History Fix

Epizodes

• 
  Ep. 169 Zombies: How Centuries of Trauma Transformed Into the Walking Dead of Today 04.10.2026 36min

  It’s finally Spooktober! All October long I’ll be telling spooky, mysterious true stories from history, starting with zombies. Zombies are a big deal. They are all over pop culture in movies and TV shows, even video games. People love a good zombie apocalypse story. But the pop culture zombies of today are quite different than how zombies started out. They’re almost a different beast entirely. So where did the idea of a zombie come from? How did they get so twisted? And could zombies possibly...
• 
  Ep. 168 The Fall of the Inca Empire: How the Inca Actually Conquered Themselves, Pizarro Just Got Lucky 27.09.2026 41min

  Despite the results of my recent poll, I'm making the executive decision to cover Francisco Pizarro and the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire in 1532. But, trust me, you won't be disappointed. This story is insane. We have rags to riches characters, we have mighty kings, we have brothers fighting amongst themselves, partners backstabbing each other. We have lies and deceit and secret ambushes. We have murder, lots and lots of murder, and we have the rise of a new world order, for better, or...
• 
  Ep. 167 El Dorado: How the Mythical City of Gold Was Actually Always a Person 20.09.2026 42min

  Of course we’re going to El Dorado! Or, at least, we’re going to meet him? Because, when you take a look at the primary sources, where this myth of El Dorado, the city of gold, really came from, it becomes immediately apparent that El Dorado was never a city at all… he was a person. El Dorado, the gilded one, was first described as a wealthy leader who covered his body in gold dust and then washed it off in a sacred lake. The Spanish simply took that and ran with it. If this king had enough g...
• 
  Ep. 166 Sir Walter Raleigh: How the Elizabethan Golden Boy Flew Too Close to the Sun 13.09.2026 40min

  I have wanted to talk about Sir Walter Raleigh for so very long. He had a lot of power and influence during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and impacted the world we know today more than people realize. He's even the one who came up with the name Virginia! And yet, most don't know the first thing about Raleigh. Who was he really? And how did he go from the queen’s favorite golden boy to beheaded at Westminster in the span of just a few decades? Let's fix that. Episodes about the Roanoke ...
• 
  Ep. 165 Dolly Parton: How a Poor Girl from East Tennessee Became One of the Most Universally Loved Superstars of All Time 06.09.2026 41min

  So many important lessons to be learned from the late and great Dolly Parton! I'm back with a bang this week Fixies to uncover the unexpected legacy left by super famous, super loved, greatly missed Dolly Parton. How does a girl from a poverty stricken tobacco farm in the mountains of Tennessee, one of twelve children, with an illiterate father, come to be one of the most famous performers, business women, philanthropists, and all around enigmas of all time? More importantly, how is it possib...
• 
  History Fix News #2: The Theft of the Ancient Vix Torque Necklace Robs Us of Much More Than Its Weight In Gold 19.08.2026 21min

  Join the Patreon for more exclusive content like this! I'm back with my second ever episode of History Fix News and this time I'm sharing it with the masses! This news story comes out of Burgundy, France and deals with the recent theft of an ancient Celtic necklace known as the Vix Torque. We'll discuss serious flaws in French museum security following both the October 2025 jewel heist (episode 137) and this new Vix Torque heist. We'll also explore what the Vix Torque told us about the ancien...
• 
  A Quick Announcment 02.08.2026 1min

  Subscribe to the Patreon here! You'll have access to 37 mini fix episodes, 3 History Fix Trivia episodes, plus a fun new segment I have up my sleeve! Otherwise, I'll catch you all in September! Shoot me a message! Support the show
• 
  Mini Fix #37 Preview: Benedict Arnold 26.07.2026 1min

  Listen to this full mini fix episode on Patreon! Benedict Arnold is remembered as a notorious turncoat, a traitor who secretly switched sides during the Revolutionary War. His legacy is one of betrayal, selfishness, and greed. But how did it happen? How did a man who once exclaimed “Good God, are the Americans all asleep and tamely giving up their glorious liberties?” upon hearing news of the Boston Massacre end up fighting alongside the enemy? Like with most villains from history, ther...
• 
  Ep. 164 James Armistead Lafayette: How an Enslaved Black Man Helped Win Freedom for White Americans 19.07.2026 27min

  Everyone knows about General George Washington and the British surrender at Yorktown, Virginia in 1781. But, very few people know the circumstances surrounding that surrender. Very few people know about the involvement of an enslaved Black man named James who worked as a double agent during the war, secretly passing information to the Americans while feeding the British false leads. Few people know the risks James took, risks that eventually led to an American victory, risks that stood to gai...
• 
  Mini Fix #36: The Edenton Tea Party 12.07.2026 20min

  I've decided to release this mini fix episodes to the masses and I hope my Patreon subscribers won't mind sharing. This story has gone almost completely untold for far too long and the lessons it teaches are too important to ignore any longer. If you enjoy listening this week, I hope you'll consider subscribing to the Patreon where you'll find tons of other exclusive mini fix episodes plus other bonus content and regular episodes 2 days early and ad free. Now, let's dive into the world of Ede...
• 
  Ep. 163 Tea: How an Ancient Medicinal Drink Helped Brew a Revolution 05.07.2026 41min

