History on Fire

Mini-Episode 11: The Roman Spirit

Today I discuss four stories that ancient Romans told and re-told. While they were usually portrayed as history, it’s very likely at least parts of these tales were legendary. But legends presented as facts are not to be taken lightly. They reveal much about a culture’s values. In the Roman case, some of these values revolved around stoicism, sacrifice for one’s country, a level of determination bordering insanity, and a disturbing propensity for violence. I present you the stories of t...

Episode 98: Machine Gun Blues

“No friend ever served me, and no enemy ever wronged me, whom I have not repaid in full.” Lucius Cornelius Sulla

“Around four o’clock on that Monday afternoon of the thirteenth, with a light rain falling, the bandits attacked. To the sound of a trumpet—for Lampiao did things in style—and the rumble of thunder in the cloudy sky, the outlaws entered the city, on foot and divided into groups.” Billy Jaynes Chandler

“The first step toward becoming a true outlaw is the ...

Daniele in Cucina 6: Merluzzo alla Siciliana

My mother sharing one of her recipes :) 

Mini-Episode 10: Alexander's Drinking Game

Alexander the Great had the worst hangovers in history. Once, at a drinking party, he talked too much crap to his father and ended up having to go in exile. Another time, he woke up from a bender and realized that he burned down a town... that belonged to him. Another time, while they were both more than inebriated, he ended sticking a spear through one of his best friends' guts. And then there's the story of this episode: one of Alexander the Great's advisors was an Indian philosopher who st...

Episode 58: Wounded Knee

This is one of the most emotionally intense episodes I've ever recorded. My voice cracks in a few spots. 

Update on the next mini-episode

I'm having fun working on the next mini-episode. It's such a crazy story... One of Alexander the Great's advisors was an Indian philosopher who strolled around naked. Bothered by the fact of getting old, he solved the problem by setting himself on fire. Bummed out, Alexander decided to celebrate the man's life in traditional Macedonian style--which means by drinking ungodly amounts of wine. He even sponsored a drinking contest with lots of money to be awarded to the winner. Hilarity (and deat...

My Daughter's Singing

Iz performing a very challenging version of Adele's 'Someone Like You'.

If you like it, please subscribe to her channel

Thank you

To be perfectly honest, there are times I get discouraged in my creative endeavors. Since re-starting History on Fire outside of paywalls, things have been much harder than expected. Sponsors are hard to come by, and when they do the conditions are often less than ideal. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. There are many other issues that have been making things difficult. So, I'd like you to know that in those moments when I feel deflated, the primary factor that keeps me going is you sh...

Daniele in Cucina 5: Greek Yogurt Dessert

It feels like a decadent dessert but it's healthier: Greek Yogurt, Chia Seeds, Coconut Flakes, Cacao Powder, Cacao Nibs, Raw Honey, Mint Leaves.

Episode 57: Compulsory Civilization with a Side of Murder (Sitting Bull Part 4)

As a reminder, for contractual reasons I can't take out ads from episodes that used to be paywalled, but I can post them here several days before they are available to the general public ;)

“Sent to report on a story that wasn’t there, reporters invented one.” Heather Cox Richardson

“Lakota will kill you.” A meadowlark speaking to Sitting Bull in a vision

“If the white men want me to die, they ought not to put up the Indians to kill me… Let the soldiers come an...

Mini-Episode 09: El Dorado (from Our Fake History)

This month I offer you, sweet people, something different. Sebastian Major is one of the best history podcasters out there. Since I had offered him one of my episodes to share on his Patreon, he decided to return the favor and sent me this episode that is only available to his Patreon supporters... and now to you. It's a full length work about the Spanish search for El Dorado. At some point in the future, I plan on tackling the De Soto expedition, which very much fits within the greater story...

Episode 56: Compulsory Civilization with a Side of Murder (Sitting Bull Part 3)

As a reminder, for contractual reasons I can't take out ads from episodes that used to be paywalled, but I can post them here several days before they are available to the general public ;)

“Kill the Indian and save the man.” Richard Pratt

“The life my people want is a life of freedom. I have seen nothing that a white man has, houses or railways or clothing or food, that is good as the right to move in the open country, and live in our own fashion.” Sitting Bull

“T...

Episode 55: Sitting Bull (Part 2)

As a reminder, for contractual reasons I can't take out ads from episodes that used to be paywalled, but I can post them here several days before they are available to the general public ;) 

EPISODE 55

Sitting Bull (Part 2)

“I don’t want to have anything to do with people who make one carry water on the shoulders and haul manure. You are fools to make yourselves slaves to a piece of fat bacon, some hardtack, and a little sugar and coffee. The whites may get me at la...

Daniele in Cucina 4: Risotto Giallo con Porcini

This is one of the most classic dishes from my hometown, and is also a family classic. I have eaten it cooked by my mother, my grandmother, and my father. It's a saffron risotto with porcini mushrooms (the porcini are optional, but they definitely add something). This is the dish that possibly more than any other reminds me of home, of how I grew up, of my family.

