Explaining History

Nick Shepley
  • 4.5 (47)
  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED TWICE WEEKLY

How do we make sense of the modern world? We find the answers in the history of the 20th Century. For over a decade, The Explaining History Podcast has been the guide for curious minds. Host Nick Shepley and expert guests break down the world wars, the Cold War, and the rise and fall of ideologies into concise, 25-minute episodes. This isn't a dry lecture. It's a critical, narrative-driven conversation that connects the past to your present. Perfect for students, history buffs, and anyone who wants to understand how we got here. Hit subscribe and start exploring. Join us at Explaining History for daily modern history articles and news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 11 HR AGO

    The Collapse of the Sick Man: The First Balkan War and the End of Ottoman Europe

    Episode Summary: In this episode of Explaining History, Nick delves into the cataclysmic events of 1912-1913 that shattered the Ottoman Empire and set the stage for the First World War. Following the humiliating loss of Libya to Italy, the Balkan states—Serbia, Greece, Montenegro, and Bulgaria—sensed weakness and struck. We explore how this coalition of former subjects mobilized a massive army of over 700,000 men to drive the Ottomans out of Europe. Drawing on Eugene Rogan's The Fall of the Ottomans, Nick examines the internal chaos of the empire, from the violent coup led by Enver Pasha at the Sublime Porte to the desperate siege of Edirne. Why did the "Sick Man of Europe" fight so poorly in the Balkans but so fiercely later at Gallipoli? And how did the loss of its European heartland radicalize the Young Turk regime? Plus: Important announcements about our upcoming live masterclasses for history students in February, March, and April! Key Topics: The First Balkan War: How a coalition of small states defeated an empire.The Raid on the Sublime Porte: Enver Pasha’s violent seizure of power.The Loss of Europe: The economic and psychological blow of losing Macedonia, Albania, and Thrace.Schrödinger's Empire: The paradox of Ottoman weakness in 1912 vs. resilience in 1915. Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share. ▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive Content Become a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory ▸ Join the Community & Continue the Conversation Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcast Substack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com ▸ Read Articles & Go Deeper Website: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    23 min

  2. 1 DAY AGO

    The Age of Catastrophe: Eric Hobsbawm and the Crisis of the Liberal Order

    Episode Summary: In this episode of Explaining History, Nick continues his exploration of Eric Hobsbawm’s seminal work, The Age of Extremes. We focus on the first part of Hobsbawm's "historical triptych"—the Age of Catastrophe (1914–1945). Nick argues that this period was essentially a European Civil War, where the violent techniques of imperialism—gas, machine guns, and racial extermination—boomeranged back onto the continent itself. From the collapse of the liberal order in 1914 to the rise of totalitarian regimes in the 1930s, we examine how the certainties of the 19th century were shattered. We also critique Hobsbawm’s Eurocentric view, asking: Was the post-war "Golden Age" truly golden for the colonized peoples of Vietnam, Kenya, or Algeria? Or was the Second World War merely the moment when the violence of empire finally came home? Plus: A final call for history students! Our Russian Revolution Masterclass is on Sunday, January 25th. Book your spot now for a deep dive into essay technique and historical argument. Key Topics: The European Civil War: Viewing 1914-1945 as a single, devastating conflict.The Imperial Boomerang: How colonial violence returned to Europe.The Collapse of Liberalism: Why democracy nearly vanished from the map between the wars.Hobsbawm’s Blind Spot: Critiquing the Eurocentric view of the "Golden Age."Books Mentioned: The Age of Extremes by Eric HobsbawmBlood and Ruins by Richard OveryThe Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt (referenced via the "boomerang" thesis)Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share. ▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive Content Become a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory ▸ Join the Community & Continue the Conversation Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcast Substack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com ▸ Read Articles & Go Deeper Website: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 min

