mariners travel a lot farther and more reliably than they could before. Ships of Andomhaim have made their way to various island kingdoms south of the Isle of Kordain and begun a lively trade with them. This has brought new prosperity to Andomhaim. Granted, this might cause long-term problems. The coast of Andomhaim and the cities of Cintarra and Tarlion are getting a good deal richer and more powerful than the rest of the realm. A clever adversary like the Spider-Cult might find a way to use that to their advantage. And finally, Question #8: Did Calliande actually create the fountain in Blade of Thieves? No. It's just a legend that grew up around her. Neither Ridmark nor Calliande ever came near Stonegate during the War of the Seven Swords. That was why Ridmark didn't like bards very much, since they always embellished and made things up. So those are some recent Andomhaim questions I've received and I hope I answered those questions. So that's it for this week. Thank you for listening to The Pulp Writer Show. I hope you found the show useful. A reminder that you can listen to all the back episodes at https://thepulpwritershow.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave your review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stay safe and stay healthy, and we'll see you all next week.  

Born in 1102, Empress Matilda combined the blood of two dynasties: the house of Wessex and their conquerors, the dukes of Normandy. As a widowed German empress, she was named as heir successor by her father, Henry I. But, after his death in 1135, Matilda's place on the English throne was usurped by her cousin, Stephen of Blois. Civil war followed, and she ruled the south-west of England in opposition. In Empress Matilda: Queen of the Romans, Ruler of the English (Yale University Press, 2026), Professor Elisabeth van Houts explores the remarkable life of medieval England's only queen regnant. Van Houts examines female rulership in the Middle Ages, from Matilda's relationships with her husbands, to her self-identification as granddaughter of William the Conqueror. Matilda used her persuasiveness effectively with the men who surrounded her, including her father, husbands, half-brothers and cousins. This is a fascinating account, which reveals Matilda to be an assertive, if on occasion disappointed, woman who made the best of her position with intelligence and stamina. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Born in 1102, Empress Matilda combined the blood of two dynasties: the house of Wessex and their conquerors, the dukes of Normandy. As a widowed German empress, she was named as heir successor by her father, Henry I. But, after his death in 1135, Matilda's place on the English throne was usurped by her cousin, Stephen of Blois. Civil war followed, and she ruled the south-west of England in opposition. In Empress Matilda: Queen of the Romans, Ruler of the English (Yale University Press, 2026), Professor Elisabeth van Houts explores the remarkable life of medieval England's only queen regnant. Van Houts examines female rulership in the Middle Ages, from Matilda's relationships with her husbands, to her self-identification as granddaughter of William the Conqueror. Matilda used her persuasiveness effectively with the men who surrounded her, including her father, husbands, half-brothers and cousins. This is a fascinating account, which reveals Matilda to be an assertive, if on occasion disappointed, woman who made the best of her position with intelligence and stamina. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/gender-studies

Born in 1102, Empress Matilda combined the blood of two dynasties: the house of Wessex and their conquerors, the dukes of Normandy. As a widowed German empress, she was named as heir successor by her father, Henry I. But, after his death in 1135, Matilda's place on the English throne was usurped by her cousin, Stephen of Blois. Civil war followed, and she ruled the south-west of England in opposition. In Empress Matilda: Queen of the Romans, Ruler of the English (Yale University Press, 2026), Professor Elisabeth van Houts explores the remarkable life of medieval England's only queen regnant. Van Houts examines female rulership in the Middle Ages, from Matilda's relationships with her husbands, to her self-identification as granddaughter of William the Conqueror. Matilda used her persuasiveness effectively with the men who surrounded her, including her father, husbands, half-brothers and cousins. This is a fascinating account, which reveals Matilda to be an assertive, if on occasion disappointed, woman who made the best of her position with intelligence and stamina. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biography

Born in 1102, Empress Matilda combined the blood of two dynasties: the house of Wessex and their conquerors, the dukes of Normandy. As a widowed German empress, she was named as heir successor by her father, Henry I. But, after his death in 1135, Matilda's place on the English throne was usurped by her cousin, Stephen of Blois. Civil war followed, and she ruled the south-west of England in opposition. In Empress Matilda: Queen of the Romans, Ruler of the English (Yale University Press, 2026), Professor Elisabeth van Houts explores the remarkable life of medieval England's only queen regnant. Van Houts examines female rulership in the Middle Ages, from Matilda's relationships with her husbands, to her self-identification as granddaughter of William the Conqueror. Matilda used her persuasiveness effectively with the men who surrounded her, including her father, husbands, half-brothers and cousins. This is a fascinating account, which reveals Matilda to be an assertive, if on occasion disappointed, woman who made the best of her position with intelligence and stamina. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/european-studies

