Afleveringen
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On February 28th, 2025, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. president Donald Trump met in a televised bilateral meeting in the Oval Office. Most of the broadcast went well, but tensions would skyrocket in the last 10 minutes. What many referred to as an ambush broke out, leading to a shouting match between Zelensky, Trump, and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance. No sooner were voices raised that headlines were already being made for what Trump would call an ordeal that "would make great television".
The immediate aftermath saw many events unfolding, from Zelensky leaving the White House without signing the original mineral deal to a number of nations questioning their long-standing with the United States - concerned that the volatile and unprecedented outburst, followed quickly by the retraction of vital intelligence aid sent to Ukraine, would make the U.S. an untrustworthy ally. A "Coalition of the Willing" began to form, notably among European nations as well as nations like Canada, in the wake of concerns about old alliances.
But perhaps the most important question of all remained on everyone's minds - What would this mean for the future of the war in Ukraine? There have been many speculations about what this outburst and subsequent U.S. policy means for Ukraine's immediate concerns for the end of the war and what future security for Ukraine against Russian aggression.
Join the gang this week as we dive right in to the controversial meeting in the Oval Office, how the world reacted in the weeks following what can only be described as a meltdown, and what it could mean for the future of the war in Ukraine.
This episode was hosted by Arron Keegan, Hayley O'Connor, and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Follow us on social media! Just search for That's Old News on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X!
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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsoldnewspodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoldnewspodcast/
Twitter/X: x.com/oldnewscast
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"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few". Indeed, no truer words need be spoken to describe the heroics of those brave pilots who defended Britain's skies during the Battle of Britain - ensuring that Britain could live on to continue the struggle against Nazi Germany at the beginning of the Second World War. And the man of this episode, John Allman "Paddy" Hemingway, not only made his name known during this period, but lived such an incredible life that it was impossible not to do an episode on him.
Sadly, Hemingway passed away at the incredible age of 105 years old on March 17th, 2025. With his passing came the end of what Churchill called "The Few". He was the last verified British pilot who fought in the Battle of Britain, and the RAF rightly called his passing the "end of an era".
In memory of him and in honour of his service, join Arron this week as he recounts the incredible life of "Paddy" Hemingway. From his early life to his time in the RAF, diving headfirst into the Invasion of France and the Battle of Britain, then straight into his service as an air traffic controller for the D-Day Landings, his time near the end of the war in Italy, and his postwar life. And hear about how he, incredibly, survived being shot down four times - with two of those times happening behind enemy lines, and forcing Paddy to sneak his way back to friendly territory to continue the fight!
This episode was hosted by Arron Keegan and joined by Hayley O'Connor and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to follow us on social media! Just search for That's Old News on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X, or head to the linktree in the podcast's about section!
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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At this point in our story, Napoleon is still a young man but lacks direction. His posting as an artillery officer was going nowhere, he failed to bring the revolution to his native Corsica, and was cast out as a political refugee from his homeland. It was through a turn of fate that his friend, Antoine Christophe Saliceti, had recommended the young artillery officer for a position commanding the right wing at a siege ongoing in the southeast of France, and one that would finally thrust him into the history books - The Siege of Toulon.
Join Arron this week as he looks at the earliest commands of the young Napoleon Bonaparte, beginning with his brilliant tactical mind first being displayed at the 1793 Siege of Toulon, continuing into his ruthless and brilliantly effective suppression of a Royalist mob seeking to overthrow the government on 13 Vendémiaire, and ending with his incredible strategic prowess in the First Italian Campaign. We have heartbreak, funny moments, incredible moments of bravery, and stunning acts of strategic oversight that would see seemingly hopeless situations turn into brilliant opportunities for Napoleon to display his mastery at the art of war.
This episode was hosted by Arron Keegan and joined by Hayley O'Connor and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Follow us on social media! Just search for That's Old News on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X or head to the linktree in our bio!
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Chapters:
(00:00) Preamble
(01:53) Intro
(03:13) Madame Tussaud
(07:02) Part 1 Recap
(09:37) Background to the Siege of Toulon
(21:34) The Siege of Toulon
(40:02) The Interim
(43:40) 13 Vendémiaire
(54:15) Joséphine de Beauharnais
(59:01) The Italian Campaign, From Start to End
(02:35:27) Post Show Banter
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Sources & Further Reading:
- Broers, Michael, "Napoleon: Soldier of Destiny", Vol. 1.
- Esdaile, Charles J., "The Wars of the French Revolution, 1792-1801".
- Griffith, Paddy, "French Napoleonic Infantry Tactics, 1792-1815".
- Johnson, Paul, "Napoleon"- Mikaberidze, Alexander, "The Napoleonic Wars".
