Hidden History Happy Hour with Alex & Bryan

History runneth over with obscure tales of heroics and villainy, gruesome battles, hilarious happenings and downright bizarre coincidences. Hosts and longtime pals Alex Deane and Bryan Cunningham will be your guides through this hidden history. Based on Deane’s bestselling book Lessons From History, you will meet the war veteran who lost an eye then amputated his own fingers, learn of Africa’s first black bishop, whose great-great granddaughter sacrificed herself to protect her people from Ebola, and be surprised by Abraham Lincoln’s duel with broadswords and the drunken British soldier who single-handedly conquered an enemy fort, and help us solve the mystery of who stole the still-missing Irish crown jewels. But you won’t just be along for the uproarious ride. Join Alex and Bryan as they imbibe the beverages of choice of the characters in their stories. And, contribute your own obscure tales which they will research and tell in future episodes, perhaps with you as the guest. Have a drink, have a laugh and, who knows, you just might learn something.

Enormous Stones! The West’s Greatest Spy Against Russia

We’re BACK With the West’s Greatest Spy Against Russia. RIP Oleg Gordievsky. Alex & Bryan tell us about when baby poo saved the world, when rudeness is required, and how ...

04-07
24:32

Royal Pains

Alex and Bryan are back with two tremendous takes from royal history. A Crowning achievement. Sources: Lessons From History: Hidden heroes and villains of the past, and what we can ...

09-16
24:42

Naval Derring Do Part Deux

The guys return with two crackin’ (or is that Kraken?) tales of bravery and heroism at sea, this time from the War of 1812 and World War 1. Sources: Lessons ...

08-19
52:58

H4: The Musical

H4 The Musical: The guys find the lost Brandenburg Concertos and hear true modern musical tails from record producer and conservationist Scott Bledsoe. Sources: Lessons From History: Hidden heroes and ...

06-10
31:38

33 Months in a North Korean Prison Camp

Alex & Bryan bring tales of gallantry and privation in a North Korean prison camp and of “Marie Claire,” heroic WW2 spy who helped 100 downed British airmen escape home ...

05-13
38:02

Castle Itter: The Weirdest Battle in History

Castles and Nazis and Grand Slams, Oh My! The guys tell the story of the last castle and strangest battle of WW2. Prepare to suspend disbelief. Sources: Lessons From History: ...

04-15
40:09

Walter Bromley-Davenport: The Loudest MP in History

Bryan and newly-minted House of Commons Candidate Alex Deane tell two (of course) legislative stories. Hear of a “codger” MP who literally kicked the wrong bum and a short-lived Australian ...

03-25
32:41

The Great Stork Derby

This one’s for Canada. And one for the Royal Navy. The boys celebrate the new addition to the H4 family with the story of the Great Canadian Stork Derby and ...

03-04
36:15

Italy 1944 – The Underbelly of the Axis

In this special edition mini episode, Alex takes us back to 1944 Italy, a post-Mussolini state which had become a battleground between Allied forces and Hitler’s Wehrmacht. Sources: Lessons From ...

02-12
08:00

The Prince & Saddam

It’s a gruesome quickie (Yikes!) as the guys talk a dictator’s exploding fish and a conqueror’s exploding….well….just tune in. And join Bryan here on groundhog day: https://x.com/denvercunning/status/1748788411341984019?s=20 Sources: Lessons From ...

01-22
30:53

The 99 Call – How the British Lions Bit Back

NINE NINE! If you ever find yourself in a pub with British rugby players and hear this screamed – run for your life. Join Alex and Bryan for another week ...

01-01
01:05:13

Col. John Spencer – on Ukraine, Urban Warfare and James Bond

Bryan releases the bees on world renowned urban warfare expert Col. John Spencer (ret.). John tells a brand new and (almost) unbelievable story of the Battle of Mariupol, Ukraine and ...

12-11
36:43

Eugene Lazowski – How One Doctor Saved 8,000 Jews from the Nazis

Just when we need them most: Two Holocaust Heroes. And some much-needed truth from Alex and Bryan. Sources: Lessons From History: Hidden heroes and villains of the past, and what ...

11-20
56:31

Guides of Bala Hissar: Queen Victoria’s Frontier Force In The Second Afghan War

Alex tells the story of the Siege of Bala Hissar, and the fort’s defenders – who were faithful even unto death. Sources: Lessons From History: Hidden heroes and villains of ...

10-30
11:24

Eunice Carter: The Woman Who Brought Down Lucky Luciano

Fan favorite guest Willard Foxton rejoins the guys for the second episode of Season Two of the Hidden History Happy Hour for an inspirational and rollicking tale of the first ...

10-09
51:32

Ron Hockey: The Unsung War Hero

The Hidden History Happy Hour launches Season Two with the heroic tale of RAF Pilot Ron Hockey and the guys discuss the legal, moral, and ethical issues around the agonizing ...

09-18
21:55

No Wings But Maybe Extraterrestrial Body Parts

Alex recounts the harrowing heroism of the US Marine Pilot who rode the thunder and the boys return to one of their favorite subjects: UFOs. Testimony in US Congress: US ...

08-28
21:18

Release the Bees!

A Must WATCH. Listening alone will not give the full experience for this one. How I learned to stop worrying and love the honey. The boys cover the weapons spectrum ...

08-17
24:54

The Patron Saint of Booze

A new Alex yarn you CANNOT FIND ANYWHERE BUT HERE (including Twitter (X)) and the guys wax not-so-eloquent about the pros and cons of temperance. Sources: Lessons From History: Hidden ...

08-09
14:22

Dive! Dive! Dive! And an Old Bet Settled (Spoiler: B was right)

Alex and Bryan hear an (almost) unbelievable tale of derring-do under the Arctic Ice from Alex’s friend – and former British Navy Submarine Officer Andrew Storey, who also settles a ...

07-30
01:34:18

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