Podcast Transcript When you think of evil, characters like Hannibal Lecter, the Joker, and Michael Myers probably come to mind. But what is evil really? Evil can take different forms: sadistic and brutal, but it can also be boring and normalized. During the 1961 trial of Adolf Eichmann, political philosopher Hannah Arendt reported on the …
Podcast Transcript Today, cookbooks are ubiquitous. Go to any bookstore and you can find dozens, if not hundreds, of different cookbooks. Search online, and you can find tens of thousands of websites that provide recipes. The story of cookbooks is fascinating because it mirrors the entire evolution of human civilization. Not just how we cook …
Podcast Transcript One of the most legendary legions in the history of the Roman military was the Legio IX Hispana, or the Ninth Spanish Legion. They served under Pompey the Great and later with Julius Caesar in Gaul. They later served Augustus and were pivotal in the conquest of Britain under Emperor Claudius. Then at …
Podcast Transcript The month of August was named in honor of the emperor Augustus by the Roman Senate. Originally called Sextilis, the sixth month in the early Roman calendar, it was renamed in 8 BC to recognize Augustus’s achievements, particularly his victories and consolidation of power. According to Roman tradition, the month was chosen because …
Podcast Transcript In the 13th century, the Republic of Venice was one of the leading merchant empires in Europe. The merchants from Venice traveled far and wide in pursuit of profit. A few of them, however, traveled very far. A small group of men from the same family made the extremely long and dangerous voyage …
Podcast Transcript One of the most popular foods around the world is the hamburger. If most people think of American foods, it is probably the first thing that comes to mind. Hamburgers are pretty simple in terms of what they are composed of and how they are prepared, but they have developed an enormous amount …
Podcast Transcript Catherine the Great was one of the most influential rulers in Russian history, transforming the Russian Empire into a major European power through territorial expansion, internal reforms, and cultural patronage. Her reign marked the pinnacle of Enlightened Absolutism in Russia, as she embraced Western philosophical ideals while consolidating autocratic rule. Yet, she was …
Podcast Transcript Located in the Pearl River Delta, off the mainland of the People’s Republic of China, is Macau. Macau is often overlooked due to its larger neighbor, Hong Kong, but Macau, despite being similar, has had its own unique history. What began as a fishing village evolved into a major trading port, and in …
Podcat Transcript One of the most popular sports in North America and Northern Europe is ice hockey. Ice hockey, like all popular sports, has undergone considerable changes since its inception. In fact, hockey has a rather surprising origin and a relationship to other sports that many people are unaware of. Today, professional hockey is a …