Born in 1102, Empress Matilda combined the blood of two dynasties: the house of Wessex and their conquerors, the dukes of Normandy. As a widowed German empress, she was named as heir successor by her father, Henry I. But, after his death in 1135, Matilda's place on the English throne was usurped by her cousin, Stephen of Blois. Civil war followed, and she ruled the south-west of England in opposition. In Empress Matilda: Queen of the Romans, Ruler of the English (Yale University Press, 2026), Professor Elisabeth van Houts explores the remarkable life of medieval England's only queen regnant. Van Houts examines female rulership in the Middle Ages, from Matilda's relationships with her husbands, to her self-identification as granddaughter of William the Conqueror. Matilda used her persuasiveness effectively with the men who surrounded her, including her father, husbands, half-brothers and cousins. This is a fascinating account, which reveals Matilda to be an assertive, if on occasion disappointed, woman who made the best of her position with intelligence and stamina. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Born in 1102, Empress Matilda combined the blood of two dynasties: the house of Wessex and their conquerors, the dukes of Normandy. As a widowed German empress, she was named as heir successor by her father, Henry I. But, after his death in 1135, Matilda's place on the English throne was usurped by her cousin, Stephen of Blois. Civil war followed, and she ruled the south-west of England in opposition. In Empress Matilda: Queen of the Romans, Ruler of the English (Yale University Press, 2026), Professor Elisabeth van Houts explores the remarkable life of medieval England's only queen regnant. Van Houts examines female rulership in the Middle Ages, from Matilda's relationships with her husbands, to her self-identification as granddaughter of William the Conqueror. Matilda used her persuasiveness effectively with the men who surrounded her, including her father, husbands, half-brothers and cousins. This is a fascinating account, which reveals Matilda to be an assertive, if on occasion disappointed, woman who made the best of her position with intelligence and stamina. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greatest Generation Live welcomes one of the last surviving Canadian veterans of D-Day, Jim Parks, for a conversation about his extraordinary journey from the beaches of Normandy to the final victory over Nazi Germany. Jim enlisted in the Canadian Army while still underage and spent nearly three years training in Britain before landing with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles on Juno Beach on June 6, 1944. Assigned to arrive just ahead of the main assault, his landing craft struck an obstacle and he was forced to swim ashore without his rifle. From that chaotic beginning, Jim fought through the brutal Normandy campaign at Putot and Carpiquet, crossed Belgium and the Netherlands, battled at the Leopold Canal and in the Rhineland, and finished the war in Germany as a sergeant. Jim has a remarkable gift for storytelling. He vividly recalls the confusion and terror of the invasion, the comrades he lost, the small moments of humanity that sustained soldiers in combat, and the challenges of returning home after the war. His reflections remind us that history is made not only by armies and generals, but by ordinary young people asked to do extraordinary things. Joining Glenn Flickinger as co-hosts are history teacher at Crestwood Preparatory College Scott Masters and author, historian Marc Milner. Marc is a Canadian military and naval historian, author of several books including SECOND FRONT: Anglo-American Rivalry and the Hidden Story of the Normandy Campaign. He is Director of the Gregg Centre for the Study of War and Society at the University of New Brunswick. Together they will help place Jim's experiences in the broader story of Canada's pivotal role on D-Day and the liberation of Northwest Europe by exploring the campaign, Jim's life before and after the war, and the importance of preserving these firsthand memories for future generations. For more information about Crestwood's Oral History Project, visit: https://ohp.crestwood.on.ca/ Bring your questions and join us for out conversation with someone who can tell us what it was like to come ashore on D-Day.

Freddie Bigg built from Bay Area middleman to cultivation partner. Here is what that journey actually cost and what it paid.Freddie Bigg started as a middleman in the pre-legal Bay Area market and made the call at exactly the right time: when recreational Cannabis launched, he partnered with SF Canna in 2019 and Planta in 2023, moving from distributor to cultivator. This is his third appearance on Good PizzZa Podcast, and the game has changed dramatically since the first one.In this conversation, Freddie breaks down why the "go direct to the farm" advice circulating online is getting people's heads knocked off on price, how the race to the bottom in Cannabis pricing destroys the value of product that operators should be protecting, and what it actually means to have relationships versus thinking you have them. He runs through the current Planta strain menu including Biscotti, Gelato 41, Gelonade, Coffin Candy, 11 Coffins, Red Hots, and the Zangria cross, and makes the case that flavor chasing in competition judging has quietly undercut the thing 100 percent of smokers actually want: to get high. The Toad conversation hits hard here because Freddie had early access, posted it, watched his account get deleted from the response, and has it in production at both operations.The macro conversation is where this episode gets interesting for anyone building a Cannabis brand right now. Freddie draws the Napa Valley comparison for Northern California sun-grown Cannabis once interstate commerce opens, explains how the first wave of legalization sent operators into what he calls the shores of Normandy, and traces why the operators still standing are mostly the ones who kept it solid from the beginning. The Static hash export market and the Doja Pak Germany story add an international layer that most California-focused conversations skip entirely.Freddie Bigg is one of the people in this industry who can back up everything he says with receipts. JP and Freddie have been building together since episode one of this show. This one is for the operators, the builders, and anyone who wants to know what the game actually looks like from inside it.Y'all know what time it is…Roll em fat, torch your rigs, pack your bongs, bag up some work, water your plants, do what you gotta do because we're about to take this journey with Freddie Bigg!✌

