The Dangerous History Podcast

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History

Learn the Past/Understand the Present/Prepare for the Future

4d ago

DHP Ep. 292: Fµ©!≤ “Sunshine Protection!”: DST as a Revolt Against Nature

The midterms are fast approaching, as is the “fall back” to Standard Time: that blissful-but-all-too-brief 4-month period in which our clocks & schedules align in a healthy way with our natural circadian rhythms, allowing us to flourish for 1/3 of the year until we “spring forward” back into the earthly hell known as “Daylight Savings.” With the Orwellian-named “Sunshine Protection Act” (which Marco Rubio has been pushing since he was a Senator back in 2018 & which Donald Trump also vehemently supports) dangerously close to passing — the House has passed it, Trump supports it, & only a few Senators are holding it up at the moment — & with the “Fall Back” to Standard/Benevolent time coming in a few weeks, CJ decided to revisit the unhealthy absurdity known as DST. Join CJ as he discusses: Some info on the pending evil called the “Sunshine Protection Act” [sic] that would make DST permanent, including some unhinged rants from Donald Trump in support of it, & overwhelming expert opinion in favor of ending the biannual time change, but in favor of Standard Time rather than DST Where the idea of biannual time changes & Daylight Savings Time (DST) came from historically. (Hint: As is usually the case with anything bad in the past 100 years, Woodrow Wilson bears some of the blame.) Some of the problems, costs, and even dangers of DST The origin of standardized time zones (which originated more in the private sector) as a contrasting case study The idea of DST as a rebellion against nature “SOCJ!” — Save Our CJ (& the DHP!) Due to events of the past 6 weeks, CJ has not only been slowed down on multiple DHP projects that, back in August, he expected he’d be able to complete in September; but, unfortunately, this has also caused his family to again be in an acute financial emergency! If you’re not in a financial crisis yourself, & you value the DHP & want to help it continue, (and/or if you care about CJ & want to help him out), please consider sending him a few bucks or quid or doubloons or denarii or whatever! Click here to Donate via Paypal or Venmo! Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qfrz9erz7dqazh9rhz3j7nv696nl52ux8unw79z Support the DHP via Amazon Affiliate Links (buy ANYTHING from Amazon using any of these links & CJ gets a small commission at no cost to you!) Revolution in Time: Clocks and the Making of the Modern World by David Landes CJ’s PO Box Address (For Sending Him Items of Support, Including, but not Limited to: Wads of Bills, Sacks of Gold Doubloons, Pieces of Eight, Freeze-Dried Flapjacks, etc.) CJ Killmer Dangerous Media Productions 704 E Moody Blvd #43 Bunnell, FL 32110 Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Subscribe to the Dangerous History Podcast Youtube Channel Follow CJ on Twitter/X Follow the DHP on Instagram Follow the DHP on Facebook A 2020 NBC News article on the controversy surrounding the time change (Note how, among opponents of the time change, the politicians favor year-round DST, while actual scientists & medical people support year-round Standard Time — why, it’s almost like politicians don’t give a shit about science or human health & well-being when it goes against what they want!) A 2019 article from Washington University in St. Louis talking to one of their experts about the virtues of Standard Time, which includes links to other related articles. The National Sleep Foundation’s 2021 position statement in favor of Standard Time Save Standard Time (a website & organization dedicated to making Standard Time year-round for the sake of human well-being) The post DHP Ep. 292: Fµ©!≤ “Sunshine Protection!”: DST as a Revolt Against Nature first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.
Aug 31

