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Episodes from History That Doesn't Suck
Introducing: The Draymond Green Show
A new HTDS episode arrives Monday, June 8th. Meanwhile, four-time NBA Champion and All-star, Draymond Green breaks down his biggest takeaways from the Spurs/Thunder 2026 NBA playoff series so far. Then, he gives full preview of the May 30th Game 7 including key matchups to watch, who has more at stake, the SGA "Foul Baiting" discussion, and more. Finally, he wraps things up by giving his Sling Shots of the Night.
206: American Propaganda: Cap’s Debut, Frank Capra’s War Docs, and Casablanca
“Will young, freewheeling American boys take the iron discipline of wartime? … In my judgment the answer is Yes! ... if the answers they get are worth fighting and dying for.” This is the story of propaganda on the home front. The word “propaganda” has some messy connotations, but it’s fundamentally about pushing a narrative, which can be good or evil. Leaders on all sides of the war thought about how to spur the populace to join in the war effort, and in America, it fell to entertainers and artists to really rally the nation to war. ...
Introducing Family Lore
Family Lore is a weekly narrative podcast that celebrates and investigates ancestral mystique. Each episode begins with a guest sharing a fascinating family legend, followed by a historical deep-dive to uncover the truth and meaning behind the tale.
205: Total War on the Home Front: Victory Gardens, Volunteering, and the Double V
“I suggest that while we keep defense and victory in the forefront, that we don't lose sight of our fight for true democracy at home.” This is the story of life on the American home front. While millions of brave men and women are sacrificing life and limb “over there,” those left behind are making sacrifices of their own—heeding the call to grow gardens in their backyards or on community lots, combing their homes for spare scrap metal and rubber, rationing so there’s enough to go ‘round, and buying up war bonds. The economy ch...
Bonus: “Messy Tales,” an Excerpt from the Prof’s book, Been There, Done That
Been There, Done That: How Our History Shows What We Can Overcome, Prof. Jackson’s new book publishing June 16th, takes us on a chronological journey—from the very start of the republic in 1789, through the end of the nineteenth century—while telling stories not heard in the podcast, tales that engage such topics as political violence, fake news, and contested elections. Pre-order a copy HERE or come see him on ON TOUR.
204: The Holocaust: Anne Frank, the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, & Auschwitz
“Everybody’s dead. Don’t ask me about anybody. Everybody’s dead.” This is the story of the Final Solution. From Anne Frank’s annex to countless ghettos, Jews who have thus far avoided the concentration camps are increasingly being funneled there. Jewish leaders like Chaim Rumkowski face impossible dilemmas—who should be sent to the camps? On the other hand, some Warsaw Ghetto inhabitants choose to fight back, their last ditch efforts to resist and escape living on in the words of only a few survivors. Even a...
203: The Holocaust: Killing Squads, Ghettos, & Gas Chambers
“The procedure is a pretty barbaric one and not to be described here more definitively. Not much will remain of the Jews.” —Joseph Goebbels This is the story of how the Holocaust becomes industrialized. In January 1942, Nazi leaders discuss what will become the “Final Solution”: their plan to murder millions. As more and more Jews are stripped of everything and forced into ghettos, and terrified parents bid a tearful (and often final) farewell to their children, German leaders decide how to deal with the fact that the new territory they’ve acquired is full of Jews and othe...
202: Holocaust Prologue with US Holocaust Memorial Museum Director, Sara J. Bloomfield
After turning our attention back to Europe in the last few episodes, it’s time to finally examine the Holocaust. Back in episode 185, we covered a broad history of antisemitism in Europe and the violent results of the first few years of Hitler’s reign in Germany, going all the way to the nationwide November pogrom (also known as Kristallnacht). But before we go any further, we present this interview with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Director, Sara J. Bloomfield. Sara has worked with the USHMM since its inception in the 1990s, and has led the m...
201: A Soft Underbelly: The Allied Invasion of Sicily & the Fall of Il Duce
"My dear Duce, it’s no longer any good… At this moment you are the most hated man in Italy.” This is the story of Operations Underworld, Mincemeat, and Husky. On the heels of the decisive Allied victory in Africa, leaders decide to take the fight north. But Hitler and Mussolini surely know they’ll be aiming for Sicily next, right? Actually, pre-Husky Allied intelligence victories have the Germans and Italians barking up the wrong tree (shoring up the wrong island defenses), all thanks to one Major William Martin. Meanwhile, back in mainland Europe, Ger...
200: The North African Campaign: Desert Rats, the Desert Fox, & Operation Torch
“This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is perhaps the end of the beginning.” This is the story of the Allied campaign in North Africa. Long under the colonial thumb of the belligerent European nations—namely, France, Italy, and Britain—North Africa becomes the sandy stage for months of ugly tank battles featuring characters like the Desert Rats (Britain’s 7th Armoured Division), and the Desert Fox (Field Marshall Erwin Rommel). By the time American reinforcements arrive in Vichy French–held African ports for Operation Torch, the Brits and...
199: Building the Anglo-American Alliance: The US Enters the European Theater
“When do we get a whack at those Germans?” This is the story of America’s entry into the European Theater. After Pearl Harbor, American foot soldiers and generals alike are eager to get in on the action in Europe, but first, they have to cross the embattled Atlantic—easier said than done with German U-boats on the prowl, sinking both military and merchant vessels in what they call an “American turkey shoot.” After stubborn U.S. Navy Admiral Ernest King finally adopts a workable convoy system, the boys are on their way to the UK, but it’s their ne...
Introducing Free Range with Von Miller
A new episode of History That Doesn't Suck drops Monday, February 16th. It’s a continuation of our ongoing chronicle of World War II and we’ll be shifting back to the European Theater. While we put the finishing touches of episode 199, we're pleased to share a sports themed show from our network partners at Audacy. Step inside the mind of NFL legend Von Miller as he goes free range — from the gridiron to the culture at large. Each week, Von breaks down the biggest football stories, dives into the world of sports and entertainment, and chops...