How do you make people care about your documentary?Facts alone rarely make an audience care. The emotional core of a documentary lives somewhere else. In this episode of Documentary First, filmmaker Christian Taylor tells the story of how she found the heartbeat her film about the Battle of Carentan was missing. It was not in the archives. It was in the memories of a man who was six years old when the war came for his town.For months, Christian's film Heroes of Carentan felt stuck in what one WWII veteran called the “data of history,” the maps, the dates, and the military maneuvers. Everything shifted when she met Yves Marchais. In June 1944, Yves was a small boy living under German occupation in Carentan, France. This year he sent Christian thirteen letters recording what he remembered, and those letters gave the historical record a soul.It comes down to a lesson every documentary filmmaker learns the hard way: audiences do not connect to issues or information, they connect to people. Anchored by a line from Pfc. John E. Fitzgerald, a runner for Medal of Honor recipient Lt. Col. Robert Cole, this episode argues that the essence of history is not its record but its heartbeat. Yves calls his own account his “hummingbird's share,” not the whole war, but the small, vivid pieces that passed before a child's eyes. His story becomes a lesson in telling a big historical event through one small, personal one.In this episode, you'll learn:Why facts and figures alone rarely move an audienceHow to find the emotional core, or heartbeat, of a documentaryWhy audiences connect to people, not to issues or informationHow to tell a big historical story through one small, personal oneWhat Pfc. John E. Fitzgerald meant when he warned that history can lose its heartbeatWhy one person's story can carry an entire historical eventWhat the “hummingbird's share” is, and why small memories matter more than big onesHow the Battle of Carentan looked through the eyes of a six-year-old boyHow Yves Marchais and his family survived the occupation and liberation of CarentanWhy the story a filmmaker starts with is often not the story worth tellingWhat the series Band of Brothers has to do with the real Battle of CarentanHow to know when your film has finally found its emotional coreChapters:00:00 Meeting a survivor of Carentan01:15 13 letters and Band of Brothers02:26 Life under German occupation04:01 D-Day and the kitchen sink05:27 Fleeing an empty Carentan06:59 The trench and liberation08:45 Colonel Cole and the runner10:57 The lesson: find your heartbeatFrequently Asked Questions:How do you find the emotional core of a documentary?Facts and chronology rarely move an audience on their own. The emotional core, what host Christian Taylor calls the heartbeat, usually lives in one person's specific, lived experience rather than in the broad historical record. In this episode she describes finding it in the memories of Yves Marchais, a French civilian who was six during the Battle of Carentan, and building the film's meaning around his point of view.How do you make an audience care about a documentary subject?Audiences connect to people far more than to issues or information. The most reliable way to make viewers care about a large subject, a war, a movement, a crisis, is to tell it through one specific person whose experience makes the bigger story personal. In this episode, Christian Taylor builds her film about the Battle of Carentan around a single child's memories rather than the broad military record.What was the Battle of Carentan?The Battle of Carentan was a June 1944 fight for the town of Carentan in Normandy, France, a key objective linking the American forces landing at Utah and Omaha beaches. The 101st Airborne Division, including units later made famous by Band of Brothers, fought to take the town, which was liberated on June 12, 1944.Who is Yves Marchais?Yves Marchais is a French man who, as a six-year-old boy, lived through the German occupation and the 1944 liberation of Carentan. Decades later he recorded his childhood memories of the war in a series of letters, which became the emotional core of Christian Taylor's documentary. He calls his account his “hummingbird's share,” the small, true pieces of history he witnessed firsthand.What did Pfc. John Fitzgerald mean about history losing its heartbeat?Pfc. John E. Fitzgerald, who served as a runner for Medal of Honor recipient Lt. Col. Robert Cole, wrote that the data of history should not lose its heartbeat as it becomes information, or all that remains is the record without the essence. Christian Taylor uses that idea as the key to her film: the facts of a battle matter, but the human story is what makes people care.About the Film and the Story:Heroes of Carentan is Christian Taylor's in-production documentary about the 1944 liberation of Carentan, Normandy, told through the people who lived it. Yves Marchais was six years old during the battle. His firsthand account of the occupation, the bombing, his family's escape through a deserted town, and the moment of liberation forms the emotional center of the film. This episode is the second part of Christian's story about finding that center.About Documentary First:Documentary First is a weekly podcast about the craft, business, and truth of documentary filmmaking. Host Christian Taylor is a documentary filmmaker (The Girl Who Wore Freedom), actor, voice actor, and podcast host based in the United States. Each week she explores what it takes to tell true stories that move people, through interviews with filmmakers and solo episodes drawn from her own work.Resources Mentioned:The Colonel and the Runner, by Pfc. John E. Fitzgerald (a recollection of Lt. Col. Robert G. Cole, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division)Band of Brothers (Episode 3 follows the Battle of Carentan)The Girl Who Wore Freedom, Christian Taylor's award-winning D-Day documentaryWatch or Listen to Part 1:https://pod.fo/e/4405a5Listen and Follow:Documentary First: https://podfollow.com/documentary-firstYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@documentaryfirstSupport the show on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/c/DocumentaryFirstConnect:Documentary First on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/doc1stConnect with Christian Taylor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetchristiantaylor

