Why Wars Happened History Podcast

The CIA and the Space Race — retold by Hollywood legends.In this episode of Why Wars Happened, Jeremy Fox, Sir Howard Stringer, and Jeff Bewkes reveal how they’re reinventing history through immersive audio dramas. From Central Intelligence (Kim Cattrall) to Buzz (John Lithgow), discover the hidden espionage, moon landing drama, and storytelling secrets behind their work.⏱ Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened00:26 – Meet the guests01:09 – Why media leaders entered podcasting03:35 – Central Intelligence with Kim Cattrall05:36 – Why historical audio dramas matter11:53 – Behind the scenes of Central Intelligence13:22 – Buzz: Buzz Aldrin’s story with John Lithgow19:32 – Challenges in today’s entertainment industry21:51 – Mission of Thoroughbred Studios31:21 – Final thoughts#CIA #SpaceRace #BuzzAldrin #HollywoodSecrets #AudioDrama #KimCattrall #JohnLithgow #WhyWarsHappened

Germany didn’t just “unify” — it was engineered through secret deals, ruthless power grabs, and reckless ambition that exploded into global war.In this episode of Why Wars Happened, historian Katja Hoyer reveals how Bismarck’s strategy and Wilhelm II’s rise lit the fuse for World War I. Once you hear it, you’ll never look at Europe the same way again.Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:58 Europe After Napoleon01:48 The German Question03:14 How the Great Powers Reacted04:36 Prussia Steps Up06:35 Life in a New Germany12:52 Bismarck’s Strategy15:43 Why His Legacy Still Divides21:19 Wilhelm II Takes the Throne25:44 Tensions Before the Great War28:52 Social Friction and Culture Shifts30:25 Final Thoughts#GermanyHistory #Bismarck #WWI #WhyWarsHappened #HiddenHistory

The U.S. Marines had a soldier who fought with Chinese communists before WWII — and then created America’s first Special Forces.In this episode of Why Wars Happened, Stephen Platt uncovers the forgotten story of Evans Carlson, the man who defied military tradition, clashed with generals, and built the Marine Raiders. His ideas shaped modern warfare, but the military wanted him erased.Timestamps:00:00 – Intro00:49 – Meet historian Stephen Platt01:27 – Who was Evans Carlson?03:00 – Early life & influences04:58 – Fighting with Chinese communists13:21 – Founding the Marine Raiders14:55 – Why his tactics caused friction21:22 – What happened after the war28:24 – Final thoughts & book info#WWII #MarineRaiders #SpecialForces #MilitarySecrets #WhyWarsHappened

The words you speak exist because of war. From Vikings raiding villages to Normans conquering England, battles rewrote the English language forever.In this episode of Why Wars Happened, Dr. Colin Gorrie uncovers how Rome, the Vikings, and the Normans all left fingerprints on every sentence you speak today. Once you hear it, you’ll never look at English the same way again.Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened00:49 – Meet Dr. Colin Gorrie01:22 – How war shapes language03:25 – The Norman Conquest & French rule07:11 – Vikings, the Danelaw & Norse words22:52 – Borrowed words from conflict & trade26:31 – 1066 & the Norman takeover28:47 – Fall of Old English, rise of Middle English31:36 – The Great Vowel Shift35:58 – Latin’s lingering influence40:21 – War, trade & crossroads of language51:00 – Wrapping up#HistoryOfEnglish #Vikings #NormanConquest #LanguageSecrets #WhyWarsHappened

For 300 years, Germany couldn’t escape war. Border fights, rival powers, endless battles — conflict shaped its destiny.Oxford historian Peter Wilson joins Why Wars Happened to explain why German-speaking Europe was trapped in war after war, from the Holy Roman Empire to Prussia’s rise and Bismarck’s empire.Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction00:50 – Guest: Peter Wilson01:29 – Germany’s fragmented beginnings05:36 – The rise and influence of Prussia14:21 – Military traditions and their legacy19:41 – The Holy Roman Empire and Austria28:11 – Bismarck and unification30:30 – Closing thoughts#GermanyHistory #Prussia #HolyRomanEmpire #MilitaryHistory #WhyWarsHappened

