Alan Wakim and Dustin Bass discuss the past five years and six seasons of the podcast as they say adieu. After 200 plus episodes, The Sons of History podcast has come to an end. A little thank you note: Today we release the final episode of our podcast. Six seasons. Five years. 200+ episodes. Bestselling authors. Award-winning historians. Guests fr…

After World War I, Marshal Philippe Pétain was one of France's greatest military heroes. For decades he was held in the highest esteem, but then France fell to the Nazis in 1940 and Pétain instigated the signing of the armistice and began a collaboration with the Third Reich that has led many to wonder how he could do such a thing. Julian Jackson, …

1066 is one of the most famous years in history. It established the Norman duke, now known as William the Conqueror, as king of England. But it was hardly as simple as winning at the Battle of Hastings. Don Hollway, the author of “Battle for the Island Kingdom,” joins the podcast to discuss how the Vikings, Anglo-Saxons, Normans, and others fought …

Michael Livingston is on the case again. He joins the podcast to discuss how a 600 year tradition about the location of the Battle of Agincourt and many of its teachings about the battle could very well be wrong. Just as he did with the Battle of Crécy, Livingston makes a very convincing argument that tradition has again usurped historical fact. We…

The Assyrian Empire is considered by many the first great empire. For several centuries this Mesopotamian people conquered and dominated the world of the Near East. Ancient and modern military scholar Mark Healy joins the podcast to discuss these ancient people, their kings, their methods for dominance, and how this empire suddenly came to an end. …

Theodore Roosevelt and Henry Cabot Lodge were the political power players of the early 20th century. Their relationship proved politically beneficial to both men, but their friendship went far deeper than mere politics. We discuss with Laurence Jurdem how these two men helped shape America from the early 1900s onward.Laurence Jurdem is an adjunct p…

How did one Spartan defeat thousands of Athenians? It comes down to strategy, and, of course, having others to fight the war. When the Athenians landed on the shores of Sicily, they nearly convinced the Sicilians to acquiesce. But time was not one the Athenians' side. Dr. Paul Rahe joins the podcast to discuss Spartan strategy and how they used pro…

William Maz, author of The Bucharest Dossier and The Bucharest Legacy, talks post-Communism Romania, the reign of the oligarchs of Eastern Europe, and, of course, spies. In this episode, we dig into the ongoing struggle in Russia and Ukraine, and the evolution of secret police and intelligence communities. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscr…

Nathanael Greene was arguably George Washington's most trusted general, and arguably the American Revolution's most consequential. Greene led the Southern War Department, and his decisions were pivotal in defeating the British. Salina Baker, author of the new book "The Line of Splendor: A Novel of Nathanael Greene and the American Revolution," join…

Is war no longer a tenable option? Dustin Bass and Alan Wakim discuss how nuclear power and biological advancements in warfare has created a deterrent to war, as well as how missed opportunities and the unwillingness to win wars has led to a culture of political and military indecision. The Sons of History also answer a request from a review on anc…

Medical student, polar explorer, author, movie star, Danish resistor during World War II. Peter Freuchen seemed to be everywhere doing everything. His fascinating life has been captured by Reid Mitenbuler, author of the Freuchen biography, “Wanderlust: An Eccentric Explorer, an Epic Journey, a Lost Age.” Reid’s initial encounter with the larger-tha…

It’s not as easy as it sounds. Just because someone says something, doesn’t necessarily make it true. This goes for the average person, the journalist, the politician, and, yes, even historians. Dustin Bass and Alan Wakim discuss some of the topics that have come under attack in fraudulent ways, but more importantly, they discuss how to go about st…

Since Christopher Nolan’s recent film “Oppenheimer,” the conversation has arisen anew on the man who gave America the atomic bomb. Dustin Bass and Alan Wakim discuss who he was, the legacy he left behind, the need for America to build the nuclear weapon first, and the debate of nuclear usage. At the time of the film’s release, Alan wrote an article…

James A. Garfield is most often remembered for being assassinated only a short time after his inauguration. His death was a tragedy, but his life was a triumph. C. W. Goodyear, historian and author of the new biography "President Garfield: From Radical to Unifier," joins the podcast to discuss this incredible statesman who overcame everything that …

When the war between Russian and Ukraine started in February of 2022 it was the continuation of an ongoing conflict. Ukraine desires independence and Russia wants to draw the nation back into the Russo fold. Dustin Bass and Alan Wakim discuss the Russo-Ukrainian history, the problem with NATO, Putin's reasons for invading, and Zelensky's leadership…

As the rights of Americans continue to ebb and flow with each Supreme Court session, as well as local, state and federal edicts, the question arises: What would The Sons of Liberty do? Dustin and Alan break down what this freedom fighting group did and is it something Americans replicate. They also discuss the states' power of non-compliance, as we…

