Take On the World Podcast

Take On The World
  • 5.0 (9)
  • History
  • Updated Semiweekly

Get ready to Take On the World! Join John and Mike D along with other hosts Deb Doughtery, Lexi, and Nathan Blaze for an exciting podcast that covers conventional historical topics as well as the unique and odd ones. From cryptids to true crime, serial killers to pop culture, Take On the World has something for everyone. Plus, add in personal stories, some fun and a little bit of beer, booze and brevity – you won't want to miss out on this bi-weekly adventure!

  1. Aug 11

    Take On The World Ep. 153: The Coolest and Hottest Places in Pennsylvania #PennsylvaniaMysteries

    What kind of state gives you underground ice in July and a town that’s been on fire since the Kennedy administration? In this episode, Mike D and John travel into the weird side of Pennsylvania, where summer heat somehow creates giant icicles inside the legendary Coudersport Ice Mine — a 40-foot hole in the ground that acts less like a cave and more like nature’s broken air conditioner. The guys also head to Trough Creek State Park, home to a tiny hillside opening that stays cold enough to grow ice while everyone above it is sweating through their T-shirts. And because Pennsylvania apparently refuses to be normal, the episode finishes in Centralia, the nearly abandoned town where an underground coal fire has been burning since 1962 and may keep going for another 250 years. From frozen rock chambers to roads that literally smoke, this episode mixes history, science, local legends, and just enough “how is this real?” to make you want to road-trip across the Keystone State immediately. Is there a topic you would like us to cover? Let us know. Drop us a line and tell us all about it at takeontheworld411@gmail.com. We will take on almost any topic with Our Take On the World! To Support the Show - @smackinsunflowerseeds - Awesome Sunflower seeds are so much better than what you get at the gas stations. Use this link https://www.smackinsunflowerseeds.com/TOTWPod and Code - TOTWPod Check out www.coffeebros.com and Use TOTW10 for a discount at checkout. Visit for links to all of our socials. https://linktr.ee/totwpod #PennsylvaniaMysteries #CoudersportIceMine#CentraliaPA #TroughCreek #takeontheworld # PodcastRecommendations On Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4v6bFimpr1SSNg7xmvjBSt YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@totwpod or Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/c-1178413

    Take On The World Ep. 153: The Coolest and Hottest Places in Pennsylvania #PennsylvaniaMysteries

  2. Jul 21

    TOTW Episode 152 : Ghosts in the Thornbush: The Real Tsavo Lion Story

    In this episode, we dive into the chilling true story of the man‑eating lions of Tsavo, the infamous pair of maneless males that stalked railway camps in Kenya in 1898 and dragged workers from their tents at night. We walk through the Uganda Railway project, John Henry Patterson’s desperate hunt, and why the death toll remains disputed, with estimates ranging from 28 to 135 victims while modern research points closer to 35. Along the way, we unpack how prey shortages, disease, injury, and “easy pickings” around the camps may have turned these lions into human hunters, and how their legacy still shapes our understanding of predator behavior today. From survival horror and colonial history to African wildlife science, we separate legend from evidence—and trace the story all the way to the Field Museum and beyond.Is there a topic you would like us to cover? Let us know. Drop us a line and tell us all about it at takeontheworld411@gmail.com.We will take on almost any topic with Our Take On the World!To Support the Show - @smackinsunflowerseeds - Awesome Sunflower seeds are so much better than what you get at the gas stations. Use this link https://www.smackinsunflowerseeds.com/TOTWPod and Code - TOTWPodCheck out www.coffeebros.com and Use TOTW10 for a discount at checkout.Visit for links to all of our socials. https://linktr.ee/totwpod#TakeOnTheWorld#PodcastRecomendationsOn Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4v6bFimpr1SSNg7xmvjBStYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@totwpodor Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/c-1178413

    TOTW Episode 152 : Ghosts in the Thornbush: The Real Tsavo Lion Story

  3. Jul 7

    TOTW Episode 151 : The Pinkertons Exposed: Heroes of Justice or Corporate Enforcers?

