The story continues ... Two men, shaped by their opposing upbringings and lived experience, write about the pivotal conflict of the Civil War from opposing sides. We examine differences in outlook and writing styles that insight into both men as well as the larger forces behind the war itself. Works Cited: Gettysburg : The Confederate and Union Views of the Most Decisive Battle of the War - In One Volume https://www.jstor.org/stable/2116615?read-now=1&seq=8#page_scan_tab_contentshttps://acwm.org/blog/myths-misunderstandings-what-caused-civil-war/https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/resrep02487.pdf?refreqid=fastly-default%3A0ddb2c76d8c983455602f559b926b2e1&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2_SYC-7149%2Ftest&origin=&initiator=&acceptTC=1https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep02487?searchText=causes+of+the+civil+war&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Dcauses%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bcivil%2Bwar%26so%3Drel&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2_SYC-7149%2Ftest&refreqid=fastly-default%3Aa133a6037338dba4e02368034c584234https://www.history.com/news/slavery-profitable-southern-economyhttps://www.statista.com/statistics/1010169/black-and-slave-population-us-1790-1880/https://source.colostate.edu/what-really-started-the-american-civil-war/https://www.history.com/topics/19th-century/whig-partyhttps://civilwarintheeast.com/confederate-regiments/alabama/15th-alabama-infantry/https://www.thirteen.org/wnet/slavery/experience/education/narratives2.htmlhttps://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/first-battle-of-bull-run#section_2https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/william-c-oateshttps://www.history.com/news/why-the-civil-war-actually-ended-16-months-after-lee-surrendered

Tired of searching for the best - most comprehensive and entertaining - historical podcast series?!No worries - we did the work for you! Today we cut  through the weeds of endless podcast episodes and share the top three history series within podcasts. We answer listener questions, which include: What do you say to people who insist on the important of states rights as a cause of the civil war? Any books movies or series you’d recommend about the civil war?What surprised you about Gettysburg? How long does it take you to make an episode? Recommendations for your convince: :) The Last Podcast on the Left - Mormonism Series: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0fi5zxiqhFLLUfuzVuGptmThe Rest Is History (The Nazi Rise to Power) :      https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rest-is-history/id1537788786?i=1000640028826Dan Carlin's Hard Core History (A deep dive into WW2 and Japan) : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/supernova-in-the-east-i/id173001861?i=1000415837465

No single account of the Civil War can adequately tell the entire story; its causes, challenges, and societal impact are - to put it mildly - complicated. However, firsthand narratives of the war's great battles, daily struggles and accompanying frustrations provide a snapshot - a partial lens from which we can attempt to better understand the entire picture. In this three part series, we explore the life and writings of Northern Lieutenant Frank Haskell and Confederate Colonel William Oats.We’ll use their lives to better understand the causes of the civil war, the experience had by common soldiers during it and explore personal accounts at the battle of Gettysburg. Works Cited: Gettysburg : The Confederate and Union Views of the Most Decisive Battle of the War - In One Volume https://www.jstor.org/stable/2116615?read-now=1&seq=8#page_scan_tab_contentshttps://acwm.org/blog/myths-misunderstandings-what-caused-civil-war/https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/resrep02487.pdf?refreqid=fastly-default%3A0ddb2c76d8c983455602f559b926b2e1&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2_SYC-7149%2Ftest&origin=&initiator=&acceptTC=1https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep02487?searchText=causes+of+the+civil+war&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Dcauses%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bcivil%2Bwar%26so%3Drel&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2_SYC-7149%2Ftest&refreqid=fastly-default%3Aa133a6037338dba4e02368034c584234https://www.history.com/news/slavery-profitable-southern-economyhttps://www.statista.com/statistics/1010169/black-and-slave-population-us-1790-1880/https://source.colostate.edu/what-really-started-the-american-civil-war/https://www.history.com/topics/19th-century/whig-party

We meet the composer behind our theme song, pull up clips while having fun with music and answer listener questions - which include: Is Jesse James worth looking into? He was not a good person. How many people were at the healing springs when you were there? How long did it take you to find the right setup for your podcast? Could someone actually live in Lucy the Elephant? How many licks did it take for him to find the center of a tootsie pop? Check out the fantastic composer for the Backroad Odyssey Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd1imWePcbA&list=PLRAs8nFucLFttvPnbrnuA4XwGF3kw3jRv