It is considered the single greatest defeat of an American Army by Indians, but it isn't nearly as well known as many other battles of the Indian Wars. The Battle of the Wabash, also known as St. Clair's Defeat, is not merely an important battle for the sake of American history, but also for the sake of military history and strategy. As cascade of …

A military victory in the Mexican-American War and the discovery of gold in California led to the great land and gold rushes that renowned historian Elliott West calls the Great Coincidence. Learn about the westward expansion, the violence that erupted, the opportunities it offered, the wealth it created, and how the new lands leveraged America's p…

The Texas Rangers are celebrating their bicentennial this year. You may be thinking how that is possible since Texas wasn't even declared a republic until 1836 and didn't become the 28th state until 1845. Dr. Jody Edward Ginn, author, historian, and the Director of Development for the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame & Museum, talks all things Texas Rang…

Patrick Weil joins the podcast to discuss Woodrow Wilson's sanity during the process of trying to ratify the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. His book, The Madman in the White House, addresses the psychobiography of Wilson written by Ambassador William Bullitt and Dr. Sigmund Freud and how they came to their conclusion - based on the testimony of many…

George F. Kennan was one of the most influential and important American diplomats of the 20th century. His 1946 Long Telegram and 1947 Mr. X article in Foreign Affairs initiated America's Containment Policy against the Soviet Union during the entirety of the Cold War. Frank Costigliola, author of the new biography on Kennan and a foreign policy exp…

The most efficient to creating a monopoly is to secure government assistance that blocks competition from entering a specific economic arena. This can lead to a lack of economic opportunity and growth individually and corporately, but what happens when private industry and the government coordinate against the people's liberty - the liberties enshr…

Des Ekin has uncovered an American who deserves to be discussed among the many heroes (and anti-heroes) of early America. Ekin, the author of the new book "The Lionkeeper of Algiers," joins the podcast to discuss the battles with the Barbary Pirates during the late 18th and early 19th centuries in America and the subject of his book, James Cathcart…

The Federalists promised that the federal government would only go so far in its authority. Over time, the government housed in Washington D.C. has continued to grow and expand, swallowing up more and more power from the 50 states and its citizens. The Sons of History discuss how several amendments have contributed to these power grabs, what States…

The great battles of Ancient Greece and Persia are interesting no matter what century you live in. Stephen Kershaw is a leading scholar on the subject of Ancient Greece and is a classics professor at Oxford University. We discuss the three battles of Marathon, Thermopylae and Salamis and how those outcomes altered the course of history. Steve Kersh…

World War II in the Pacific ended in August of 1945 after America dropped two atomic bombs on Japan. But what are the details that led to the end of the war? How much do we know about the decisions made, the missions run, and the uncertainties left? Barrett Tillman, author of “When the Shooting Stopped: August 1945,” joins the podcast to discuss th…

Are you tired of the woke agenda in comics, like Marvel and DC? The culture war has been ongoing and Eric July is mounting an assault on the comic book world that looks to move comics back to good stories, great characters, and a universe that actually makes sense. July is the founder and creator of Rippaverse Comics, and his first comic "Isom" has…

Historians often point to the similarities between Rome and America. Both are republics. One fell and the other appears to be on its way. How much did partisan politics impact the demise of the Roman Republic? Josiah Osgood, historian and author of “Uncommon Wrath: How Caesar and Cato’s Deadly Rivalry Destroyed the Roman Republic,” joins the podcas…

How come so many Americans suddenly accept crony capitalism? Thomas DiLorenzo, author and senior fellow at The Mises Institute, joins the podcast to discuss the varying schools of economics, the history of crony capitalism, how Americans have typically always been against it until the recent pandemic with big pharma and the shuttering of small busi…

What does it mean to be a statesman and who in the past can we look to for those examples? Daniel J. Mahoney, the author of “The Statesman As Thinker,” joins the podcast to discuss why America needs more statesmen rather than politicians, and what it takes to become a statesman. In the same vain as Plutarch's Lives, Mahoney has assembled a number o…

Peter Zeihan, one of today’s most prominent geopolitical strategists, has mapped out how the world as we know it is about to come to an end in his newest book "The End of the World Is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization." FYI: The results are not good. See which nations will crumble, which ones won’t, and which ones will do be…

Understanding history is often contingent on geography. That's never more true than in military history where the location of a battle helps tell the whole story. Dr. Michael Livingston, professor at The Citadel military academy and the author of "Crécy: Battle of Five Kings," joined the podcast to discuss how centuries of hearsay and unwalked batt…

Mark Boonstra has been a judge on the Third District of Michigan’s Court of Appeals for the past decade. He is also the author of “In Their Own Words,” a study into the words of the Founding Fathers and what they would think of the current status of America. We will be discussing his thoughts on the history of the country, the country’s current sta…

