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PODCAST

Hostile History

David Borys / Curiouscast

Since the dawn of time humanity has been at war. Conflict in one form or another has been part of our existence since we first walked the earth. While conflict and armed rebellion have evolved to look very differently over the centuries, if it feels like we’ve been here before it"s because we have. Join military historian David Borys who has spent his entire career studying armed conflict as he brings together some of the brightest minds to take you inside the world"s most defining conflicts and

history

All Episodes

0:30

Announcement: Hostile History and World War Two

Hostile History ·

2026/10/05

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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30:26

The Birth, Death and Rebirth of Captain America

Hostile History ·

2026/09/30

On this episode of Hostile History, David Borys is joined by pop culture historian Robert Weiner as they look at how the Second World War birthed one of the world’s most famous superheroes. They explore how the war provided clear villains for Captain America and his sidekick Bucky in the form of the Axis powers, but in the aftermath of the war, Captain America suddenly found himself on rocky ground as the world changed. New villains emerged and old animosities were forgotten. Captain America had to

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38:56

Beyond the Panels: Comic Books and the World Wars

Hostile History ·

2026/09/23

On this episode ofHostile History,David Borys is joined by historian Cord Scott to explore how the world wars became a catalyst for the mass production of comic books. While the First World War saw their introduction as comic strips, the success of these ‘strips’ resulted in a comic book boom in the inter-war period. Superheroes like Batman and Superman were the result, making their debut in the late 1930s. When the Second World War broke out comic books were mobilized for the war effort. Even

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16:15

Commit to the Myth – Nazi War Crimes and the Problem...

Hostile History ·

2026/09/16

On this episode of Hostile History, David Borys is joined by historian and drag queen Karla Marx as they dive deep into the reasons that the myth of the clean Wehrmacht became so powerful in the years after the war. The war became both a landscape for righteousness by those who fought against the Nazi’s but also a vehicle by which morality and ideology could be judged and justified. As a post-war Germany sought to rebuild itself and as a post-war United States sought to defend the values of

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41:00

Innocent Until Proven Guilty: The Myth of the Clean...

Hostile History ·

2026/09/09

How much of the German army’s conduct during the Second World War can really be separated from Nazi Germany’s crimes?In this episode of Hostile History, David Borys is joined by historian Waitman Beorn to examine one of the most persistent myths surrounding the Second World War: the idea that the German armed forces were largely honourable and professional, while responsibility for Nazi atrocities rested almost exclusively with the SS. Why did the myth emerge after the war, and why did it prove

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15:35

Unpacked – Hannah Snell

Hostile History ·

2026/09/02

The Woman Who Went to War Show Notes: Hannah Snell was an 18th-century English woman who defied every expectation, disguising herself as a man to join the British military. She fought in brutal battles, survived multiple wounds while hiding her identity, and returned home to reveal one of history's most astonishing stories of courage, endurance, and reinvention.Contact: Instagram: @canyonentertainment Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hostilehistory/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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46:05

Women at War: Europe’s forgotten fighters

Hostile History ·

2026/08/26

History remembers the generals, the kings, and the men who marched beneath national flags. But buried are other stories of support systems and networks that included spies, resistance fighters, smugglers, and revolutionaries. Women, who stepped into battle while the world tried to erase them from it.In this episode, we are joined by Margaret Hunt, emeritus from Uppsala University in Sweden, as we travel Europe between the 15th and 17th centuries to tear down misconceptions and uncover the

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31:02

Star Wars:Unpacked – In a Galaxy Not So Far Away

Hostile History ·

2026/08/19

On this episode of Hostile History, David Borys is joined by broadcaster, comic writer, and lifelong Star Wars fan Fred Kennedy to explore how George Lucas's space opera evolved from a simple adventure story into one of the most influential cultural phenomena in modern history. Along the way, they discuss how the franchise has reflected our world and the generations of fans who have made it their own.Whether you're a Jedi Master, a scruffy-looking nerf herder, or someone who simply loves great

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50:40

Star Wars and Modern Warfare

Hostile History ·

2026/08/12

When George Lucas created Star Wars, he imagined a space fantasy filled with laser swords, galactic empires, and battles between good and evil. But beneath the aliens and starships was something far more grounded and shaped by real-world war, political paranoia, insurgencies, and the machinery of modern conflict.In this episode, we investigate the surprisingly direct connection between Star Wars and modern warfare. From the jungles of Vietnam to the rise of authoritarian governments, from drone

