Episode Archives

Christmas in Wartime – Part I

War brings few joyous moments. Over the years, Christmas time has provided a few glimmers of warmth. From a surprise victory for George Washington, to mules masquerading as reindeer in the Civil War, to a flare-lit soccer game between Brits and Germans in WWI, Mark shares some wartime Christmas memories.

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Lewis & Clark With Hal Stearns

Montana historian Hal Stearns joins Mark to discuss Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery. They had their talk at Fort Clatsop, the winter encampment of the Expedition. The restored fort is near present day Astoria, Oregon on the Columbia River.

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Conspiracy theories: JFK and Pearl Harbor

Mark interviews historian Marty Morgan on “Conspiracy theories: JFK and Pearl Harbor.” They discuss Lee Harvey Oswald, the new JFK documents being released and conspiracy theories that have revolved around the Pearl Harbor attack.

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Patton Part II: Post WWII

Historian Kevin Hymel returns for a discussion of General George S. Patton’s post-war governance in Germany and the actual story of his fatal accident and death. The is Part II of a two-part episode.

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General George S. Patton: Early Years and WWII

Kevin Hymel, writer and Patton historian, joins Mark to discuss one of America’s greatest generals. They cover General George S. Patton’s background, his early years, and his career leading up to and into WWII.

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Civil War New Orleans: Prelude to Conflict

Mark takes a comparative look at developments leading up to the Civil War and the importance of the city of New Orleans to the Confederacy. Civil War New Orleans: Prelude to Conflict A comparative look at the economic differences between the Confederate states and those of the Union shows a staggering disparity. SEE COMPARATIVE CHART…

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Antietam II

Historian Gerry Prokopowicz returns to discuss the battle, its consequences and aftermath and the response from both sides. We include Abraham Lincoln’s writing the the Emancipation Proclamation.

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Antietam I

Professor Gerry Prokopowicz joins Mark to discuss the events leading up to the Battle of Antietam in September 1862. We cover the Second Battle of Manassas (Bull Run) that August, Robert E. Lee’s reasons for taking the Army of Northern Virginia into Maryland and the beginning of the battle. Antietam Part I – Summary The…

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Preview of Autumn Historians and Topics

Mark Bielski provides information on the background of the historical topics he’ll be discussing and the historians who will join him on History with Mark Bielski this fall.

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Ghost Army – Part II

Writer and filmmaker Rick Beyer returns to discuss in further detail the extraordinary deception soldiers better known as the Ghost Army. Rick made the PBS documentary The Ghost Army and co-authored the book, The Ghost Army of World War II. As we discussed in Part I, the Ghost Army specifically refers to the 23rd HQ…

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