The Ottomans nearly broke Europe — but their rise wasn’t just about armies. Weather, pirates, and shocking alliances decided history.Historian Si Sheppard joins Why Wars Happened to reveal the surprising reasons behind the Ottoman Empire’s explosive power — and why its wars looked nothing like what you learned in school.Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened00:51 – Meet Si Sheppard01:32 – How the Ottoman Empire shaped the modern world04:43 – Was this the first global war?07:03 – Key leaders on both sides09:51 – The Protestant Reformation’s role13:03 – Why Morocco mattered so much16:03 – The Ottoman–French alliance explained16:34 – Barbary pirates & imperial influence17:14 – Eyewitness accounts from the frontlines20:01 – Portugal vs. Ottoman expansion21:29 – Lasting impact on Europe21:49 – When weather changed everything26:25 – Could the Ottomans have gone further?29:41 – Wrapping up + book recommendation#OttomanEmpire #HiddenHistory #WhyWarsHappened #MilitarySecrets #WorldHistory

A king killed in battle. Princes who vanished. A dynasty born in blood.Historian Michael Jones joins Why Wars Happened to uncover the shocking truths of Bosworth 1485 — the day Richard III fell and the Tudors rose. Shakespeare twisted the story, but what really happened that changed England forever?⏱ Timestamps00:00 Introduction to Why Wars Happened Podcast00:53 Introducing Today's Guest: Michael Jones01:35 The Battle of Bosworth: An Overview03:03 Reevaluating the Battle's Location05:47 Shakespeare's Influence and Historical Misunderstandings18:21 The Princes in the Tower: A Medieval Mystery20:54 The DNA Test Debate21:23 Historical Discoveries and Their Impact23:30 Richard III's Reputation30:38 Hypothetical Scenarios and Propaganda34:54 The Role of Mothers in Royal Politics40:04 Debates and Future Works#Tudors #RichardIII #PrincesInTheTower #Bosworth #WhyWarsHappened

Forget what Hollywood told you — Spartan warriors weren’t what you think.Historian Roel Konijnendijk (and longtime r/AskHistorians mod) joins Why Wars Happened to bust myths, expose ancient tactics, and reveal what Greek warfare really looked like — from militias to Persian deals that changed history.⏱ Timestamps00:00 Introduction to the Why Wars Happened Podcast00:50 Meet Roel Konijnendijk: Expert on Classical Greek Warfare01:30 Understanding Greek Warfare: Myths vs. Reality01:57 The Citizen Militia: Greek Warfare Dynamics04:20 The Role of Generals and the Community in Greek Warfare14:46 Comparing Greek and Roman Military Systems18:45 Sources and Evidence in Studying Ancient Warfare27:48 The Mystery of Greek Fire and Ancient Innovations31:28 Debates and Misconceptions in Greek Warfare35:33 Greek Relations and Alliances36:23 The Persian Empire's Influence37:33 Greek States Seeking Persian Aid38:34 Persian Wars and Greek Diplomacy41:44 The King's Peace Treaty42:41 Macedonian Rise and Greek Response44:21 Greek History and Popular Culture01:02:22 Spartan Military Myths01:10:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts#GreekWarfare #Spartans #AncientHistory #MilitaryMyths #WhyWarsHappened

Pearl Harbor had a spy most people have never heard of.Leon Carroll Jr. joins Why Wars Happened to uncover the forgotten story of Douglas Wada, a Japanese-American intelligence officer whose work in Hawaii helped shape the earliest days of WWII.⏱ Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened00:50 – Meet Leon Carroll Jr.01:41 – Douglas Wada: The All-American Kid03:05 – Rise of the Office of Naval Intelligence04:37 – Writing Ghost of Honolulu with Mark Harmon07:24 – Wada’s identity as a Japanese American10:46 – Meeting Wada’s family15:32 – Hawaii before Pearl Harbor17:27 – Japanese espionage in Hawaii19:28 – The first U.S. POW in WWII22:03 – Wada’s secret work & interrogations24:52 – Baseball and Japanese American culture29:52 – Researching hidden history33:26 – Remembering Doug Wada’s legacy35:54 – What’s next for Leon Carroll Jr.#WWII #PearlHarbor #Espionage #DouglasWada #NCIS #WhyWarsHappened

