Battlecast

Battlecast is the world’s foremost podcast about war and it’s sociopolitical impact. Each month Dr. Luke Wolf works to bring you an unfiltered understanding of the most important battles and wars of mankind’s history. The official motto of the show: “not left, not right: above,” provides a fresh look at the conventional understandings found in history books. So pull up a chair, grab a beer, and join the conversation.

116 episodes

11d ago latest

monthly cadence

English language

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Episodes 116

The Patriot: Francis Marion – The Swamp Fox of the Carolinas /// 116
11d ago
If you saw the man who inspired Mel Gibson’s The Patriot you would never think he’d be the man to inspire a Hollywood blockbuster. Short, of noticeably French stock, Francis Marion was the epitome of a real soldier: enduring and wiry – not huge and bulky. He looked like the animals of the swamps he… Continue reading The Patriot: Francis Marion – The Swamp Fox of the Carolinas /// 116
The Battle of Camden and the American Revolutionary War /// 115
1mo ago
The Battle of Camden was not one of the most important battles in human history. It was not the most decisive battle of the Revolutionary War. It was important – and it destroyed the careers of important American leaders – but it didn’t come close to solving the war. If one word could characterize the… Continue reading The Battle of Camden and the American Revolutionary War /// 115
The Reversal: The Siege of Charleston and the American Revolution /// 114
2mo ago
The Siege of Charleston was one of the greatest military defeats of the United States in history. Starvation stalked the city. A miasma of fetid smoke choked the lungs. The water ran low. The bombardments ran high. Death and sickness were everywhere. Wild dogs took over whole blocks of the gridded city. This is the… Continue reading The Reversal: The Siege of Charleston and the American Revolution /// 114
The American War of Independence and the Battle of Monmouth /// 113
3mo ago
There are battles which decide the fate of nations, battles which set the arc of history, conflicts which decide the future of a civilization – prune it, the way a gardener shapes a decorative bush. This is not one of those battles. This is the Battle of Monmouth – the kind of battle where men… Continue reading The American War of Independence and the Battle of Monmouth /// 113
The Turn: The Battle of Saratoga /// 112
4mo ago
In any poker game, “the turn” is arguably the most important hand. When the fourth card is dealt, most poker players have an idea of how their hand will play out. In just the same way, The Battle of Saratoga was the “turn” of the Revolutionary War. After this battle, the game entered a new… Continue reading The Turn: The Battle of Saratoga /// 112
Victory or Death: The Battle of Trenton /// 111
5mo ago
The Battles of Trenton and Princeton almost single-handedly saved the cause of the American Revolution. For weeks, as Thomas Paine admitted, the Continental army had been driven like cattle before the onrushing British. Reversal followed reversal. Washington knew it; he confided his justified fears to his family members. But nevertheless, he refused to give up.… Continue reading Victory or Death: The Battle of Trenton /// 111
A Military History of the Revolutionary War: The Battle of Long Island /// 110
6mo ago
The Battle of Long Island was the largest battle of the American Revolution. Tens of thousands of men along with thousands of sailors struggled for control of New York City. This is the story of that conflict. It’s all here and it’s all free on Battlecast – the world’s foremost podcast on war and its… Continue reading A Military History of the Revolutionary War: The Battle of Long Island /// 110
The Skeleton March and the Battle of Quebec /// 109
7mo ago · 50:52
In the fall of 1775, 1,000 Americans entered the western wilds of Maine and pushed overland to the very edge of modern-day Quebec. The trip was supposed to take three weeks. It took nearly triple that. Then the winter came. The Americans froze. They ate their own shoes. They ate green dog soup. And the… Continue reading The Skeleton March and the Battle of Quebec /// 109
A Military History of the American Revolution: Bunker Hill /// 108
8mo ago · 43:07
Bunker Hill was one of the most important battles of the American Revolution. In this struggle, Britain attempted to break out of Boston, suffering some of the worst casualties incurred by the English in the entire war. At the same, General George Washington, in command of tens of thousands of unruly New England militia, sought… Continue reading A Military History of the American Revolution: Bunker Hill /// 108
The Shot Heard Round the World: Lexington and Concord
9mo ago
Before The Battle of Lexington and Concord many thoughtful commentators, in both England and the American colonies, thought peace was possible between the colonies and the mother country. When they woke up on April 19, 1775, the men were at peace. When they laid their heads down that night, millions of people, across the greatest… Continue reading The Shot Heard Round the World: Lexington and Concord
Cannibal Holocaust: The Guangxi Massacre /// 106
10mo ago
The Guangxi Massacre was the largest documented case of mass cannibalism in human history. The Guangxi culinary abomination took place between 1967 and 1968 in Guangxi, China, a province located directly to the north of North Vietnam. Accordingly, the cannibalistic incident illustrates basic concepts of geopolitics and the way geography, lines of communication, and strategy… Continue reading Cannibal Holocaust: The Guangxi Massacre /// 106
The Definitive Military History of Monaco and Monte Carlo
11mo ago
Monaco is a nation smaller than one square mile but filled with more wealth per capita than almost any other country in the world. According to one historian, the tiny principality has zero natural resources. However, there is one resource Monaco does possess: The Rock – an impregnable natural fortress jutting into the azure water… Continue reading The Definitive Military History of Monaco and Monte Carlo