    The Pinkertons were pioneers of modern detective work, helping shape criminal databases, undercover investigation, and Civil War intelligence. But their legacy is far more complicated than just crime fighting.In this episode, we dig into the rise of Allan Pinkerton, the Baltimore Plot, the hunt for Jesse James, the Molly Maguires, Homestead, and the dark reputation that made the Pinkertons both famous and infamous in American history.Is there a topic you would like us to cover? Let us know. Drop us a line and tell us all about it at takeontheworld411@gmail.com.We will take on almost any topic with Our Take On the World!To Support the Show - @smackinsunflowerseeds - Awesome Sunflower seeds are so much better than what you get at the gas stations. Use this link https://www.smackinsunflowerseeds.com/TOTWPod and Code - TOTWPodCheck out www.coffeebros.com and Use TOTW10 for a discount at checkout.Visit for links to all of our socials. https://linktr.ee/totwpod#TakeOnTheWorld#podcastrecomendations#pinkertonsOn Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4v6bFimpr1SSNg7xmvjBStYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@totwpodor Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/c-1178413

    TOTW Episode 151 : The Pinkertons Exposed: Heroes of Justice or Corporate Enforcers?

  4. Jun 11

    Take On The World Podcast – Episode 150: Behind the Mic

    To celebrate 150 episodes, John and Mike D pull back the curtain and invite listeners into a more personal side of Take On The World. Joined by former co-hosts Deb Dougherty and Nathan, the crew shares stories, laughs, and reflections from their time on the show—along with a few surprises along the way.This special episode dives into who they are beyond the microphones, how the podcast has evolved, and the moments that defined their journey. Whether you’ve been listening from the beginning or just found the show, Episode 150 is a candid, behind-the-scenes look at the voices you’ve come to know.Is there a topic you would like us to cover? Let us know. Drop us a line and tell us all about it at takeontheworld411@gmail.com.We will take on almost any topic with Our Take On the World!To Support the Show - @smackinsunflowerseeds - Awesome Sunflower seeds are so much better than what you get at the gas stations. Use this link https://www.smackinsunflowerseeds.com/TOTWPod and Code - TOTWPodCheck out www.coffeebros.com and Use TOTW10 for a discount at checkout.Visit for links to all of our socials. https://linktr.ee/totwpod#TakeOnTheWorld#PodcastRecomendationOn Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4v6bFimpr1SSNg7xmvjBStYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@totwpodor Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/c-1178413

    Take On The World Podcast – Episode 150: Behind the Mic

  5. May 12

    Epi 148 The Molly Maguires: Terror, Truth, or Setup?

    In this episode, we head into Pennsylvania’s coal country to unravel one of the most debated stories in American labor history—the Molly Maguires. Were they a secret society fighting back against brutal working conditions, or a label used to crush Irish immigrant miners? We dig into the Pinkerton infiltration by James McParlan, the controversial trials, and the mass executions of Black Thursday in 1877. Plus, we explore the eerie legend of the Cell 17 handprint and why this story still sparks debate today. This isn’t just about crime—it’s about power, identity, and who gets to control the narrative.Is there a topic you would like us to cover? Let us know. Drop us a line and tell us all about it at takeontheworld411@gmail.com.We will take on almost any topic with Our Take On the World!To Support the Show - @smackinsunflowerseeds - Awesome Sunflower seeds are so much better than what you get at the gas stations. Use this link https://www.smackinsunflowerseeds.com/TOTWPod and Code - TOTWPodCheck out www.coffeebros.com and Use TOTW10 for a discount at checkout.Visit for links to all of our socials. https://linktr.ee/totwpod#TakeOnTheWorld#podcastrecommendations On Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4v6bFimpr1SSNg7xmvjBStYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@totwpodor Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/c-1178413

    Epi 148 The Molly Maguires: Terror, Truth, or Setup?

  6. Apr 17

    Epi 147 - The Iron Backbone: Pittsburgh, Bethlehem, and America’s Industrial Revolution

    Most companies unknowingly kill their own growth by ignoring the untapped power of regional industry hubs—and Pennsylvania’s steel industry is the prime example that proves it. Johnny and Mike D unpack the fascinating rise and fall of America’s steel giants, revealing how Pittsburgh and Bethlehem shaped the nation’s economy and what lessons they hold for today’s industry.CHECK OUT Barrel Aged Flicks and Mike D's Hosting of The Great Outdoors - https://youtu.be/a-ITkmic64k?si=hrU460CARn4rtl-EBAF - @barrelagedflicksvideopodcast  Is there a topic you would like us to cover? Let us know. Drop us a line and tell us all about it at takeontheworld411@gmail.com.We will take on almost any topic with Our Take On the World!To Support the Show - @smackinsunflowerseeds - Awesome Sunflower seeds are so much better than what you get at the gas stations. Use this link https://www.smackinsunflowerseeds.com/TOTWPod and Code - TOTWPodCheck out www.coffeebros.com and Use TOTW10 for a discount at checkout.Visit for links to all of our socials. https://linktr.ee/totwpod#TakeOnTheWorld#podcastrecommendations On Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4v6bFimpr1SSNg7xmvjBStYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@totwpodor Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/c-1178413

