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PODCAST

Our Fake History

A podcast about myths we think are history and history that might be hidden in myths! Awesome stories that really (maybe) happened!

history

All Episodes

00:58:41

Episode #112- Who Was The First Emperor of China?...

Our Fake History ·

2020/06/02

After unifying the "Warring States" the first emperor of China turned his attention to an even more lofty goal: becoming an immortal. When describing the first emperor the ancient sources paint a picture of man consumed by narcissism and paranoia. We're told that in his quest to defy death the first emperor put his trust in shady magicians and smooth talking charlatans. Did the hunt for eternal life actually kill China's first emperor? Tune in and find out how the strongest man in China, a sea

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00:58:23

Episode #111- Who Was The First Emperor of China?...

Our Fake History ·

2020/05/19

In Chinese folklore the first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, is never presented as a hero. Instead he is always presented as villain who is undone by his own arrogance and impiety. He is often introduced in folk tales as the "Wicked Emperor Qin Shi Huang". However, historians believe that many of the most salacious stories about China's first emperor may have been exaggerated or invented by later writers who did not care for his preferred philosophy. Has one of China's most significant figures been the

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00:58:13

Episode #110- Who Was The First Emperor of China?...

Our Fake History ·

2020/05/05

If you were going to make a list of the most historically influential people to have have ever lived, Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China, should probably be in the top 10. In the mid 2nd century BC, the ruler of the State of Qin embarked on series of conquests that would unite China after centuries of discord. But despite this impressive achievement, the first emperor has been saddled with a particularly nasty historical reputation. Even the ancient Chinese historians did not remember him

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00:55:01

Episode #109- What Should We Believe About Boudica?...

Our Fake History ·

2020/04/22

The rebellion led by Boudica, the Iceni warrior woman, nearly dislodged the Roman empire from the island of Britain. She had the numbers, the momentum, and a righteous cause. So why was she ultimately not successful? Tune in and find out how Druids casting spells, a mythical train platform, and a badass post-hardcore band name all play a role in the story.

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01:07:25

Episode #108- What Should We Believe About Boudica?...

Our Fake History ·

2020/04/08

The ancient rebel leader Boudica has become an icon in her native Britain. She is celebrated as a symbol of resistance and female power. However, getting a sense of her true character is nearly impossible when examining the historical sources. Roman historians wrote elaborate speeches that they claimed she delivered to rapt audiences. But perhaps these speeches tell us more about the Roman authors than they do about the Celtic war leader. Tune in and find out how ancient Eminem verses, Heart of

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00:53:53

Episode #107- What Should We Believe About Boudica?...

Our Fake History ·

2020/03/24

They say that history is written by the winners. While it's a trite cliché, there might be some truth in it. It's especially true when examining a figure like the Celtic-British freedom fighter Boudica. In 60 AD Boudica led her people in a violent revolt against the Roman Empire. Unfortunately everything we know about her was written by Romans. What should we believe? Tune in and find out how Winston Churchill, the end of the earth, and tiny bean sized meals all play a roll in the story!

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00:52:51

Episode #106- Is the Renaissance a Myth? (Part II)

Our Fake History ·

2020/03/10

When did the Renaissance begin? When did it end? Do these questions even have proper answers? In this episode Sebastian frets over the so-called "Renaissance Myth" and tries to draw some conclusions. Should the idea of a "Renaissance" be ditched, or does the period just need some clever re-branding. Tune in and find out how good people in hell, the fall of Rome, and all the Ninja Turtles play a role in the story.

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00:56:02

Episode #105- Is the Renaissance a Myth? (Part I)

Our Fake History ·

2020/02/26

The Renaissance has been touted as one of the most important moments in European history. 19th century historians like Jules Michelet and Jakob Burckhardt made the case that a "rebirth" starting in the 1300's laid the ground work for the modern world. This idea has been massively influential, but its not without its critics. Why do some claim that Renaissance is actually a historical myth? Tune in and find out how weird lawn aeration jobs, snobbish ideas about Italy, and lost cities all play a role

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01:00:06

Episode #104- What Caused the Black Death? (Part III)

Our Fake History ·

2020/02/12

In the 1890's a team of physicians and scientists discovered the cause of bubonic plague, a bacteria they named Yersinia Pestis. It was assumed for most of the 20th century that Yersinia Pestis also caused the infamous Black death of the 14th century. But starting in the 1980's a number of experts started to question this assumption. Does this theory still stand up to scrutiny? Tune in and find out how ebola, basilisk potions, and the top speed of a rat all play a roll in the story.

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00:46:47

Episode #103- What Caused the Black Death? (Part II)

Our Fake History ·

2020/01/29

When studying the plague of the 14th century it can be easy to focus on the death, but on Our Fake History we are so much more interested in life. The people who lived through the plague dealt with the horror of the disease in a variety of weird and wonderful ways. Some people turned to religion, others to hedonism. Some felt like the only option was to whip themselves in public. Tune in and find out how plague parties, the alignment of Mars and Jupiter, and a plague hag named "Pesta" all play role

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00:51:54

Episode #102- What Caused the Black Death? (Part I)

Our Fake History ·

2020/01/15

The epidemic known as the Black Death struck Europe in 1347 and completely upended medieval society. It's been estimated that roughly half of the European population was killed by this gruesome disease. Despite huge advances in our understanding of this epidemic debate still remains about the true cause of the plague. The so-called "Great Mortality" also remains the source of a number of tenacious historical myths. Tune in and find out how biological warfare, pockets full of posies, and rattus

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00:17:10

Bonus Episode - What Was the Phillip Experiment?