  Tea has a long and rich history dating back to ancient China. But, when you think about where in the world they drink the most tea now, one country in particular probably comes to mind. It does for me anyway: England, Great Britain, the United Kingdom, whatever you want to call it. Those guys. They really do love a cuppa tea. Tea is notably absent, for the most part, however, in the United States where coffee reigns supreme. I mean, we have some ice tea drinkers here in the south and you may ...
• 
  Mini Fix #35 Preview: Historically Gay? 28.06.2026 3min

  Listen to this full mini fix episode on Patreon! In this whirlwind mini we’re going to talk about 7 historical figures who were at least probably gay. A few of these were definitely gay or at least bisexual. For some we’ll never know for sure, we can only speculate. But, you know, why does it matter? Some might be wondering. Why does the sexual orientation of long dead people even matter? Because in many of these examples, these are highly respected and revered historical figures and to...
• 
  Ep. 162 Juneteenth: How a Day in Galveston, Texas Came to Symbolize the End of Slavery in the United States 19.06.2026 22min

  Since 2021 Juneteenth National Independence Day has been a federal holiday in the United States. But what exactly is the significance of that date, June 19th? Is that when the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, freeing enslaved people in Confederate States? Is it when the 13th Amendment was ratified, abolishing slavery in all of the states? Nope. Let's get to the bottom of what happened on June 19, 1865 and why it led to a new national holiday some 150 years later. Support the show!&...
• 
  Mini Fix #34 Preview: Metal Detector Finds 14.06.2026 1min

  Listen to this full mini fix episode on Patreon! After researching the Galloway Hoard last week, which was discovered by a metal detectorist in 2014, I found myself wondering what other treasures have been found this way. So this week I present to you 6 priceless historical treasures that were unearthed by amateur metal detector enthusiasts almost exclusively in the UK. We'll also discuss why that is... the UK thing! Sources: British Museum “Buried treasure: top 10 finds” United St...
• 
  Ep. 161 The Galloway Hoard: How the Discovery of Viking Era Buried Treasure Raises More Questions Than Answers 07.06.2026 38min

  Come explore the Galloway Hoard with me, a Viking era treasure hoard found buried beneath a field in Galloway, Scotland back in 2014. Silver Viking arm bands, a rock crystal jar dating back to ancient Rome, a silver vessel from 4,000 miles away in present day Iran - these treasures hidden around the year 900 are incredible. But, upon closer inspection, they raise more questions than answers. Is this actually Viking treasure? Arm bands are very Viking. But then why do they have inscriptions on...
• 
  Mini Fix #33 Preview: The Mayerling Incident 31.05.2026 3min

  Listen to this full mini fix episode on Patreon! In the early morning hours of January 30, 1889 Crown Prince Rudolf, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, murdered his 17 year old mistress and then took his own life at his hunting lodge in Mayerling, Austria. The details of this apparent murder suicide were pretty straightforward. But, in the confusion that followed, much was done to cover up the details of what actually happened. Evidence was covered up, misinformation was spread, a...
• 
  Ep. 160 Franz Ferdinand: How One Man's Death Sparked a Fire That Ignited Into World War I 24.05.2026 34min

  This week we're delving into the assassination of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, on June 28, 1914. This death was especially significant because it's often cited as the catalyst that started World War I. But that's never really made sense to me. Why would the death of this one man compel over 100 countries to involve themselves in the most horrific war the world had ever known, the Great War? Let's fix that. Support the show! Join the Patreon (p...
• 
  Mini Fix #32 Preview: Sweating Sickness 17.05.2026 2min

  Listen to this full mini fix episode on Patreon! I have to talk about sweating sickness. For some reason it has always completely fascinated me. What was this mysterious and highly deadly illness that plagued mostly just the upper class in England during the Tudor dynasty? Why such a specific and unlikely target victim? Why did it go away just as suddenly as it appeared? Join me to examine the evidence and the theories and let me know in the comments... what do you think sweating sickne...
• 
  Ep. 159 Absinthe: How Bad Science and a Greedy Wine Industry Transformed the "Green Fairy" Into the "Green Demon" 10.05.2026 35min

  Absinthe, a pale green drink consisting of mostly alcohol and small amounts of wormwood oil, has only recently been legalized in much of the western world after a nearly century long ban. Everyone knows the myths about absinthe - that it causes hallucinations, that it'll make you go crazy. They banned it for a reason after all right? It's powerful, dangerous stuff which, in many ways, makes it all the more alluring to the masses. But what if I told you that thujone, the psychoactive chemical ...
• 
  Mini Fix #31 Preview: The Mysterious Death of Amy Dudley 03.05.2026 1min

  For this mini fix, I asked you guys on Instagram to choose between 3 Queen Elizabeth I related topics and the majority of you picked the mysterious death of Amy Dudley! The results were: What the heck was sweating sickness - 24%The mysterious death of Amy Dudley - 44%The execution of Sir Walter Raleigh 32%Make sure you follow me on Instagram (@historyfixpodcast) to cast your vote next time I do something like this! This not so mini fix was so dang interesting it stretched past the 30 mi...