Ep. 0253 Reissue: Academia is a Racket

The centerpiece of this episode is DHP Episode 253: Academia is a Racket, which CJ produced back in late-February 2023, only about 6 months after he walked away from academia, after spending 22 years of his life in it (6 as a student & 16 as a teacher.) In this episode, CJ mostly avoided the lowest-hanging & widely understood defects of academia in recent decades — ie, the rise to hegemony of once-fringe (even in academia) “Woke” ideology, & the exorbitant costs to the students of getting a college “education.” Instead, drawing from his 22 years inside academia, he mostly focuses on structural (in the true sense of the word) problems inherent in the nature of the institution & the perverse incentives created thereby, which minimize the amount of education (in the true sense of the word) that takes place. Join CJ as he discusses the following problems with modern conventional academia: No real market feedback mechanism to indicate whether a “good education” is being provided. Overspecialization. Rigid credentialism. Too many courses online (especially at the intro/gen-ed level.) Excessive disability accommodations. Private-sector profiteering (off a captive audience & cartelized, non-competitive system.) Administrative bloat. A focus on arbitrary metrics that can be juked/gamed. Degree inflation. The accreditation agencies functioning as a cartel enforcer to artificially restrict entry & reduce competition. Ideology baked into most (if not all) disciplines, in many cases for over a century. The adversarial relationship often automatically created between student & teacher. State & corporate influence & control. Like this episode? Support the DHP on Patreon! Through Labor Day (9/7) of 2026, CJ’s running a Back to (Dangerous History) School Special: There will be a 25% discount on the first year of an annual membership at any level of support, or 25% off the first month of a monthly membership (also at any level of support)! If you want to get access to the upcoming multi-hour DHP Bonus Episode “Wooden Walls on the Water,” covering just about everything we know about ancient Greek warships & naval warfare, sign up as one of his Patreon supporters at the Journeyman Scholar-Warrior Level (or higher) — if you’re not already one of those excellent individuals who keeps the DHP a going concern, of course! Just use coupon code 826 when signing up! You can also throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Throw CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qfrz9erz7dqazh9rhz3j7nv696nl52ux8unw79z Amazon Affiliate Links (buy ANYTHING – not just these specific items – from Amazon using any of these links & CJ gets a small commission at no cost to you!) The Underground History of American Education by John Taylor Gatto War is a Racket by Maj. Gen. Smedley Butler CJ’s PO Box Address (For Sending Him Items — Including, but not Limited to — Sacks of Gold Doubloons, Pieces of Eight, Freeze-Dried Flapjacks, etc. ) CJ Killmer Dangerous Media Productions 704 E Moody Blvd #43 Bunnell, FL 32110 The post Ep. 0253 Reissue: Academia is a Racket first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.
Aug 24

Ep. 0291: “Farted Upon & Showered with Excrement” (A Sneak Preview of “Wooden Walls on the Water”)

This episode is a segment from the big Patreon Supporters-Only Bonus DHP episode CJ is currently working on, “Wooden Walls on the Water,” which will be a multi-hour deep-dive into virtually everything we know about Greek navies (especially the Athenian navy, about which we know the most) in the 5th century BC, including – but not limited to: the design & construction of triremes, the logistical & financial burdens of building & maintaining a large fleet of them, the experience of the crew, & the tactics & experience of battle, with some historical examples of important Greek naval engagements. This particular segment focuses on the oarsmen, who usually comprised more than 3/4 of a trireme’s total complement of 200 men. Join CJ as he discusses the three levels of rowers on an Athenian trireme — thalamites, zygites, & thranites — and the uncomfortable, exhausting, dangerous, & often downright disgusting conditions they dealt with when deployed on a trireme, even before they faced the hazards of battle. Like this episode? Support the DHP on Patreon! Through Labor Day (9/7) of 2026, CJ’s running a Back to (Dangerous History) School Special: There will be a 25% discount on the first year of an annual membership at any level of support, or 25% off the first month of a monthly membership (also at any level of support)! If you want to get access to the full, multi-hour Patreon Bonus Episode “Wooden Walls on the Water,” from which this little segment was excerpted, sign up as one of his Patreon supporters at the Journeyman Scholar-Warrior Level (or higher), if you’re not already one of those excellent individuals who keeps the DHP a going concern. Just use coupon code 826 when signing up! You can also throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Throw CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qfrz9erz7dqazh9rhz3j7nv696nl52ux8unw79z Amazon Affiliate Links (buy ANYTHING – not just these specific items – from Amazon using any of these links & CJ gets a small commission at no cost to you!) A Naval History of the Pelopponesian War by Marc DeSantis A War Like No Other by Victor Davis Hanson Syracuse 415-413 BC by Nic Fields Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Subscribe to the Dangerous History Podcast Youtube Channel Follow CJ on Twitter/X CJ’s PO Box Address (For Sending Him Items — Including, but not Limited to — Sacks of Gold Doubloons, Pieces of Eight, Freeze-Dried Flapjacks, etc. ) CJ Killmer Dangerous Media Productions 704 E Moody Blvd #43 Bunnell, FL 32110 The post Ep. 0291: “Farted Upon & Showered with Excrement” (A Sneak Preview of “Wooden Walls on the Water”) first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.
Aug 10

