History That Doesn't Suck

Prof. Greg Jackson

HTDS is a bi-weekly podcast, delivering a legit, seriously researched, hard-hitting survey of American history through entertaining stories. To keep up with History That Doesn’t Suck news, check us out htdspodcast.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram: @Historythatdoesntsuck; on Twitter/X: @HTDSpod. Become a premium member to support our work, receive ad-free episodes and bonus episodes.

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Top 10 History That Doesn't Suck Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best History That Doesn't Suck episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to History That Doesn't Suck for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite History That Doesn't Suck episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

115: History–Doomed to Repeat It? A Conversation with Lindsay Graham

History That Doesn't Suck

07/18/22 • 54 min

The Legendary podcaster and composer (but not US Senator) Lindsay Graham is a dear friend of HTDS and an integral part of the podcast's sound. Today, he gets behind the mic with the Prof. to interrogate the oft-repeated adage "those who don't study history are doomed to repeat it."

So ... is it true? Centering the conversation around our current HTDS period (Gilded Age and into the Progressive Era) while pulling from various philosophers and thinkers (Hegel, Twain, Churchill, Santayana, and more), Lindsay and Greg dig in.

By the way, we're big fans of Lindsay's many podcasts, and Greg has contributed to a few of them as a guest or historical consultant! To check out Lindsay's many narrated history and historical drama podcasts go to https://airship.fm/

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4 Listeners

0: Preamble

History That Doesn't Suck

09/26/17 • 4 min

I the Professor, in order to give you a more perfect podcast, establish my goals, insure you know who I am, provide for your common entertainment, promote a generally historical education, and do ordain and establish this little five-minute intro episode for History that Doesn't Suck.

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3 Listeners

2: Patrick Henry and Boston Get Pissed about Taxes

History That Doesn't Suck

09/30/17 • 60 min

"Treason!"

This is the story of Virginia's Patrick Henry. He is a dangerous combination: young, idealistic, and persuasive. Patrick has a silver tongue that's going to light up some serious American furry against the Stamp Act. Boston's going to light up with these ideas, too ... but also ... with fire. Actual, real, fire.

This Second Edition episode is a rewritten, rerecorded, and remastered version of the original episode that aired on September 29, 2017. Head to HTDSpodcast.com to find out how to listen to the original.

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3 Listeners

1: That One Time When George Washington Sort of Triggered an International War

History That Doesn't Suck

09/28/17 • 69 min

"[He] washed his hands with the brains."

This is the story of a 22-year-old George Washington as commander of a 400-man army fighting the French. We'll also hear about his childhood, the deaths, backcountry experience, and finagling, that bring George--who's untrained, inexperienced, too young, and completely Outgunned--to this moment. He fails. Miserably. But not without triggering a war between France and Britain that will change the American colonies' relationship to the British Crown forever.

This Second Edition episode is a rewritten, rerecorded, and remastered version of the original episode that aired on September 27, 2017. Head to HTDSpodcast.com to find out how to listen to the original.

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go deep into episode bibliographies and book recommendations
join discussions in our Facebook community
get news and discounts from The HTDS Gazette
come see a live show
get HTDS merch
or become an HTDS premium member for bonus episodes and other perks.

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3 Listeners

5: "Delenda est Bostonia:" a Congress, Paul Rides, & the First Shot at Lexington

History That Doesn't Suck

11/01/17 • 67 min

"Lay down your arms, you damned rebels, or you are all dead men."

This is the story of the First Continental Congress and the build-up to the Battle of Lexington and Concord. Delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies air their grievances against Parliament, and it doesn't go well. Paul Revere goes for a ride. Rather than making it to Concord, he gets to listen to soldiers threaten to "blow his brains out." The next morning, shots are fired at Lexington. War is here. British America will never be the same.

This Second Edition episode is a rewritten, rerecorded, and remastered version of the original episode that aired on October 31, 2017. Head to HTDSpodcast.com to find out how to listen to the original.

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Connect with us on HTDSpodcast.com and

go deep into episode bibliographies and book recommendations
join discussions in our Facebook community
get news and discounts from The HTDS Gazette
come see a live show
get HTDS merch
or become an HTDS premium member for bonus episodes and other perks.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2 Listeners

158: Prohibition - So You Wanna Be a Rum Runner?