- Phipps, Ramsay Weston, "Armies of the First French Republic, Vol. 5: The Armies on the Rhine, in Switzerland, Holland, Italy, Egypt, and the Coup D'État of Brumaire 1797-1799".
- Popkin, Jeremy D., "A New World Begins: The History of the French Revolution".
- Roberts, Andrew, "Napoleon the Great".
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"Sadness, anger, horror, pain, silence, trauma – all words that describe the legacy of the Irish Civil War. Although the conflict only lasted eleven months, the trauma of the Civil War can be seen all over this island – North, South, East and West, like a wound that has not healed." - Liz Gillis.
From the outbreak of the war, to the Free State offensive in the south, to the clean-up operations in the west, and to the reprisal attacks that marked its conclusion, we've explored the Irish Civil War from beginning to end. We've seen a new Free State army rise up in the remnants of the War of Independence and deal with all the struggles of a new fighting force where none existed before. We've witnessed families torn apart because of allegiances to either the new Pro-Treaty Free State Government or the Anti-Treaty IRA. Close friends turned on each other because of the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, leading to targeted attacks, heart-breaking execution orders, and wounds that won't be healed for decades. And so all that's left is to see what happened in those years following the end of hostilities.
Join Conor this week as he jumps in to the last episode of his series on the Irish Civil War and how the country tried to heal after months of gruelling war. From the role of the Catholic Church in reconciling past grudges, to how the new government would retain control and quell the violence, and the demobilisation of 30,000 men from the National Army, this episode is all about building a future worthy of the Republic so many fought and died to achieve. We hope you've enjoyed the series to date, and it's time to go out with a bang,
This episode was hosted by Conor Daly and joined by Hayley O'Connor and Arron Keegan. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Follow us on our socials! Just search for "That's Old News" on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X, or head to the linktree in the podcast's about section and follow us from there!
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Chapters:
(00:00) Intro
(02:03) The effects of the Irish Civil War
(08:25) A Strong Democracy, Avoiding Communism and Fascism
(15:37) The Role of the Catholic Church
(21:59) Government Control and Regaining Control on the Monopoly of Violence
(43:01) Issues in the National Army
(57:05) Politics
(01:16:45) Conclusion and Ireland Today
(01:19:48) Post Show Banter
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Sources & Further Reading:
- Bielenberg, Andy, "The Irish Civil War Fatalities Project: death and killing in the Civil War", available online at https://www.rte.ie/history/civil-war-fatalities/2024/0306/1436312-death-and-killing-in-the-irish-civil-war/
- Bielenberg, Andy, and Dorney, John, "Explore the Fatalities Map", available online at https://www.ucc.ie/en/theirishrevolution/irish-civil-war-fatalities-project/explore-the-fatalities-map/
- Dorney, John, "The Civil War in Dublin".
- Ferriter, Diarmaid, "Between Two Hells".
- Ferriter, Diarmaid, "The legacy of the Civil War", available online at https://www.rte.ie/history/the-end-of-the-civil-war/2023/0228/1359432-the-legacy-of-the-civil-war/
- History Ireland, "A Century On, How do we View the Civil War?".
- History Ireland, "How Many Died and How in the Irish Civil War".
- History Ireland, "The Irish Civil War: A Military Analysis".
- Hopkinson, Michael, "Green Against Green".
- Irish History Podcast, "The Road to War: How the Irish Civil War Started".
- Kavanagh, Jack, "The largest losses: National Army casualties in the Civil War", available online at https://www.rte.ie/history/civil-war-fatalities/2024/0220/1433337-the-greatest-losses-national-army-casualties-in-the-civil-war/
- Kinsella, Eoin, "The Irish Defence Forces, 1922-2022".
- McCarthy, John P., "O'Higgins, Kevin Christopher", available online at https://www.dib.ie/biography/ohiggins-kevin-christopher-a6812
- Talking History with Patrick Geoghegan, "The Irish Civil War".
- The History of Ireland, "How do we View the Irish Civil War?".
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Rabies - a vaccine preventable, zoonotic, viral disease affecting the central nervous system. It infects mammals, spreading through saliva, scratches, or direct contact with mucosa (eyes, mouth, or open wounds). As soon as clinical symptoms , rabies is near-100% fatal. It is present on all continents except Antarctica, and is responsible for, at least, some 59,000 deaths annually. Historically it has been present for thousands of years, with the first written record of a person killed as a result of rabies arising in 2300 BC in the Mosaic Esmuna Code of Babylon. And yet, it wouldn't be until 1885 AD when the first cure for rabies, in the form of a vaccine, was created and trialled.
Join Hayley this week as she dives head first into the terrifying world and history of rabies, from its causes, its terrifying symptoms, and how the man who helped to revolutionise the way we consume and store milk created the vaccine that would save millions of lives with nothing more than a dream and a fascination for removing the spines of rabbits and injecting it into his test subjects all in an effort to cure this terrible disease... but it was worth it in the end!