  3. 4 DAYS AGO

    Mao's Lost Generation: Youth, Ideology, and the Cultural Revolution

    In this episode of Explaining History, Nick continues his exploration of the Chinese Cultural Revolution through the lens of Tania Branigan's Red Memory. We examine Mao Zedong's complex relationship with the youth of China—how he mobilized them as revolutionary shock troops, only to discard them when they became a threat to order. We delve into the "Down to the Countryside" movement, where 17 million urban teenagers were sent to remote villages to "learn from the peasants." Nick explores the ideological motivations behind this mass displacement: Mao's belief that the younger generation was being softened by "sugar-coated bullets" of bourgeois comfort and needed to be re-forged through hard labour. From the boredom that followed the initial revolutionary fervour to the lasting trauma (and surprising nostalgia) of the "sent-down youth," this episode unpacks the human cost of Mao's permanent revolution. Plus: A recap of our first masterclass and details on the upcoming session on Post-War America (1945-74) on February 15th! For Ad free episodes: Join us on Patreon Key Topics: The Red Guards: From revolutionary zeal to boredom and disillusionment.Down to the Countryside: Why Mao sent 17 million teenagers to live with peasants.Ideological purity: The fear of "revisionism" and the need for constant struggle.Memory and Trauma: How the "lost generation" reconciles their past with modern China. Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share. ▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive Content Become a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory ▸ Join the Community & Continue the Conversation Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcast Substack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com ▸ Read Articles & Go Deeper Website: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min

  4. 3 FEB

    The origins of the Watts Riot - 1965

    While the history of the Civil Rights movement is often told through the lens of the Deep South—Selma, Birmingham, and the marches of Dr. King—a different kind of struggle was brewing in the West. In this episode, we dive into the origins and systemic causes of the 1965 Watts Riots in Los Angeles. Drawing from Mike Davis and Jon Wiener’s Set the Night on Fire, we explore the "economic flytrap" that snared Black youth in Southern California. We discuss the transition from the legal victories of the early 60s to the harsh realities of "hidden segregation," aggressive LAPD policing, and the political gridlock that denied vital resources to the community. Join us as we contextualize the explosive rage of 1965 not as a random outburst, but as the inevitable result of structural injustice and economic exclusion. Join our US history masterclass on Sunday 15th February here Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share. ▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive Content Become a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory ▸ Join the Community & Continue the Conversation Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcast Substack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com ▸ Read Articles & Go Deeper Website: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    26 min

  5. 28 JAN

    Shellshock Nation: Fear, Fantasy, and the Myth of the "Devil's Decade"

    Episode Summary: In this episode of Explaining History, Nick talks to cultural historian Alwyn Turner about his latest book, Shellshock Nation: Britain Between the Wars. We often remember the 1930s as W.H. Auden's "low, dishonest decade"—a time of mass unemployment, hunger marches, and the looming shadow of fascism. But was it really all doom and gloom? Alwyn argues that for many in Britain, the interwar years were a period of vibrant creativity, rising living standards, and the birth of modern consumer culture. From the explosion of paperback books and the popularity of greyhound racing to the abdication crisis and the fear of aerial bombardment, we explore the complexities of a society caught between the trauma of the First World War and the terror of the Second. Was the British Union of Fascists really a threat? Why did the public cling to appeasement? And how did a nation that prided itself on being "non-political" navigate the age of extremes? Key Topics: The Devil's Decade: Reassessing the 1930s beyond the Depression.The Abdication Crisis: Why the public accepted the departure of the "Playboy Prince."The Paperback Revolution: How Penguin Books democratized reading.The Shadow of the Bomber: How the fear of air war changed British psychology.Books Mentioned: Shellshock Nation by Alwyn TurnerThe Morbid Age by Richard OveryThe Intellectual Life of the British Working Classes by Jonathan Rose Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share. ▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive Content Become a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory ▸ Join the Community & Continue the Conversation Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcast Substack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com ▸ Read Articles & Go Deeper Website: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 min

  6. 26 JAN

    The Politics of Resentment: From Brownshirts to ICE

    Episode Summary: In this episode of Explaining History, Nick explores the social and historical roots of the fascist foot soldier. Who are the young men who join paramilitary organizations, and what drives them? Following the shocking execution of Renée Good by ICE agents in Minnesota, we draw parallels between the modern American far-right and the Nazi Brownshirts (SA) of the 1920s and 30s. We examine how resentment, loss of status, and the "psychological wage" of whiteness fuel the recruitment of disaffected men into forces of state repression. From the "stab in the back" myth in Weimar Germany to the "Great Replacement" theory in Trump's America, Nick argues that fascism thrives on a sense of grievance and the promise of restored dominance. Is ICE becoming the shock troops of a new authoritarianism, designed not just to enforce borders but to provoke civil conflict? Plus: A recap of our successful Russian Revolution Masterclass and details on the upcoming session on Post-War America! Key Topics: The Brownshirt Demographic: Why bored, angry young men flocked to the SA.Fascism as Struggle: The ideology of constant battle and radicalization.The Psychological Wage: W.E.B. Du Bois on why poor whites defend racial hierarchy.ICE as Agent Provocateur: How paramilitary violence is being used to justify martial law.Announcements: Patreon: Listen ad-free for £5/month.Masterclass: Tickets for the Post-War America (1945-74) session are coming soon!Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share. ▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive Content Become a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory ▸ Join the Community & Continue the Conversation Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcast Substack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com ▸ Read Articles & Go Deeper Website: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 min

