Why Wars Happened History Podcast

They were Britain’s secret weapon — but history forgot them.

Historian Shannon Monaghan joins Why Wars Happened to reveal the covert world of the SOE: spies, saboteurs, and the “quiet company of dange…

Step inside the dark aftermath of Bacon’s Rebellion—a moment when Virginia teetered on the edge of collapse.

With Bacon dead, his successor failed to control the rebels, leaving the movement in chaos.…

Before the Cold War missiles, there was a Nazi engineer who changed everything.

Jon Cryer joins Why Wars Happened to talk about Robert Lusser, the man behind Germany’s V1 flying bomb, and how one fami…

Step inside the brutal aftermath of Bacon’s Rebellion—a colony on fire, a rebellion in ruins, and a governor consumed by vengeance.

After Nathaniel Bacon’s sudden death, his rebels collapsed under wea…

In this gripping episode of America Before the Revolution, step inside the chaos of Bacon’s Rebellion. Outnumbered but determined, Nathaniel Bacon shocked the colony with bold tactics—including the c…

In this immersive episode of America Before the Revolution, step into the chaos of Nathaniel Bacon’s Rebellion. After a fragile reconciliation with Governor Berkeley, suspicion boiled over into open …

The world is closer to the brink than you think.

Historian Chris Newton joins Why Wars Happened to reveal the repeating patterns from past wars — and why today’s tensions could spiral into World War I…

In this immersive episode of America Before the Revolution, step into the dramatic story of Nathaniel Bacon’s rebellion—a clash of power, corruption, and defiance that nearly tore the colony apart.

Ba…

Religion could have torn the Revolution apart — but it didn’t.

Historian Kate Carté reveals how the Great Awakening, Protestant ideas, Deism, anti-Catholic fears, and Enlightenment thought all collide…

Governor Berkeley refused to defend against native attacks—or even allow others to protect themselves. Into this chaos stepped Nathaniel Bacon, a fiery young leader who rallied desperate colonists to…

He’s Governor Tryon in Outlander and Gale in Baldur’s Gate 3 — but Tim Downie’s real passion is history and folklore.

Tim joins Why Wars Happened to share behind-the-scenes stories from acting, his lo…

Attacks from the Susquehannock tribe left colonists desperate for protection—but Governor Berkeley refused to act, offering strange half-measures that fueled outrage instead of relief. Fear turned to…

The American Revolution still has secrets.

Historian Jim Ambuske reveals hidden documents, Scottish influence, and the discoveries reshaping how we understand King George III, Virginia leaders, and Am…

Strange omens darkened Virginia—comets in the sky, swarms of pigeons blotting out the sun—and fear spread like wildfire among the colonists.

Into this tension stepped Nathaniel Bacon, a young newcomer…

In this immersive episode of America Before the Revolution, uncover how the king’s land giveaways to his favorites and the devastating Navigation Acts left the colony’s economy in ruins. Desperate co…

In this immersive episode of America Before the Revolution, discover how King Charles II gave away the entire colony of Virginia to his two friends, demanding back payments and control that enraged c…

Before the American Revolution, Virginia was drowning in chaos.

Tobacco prices collapsed, dragging the colony into poverty. Leaders tried to limit tobacco across colonies—but the plan fell apart, leav…

After Oliver Cromwell’s death, Virginia’s hopes for relief vanished. Instead, the crown tightened its grip with the Navigation Acts—laws that forced colonists to sell tobacco at rock-bottom prices wh…

In this immersive episode of Why Wars Happened, step inside the chaos after Oliver Cromwell’s death in 1658. His son Richard briefly took power, but his weakness paved the way for the exiled son of t…

In this immersive episode of Why Wars Happened, step inside 1658 Virginia, where Governor Matthews attempted to dissolve the elected Assembly and rule alone. But the Assembly fought back, launching a…