Hard Fried History

What were the major causes of the collapse of the Napoleonic empire? What happens when a nation that could be considered "too big to fail" fails anyway? In our conclusion of our French affair, we cover the devastation of Napoleon's war in Spain, his ruinous march to Moscow, the snuffed flame of Waterloo and his remaining days in exile.  

How did Napoleon and the armies of France build the Continental system? In this episode we explore the Eastward expansion of the Napoleonic empire, covering topics such as Napoleon's early conflicts with the papacy, the Battle of Austerlitz and the early origins of the "Spanish ulcer." 

How did the French Revolution shape Napoleon Bonaparte's view on effective governance? What exactly are the origins of the 'Corsican Ogre?' In this episode we begin the second installment of our six-part series, discussing Napoleon's beginnings, his place within the French Revolution, the Italian campaign and the coup of Brumaire, commonly cited as the end of the Revolution itself. 

What were the worst abuses of the French Revolution? Why were Revolutionary champions such as Danton and Robespierre not ultimately immune from the guillotine? Are there ever noble-enough ends to justify excessive means? This week we explore these topics in the conclusion of our series on the French Revolution, covering the decisions leading up to the Great Terror, the formation of the Committee of Public Safety and what finally undid (consecrated?) the Revolution itself. 

After the initial upheaval, how are revolutions navigated? What forms do effective dissent take? Is the term 'mob-rule' necessarily synonymous with 'majority-rule'? In this episode, Henry and Josh continue their examination of the French Revolution following the fall of the Bastille and the arming of the citizens, glancing at the French attempt to create a new constitution, the organization and then polarization of the ascendent under-class and the rise of a group of idealists known as the Jacobins. 

How do we know for sure when a nation is definitively and indisputably beyond redemption? What are some large portents or warning signs that indicate a country is on its last legs? In sum, how are revolutions built? Josh and Henry RETURN from their hiatus with the first in a three-part installment covering the rise and fall of French Revolution, discussing in this episode the social and economic factors that led up to the storming of the Bastille, including France's fiscal shortcomings, a widespread disbelief in competency of the ruling class and, to top it all off, a food crisis. 

Who were the Amazonian women of ancient Greek legend? This week we kick off Women's History Month with a look at the warrior women of the surrounding Black Sea region, what the most recent archeological record has borne as well as a few notable Amazons in myth and in history.

In this episode we discuss the most decorated unit of WW1: The Harlem Hellfighters, who battled the Germans and brought Jazz to Europe during the era of Jim Crow segregation. We are joined by Tre Tutson, a comedian from Texas and soon to be a national name. Remember to Like, follow and share!

On this episode we discuss The Songhai Empire and its formation under the Mali Empire, Its internal conflicts that led to dynastic changes and the Invasion of the Pasha Moor army which destroyed the empire and threw Sub Saharan West Africa into turmoil just in time for the Atlantic Slave Trade.

Henry E Price wrote this - So you wanna be a baller? Shot caller? Worship and praise in the name of Allah? (It works better if you sing it in your head, phonix not phonetics). THIS WEEK we examine the reign of Mansa Musa, primarily discussing the details of his famous Hajj to Mecca, his reasons for undertaking this venture, the actual status of his finances and the Mali naval expedition off the coast of the Atlantic.

We're Back! In this episode we discuss the myths surrounding the creation of Medieval Ghana, the Gold Trade and the Epic of Sundiata - The Forrest Gump/Lion King/George Washington/King Arthur/Tom Brady of Mali.   

#Comedy #History #Funny #ForestGump #KingArthur #Georgewashington #Mali #TheLionKing #TomBrady

What did WW2-era Japan have in common with Sunny D? They both unleashed the power of the sun. THIS WEEK! In honor of the upcoming 80th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack, Josh, Henry and itinerant funny-man Tim Williams dive as deep as possible into the series of events leading up to this most infamous of days. Within, we cover topics such as the Emperor's active involvement in war preparations, the character of the escalating tensions between Japan and the US and the rawest nature of duel-track diplomacy. 

Exactly how was American Reconstruction bungled? Join us as we explore the question through the last thirty six years of Frederick Douglass' life, examining his role during the Civil War, the minor-league coup's launched during Reconstruction itself and the social causes advocated by Douglass up until the end of his life. 

What's the biggest personal obstacle you've had to overcome? This week we cover the first 39 years of the life of Frederick Douglass, discussing his escape from enslavement, the evolution of his ideas and his eventual connection to the conspiracy around John Brown.