We have reached the very end of Ancient Rome: AD 410. Don Hollway, the author of “At the Gates of Rome: The Fall of the Eternal City, A.D. 410,” joins the podcast to discuss his new book and what all led to the sack of Rome in this momentous year. How did Barbarian blood keep Goths and others from attaining the respect of pure blooded Roman citizen…

Constitutional legal scholar and attorney Joe Wolverton joins the podcast to discuss some of the landmark decisions of the 2022 SCOTUS session. But should these cases have been brought to the court in first place? How many wrongs have to be righted before America returns to its rightful place as a federation of individual republics? Tons of history…

In this first episode of the new season, we will be discussing the fallout from AHA president James Sweet’s apology for being honest about The 1619 Project and the issues of presentism. The issues of presentism are glaring and it undermines the study of history and the integrity of those who practice it. The president of the American Historical Ass…

America's educational institutions, from secondary to post-secondary, continue to perform abysmally in teaching history and civics. In many ways, the lack of knowledge about how the republic works explains why America sits on a stack of massive problems. America's government is powered by its citizens, but ignorance - from voters to legislators - s…

Lucius Sirgius Catiline was a Roman senator and patrician with a family lineage dating back to the Second Punic War. So why would he take the steps to conspire to have certain senators assassinated and Rome - the eternal city - burned? Historian, author, and professor at Georgetown University, Josiah Osgood, joins the podcast to discuss the famous …

Dr. Olivier Zunz, the James Madison Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Virginia, joins the podcast to discuss his work on the life of Alexis de Tocqueville. Tocqueville, the French diplomat, came to America in 1830 to study the country's prison system, but truly studied the American political system as a whole. From that experience,…

Historian Neil Lanctot joined the podcast to discuss his latest book on what led to America's eventual entrance into World War I and how various national leaders - Woodrow Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Jane Addams - viewed the war and America's role. To understand how America was dealing with the issues of German submarine warfare, foreign affair…

The Viking Age comes to an end with the death of King Harald Hardrada at Stamford Bridge. But who was this Viking turned mercenary turned king? Find out the life of a fascinating and brutal character of a millennia ago with historian and author Don Hollway. Hollway joins the podcast to discuss his new book "The Last Viking: The True Story of King H…

William Maz, the author of the new book "The Bucharest Dossier," joins the podcast to discuss his debut spy novel centered around Romania's Christmas Revolution in 1989. There is a ton of information to learn about what life was like under the iron fist of Communism with Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu running the show. We discuss the fall and demise o…

John O'Neill, the co-author of The Devil and the Dancer, joins the podcast to discuss his latest book about Joseph Stalin and Anna Pavlova, Russia's greatest ballerina - and arguably history's greatest ballerina. The book and our discussion also ties in Vladimir Putin and the Russian's use of poisons, which dates back to the days of Stalin. Be sure…

It's a rare occasion that we don't discuss history, but this is about the future of the country, which will eventually become its history. The Babylon Bee has been keeping track satirically of the insanity constantly plaguing America and the West. Managing editor and co-author of "The Babylon Bee: Guide to Wokeness," Joel Berry, joins the podcast t…

Thousands of years before Mao ever came on the scene, the rulers of China believed in an emperor to rule the lives of everyone and everything. Emperors of China were looked on as gods and the State was looked on as the "hegemon." The "hegemon" that was the center of the earth and rightful owner of all "under of heaven." Steven Mosher, author of Bul…

Warren G. Harding continues to find his name at the bottom of the presidential rankings. Ryan Walters, the author of "The Jazz Age President: Defending Warren G. Harding," believes his name should move up the list...way up. The Sons of History discuss why Harding is a much-maligned president, but really shouldn't be. In fact, there is a case to be …

What was it like being in a B-17 or B-24 bomber during World War II? Better yet, what was it like being shot down and then stranded behind enemy lines? Charles E. Stanley Jr., the author of "Lost Airmen: The Epic Rescue WWII US Bomber Crews Stranded Behind Enemy Lines," joins the podcast to discuss those very questions. Learn about the many hazards…

Benedict Arnold. He is known as America's great traitor. Though there have been numerous traitors in the history of the US, none stands out like Arnold. But is there more than meets the eye to this disgraced general of the American Revolutionary War? Dr. Stephen Brumwell, author of "Turncoat: Benedict Arnold and the Crisis of American Liberty" and …

Journalism just might be dead. Why? Politics and wokeism has poisoned it. Batya Ungar-Sargon, deputy opinion editor for Newsweek, joins the podcast to discuss her latest book "Bad News: How Woke Media Is Undermining Democracy." We discuss the history of journalism, its current state, and why people don't trust the media. WEBSITE: https://www.theson…

Alan Wakim goes on a deep dive into one of the most important battles of the American Revolution, and one of the most important moments in American history: the Saratoga Campaign (commonly referred to as the Battle of Saratoga). Learn about the major players, the mishaps, mistakes, and triumphs on both the American and British sides. It's all here!…