Ep. 0290: ‘The Mad Dream of Conquest,’ Pt. III

Here it is, FINALLY — the third installment of ‘The Mad Dream of Conquest’ series, about the Athenian expedition to Sicily during the Peloponnesian War in the 5th century BC. Enjoy! Join CJ as he discusses: The Syracusan reaction to news of a huge, inbound Athenian expeditionary force, including the wise advice of Hermocrates (that wasn’t sufficiently heeded at first) The arrival of the Athenians in the area, & initial difficulties & disappointments they began to encounter The debate among the 3 Athenian strategoi (Nicias, Lamachus & Alcibiades) over how to proceed, the strategy adopted, & the lack of significant progress The recall of Alcibiades to Athens for trial, & his subsequent escape Athenian successes in Sicily that they failed to capitalize upon sufficiently to defeat Syracuse prior to the onset of the winter of 414/415 Athenian & Syracusan diplomatic efforts during that first winter The success of Syracusan diplomacy (with the help of Alcibiades) in securing aid from Corinth & Sparta Gylippus, the Spartan strategos sent to take command of the Syracusan war effort against Athens Initial Athenian successes during the campaign season of 414 that (despite the death of Lamachus) drove the Syracusans to the brink of surrender The arrival of Gylippus in the nick of time, & his stunning successes in turning the tide of the war against Athens & nullifying their efforts to circumvallate & besiege Syracuse Nicias’ extremely downtrodden & pessimistic report back to Athens, sent during the winter of 414/413, in which he demanded that the Athenian Assembly either authorize the evacuation of his expeditionary force, or send him significant reinforcements (men, supplies, & money), along with a strong request that he (Nicias) be relieved of command if they chose the latter option As promised, here’s a zoomed out map of the expedition to Sicily, showing 1) how far the Athenians traveled, & 2) the relative locations of significant cities on Sicily & on the adjacent ‘toe’ of Italy , plus a more zoomed-in map of Syracuse, its harbors, & the surrounding territory. Like this episode? Support the DHP on Patreon! Through Labor Day (9/7) of 2026, CJ’s running a Back to (Dangerous History) School Special: There will be a 25% discount on the first year of an annual membership at any level of support, or 25% off the first month of a monthly membership (also at any level of support)! Just use coupon code 826 when signing up! You can also throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Throw CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qfrz9erz7dqazh9rhz3j7nv696nl52ux8unw79z Amazon Affiliate Links (buy ANYTHING – not just these specific items – from Amazon using any of these links & CJ gets a small commission at no cost to you!) The Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War Sparta’s Sicilian Proxy War by Paul Rahe The Rise & Fall of Athens by Plutarch Syracuse, 415-413 BC: Destruction of the Athenian Imperial Fleet by Nic Fields A War Like No Other: How the Athenians and Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War by Victor Davis Hanson Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Subscribe to the Dangerous History Podcast Youtube Channel Follow CJ on Twitter/X Follow the DHP on Instagram Follow the DHP on Facebook Hire CJ to speak to your group or at your event CJ’s PO Box Address (For Sending Him Items — Including, but not Limited to — Sacks of Gold Doubloons, Pieces of Eight, Freeze-Dried Flapjacks, etc. CJ Killmer Dangerous Media Productions 704 E Moody Blvd #43 Bunnell, FL 32110 The post Ep. 0290: ‘The Mad Dream of Conquest,’ Pt. III first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.
Jul 3

Ep. 0289: A Dangerous Dozen: 12 H.L. Mencken Quotes for the DHP’s 12th Anniversary