Episode 509 takes us to the heart of Latvia to meet Dace and Māris Plūme, the husband-and-wife team behind Mr. Plūme, an award-winning orchard cidery known for both still and naturally sparkling ciders. Their journey began with a chance taste of homemade cider that inspired Māris to train in Normandy and Austria before returning home to help shape Latvia's growing fine cider movement. Along the way, they explain why still cider deserves a place alongside sparkling cider, how heirloom apples define their work, the role of wild fermentation, and why patience is one of a cider maker's greatest tools. Ria also shares the latest News from Out and About Ciderville, including updates on CiderCon 2027, eCiderNews, GLINTCAP, orchards around the world, and this fall's French Cider Tour. Ciders tasted: • Semi-Sweet Still Cider • Pearadise Pet-Nat Timestamps Timestamps - 00:00 – Still Cider Origins - 00:23 – Welcome to Cider Chat - 02:31 – Ciderville News Update - 05:42 – Orchards Around the World - 08:48 – Fires and Normandy - 10:54 – Meet Mr. Plūme - 11:55 – Latvia and Location - 13:17 – Māris' Cider Journey - 15:34 – Latvian Traditions - 17:24 – Heirloom Apple Abundance - 19:29 – Orchard and Grafting - 22:20 – Learning the Craft - 25:52 – Life as a Married Cidermaking Team - 28:01 – A Microcidery Philosophy - 29:35 – Tours and Education - 30:59 – Bottle Sizes and Sales - 31:52 – Small Bottles and Hops - 32:44 – Wild Fermentation - 33:27 – The Story Behind Their Still Cider - 34:44 – Reading Latvian Labels - 35:35 – A Latvian Toast - 35:52 – Tasting the Still Cider - 36:58 – Why Still Cider Matters - 39:33 – Awards and Philosophy - 41:44 – Yeast and Apple Blends - 43:20 – The Baltic Cider Scene - 47:35 – Stopping Fermentation Naturally - 48:56 – Aging and Storage Challenges - 52:23 – Pouring Pearadise Pet-Nat - 54:40 – Flavor Notes and No Sulfites - 59:11 – Where to Find Mr. Plūme - 1:00:40 – Thanks and Sign Off - 1:02:42 – Closing Outro: We Like Cider Round

This audiobook is completely funded by you, the listener. If you would like to help us complete this project in full, please visit SSPX.gifts/audiobook. In this release, we follow Father Marcel Lefebvre from the missions of Gabon back to war-torn France, where a new and difficult assignment awaits him. Chapter 7 brings us to Mortain, a town devastated during the Battle of Normandy, and to White Abbey, where the Holy Ghost Fathers' philosophy scholasticate is struggling to recover. There, Father Lefebvre becomes rector, rebuilding not only damaged buildings, but also discipline, unity, doctrine, and missionary zeal among young seminarians shaped by war and uncertainty. We see his fatherly care, his practical leadership, his firm attachment to the teachings of the popes, and his insistence that charity must never be separated from truth. By the end, another unexpected call arrives: he has been named Vicar Apostolic of Dakar. View on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/yG2jyhh98B8  - - - - - - - Explore more: Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional- it's a perfect companion!Subscribe to this Podcastto receive this and all our audio episodesSubscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and SermonsFSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.newsVisit the US District website:https://sspx.org/ - - - - - What is the SSPX Podcast? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press, which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition.  https://sspx.org

