Conservative Historian
History is too important to be left to the left. The Conservative Historian provides history governed by conservative principles. It is comprehensively researched but also entertainingly presented in a way accessible to history or non history buffs.
Episodes
Columbus vs Indigenous Peoples Day
Send us Fan MailOriginally posted in 2024, our take on this "crazy" Woke 1.0 controversy
Golden History and Gold Today
Send us Fan MailWith my guest Jeremy Cordon of Goldbacks, we touch on gold in ancient and medieval history, but then fast forward to the Gold Standard, inflation and today's economy. Goldback.com
The Historical Illusion of Warren Buffett
Send us Fan MailThe world's greatest investor just retired. What can he teach us about investing and life? The answers are mixed.
The Ancient Times in Movies
Send us Fan MailJoined by my brother Chris, we explore ancient times through the movies. Ben Hur, Gladiator, Ten Commandments and Alexander all get commentary.
Forging A National Identity: From the States to America
Send us Fan MailWe look at the forces including the Civil War, Industry, Labor and Gov Reform that changed the country from a collection of states to the United States of America.
The Top Ten Dumbest Words in Our Dumb Political World
Send us Fan MailInfluencer? Activist? Free? We look at terms in our politics that are making our nation more stupid.
Coining History: A View of the Past through Coinage
Send us Fan MailWe are joined on the podcast by Dean Kinzer, an expert in ancient coins. Dean lays out how coins can be a guide of history. We go from Rome of the Kings all the way to Constantine the Great. Notes:kinzercoins.comAncient Coin Hour Podcast: open.spotify.com/show/1buAVE6eBf8Q6heObi5h9T
The Origins of Labor Day
Send us Fan MailWe look at the beginnings of Labor Day and what it means for our nation today.
A History of Astronomy
Send us Fan MailWe look at the study of the cosmos moving from Aristotle to Ptolemy, from Al Tusi to Kepler and Galileo, from Herschal to Hubble and finish with modern Astronomy.
The So Called Robber Barons
Send us Fan MailWe go to late 19th Century America and look at the Captains of Industry. Were they exploitative villains or builders of America's future?
Sitcoms as History
Send us Fan MailIs it fair to use sitcoms from 40 years ago as a marker of our history, and comparison with affordability today? We explore using Married With Children, Roseanne, The Cosby Show and Brady Bunch.
The Seleucids and Alexander's Legacy
Send us Fan MailWe look at the largest of the successor (Diadochi) kingdoms built after the death of Alexander. A mixed legacy of west meets east but also ending in ignominy. Show notes:Antiochus the Great by Michael Taylor
Hidden History - Revealed!
Send us Fan MailWe talk with Jeremy Ryan Slate the founder of the Hidden Forces in History and Roman Pattern podcasts about Romans such as Aurelian, English Kings Henry V and VII, what we can learn today from Roman decline. Notes: Ronald Syme: The Roman Revolution
Five Historical Movies that Should be Made Today
Send us Fan MailWe travel from 24th Century BC Akkad to the Napoleonic Era looking for good subjects worthy of portrayal. Sargon, St. Louis and Nelson all make appearances.
Two-fer: Directors and Actors who Made More than One Historical Movie
Send us Fan MailWe look at Spielberg/Hanks, Ford/Wayne, Lean/Guinness and reluctantly Griffiths/Gish to view historical movies where a director and actor collaborated more than once.
Wickedness in the White House: A History of Presidential Financial Corruption
Send us Fan MailWe take a walk through presidential history to ID financial chicanery in the executive branch
Roping History
Send us Fan MailWe are joined on the podcast by Tim Queeney, author of Rope: How a Bundle of Twisted Fibers Became the Backbone of Civilization. We travel from the stone age to Egypt, Polynesia, the Age of Sail and even go to Mars.
250 Years and Counting: The Birth of American Independence
Send us Fan MailWe explore the 4th of July Holiday and on this, the 250th anniversary of our nation, all of the meanings of that great day.