A war that raged for over a century — and decided the fate of Europe.Lord Jonathan Sumption, UK Supreme Court justice and historian, joins Why Wars Happened to expose the brutal politics, shocking trials, and bloody battles of the Hundred Years’ War.⏱ Timestamps00:00 Introduction to the Why Wars Happened History Podcast00:50 Introducing Lord Jonathan Sumption01:29 The Epic Journey of Writing About the 100 Years War02:39 Challenges in Writing a Neutral History04:29 Overview of the 100 Years War10:54 Joan of Arc's Trial and Medieval Justice14:31 Significant Battles and Figures20:24 Impact on Civilians and the Aftermath24:00 Debates and Unanswered Questions29:21 Future Projects and Conclusion#HundredYearsWar #JoanOfArc #MedievalHistory #FranceVsEngland #WhyWarsHappened

Crusades, cathedrals, and kings who fought their way to empire.Historian Justine Firnhaber-Baker joins Why Wars Happened to reveal how France was built through power struggles, chivalry, and wars that set the stage for centuries of European conflict.⏱ Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened00:49 – Meet Justine Firnhaber-Baker01:38 – The Capetian Dynasty’s legacy02:39 – Personal research insights04:16 – Medieval maps & shifting borders06:56 – Power dynamics in France13:37 – Origins of the Hundred Years’ War16:29 – The Mayor of the Palace’s role22:30 – Sources & historical debates29:07 – Closing thoughts#MedievalFrance #Crusades #Chivalry #HundredYearsWar #WhyWarsHappened

They fought Hitler — but almost turned on each other.Historian Tim Bouverie joins Why Wars Happened to expose the secret rivalries, betrayals, and mistrust that nearly shattered the Allied powers during WWII. Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt — the alliance was never as solid as you were told.⏱ Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened00:49 – Meet today’s guest: Tim Bouverie01:10 – What Allies at War is all about01:42 – Stalin, Roosevelt, Churchill—and their complicated ties04:31 – U.S.–Britain relations before the war08:49 – How the Allied powers worked (and clashed)12:53 – Seeing the war from Stalin’s point of view24:08 – The Yalta Conference: what was really going on29:09 – Wrapping it all up#WWII #AlliedPowers #Churchill #Stalin #Roosevelt #WhyWarsHappened

What’s it like to command a war you can’t control?General George Casey Jr., former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, pulls back the curtain on the Iraq War — the decisions, the chaos, and the lessons the military didn’t want you to see.⏱ Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened00:50 – Meet General George Casey01:32 – Role & responsibilities of the U.S. Army Chief of Staff04:50 – How the Army transformed post-9/1109:12 – The 2008 Operations Field Manual13:02 – Casey’s command during the Iraq War14:49 – Living in a VUCA world18:40 – Future Combat Systems Program22:36 – Reflections on 9/11 & Iraq34:25 – Closing thoughts#IraqWar #USArmy #MilitarySecrets #GeneralCasey #WhyWarsHappened

They jumped into darkness with almost no chance of survival.Bestselling author James Donovan joins Why Wars Happened to reveal the untold story of the 82nd Airborne on D-Day — chaos, courage, and the impossible mission that made victory possible.⏱ Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened01:08 – The 82nd Airborne’s D-Day mission03:34 – Strategic importance of bridges05:53 – Challenges & obstacles09:55 – The chaotic night jump14:43 – Eisenhower’s contingency letter19:26 – Battle of the Bulge connections20:17 – Casualties & courage22:37 – Leadership of Ridgeway & Gavin26:59 – Training & initiative31:59 – Lafayette Bridge assault35:15 – Legacy & remembrance37:03 – Donovan’s research & connection#DDay #82ndAirborne #WWII #Paratroopers #MilitaryHistory #WhyWarsHappened

A single code cracked. A single battle turned the war.Bestselling author Martin Dugard joins Why Wars Happened to take you inside the Battle of Midway — code-breaking, naval showdowns, and the fight that changed the Pacific forever.⏱ Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened00:52 – Meet Martin Dugard01:22 – The success of the Killing series03:47 – Writing cinematic history06:39 – Strategic importance of Midway10:32 – Japan’s expansion & resource needs12:12 – Churchill’s risky WWII moves15:54 – Admiral Chester Nimitz: Risk taker17:38 – The power of code-breaking20:02 – Admiral Yamamoto’s strategy22:52 – Key moments of the Battle of Midway26:21 – U.S. vs Japanese military tactics27:54 – American production advantage29:50 – Future projects31:40 – Conclusion#BattleOfMidway #WWII #PacificWar #CodeBreaking #WhyWarsHappened