This episode was hosted by Hayley O'Connor and joined by Arron Keegan and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Follow us on social media! Just search for "That's Old News" on Tiktok, Instagram, and Twitter/X, or head to the linktree in our bio and follow us from there!
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Chapters:
(00:00) Intro
(05:04) 1950s America, Little Timmy, and Buddy the Rabies-Ridden Dog Story
(15:38) "Mad dog disease", What is Rabies, and the History of Identifying the Virus
(18:04) Symptoms, Furious and Paralytic Rabies, and How it Spreads
(24:42) Louis Pasteur and the First Vaccine for Rabies
(49:09) Rabies in Today's World
(55:00) Post Show Banter
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Sources & Further Reading:
- Held, Joe R., Steele, James H., and Tierkel, Ernest S., "Rabies in Man and Animals in the United States, 1946-65: An Epidemiologic Review" in "Public Health Reports (1896-1970) 82, no. 11 (1967).
- Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Animal Health Surveillance, "Rabies", available online at https://www.animalhealthsurveillance.agriculture.gov.ie/individualdiseaselistings/rabies/ .
- John Hopkins Medicine, "Encephalitis", available online at https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/encephalitis#:~:text=Encephalitis%20is%20inflammation%20of%20the,light%2C%20mental%20confusion%20and%20seizures
- Parker, Steve, "Medicine: The Definitive Illustrated History".
- World Health Organization, "Rabies", available online at https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rabies#:~:text=Rabies%20is%20a%20vaccine%2Dpreventable,%2C%20cats%2C%20livestock%20and%20wildlife .
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"The art of history lies in the debate" is an adage that Arron lives by. One can be as well read on any particular topic as possible, but it is through discussion that facts are made concrete and we can fully understand a topic. It opens our minds to opposing viewpoints that challenge what we believed, and either helps to reinforce or reassess our positions. And what better way than to do that in a freeform conversation?
Join Arron and Hayley this week as they dive in to some history discussion topics, ranging from interesting thought experiments such as "Can we ever truly know history?" to more controversial questions like "Should the British Museum return artifacts to their countries of origin?", as well as mixing history with modernity and ask "Is the modern United States an imperialist power?" This was great fun to record, and we'd love to hear what you all think about either these topics or the answers we've given!
This episode was hosted by Arron Keegan and Hayley O'Connor. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Follow us on social media! Just search for "That's Old News" on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter, or head to the linktr.ee in our bio!
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Chapters:
(00:00) Intro
(03:52) Can we ever truly know history?
(11:18) Did the French Revolution need to be so bloody?
(19:20) Should history include ethical judgements?
(28:28) Is the modern US an imperialist power?
(33:03) Should the British Museum return artifacts to their countries of origin?
(42:38) Should history lessons focus on the history of your own country?
(53:53) Should British people be proud of the British Empire?
(01:02:00) What was the main cause of World War I?
(01:11:46) Did the fall of the Berlin Wall symbolize the definitive end of the Cold War?
(01:20:29) Post Show Banter
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What do the release of Shrek, a turkey puppet singing at the Eurovision, and two tone-deaf Irish "artists" with too much free time and hairspray have in common? Well they make it onto our tier list of course! These 3 along with 27 more events of the last 25 years have made an impact on our world in one way or another, and today the gang is going to rank them from S tier all the way down to F tier! Usually when writing about history, the last 20 years can't be written about as it doesn't qualify as "historical" just yet so what about some events that will one day make its way into history curriculums? Tune in this week to find out!
What do you think of your tier list? Do you agree with us, or will you fight tooth and nail to move some of our rankings either higher or lower? Let us know, and any suggestions you may have for what didn't make it onto the list!
This episode was hosted by Arron Keegan, Hayley O'Connor, and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda.
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Chapters:
(00:00) Intro
(07:28) Paris Terror Attacks
(12:48) Y2K Bug
(20:12) Lelli Kelly Shoes
(24:46) Assassination of Osama bin Laden
(30:25) Deepwater Horizon
(39:00) Michael Jackson's Death
(43:33) US Withdrawal from Afghanistan
(48:48) PlayStation 2
(53:15) Shrek
(55:51) Death of Gay Byrne
(01:03:17) Edward Snowden
(01:10:27) Swine Flu
(01:14:32) The Celtic Tiger
(01:23:10) Malaysia Flight 370
(01:30:08) Jedward
(01:32:14) Tayto Chocolate Bar
(01:36:48) YouTube Launching
(01:42:10) Pausing Live TV
(01:46:47) Ireland at Euro 2016
(01:53:10) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident
(01:58:25) 2010 Chilean Miner Rescue
(02:04:31) Hardy Bucks
(02:10:00) The Arab Spring
(02:18:36) New York City Synagogue Tunnel Incident
(02:26:44) Gangnam Style
(02:30:50) Xi Jinping President for Life
(02:37:43) Isabelle Dinoire First Partial Face Transplant
(02:42:37) F*$# You Deputy Stagg!
