Podcast appearances and mentions of Richard Bell

The often extremely quotable Hannah Arendt once wrote that “the French Revolution, which ended in disaster, has made world history, while the American Revolution, so triumphantly successful, has remained an event of little more than local importance.”My guest Richard Bell emphatically disagrees. In The American Revolution and the Fate of the World (Penguin, 2025), Bell argues that the Revolution was global from the very beginning. It drew participants from multiple continents, reshaped patterns of migration and trade, altered imperial policy from Canada to India, and inspired movements for liberty around the world. What Americans often remember as a national story was, in reality, a global convulsion.Richard Bell is Professor of History at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is the author of Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped into Slavery and Their Astonishing Odyssey Home, was the focus of a conversation on this podcast that was published on December 30th, 2019.

Baron von Steuben and the Strategic Overhaul at Valley Forge. Guest: Professor Richard Bell. Baron von Steuben, a Prussian officer, arrived at Valley Forge during the harsh winter of 1777–1778, desperate for a career after being forced out of the Prussian military. Though he arrived in a brilliant uniform, he was essentially a "soldier of fortune" hired by Benjamin Franklin and Silas Deane to instill order and discipline in the ragtag Continental Army. Washington's decision to hire him proved to be one of his best strategic moves, transforming the army's combat readiness. Steuben's presence highlights the Revolution as a global event where foreign professionals contributed expertise for various personal and strategic reasons. 11919 VERSAILLES

Privateers and the Deadly Reality of British Prison Ships. Guest: Professor Richard Bell. Privateers were government-sanctioned pirates who caused significant economic damage to the British while the Continental Navystruggled. William Russell, a schoolteacher, joined a privateering vessel but was captured and imprisoned in the HMS Jersey, a floating "black hole" in Brooklyn Bay. Mortality rates on these ships reached fifty percent, making them the deadliest sites of the entire war. Despite the risks, over 50,000 Americans served on privateering missions, illustrating the global commercial impact of the Revolution and the high human cost for those captured by British forces. 21803 OHIO

The Brutality of Frontier Warfare and the Dispossession of Native Nations. Guest: Professor Richard Bell. Molly Brant, a Mohawk woman, navigated the brutal Western frontier, which served as a massive thousand-mile battlefield characterized by "scorched earth" tactics against civilians. Most Native nations allied with the British to prevent patriot expansion onto their lands. However, following the war, the British betrayed their allies in the Treaty of Paris, ceding indigenous territories to the United States without consent. The conflict led to a lasting American national myth that distanced white patriots from their native neighbors, casting indigenous people as "savages" and justifying their displacement from ancestral homelands. 31750

The Influence of American Independence on the Irish Revolution. Guest: Professor Richard Bell. The American Revolution signaled that British imperial control was not invincible, inspiring the 1798 Irish revolt by the United Irishmen. Irish-born soldiers were so prevalent in Washington's ranks that British commanders nicknamed the Continental Army the "Line of Ireland." Lord Cornwallis, famously defeated at Yorktown, was later sent to Ireland to suppress this uprising with brutal effectiveness. The conflict highlighted the divided loyalties within Ireland, where different religious groups viewed the American struggle as a model for their own constitutional concessions or total independence from the British Crown. 41850

Shattering the Myth of Hessian Invincibility at the Battle of Trenton. Guest: Professor Richard Bell. King George III rented 30,000 German soldiers, known as Hessians, to crush the American insurgency, leading to widespread patriot terror. Washington's victory at Trenton was a crucial symbolic blow that proved these "savage cutthroats" were human and defeatable. Following their capture, Hessian prisoners were sent to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where they were encouraged to desert or defect to the American cause. This strategy resulted in 5,000 desertions, with many Hessians eventually becoming naturalized citizens and even contributing to early American culture, such as writing the unofficial national anthem. 518181

The Global Strategy of Vergennes and the French Alliance. Guest: Professor Richard Bell. French Foreign Minister Vergennes viewed the American Revolution as a strategic opportunity to weaken the British Empire and avenge losses from the Seven Years' War. He orchestrated covert aid before committing the French military in 1778, which transformed the rebellion into a global conflict spanning the Caribbean, India, and the Mediterranean. This diversification of British resources was essential to the patriot success at Yorktown. Vergennes' calculated moves forced Britain to defend its worldwide imperial assets, ultimately making the American Revolution an international struggle for power between European empires. 61770

Peggy Shippen: The Mastermind Behind Benedict Arnold's Defection. Guest: Professor Richard Bell. Peggy Shippen, the ambitious wife of Benedict Arnold, is portrayed as a central architect of his betrayal who likely encouraged him to monetize his position by selling loyalty to the British. When the plot was discovered, she feigned "hysteria" to successfully deflect suspicion from herself, convincing George Washington and his aides of her innocence. After the war, the Arnolds lived in exile in London, where they were disdained as traitors by British society. Her story illustrates that the Revolution was a complex civil war involving influential female actors who navigated political intrigue. 71821

The Shift to Australia: Reimagining the British Empire After the Revolution. Guest: Professor Richard Bell. The loss of the American colonies forced Britain to seek new locations for its convicts, leading to the colonization of Australia. After failed experiments in West Africa, the British government turned to Botany Bay in 1786 out of desperation. The "First Fleet" arrived in 1788, signaling the expansion of the British Empire into the Pacific as a direct consequence of American independence. This transition began a brutal era for the indigenous Eora people and demonstrated that the British Empire was not destroyed by the Revolution, but rather relocated its interests. 81821

