The Revisionist History Podcast

Today's brief episode gives a long overdue update.

Hollywood doesn't care much about historical accuracy, and historically accurate movies aren't always great. The five we cover in today's Throwback Thursday episode are both accurate historically and excellent films as well.

In today's episode, we explore both some facts and some myths about the most forgotten war in American history: the War of 1812.

In today's episode, we travel back to the time of King Henry VIII of England to meet a man who took a conscientious stand against the king and paid the ultimate price.

In today's episode, we debunk the persistent myth that the Victorian Age in England was one of total sexual repression. The facts are much more interesting.

Merry Christmas! We all know the Christmas story from Luke's gospel, but in honor of the holiday, today's special Christmas episode looks at a Christmas story you may not be familiar with.

To wrap up the year, we will be looking back at some of the most popular episodes of 2023. We start with an episode debunking three persistent myths from the Age of Sail.

Rather than debunking Christmas myths (which we did in an earlier episode anyway), today we'll be looking at the origins of two of our most cherished and enduring Christmas traditions: the Christmas tree and the Nativity scene.

Today is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas. In today's episode, we take a closer look at her appearance to St. Juan Diego 500 years ago.

We're right at two weeks before Christmas, which makes it the perfect time to debunk some long-held and long-cherished myths about the holiday.

In today's episode, we tackle a myth I didn't know about until recently: the claim by some that the Roman Emperor Constantine actually started the Catholic Church.

Since I missed the Sundays with the Saints episode yesterday, today I am combining that with our Tuesday book review segment. In this episode, we look at the books that influenced the saints.

Sometimes, even an outstanding historical series gets some major facts wrong. In today's Throwback Thursday episode, we look at three times this happened in the HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers."

In today's episode, we look at the four US presidents who won the Nobel Peace Prize.

In today's episode, I'm pulling an episode from the archives that should have run again during Banned Books Week. In it, we look at a recent spate of trigger warnings and outright rewriting of classic literature that are the very epitome of revisionist history.

For this week's Tuesday Book Review, we're looking at a giant of the 20th century and an equally massive biography: "Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II" by George Weigel.

In today's Sundays with the Saints episode, we meet the last of the four great Latin Fathers of the Church: Pope St. Gregory the Great.

In today's Throwback Thursday episode, we debunk four myths about the least-known leader of World War Two: Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.

From the toppling of his statues to moves to rename cities named after him, few historical figures cause as much debate centuries after their death as Christopher Columbus. Was he a hero, or a villain, or both? Today's Columbus Day episode looks at that question.

In today's Sundays with the Saints episode, we look at a saint and Church Father that virtually everyone has heard of: St. Augustine of Hippo, author of "The Confessions."

On today's Throwback Thursday episode, we debunk four myths about the RMS Titanic, which tragically sank on the early morning of April 15, 1912, and is one of the most famous maritime disasters in history.

Since it's become something of a month-long celebration, it's not too early to talk briefly about the history, revisionist and otherwise, of Halloween. No ghosts here...just a jack o' lantern lit by facts. Enjoy.

In today's Sundays with the Saints episode, we look at the life of another early Church Father. Let's meet St. Ambrose of Milan.

Tomorrow, October 1st, kicks off Banned Books Week in the United States. On the surface, it may not seem like that has anything to do with revisionist history, but in reality, it does. Let's look at how and why.

History is filled with examples of missed opportunities, and in today's episode, we look at one involving Abraham Lincoln, Italian freedom fighter Giusepe Garibaldi, and the American Civil War.

More than 300 years after the infamous Salem Witch Trials, the event remains shrouded in myth and misconception. In today's Throwback Thursday episode, we set the record straight.

In today's episode, we take a look at the man who is the literal poster boy of revisionist history. If you only know him as "that guy on the T-shirt," you're in for a surprise.

In today’s episode, we look at one of the all-time greats of literature and a man who not only wrote novels about history but lived it as well. Let's meet Alexandre Dumas, author of "The Three Musketeers" and "The Count of Monte Cristo."

In today's episode, we take a look at a neglected literary art form: the hagiography. Is it real history or pious hoax? Let's find out.

In today's Sundays with the Saints episode, we look at St. Jerome, the man who translated the Bible into Latin and may have been the grumpiest saint who ever lived.

It's been a rough month so far, and we all need some good news for a change. So rather than busting myths about today's subject, we instead present five cool facts about the greatest American author ever: Ernest Hemingway.

In today's episode, we head back out to sea and debunk some cherished myths about those most romanticized of maritime marauders: pirates.

In today's Throwback Thursday episode, we wade into a myth so pervasive that almost everyone accepts it as fact. Let's take a look at the Spanish Inquisition and set the record straight.

In today's episode, we debunk five common myths about the greatest Roman in history: Julius Caesar.

In today's Tuesday Book Review, we look briefly at one of the best histories of the American Civil War ever written: James McPherson's "Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era."

In today's episode, we address a question that comes up more often than it should: does revisionist history really matter? It absolutely does, and we'll explain why.

Today, I am using our "Sundays with the Saints" episode to debunk a common myth about the saints: that they were always serious, always sour, and never, ever, funny. The evidence definitely shows otherwise.

Everyone knows that George Washington led the Continental Army in the American Revolution and became the first President of the United States. Fewer know that it may have been a young Lieutenant Colonel George Washington who in 1754, twenty-two years before the American colonies declared independence, actually started the French and Indian War. In today's episode, we look at Washington's role in starting the first truly global conflict.

In today's episode, we debunk a conspiracy theory that has raged for 45 years: that Pope John Paul I was murdered.

In today's Throwback Thursday episode, I review a book about a pivotal yet nearly forgotten period in American history.

History can be revised not only by what is changed but sometimes simply by what is forgotten. Today's episode addresses that by introducing you to the literary ambulance drivers of World War I. If you've never heard about these courageous volunteers who became the best-known authors of the 20th century, some of the names may surprise you.

Today's episode is a little different in that I am not only reviewing a book, but one in which I believe the myths it contains are actually a good thing. Let's look at "No One Here Gets Out Alive," the biography of Doors lead singer Jim Morrison and an interesting chronicle of the 1960s.

Today marks the 22nd anniversary of the September 11th attacks. In this episode, which I do every year around this time, we introduce you to a hero of that day who should never be forgotten: Rick Rescorla.

In today's episode of Sundays with the Saints, we look at one of the most beloved saints in the world. Let's meet St. Teresa of Avila.

In today's episode, we look at what you might not immediately consider a source for great content about history: YouTube. There are some channels that aren't just informative but also a lot of fun.

In today's episode, which comes on the one-year anniversary of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, we look back at a reflection I did shortly after that sad day.

After the passing of Queen Elizabeth II one year ago tomorrow, many of us binge-watched films about kings and queens. In this Throwback Thursday episode, I give you five of my favorites.