(02:45:59) Dustin the Turkey at the Eurovision
(02:48:16) Nintendo Wii
(02:53:30) Conclusion
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All legends have an origin. For the great Napoleon Bonaparte, that origin was on the small Mediterranean island of Corsica - purchased just one year before his birth. In the span of one lifetime he came from a modest but humble upbringing, especially by French standards, and became the dominant power of Europe. His story, from the first signs of life to the final breaths before death, is so fascinating that there have been more books written with Napoleon in the title or subtitle than there have been days since his death all the way back in 1821.But where did it all begin? Napoleon did not simply spawn in as Emperor of the French with an empire that challenged the old monarchies of Europe, or a legacy that is still discussed today. Join Arron for his first of twelve episodes on the incredible life of Napoleon Bonaparte, beginning with the first part all about his life right up until the 1793 Siege of Toulon. From his early struggles, his academic exceptionalism, his early military career, his influences and outlook on life, and his prime positioning to create a legend.This episode was recorded by Arron Keegan and joined by Hayley O'Connor and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X for clips, memes, and fun facts!========Chapters:(00:00) Preamble(02:52) Introduction(20:44) Birth and Corsican Life(30:59) Early Schooling and the École Militaire(42:22) Commissioned Life, "On Suicide", Losing Virginity, and Questioning Royal Authority(57:31) The French Revolution(01:32:32) Corsican Revolutionary(01:43:56) Post Show Banter========Sources & Further Reading:========Broers, Michael, "Napoleon: Soldier of Destiny", Vol. 1.Johnson, Paul, "Napoleon"Mikaberidze, Alexander, "The Napoleonic Wars".Popkin, Jeremy D., "A New World Begins: The History of the French Revolution".Roberts, Andrew, "Napoleon the Great".
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The guerrilla stage of the Irish Civil War has come to an end. With a defeat in conventional warfare and now being scattered to the wind, Anti-Treaty IRA forces are now completely unable to mount an effective resistance against the Free State forces who for months have constantly kept up mounting pressure against their strongholds in the south and west. Clean up operations are now underway to ensure the pacification of the most contested regions throughout this struggle, but the bloodshed is far from over. Punishments and reprisal attacks, effectively tit-for-tat attacks, are in full swing. The darkest moments of the Civil War are about to unfold.
The Public Safety Act, better known as the Emergency Powers Act, has been passed. In short, government forces were free to arrest, trial, and ultimately execute those suspected of either being actively involved with Anti-Treaty IRA forces or enabling them to continue their armed resistance against the new Free State. 81 Anti-Treaty prisoners were formally sanctioned and executed by the Army Council, resulting in IRA forces targeting "Big Houses" - symbols of the old Protestant Ascendancy - and prominent TDs who would take their seats in the new, now officially recognised, Dáil Éireann.
Join the gang this week for the penultimate episode in Conor's Irish Civil War series as we look at one of the darkest chapters in the history of the history of the Irish Free State and Republic.
This episode was hosted by Conor Daly and joined by Arron Keegan and Hayley O'Connor. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to follow us on social media! Just search for That's Old News on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X!
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I've been working on the railroad, all the live long day! I've been working on the railroad, until a 3'8" tamping rod is blown right through my brain!... wait a minute those aren't the lyrics.
Well if your name happens to be Phineas P. Gage and you work as a blasting foreman during the great western railroad expansions in the United States then those lyrics hit a lot closer to home than you might think. In a freak accident on just a normal day of work, Gage's trusty tamping rod was blown straight through his brain before landing 30 yards away. After what amounted to a little lie down, an unbothered Gage simply stood up and walked back home to get some medical attention. And after the whole ordeal, Gage would live for almost another 12 years before finally succumbing to his injuries.
Join Hayley this week as she recounts the explosive life of Phineas P. Gage, all the way from his birth until his death and everything in between. From the freak accident itself and the methods employed to try and save his life, all the way to how we understand how the brain works and the frontal lobe's role in our every day lives. So strap in for this incredible tale, and maybe don't listen to this episode while you're chomping down on your dinner... you can thank me later.
This episode was presented by Hayley O'Connor and joined by Arron Keegan and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to follow us on social media! Just search for That's Old News on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X!