Richard Bell, Rick to his friends and podcast hosts, is Professor of History at the University of Maryland. He is the author of the book Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped into Slavery and their Astonishing Odyssey Home which was a finalist for the George Washington Prize and the Harriet Tubman Prize. He has held major research fellowships at Yale, Cambridge, and the Library of Congress and is the recipient of the National Endowment of the Humanities Public Scholar award and the Andrew Carnegie Fellowship. His new book, The American Revolution and the Fate of the World, published by Penguin, recently won the Journal of the American Revolution Book of the Year Award. The wife of the pod and I saw Rick speak to a small group in Austin in the beginning of April, and his talk stimulated me to buy and read his new and very timely book on the global history of the American Revolution.  I enjoyed it very much, insofar as it is packed with the sort of interesting stories that are the stock-in-trade of the History of the Americans Podcast, and of course recommend that you run out and buy it! In our conversation we discuss two of the fourteen chapters in the book, one on the grassroots antiwar movement that emerged in Great Britain early in the war, and the other on Spain’s remarkable contribution to the ultimate patriot victory. I hope you enjoy listening as much as I had fun doing it. Subscribe to my Substack! X – @TheHistoryOfTh2 – https://x.com/TheHistoryOfTh2 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfTheAmericans

"In a just world, Mark Waid is the bar, rather than a notable comics writer." ---------- The saying goes that he who is known as an early riser can get out of bed whenever he wants. Similarly, Action Comics #1094, "Our Superboy At War," pushes the limits of what "liberal" storytelling can depict before it crosses the line into conservative jingoism. Because ostensible progressive Mark Waid wrote it, the actions of the hero within must be just and good. The line drawn here is blurry, and what it divides is less important (although just as obscured) as where it ends. And where it begins. ---------- Special thanks to our Lovable Sidekicks: Better Possible Futures, Kourtney Smith, Walt Lewellyn, Kafka, The Black Casebook's Very Own Nightwing, JD Lunt, Ambird, Mr. Pig from the Intervention, Travis Armstrong, Chris Marks, Wirecats, Sheeee-itttt, VoidTek, Mars Hottentot, Richard Bell, TakoTuesday, Joseph, and Knife Money ---------- Email: collectiveactioncomics@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collectiveactioncomics Twitter: https://twitter.com/CAComixPod Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cacomixpod.bsky.social Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/collectiveactioncomics

The American Revolution obviously changed the course of American History.  That's a given.  Have you ever contemplated how that singular event changed the course of world history over the ensuing centuries?  Think of how the American Revolution weakened the British and Spanish Empires and as our guest discusses, "it gives rights seekers everywhere a new vocabulary."  To discuss this fascinating topic, we are delighted to welcome Richard Bell, author of "The American Revolution and the Fate of the World" and professor of history at the University of Maryland.

What if the American Revolution didn't just create the United States, but also created Australia? Most of us learned about the Revolution as a story of thirteen North American colonies pushing back against a distant king. But this episode reveals something far wilder: a genuinely global war whose consequences rippled across every inhabited continent — reshaping empires, forcing migrations, and planting the seeds of more than a hundred declarations of independence that would follow over the next two and a half centuries. Joseph Adelman joins historian Richard Bell to explore the American Revolution as a world war. They discuss: Why the Declaration of Independence was really a Declaration of Interdependence How Hyder Ali, the Muslim ruler of Mysore in southern India, became George Washington's ally by the logic of wartime coalitions How Spain's campaign to recapture Florida tied down thousands of British troops How Britain's convict crisis, caused by losing access to Maryland and Virginia, led to the founding of Australia at Botany Bay. Rick's Website | Book |Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/438 EPISODE OUTLINE00:00:00  Introduction00:06:28 Differences in Perception of the American Revolution00:09:00 Reframing the Declaration of Independence00:17:32 Molly Brandt and Haudenosaunee Diplomacy00:24:38 Baron von Steuben: A Mercenary's Tale00:29:15 The American Revolution: Myth vs. Reality00:35:02 The American Revolution and Florida00:43:39 The American Revolution's Impact on India00:50:24 The Connection Between the American Revolution and Australia00:56:50 Themes of the American Revolution00:59:16 The Time Warp00:62:00 Conclusion RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES

Richard Bell, University of Maryland history professor on his book The American Revolution and the Fate of the World. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Talmage Boston holds a live cross-examination style interview of author Richard Bell on his newest book The American Revolution and the Fate of the World. Richard Bell teaches Early American history at the University of Maryland.

On this week's leaders and “Leaders and Legends” podcast (#354), we interview Professor and author Richard Bell about his book “The American Revolution and the Fate of the World”. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our founding, we must not forget the impact the victories and words of American colonists had on thinkers and leaders around the globe.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jericho was the first Band studio album in sixteen years, and by the time it arrived a lot had changed. Richard Manuel was gone. Robbie Robertson was gone. What remained were Levon Helm, Rick Danko, and Garth Hudson, joined by Jim Weider, Randy Ciarlante, and Richard Bell, trying to figure out what The Band could still sound like in the 1990s. In this episode, I take a look at how Jericho finally came together after years of touring, a failed attempt at a record, and more than a little loss along the way. We talk through the songs, the players who helped make the album, and what was happening around the band when they stepped back into the studio. It's not a return to the past. It's a later chapter. A record made by musicians who had already lived through the legend and were still trying to keep the music going. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As part of GHS's ongoing US250 commemoration, Stan's guest this week is historian and British native Richard Bell, talking about his new book, The American Revolution and the Fate of the World (Penguin/Riverhead, 2025), which offers a global perspective on the American independence movement. Bell puts the Revolution at the center of an international web, ...Continue Reading »