    Epi 147 - The Iron Backbone: Pittsburgh, Bethlehem, and America’s Industrial Revolution

  7. Mar 30

    Epi 146 : The Great Raid : Bataan's Last Hero's The WWII Rescue Mission You Need to Know

    In this mini episode of Take On The World, John and Mike D. take a look at the legendary Great Raid at Cabanatuan, a daring World War II rescue mission led by U.S. Army Rangers, Alamo Scouts, and Filipino guerrillas. The discussion covers the brutal conditions endured by Allied prisoners, the connection to the Bataan Death March, and the incredible planning and execution that freed more than 500 prisoners from behind enemy lines. It’s a powerful story of courage, sacrifice, and one of the most successful rescue operations of the war.Is there a topic you would like us to cover? Let us know. Drop us a line and tell us all about it at takeontheworld411@gmail.com.We will take on almost any topic with Our Take On the World!To Support the Show - @smackinsunflowerseeds - Awesome Sunflower seeds are so much better than what you get at the gas stations. Use this link https://www.smackinsunflowerseeds.com/TOTWPod and Code - TOTWPodVisit for links to all of our socials. https://linktr.ee/totwpod#TakeOnTheWorld#PodcastRecommendationOn Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4v6bFimpr1SSNg7xmvjBStYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@totwpodor Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/c-1178413

    Epi 146 : The Great Raid : Bataan's Last Hero's The WWII Rescue Mission You Need to Know

  8. Mar 12

    When Surrender Meant Death: The Bataan March : Episode 145 #bataandeathmarch

    In this episode of Take On The World, John and Mike D revisit the Philippines to tell the full story of how the catastrophic 1942 defeat on Bataan ultimately connects to MacArthur’s triumphant return and the liberation of the islands. They walk through Japan’s early‑war strategy, the collapse of the combined U.S.–Philippine defense, and the surrender that triggered the infamous Bataan Death March—roughly 60–70 miles of forced movement marked by starvation, disease, beatings, bayonetings, roadside executions, and thousands of deaths on the way to Camp O’Donnell.From there, the episode follows the story forward: the rise of guerrilla resistance by escaped Bataan veterans, the years of brutal captivity in camps like Cabanatuan, and the January 30, 1945 “Great Raid” by U.S. Rangers, Alamo Scouts, and Filipino guerrillas that penetrated deep behind Japanese lines to rescue more than 500 POWs—many of them Bataan and Corregidor survivors. John and Mike D tie these moments together as grim bookends of the American experience in the Philippines, from surrender and war crimes to relief, rescue, and the long‑delayed promise to keep faith with Bataan’s defenders.Is there a topic you would like us to cover? Let us know. Drop us a line and tell us all about it at takeontheworld411@gmail.com.We will take on almost any topic with Our Take On the World!To Support the Show - @smackinsunflowerseeds - Awesome Sunflower seeds are so much better than what you get at the gas stations. Use this link https://www.smackinsunflowerseeds.com/TOTWPod and Code - TOTWPodCheck out www.coffeebros.com and Use TOTW10 for a discount at checkout.Visit for links to all of our socials. https://linktr.ee/totwpod#BataanDeathMarch#BattleOfBataan#WorldWar2#PacificWar#PhilippinesWW2#LeyteGulf#TakeOnTheWorld#PodcastRecomendationOn Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4v6bFimpr1SSNg7xmvjBStYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@totwpodor Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/c-1178413

    When Surrender Meant Death: The Bataan March : Episode 145 #bataandeathmarch
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5
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About

Get ready to Take On the World! Join John and Mike D along with other hosts Deb Doughtery, Lexi, and Nathan Blaze for an exciting podcast that covers conventional historical topics as well as the unique and odd ones. From cryptids to true crime, serial killers to pop culture, Take On the World has something for everyone. Plus, add in personal stories, some fun and a little bit of beer, booze and brevity – you won't want to miss out on this bi-weekly adventure!

Information

  • Creator
    Take On The World
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    208
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Take On The World
  • Show Website
    Take On the World Podcast