Believe it or not, CJ has been doing the Dangerous History Podcast for 12 years now! Despite many trials & tribulations that have caused him to be slowed down or even knocked down, he has always staggered back up to his feet, wiped the blood out of his eyes, and resumed fighting the good fight of spreading brushfires of freedom via historical samizdat; and, with your help, he intends to keep doing it for at least another dozen (or couple dozen) years more! To commemorate this anniversary, in this episode, CJ shares & expounds upon a dozen of his many favorite quotes from the early 20th century American writer & social critic H.L. Mencken, including the quote that inspired the title of the DHP. (He also opens & closes the episode with inspirational poems by Edgar Albert Guest that encourage perseverance.) Like this episode? Please consider supporting the show via Patreon! You can also throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Throw CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qfrz9erz7dqazh9rhz3j7nv696nl52ux8unw79z Support the DHP via Amazon Affiliate Links (buy ANYTHING from Amazon using any of these links & CJ gets a small commission at no cost to you!) The Collected Works of Edgar A. Guest (“Don’t Quit” & “See it Through,” the poems that CJ read at the beginning & end of this episode, respectively, are by Edgar Albert Guest, who is one of CJ’s favorite poets & who is tragically underappreciated today) Notes on Democracy by H.L. Mencken A Mencken Chrestomathy: His Own Selection of His Choicest Writings The Vintage Mencken: The Finest and Fiercest Essays of the Great Literary Iconoclast The Underground History of American Education: An Intimate Investigation into the Prison of Modern Schooling by John Taylor Gatto Falling Down (1993, starring Michael Douglas) Additional Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon! Other ways to support the show (including CJ’s PO Box address) Subscribe to the Dangerous History Podcast Youtube Channel “The Ultimate History Lesson: A Weekend with John Taylor Gatto” (an extended, in-depth interview of the late, great critic of institutional schooling, conducted by Richard Grove of Tragedy & Hope) The post Ep. 0289: A Dangerous Dozen: 12 H.L. Mencken Quotes for the DHP’s 12th Anniversary first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.
Jun 11

Ep. 0288: ‘The Mad Dream of Conquest,’ Pt. II

Here it is — the 2nd installment of CJ’s already-epic mini-series, ‘The Mad Dream of Conquest,’ set in the Peloponnesian War in 5th-century BC Greece. Join CJ as he shares an overview of some of the events of the first half of the Peloponnesian War, including: Spartan-led Peloponnesian invasions of Attica (the countryside around Athens), which used the traditional Greek tactic of ‘ravaging’ farms in order to try to provoke the Athenians to confront them in a decisive hoplite battle Athens’ refusal to do so, as they followed Pericles’ strategy of being purely defensive on land while waging naval & amphibious warfare against the coastal strongholds of the Peloponnesian League The horrific plague that afflicted Athens for the first few years of the war, which likely killed 20-30% of Athens, including, eventually, Pericles himself The leadership void left by Pericles, which was filled by men of much less competence, none of whom ever enjoyed the supermajority support that Pericles had The ‘Peace of Nicias,’ concluded in 421 BC, which was never fully adhered to & wouldn’t last long The growing political feud between Nicias & the Athenian doves vs. Alcibiades & the Athenian hawks The appeal for Athenian assistance from a few Sicilian poleis against Syracuse, the most powerful polis on that island, & the Athenian debates over the wisdom of intervening there, dominated by debates between Nicias & Alcibiades The decision of a majority of the Athenian Assembly to intervene on a massive scale Religious/political scandals that created serious potential problems for the Athenian expedition to Sicily on the eve of its departure The departure, to great fanfare, of a massive Athenian & allied force to Sicily Like this episode? Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon! You can also throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Throw CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qfrz9erz7dqazh9rhz3j7nv696nl52ux8unw79z Other ways to support the show (including CJ’s PO Box) Amazon Affiliate Links (buy ANYTHING from Amazon using any of these links & CJ gets a small commission at no cost to you!) The Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War A War Like No Other: How the Athenians and Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War by Victor Davis Hanson The Peloponnesian War by Donald Kagan The Life of Greece: The Story of Civilization, Vol. II by Will Durant Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Subscribe to the Dangerous History Podcast Youtube Channel Follow CJ on Twitter/X Follow the DHP on Instagram Follow the DHP on Facebook Hire CJ to speak to your group or at your event The post Ep. 0288: ‘The Mad Dream of Conquest,’ Pt. II first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.
May 31