Thomas Paine arrived in America in 1774 with little to his name and a long record of personal failure behind him. Within a year, he wrote Common Sense, one of the most influential political pamphlets in history, helping to ignite the American Revolution and catapulting Paine into the American history hall of fame. But by the end of his life, he was widely reviled, politically isolated, and personally abandoned. Once celebrated as the voice of liberty, he died an outcast, mourned by only six people at his funeral. How does one man become the voice of the American Revolution and end up forgotten? To explore Paine's complicated legacy, we are joined by Richard Bell, professor of history at the University of Maryland and author of The American Revolution and the Fate of the World. Timestamps:  00:00 Intro   02:41 Thomas Paine's early life 10:32 Paine's arrival in America 20:02 What did Paine argue in Common Sense? 25:11 Why Common Sense was so revolutionary 36:31 The American Crisis and the Revolutionary War 41:35 Why Paine returned to London and wrote The Rights of Man 49:19 Exile from Britain, imprisonment in France, and writing The Age of Reason 01:01:27 Why America turned its back on Paine 01:12:09 Paine's final days 01:18:50 How should we understand Paine's legacy today? 01:26:58 Outro Enjoy listening to the podcast? Donate to FIRE today and get exclusive content like member webinars, special episodes, and more.  If you became a FIRE Member through a donation to FIRE at thefire.org and would like access to Substack's paid subscriber podcast feed, please email sotospeak@thefire.org.

It's almost the 250th anniversary of America's founding. Not only did the Revolution define the fate of the continent, Dr. Richard Bell argues it was a harbinger for the rest of the world. On this episode, we explore how he discovered that, and how that argument can shape our understanding of world events.From the publisher: In this revelatory and enthralling book, award-winning historian Richard Bell reveals the full breadth and depth of America's founding event. The American Revolution was not only the colonies' triumphant liberation from the rule of an overbearing England; it was also a cataclysm that pulled in participants from around the globe and threw the entire world order into chaos. Repositioning the Revolution at the center of an international web, Bell's narrative ranges as far afield as India, Africa, Central America, and Australia. As his lens widens, the “War of Independence” manifests itself as a sprawling struggle that upended the lives of millions of people on every continent and fundamentally transformed the way the world works, disrupting trade, restructuring penal systems, stirring famine, and creating the first global refugee crisis. Bell conveys the impact of these developments at home and abroad by grounding the narrative in the gripping stories of individuals—including women, minorities, and other disenfranchised people. The result is an unforgettable and unexpected work of American history that shifts everything we thought we knew about our creation story.Our other episode with Richard Bell, where we focused on his book, "Stolen," can be found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axelbank-reports-history-and-today/id1521053272?i=1000506680498Richard Bell's website can be found at https://www.richard-bell.com/Information on his book can be found at https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/752265/the-american-revolution-and-the-fate-of-the-world-by-richard-bell/AxelbankHistory.com is designed by https://www.ellieclairedesigns.com/Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at https://twitter.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://instagram.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://facebook.com/axelbankhistory

From the Claremont Police Dept, DJ O'Sullivan and Richard Bell are here as we talk about the K9 division, the new dog in Claremont, the differences between the two police dogs, all the training, and so much more. 

Was the American Revolution really just a colonial rebellion against Britain? According to historian Dr. Richard Bell, the answer is no.In this episode, we discuss Bell's book The American Revolution and the Fate of the World, which reframes the Revolution as a global, transnational conflict with consequences stretching far beyond North America—from Spain and the Caribbean to Indigenous nations and British India.Bell challenges familiar myths about the Revolution, including the simplistic portrayal of King George III as a tyrant, the mythologizing of the Battle of Trenton, and the idea that the conflict was merely Patriots vs. Loyalists. We explore how propaganda and a vibrant revolutionary press shaped public opinion, how Indigenous peoples acted as crucial political and military players, and why Spain's role in undermining British power has been largely forgotten.This conversation shows why challenging national myths is essential to understanding what the American Revolution really was—and why it mattered to the wider world.Support the show

FRANCE'S GLOBAL STRATEGY IN THE REVOLUTION Colleague Professor Richard Bell. Professor Richard Bell continues, highlighting the role of Foreign Minister Vergennes and how French involvement expanded the war globally. NUMBER 14

THE LEGEND OF THE HESSIANS Colleague Professor Richard Bell. Professor Richard Bell discusses the American fear of Hessian soldiers and Washington's strategic victory at Trenton. NUMBER 13 1975 TRENTON

BENEDICT ARNOLD AND PEGGY SHIPPEN Colleague Professor Richard Bell. Professor Richard Bellcontinues, discussing Peggy Shippen's influence on Benedict Arnold's defection and their subsequent life in London. NUMBER 15 PEGGY SHIPPEN

THE ACCIDENTAL COLONIZATION OF AUSTRALIA Colleague Professor Richard Bell. Professor Richard Bell concludes, recounting the story of convict William Murray and the accidental selection of Australia as a penal colony following the loss of the American colonies. NUMBER 16 1945

PREVIEW PEGGY SHIPPEN'S CUNNING DECEPTION DURING THE ARNOLD CONSPIRACY Colleague Richard Bell. Historian Richard Bell discusses his book on the American Revolution, focusing on the cunning of Peggy Shippen. Bell describes how Shippen, Benedict Arnold's wife, successfully feigned hysteria and madness to deceive Continental Army officers, effectively hiding her complicity in the treasonous conspiracy while shifting all suspicion onto her husband.