Lucy the Elephant has loomed over the Jersey shoreline since 1881…This 65 foot behemoth Elephant-shaped structure consists of nearly one million pieces of wood, 22 windows and is deceptively large inside. After entering up a spiral staircase on either back leg, you’re greeted by a vast inner chamber accentuated by two round windows overlooking the crashing Atlantic sea.After climbing yet another staircase to visit the covered patio atop Lucy’s back, which overlooks Margate, Atlanta City and the ocean, one begins to wonder … Who built this and perhaps more curiously … why was Lucy built in the first place? Works Cited: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1555&context=master201019https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/27/nyregion/lucy-elephant-nj-airbnb.htmlhttps://roadtrippers.com/magazine/lucy-the-elephant/https://lucytheelephant.org/history/chapter-1-elephant-to-starboard/https://weirdnj.com/stories/lucy-the-elephant/https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2162

Explore the studio in my van! Today we’ll go over the trials, tribulations and joys that come with hosting a podcast from my van. We will describe my setup, share stories, and explain why I would change a thing. As always, we'll answer listener questions - which include: Is Marco Island the best place to find Florida Burrowing Owls? Do you prefer darker stories like Salem and The Donner Party over lighter ones? Do you and Noodles ever have to get towed? Just listened to the Jesse James episode, you mentioned that the house felt more like a museum, does that downplay the historical significance in your mind? Will you ever do longer series? Did you enjoy visiting Donner Lake? Links to equipment mentioned:Microphone: https://www.amazon.com/RØDE-Microphones-NT2AANNIV-Studio-Solution/dp/B004L06ZCM/ref=sr_1_2?crid=21KXEAEDZRSXO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.iM3Spt-8xvB7B-HmmP5r6l43TKexhHh_FJL7tPaeWLThRimQ2tVhzxkqQeipB7ABym6hfHZ36n_Mw96k9V2vfVdyNn6V0piTAIZahid7eYr_-qdgFIVPd7LRe-ZTCfk0D7WJTX_9x04p_fSS4jkkq_lP8KbNrkr4xBZOhZKKalts7gC1RZ6I0bcO1QMrktCshKqgR_72YSmX7EIbSm3Pd0BbRTnBvxu_7qgJsxnc1EcoMNTtO6YZo01KNCMGElS4fGfldg8X-UCdLHLrbTxv_vAoB0FyvkKC2jR2w-RPJog.xnNMgL9AwydlSHVEyXIgT0Byy2M_IT0Xa1gCQWushYw&dib_tag=se&keywords=Microphone+Rode+NT2+-+A&qid=1715831150&sprefix=microphone+rode+nt2+-+a+%2Caps%2C147&sr=8-2&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.c3015c4a-46bb-44b9-81a4-dc28e6d374b3Mixer: https://www.amazon.com/Rode-Rodecaster-Podcast-Production-Console/dp/B0B17V8NGX/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1G4K7NGKEAFLM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.wwYILicwnbN62A-D9Zlf5DeHS6FbhQQ_mtvb5Fe7-OYaDQ3tCfNfO5Y0trSdUfegGxm7vOsWwklkGFKhEYamJS5KgHbSQyddecrZT3pgyqFbeHAaKYlwGTVjBvtb-jirfPqWVqwPFH_v6PC1nJSdACs5WGlCcZ-O5gQDQsprlFBTfQkOnsW5vpic8GeXs6SJu3SC4ItDG7bd-Rq0kbcJsxRAYK6BYD7v07ZJ5Jt1Gc5rDsTqdUIlhm56wkyEi1axPgsEHE7H0uREI5jWcjFc19bluUgIvV4Mrv8IaF_O1pg.AYvU5fX2TBABwBQOXM8_lTerdyjTasCn8WWG94n1RA8&dib_tag=se&keywords=roadcaster+pro&qid=1715831187&sprefix=roadcaster+pro%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-5&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.2b70bf2b-6730-4ccf-ab97-eb60747b8daf

