History Happy Hour

Rick Beyer and Christopher Anderson
  • 4.2 (20)
  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Crowd into the virtual bar with Chris Anderson and Rick Beyer to plumb intoxicating history topics and kibbitz over juicy tidbits. Each week, Chris and Rick invite a guest author to share cocktails and talk history. Like who? Like Andrew Roberts, Joe Balkoski, Chris Wallace, Lynne Olson, and Hampton Sides, for example. You never know who'll stop by. History Happy Hour, where history is always on tap. Brought to you by Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours – and our loyal Patreon patrons.

  1. 6D AGO

    Black Medal of Honor Recipients of WWII: Guest: Robert Child

    This week on History Happy Hour: In 1945, the US Congress recommended awarding the Medal of Honor to 432 recipients. Not a single Black soldier made the list. Not Vernon Baker, who single-handedly eliminated three enemy machineguns and an observation post. Not even Lieutenant Charles Thomas, who led his platoon to capture a strategically vital village in 1944 in spite staggering losses. It took more than 50 years for the Army to honor these and other black soldiers with the Medal of Honor.  In this encore episode, Chris and Rick talk with Robert Child to bout his book: Immortal Valor: The Black Medal of Honor Winners of World War II. Learn about their extraordinary heroism and explore why recognition was denied them so long.   Robert Child has spent 20+ years in Television and Film and is an Emmy nominated producer/director. He is a published author of fiction and nonfiction, and has appeared on 75+ Film and TV credits on IMDB. Among his films is The Wereth Eleven, the story of Black GIS massacred by the SS. He has garnered more than 25 writing and directing awards.

    56 min

  2. FEB 8

    Tuskegee Airmen: Forgotten Souls: Guest: Cheryl Thompson

    This week on History Happy Hour: During WWII, 27 Tuskegee Airmen were reported missing in combat. The remains of most were never found. Chris and Rick explore their lives, their fates and the impact of their loss with NPR Investigative Reporter Cheryl Thompson. She is the daughter of a Tuskegee Airman, and author of the book Forgotten Souls: The Search for the Lost Tuskegee Airmen. Cheryl Thompson is an award-winning investigative reporter for National Public Radio, and an associate professor of journalism at George Washington University. She is the recipient of more than 40 journalism awards. During more than 20 years as a reporter for The Washington Post, she was part of teams that won two Pulitzer Prizes for national reporting. The daughter of a Tuskegee Airman, she is a Chicago native who lives outside Washington, DC.

    57 min

  3. FEB 1

    Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson in the Cold War: Guest: Alexander Rose

    This week on History Happy Hour: Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson were two African-American giants whose lives would forever be altered by the Cold War, and would explosively intersect before its most notorious weapon, the House Un-American Activities Committee. It is a complex story that tallies the sometime fearsome cost of standing against racism. Our guest is Howard Bryant, author of the dual biography Kings and Pawns: Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson in America. Howard Bryant is the author of 11 books, including Rickey, and The Last Hero, a biography of Hank Aaron. He has been the sports correspondent for NPR’s Weekend Edition since 2006. He is a four-time finalist for the National Magazine Award, an Emmy Award winner, and is twice the winner of the Casey Award for Best Baseball Book of the Year. He lives in Western Massachusetts.

    57 min

  4. JAN 25

    Capture of the Submarine U-505 in WWII: Guest: Alexander Rose

    This week on History Happy Hour: It sits on display at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago: The U-505.  The June day in 1944 that this German submarine was captured was the first time the U.S. Navy boarded and captured an enemy vessel since the War of 1812. It was carried out in swashbuckling style by a top-secret Navy task force. In this encore episode, Chris and Rick discuss its dramatic high sea heist with Alexander Rose, author of Phantom Fleet.   Alexander Rose is a journalist and author of numerous history books including Empires of the Sky, The Lion and the Fox, and Washington Spies: The Story of America’s First Spy Ring.  The latter was adapted into the AMC drama series, Turn: Washington Spies, for which he served as writer/producer.  He has a doctorate from Cambridge, was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Born in the United States, raised in Australia and educated in Britain, Alexander currently resides in New York.