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Chapters
(00:00) Intro
(11:36) Phineas Gage and U.S. Railroad Expansion West
(19:48) Gage's Job and the Blasting Accident
(30:39) Dr John Martyn Harlow and Gage's Recovery
(45:02) Gage's Changing Mood and the Impact on Neuroscience
(54:43) Deteriorating Health, Death, and his Lasting Impact on Science
(58:54) Post Show Banter
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What do you do to celebrate Christmas? Do you wait until the family is all downstairs to start opening presents from Santa with a hot cup of cocoa? Maybe you head off to Christmas morning mass? Perhaps you get all the family together for Christmas dinner? Or do you instead get so drunk on eggnog full to the brim with rum, whiskey, and grog, and stage a riot at your local military academy that becomes such a tense situation that it nearly blows up into a full-scale mutiny?.... Just me?
Well today's hilarious tale involves just that! A riot that took place at the United States military academy at West Point thanks entirely to copious amounts of eggnog, a series of unfortunate events, and a faculty staff that was so bewildered by the happenings of just a single night that for weeks after it they simply had no idea what to do about it. And it all started because the superintendent pre-empted American Prohibition by an entire century and declared an outright ban on drinking of any kind for all West Point cadets - except for July 4th and Christmas celebrations of course, he wasn't a monster! But as we'll see, that decision wouldn't last long.
Join Arron this week as he takes the gang through the West Point Eggnog Riot, and listen to some of the wackiest series of events that you ever heard that almost led to an outright mutiny by almost 100 cadets against only a handful of officers on duty.
This episode was presented by Arron Keegan and joined by Hayley O'Connor and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure you check us out on social media! Just search for "That's Old News" on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X, or simply head to our linktree in the podcast's about section to find links to all our pages! Merry Christmas!
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Chapters:
(00:00) Coming Up This Week
(01:14) Intro
(11:01) West Point and Colonel Sylvanus Thayer's Reforms
(17:22) Benny Haven's Shenanigans
(23:55) July 4th 1826
(25:53) The Plan for an Illegal Christmas Party and Thayer's Christmas Spirit
(31:12) The Eggnog Riot Begins and Captain Hitchcock
(41:12) The Night Descends Into Chaos and Lieutenant William Thornton
(51:57) The Morning After, the End of the Riot, and "Consequences"
(57:46) Post Show Banter
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On the morning of March 31st 1926, a local gardener from the La Mancha estate in Malahide ran into town screaming out for help. The house, set in thirty acres of good farmland, was on fire, and the six occupants - four brothers and sisters, their domestic servant, and the farm hand - were still inside. The Gardai, Ireland's police force, were alerted and together with local firefighters they rushed into the scene to quell the flames and save the owners. But as the flames finally began to subside, the bodies of all six occupants were found throughout the house. As Gardai closed off the scene, something wasn't right about what they were seeing. James, the farm hand, had what appeared to be defensive wounds on his forearms and a deep wound on his skull. The bodies of the brothers and sisters were so badly burned that they were nearly indistinguishable from each other. But right beside one of the brothers, Peter McDonnell, was a fire poker. And at its tip plain for all to see was the undeniable look... of brain matter.
Something more than a simple but tragic house fire was going on here in what became the largest mass murder of political violence in the history of the Irish state. And if that wasn't significant enough, the state was only five years old - and only four years ago were brothers in arms engaged in a horrible and bloody civil war whose scares still affect Irish politics to this day. What possibly could have transpired at La Mancha for this to happen? This is a story with plenty of twists and turns that you're going to want to get your detective's hat and notepad out, and see if you can figure out the events of the La Mancha Murder Mystery.
This episode was presented by Conor Daly and joined by Arron Keegan and Hayley O'Connor. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to follow us on social media! Just search for "That's Old News" on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X, or head to the linktree in the podcast's about section!
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Chapters:
(00:00) Coming Up This Week
(00:55) Intro
(02:52) La Mancha, the McDonnell Family, and Henry McCabe
(10:28) The House Fire, and the Murder Mystery Begins
(24:02) The Investigation Begins
(32:52) Arrest, Trial, Execution, and Aftermath
(48:55) Post Show Banter
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Paracelsus, Vesalius, Tagliacozzi, and Wormius. Despite what you may be thinking, these aren't the names of horrible diseases that you may contract in your lifetime. They're actually the names of some prominent figures in the history of medicine. However, if you had any kind of ailment and your local medicine man was any of these lovely gentlemen then you'd have better odds of survival if you just decided to do nothing about your affliction and hope it passes naturally if you ignore it for long enough.
But if you still decided to show up to your appointment on time, you could expect to receive all types of treatment! Ranging from diagnoses that involved water people and gnomes that lived in mines causing venereal diseases that were to be cured by phallic-shaped orchids, to forcing patients to endure a week's-long salute by pinning the patient's arm to his nose to allow face skin grafts to 'take', you would certainly need a strong constitution to put up with some of these crazy procedures. And do you want to know the best part? Those aren't even the weirdest treatments we've got for you this week!