SHOW 12-22-25 THE SHOW BEGINS WITH DOUBTS ABOUT FUTURE NAVY. 1941 HICKAM FIELD 1. Restoring Naval Autonomy: Arguments for Separating the Navy from DoD. Tom Modly argues the Navy is an "underperforming asset" within the Defense Department's corporate structure, similar to how Fiat Chrysler successfully spun off Ferrari. He suggests the Navy needs independence to address critical shipbuilding deficits and better protect global commerce and vulnerable undersea cables from adversaries. 2. Future Fleets: Decentralizing Firepower to Counter Chinese Growth. Tom Modly warns that China's shipbuilding capacity vastly outpaces the US, requiring a shift toward distributed forces rather than expensive, concentrated platforms. He advocates for a reinvigorated, independent Department of the Navy to foster the creativity needed to address asymmetric threats like Houthi attacks on high-value assets. 3. British Weakness: The Failure to Challenge Beijing Over Jimmy Lai. Mark Simon predicts Prime Minister Starmer will fail to secure Jimmy Lai's release because the UK mistakenly views China as an economic savior. He notes the UK's diminished military and economic leverage leads to a submissive diplomatic stance, despite China'sdeclining ability to offer investment. 4. Enforcing Sanctions: Interdicting the Shadow Fleet to Squeeze China. Victoria Coates details the Trump administration's enforcement of a "Monroe Doctrine" corollary, using naval power to seize tankers carrying Venezuelan oil to China. This strategy exposes China's lack of maritime projection and energy vulnerability, as Beijingcannot legally contest the seizures of illicit shadow fleet vessels. 5. Symbolic Strikes: US and Jordan Target Resurgent ISIS in Syria. Following an attack on US personnel, the US and Jordan conducted airstrikes against ISIS strongholds, likely with Syrian regime consultation. Ahmed Sharawi questions the efficacy of striking desert warehouses when ISIS cells have moved into urban areas, suggesting the strikes were primarily symbolic domestic messaging. 6. Failure to Disarm: Hezbollah's Persistence and UNIFIL's Inefficacy. David Daoud reports that the Lebanesegovernment is failing to disarm Hezbollah south of the Litani River, merely evicting them from abandoned sites. He argues UNIFIL is an ineffective tripwire, as Hezbollah continues to rebuild infrastructure and receive funding right under international observers' noses. 7. Global Jihad: The Distinct Threats of the Brotherhood and ISIS. Edmund Fitton-Brown contrasts the Muslim Brotherhood's long-term infiltration of Western institutions with ISIS's violent, reckless approach. He warns that ISISremains viable, with recent facilitated attacks in Australia indicating a resurgence in capability beyond simple "inspired" violence. 8. The Forever War: Jihadist Patience vs. American Cycles. Bill Roggio argues the US has failed to defeat jihadist ideology or funding, allowing groups like Al-Qaeda to persist in Afghanistan and Africa. He warns that adversaries view American withdrawals as proof of untrustworthiness, exploiting the US tendency to fight short-term wars against enemies planning for decades. 9. The Professional: Von Steuben's Transformation of the Continental Army. Richard Bell introduces Baron von Steuben as a desperate, unemployed Prussian officer who professionalized the ragtag Continental Army at Valley Forge. Washington's hiring of foreign experts like Steuben demonstrated a strategic willingness to utilize global talent to ensure the revolution's survival. 10. Privateers and Prison Ships: The Unsung Cost of Maritime Independence. Richard Bell highlights the crucial role of privateers like William Russell, who raided British shipping when the Continental Navy was weak. Captured privateers faced horrific conditions in British "black hole" facilities like Mill Prison and the deadly prison ship Jersey in New York Harbor, where mortality rates reached 50%. 11. Caught in the Crossfire: Indigenous Struggles in the Revolutionary War. Molly Brant, a Mohawk leader, allied with the British to stop settler encroachment but became a refugee when the British failed to protect Indigenous lands. Post-war, white Americans constructed myths portraying themselves as blameless victims while ignoring their own Indigenous allies and British betrayals regarding land rights. 12. The Irish Dimension: Revolutionary Hopes and Brutal Repression. The Irish viewed the American Revolutionas a signal that the British Empire was vulnerable, sparking the failed 1798 Irish rebellion. While the British suppressed Irish independence brutally under Cornwallis, Irish immigrants and Scots-Irish settlers like Andrew Jackson fervently supported the Continental Army against the Crown. 13. Assessing Battlefield Realities: Russian Deceit and Ukrainian Counterattacks. John Hardie analyzes the "culture of deceit" within the Russian military, exemplified by false claims of capturing Kupyansk while Ukraine actually counterattacked. This systemic lying leads to overconfidence in Putin's strategy, though Ukraine also faces challenges with commanders hesitating to report lost positions to avoid forced counterattacks. 14. Shifts in Latin America: Brazilian Elections and Venezuelan Hope. Ernesto Araujo and Alejandro Peña Esclusapredict a 2026 battle between socialist accommodation and freedom-oriented transformation in Brazil, highlighted by Flavio Bolsonaro's candidacy against Lula. Meanwhile, Peña Esclusa anticipates Venezuela's liberation and a broader regional shift toward the right following leftist defeats in Ecuador, Argentina, and Chile. 15. Trump's Security Strategy: Homeland Defense Lacks Global Clarity. John Yoo praises the strategy's focus on homeland defense and the Western Hemisphere, reviving a corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. However, he criticizes the failure to explicitly name China as an adversary or define clear goals for defending allies in Asia and Europe against great power rivals. 16. Alienating Allies: The Strategic Cost of Attacking European Partners. John Yoo argues that imposing tariffs and attacking democratic European allies undermines the coalition needed to counter China and Russia. He asserts that democracies are the most reliable partners for protecting American security and values, making cooperation essential despite resource constraints and political disagreements.