    1h 5m

  5. JAN 18

    Belgium Spying in Germany WWI and WWII: Guest: Helen Fry

    This week on History Happy Hour: During WWI, The White Lady network helped Britain by acting as couriers, radio operators and spies to facilitate the end of German control. And, when war broke out again two decades later, the leaders of the network regrouped and established a successor: The Clarence Service. We will talk with HHH Alum Helen Fry to chart the history of these pivotal intelligence networks from her latest book, The White Lady. Dr Helen Fry has written over 20 books on the Second World War with particular reference to British intelligence and espionage.  She has also written about the 10,000 Germans who fought for Britain in WWII. Her acclaimed book The Walls Have Ears became a bestseller and was the Daily Mail’s Top Books of the Year on War. She has appeared in numerous TV documentaries. She is a passionate advocate and official ambassador for the National Centre for Military Intelligence (NCMI). This is her fourth appearance on History Happy Hour.

    1h 1m

  6. JAN 11

    Marines in the Pacific: Guest: Henry Sledge

    This week on History Happy Hour:  Forty years after the publication of Eugene Sledge’s memoir With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa, his son Henry has written The Old Breed: The Complete Story Revealed. We’ll talk with Henry Sledge about his conversations with his father that form the basis of this book, as well as his reflections on his father’s war.     Henry Sledge is the son of renowned author Eugene Sledge, who wrote With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa and China Marine. While growing up, he witnessed his father’s memoir take form and come to life.   Henry has worked as a consultant for Valor Studios and has been published in Valor and Naval History Magazine. His most recent article was the cover story for the Autumn 2022 issue of World War II magazine. He has co-hosted numerous WWII podcasts and has appeared as a guest on numerous other talk shows and documentaries. He holds a BA from Auburn University and has over twenty years of experience in the heavy equipment industry.

    1 hr

  7. JAN 5

    Common Sense: Guest: Jack Kelly

    This Week on History Happy Hour: Thomas Paine was a man whose words helped launch a revolution. In January 1776 he wrote Common Sense, which helped inspire the Continental Congress to declare Independence. In late November that same year, while serving in George Washington’s army during the Colonies’ most desperate hour, he picked up his pen again. “These are the times that try men’s souls” he began, and his words lit a fire in the men who would soon win a critical victory at the Battle of Trenton. To dive into the story of this resourceful writer who played such a critical role in the American Revolution, Chris and Rick talk to HHH alum Jack Kelly, author of Thomas Paine’s War: The Words That Rallied a Nation and the Founder for Our Time. Jack Kelly is an award-winning historian and author. He has been on History Happy Hour twice, to talk about his books Valcour: The 1776 Campaign that Saved the Cause of Liberty and God Save Benedict Arnold: The True Story of America's Most Hated Man. He is also the author of Band of Giants: The Amateur Soldiers Who Won America’s Independence, which received the DAR History Medal. He has appeared on NPR, PBS, and the History Channel, and has written for national publications including the Wall Street Journal. He lives and works in Hudson Valley, New York.

    58 min

  8. 12/28/2025

    History Happy Hour  – RAF Bomber Command: Guest: Marcus Gibson

    This Week on History Happy Hour: In his new book The Greatest Force, author Marcus Gibson argues that RAF Bomber Command was the No.1 factor in Germany’s defeat. Rather than being too costly in terms of crew lives and civilian casualties, he argues that the impact of bombing fully justified the effort put into it.   Chris and Rick explore this challenging topic with him. Sunday at 4PM ET on History Happy Hour, where history is always on tap. Marcus Gibson has written for The Financial Times, The European and Daily Telegraph newspapers as well as BBC R4 News. In 1984 he contributed to the Dictionary of the British Heritage published by Cambridge University Press. He is also the author Bootstrapping Your Business, published in 2016.  He lives in London

    59 min
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4.2
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

Crowd into the virtual bar with Chris Anderson and Rick Beyer to plumb intoxicating history topics and kibbitz over juicy tidbits. Each week, Chris and Rick invite a guest author to share cocktails and talk history. Like who? Like Andrew Roberts, Joe Balkoski, Chris Wallace, Lynne Olson, and Hampton Sides, for example. You never know who'll stop by. History Happy Hour, where history is always on tap. Brought to you by Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours – and our loyal Patreon patrons.

Information

  • Creator
    Rick Beyer and Christopher Anderson
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    181
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2022 Rick Beyer and Christopher Anderson
  • Show Website
    History Happy Hour

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