Join Hayley this week for the final installment in her Crazy Medical Procedures series, and we're certainly going out with a bang this week as we once again ask the question "How did we ever survive so long as a species when doctors spent millennia unknowingly trying to send us to an early grave?" And as it turns out, the answer was just incredible luck!
This episode was presented by Hayley O'Connor and joined by Arron Keegan and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to follow us on social media! Just search for "That's Old News" on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X, or head to the linktree in the podcast's about section!
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Chapters
(00:00) Coming Up This Week
(01:08) Intro
(05:33) Paracelsus
(17:46) Vesalius
(25:05) Syphilis
(32:32) Gaspare Tagliacozzi
(43:31) "Cabinets of Curiosities"
(55:30) Medical Museums
(01:08:29) Post Show Banter
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The police force in the United States resembles its own little army, with weapons and equipment on hand that make our little Irish minds boggle as to why they could possibly need all this firepower within arm's reach. But that's a very interesting question - Why? Why is it that policing in the USA requires such weapons to be readily available? What happened that forced local police departments to ditch the pepper spray for the AR-15? This week's episode is just one of the reasons why policing in America underwent such an overhaul.
On February 28th 1997, Los Angeles was rocked when a confrontation between two bank robbers and LAPD erupted into a shootout that, while lasting for only 44 minutes, saw North Hollywood shut down from around 9am until almost midnight, with children being kept in lockdown in schools until 8pm. Our suspects are Larry Phillips Jr. and Emil Mătăsăreanu - two armed robbers who stormed into a Bank of America branch at the intersection of Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Archwood Street in North Hollywood at 9:16am. 44 minutes later, Larry would lay dead and Emil would be under arrest.
But why is this event so different? Bank robberies weren't uncommon, especially not in Los Angeles, and this was, surely, just another heist - right? Well, before Larry and Emil walked into the bank, they were fitted with armour plating, and enough guns and ammunition that will see 2,000 rounds of ammunition fired by the shootout's end and enough protection that despite being hit several times - both gunmen could continue to stand and resist the LAPD. Strap in folks, this one is going to keep you glued to the episode like nothing else.
This episode was recorded by Arron Keegan and joined by Hayley O'Connor and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure you follow us on social media! Just search for "That's Old News" on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X!
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Chapters
(00:00) Coming Up This Week
(00:44) Intro
(05:27) Los Angeles: A Haven For Robbery
(12:11) Larry Phillips Jr.
(14:03) Emil Matasareanu
(20:29) A Bad Start
(28:36) The Robberies Begin
(30:48) February 28th, 1997 - The North Hollywood Shootout
(01:03:42) The Aftermath and the Future of Policing in the USA
(01:09:52) Some Funny Moments During the Shootout
(01:17:02) Post Show Banter and Discussion
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Conor's Irish Civil War series continues with the immediate fallout from the previous Free State Offensive that saw any hopes for the continuation of a conventional war completely dashed, and a return to the guerrilla warfare that characterised the War of Independence. But having suffered a crucial defeat in Munster, IRA forces are more disconnected than ever. This week we see the beginnings of the clean-up operations conducted by the Free State Army, and the underhanded tactics used by the IRA to make every inch of territory gained by the Free State a nightmare.
From blowing up railway lines to ramping up the frequency of of ambushes, see just how desperate the IRA were getting as they began to constantly be on the backfoot with precious little that could be done to contend with the ever expanding forces of the Irish Free State. And yet despite the continued threat, some higher ups of the Free State Army believed that now was the time to relax more and begin inspections of the new army. This oversight would culminate in the greatest loss to the Free State Army in the assassination of its Commander-in-Chief, Michael Collins.
This episode was hosted by Conor Daly and joined by Arron Keegan and Hayley O'Connor. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to follow us on social media! Seach for "That's Old News" on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X, or head to the linktree in the podcast's about section!
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Chapters:
(00:00) Coming Up This Week
(00:42) Intro
(03:32) Recap and Where We Stand
(14:20) Two Great Losses for the Provisional Government
(21:29) Michael Collins, Béal na Bláth, and the Immediate Aftermath
(39:08) Beginnings of a Bitter End to the War
(55:30) Support for the Republicans Dwindles
(01:13:50) Post Show Questions and Banter
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Around this time last year, three disenfranchised history students decided that the world needs something it has never seen before - a podcast! I know, what a completely original idea! In the time between then and now we've suffered through a horrendous take on the life and exploits of Napoleon courtesy of Ridley Scott, embarked on what will culminate in a fantastic five-part series that will cover the outbreak of and eventual culmination of the Irish Civil War researched by our very own Conor, cringed at the both horrific and hilarious ways humanity has tried to solve any and all medical problems courtesy of the amazing and incredibly warped mind of Hayley, and questioned just exactly how old is Arron and when will he ever do his episode on Napoleon.