9. The Professional: Von Steuben's Transformation of the Continental Army. Richard Bell introduces Baron von Steuben as a desperate, unemployed Prussian officer who professionalized the ragtag Continental Army at Valley Forge. Washington's hiring of foreign experts like Steuben demonstrated a strategic willingness to utilize global talent to ensure the revolution's survival. 1921 WASHNGTON HQ VALLEY FORGE

10. Privateers and Prison Ships: The Unsung Cost of Maritime Independence. Richard Bell highlights the crucial role of privateers like William Russell, who raided British shipping when the Continental Navy was weak. Captured privateers faced horrific conditions in British "black hole" facilities like Mill Prison and the deadly prison ship Jersey in New York Harbor, where mortality rates reached 50%. 1775 NYC HARBOR

PREVIEW Guest: Professor Richard Bell Summary: Professor Bell discusses his book on the American Revolution, focusing on the "darkest passage" of the war: British prison hulks in New York Harbor. He details the horrific conditions on the ship Jersey, where the mortality rate reached 50%, and recounts the survival story of prisoner William Russell. 1776 NY HARBOR

“But, at night to Mohammed, he confessed his doubts: It will not be as we dream, when those of us who survive finally get there. Corrupt politicians have already ensconced themselves. They are waiting for us—waiting for us not as brothers but as our masters. They will use us." – As told to John Berger, "Two Recumbent Male Figures Wrestling on a Sidewalk" "For a moment, he actually feels he can't go on, can't function anymore, living two lives with enough stress for ten but less than enough sleep for one." – Doug Moench, BATMAN #484 The United States is a broken empire. It just doesn't know it yet. The 1990s marked the full bloom of the international counterrevolution, whose mission to destroy the gains of the 20th century had just seen its first major victory in the destruction of the USSR. With no systemic power to oppose it, capitalism molted the old skin of social democracy, unveiling its truest form to hollow fanfare and a dead-eyed audience. Bereft of an external enemy worth organizing against, unsatisfied with the empty calories of the video game war, confronted with the grim realities of vaunted liberal democratic values, Americans tried to make sense of life at the end of history. Whose triumph was this? Even superhero fans found themselves yearning for—but never quite finding—meaning in heroes whose integral, inflated violence now seemed both superfluous and insufficient to the moment. Despite having "won" the Cold War, maybe what American audiences needed to see was one more domino fall. ---------- Special thanks to our Lovable Sidekicks: Better Possible Futures, Kourtney Smith, Walt Llewellyn, Kafka, The Black Casebook's Very Own Nightwing, JD Lunt, Ambird, Mr. Pig from the Intervention, Travis Armstrong, Chris Marks, Wirecats, Sheeee-itttt, VoidTek, Mars Hottentot, Richard Bell, TakoTuesday, Joseph, and Knife Money ---------- Email: blackcasebookpod@gmail.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlackCasebook Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/blackcasebook.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackcasebookpod/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/blackcasebook/posts ---------- Email: collectiveactioncomics@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collectiveactioncomics Twitter: https://twitter.com/CAComixPod Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cacomixpod.bsky.social Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/collectiveactioncomics

The Battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775, known as the "shot heard round the world," marked the first military engagements of the American Revolution. Ralph Waldo Emerson named it that because it launched revolutionary movements in Europe and beyond, marking it as a key moment in the fight for liberty and self-governance. But this moment was global in more ways than inspiring other nations. The quest for independence by the 13 North American colonies against British rule rapidly escalated into a worldwide conflict. The Patriots forged alliances with Britain’s key adversaries—France, Spain, and the Netherlands—securing covert arms supplies initially, which evolved into open warfare by 1779. French and Spanish naval campaigns in the Caribbean diverted British forces from North America to defend valuable sugar colonies, while American privateers disrupted British trade, bolstering the rebel economy. All of this international involvement was promoted by the Founding Fathers, because the Declaration of Independence was translated into French, Spanish, Dutch, and other languages and distributed by them across Europe to garner sympathy and support from nations like France and the Netherlands. Spain’s separate war against Britain in Florida and South America, alongside French efforts to spark uprisings in British-controlled India, further strained Britain’s ability to quash the rebellion. Post-independence, the consequences rippled globally: Britain and Spain tightened their grip on remaining colonies, Native American tribes faced heightened land encroachments due to the loss of British protections, and enslaved African Americans who fought for Britain, lured by promises of freedom, were relocated to Nova Scotia and later Sierra Leone. To explore this new framework of the Revolutionary War is today’s guest, Richard Bell, author of “The American Revolution and the Fate of the World.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, James interviews historian Richard Bell about his book The American Revolution and the Fate of the World. Bell argues that the American Revolution was much more than a fight between Great Britain and 13 of its North American colonies. Instead, Bell asserts, the Revolution was part of a worldwide struggle, influencing the histories of many nations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In The American Revolution and the Fate of the World, historian Richard Bell explores how the struggle for American independence reverberated far beyond the thirteen colonies—reshaping politics, empires, and ideas of liberty around the globe. Bell reveals how revolutionaries from Boston to Bengal, Paris to Port-au-Prince, drew inspiration and warning from the events of 1776. The American Revolution became a test case for freedom in an age of empire. Looking at the stories of individuals caught up in its ferment, Bell shows how the Revolution reshaped the world. Tell us what you think! Send us a text message!

