Speech! The Words That Shaped History

Chris Acuff

In Speech! we look at how individuals step into history and leave their mark with their words and actions, tell their stories, ask what-ifs, and examine the wider questions of human history. Suppose you like biographical works, rhetoric, examinations of how individuals interact with trends and forces, or are looking for a show that goes beyond just telling the events of history. In that case, you have come to the right place.

Episodes

  1. 07/22/2025

    Q/A Nuclear Dawn III

    After a brief talk about the French revolution, Chris and Trung go through questions from the second episode on Hirohito and AI

    37 min
  2. Nuclear Dawn III: Emperor Hirohito 2

    02/08/2025

    Nuclear Dawn III: Emperor Hirohito 2

    Explore the upbringing of the man who will lead Japan into the second world war and the chaotic story of how the conflict began in China.

    59 min

  3. 06/05/2024

    Q/A Nuclear Dawn II

    Chris and Trung go over details and questions from Nuclear Dawn II

    27 min
  4. Nuclear Dawn II: Emperor Hirohito

    05/30/2024

    Nuclear Dawn II: Emperor Hirohito

    After years of brutal war, the weapons created in Los Alamos are brought to bear on Japan, ushering in a new technological age. Humanity now faces the threat of its own extinction, but how did we get here? In this episode we dive into Japanese history, to the end of the Edo period, and piece together the causes of the war in the Pacific. Breaks around: 20 minutes 45 minutes Books: https://bookshop.org/shop/ATRH Instagram: @bookish_chris_a

    1h 2m
  5. Q/A Nuclear Dawn I

    02/11/2024 ·  Bonus

    Q/A Nuclear Dawn I

    Get ready for a very different tone as Chris and Trung discuss a few questions and dive into more detail about the first Nuclear Dawn episode. https://bookshop.org/shop/ATRH Instagram: bookish_chris_a

    26 min
  6. Nuclear Dawn I: J Robert Oppenheimer, Nov 2, 1945

    01/02/2024

    Nuclear Dawn I: J Robert Oppenheimer, Nov 2, 1945

    Following the Christopher Nolan movie based on the book: "American Prometheus" by Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin, we look at Oppenheimer's farewell speech from his directorship of Los Alamos and the dream he spelled out for a globally controlled nuclear future. Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/ATRH

    1h 2m
  • 6 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

About

In Speech! we look at how individuals step into history and leave their mark with their words and actions, tell their stories, ask what-ifs, and examine the wider questions of human history. Suppose you like biographical works, rhetoric, examinations of how individuals interact with trends and forces, or are looking for a show that goes beyond just telling the events of history. In that case, you have come to the right place.

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