Needless to say, it has been an incredible year and it's all thanks to the continued support of you - our loyal listeners. So this episode is just for you, where we answer your burning questions so you can get to know us better, how we view history, and give our takes on some of your historical questions. From how the podcast started, to how we contend with understanding historic figures in the modern day, and what exactly makes us so passionate about history.
This episode would be impossible without your continued support. Your constant engagement with the podcast, from just listening to each episode to leaving comments across our social media pages, is a constant source of inspiration for us. We have no intentions of slowing down or stopping any time soon and that's almost exclusively down to you. From Arron, Hayley, and Conor - we thank you all so much for allowing us to have this opportunity to speak about our passion with you.
And with all that said, we hope you enjoy this 3-hour episode! Strap in guys, it's a long one.
Chapters:
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(00:00) Intro
(14:50) #1: Why did you guys start a podcast?
(23:30) #2: What's each of your favourite episodes you've researched and recorded?
(31:31) #3: How did you guys meet?
(39:40) #4: Why do you guys call Arron old?
(46:32) #5: When will you allow Arron to do an episode on Napoleon and his campaigns?
(50:30) #6: I saw the fallout from the TikTok video on Ireland's need to defend its neutrality. Wanna talk about it?
(01:01:15) #7: Looking at the political events prior to both the First and Second World Wars, do you think we could be looking at a Third World War in the near future?
(01:08:42) #8: If you could have a deep conversation with any historical figure, who would it be?
(01:11:42) #9: If you could witness any historical event, what would it be?
(01:17:24) #10: Next year will be 160 years since the end of the American Civil War. How is there still disagreement over why it started - and to firmly cement it, why do you guys think it started? Was it slavery or was it state’s rights?
(01:28:36) #11: How in the modern day do you understand historic figures? And should I feel bad for liking historic figures despite their actions?
(01:37:55) #12: Who was the most influential figure of the 20th century?
(01:44:18) #13: Is there a way for Germany to have won WW2? I keep seeing alt-history scenarios and I just don’t believe them.
(01:49:34) #14: Are you guys going to do episodes on historical subjects that aren’t European or US history?
(01:53:50) #15: Q for Hayley - how much of the history of medicine is people stumbling on cures as opposed to actively looking for it?
(01:59:43) #16: Question for the guys - what got you into military history, especially since you guys in Ireland don’t have big military cultures?
(02:06:38) #17: Where would you recommend people visit for history in Ireland?
(02:16:00) #18: Q for everyone - how does war influence the progress of medical research?
(02:23:50) #19: With the recent election in the US, how does the current war in Ukraine look?
(02:33:36) #20: How worried should we be with “historians” like Darryl Cooper and people that listen to him?
(02:44:57) #21: What makes you so passionate about history?
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The history of medicine is so vast and eyebrow raising that you would be forgiven for asking how we, as a species, managed to survive this long without accidentally wiping the lot of us off the planet. With the last episode ending in the Medieval period there are still centuries of crazy and hilarious medical practices to comb through and they're nothing short of baffling to say the least.
From traveling tooth pullers yanking out your wisdom teeth to the rhythm of a drum, to deformities in children thanks entirely to the mother of the child looking at... anything at all before the child was born, and cures for syphilis involving taking a hand drill to a gentleman's family jewels, join Hayley this week as she continues her look into the crazy medical procedures that helped us to, albeit eventually, understand how the human body works and how to cure any ailments that may arise.
Word of warning, if in future you need to go to the hospital and you hear that the doctor examining you is Dr Hayley - I would highly recommend leaving as soon as possible. Unless you're into the kind of treatments that have more chance of putting you in the ground than keeping you above it, you freak.
This episode was presented by Hayley O'Connor and joined by Arron Keegan and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to follow us on our social media pages! Just search for "That's Old News" on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X, or head to the linktree in the podcast's about section!
Chatpers:
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(00:00) Intro
(00:45) Episode Start
(01:23) Medieval Procedures
(07:49) The "Trotula"
(08:50) William of Saliceto, and treating tortured patients
(13:03) Hildegard of Bingen, the Gwyneth Paltrow of the 12th Century
(19:50) Renaissance Procedures
(21:20) King Charles II's Unfortunate End
(30:30) Syphillis
(43:23) Post Show Banter
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Learning a new language is hard, and when the Duolingo bird is outside your bedroom threatening your family unless you keep up your streak and do your German lessons today - it can be a bit overwhelming. But when it comes to the Native American Navajo language, even the Duolingo bird misses some of his lessons. That's because this incredible language is so complicated that if you weren't ingrained in the Navajo culture for your whole life you would have a terrible time even asking what time of the day it is.