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11:58

Unpacked – Baldwin IV - The Man Behind the Silver Mask

Hostile History ·

2026/08/05

How closely did Hollywood capture the remarkable life of Baldwin IV, the leper king of Jerusalem? Separating fact from fiction, this exploration examines his leadership, military skill, political challenges, and the dramatic liberties taken by Kingdom of Heaven, revealing the complex and important historical figure behind the cinematic legend. Contact: Instagram: @canyonentertainment Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hostilehistory/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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40:58

The Crusades

Hostile History ·

2026/07/29

The Crusades are often remembered as a holy war between Christianity and Islam with images of armored knights marching east beneath blood-red crosses, driven by faith, glory, and the promise of salvation.In this episode I’m joined by historian Niall Christie, as we travel back to the Holy Land between the 11th and 13th centuries to try and to help me understand what exactly happened during this time because nearly a thousand years later, the echoes of the Crusades still shape politics,

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35:59

Unpacked – The Odyssey – From Fable to Film

Hostile History ·

2026/07/22

Christopher Nolan’s epic film The Odyssey released in July 2026 made much ado about casting and approach to Homer’s epic. In this episode David chats with author and host of the podcast Let’s Talk About Myths, Baby Liv Albert about one of the oldest surviving works of literature.Contact: Instagram: @canyonentertainment Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hostilehistory/ Liv Albert https://www.mythsbaby.com/books-by-liv-albert Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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42:39

Democracy: From the ashes of Athenian wars

Hostile History ·

2026/07/15

Democracy is often treated like humanity’s greatest political achievement. A system built on freedom, equality, and the voice of the people. But its origins were anything but peaceful. Democracy was born in chaos, shaped by violence, and war. In this episode, we travel back with historian Jennifer Roberts from the City College of New York and the City University of New York Graduate Center to ancient Athens, where the world’s first experiment with democracy emerged. Long before modern elections and

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9:20

Unpacked – The Hitlerian Conspiracies

Hostile History ·

2026/07/08

Did Adolf Hitler really die in his Berlin bunker? Explore the enduring conspiracy theories, alleged sightings, Soviet secrecy, and the historical evidence separating fact from fiction surrounding Hitler's death. Contact: Instagram: @canyonentertainment Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/hostilehistory/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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46:37

Hitler's DNA

Hostile History ·

2026/07/01

For decades, Adolf Hitler sold the world a fantasy of racial purity . A myth so powerful it fueled one of history’s darkest regimes. In this episode, we dive into the strange and controversial story behind Hitler’s DNA. From modern genetic testing and explosive media headlines, we unravel how scientists, journalists, and historians are trying to answer a question that still fascinates the world: who was Hitler? We are joined by geneticist Professor Turi King and historian Dr. Alex J Kay, to help

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32:06

Iran: Oil, Power and Protest - Part Four: Axis and...

Hostile History ·

2026/06/17

In the final part of our series, we follow Iran beyond its borders and examine how the Islamic Republic built a powerful network of allies, militias, and proxy movements across the Middle East.Emerging from the trauma of the Iran–Iraq War and decades of isolation, Iran’s leadership developed a new strategy for survival: project influence without direct confrontation. Instead of relying solely on conventional military power, Tehran cultivated alliances with armed groups and political movements

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41:00

Iran: Oil, Power and Protest – Part Three: The...

Hostile History ·

2026/06/03

In Part 3 of our four-part series, we explore what happened after the revolution and how Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini transformed Iran from a monarchy into an Islamic Republic that would reshape politics across the Middle East because once the monarchy fell, the battle over Iran’s future had only just begun.Hostile History is once again joined by historian Roham Alvandi from the London School of Economics and Political Science as we continue our journey

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34:19

Iran: Oil, Power and Protest - Part Two: The Road to...

Hostile History ·

2026/05/20

In Part Two of our four-part series on modern Iran, we move from the oil boom years of the 1970s to the collapse of the Shah’s regime and the birth of the Islamic Republic.Fueled by soaring oil prices, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi appeared stronger than ever. Tehran was transforming into a modern global capital, the military was expanding at breakneck speed, and Iran had become one of America’s most important allies in the Middle East. But beneath the surface, anger was building. Historian Roham

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44:31

Iran: Oil, Power and Protest - Part One: In the...

Hostile History ·

2026/05/20

In the first episode of this four part series, we travel back in time to Iran to chart how a modern monarchy which was armed, wealthy, and globally backed lost control with the help of historian Roham Alvandi from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

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1:10

Coming Soon

Hostile History ·

2026/05/01

Conflict in one form or another has been part of our existence since the dawn of time. Although war has evolved over the centuries, if it feels familiar, it's because it is. Every other week, military historian David Borys is joined by the world's brightest minds to take you inside defining conflicts and rebellions to better understand what's happening today. Because history doesn't just repeat itself, it echoes. Hostile History coming soon

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