A Military History of the Attack at Pearl Harbor /// 104
1y ago
The Battle of Pearl Harbor was one of the most important events in United States – and human – history. It unleashed the most powerful nation the world has ever seen into mankind’s greatest war. This is the story of that battle. It’s all here and it’s all free on Battlecast – the world’s foremost… Continue reading A Military History of the Attack at Pearl Harbor /// 104
The Military History of the Battle of Pearl Harbor /// 103
1y ago
The Battle of Pearl Harbor: a day that lived in infamy. Thousands of American servicemen were caught unaware – fish in a tropical barrel. Many died. Many lived. As a direct result of this two-hour battle, The United States of America entered the Second World War, inaugurating what Niall Ferguson called the largest hegemonic empire… Continue reading The Military History of the Battle of Pearl Harbor /// 103
A History of Torture: Interpersonal Torture /// 102
1y ago
In this concluding episode of the definitive podcast history of torture, the focus is on interpersonal torture by non-state actors. This episode provides an overview of psychopathic torture, torture in the drug trade, torture for information, sexual torture, torture between ethnic groups and torture for entertainment. It should be pointed out, as Peter Edwards (1996)… Continue reading A History of Torture: Interpersonal Torture /// 102
An American Torture Story /// 101
1y ago
American torture. For years, philosophers, jurists, and legal theorists struggled with American use of torture in the war on terror. Just a few days after the events of the September 11th attacks, President George Bush was authorizing the use of torture on suspected members of international terrorist organizations. After a few months, American leaders were… Continue reading An American Torture Story /// 101
A History of Torture in America /// 100
1y ago
This is a history of torture on the North American continent, including Native American, Canadian and United States torture practices. It’s all here and it’s all free on Battlecast – the world’s foremost podcast on war and its sociopolitical impact. This is part six of an ongoing series on torture. You can find part five… Continue reading A History of Torture in America /// 100
A History of the Cambodian Genocide /// 99
1y ago · 1:02:03
The Cambodian Genocide was a second holocaust. Approximately 1.6 million human beings were killed in the terrible bloodletting. But the genocide was unique – it’s one of the only cases in human history where people from the same ethnic group murdered whole segments of its own population – guilty of being born in the wrong… Continue reading A History of the Cambodian Genocide /// 99
Gulag: A History of Soviet Torture /// 98
1y ago
The Soviet punitive system was the heir of literally hundreds of years of secret police interrogation. For centuries, the Czar’s secret police had tortured, refined, and perfected the art of interrogation – all of it based on practice – not theory. That is why American researchers were so amazed at the Soviet interrogation success rate.… Continue reading Gulag: A History of Soviet Torture /// 98
The Inquisition: A History /// 97
1y ago
The Inquisition: it’s a byword for tyranny in much of the Western world – especially among the English-speaking peoples of the world. In today’s episode the surprising origins, history, and impact of the Inquisition are detailed. In addition, this episode features a concise history of torture in India. It’s all here and it’s all free… Continue reading The Inquisition: A History /// 97
A History of Torture: Roman, Christian and South American /// 96
1y ago
This is part two of an ongoing series providing an exhaustive history of torture. All forms of torture, including forms never detailed in any other history of torture, will be covered in this series. Come and hear the way men share their love for one another. It’s all here and it’s all free on Battlecast… Continue reading A History of Torture: Roman, Christian and South American /// 96
An Universal Institution: The Definitive History of Torture /// 95
1y ago
“Torture was legal, morally accepted, and commonplace in most ancient, medieval, and early modern societies.” This was the way historian Christopher Einolf succinctly described the history of torture: ubiquitous, common; in short: everywhere. Torture is a sort “reverse” gospel – as it is written in Il Libro Dell’avversario, chapter 6: And when the wealthy governors… Continue reading An Universal Institution: The Definitive History of Torture /// 95
The Battle of Takur Ghar /// 94
1y ago · 1:40:24
The Battle of Takur Ghar, also known as the Battle of Robert’s Ridge, was one of the bloodiest engagements in the history of the United States’ war in Afghanistan. Dozens of men died in the hills and mountains of the Shahi-Kot Valley. Scores more were wounded. The battle also featured one of the first documented… Continue reading The Battle of Takur Ghar /// 94
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Military History /// 93
1y ago
Thousands of drone strikes have killed tens of thousands of targets since the introduction of unmanned aerial vehicle warfare in the early 2000s. This is the story of that warfare. It’s all free and it’s all here on Battlecast – the world’s foremost podcast on war and its sociopolitical impact. Download episode 93 here: download… Continue reading Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Military History /// 93
Drones: A Military History /// 92
2y ago
A man is sitting on his porch before he suddenly geysers upward, somersaulting through the air like a discarded plaything. A work truck is cruising across the Gaza Strip at fifty-miles-an-hour and then is suddenly crushed like a coke can and engulfed in flames. Scores of mass-produced Turkish drones flood the Armenian sky, raining death… Continue reading Drones: A Military History /// 92