Our Fake History ·

2019/12/31

In November 2019 Sebastian was asked to perform at the Toronto Hot Docs Podcast festival. Our Fake History was featured on a show called "Sounds of the Six". Sebastian was given 15 minutes to both introduce newcomers to the podcast and tell a story about the city of Toronto. The weird story of Toronto's Phillip Experiment fit the bill perfectly. Tune in and find out how fake ghosts, amateur sketches, and psychokinesis all play a role in the story.

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01:07:08

Episode #101- Who is the Real Santa Claus?

Our Fake History ·

2019/12/18

The Santa Claus legend may be one of the most sturdy pieces of mythology in modern times. While other magical creatures have faded from our common lore, the legend of Santa Claus has only grown. However, the evolution of this beloved holiday character has been downright strange. How did a lank and serious Bishop from Anatolia become the jolly bringer gifts we know today? Tune in and find out how pickled kids, Dwight Shrute, and horned gods all play a role in the story. Get merch here:

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01:18:22

Episode #100- 100 Episodes? (Live in Toronto!)

Our Fake History ·

2019/12/04

In celebration of Our Fake History's 100th episode Sebastian runs the podcaster's gauntlet in front of a live crowd. Your host tells tales, plays guitar, and interviews an illustrious guest. But the show is stolen by guest Katie Daubs and the tales from her new book The Missing Millionaire. Tune in and find out how ritual murder, the French revolution, and the mysterious disappearance of Drake all play role in the story. Get The Missing Millionaire here:

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00:59:38

Episode #99- Who Built the Pyramids? (Part III)

Our Fake History ·

2019/11/21

These days it's impossible to speak about the mysteries of the pyramids without saying something about aliens from outer space. Thanks to the writings of authors like Eric Von Danieken and a slew of cheesy cable shows, the ancient astronauts hypothesis has thoroughly infected the popular understanding of the pyramids. Is there anything to these theories? What about the belief that an army of ancient Israelites was forced to builds great tombs? Tune in and find out how Carl Sagan, a monument to

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00:52:23

Episode #98- Who Built the Pyramids? (Part II)

Our Fake History ·

2019/11/06

The most elaborate theories concerning the pyramids of Giza usually position those monuments as deeply different and distinct from all other Egyptian pyramids. However, to fully understand the pyramids of Giza we need to understand them in the context of the monuments that came both before and after. As soon as we add that context some of the more audacious claims about Egypt's pyramids become much harder to believe. Tune in and find out how Pimp My Ride, missing mummies, and way too many OFH call

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00:56:01

Episode #97- Who Built the Pyramids? (Part I)

Our Fake History ·

2019/10/23

The Egyptian pyramids are easily the most mythologized pieces of architecture on the planet. They have inspired historical myths and misconceptions essentially as long as "history" has been a literary genre. The so-called "father of history" Herodotus was one of the first writers to try and explain the construction of the Pyramids. But should we really trust a guy who has been called the "father of lies". Tune in and find out how my weird dating system, ancient machines, and Egyptian bathroom habits

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00:57:29

Episode #96- What is America's Weirdest Secret Society?

Our Fake History ·

2019/10/10

In the 1930's a famous California history professor thought he had discovered a long lost historical treasure. It was a brass plate apparently inscribed by the famous English adventurer Sir. Francis Drake. The plate was heralded as an amazing discovery, but it was actually an elaborate hoax orchestrated by an irreverent secret society. The group behind the hoax is known as E Clampus Vitus and it may be America's weirdest secret society. Tune in a find out how tin-can medallions, "widders", and a

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01:04:29

Episode #95- How Machiavellian was Machiavelli? (Part...

Our Fake History ·

2019/09/24

Since The Prince was first published in 1532 it has attracted an eclectic group of admirers. Figures as diverse as Napoleon Bonaparte, Jean-Jaques Rousseau, and Tupac Shakur, have managed to find some deep wisdom in the pages of Niccolo Machiavelli's little book. Machiavelli's enduring allure has always been fueled by the controversy that swirls around his work. To this day there is no consensus around what Machiavelli's "real" goal was when he wrote The Prince. Is it possible to determine if

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00:55:50

Episode #94- How Machiavellian was Machiavelli? (Part I)

Our Fake History ·

2019/09/11

There are few political thinkers with as evil a reputation as the Florentine writer Niccolo Machiavelli. Machiavelli's philosophy was believed to be so cutthroat and cynically ruthless that some thought it was demonically inspired. There is even a historical myth that Niccolo Machiavelli's first name inspired the English to call the devil "Old Nick". Despite the fact that the story probably isn't true, Machiavelli's Satanic reputation has persisted. However, we need to ask if Machiavelli's

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