There are some places you visit because they have always been on your bucket list. Then there are places that mean something to you long before you ever arrive. Normandy was one of those places for Scott. Both of his grandfathers served in the Army in the European theater during World War II. Neither of them stormed the beaches of Normandy, but one of my grandfathers helped build temporary bridges during the war, helping Allied forces continue moving across Europe. His brother also served and received both a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his acts of valor. I remember being a child and my great-aunt showing me those medals. At that age, I do not think I fully understood what they represented, but I remembered them. Now, all these years later, we were heading to Normandy. We were going to stand on the beaches, walk through the cemeteries, see the remains of the German defenses, and visit the places where thousands of young men were asked to do something almost unimaginable. We often call them the Greatest Generation. After visiting Normandy, I understand that description a little differently than I did before. But our trip to Normandy actually started somewhere completely different. It started with Monet's garden, a tiny Citroën, two very aggressive truck drivers, and my sudden discovery that apparently I like quiche. This episode takes you through the places we visited, along with tips and suggestions for planning your trip. This was as emotional to record as it was walking through these sites when we visited. Standing in the places where this happens makes me realize just how much this one day changed the course of our history forever, and the bravery and sacrifice that took place here. We think it is a place that every American who is able should visit at least once in their life. Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure. Here are a few resources to help you plan your trip to Normandy: Where to stay - Bayeux You can take guided tours from here Here are a few suggestions of things to watch or read before you go: We found this Rick Steves Podcast Episode extremely helpful. The museum at Arromanches is recommended by a local tour guide. We started our day there. Saving Private Ryan Band of Brothers The Longest Day Delta's D-Day Survivors documentary where they fly WWII survivors to Normandy MORE TRAVEL RESOURCES Get help planning your trip to Normandy or your next trip. Learn more at sunshinetravelersexperiences.com or sunxtravel.com SUNSHINE TRAVELERS GROUP TRIP Come with us on Safari in Kenya in June 2027. We are hosting a maximum of 10 on a luxury, privately guided safari to 3 places in Kenya, where we have been on safari twice, in order to bring you the best experience. Click HERE to learn more and sign up. More Resources & Links: Want to learn more about making money, planning, and booking travel for yourself and others? Learn more at https://www.sunshinetravelersexperiences.com/become-an-advisor Get Our FREE Ultimate Packing Guide See ALL our Favorite Travel Resources Don't waste your precious vacation time with Jet Lag, get Flykitt and watch Jet Lag disappear! Protect your privacy, boost your security, and keep your browsing data safe with Express VPN. Plus, get 3 months free with a yearly plan. Follow Sunshine Travelers Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Read more about this and other travel destinations on our BLOG Follow our travels on TikTok @sunshinetravelerspodcast Follow us on X @sunshinetrvlrs Connect with us on LinkedIn @sunshinetravelerspodcast Get travel tips and follow our travels on Instagram: @sunshinetravelerspodcast Follow us on Facebook @sunshinetravelerspodcast Connect with us on Threads @sunshinetravelerspodcast See our travel videos on YouTube @sunshinetravelerspodcast Save our travel ideas on Pinterest @sunshinetravelerspodcast Music: This Acoustic Happy Music by Dmitrii Kolesnikov from Pixabay

Pigeons: The Heroic Communicators of Modern Warfare Guest: Stephen Moss Book Title: Ten Birds That Changed the World The humble pigeon is celebrated for its extraordinary homing skills, which Moss describes as making it the "ultimate mailman." While legends like the Rothschilds using pigeons to profit from the Battle of Waterloo are mostly myth, the bird's real-world contributions to communication during the World Wars were pivotal. During D-Day, radio silence was mandatory, and pigeons were released from Normandy beaches to carry news of successful landings back to Britain. Moss highlights Cher Ami, a pigeon that saved a New York battalion from "friendly fire" despite being severely wounded. These birds were so effective that the British military even deployed a unit to hunt peregrine falcons to protect pigeon messengers. Moss notes the paradox of the pigeon: often dismissed as urban pests, they were actually reliable, "unturnable" assets that saved the democratic world through their instinctual drive to return home. (2)1849 RAVEN

Adrian Tennant Interview starts at 00:02:24"I Love That" starts at 00:47:43Chapter Thirteen of "Twisting the Aces" starts at 00:55:50 LINKSThe Eli Marks Mystery Series: http://www.elimarksmysteries.com/Get yourself a Free Eli Marks Short Story: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/jj1r1yaavjListen to an Eli Marks Audio Short Story: https://BookHip.com/LZBPPMDPsychic Entertainment by Stuart Palm, available from Stevens Magic:https://stevensmagic.com/products/psychic-entertainment-stuart-palm-bookClip from the David Nixon Show on YouTube (there are many more):https://youtu.be/YxrxUxHg-z0?si=upQ8JgrDhib7N29EDavid Nixon biography: David Nixon: Entertainer with the Magic Touch by Edwin A. Dawes and Stephen Short Product page: https://www.martinsmagic.com/allmagic/books/david-nixon-entertainer-with-the-magic-touch-by-edwin-a-dawes-stephen-short/The Magic Book Podcast—Episode #16 Dr. Matt Tompkinshttps://themagicbookpodcast.com/blog/episode-16-dr-matt-tompkins"D-Day: The Battle for Normandy" by Anthony Beevor: https://www.antonybeevor.com/book/d-day-the-battle-for-normandy/Marty: Life is Short: https://www.netflix.com/title/82128115Check out Albert's Bridge Books: https://www.albertsbridgebooks.com/