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Battlecast

Episodes 116

The Patriot: Francis Marion – The Swamp Fox of the Carolinas /// 116

The Battle of Camden and the American Revolutionary War /// 115

The Reversal: The Siege of Charleston and the American Revolution /// 114

The American War of Independence and the Battle of Monmouth /// 113

The Turn: The Battle of Saratoga /// 112

Victory or Death: The Battle of Trenton /// 111

A Military History of the Revolutionary War: The Battle of Long Island /// 110

The Skeleton March and the Battle of Quebec /// 109

A Military History of the American Revolution: Bunker Hill /// 108

The Shot Heard Round the World: Lexington and Concord

Cannibal Holocaust: The Guangxi Massacre /// 106

The Definitive Military History of Monaco and Monte Carlo

A Military History of the Attack at Pearl Harbor /// 104

The Military History of the Battle of Pearl Harbor /// 103

A History of Torture: Interpersonal Torture /// 102

An American Torture Story /// 101

A History of Torture in America /// 100

A History of the Cambodian Genocide /// 99

Gulag: A History of Soviet Torture /// 98

The Inquisition: A History /// 97

A History of Torture: Roman, Christian and South American /// 96

An Universal Institution: The Definitive History of Torture /// 95

The Battle of Takur Ghar /// 94

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Military History /// 93

Drones: A Military History /// 92

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Episodes 116

The Patriot: Francis Marion – The Swamp Fox of the Carolinas /// 116

The Battle of Camden and the American Revolutionary War /// 115

The Reversal: The Siege of Charleston and the American Revolution /// 114

The American War of Independence and the Battle of Monmouth /// 113

The Turn: The Battle of Saratoga /// 112

Victory or Death: The Battle of Trenton /// 111

A Military History of the Revolutionary War: The Battle of Long Island /// 110

The Skeleton March and the Battle of Quebec /// 109

A Military History of the American Revolution: Bunker Hill /// 108

The Shot Heard Round the World: Lexington and Concord

Cannibal Holocaust: The Guangxi Massacre /// 106

The Definitive Military History of Monaco and Monte Carlo

A Military History of the Attack at Pearl Harbor /// 104

The Military History of the Battle of Pearl Harbor /// 103

A History of Torture: Interpersonal Torture /// 102

An American Torture Story /// 101

A History of Torture in America /// 100

A History of the Cambodian Genocide /// 99

Gulag: A History of Soviet Torture /// 98

The Inquisition: A History /// 97

A History of Torture: Roman, Christian and South American /// 96

An Universal Institution: The Definitive History of Torture /// 95

The Battle of Takur Ghar /// 94

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Military History /// 93

Drones: A Military History /// 92