250 Years and Counting: What Would the Founders Think of America Today?
Send us Fan MailWe look at modern America and hear from the Founders about what they would think of America 250 years after the new nation was born.
250 Years and Counting: Why the American Revolution was Special
Send us Fan MailWe look at who was leading the American Revolution, what motivated them, and the principles upon which they built the nation.
The Obama Library (sorry) Center Accurately Represents its Subject
Send us Fan MailWe look at the Obama (checks notes) Center and revisit its namesake's legacy.
Quirky Historical Movies
Send us Fan MailMy brother Chris joins the podcast for quirky historical movies and we look at Imitation Game, Hugo, and Col. Blimp. We also speculate on whether Elon Musk has scheduled blood transfusions.
Negotiable Nonsense: Do Most Major Conflicts End with Negotiation?
Send us Fan MailVP JD Vance noted this week that WW2 ended with a negotiation. Also "most major" conflicts did. We look to the historical record to test this contention.
250 Years and Counting: The Top Eleven Events that Defined American Greatness
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Gerrymandering and Uncapping the House: A Discussion with Jeff Mayhugh
Send us Fan MailJeff Mayhugh (projectnocap.com) comes back on the show to talk about how a larger, uncapped House of Representatives would help with gerrymandering, and a host of other ills.
Lyndon Johnson and the Limits of Progressivism: A Critique of the Great Society
Send us Fan MailWe look at LBJ's Great Society and determine its legacy.
Memorial Day: A History
Send us Fan MailEvery year I repost this episode at this time. A history of the holiday that honors those whose sacrifice made all of this possible.
Diocletian: Opportunist or Savior Emperor
Send us Fan MailWe look at the career of Diocletian to determine the effectiveness of his reign and reforms.
Frenemy Kings: Richard the Lionheart and Philip Augustus
Send us Fan MailWe travel to late 12th century Europe and meet two kings who started as allies and ended as bitter enemies. Their rivalry changed Western European history.
Stuck Up: Getting Caught in the War Trap
Send us Fan MailWe explore wars ranging from the American Revolution to the current situation in Iran and explore how nations get stuck.
Bacon's Rebellion: An Interview with Jack Henneman
Send us Fan MailWe are joined on the podcast by Jack Henneman, founder of the History of the Americans Podcast. We discuss Bacon's Rebellion and Colonial Virginia and a few other topics.
Cato and Caesar: Reform, Rigidity and One Person Rule
Send us Fan MailCato and Caesar were there at the end of the Roman Republic. We look at the both men to try to gain insights into the end of an era.
Antioch: Crossroads of Empire
Send us Fan MailWe begin with the founding of Antioch in 300 BC and to its last major sacking in 1268 AD, and all points in between.
Lord Liverpool: The Napoleonic Era and Beyond
Send us Fan MailOur guest is Prof. William Anthony Hay, author of Lord Liverpool: A Political Life. We discuss the Napoleonic Era and afterwards from a British perspective.
No Kings: Incoherent and a Failure
Send us Fan MailWe look at the the purpose, or non purpose, of the No Kings protests.
A Brief History of Easter
Send us Fan MailWe explore the Jewish, pagan, and Christian roots of the holiday of Easter.
Charles II: The Paradoxical King
Send us Fan MailWe meet Charles II of the English Restoration. His life was the paradox of the Merry Monarch and a strategic, serious ruler.
Paul Erlich and the Willful Ignorance of History
Send us Fan MailWe look at Malthus, Erlich and Human prosperity in this episode.
Oscar 2026
Send us Fan MailJoined by my brother Chris, we look at the Oscar race and wondering if politically correct positions and attractive actresses uglying themselves up is the path to victory.
The Top Ten Greatest Generals of All Time
Send us Fan MailWe go through every war and and general in history and choose the greatest based on battlefield brilliance, army build and strategic genius.
American Presidents on Film: A Review of Executive Branch Cinema
Send us Fan MailWe look at movies ranging from Young Mr. Lincoln to ... Lincoln. From Fail Safe to The American President.