Marco Island is home to a group of residents that are unique and altogether unexpected: The Florida Burrowing Owl. Athene Cunicularia Floridana - or the Florida Burrowing Owl … is 9 inches and 5 ounces of wonderful oddity... Noodles and I visit Florida to learn about the owl, those that protect it, and much more! Works Cited: https://www.audubon.org/news/where-burrowing-owls-are-your-neighborshttps://www.audubonwe.org/owlwatchhttps://ccfriendsofwildlife.org/faq/starter-burrow/https://fsjconservation.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/burrowing-owls_-scrub-work-group.pdf

DON'T CRUSH PEOPLE WITH ROCKS!! Also, I share my top 5 picks for the best audiobooks to listen to while driving.We’ll also take listener questions at the end - including: Would you recommend going to Danvers instead of Salem? Do you think something like the witch trials could happen today? Can you do an episode on your van? What’s the legacy of Salem today?

The thrilling conclusion to the Salem Witch Trials is explored... At the location where the first accusations of witchcraft were made, Noodles and I tackle popular theories, forgotten history and overlooked locations.Although,  it’s temping to attribute one cause to the Salam Witch trials - the reality and it’s implications are much more complex.What happened in Salem Village in 1692 is both strange and familiar, ridiculous and understandable, outlandish and conventional. More than anything - the story of the trials, with its showings of fear, courage, cruelty, unpredictability, -  showcase the deepest parts of human nature in us all.works cited: https://www.jstor.org/stable/42909493?read-now=1&seq=13#page_scan_tab_contentshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-brief-history-of-the-salem-witch-trials-175162489/https://daily.jstor.org/caused-salem-witch-trials/https://salemwitchmuseum.com/2023/05/17/debunking-the-moldy-bread-theory/https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Salem-Witch-Trials-Documents/plot-summary/https://www2.tulane.edu/~salem/Chronology%20of%20Accusations.htmlhttps://salem.lib.virginia.edu/n92.htmlhttps://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-salem-witch-hanginghttps://salemwitchmuseum.com/locations/bridget-bishop-home-and-orchards-site-of/https://salemwitchmuseum.com/2023/05/17/debunking-the-moldy-bread-theory/https://www.history.com/news/notable-women-executed-salem-witch-trialshttps://www.sausd.us/cms/lib/CA01000471/Centricity/Domain/457/hysteria%20or%20psychedlics.pdf

Today we’ll be discussing everything involved with raising a healthy dog on the road. (We talk a bit about my dog van-dog Noodles, as well) We’ll also take listener questions at the end… Including:      Why don’t more people visit the Salem you went to?     Have you heard of the ergot theory?      What’s your least favorite town you’ve been to?     What do you use to write?     What was one thing that surprised you when recording the Salem episode?

Ever want to visit the real Salem? Join Noodles and I as we visit the location responsible for the start of the infamous witch trials.----A small shop is filled to the brim with sage, tarot cards and spell books. Thick incense obscures eager shoppers and visiting tourists. In the bustle, a  small book captures your attention“The Witches - Salem, 1692” The story contained within its pages begins NOT in the bustling modern town of Salem with its shops and attractions, but miles inland in the small house of a pastor. The first accusations of witchcraft are made inside its walls, stoking the fire of communal hysteria, religious zealotry and and ultimately the conviction and execution of 20 individuals. We visit the dark stone foundation far from the attractions of Salem. works cited: https://www.jstor.org/stable/42909493?read-now=1&seq=13#page_scan_tab_contentshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-brief-history-of-the-salem-witch-trials-175162489/https://daily.jstor.org/caused-salem-witch-trials/https://salemwitchmuseum.com/2023/05/17/debunking-the-moldy-bread-theory/https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Salem-Witch-Trials-Documents/plot-summary/https://www2.tulane.edu/~salem/Chronology%20of%20Accusations.htmlhttps://salem.lib.virginia.edu/n92.htmlhttps://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-salem-witch-hanginghttps://salemwitchmuseum.com/locations/bridget-bishop-home-and-orchards-site-of/

We discuss my struggle with ADD. I don’t share this story lightly - in fact it’s incredibly hard for me - but I hope that, if you’re listening and can relate, you'll benefit. We’ll also take listener questions - including: Did the Healing Springs water actually taste good? What's your studio setup? Do you have nicknames for Noodles? Grab a drink and let's hang out!