Forget what you think you know about medieval holy wars. Move over, Richard the Lionheart—the most action-packed, technologically wild campaign happened in the land of the pyramids, and it's time to stop ignoring it!In this live episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill sits down with public historian, fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and author Thomas Smith to rescue the Fifth Crusade from historical obscurity. If you think the Crusades were just knights waiting around in a dusty Syrian desert, prepare to have your mind blown by a campaign dominated by amphibious warfare, terrifying medieval technology, and a truly jaw-dropping twist ending.What You'll Discover in This Episode:The Strategic Shift: Why Western Europe realized that the true key to holding Jerusalem was actually conquering Egypt—the wealthy breadbasket of the Near East.D-Day in 1218: Discover the incredible engineering behind flat-bottomed landing craft, complete with bow ramps for cavalry charges, used 800 years before Normandy.Medieval Napalm & Hand Grenades: Get a breakdown of Greek fire, the terrifying incendiary weapons used on the Nile, and the highly unpleasant acidic liquids required to put them out.The Floating Siege Engine: Meet Oliver of Cologne, the genius German schoolmaster who built a rotating wooden fortress on stilt-ships to conquer the Nile's impenetrable Chain Tower.Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory: How a combination of apocalyptic prophecy, a flooding River Nile, and a massive, poorly-timed wine-drinking session brought the entire campaign crashing down.Links & Resources Mentioned:Buy the Book: Grab your copy of Thomas Smith's ground-breaking new book, The Fifth Crusade: A History of the Epic Campaign to Conquer Egypt, from the History Rage Bookshop.Recommended Episodes:Episode 174: Steve Tibble rages about crime during the Crusades.Episode 300: Aleks Pluskowski rages that Crusades are not all in the Middle East.Connect with the Guest:Instagram: Follow Tom for more incredible medieval insights @medieval_tomSupport & Follow History Rage:Join the Rage Train and make sure you never miss an episode where truth is liberated from the infidels!Support us on Patreon: Get exclusive access to live streams, ask questions directly to our guests, and join the community at patreon.com/HistoryRage.Apple Subscriptions: Listen completely ad-free for just £3 per month via your Apple Podcasts app.Spread the Word: If you love the show, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and tell a friend to hop aboard the rage train!Are you ready to look past the myths? Stay angry! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1475, nobody wants a Henry V impersonator, but Edward IV goes ahead and does his best impression anyway.  Edward, buoyant from vanquishing his enemies at home, now wants to re-unite the kingdom against its longtime enemy: France. He wants the family heirlooms back: Normandy and Gascony.  So he assembles the biggest army in living memory — about 13,000 strong — and launches an assault on Paris, via Calais and Agincourt. Another Duke of Burgundy allies with England, too.  But Edward IV is no Henry V. Edward's first allegiance is to pleasure, and it's a fact the French King, Louis XI, ruthlessly exploits.  – As always, Dan's royal favourites can chime in anytime on the royal court on Patreon at patreon.com/thisishistory. It's where you get your bonus episodes, and on this week's episode Dan reveals whether the Hundred Years' War was actually over by Edward IV's invasion. Plus, more on why Henry Tudor's the new pawn to be traded between Edward, Louis XI, and the Duke of Burgundy.  – A Sony Music Entertainment production.  Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts  To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com  Learn more about your ad choices.  Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices  –– Presented by Dan Jones Producer - Alan Weedon Senior Producer - Dominic Tyerman Junior Producer - Dulcie Whadcock Executive Producer - Louisa Field Executive Producer - Dan Jones Production Manager - Jen Mistri Production Coordinator - Eric Ryan Head of Content - Chris Skinner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Part 3 of our discussion of the Hemevez Massacre of six 82nd Airborne paratrooper on DDAY 1944 with subject matter expert and historian Marty Morgan.Support the show

In June 1944, as the Allied armies fought to break out from the Normandy beachhead, attention turned to a series of heavily defended German positions west of Caen. Among them was Rauray Spur, a vital piece of high ground that overlooked much of the surrounding countryside and offered the Germans an excellent observation point.  Before the launch of Operation Epsom, the British needed to secure this area and protect their exposed flank. The result was Operation Martlet, a hard-fought battle that has often been overshadowed by the larger operations that followed, but was crucial to the wider campaign in Normandy. In this episode, I am joined by John Delaney, co-host of WW2 Road Trips on YouTube and Content Lead and Senior Curator at the Imperial War Museum.   Patreonpatreon.com/ww2podcast  

Over the next few weeks, we'll explore the incredibly varied and complex roles women stepped into during World War II. No, they weren't GIs. They didn't land at the beach on Normandy on D-Day, or face military combat, but without a doubt, the roles they performed shaped the way the war was both fought and won.

Did you know the very first person ever imprisoned in the Tower of London also became the first person to escape from it? He got his guards drunk, abseiled out of a window on a rope smuggled in via a wine barrel, realized the rope was twenty feet too short, dropped anyway, and sailed to Normandy with his elderly mother. And the Constable responsible for him lost the job's hereditary rights immediately. This is the story of the people who ran the Tower of London for nearly a thousand years, from that first catastrophic escape all the way to the Duke of Wellington draining the moat and fuming about tourists. It is a wild ride. Tower Menagerie episode: https://youtu.be/cG1E0LkhzkgNewsletter signup: https://www.englandcast.com/newsletter-sign-up/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(3) In the setting of Londinium, 92 AD, Gaius and Germanicus engage in a series of debates comparing the struggles of the ancient Roman Empire to the paradigms of power and exhaustion in the 21st century. Meteorology, Myth, and the Miracles of D-Day. Reviewing the film Pressure, the pair discusses how meteorological "miracles" and "preternatural discipline" decided the fate of D-Day. They conclude that reenacting WWII history through film serves as a "sacral" and "mythic experience" for Americans, providing a necessary sense of connection and certainty in an otherwise "desperately fractious" modern political landscape. (3)1944 NORMANDY