Ep. 0287: ‘The Mad Dream of Conquest,’ Pt I

CJ decided he needed a break from modern US history as he continues to recover & reset his life, so this is the first episode of a new DHP miniseries set during the Peloponnesian War in 5th century BC Greece. The series will primarily focus on a famous Athenian military expedition to Sicily that occurred right in the middle of that conflict, an expedition that, to CJ, is eerily similar in some ways to the current war with Iran. This first episode, though, is backstory & world-building, setting the stage for the massive, complex & costly Peloponnesian War of 431-404 BC during which the Sicilian expedition occurred. Join CJ as he discusses: A brief overview of ancient Greek history, from the Bronze Age through the Persian invasions of 490 & 480 BC. The growing rivalries & tensions between the Peloponnesian League (led by Sparta) & the Delian League (led by Athens) in the aftermath of the Persian Wars, including Athens’ increasingly aggressive & destabilizing imperialism, & Sparta’s fears about it The rise of Pericles & the construction of the Athenian Long Walls The ‘first’ Peloponnesian War of ~460 BC-445 BC, which ended with a treaty known as “The Thirty Years’ Peace” The rising tensions & conflicts that caused the Thirty Years’ Peace to only last about half as long as it was intended to The ancient Greek historian Thucydides The escalating conflicts that led, in 431 BC, to the outbreak of the Second Peloponnesian War (sometimes just referred to as “The Peloponnesian War”), a conflict that would end up dwarfing the previous war in duration, cost, death & destruction Like this episode? You can throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Throw CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qfrz9erz7dqazh9rhz3j7nv696nl52ux8unw79z Amazon Affiliate Links (buy ANYTHING from Amazon using any of these links & CJ gets a small commission at no cost to you!) The Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War A War Like No Other: How the Athenians and Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War by Victor Davis Hanson The Peloponnesian War by Donald Kagan The Life of Greece: The Story of Civilization, Vol. II by Will Durant Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Subscribe to the Dangerous History Podcast Youtube Channel Follow CJ on Twitter/X Follow the DHP on Facebook Hire CJ to speak to your group or at your event Other ways to support the show The post Ep. 0287: ‘The Mad Dream of Conquest,’ Pt I first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.
May 16

Ep. 0286: Braving This Dystopian Timeline (w/Matt Carano)

Good news — things have finally stabilized for CJ & his family, & he has finally fully recovered from the illnesses that caused him to be hospitalized in March! He’s now back at the podcasting game full-force, hard at work on upcoming Dangerous History material, & this week he also returned Brave the New World, the weekly current events & media analysis show that he cohosts with Matt Carano. This DHP episode features the audio of CJ’s triumphant return to BTNW after a few months’ absence. Join CJ & Matt as they discuss the low- & even-lower-lights of current events in recent months, & try to come to grips with the insanity that the 2nd Trump administration is inflicting on the world. Like this episode? You can throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Throw CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qfrz9erz7dqazh9rhz3j7nv696nl52ux8unw79z Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Other ways to support the show (including CJ’s PO Box address) BTNW on Youtube BTNW on Spotify BTNW on Apple Podcasts Subscribe to the Dangerous History Podcast Youtube Channel Follow CJ on Twitter/X Follow the DHP on Instagram Follow the DHP on Facebook Hire CJ to speak to your group or at your event The post Ep. 0286: Braving This Dystopian Timeline (w/Matt Carano) first appeared on The Dangerous History Podcast.

See All (49)

4.6

out of 5

632 Ratings

Great Podcast

11/11/2024

run happy

I heard CJ first on Tom Woods’ show. I’m making my way through the Wilson history. I already had read he was a horrible president but I am Learning so much more about him and the political climate at the time. I also like it when CJ goes into different political thought and gives real examples of who held the belief and how it impacted history. I am telling my grown kids and my friends. I look forward to hearing more. CJ is a great researcher and conveys his learning as only a well honed teacher can.
All I Heard

11/01/2024

Lalitune

Woodrow Wilson part 4 all I heard him saying is that he was an ignoramus.
Excellent content

10/06/2024

PenName69

Came from the Tom Woods show. This is a great podcast. Half way through the Woodrow Wilson series and am learning a lot. Great work CJ.
Glad he is back

09/18/2024

Deutschmark nie

Host is very smart, very well read and generally tells good stories. He is a bit too libertarian at times but very rarely does that get in the way of his work.