The John Batchelor Show

9:55

S8 Ep1039: The Brutality of Frontier Warfare and the...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/22

The Brutality of Frontier Warfare and the Dispossession of Native Nations. Guest: Professor Richard Bell. Molly Brant, a Mohawk woman, navigated the brutal Western frontier, which served as a massive thousand-mile battlefield characterized by "scorched earth" tactics against civilians. Most Native nations allied with the British to prevent patriot expansion onto their lands. However, following the war, the British betrayed their allies in the Treaty of Paris, ceding indigenous territories to the

en

7:39

S8 Ep1039: Privateers and the Deadly Reality of...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/22

Privateers and the Deadly Reality of British Prison Ships. Guest: Professor Richard Bell. Privateers were government-sanctioned pirates who caused significant economic damage to the British while the Continental Navystruggled. William Russell, a schoolteacher, joined a privateering vessel but was captured and imprisoned in the HMS Jersey, a floating "black hole" in Brooklyn Bay. Mortality rates on these ships reached fifty percent, making them the deadliest sites of the entire war. Despite the

en

10:10

S8 Ep1039: Baron von Steuben and the Strategic...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/22

Baron von Steuben and the Strategic Overhaul at Valley Forge. Guest: Professor Richard Bell. Baron von Steuben, a Prussian officer, arrived at Valley Forge during the harsh winter of 1777–1778, desperate for a career after being forced out of the Prussian military. Though he arrived in a brilliant uniform, he was essentially a "soldier of fortune" hired by Benjamin Franklin and Silas Deane to instill order and discipline in the ragtag Continental Army. Washington's decision to hire him proved to be

en

7:01

S8 Ep1038: The "Hungry Summer" and the Stench of...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/22

The "Hungry Summer" and the Stench of Rot. Guest: Patrick Scanlan. Scanlan describes the unique horror of the blight's progression, noting that it struck potatoes both in the ground and in storage. Typically, the summer was the "hungry time" in Ireland as stocks ran low before the new harvest. However, P. infestans ensured that even harvested and stored potatoes rotted, removing any buffer for the starving peasantry. Witnesses described a distinctive, nauseating odor emanating from the blighted

en

12:39

S8 Ep1038: Phytophthora Infestans: The Science of the...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/22

Phytophthora Infestans: The Science of the Blight. Guest: Patrick Scanlan. The discussion turns to the biological cause of the famine: Phytophthora infestans, or the potato blight. Scanlan explains that Irish potatoes were grown from cuttings (clones), and this lack of genetic diversity made them uniquely vulnerable to pathogens. While Ireland had experienced localized crop failures before, the blight was a "novel pathogen" originating from Mexico. It traveled through the Americas before crossing

en

6:45

S8 Ep1038: The Conacre System and the Disincentive...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/22

The Conacre System and the Disincentive for Improvement. Guest: Patrick Scanlan. This segment defines the "conacre" system, a type of high-priced, short-term lease common in Ireland for growing potatoes. Unlike in England, where landlords and tenants often shared the costs of improvements, Irish land was rented "soil only." This meant any improvements made by a tenant, such as building a canal or even whitewashing a cottage, could lead the landlord's agent to raise the rent. Scanlan illustrates this

en

11:05

S8 Ep1038: Malthusian Logic and the "Check" of...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/22

Malthusian Logic and the "Check" of Hunger. Guest: Patrick Scanlan. Scanlan discusses the influence of economist Thomas Robert Malthus on Victorian policy, noting his argument that population growth would inevitably outstrip food production. Malthus viewed famine as nature's "last most dreadful resource" to restore balance. For Victorian policymakers, this logic justified a refusal to provide direct aid to the poor, fearing it would encourage "imprudent" reproduction and laziness. They believed

en

6:47

S8 Ep1038: An Oligarchy of Landlords and Forced...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/22

An Oligarchy of Landlords and Forced Enslavement. Guest: Patrick Scanlan. The conversation highlights the staggering concentration of land ownership in the Victorian era, where a mere 4,000 people owned 80% of Ireland. Batchelor characterizes this as a form of "forced enslavement," noting that the Irish people never voted for this arrangement; it was imposed through historical conquest. Scanlan explains that while the UK's electorate was growing, it remained an oligarchy dominated by aristocrats

en

12:52

S8 Ep1038: Conquest and the Legacy of the Ulster...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/22

Conquest and the Legacy of the Ulster Plantation. Guest: Patrick Scanlan. Batchelor and Scanlan trace the historical roots of land ownership in Ireland back to the conquests of Elizabeth I and Oliver Cromwell. Scanlan uses Shirley Castle in County Monaghan as an emblem of this era, noting the family were descendants of the Earl of Essex who received the land during the Ulster Plantation. The castle was a 19th-century faux-Tudor structure meant to evoke an ancient past, but it masked a modern

en

7:16

S8 Ep1038: The Fragile Three-Legged Stool of Irish...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/22