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Is your heart lighter than a feather? This week we continue our spooky streak by exploring the mythology, spirituality and religious organization of Ancient Egypt, covering topics such as the Book of the Dead, the reasons for and process of mummification and the individual Day of Judgement that awaits us once we cross that final threshold. Joined by Houston-area favorite Will Loden! 

Have you ever encountered a troll under a bridge? In the spirit of Halloween, we decided to examine the folk monsters of Japan, covering both the attributes of the monsters themselves as well as the history of their commercial publication. 

What exactly was communicated (or not communicated) between the various intelligence agencies and executive branch in the months leading up to 9/11? How did Osama bin Laden spend the last ten years of his life? What scars remain from that horrific day? All this and more answered in this episode.

Where and how did al Qaeda spread? As we continue our investigation, we discuss the Black Hawk Down Incident, the first bombing of the World Trade Center, the first few attempts at the detention and assassination of Osama bin Laden and that time leaders of the Taliban had dinner with an oil baron in Sugar Land. 

What do you really know about Osama bin Laden? This week we look at the first 35 years of America's, if not the world's, most infamous terrorist, covering the circumstances of his birth and childhood, his service in the Soviet-Afghan war and how his radical beliefs were shaped by the events and people around him. Also covered is the US' initial reaction to the emergence of bin Laden on their intelligence radars, the negotiation of Afghanistan's national identity after the Soviet withdrawal and the beginnings of the First Persian Gulf War. Part two coming within the next couple days!

If both your old friends and your new friends are inviting you to sit with them in your grade-school's cafeteria, which group would you sit with? This week we conclude our series on the Saudi Royal Family, covering events such as the First Persian Gulf war, the most-recent frictions caused by Saudi Arabia's attempts to modernize and the global standing of Saudi Arabia today. (Sorry for the delay, been a busy week. Hope you enjoy and stay tuned!)

You ever shut off the world's supply of oil and weren't assassinated by the CIA? Few could. This week we venture further into the history of Saudi Arabia, covering its opening toward the West, initial phase of modernization and how it navigated the precarious politics of the Middle East during the Cold War. 

What's the difference between an Emirate and a Nation State? Emirates don't get a seat at the UN. This week we begin our analysis of the rise of Ibn Saud and the Saudi Royal Family, covering topics such as European attempts to colonize the region, Saudi Arabia's place in both World Wars and the early attempts to modernize the largest country in the Middle East.

You drinking my milkshake bro? This week, we examine the origins and modern history of Exxon Mobile, just your regular ol' multinational corporate Leviathan. So grab a seat, pull out your re-useable straw and slurp down some of this knowledge bro, plenty to go around. 

Have you checked in with the enemy of your enemy? For our 100th episode special, Henry and Josh peak into the history of Afghanistan, covering the first of its approximately four decades of civil war and turmoil. Included within our analysis is the events that prompted the occupation, the nature and gradual escalation of the US support of rebel factions within Afghanistan and hints as to why Afghanistan is known to some as "the graveyard of empires." 

Thank you all who have stuck with us thus far! We hope you all have enjoyed learning with us and are looking forward to more from us. If you have any suggestions or feedback feel free to share it with us online. Thank you and stay safe! 

If revolution comes, which side will you take? This week, we merely graze the surface of the life of a man who became absolutely immersed in revolution, turbulence and upheaval, first during the rebellion of the American colonies and then in France.

What exactly was Canada's role during World War Two? This week, Josh, Henry and Canada's own Graham Kay explore the question by tracing the itinerary of five Canadian battalions throughout Europe and how they contributed to the defeat of the Axis. Be sure to follow Graham Kay on IG and Twitter and check him out on his upcoming nationwide tour! 

What do you want your legacy to be? In finale of HFH's trilogy on this giant in American history, Henry and Josh talk about how FDR combatted American isolationism through the use of clever legal loopholes, the crucial months up to the attack on Pearl Harbor and both the military and geopolitical battles fought during WW2, as well as a brief examination of the triumphs and shortcomings of the man himself.

Listen man lemme tell you, it's all about packin bowls, packin heat, packin out crowds and packin courts. FDR knew it and now you do too. For real though, THIS WEEK we are discussing Franklin Delano Roosevelt's attempt to add SIX seats to the US Supreme Court in early 1937, a brief overview of how the number of Supreme Court seats has expanded and contracted throughout America's history and what the hell greenbacks are.   

Do the well-off have a social obligation to help the down-trodden? In this week's episode, Franklin Delano Roosevelt ascends to the highest office in American government, implements a wide-range of social programs in an attempt to kickstart the struggling US economy and toes the line between entrenched American isolationism and the clear need to fight Fascism in both Europe and Asia. 