History That Doesn't Suck

06/17/24 • 58 min

“You’re Bill McCoy.” “Never heard of him.”

This is the story of a crazy decade-plus when America outlawed booze...but the liquor kept flowing.

The Prohibition era marks a partial return to the Golden Age of Piracy, with bootleggers frequenting old haunts in the Caribbean, including Nassau, capital of The Bahamas. These sailors are also buying, selling, and drinking copious amounts of—you guessed it—rum. But how does all this booze get from the Bahamas to speakeasies in New York?

William “Bill” McCoy is a legendary rumrunner, one of the best. He’ll be our captain as we explore Nassau’s offerings, buy from the Bootleg Queen of The Bahamas, Gertrude “Cleo” Lythgoe and set out on a 1923 voyage up “Rum Row” to New York, carefully avoiding the actual pirates and the US Coast Guard. Once we square away a buyer, we’ll take our haul to shore with Maisie Manders and enjoy a few well-earned drinks in Manhattan. All aboard!

Connect with us on HTDSpodcast.com and

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come see a live show
get HTDS merch
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2 Listeners

4: "Boston Harbor A Tea-Pot This Night:" The Boston Tea Party

History That Doesn't Suck

10/17/17 • 60 min

"We have only been making a little salt-water tea."

This is the story of the Boston Tea Party. The East India Company and the needs of the global British Empire are intertwined, and Parliament wants the American colonies to help foot the bill by drinking the company's tea. The East India Company sends its tea to America on seven ships. Four head to Boston. Three will make it. To be clear: the ships make it. The tea won't.

This Second Edition episode is a rewritten, rerecorded, and remastered version of the original episode that aired on October 16, 2017. Head to HTDSpodcast.com to find out how to listen to the original.

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Connect with us on HTDSpodcast.com and

go deep into episode bibliographies and book recommendations
join discussions in our Facebook community
get news and discounts from The HTDS Gazette
come see a live show
get HTDS merch
or become an HTDS premium member for bonus episodes and other perks.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2 Listeners

12: An American Judas Betrays & Nathanael Greene Saves!

History That Doesn't Suck

02/13/18 • 65 min

“Arnold has betrayed us! Whom can we trust now?”

This isn’t a story of betrayal; this is the story of betrayal. After half a decade of giving his all for the Patriot cause, Benedict Arnold becomes America’s Judas Iscariot. He betrays his brothers-in-arms for a commission in the British army and cold hard cash (even more than 30 pieces of silver). Meanwhile, Lord Cornwallis has Georgia and South Carolina well in hand. Now his sights are set on North Carolina and maybe even Virginia! Can anyone stop him? When all else fails ... send the Quaker. Welcome to the South, Nathanael Greene.

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Connect with us on HTDSpodcast.com and

go deep into episode bibliographies and book recommendations
join discussions in our Facebook community
get news and discounts from The HTDS Gazette
come see a live show
get HTDS merch
or become an HTDS premium member for bonus episodes and other perks.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2 Listeners

160: Al Capone & the End of Prohibition

History That Doesn't Suck

07/15/24 • 65 min

“Only Capone kills like that.”

This is the story of the rise and fall of Al Capone, and the last gasps of Prohibition.

No other gangster compares to Scarface. He’s remained prominent in the American consciousness for 100 years due to his overt violence and lavish lifestyle, funded by *ahem* unsavory business practices. He brazenly orders murders like the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, but he also doesn’t hesitate to get his own hands dirty when it comes to traitors. Capone seems to have jumped onto the mob scene ready-made, cutting his teeth on hustling New York shoeshine boys as a teenager. The consummate crime lord rises to the top of Chicago’s seething criminal underworld at just 26 years old, and boy, does he excel. He’s raking in millions from an unholy combination of alcohol sales, brothels, gambling halls, etc.

The well-dressed mafioso looks invincible, but Chicago’s “untouchables” (clean cops) are doing their best to bring Capone down. However, even though he’s taken to court, he’s got most of the Chicago police force in his pocket and witnesses keep disappearing—is it such a stretch to think that he’ll walk? And can the courts make the charges stick to this bootlegger when there’s talk of repealing Prohibition?

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