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PODCAST

History That Doesn"t Suck

Prof. Greg Jackson

HTDS is a bi-weekly podcast, delivering a legit, seriously researched, hard-hitting survey of American history through entertaining stories. To keep up with History That Doesn’t Suck news, check us out htdspodcast.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram: @historythatdoesntsuck. Become a premium member to support our work, receive ad-free episodes and bonus episodes.Pre-order Prof. Jackson"s new book Been There Done That: How Our History Shows What We Can Overcome

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All Episodes

58:53

201: A Soft Underbelly: The Allied Invasion of Sicily...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2026/03/16

"My dear Duce, it’s no longer any good… At this moment you are the most hated man in Italy.” This is the story of Operations Underworld, Mincemeat, and Husky. On the heels of the decisive Allied victory in Africa, leaders decide to take the fight north. But Hitler and Mussolini surely know they’ll be aiming for Sicily next, right? Actually, pre-Husky Allied intelligence victories have the Germans and Italians barking up the wrong tree (shoring up the wrong island defenses), all thanks to one

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62:50

199: Building the Anglo-American Alliance: The US...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2026/02/16

“When do we get a whack at those Germans?”This is the story of America’s entry into the European Theater. After Pearl Harbor, American foot soldiers and generals alike are eager to get in on the action in Europe, but first, they have to cross the embattled Atlantic—easier said than done with German U-boats on the prowl, sinking both military and merchant vessels in what they call an “American turkey shoot.” After stubborn U.S. Navy Admiral Ernest King finally adopts a workable convoy system, the

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4:12

Introducing Free Range with Von Miller

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2026/02/09

A new episode of History That Doesn't Suck drops Monday, February 16th. It’s a continuation of our ongoing chronicle of World War II and we’ll be shifting back to the European Theater. While we put the finishing touches of episode 199, we're pleased to share a sports themed show from our network partners at Audacy.Step inside the mind of NFL legend Von Miller as he goes free range — from the gridiron to the culture at large. Each week, Von breaks down the biggest football stories, dives into the

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63:38

193: The Empire of the Rising Sun: Military...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/11/24

“To be perfectly frank, the ways you and I look at the Chinese are fundamentally different. You seem to think of them as human, but I see them as pigs.”This is the origin story of the Empire of the Rising Sun. After an uninvited visit from one Commodore Matthew Perry and his four black ships, Japan opens its doors to the wider world, ending seven centuries of isolation. Picking up the best and the worst from the West, a new ruling class implements changes in everything from government structure

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7:19

Bonus: Eleanor Roosevelt "Over Our Coffee Cups"

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/11/03

Today Professor Jackson tells the story of Eleanor Roosevelt’s “Over Our Coffee Cups” weekly radio show. Starting in the fall of 1941, the First Lady took to the airwaves with this cafe-style program to provide information and comfort as the nation began mobilizing for war. This short story is an example of the extras you can get as an HTDS premium member. HTDS will always be widely available, supported by ads. However, our membership program offers ad-free episodes delivered early, plus extra

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70:00

190: An Epilogue to US Pre-WW2 Turn from Isolationism...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/10/13

Professor Jackson takes a step back to review themes from episodes 187 through 189 (War in Europe and America’s Response), specifically the slow turn from isolationism to aid via Lend-Lease, and eventually to preparing for war. Prof. Jackson’s guests are Professor Lindsey Cormack, an associate professor of political science at Stevens Institute of Technology, and historian Lynne Olson, author of several books on WW2 including Citizens of London which chronicles the pivotal role played by three

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66:16

189: World War II in Europe & the American Response...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/10/06

"At long last, Mr. President.”—Prime Minister Sir Winston ChurchillThis is the story of the second year of WWII and the United States’ response. As the war enters its second full year, things are looking dire for Britain: Germany has forced France into submission, the Blitz is in full swing, and the cash-strapped nation is running out of money to pay for US aid. Lend-Lease, or H.R. 1776, is the proposed solution; it’ll allow Franklin to transfer munitions to “any country whose defense the

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11:23

The Unlikely Union: "A house divided against itself...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/09/29

Professor Greg Jackson shares a personal message about our politically divided times and announces more tour dates for his live show: The Unlikely Union. This show is not recorded for the podcast. Go to HTDSpodcast.com/live-shows for more information and dates. Prof. Jackson’s national tour has already been to half of the 50 states, so-called red and blue states, big cities and small towns. What he’s encountered is everyday people, regardless of their political stripe coming together to share

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68:05

188: World War II in Europe & The American Response...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/09/22

“I have said not once but many times that I have seen war and that I hate war. … I hope the United States will keep out of this war. I believe that it will.”This is the story of the first year of WWII in the European theater and the United States’ response. Since the days of President George Washington, the United States has largely held to George Washington’s and Thomas Jefferson’s counsel to avoid “interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe,” and to have “entangling alliances

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3:11

Introducing Star Trek: Khan

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/09/15

The next episode of HTDS drops Sept 22nd. Prof. Jackson will begin the story of World War II in the European Theater and see the United States’ reaction. We’ll witness the fall of France, see the Royal Air Force in action, and listen to Franklin Roosevelt’s Arsenal of Democracy speech–and more! But as the Prof. put the finishing touches on it…here's a fun preview of a new show from our network partner. STAR TREK: KHAN, the scripted podcast series.History remembers Khan Noonien Singh as a