Battles rage throughout the 13 American Colonies … In rural South Carolina - on what is now called Slaughter Field - two British soldiers lie dying from their wounds. Death is but a certainty …  Ancestors of the Wassamasaw Tribe carry the soldiers to a spring known for it's healing properties. 6 months pass, the soldiers - assumed dead - walk back into the barracks in perfect health. How?Noodles and I visit the springs to find out.Works Cited: https://www.gowinlaw.com/blog/2018/6/25/the-deed-to-godhttps://www.southcarolinapublicradio.org/sc-news/2020-10-21/the-legend-of-healing-springs-keeps-pilgrims-coming-back-for-more-waterhttps://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/revolution_slaughter_field.htmlhttps://theclio.com/entry/15013https://www.scpictureproject.org/barnwell-county/healing-springs.html

Today we’ll be discussing three methods I use to find offbeat locations. No edits. No Script. We’ll  take listener questions at the end… p.s.For whatever reason, I’ve never been interested in what’s the popular thing to do - it might be the crowds, the conformity of it all or just a general lack of interest… But because of this, I’ve always searched for what’s off the beaten path - particularly when it comes to traveling. Over the years I’ve narrowed down my approach to three methods that are effective in finding interesting locations that people might not actively seek out…

The Donner Party gaze upon a path whose crossing grows less likely with each passing day. Death by cold or slow starvation is now - very much - a looming reality. Less than three miles from the summit, two frightening options become apparent:Abandon your remaining supplies and brave the grueling 10 day snow-laden trek across the mountains… ORChoose to retreat and wait out for a clearing in the weather. Neither, encourage optimism.

Feelings of loneliness can surface anywhere - especially when you’re on the road. Is van life glorified on social media? What do you do when loneliness strikes? Have you ever seen a UFO?!We discuss all of this and more as we unpack what it means to feel lonely while living full time in a van. No script. No edits.Grab a drink and let’s hang out..

Hundreds of thousands traveled the roughly 2,500 miles from Missouri to the pacific coast - chasing fertile soil, better fortune and predictable climate. Among the thousands to have made this difficult journey westwards, no single group has garnered as much attention, or endured so much, as the roughly 87 people now referred to as the Donner Party … Upon reaching their destination, 47 of the 87 remain… what happened? Works Cited: The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of the Donner Party Paperback – September 22, 2015Stuckey, M. E. (2011). The Donner Party and the Rhetoric of Westward Expansion. Rhetoric and Public Affairs, 14(2), 229–260. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41940539https://discover.hubpages.com/education/Donner-Party-Women-A-Tributehttps://sierranevadageotourism.org/entries/pioneer-monument/ed43023c-be23-4ee6-bbdc-f6b0b6eea706https://www.jstor.org/stable/41780798?read-now=1&seq=1#page_scan_tab_contentshttps://www.jstor.org/stable/41940539?searchText=the+donner+party&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Dthe%2Bdonner%2Bparty%26so%3Drel&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&refreqid=fastly-default%3Afae995de23f9342fd8c370bad8d6aabf&seq=8https://www.britannica.com/topic/Donner-partyhttps://www.history.com/topics/19th-century/donner-partyhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1885479/episodes/newhttp://thedonnerlife.weebly.com/characters.html

No edits. No script. In "Van Life Diaries", we  discuss experiences on the road, pull clips from previous episodes, talk  struggles, successes and everything in between. At each conclusion, I answer questions from listeners. Life questions, van questions, nothing is off limits. I’m going to grab a drink, if you’re in a position to as well grab a cold one and let’s hang out..

A water-logged marsh along highway 37, just west of Vallejo, California contains an object that perplexes, repulses and fascinates passing travelers.How did this get here? The answer might surprise you. This is the story of The Lone Toilet.

Something sinister happened behind these walls ...I walk past the green shutters and elongated windows of the Jesse James house…If not for the eerie feeling you get when approaching the entrance… it's beautiful.I grasp the handle and open the time tested door. - Jesse James survives shootouts, bullet wounds and the ravages of they American Civil War… but his murder, and the shadowy series of events leading to a gun aimed at the back of his exposed head at his home in St. Joseph Missouri, that’s a story worth telling.