Central Marc

Marc Houben

Every week, Central Marc dives into alternative history and what-if scenarios across a broad range of subjects where a scenario is worked out that is provided by you, the listener. We dive into the forces shaping our world from central global topics in world history to niche stories, this podcast brings a fresh perspective and a dash of humor to navigate the world's complexities. Perfect for curious minds eager to explore the trends, ideas, and stories behind the history. Hosted by Marc Houben, a Dutchmen with background in history, economics, and business strategy. Living in NYC.

  1. #15 Unreal Oranje | The Glorious Revolution: What If The Revolution Never Happened? [Part 2]

    05/22/2025

    #15 Unreal Oranje | The Glorious Revolution: What If The Revolution Never Happened? [Part 2]

    📜 Episode Summary: Episode fifteen. Exploring the transformative impact of the Glorious Revolution. Delving into how this pivotal event reshaped governance, influenced national budgets, and even set the stage for modern democratic principles. Discover why historical figures like Hugo de Groot and Spinoza might have been less prominent without this revolution's influence on enlightenment thought. Uncover the intricacies of potential alternate histories, such as the implications if different candidates had ascended to power or how Anglo-French absolutism might have dominated global politics, influencing empires like China and Russia. The discussion also touches on the revolution's influence on the American War of Independence, linking its democratic ideals and the Bill of Rights to the founding fathers' motivations. 🎙️ Like this episode? 👉 Follow Central Marc on⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodpods⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📲 Join the Discussion:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠⁠ ⭐ Leave a Review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podchaser⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ * The views, opinions, and analyses expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and do not reflect the official policy or position of any employer, organization, or affiliated entity.

    44 min
  2. #14 Unreal Oranje | The Glorious Revolution [Part 1]

    05/16/2025

    #14 Unreal Oranje | The Glorious Revolution [Part 1]

    📜 Episode Summary: Episode fourteen. The Glorious Revolution—arguably the most pivotal moment in British and Dutch history. From the fallout of the English Civil War to the rise of William of Orange, we explore how religion, monarchy, and geopolitics collided in 17th-century Europe. You’ll learn why William’s Dutch fleet landed in Devon, how he used PR and pamphlets to take power without bloodshed, and why this so-called “revolution” might actually have been an invasion. We trace the rise of parliamentary democracy, the founding of the Bank of England, and how this episode set the stage for the British Empire and Enlightenment thought. Was it truly glorious? Or just politically convenient branding? Tune in for part one of this two-part historical deep dive. 🎙️ Like this episode? 👉 Follow Central Marc on⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodpods⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📲 Join the Discussion:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠ ⭐ Leave a Review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podchaser⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ * The views, opinions, and analyses expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and do not reflect the official policy or position of any employer, organization, or affiliated entity.

    55 min
  3. #13 Unreal Oranje | What If Tulip Mania Never Wilted? Golden Age Crypto Bros.

    05/01/2025

    #13 Unreal Oranje | What If Tulip Mania Never Wilted? Golden Age Crypto Bros.

    📜 Episode Summary: Episode thirteen. Crypto bros of the Golden Age. What if tulips never wilted and futures never failed? In this alternate timeline, the Dutch Golden Age surges onward—powered by flowers. We explore a Netherlands where the tulip market never crashed, William of Orange builds a financial superpower, and Amsterdam becomes the world’s Wall Street. From bulb-backed marriages to the VOC’s unchecked expansion into Asia and America, this is the story of a floral empire that rewrote capitalism.  🎙️ Like this episode? 👉 Follow Central Marc on⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodpods⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📲 Join the Discussion:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Tiktok⁠ ⭐ Leave a Review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podchaser⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ * The views, opinions, and analyses expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and do not reflect the official policy or position of any employer, organization, or affiliated entity.

    46 min
  4. #12 Falklands Unwritten | SAS Raids & Prince Andrew in Patagonia

    04/24/2025

    #12 Falklands Unwritten | SAS Raids & Prince Andrew in Patagonia

    📜 Episode Summary: Episode twelve. This episode of Falklands Unwritten unpacks the key events of the 1982 Falklands War—Argentina’s invasion, Britain’s rapid naval response, and major turning points like the sinking of the Belgrano and HMS Sheffield. We examine Operation Black Buck, special forces raids, and the strategic role of Ascension Island. Then we dive into counterfactual scenarios: What if the UK had invaded mainland Argentina? Could NATO have been triggered? How might Soviet support or a Chile-Argentina conflict have changed the outcome? A detailed, timeline-driven exploration of both real and alternate history. 🎙️ Like this episode? 👉 Follow Central Marc on⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodpods⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📲 Join the Discussion:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Tiktok ⭐ Leave a Review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podchaser⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ * The views, opinions, and analyses expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and do not reflect the official policy or position of any employer, organization, or affiliated entity.