The Wars of the Roses Part II: The Limits of Loyalty
Send us Fan MailWe explore the 2nd half of The Wars of the Roses and meet with a host of disloyal figures including Warwick, Stanley, Clarence and most of all, Richard III
The Wars of the Roses Part I: The Limits of Kingship
Send us Fan MailWe begin our exploration of the English Wars of the Roses noting that they emanated from the rule, or misrule, of the weak King Henry VI.
Outfoxing the British and Hunting Gangsters: A discussion of Two Books with John Oller
Send us Fan MailWe have a conservation with John Oller, author of The Swamp Fox, a book about Francis Marion, and Gangster Hunters, about the 1930s FBI.
Casting Away: Selecting the Best Actors for Historical Movie Roles
Send us Fan MailWe wade into the current Helen of Troy in Nolan's Odyssey debate to discuss the diverse casting for selected movie roles.
Government by Theater Kids
Send us Fan MailWe look at the role of performance in government going back to the Egyptians, Akkadians and fast forwarding to FDR.
Rational Policy in an Irrational World: An Interview with Mike Coté
Send us Fan MailMike Coté of Rational Policy joins the podcast. We discuss current US policy regarding Greenland, Venezuela and China - and also have a shout out to Henry VIII. See Mike's blog and podcast - www.rationalpolicy.comRecent Mike articles: nationalreview.com/2025/07/why-the-iranian-regime-is-still-uniquely-dangerousprovidencemag.com/2025/12/the-case-for-interdicting-sanctions-evad
Revisiting the Monroe Doctrine
Send us Fan MailIn the light of the capture of Nicholas Maduro, we explore the original intention of the Monroe Doctrine, what it later became, and what such a doctrine means for America today.
The Comeback Kids: Seven Historical Figures Who Were Down but Came Back
Send us Fan MailWe go from Edward IV of England to Mohammad to Gaius Marius to find historical figures who made impressive comebacks.
The Dates of Christmas
Send us Fan MailIn this episode we explore the date of Jesus' birth and what keeping Christmas means.
Yi Sun-Sin: The Greatest Admiral of all Time?
Send us Fan MailWe explore a towering figure of naval warfare and ask whether he stands atop all of history's admirals.
Freedom to Choose: How Milton Friedman Saved Capitalism
Send us Fan MailWe look at one of the towering figures of conservativism and explore whether his policies would work today.
Thankfulness and Thanksgiving
Send us Fan MailWhat is Thanksgiving really about? We explore on this episode. And Happy Thanksgiving America!
The Mirror, the Window and the Anchor: A Conservative Stand
Send us Fan MailIn one of of the most important podcasts I have ever done, this provides a clear outline of conservatism against that of the left, and other right wing ideologies. It also illustrates a way forward for our nation.
Exorcising the Movies: A Look at 1970s Cinema compared to the 80s
Send us Fan MailJoined by my brother Chris for a look at what made 70s movie unique, and what ended that period.
A History of American Government Shutdowns
Send us Fan MailWe go back to the 1980s, and before, to see the root causes of shutdowns and look at 1996, 2013 and 2018 versions.
It's a Long Road to the Top If You Wanna Rock and Rule: Ten Rulers who Rose from Nothing
Send us Fan MailWe go from peasant Liu Bang to peasant Diocletian to explore rulers who rose to the Top.
The Holy Roman States of America
Send us Fan MailWe look at the complexity of the Holy Roman Empire, its dispersal of power and need to compromise, and compare it with the United States government of today.
Warrior Spirit: What Pete Hegseth Got Right and Wrong in his Big Speech
Send us Fan MailWe look at recent DOD Secretary Pete Hegseth's big speech on the warrior ethos through the prism of history.
Repairing the House: Jeff Mayhugh and the Effort to Add Representation to Congress
Send us Fan MailWe feature Jeff Mayhugh of the No Cap Fund who discusses the history of Congress, and his efforts to expand the House of Representatives to make it more, well, representative. To learn more about the No Cap Fund please
My Plan for Fixing our Historic Debt and Deficit: Let the Madness Begin
Send us Fan MailMy fellow Americans, arm yourselves with pitchforks and torches as I unveil a way to close our $1.7 trillion deficit and try to pay down the debt.