Have you ever wondered what else was happening during the American Revolution? It turns out that the conflict was waged far beyond the shores of North America. Historian Richard Bell joins in today to talk about the unexpected participants in and ramifications of the American Revolution across the globe.About our guest:Richard Bell received his PhD from Harvard University and his BA from the University of Cambridge. His research interests focus on American history between 1750 and 1877 and he welcomes enquiries from graduate students working in this period. Visit his website. Download his CV.Bell's most recent book is The American Revolution and the Fate of the World. Published by Penguin/Riverhead in 2025, it received starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly, Library Journal, and Kirkus Reviews. It reveals the full breadth and depth of America's founding event. The American Revolution was not only the colonies' triumphant liberation from the rule of an overbearing England; it was also a cataclysm that pulled in participants from around the globe and threw the entire world order into chaos. Repositioning the Revolution at the center of an international web, this  narrative ranges as far afield as India, Africa, Central America, and Australia. As Bell's lens widens, the “War of Independence” manifests itself as a sprawling struggle that upended the lives of millions of people on every continent and fundamentally transformed the way the world works, disrupting trade, restructuring penal systems, stirring famine, and creating the first global refugee crisis. Bell conveys the impact of these developments at home and abroad by grounding the narrative in the gripping stories of individuals—including women, minorities, and other disenfranchised people. The result is an unforgettable and unexpected work of American history that shifts everything we thought we knew about our creation story.Bell is the recipient of more than a dozen teaching awards, including the University System of Maryland Board of Regents Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, the highest honor for teaching faculty in the Maryland state system. He is also one of the conveners of the Washington Area Early American Seminar, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Maryland Center for History and Culture, an elected member of the Massachusetts Historical Society and the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, and a fellow of the Royal Historical Society. On campus, Bell serves as Chair of the UMD United Kingdom Fellowships Committee and was a founding member of The 1856 Project. He lives in University Park, MD, with his wife and two daughters.

Historian Richard Bell received his PhD from Harvard University and his BA from the University of Cambridge. His research explores American history between 1750 and 1877, uncovering the people, politics, and paradoxes that shaped the early republic. Bell's newest book, The American Revolution and the Fate of the World (Penguin/Riverhead, 2025), has earned starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly, Library Journal, and Kirkus Reviews for its sweeping and deeply researched look at the global impact of America's founding event. On November 14, the Maryland Center for History and Culture will host a preview screening of Ken Burns' The American Revolution, an expansive and evenhanded exploration of the virtues and contradictions at the heart of independence. Following the screening, Richard will moderate a panel discussion delving into the film's themes and what they reveal about civic engagement today. Register for the event here: Preview Screening: The American Revolution and Civic Engagement Night

Today on AirTalk, we discuss the early results for Proposition 50; the implications of the NYC mayoral race; an interview with historian Richard Bell on his new book The American Revolution and the Fate of the World; an interview with LA County's probation chief; and how to restore your mental state after a chaotic day. Today on AirTalk: Prop 50 (0:15) NYC Mayoral Election Results (16:06) How much do you know about America’s founding event? (37:08) LA County's Probation Chief (51:20) Restoring your emotional and mental state after a chaotic or stressful day (1:24:19)

What if the American Revolution wasn't just a national uprising — but a global turning point? Prize-winning historian Richard Bell joins Matt Crawford to discuss his groundbreaking new book, The American Revolution and the Fate of the World. In this episode, Bell reframes the Revolution as an event that reverberated far beyond the thirteen colonies — reshaping empires, inspiring new movements for liberty, and transforming ideas about democracy itself. Richard and I explore the global consequences of America's founding struggle, the untold stories of those left out of its triumph, and how its ideals still echo — and clash — in the world today. Join the conversation about power, freedom, and the unfinished legacy of the Revolution.

Think you know the story of the American Revolution? Think again. In this episode, acclaimed author and history professor Dr. Richard Bell joins the podcast to discuss his book "The American Revolution and the Fate of the World,” where he dismantles the myths and explores the shocking global story behind America's founding. Forget the simple tale of colonists vs. the British crown. Dr. Bell reveals the Revolution as a world war, a chaotic and contingent struggle whose outcome was never certain. We dive into the fascinating, often overlooked connections to China, India, and the Caribbean, and uncover the critical roles played by Native Americans, enslaved Africans, and European powers.  Dr. Richard Bell is a historian and professor specializing in early American history, currently serving as a Professor of History at the University of Maryland. Dr. Bell received his BA from the University of Cambridge and his PhD from Harvard University. He joined the University of Maryland in 2006, earned tenure in 2012, and was promoted to full professor in 2020. His teaching and research focus on American history between 1750 and 1877, with a particular emphasis on social history, slavery, and revolutionary transformation.   Get the Book: https://kingsbookstore.com/book/9780593719510   Richard Bell's Website: https://www.richard-bell.com Greg's Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/ Pat's Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about   RichardBell#TheAmericanRevolutionandtheFateoftheWorld#AmericanRevolution#RevolutionaryWar#USHistory#WorldHistory#GlobalHistory#FoundingFathers#EarlyAmerica#MythvsHistory#Loyalists#250thAnniversary#Washington#KenBurns#ThomasJefferson#KingGeorgeIII#MollyBrant#HarryWashington#Hessians#MarquisdeLafayette#BenedictArnold#PeggyShippen#BaronvonSteuben#PatCummings#GregGodels#CFLF#ComingFromLeftField#Podcast#zzblog#mltoday

What makes a war a World War? If it's the involvement of multiple major world powers, will France, Spain and the Netherlands do?If it's battles fought globally, do Canada, West Africa, India and the Mediterranean count? On top of the 13 colonies?In this episode, Don is joined by Richard Bell from the University of Maryland. Richard is the author of ‘The American Revolution and the Fate of the World'.Edited by Tim Arstall and Aidan Lonergan. Produced by Sophie Gee. Senior Producer was Charlotte Long.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  You can take part in our listener survey here.All music from Epidemic Sounds.American History Hit is a History Hit podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vancouver's largest intergenerational wealth transfer is underway and most families are completely unprepared. Founding Partner of Bell Alliance Richard Bell sits down with Adam & Matt this week to reveal how property owners can avoid costly estate planning mistakes that drain thousands from their families. From the shocking reality of dying without a will to joint tenancy strategies that bypass probate fees, this conversation tackles the complications when property owners die without proper planning. Richard breaks down wills, powers of attorney, and capital gains implications for BC homeowners while sharing practical solutions for vacation properties, investment assets, and second marriages. When should you add your kids to title? How do you structure inheritance to protect your children's future? And why is simplifying your estate the key to protecting your family? Don't miss this one!

