Roman Revisionism and the Crisis of the American Republic Gaius and Germanicus discuss the 21st-century revisionism of Rome, which they find entertaining, noting that it presents figures like Domitian as successful and Nero as misunderstood. They counter

Revenge Lawfare, Roman Precedents, and the Threat of Civil Conflict The Friends of History Debating Society discusses "lawfare," described as a simple, high-stakes political conflict where failure to "kill the king" results in logical retaliation. The con

The American Empire, Israeli Ethos, and the Carthaginian Peace Gaius (John Batchelor) and Germanicus (Michael Vlahos) discuss the enduring influence of the Roman Empire on the American Empire. Their immediate topic is the situation in Gaza, which Gaius de

2: . The Snowy Egret and Emperor Penguin: Conservation, Fashion, and Climate Crisis AUTHOR: Stephen Moss BOOK TITLE: 10 Birds That Changed the World This final excerpt discusses the slaughter of the Snowy Egret for its feathers during the 19th-century "plum

2: 7. The Tree Sparrow: Mao's Folly and the Emu Wars AUTHOR: Stephen Moss BOOK TITLE: 10 Birds That Changed the World This excerpt details Mao's 1958 "Four Vermin" campaign targeting the Tree Sparrow. Mao ordered the sparrows killed, believing they consumed

2: 6. The Cormorant and the Guano Trade: Wealth, Exploitation, and Intensive Farming AUTHOR: Stephen Moss BOOK TITLE: 10 Birds That Changed the World This section covers Cormorant guano, a highly prized fertilizer known to the Incas. In the 19th century, shi

2: 5. The Raven: Mythology, Intelligence, and Return AUTHOR: Stephen Moss BOOK TITLE: 10 Birds That Changed the World This excerpt examines the large, highly intelligent Raven (a crow on steroids). Its deep mythology stretches from the earliest civilizations

2: 4. The Dodo: Icon of Extinction and Conservation Inspiration AUTHOR: Stephen Moss BOOK TITLE: 10 Birds That Changed the World This section focuses on the Dodo, which became the icon of extinction. It went extinct on Mauritius within about 80 years after E

2: 3. Darwin's Finches, Evolution, and Avian Intelligence AUTHOR: Stephen Moss BOOK TITLE: 10 Birds That Changed the World This excerpt addresses the myth that Darwin immediately understood evolution from the Galapagos Finches; he actually focused on pigeons

2: 2. The Pigeon: The Great Communicator and War Hero AUTHOR: Stephen Moss BOOK TITLE: 10 Birds That Changed the World This excerpt focuses on the Pigeon, describing it as the "great communicator" due to its extraordinary ability to always go home, a skill e

2: 1. The Wild Turkey and the Bald Eagle: Symbolism and History AUTHOR: Stephen Moss BOOK TITLE: 10 Birds That Changed the World This excerpt introduces the book and discusses the Wild Turkey, noting its reestablishment in New England and its domestication i

4. Heroism Without Orders and the Last Stand AUTHOR NAME: Admiral James Stavridis, United States Navy (Retired) BOOK TITLE: To Risk It All: Nine Conflicts and the Crucible of Decision This segment emphasizes extreme courage. Cook Third Class Doris "Dorie"

3. Detaching Emotion and Adapting Plans Mid-Action AUTHOR NAME: Admiral James Stavridis, United States Navy (Retired) BOOK TITLE: To Risk It All: Nine Conflicts and the Crucible of Decision Key lessons include not getting emotionally involved, quoting The

2. Evaluating Resources and Focusing on Personnel AUTHOR NAME: Admiral James Stavridis, United States Navy (Retired) BOOK TITLE: To Risk It All: Nine Conflicts and the Crucible of Decision The discussion focuses on evaluating resources and considering peo

1. Gathering Intelligence and Weighing Consequences AUTHOR NAME: Admiral James Stavridis, United States Navy (Retired) BOOK TITLE: To Risk It All: Nine Conflicts and the Crucible of Decision This segment covers leadership lessons: gathering intelligence a

8. Blockade vs. Invasion: Ending the Pacific War and Post-War Command AUTHOR: Professor Craig Symonds BOOK TITLE: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay Nimitz and King opposed the planned invasion of the Japanese home islands

7. Kamikazes, Typhoons, and the Unstoppable Halsey AUTHOR: Professor Craig Symonds BOOK TITLE: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay Admiral Halsey recklessly navigated his fleet through two major typhoons (December 1944 and Jun

6. Spruance vs. Halsey: Priorities at the Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf AUTHOR: Professor Craig Symonds BOOK TITLE: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay During the Battle of the Philippine Sea ("Turkey Shoot") supporting the Ma

5. Tarawa, Towers' Rivalry, and the Kwajalein Calculated Risk AUTHOR: Professor Craig Symonds BOOK TITLE: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay The Central Pacific campaign began with the bloody amphibious landing at Tarawa in N

4. The Aggressive Commander: Nimitz Appoints Bull Halsey AUTHOR: Professor Craig Symonds BOOK TITLE: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay Perceiving that Admiral Ghormley was too cautious and in poor health, Nimitz replaced him