Jeff McCausland draws parallels between the performative style of Civil War General Jeb Stuart and current Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. He critiques Hegseth's recent speeches in Singapore, Normandy, and Guantanamo, arguing they prioritize individual image over grand strategy and mark significant, potentially transactional shifts in long-standing U.S. foreign policy toward Taiwan and European allies. (12)PERSIA

SCHEDULE THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 6-12-2026.1903 PRINCETON UNIVERSITYJeff Bliss describes massive, deadly swells hitting California beaches due to a southern hemisphere storm system. The conversation shifts to Las Vegas, where a massive, highly anticipated In-N-Out Burger recently opened on the Strip. Bliss details the chain's reputation for fresh food, cleanliness, and fair employee wages. (1)Jeff Bliss discusses the surprising results of the Los Angeles City Council primary, where Nithya Raman surged despite initially conceding. He highlights allegations of voter fraud in the Skid Row area and the impact of California's ballot harvesting laws. The segment also touches on Xavier Becerra's lead in the governor's race. (2)Richard Epstein analyzes the legal effort to prevent the removal of Donald Trump's name from the Kennedy Centerfacade. He argues that the Trump-aligned board's appeal lacks legal merit and strength, as removing a nameplate does not constitute irreparable harm. Epstein suggests the judge should consider firing the current board due to bias. (3)Richard Epstein critiques the construction of the Obama Center in Chicago, lamenting the destruction of 800 historical trees and the seizure of public land. He describes the project's design as a "monstrosity" with a flawed traffic plan and expresses concern over the foundation's lack of financial transparency and endowment. (4)Jim McTague reports on a "budget-minded hesitancy" among Pennsylvania consumers despite falling gas prices. He notes a rare layoff notice for 70 logistics workers and uneven retail activity. Meanwhile, a data center project near Costcoproceeds under heavy security, while a similar proposal was rejected by a neighboring borough. (5)Lorenzo Fiori discusses the "disaster" of the Italian national football team failing to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time. The segment transitions to Pisa, highlighting the prestigious Scuola Normale Superiore and recent astronomical breakthroughs involving the James Webb Space Telescope. Fiori concludes with local wine and culinary recommendations. (6)Bob Zimmerman discusses the crew selection for NASA's Artemis 3 mission, which has been simplified to focus on Earth-orbit docking tests. He also examines private sector developments, including German startup Isar's funding, Stoke Space's reusable rocket design, and an orbital servicing mission by Catalyst intended to rescue a decaying NASAtelescope. (7)Bob Zimmerman honors the late Alan Hale, co-discoverer of the record-setting Comet Hale-Bopp. He reviews the historical significance of the first image of the moon's far side taken by Luna 3 in 1959. The segment also explores current cosmological debates regarding dark energy and the existence of "little red dots" in the early universe. (8)Peter Huessy discusses the history of "tactical" nuclear weapons and the 1950s Desert Rock exercises where U.S. troops were exposed to nuclear detonations. He details the health risks soldiers faced and parallels these actions with Sovietmaneuvers, highlighting the "ludicrous" idea of trying to operate militarily in a post-detonation environment. (9)Peter Huessy explains that Russia views low-yield, tactical nuclear weapons as usable battlefield tools to achieve victory or coerce opponents. He contrasts this with U.S. doctrine, which keeps such weapons under central command. Huessywarns of the lack of transparency regarding China's dual-use nuclear capabilities and Russia's "reckless" potential to use these weapons. (10)Colonel Jeff McCausland discusses stalled negotiations with Iran, noting the heavy influence of the Revolutionary Guard Corps over the diplomatic process. He analyzes the military difficulty of seizing Kharg Island and the profound impact of Ukrainian drones on the Russian front, suggesting that drone saturation has leveled the battlefield and interdicted Russian resupply lines. (11)Jeff McCausland draws parallels between the performative style of Civil War General Jeb Stuart and current Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. He critiques Hegseth's recent speeches in Singapore, Normandy, and Guantanamo, arguing they prioritize individual image over grand strategy and mark significant, potentially transactional shifts in long-standing U.S. foreign policy toward Taiwan and European allies. (12)Veronique de Rugy argues that the U.S. already has the most progressive tax system among OECD countries, with the wealthy paying a disproportionate share of revenue. She critiques Thomas Piketty's proposal for a global wealth tax and mandated "degrowth," characterizing it as an effort to limit national growth under the guise of climate and social justice. (13)Mary Anastasia O'Grady questions the delay in scheduling Venezuelan elections under Delcy Rodriguez. She reports that over 400 political prisoners remain held, and the notorious Helicoide prison remains operational despite contradictory claims. O'Grady notes that the regime lacks the political will to allow a free press or fair electoral body to organize. (14)Conrad Black emphasizes the vital economic ties between the U.S. and Canada, noting Canada provides 25% of U.S.aluminum and 20% of its uranium. He expresses confidence that Prime Minister Mark Carney will build necessary oil pipelines to both coasts to benefit the Canadian economy, despite opposition from environmental groups and Carney's own "green instincts." (15)Francis Rose discusses the U.S. military's efforts to integrate AI by "gamifying" systems to make them intuitive for young, video-game-literate service members. He also highlights CISA's work in rebuilding its workforce to protect private-sector cyber infrastructure and the Army's Joint Innovation Outpost, which aims to accelerate the transition of technology from private inventors to the battlefield. (16)One name correction: (2) Nithia Raman → Nithya Raman (established style for the LA city council member).