"What the hell is water?" Art, music, literature, drama. When the frontiers of human potential slam against capitalist industry, a force that can't be stopped confronts an object that can't be moved. Capitalism twists and redirects culture and imagination into a revenue stream, limiting to its flow the ideas we're allowed have and drowning all the rest. At the nexus of pop culture and "Pop Culture" struggles Superman, swimming against the current. ---------- Special thanks to our Lovable Sidekicks: Better Possible Futures, Kourtney Smith, Walt Lewellyn, Kafka, The Black Casebook's Very Own Nightwing, JD Lunt, Ambird, Mr. Pig from the Intervention, Travis Armstrong, Chris Marks, Wirecats, Sheeee-itttt, VoidTek, Mars Hottentot, Richard Bell, TakoTuesday, Joseph, and Knife Money ---------- Email: collectiveactioncomics@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collectiveactioncomics Twitter: https://twitter.com/CAComixPod Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cacomixpod.bsky.social Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/collectiveactioncomics

Bigambul-Kamilaroi artist Archie Moore - who’s already won the world’s most prestigious art prize - is bringing his masterwork kith and kin to Australia. Today - how Moore creates powerfully emotional art from Aboriginal stories of family, love and loss. Find out more about The Front podcast here. You can read about this story and more on The Australian's website or on The Australian’s app. The weekend edition of The Front is co-produced by Claire Harvey and Jasper Leak. The host is Claire Harvey. Audio production and editing by Jasper Leak who also composed our theme.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finally, the definitive Marxist take on Lex Luthor. Just what we've all been waiting for. The strange flavor of 90s foreign intervention, the eventual goal of capitalist policing, and why you should never trust a homeless shelter (it's not what you think) all tie together into the stories of two of the world's most famous mad scientists - one a product of capitalism, the other a perpetuator. It's our final Superman-less issue. In a way. Join us, won't you? ---------- Issues covered: Supergirl and Team Luthor #1 ---------- Special thanks to our Lovable Sidekicks: Better Possible Futures, Kourtney Smith, Walt Lewellyn, Kafka, The Black Casebook's Very Own Nightwing, JD Lunt, Ambird, Mr. Pig from the Intervention, Travis Armstrong, Chris Marks, Wirecats, Sheeee-itttt, VoidTek, Mars Hottentot, Richard Bell, TakoTuesday, Joseph, and Knife Money ---------- Email: collectiveactioncomics@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collectiveactioncomics Twitter: https://twitter.com/CAComixPod Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cacomixpod.bsky.social Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/collectiveactioncomics

What do heroes leave behind? The answer should be obvious. The contest for control of the world economy entered a new age at the end of 1991. Socialist forces were in retreat as the then-second largest superpower, the USSR, crumbled under pressure from more than 70 years of capitalist onslaught. Its splintered masses would be powerless to defend themselves against instantaneous pillage and plunder by the avaricious. Half a planet away, the ostensible beneficiaries of capitalist success, the US working class (including the writers and artists behind Superman), would find their rights and livelihoods under immediate and vicious attack as well, although you wouldn't know it by asking them. An ideology of righteous violence befits a class of owners who need the workers to fight their wars, and it limits the imagination of a class of workers who need each other if they ever hope to win their own freedom. What do heroes leave behind? More heroes. It's time to grasp what that means. ---------- Issues covered: The Legacy of Superman #1 ---------- Special thanks to our Lovable Sidekicks: Better Possible Futures, Kourtney Smith, Walt Lewellyn, Kafka, The Black Casebook's Very Own Nightwing, JD Lunt, Ambird, Mr. Pig from the Intervention, Travis Armstrong, Chris Marks, Wirecats, Sheeee-itttt, VoidTek, Mars Hottentot, Richard Bell, TakoTuesday, Joseph, and Knife Money ---------- Email: collectiveactioncomics@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collectiveactioncomics Twitter: https://twitter.com/CAComixPod Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cacomixpod.bsky.social Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/collectiveactioncomics