    48 min
  5. #11 Falklands Unwritten | Before the First Shot

    04/10/2025

    #11 Falklands Unwritten | Before the First Shot

    📜 Episode Summary: Episode eleven. In this first episode of Falklands counterfactuals we unpack the deep historical roots, competing colonial claims, and messy geopolitical context that led to the Falklands War. From Dutch navigators and Spanish treaties to Margaret Thatcher’s garbage-strewn Britain and Argentina’s brutal junta, we trace the story before the shooting started. Why did Argentina invade in 1982? Why didn’t NATO respond? Could Britain have lost the Falklands—and what if it never fought back at all? Featuring Maradona, sheep flags, and naval blunders, this episode lays the groundwork for the explosive “what if” scenarios to come. 🎙️ Like this episode? 👉 Follow Central Marc on⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodpods⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📲 Join the Discussion:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⭐ Leave a Review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podchaser⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ * The views, opinions, and analyses expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and do not reflect the official policy or position of any employer, organization, or affiliated entity.

    53 min
  6. #10 Viking Series | 1066 Odds: What If The Vikings Won Stamford Bridge

    04/04/2025

    #10 Viking Series | 1066 Odds: What If The Vikings Won Stamford Bridge

    📜 Episode Summary: Episode ten. Featuring Louis Eastwood. What if Harald Hardrada’s Vikings triumphed at Stamford Bridge in 1066? Explore an alternate England divided between Viking North and Norman South, shaping history without the Hundred Years’ War or traditional English-French rivalry. Would England embrace Scandinavian governance, language, and culture? Discover how a Norse victory could redefine medieval geopolitics, influence the Great Schism, and even impact colonial America. From Viking legends to medieval power struggles, dive deep into a fascinating scenario where history pivots dramatically, with legendary conquerors Harald Hardrada and William the Conqueror facing off for control of Britain’s destiny. Who would you bet on in 1066? Viking Rommel, Medieval Napoleon, or Boris Johnson? 📚Recommended Reading: “1066: The Year of the Conquest” by David Howarth 🎙️ Like this episode? 👉 Follow Central Marc on⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodpods⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📲 Join the Discussion:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⭐ Leave a Review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podchaser⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ * The views, opinions, and analyses expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and do not reflect the official policy or position of any employer, organization, or affiliated entity.

    47 min
  7. #9 Viking Series | Vinland Rises: What If The Vikings Stayed in America?

    03/25/2025

    #9 Viking Series | Vinland Rises: What If The Vikings Stayed in America?

    📜 Episode Summary: Episode nine. Featuring Louis Eastwood. In this first-ever co-hosted episode with Louis Eastwood, we explore Norse settlers in Vinland, Indigenous alliances, and a radically different North America. From Leif Erikson to native diplomacy, Viking ships to canoes, we dive into the real Norse sagas. Could a Norse-Native superpower have risen? Would Leif replace Columbus? Axes, myths, and mayhem await in this bold reimagining of America’s forgotten first colony. 📚Recommended Reading: The Saga of Greenlanders and The Saga of Erik the Red 🎙️ Like this episode? 👉 Follow Central Marc on⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodpods⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📲 Join the Discussion:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⭐ Leave a Review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podchaser⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ * The views, opinions, and analyses expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and do not reflect the official policy or position of any employer, organization, or affiliated entity.

    41 min

  8. 03/15/2025

    #8 The City That Stood Still: What If San Francisco Never Shook in 1906?

    📜 Episode Summary: Episode eight. In 1906, San Francisco was on the rise—a booming metropolis, the financial heart of the West Coast, and a gateway to the Pacific. Then the earthquake struck, leveling the city and reshaping its future overnight. But what if the disaster never happened? In this episode, we explore an alternate timeline where San Francisco never fell. Would it have overtaken New York as America’s financial capital? The quake that rewrote history—reversed. 📚 Recommended Reading: San Francisco’s Earthquake: The Disaster That Built a City (Simon Winchester, 2023) 🎙️ Like this episode? 👉 Follow Central Marc on⁠⁠⁠ Spotify,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodpods 📲 Join the Discussion:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky | Instagram ⭐ Leave a Review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podchaser The views, opinions, and analyses expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and do not reflect the official policy or position of any employer, organization, or affiliated entity.

    36 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Every week, Central Marc dives into alternative history and what-if scenarios across a broad range of subjects where a scenario is worked out that is provided by you, the listener. We dive into the forces shaping our world from central global topics in world history to niche stories, this podcast brings a fresh perspective and a dash of humor to navigate the world's complexities. Perfect for curious minds eager to explore the trends, ideas, and stories behind the history. Hosted by Marc Houben, a Dutchmen with background in history, economics, and business strategy. Living in NYC.

Information

  • Creator
    Marc Houben
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Marc Houben
  • Show Website
    Central Marc