The Fragile Three-Legged Stool of Irish Agriculture. Guest: Patrick Scanlan. The discussion explores the specific mechanics of 19th-century Irish agriculture, which Scanlan describes as a "three-legged stool" of the potato, the pig, and turf fuel. The potato acted as the "glue" for a system that was surprisingly productive; Ireland was a major agricultural exporter of beef, pork, and oats to Great Britain despite its own poverty. The potato provided a high-yield food source that allowed landlords

en

10:34

S8 Ep1038: The Ghost Story of Skibbereen and Queen...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/22

The Ghost Story of Skibbereen and Queen Victoria. Guest: Patrick Scanlan. John Batchelor introduces Professor Patrick Scanlan to discuss the Great Famine and its impact on the millions who fled to America. The conversation begins with a "ghost story" involving Queen Victoria and the village of Skibbereen, which became an icon of the disaster after a journalist reported scenes of utter social collapse there in 1847. Though Victoria visited in 1849, folk memory often places her in Ireland during the

en

6:23

S8 Ep1029: SCHEDULE THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 6-18-26.

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/19

SCHEDULE THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 6-18-26.1922Colombia's Presidential Election and Abel de la Espriella. Guest: Mary Anastasia O'Grady. Mary Anastasia O'Grady discusses the upcoming Colombian election and frontrunner Abel de la Espriella. As a lawyer with multiple passports, de la Espriella positions himself as a disruptor similar to Donald Trump or Javier Milei. He advocates for building mega-prisons to confront gangs and reviving the hydrocarbon industry. 1Poverty and Economic Stagnation in

en

2:13

S8 Ep1026: Preview for Later Today: Amelia Bruno...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/18

Preview for Later Today: Amelia Bruno discusses modular electro-spray thrusters about the size of a postage stamp. Utilizing green monopropellant and solar power, this compact technology allows small satellites, like CubeSats, to change orbits or planes efficiently. It offers an affordable propulsion solution for universities and researchers exploring space using modular, scalable components.1962

en

3:16

S8 Ep1026: Preview for Later Today: Evan Ellis...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/18

Preview for Later Today: Evan Ellis examines President Nayib Bukele's controversial yet effective crackdown on gangs in El Salvador. By jailing over 90,000 people, Bukele has dramatically reduced violence, revitalized urban infrastructure, and attracted foreign capital. Despite "dystopian" and anti-democratic methods, the country is now reportedly safer than Canada, signaling a massive social shift.1909 SAN SALVADOR

en

1:10

S8 Ep1026: Preview for Later Today: Lance Gatling...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/18

Preview for Later Today: Lance Gatling explains how Japan avoided public panic during the Hormuz energy crisis despite threats to its oil supply. Through strategic petroleum reserves, energy diversification, and maintaining strong international relations — particularly with the United States — Japan successfully managed the potential shortage without gas lines or widespread anxiety among the general population.

en

2:11

S8 Ep1026: Preview for Later Today: Paul Lozano...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/18

Preview for Later Today: Paul Lozano envisions using fleets of autonomous small satellites equipped with tiny ionic thrusters to explore the asteroid belt. This cost-effective approach aims to gather scientific data and identify valuable resources, potentially sparking an industrial revolution while helping scientists understand the solar system's origins and improve planetary defense.

en

2:55

S8 Ep1026: Preview for Later Today: Bruce Nichols...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/18

Preview for Later Today: Bruce Nichols discusses Nathaniel Hawthorne's time in Concord among the transcendentalists. Unlike the wild optimist Ralph Waldo Emerson, Hawthorne's fiction explored human tragedy and the "evil lurking in the hearts of men." This ideological friction informed his work, particularly The Scarlet Letter, where he focused deeply on Hester Prynne's perspective.

en

1:58

S8 Ep1026: Preview for Later Today: Bruce Nichols...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/18

Preview for Later Today: Bruce Nichols reveals the entrepreneurial side of Henry David Thoreau, who significantly improved his family's pencil-making business. By researching German techniques and developing better graphite-boring methods, Thoreau created market-leading pencils. Despite his technical ingenuity, he eventually turned away from commerce toward a life of contemplation and letters at Walden.

en

1:57

S8 Ep1026: Preview for Later Today: Mary Anastasia...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/18

Preview for Later Today: Mary Anastasia O'Grady profiles Abelardo de la Espriella, a businessman with triple citizenship running for Colombia's presidency. Positioning himself as a disruptor similar to Donald Trump, de la Espriella appeals to voters tired of establishment politics. He seeks to change the status quo through a focus on entrepreneurship and a willingness to take risks.

en

4:16

S8 Ep1025: SCHEDULE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 6-17-2026

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/06/18

SCHEDULE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 6-17-20261933 IDAHOSimon Constable discusses the extreme heat in France and the potential global impact of a "super El Niño." He reports on significant drops in Brent crude, gold, and grain prices, while noting copper's rise. (1)Simon Constable examines the Makerfield by-election and its implications for Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership. He describes the British paper ballot voting process and the potential for new leadership rivals to emerge from Manchester

en

All Episodes

Similar Podcasts

Fox News Radio 1 Minute Newscast

FOX News Radio

Journal Afrique

RFI

Kabaaruuji

RFI Fulfulde

BBC News

BBC

Chương trình 60"

RFI Tiếng Việt