  7. 23 JAN

    The Scramble for Libya: Italy, the Ottomans, and the Prelude to the Balkan Wars

    Episode Summary: In this episode of Explaining History, Nick continues his exploration of the twilight of the Ottoman Empire. We shift our focus to North Africa, where a newly unified Italy sought to satisfy its imperial ambitions by seizing Libya—the Ottomans' last foothold on the continent. Drawing on Eugene Rogan's The Fall of the Ottomans, we examine the invasion of 1911 and the fierce guerrilla resistance led by the Young Turk officer Enver Pasha. From his alliance with the mystical Senussi Brotherhood to his use of Islam as a mobilizing force against European colonialism, Enver's campaign in the desert foreshadowed the tactics of the First World War. Nick also discusses the broader geopolitical fallout: how Italy's aggression exposed Ottoman weakness, triggering the Balkan Wars and setting the stage for the catastrophic collapse of 1914. Was the seizure of Libya the first domino in the chain reaction that led to the Great War? Plus: A final call for history students! Our Russian Revolution Masterclass is this Sunday, January 25th. Don't miss out on this deep dive into exam technique and historical argument. Key Topics: The Italian Invasion: Why a "liberal" Italy launched a brutal colonial war.Enver Pasha: The secular Young Turk who became a desert warrior.The Senussi Brotherhood: The Islamic order that fought alongside the Ottomans.The Balkan Card: How the war in Libya triggered the collapse of Ottoman power in Europe.Books Mentioned: The Fall of the Ottomans by Eugene RoganExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share. ▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive Content Become a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory ▸ Join the Community & Continue the Conversation Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcast Substack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com ▸ Read Articles & Go Deeper Website: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    25 min

  8. 20 JAN

    The Global Shock of the February Revolution 1917

    Episode Summary: In this episode of Explaining History, Nick turns to the global dimensions of the Russian Revolution. Drawing on Robert Service's Spies and Commissars: Bolshevik Russia and the West, we explore how the events of 1917 reverberated far beyond Petrograd. We delve into the chaotic collapse of the Romanov dynasty and the fragile "dual power" that followed. Why did the liberal Provisional Government fail to consolidate power? And how did the Bolsheviks—a small group of exiles caught completely by surprise—navigate their way back to Russia? From the euphoric reaction of emigre circles in London (where Maxim Litvinov tried to shave with toothpaste in his excitement) to the geopolitical chess game played by Britain, France, and the US, we examine the revolution not just as a Russian event, but as a pivotal moment in the First World War. Nick also discusses the historiographical battles over the period—was it a coup, a popular uprising, or a tragedy?—and why historians like Service and Orlando Figes have faced the ire of the modern left. Plus: A final reminder for students! Our Russian Revolution Masterclass is this Sunday, January 25th. Book your spot now to master exam technique and essay structure. Key Topics: The February Revolution: How strikes in Petrograd toppled the Tsar while Lenin was stuck in Switzerland.Dual Power: The uneasy alliance between the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet.The Exile's Return: How revolutionaries navigated a war-torn Europe to get home.Global Reactions: Why Western powers initially welcomed the fall of the Tsar, and how 1917 reshaped the war.Books Mentioned: Spies and Commissars by Robert ServiceA People's Tragedy by Orlando FigesStalin's Nemesis by Bertrand Patenaude Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share. ▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive Content Become a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory ▸ Join the Community & Continue the Conversation Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcast Substack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com ▸ Read Articles & Go Deeper Website: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    27 min
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About

How do we make sense of the modern world? We find the answers in the history of the 20th Century. For over a decade, The Explaining History Podcast has been the guide for curious minds. Host Nick Shepley and expert guests break down the world wars, the Cold War, and the rise and fall of ideologies into concise, 25-minute episodes. This isn't a dry lecture. It's a critical, narrative-driven conversation that connects the past to your present. Perfect for students, history buffs, and anyone who wants to understand how we got here. Hit subscribe and start exploring. Join us at Explaining History for daily modern history articles and news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Nick Shepley
  • Years Active
    2012 - 2026
  • Episodes
    902
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Nick Shepley
  • Show Website
    Explaining History

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