Episode 51:  In this episode we conclude our coverage of Angela Garcia's case on Crime to Burn. Angela was faced with an impossible decision, risk another trial or accept what is known as a Dark Plea from prosecutors to secure her freedom. However, when he offered her the plea, prosecutor Richard Bell knew just how flawed his case against her was and many have suggested that his offer of this plea was really an effort to try to prevent his office from negative optics related to the mishandling of this case. And perhaps they're right, after all Richard Bell is now a sitting judge in Ohio. Were his actions an attempt to prevent Angela's conviction and the errors made in the case from tarnishing his reputation and negatively impacting his aspirations to win a seat at the bench? We'll tell you what he did and said, and you can decide. His actions may not have been illegal but they certainly don't seem very honorable.  To get involved in assisting formerly incarcerated individuals like Angela, please consider these organizations: https://innocenceproject.org/donate-monthly/#:~:text=There%20are%20many%20ways%20to,Project%20in%20your%20estate%20plans. https://exoneratednation.org/   https://www.lifeafterjustice.org/   https://organizationofexonerees.com/   This podcast is a true crime podcast about arson and criminal fires. Listener discretion is recommended.  Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated  Be sure to check out Season 2 of the You Should Be Here Podcast for the limited series, Or No by Fire Eyes Media. This this collaborative podcasters-give-back series is to bring awareness to and stand against domestic violence. All proceeds will go to a charity taking a stand against domestic violence and human trafficking. Your support of this project is so greatly appreciated. You deserve a safe love.  Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-should-be-here/id1779150686 or on Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/2VqlmgQxwn55tdY7td9IM9?si=e19fffdc24064f7b&nd=1&dlsi=e6920c0f7e4c4d65 Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at crimetoburn@gmail.com We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review.  Source List: Please also refer to the source list for Episodes 49 and 50 (Parts 1 and 2 of this case) for a complete list of resources used along with the list below.  One of the best articles on this case is by Liliana Segura (an absolute rockstar reporter) for The Intercept and you can find it here: https://theintercept.com/2017/03/05/did-angela-garcia-kill-her-own-daughters-arson-cover-up/ Liliana Segura's other article on the actions of Richard Bell can be found here: https://theintercept.com/2020/03/15/richard-bell-arson-junk-science-angela-garcia/ Other sources:  https://www.endthebacklog.org/blog/interview-with-rick-bell-pt-2/ https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2020/02/richard-a-bell-in-the-democratic-primary-for-cuyahoga-county-common-pleas-judge-unexpired-term.html  

*Top 10 List: Fred Williams and co-host Doug McBurney review their list of the top 10 things people still believe, that science has proven wrong. #10: Vestigial Organs -  The most popular one growing up was the appendix, remember? Until this (from PubMed in 2016). And don't forget tonsils!  #9: GPS won't work without Einsteinian relativity. It will, and does. #8: Junk DNA - There's no such thing! We're only beginning to comprehend DNA. And to have ever assumed any of it was junk was foolishness! #7: Lucy is a Human Ancestor - Poppycock! #6: Plate Tectonics - The fourth-biggest-dumbest theory going, (after Darwinian Evolution, the Big Bang, and Einsteinian Relativity). #5: Dangerous Anthropogenic Climate Change - Fifth biggest-dumbest... #4: Darwin's Tree of Life - That dog don't hunt, and lies like a rug! #3: The Big Bang: See #'s 4 & 5, the James Webb Space Telescope, and our favorite! Genesis One. #2: Evolution: Ha! Yeah.... right! (Also, see Genesis One again). Neo-Darwinism is so laughably preposterous even foolish atheists like Jimmy Shapiro are beginning to re-evaluate the emperor's outfit.  #1: Dinosaurs lived and went extinct millions of years ago. We've long had solid evidence that man and dinosaurs lived together, from cliff and cave drawings to the tomb of Richard Bell, to Chinese calendars... and of course all that dinosaur soft tissue in all those fossils!

*Top 10 List: Fred Williams and co-host Doug McBurney review their list of the top 10 things people still believe, that science has proven wrong. #10: Vestigial Organs -  The most popular one growing up was the appendix, remember? Until this (from PubMed in 2016). And don't forget tonsils!  #9: GPS won't work without Einsteinian relativity. It will, and does. #8: Junk DNA - There's no such thing! We're only beginning to comprehend DNA. And to have ever assumed any of it was junk was foolishness! #7: Lucy is a Human Ancestor - Poppycock! #6: Plate Tectonics - The fourth-biggest-dumbest theory going, (after Darwinian Evolution, the Big Bang, and Einsteinian Relativity). #5: Dangerous Anthropogenic Climate Change - Fifth biggest-dumbest... #4: Darwin's Tree of Life - That dog don't hunt, and lies like a rug! #3: The Big Bang: See #'s 4 & 5, the James Webb Space Telescope, and our favorite! Genesis One. #2: Evolution: Ha! Yeah.... right! (Also, see Genesis One again). Neo-Darwinism is so laughably preposterous even foolish atheists like Jimmy Shapiro are beginning to re-evaluate the emperor's outfit.  #1: Dinosaurs lived and went extinct millions of years ago. We've long had solid evidence that man and dinosaurs lived together, from cliff and cave drawings to the tomb of Richard Bell, to Chinese calendars... and of course all that dinosaur soft tissue in all those fossils!

Superhero comics are cycles of endless strife, dialectical tides pushing and pulling between too often oversimplified representations of "evil" and "good." As if on a journey from vulgar physical form to enlightened spiritual ascendence, superheroes die and are reborn over and over, with little consideration that this time might be the last. What happens when an economy does the same? How do we allow it to rise and fall like the characters in our funny mags? Like the souls in our bodies? Will it ever be enough? ---------- Issues covered: The Adventures of Superman 499 Action Comics 686 Superman: The Man of Steel 21 Superman 77 ---------- Special thanks to our Lovable Sidekicks: Better Possible Futures, Kourtney Smith, Walt Lewellyn, Kafka, The Black Casebook's Very Own Nightwing, JD Lunt, Ambird, Mr. Pig from the Intervention, Travis Armstrong, Chris Marks, Wirecats, Sheeee-itttt, VoidTek, Mars Hottentot, Richard Bell, and Takotuesday ---------- Email: collectiveactioncomics@gmail.com I nstagram: https://www.instagram.com/collectiveactioncomics Twitter: https://twitter.com/CAComixPod Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cacomixpod.bsky.social Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/collectiveactioncomics