Before Braveheart, the real fight for Scotland was even bloodier.Historian Michael Brown (University of St. Andrews) joins Why Wars Happened to uncover the shocking truth about the Wars of Independence — Wallace, Robert the Bruce, brutal battles, plagues, and the birth of the Stewart dynasty. This isn’t just legend — it’s the story of freedom, identity, and survival.⏱ Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened00:48 – Meet Michael Brown01:20 – Scotland in the 13th century02:02 – Language & identity shifts03:35 – Population & clans07:22 – Lords & nobles in Scotland11:34 – Anglo-Scottish conflicts14:10 – Challenges of research16:51 – Debates in Scottish history19:21 – Internal change in the 13th–14th c.23:06 – Agriculture, plague & colonization25:08 – Warfare & population shifts26:38 – Robert the Bruce’s tactics28:03 – “What if” scenarios32:37 – The rise of the Stewarts34:59 – Misconceptions about Scotland38:17 – Conclusion#ScottishHistory #WilliamWallace #RobertTheBruce #Scotland #MedievalHistory #WhyWarsHappened

Weapons that didn’t exist. Myths that fueled invasion. Secrets from inside the White House.Journalist Robert Draper (NYT, To Start a War) reveals how Bush’s team pushed America into Iraq — the intelligence failures, the power struggles, and the legacy still haunting U.S. policy.⏱ Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened00:49 – Robert Draper & his access to sources02:32 – The Gulf War’s impact on 200306:17 – WMDs & the Iraq Survey Group15:40 – Saddam Hussein & Al-Qaeda myths21:38 – Post-war planning conflicts27:12 – The legacy of the Iraq War28:57 – Conclusion#IraqWar #BushAdministration #WMDs #RobertDraper #WhyWarsHappened

He was in the room when the invasion was planned.Colonel Kevin Benson takes us inside Operation Iraqi Freedom — the war games, the chaos, and why “catastrophic success” became the Army’s nightmare phrase.⏱ Timestamps00:00 – Introduction to Why Wars Happened00:45 – Meet Colonel Kevin Benson01:30 – Operation Iraqi Freedom overview04:52 – Challenges & planning the Iraq War08:11 – Naming operations & historical context09:31 – Colonel Benson’s military career17:52 – Impact of 9/11 on operations20:28 – Logistics & planning complexities27:19 – Introduction to “Snowflakes”30:35 – Tactical execution challenges31:50 – War gaming & adjustments41:13 – Exit strategy & post-war planning44:07 – Catastrophic success explained49:52 – Final reflections#IraqWar #OperationIraqiFreedom #MilitarySecrets #USArmy #WhyWarsHappened

For one week, the world stood seconds from nuclear war.Bestselling author Jeff Shaara joins Why Wars Happened to expose the CIA failures, backchannel deals, and hidden plots that defined the Cuban Missile Crisis — the closest we’ve ever come to the end.⏱ Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened00:46 – Meet Jeff Shaara (The Shadow of War)03:32 – The Bay of Pigs: Prelude to crisis06:55 – The Cuban Missile Crisis begins09:06 – Cold War context & public fear12:33 – Eisenhower vs. Kennedy15:15 – Soviet dynamics after Stalin17:43 – The “winnable war” perspective18:08 – Khrushchev’s balancing act19:02 – The aftermath20:25 – Operation Mongoose (CIA plots)22:49 – Berlin’s role in the Cold War28:38 – The secret treaty revealed30:01 – Closing thoughts#CubanMissileCrisis #ColdWar #JFK #NuclearHistory #WhyWarsHappened

The Declaration nearly collapsed before it was signed.Historian Tom McMillan joins Why Wars Happened to reveal the secret debates, bitter fights, and forgotten figures behind 1776. It wasn’t destiny — it was chaos, compromise, and near failure.⏱ Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened00:48 – Meet historian Tom McMillan01:48 – The American Revolution: setting the stage02:59 – Declaration of Independence: complexities & controversies06:31 – Key figures: Adams, Jefferson, Dickinson15:21 – The votes leading to independence23:01 – Researching sources & challenges27:06 – Richard Henry Lee’s forgotten legacy29:54 – Jefferson & Adams’ roles in shaping the Declaration39:08 – Editing the Declaration of Independence43:31 – Upcoming book projects & reflections#1776 #DeclarationOfIndependence #FoundingFathers #AmericanRevolution #WhyWarsHappened