How privileged are you? This week we get a taste of the opportunities afforded to the ultra-wealthy New York elite through the eyes of our subject, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, tracing the circumstances of his birth, his struggle with poliomyelitis and his attainment of the governorship of New York. Part one of three!

What glass ceilings have you broken? Our Person of Interest this week is Robert Smalls, a formerly-enslaved Civil War Hero who went on to serve in the South Carolinian House and Senate then US Congress for nearly 20 years.

This week! Henry and Josh recap and elaborate on things discussed this month as well as in months prior, touching on people/subjects as Martha P. Johnson, the persecution of homosexuals during the Holocaust, the Battle of the Hundred in the Hands and the role of the winkte in Lakota society, among others. Sorry for the delay, it has been a rough week.

What kinda sick jams did they bop in Ancient Greece? This week our subject is Sappho, a Grecian poet, bard and lyricist who is widely acknowledged as one of the earliest and most prolific female poets in history. 

How did the atmosphere of conspiracy and paranoia unleashed by Senator McCarthy affect the homosexual community of Washington DC? This week we cover the Lavender Scare, a branch of the Red Scare that specifically targeted gay and lesbian employees within the federal government. 

How did San Francisco's property values get so high? This week we cover the life and times of the eclectic Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in the history of California, progressive activist and "the unofficial mayor of Castro Street." 

Have you ever been pushed too far? This week we discuss the Stonewall Inn, an otherwise obscure mob-run hole-in-the-wall dance bar that, in late June of 1969, became the center of a series of protests that served as a springboard for various pro-gay and lesbian organizations such as the Gay Liberation Front and the Gay Activists Alliance.

How much government cheddar can you misappropriate before you have to go to prison? This week we discuss this question through the eyes of notorious Chicago criminal Jeff Fort, one of the founders and eventual leader of the Black P. Stones gang and the El Rukn tribe of the Moorish Science Temple of America.    

What do you get when place 'law-and-order' politics at the intersection of a struggle for prisoner rights? Unfortunately, a recipe for disaster. This week we discuss the efforts of inmates in upstate New York's Attica prison to improve their living conditions, and the New York State government's excessive and disproportionate response. 

You've heard of Russia interfering with the 2016 election, but what of American interference in Russian elections? How did the Mafia fill the power vacuum left by the crumbled Soviet Union? What do you know about Russian stonks? All this and more on this episode of Hard Fried History.

What factors contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union? How did Russia transition from Communism to Capitalism in the early years of the “Wild 90s?” In the first of a two-part analysis, Henry and Josh take an initial peek behind the Iron Curtain and enter the world of fast money, backroom deals and bad Russian accents.

"Hey buddy...you wanna party?" This week we explore the hidden world of secret government safe-houses and sketchy university laboratories where the CIA conducted their infamous MK-ULTRA program, under which agency-subsidized neurologists and biochemists conducted torturous experiments by bombarding people with electrical shocks and drug cocktails in an effort to turn people into highly-dependent and suggestible sleeper agents ready for deployment. OUR TAX DOLLARS. 

What were the final nails in the coffin of German Democracy? How did the Nazi party gain enough support to transform itself from a fringe movement on the margins of the political spectrum to the dominant party within Germany? What parallels exist between the rise of fascism in Germany and the rise of the alt-right in Western democracies? These questions and many more answered in this episode. 

How exactly did Fascism rise in Germany? What should we be on the lookout for in the modern era? In the first of a two-part series, Josh and Henry take a look at Germany in the aftermath of World War One, the political and social circumstances that aided the rise of Fascism and which types of people found that poisonous ideology appealing and why. 

What's the furthest you've ever gone in search of vengeance? Our subject today is the amazing story of Phoolan Devi, a lower-caste Indian woman who, after being cornered into a life of crime, eventually gained an international reputation as the infamous "Bandit Queen of India." Viewer discretion advised. 

What do you know about the Spanish Civil War? Our subject today is Dolores Ibarruri, a key player in the Spanish Communist Party who served on both the political and military front lines of this struggle. Reading her autobiography against a more general history, Josh and Henry give a condensed overview of the causes of and international responses to this conflict while contextualizing Ibarruri within these broader strokes. Buckle up! No Pasaran! 

Have you ever been falsely accused? Kicking off women's history month, we take a look at the early life and rise of Angela Davis, covering such topics as the activities of domestic terrorists in Birmingham during the 50s, the origins of the black liberation movement in the 60s and the LAPD/FBI's violent attempts to stop this movement.