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68:46

187: From the Rhineland to Poland (1935–1939):...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/09/08

“A great war can hardly be avoided any longer.”This is the story of Nazi Germany’s aggressive territorial expansion and the start of WWII. The Treaty of Versailles has long been a thorn in Adolf Hitler’s side. Its troublesome limits on troops and technology pose challenges for a man bent on taking lebensraum and building a Grossdeuschland by any means necessary. So he starts quietly building planes and submarines. Then he starts publicly adding a few hundred thousand more soldiers. By 1936,

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66:39

186: From Czardom to Stalinism: Building the USSR &...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/08/25

“Comrade Stalin, now that he is general secretary, has concentrated immense power in his hands, and I am not sure whether he will always be capable of exercising this power with sufficient caution.”This is the story of Joseph Stalin’s path to becoming the dictator of the USSR. Ioseb (Joseph) Jughashvili, or little “Soso,” is a good student. A choir boy, in fact. But that changes as the Orthodox Georgian increasingly puts his faith in the Bolshevik branch of Russia’s Social Democrats. Under

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68:59

The Early Holocaust: From the “Jewish Question” to...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/08/11

“Being a Jew is not a crime, I am not a dog.”This is the story of the start of the Holocaust. Serving as the scapegoat for everything from a disappearing child to the Black Plague, European Jews are used to “anti-Jewry.” But as the nation state rises in the modern world, it brings the so-called “Jewish Question” to the fore: can one be a faithful Jew and modern citizen? As modern antisemitism rises and European Jews face pogroms and the Dreyfus Affair, some begin to think they need a nation of

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7:53

The Unlikely Union: New Tour Dates

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/08/07

Professor Greg Jackson is touring the country with a live version of the podcast telling the story of The Unlikely Union of American states. Starting Sep 19, 2025 through July 4, 2026, you can hear the Professor history-tell in person, with video and live musicians. It’s not recorded for the podcast so get your tickets now at ⁠HTDSpodcast.com/live-shows In 100 minutes Professor Jackson will take audiences on a remarkable 100-year journey that begins when thirteen distinct, disparate British

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67:14

184: The Rise of Adolf Hitler: From Failure to Führer...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/07/28

“There will be no more mercy now; anyone who stands in our way will be butchered.” This is the story of Adolf Hitler and the collapse of the Weimar Republic. A dropout. A failed applicant to Vienna’s prestigious Academy of Fine Arts. A decorated but low-ranking soldier who attempts to overthrow the state and is convicted of treason. But only a decade or so later, he’s the nation’s leader. Not just the Chancellor, not even a “mere” president. He’s Germany’s dictator. The “Führer.” How on

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74:40

183: The Origin of Fascism: “Il Duce” Benito...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/07/14

“Italy, Gentlemen, wants peace, wants quiet, wants work, wants calm; we will give it with love, if that be possible, or with strength, if that be necessary.”This is the story of Italy’s Benito Mussolini’s creation of fascism and rise to power in interwar Italy. Benito starts life the way his father intended—as a socialist—and the often moving, young schoolteacher quickly emerges as a leading voice in the movement as he’s entrusted to serve as the editor of one of the party’s most important

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49:50

182: A Prologue to World War II: US Army Interwar...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/06/30

This is the story of interwar preparation–not that the United States realized it was preparing for World War II, new technologies, innovation, and a constant pushing of the limits in the 1930s did indeed help Uncle Sam prepare for the fight to come.To get us into an interwar mindset of praying for peace while preparing for war, Professor Jackson tells us the tale of the B-17 bomber and is then joined by GEN James E. Rainey, Commanding General, U.S. Army Futures Command, to discuss how the current

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68:22

181: American Aviation: The Growth of the Industry...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/06/16

“If he is lost it will be the most universally regretted single loss we ever had. But that kid ain’t going to fail.”This is the story of the high-fliers in early twentieth-century American aviation. Wright brothers Orville and Wilbur stunned the nation and the world with their pioneering flight in 1903, and since then, aviation has spread its wings, so to speak. The Wright Brothers and other innovators like Glenn Curtiss are innovating and pushing the limit while the Great War takes aviation to

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65:19

180: “A Race to the Sky”: The Rise of New York City’s...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/06/02

“If this is to be a skyscraper… why not make it scrape the sky.” This is the story of the race for the tallest building in New York City—in the world. Erstwhile partners-turned-bitter rivals, architects William Van Alen and Craig Severance are both looking to build the tallest skyscraper in New York City. William is working with automobile titan Walter Chrysler to build his Chrysler Building; Craig is working with George Ohrstrom, a.k.a., the “Boy Wonder” of Wall Street”, to build the Manhattan

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68:26

179: Bridging the Bay: San Francisco’s Golden Gate...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/05/19

“Everybody says it can’t be done.”This is the story of San Francisco’s two great bridges. The bustling cities of Oakland and San Francisco are separated by less than ten miles of water, but for early twentieth-century Bay Area residents, it may as well be thirty—that’s the distance traveling around the Bay. Meanwhile, the mile of water across the Golden Gate Strait makes communities directly north of San Francisco likewise inaccessible. Bridges across both stretches of water would change the

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248 results

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