Thanks to its complicated nature, the Navajo language was perfect for encrypting messages. And so when the Second World War made its way to the shores of the United Sates, it's no wonder that a program to use Navajo men to encrypt and decode messages for wartime communication was implemented. Enter the Navajo Code Talkers, a unit initially comprised of 30 native speakers but would rise to well over 300 by the war's end. And their mission was as simple as it was vital - transmit messages, and make sure the enemy cannot decode them.
Join Arron this week as he explores the origins of using the Navajo as code talkers, dives into how the language itself worked, and shows how the language was morphed into a code that was so effective that it remains the only verbal code during the Second World War to never have been broken.
This episode was presented by Arron Keegan and joined by Hayley O'Connor and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to follow us on our social media pages! Just search for "That's Old News" on Tiktok, Instagram, and Twitter, or head to the linktree in the podcast's about section!
Chapters:
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(0:00) Intro
(05:25) Episode Start - The Navajo Code Talkers
(06:34) A Quick History of Relaying Messages in War
(12:37) Native American Code Talkers
(13:46) Philip Jonhston
(17:12) Forming the Navajo Code Talkers and Trials
(20:49) Learning (or at least understanding) Navajo
(31:48) Understanding the Navajo Code
(34:58) Some Country Names Translated
(40:12) Some Thoughts on the Code
(43:40) Wartime Example and A Navajo Speaking the Code
(52:23) Expansion of the Navajo Code Talkers
(58:22) Post-War Recognition
(01:02:41) Post Show Banter
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Conflict is inherent to the human experience. It has shaped our world since the earliest times when Ungo Bungo wanted Bongo Dongo's priceless large rock collection. To this day nothing had changed. With resources aplenty and neighbours who can't stand to live next to each other, many have resorted to conflict to get their way. It is no surprise that Prussian strategist Carl von Clausewitz's words still resonate to this day: "War is regarded as nothing but the continuation of state policy with other means."
And with the undeniable fact that war and conflict will always be with us so long as humans roam the earth, what has Ireland done to ensure its safety - especially in recent years with conventional warfare once again unfolding in Europe? Well, it turns out the answer is to do nothing. Since the inception of the state, Ireland has always pursued a policy of neutrality which has resulted in a defence force so neglected that when a Russian ship parked itself off our coast to investigate our underwater data cables that links Europe to the US - we could do nothing about it, and had to wait for the British RAF and Royal Navy to see them off. But how did we even get to this point? And were we ever really a neutral country that we can just neglect the importance of the defence of the island?
Join Arron and Conor this week as they look into the history of Irish neutrality, investigate times where the Irish state has very clearly taken sides in global conflicts, see how the Irish Defence Forces have been so neglected that estimates show they would be defeated in less than an hour, and discuss our vision for a much better and stronger army capable of safeguarding the people of Ireland.
This episode was presented by Arron Keegan and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to check us out on social media! Just search for "That's Old News" on TikTok, Instagram, and X/Twitter, or head to the link.tree in the podcast's about section!
Chapters:
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(00:00) Intro
(01:42) Context
(05:53) Historical Background
(11:12) Examples of Some Non-Neutral Actions
(24:44) Neglect of the IDF and Our Security Concerns
(44:10) Defending Ireland
(01:02:28) Inability to Safeguard the State
(01:08:32) Russia, the threat to Europe, and Irish Defence
(01:23:50) Ireland and the World Stage
(01:41:58) Our Conclusions
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Many moons ago a young man called Conor began exploring the outbreak and initial stages of the Irish Civil War. Unfortunately he was ambushed by a squad of Anti-Treaty IRA and hauled all the way down south to the (real capital) city of Cork. Luckily for him he managed to escape, but not before witnessing the newly formed Irish Free State take the fight directly to the IRA who ran from Dublin down to the province of Munster. Our war hero has returned to tell us all about the events of the first proper campaign of the Free State Army.
(For legal reasons all of this is a joke. Remember folks, despite being the youngest of the three it's actually Granda Keego who is the oldest and of course was there to witness all of these events firsthand.)
From troubles in training the new army, to parking 18-pounder artillery guns right outside post offices and one of the first amphibious landings in modern military history, join Conor this week as we look at the Munster Offensive - the decisive military stroke of the Civil War that would see much of the Anti-Treaty IRA scattered and any hope for their victory in this conflict was quickly and decisively destroyed.
This episode was hosted by Conor Daly and joined by Arron Keegan and Hayley O'Connor. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to follow us on our social media pages! Just search for "That's Old News" on Tiktok, Instagram, and Twitter/X!
(00:00) Intro
(01:08) Recap
(06:52) The IRA and the Munster Republic
(11:50) The Free State Offensive Begins
(13:13) Battle of Limerick
(23:24) Taking Waterford
(33:00) Battle of Killmallock
(56:15) The National Army Conduct Amphibious Landings
(01:12:57) Post Show Banter
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