Jiujitsu Video # 5

For those of you who are here only for history content, sorry! This is for those intrigued by martial arts :) 

Jiujitsu Video # 4

Non-history post. How to train Judo and/or Jujitsu without messing up your hands 

Mini-Episode 08: From British Guns to Crocodile Bellies

I just posted an episode yesterday and there's a new one today?!? Turns out that yesterday I screwed up. I forgot that for contractual reasons I'm not supposed to post ad-free versions of the episodes that were previously paywalled. For the future, do you prefer me to post versions of those episodes with ads here or would you rather get those on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts? Please, let me know and I'll try to make sure to do as you wish.
Today, I'm not screwing up (no...

Episode 54: Sitting Bull (Part 1)

In historical terms, it was just a blink of an eye ago. In the mid-1800s, the Great Plains in the United States were still firmly in the hands of nomadic, buffalo hunting tribes. The looming threat of American expansion was still barely noticeable. But things changed quickly, and soon the tribes were locked in an existential struggle with the U.S. for control of the heartland of North America. One man rose among these tribes to lead his people to resisting the inevitable for over two decades....

Daniele in Cucina 3: Avocado con Olio e Limone

Insanely simple way to prepare an avocado. The ingredients are as basic as they get, but this particular technique (placing oil, lemon, salt and pepper in the center--where the seed used to be) is something I've only seen prepared by my mother.

Episode 97: The Psychology of Power in History, A Conversation with Aziz Al-Doory

“…we venerate the crooks, rapists, and pillagers credulous historians have repackaged as ‘founders,’ ‘conquerors,’ and ‘civilize.’ We erect statues and consecrate tombs to commemorate their difference-making. But in fact, most of these monuments memorialize the dark deeds of unhinged lunatics driven by rampant ego and raving greed… most of the supposed ‘great men of history’ were criminals on a rampage. We celebrate them because they ‘changed the world.’ But where’...

Daniele in Cucina 2: Aglio, Olio e Peperoncino

The easiest pasta you could possibly make: garlic, olive oil and chili peppers. Simple, spicy and so good.

Death of a Legend

Yesterday a friend of mine died. He was in his late 90s, so not exactly unexpected. As a teenager he commanded the partisan forces that stopped Mussolini's escape and arrested the dictator.

This is him a few months ago with my daughter. He very much enjoyed when she'd sing him this song (in the youtube link) which became a partisan anthem.

2023-01-08 18:57:29 +0000 UTC View Post

Jiujitsu Video # 3

If among your New Year's resolutions you listed 'learning how to choke people', I'm here to help. This is by no means a unique technique, but is not that commonly used either. I have had lots of success with it.

P.S. For those of you who couldn't care less about martial arts, let me know if this bothers you or you are ok just scrolling over while waiting for history content  

Mini-Episode 07: Ghost of Tsushima & The Attempted Mongol Invasions of Japan

I have been more than a bit addicted to the game Ghost of Tsushima. In terms of writing and character development, it is hands down the best historical video game I have ever played. In this episode, I explore the history of the attempted invasions of Japan by the Mongols (1274 and 1281) on which the game is based.

My Daughter and Her Singing

Hello sweet people! Just wanted to share something with you. My daughter (13 years old now) has been publishing covers of her singing on youtube. I promise you won't waste your time by clicking. Her voice is indeed something else. If you feel like subscribing to her channel, here's the link 

Episode 96: The Wildest Man You Never Heard Of, Thomas Morton

Today we are going to play with one of the greatest stories you probably have never heard of. Even in U.S. very little known about this story and it’s a crime. If you have even a superficial knowledge of American history, you have almost certainly heard about the settlers who came to Plymouth in 1620. What you may not have heard about is that shortly thereafter a gentleman named Thomas Morton set u...

Mini-Episode 06: The Black Hills Are Not for Sale

The series ‘The War for the Black Hills’ is among my early work. It spanned Episodes 16-18. This is a much-needed follow-up to that story. That series, in fact, covered the history until the late 1800s. This episode picks up where that series left off and covers the ongoing legal battle between the Lakota and the U.S. for ownership of the Black Hills. Back in 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with the Lakota and awarded them many millions of dollars. The court referred to the theft of th...

Previously Paywalled Episodes

Hello sweet people, 

just a reminder that due to contractual issues, I cannot publish ad-free any of the previously paywalled episodes. They are, however, freely available to download on any of the main podcasting platforms. Here's a link to download the most recent one, released today. Happy listening!
http://historyonfirepodcast.co...

Jiujitsu Video 2

While we wait for Episode 50 to drop (hopefully soon), here's a jiujitsu video I published on youtube about getting an arm triangle from the back. This is one of my highest percentage techniques in that position. 

On my youtube channel, I'll keep publishing martial arts videos and cooking ones

Jiujitsu Video 1

Just in case anyone is interested, I'll publish here some martial arts videos I post on youtube. If this is not your thing, feel free to ignore :)