 This week on Straight White American Jesus, Brad and Dan unpack the GOP's latest claims of voter fraud in California and show how conspiracy thinking, Christian nationalist spiritual warfare, and anti-democratic rhetoric continue to undermine public trust in elections. Focusing on comments from Donald Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson, they explore how evidence-free allegations of fraud function politically, why California has become a symbolic target, and how narratives of hidden, “unprovable” corruption mirror the logic of both conspiracism and charismatic Christian nationalism. The episode examines what happens when feelings and intuition replace facts, and why attacks on election integrity remain central to the MAGA movement's political strategy. The conversation then turns to the Trump administration's unprecedented UFC event at the White House and Pete Hegseth's controversial D-Day remarks in Normandy. Brad and Dan analyze the UFC spectacle as a symbol of a broader political vision rooted in domination, submission, and conflict rather than democratic deliberation and compromise. They also discuss Hegseth's embrace of Western civilizational rhetoric and anti-immigrant messaging during a commemoration of the Allied fight against fascism, situating his comments within a larger framework of Christian nationalism, Western chauvinism, and the growing influence of the postliberal right. Along the way, they reflect on America's declining international standing, the politics of spectacle, and reasons for hope as public resistance to authoritarianism continues to grow. Axis Mundi is becoming more than a podcast network. We are building the essential newsroom for understanding religion, democracy, extremism, and power in America today. And with your support, we can build it together. Direct support: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new⁠ Tax-deductible donations through our partnering 501c3: ⁠https://www.irmce.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the MeidasTouch Podcast, Ben, Brett, and Jordy break down the latest international embarrassment as Donald Trump's Iran ceasefire-in-name-only appears to be falling apart even more, with fighting escalating, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu openly disregarding Trump's demands, and Iranian officials accusing Trump of fabricating details about negotiations. The brothers also examine how Trump's presence seems to bring chaos everywhere he goes—from disrupting the World Cup and causing massive security headaches around the NBA Finals in New York City to his bizarre plan to stage a UFC event on the White House lawn. Plus, a growing New World Screwworm outbreak raises serious public health concerns, protests erupt in Albania over projects tied to Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sparks outrage after botching D-Day commemorations in Normandy with offensive remarks. Finally, the hosts dissect Trump's increasingly erratic appearance on Meet the Press, where an orange-and-red-faced Trump abruptly ended the interview and stormed off when pressed on tough questions. All that and more on the MeidasTouch Podcast. Subscribe to Meidas+ at https://meidasplus.com Get Meidas Merch: https://store.meidastouch.com Deals from our sponsors!  Smalls: Head to https://Smalls.com/meidas and use promo code MEIDAS at checkout for 60% off your first order PLUS free shipping! Miracle Made: Upgrade your sleep with Miracle Made! Go to https://TryMiracle.com/meidas and use the code: MEIDAS to claim your FREE 3 PIECE TOWEL SET and SAVE over 40% OFF. L-Nutra Prolon: Just visit https://ProlonLife.com/MEIDAS to claim your 15% discount and your bonus gift. Willie's Remedy: Order now at https://drinkwillies.com and use code MEIDAS for 20% off of your first order + free shipping on orders over $95 Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum with Dr. Steve Hassan: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth getting thrown out of Normandy and deemed persona non grata after his horrible speech in Normandy. Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum with Dr. Steve Hassan: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show The Ken Harbaugh Show: https://meidasnews.com/tag/the-ken-harbaugh-show Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For months, messengers had been arriving from Normandy carrying news of the disorder and chaos that was gripping the Duchy.  Now, normally, this would have been good news for King Henry.  It was no secret that the King wanted to reunite his father's cross channel empire under himself… nor was it a secret that he […] The post 501 – Bishop Serlo's Pop Up Hair Salon first appeared on The British History Podcast.

On this special D-Day edition of Hayden's History Hour, Federalist Staff Editor Hayden Daniel shares everything you should know about the largest amphibious operation in history and explains how Hollywood's portrayal of the operation fails to capture the size and intensity of the Allied powers' beginning strategy to end World War II. The Federalist Foundation is a nonprofit, and we depend entirely on our listeners and readers — not corporations. If you value fearless, independent journalism, please consider a tax-deductible gift today at TheFederalist.com/donate. Your support keeps us going.