CONTEXT WITH BRAD HARRIS+

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Context with Brad Harris

Brad Harris
  • 4.7 (457)
  • HISTORY

Context is a podcast that explores the historical forces shaping our modern world. Hosted by Brad Harris, who earned his PhD from Stanford in the History of Science & Technology, each episode delves into pivotal ideas, events, and figures that have influenced civilization’s trajectory. From the rise of scientific thought to the challenges of globalization, Brad provides insightful analysis that connects the past to our present. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or seeking deeper understanding of contemporary issues, Context with Brad Harris offers a thoughtful journey through the narratives that define us.

  1. SEP 30

    Back from the Brink: How Societies Recover

    Can fractured societies pull themselves back from the brink? Is America doomed to slide into another civil war? Or, are we already engaged in a kind of Cold Civil War? In this episode of Context, we examine three powerful case studies of recovery: England emerging from the Wars of the Roses in the 15th century West Germany rising from the rubble of 1945 America clawing its way out of the malaise of the 1970s Each story reveals how societies that seemed broken beyond repair found ways to discipline elites, renew their principles, and restore confidence in themselves and in the future. As America faces mounting political violence and cultural fatigue, these examples remind us that collapse is not destiny. Renewal has always required sacrifice, leadership, and moral courage, but history proves it is possible. If you like this podcast, and you'd like to access supporter-only episodes and listen ad-free, join me on Patreon, or subscribe directly through Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

    30 min

  2. SEP 30 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Back from the Brink: How Societies Recover

    Can fractured societies pull themselves back from the brink? Is America doomed to slide into another civil war? Or, are we already engaged in a kind of Cold Civil War? In this episode of Context, we examine three powerful case studies of recovery: 1) England emerging from the Wars of the Roses in the 15th century 2) West Germany rising from the rubble of 1945 3) America clawing its way out of the malaise of the 1970s Each story reveals how societies that seemed broken beyond repair found ways to discipline elites, renew their principles, and restore confidence in themselves and in the future. As America faces mounting political violence and cultural fatigue, these examples remind us that collapse is not destiny. Renewal has always required sacrifice, leadership, and moral courage, but history proves it is possible.

    30 min

  3. SEP 16

    Good vs Evil

    My thoughts on the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and what his martyrdom reveals about truth versus lies, good versus evil, and the West's spiritual fight for its life.

    28 min

  4. SEP 9 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    *Supporter-Only: Law, Order, & Punishment

    What does the history of punishment reveal about the priorities of civilization? From the crucifixions of Rome to the feudal gallows of medieval Europe, from Japan’s reliance on shame to China’s long arc of fear and conformity, societies have always used punishment to enforce norms. The Enlightenment tried to soften this reality with rational reforms and the invention of the prison, but even then the question remained: do we favor mercy for the offender, or safety for the community? Is justice about punishing the individual or reinforcing social harmony? In this supporter-only episode, we explore how cultures through the ages have balanced fear and compassion, and why our own era increasingly struggles with the trade-off.

    22 min

  5. SEP 2

    The Wilderness at the Gates

    For fifty years, we’ve been told that nature is fragile — a porcelain Eden, easily shattered by the slightest human pressure. But history tells a different story. From the fall of Rome to the Black Death, from Chernobyl to Detroit, every time people retreat, the wilderness rushes back with astonishing speed. In this episode, we examine the reality that civilization is fragile while life on Earth is ferociously tenacious. Drawing on historians like Bryan Ward-Perkins and William Cronon, and ecologists like C.S. Holling, we discover how fast forests and animals can reclaim human spaces, and why the modern myth of a delicate planet misses the deeper truth. Nature is not fragile. Civilization is. If you like what I’m up to, please leave a five-star review wherever you listen, and consider signing up to support the show as a paying member on Patreon or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. As a supporter, you get access to lots of additional episodes and help keep Context ad-free. Thank you so much to those of you who’ve already taken that step - I hope you love today’s episode.

    28 min

  6. AUG 26

    Phantom Worlds

    History is full of phantom worlds—alternative technological paradigms that could have made everything turn out radically differently. Airships instead of airplanes. Rail instead of cars. Direct current instead of alternating current. Telegraphs instead of telephones. Each path once seemed inevitable, until another won out and reshaped civilization. In this episode of Context, we explore these turning points and what they reveal about our own moment, when autonomous vehicles and immersive virtual reality are racing forward in parallel. Will the future be built on radical mobility, or radical simulation? Or both? Most of all, we ask: what kind of lives do we want our grandchildren to live, and how will the choices we make now determine the answer? To support the show and access *supporter-only bonus episodes, join me on Patreon or subscribe directly through Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

    26 min

  7. AUG 19 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    *Supporter-Only: History as a Weapon

    Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States has sold over three million copies and become one of the most influential history books of all time. But, its power lies less in careful scholarship than in ideology. Zinn recast America’s past as a story of rulers exploiting the ruled, embedding the oppressor-versus-oppressed narrative deep in American culture. This episode explores how Zinn weaponized history, why his book resonated so strongly with generations shaped by Vietnam and Watergate, and how it catalyzed today’s obsession with class struggle, tribal identity, and “woke” politics. Most of all, it asks: what happens to America's liberal democracy when its own history is turned against it? Thank you so much for your support. I hope you enjoy. ~Brad

    19 min

  8. AUG 12

    The Machinery of Abundance

    Modern life runs on hidden engine rooms—vast, intricate systems most of us never see. The Haber-Bosch process, which turns air into fertilizer, is one of them. It feeds billions, yet almost no one outside of science or industry could explain how it works or why it matters. In this episode, we explore Haber-Bosch not just as a technological marvel, but as a parable for our dependence on complex systems most of us barely understand. From the fight over bird droppings in the 19th century to the industrial alchemy of fixing nitrogen, we trace how human ingenuity transformed the limits of nature, and how that transformation fostered both abundance and fragility. This is a story about the machinery that sustains us, and the risks we run when we forget it’s there. To keep the show ad-free and access over a dozen bonus episodes, join me on Patreon or subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

    24 min
See All (60)

Hosts & Guests

4.7
out of 5
457 Ratings

About

Context is a podcast that explores the historical forces shaping our modern world. Hosted by Brad Harris, who earned his PhD from Stanford in the History of Science & Technology, each episode delves into pivotal ideas, events, and figures that have influenced civilization’s trajectory. From the rise of scientific thought to the challenges of globalization, Brad provides insightful analysis that connects the past to our present. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or seeking deeper understanding of contemporary issues, Context with Brad Harris offers a thoughtful journey through the narratives that define us.

Information

  • Creator
    Brad Harris
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2025
  • Episodes
    60
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Context with Brad Harris
  • Provider
    Bradford Harris

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