Bad Apples: A History of Government Run Grocery Stores
Send us Fan MailWe take a look at gov. run groceries in the US, and other nations, and at the grocery business itself to discover whether it is a good idea. Hint, it is not.
What is Conservatism: A Discussion with Josh Lewis
Send us Fan MailJosh Lewis, founder and publisher of the Saving Elephants podcast, a show that brings conservatism to the Millennials, joins us for a discussion about conservatism, congress and Chester Arthur.
Lost Cause, Lost Minds: A History of the Origins of the Civil War – Part Two
Send us Fan MailWe continue our series on the origins of the Civil War taking a look at the society of the South and the States Rights vs. Slavery Arguments
Lost Cause, Lost Minds: A History of the Origins of the Civil War – Part One
Send us Fan MailWe explore the recent upsurge of support for the old Confederacy and provide arguments about the origins of the Civil War
Conservative Historian Bookshelf - Volume 3
Send us Fan MailWe explore books about the Roman Republic, Colonial America, England, the Ancient Greeks and more.
Drunk Cinema: A History of Movies about Alcoholics
Send us Fan MailJoined by my brother Chris, we look at movies ranging from the Lost Weekend to Arthur to When a Man Loves a Woman.
Top 10 Historical Upgrades: Nations whose Rulers Went from Zero to Hero
Send us Fan MailWe look at ancient Egypt, Rome and China, Medieval Europe and Modern America to find the best leader upgrades.
A Critique of the Leftist View of History
Send us Fan Mail We hear from Professor Eric Heinze who expresses both his praise, but also provides a critique of the leftist approach to history. Heinze goes after traditional history but does not spare the left over lack of historical criticism of Soviet, Cambodian and Cuban regimes.
Top 10 Historical Downgrades: Going from Good Leaders to Terrible, Awful Ones
Send us Fan MailWe go from Akbar to Washington to Edward I, and their ignoble successors.
The Luddites: Fear of Technology in 19th Century Britain
Send us Fan MailAI? Robots? Machine Learning? Fear of technology is not new. We go to 19th century Britain to meet the Luddites, a group who also experienced technological change.
A History of Protests
Send us Fan MailWe begin by exploring protests in the ancient world, stop in Medieval England, and come to the present day. We also explore the mindset of protests today.
Giving Up Power: Presidents Who Did not Run Again
Send us Fan MailWe look at six presidents who chose not to seek another term including Joe Biden. What were the motivations and decision drivers.
(Nathanael) Greene New Deal
Send us Fan MailWe talk with Salina Baker, author of The Line of Splendor, a historical novel about Nathanael Greene. We explore the general's life and the Revolutionary War.
Ancient Alexandria and Modern LA: Riotous Behaviors
Send us Fan MailWe compare and contrast riots in Ancient Alexandria with modern Los Angeles, including the current unrest.
Growing up in the Depression and the War Years: Recollections of a Different Era
Send us Fan MailWe hear from a man who was born in 1932 about what life was like in 1930s and 1940s America.
Memorial Day 2025
Send us Fan MailIt is vital as a nation that we honor and remember those whose sacrifice has given all that we have.
Wars of the Lord: Religion and Conflict in Colonial America
Send us Fan MailWe are joined on the podcast by Prof. Matt Tuininga. We discuss a critical aspect of Early American history, the conflict of New England puritans and the native Americans in the region.
A History of Bribes and Trump’s Palace in the Sky
Send us Fan MailWe go back to the Egyptians, Popes, and even some American scandals to see bribery history and then explore whether the Qatari "gift" of a jet is a bribe.
The Roots of the Imperial Presidency
Send us Fan MailWhat has Congress done in the past four months? Now, what has the executive tried to do? This is an illustration of a century long process of power to the executive. We trace this evolution's historical roots.
