Best Charles Fowler Podcasts (2024)

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Ep. 162 – Schisms and Deals 29:49

1h ago29:49

29:49

For more than a hundred years the Holy Roman Empire was a mess of constant infighting between and within the great princely families. But by the 1360s the consistent policies and elaborate diplomacy of emperor Karl IV had produced a degree of stability not seen by anyone alive. With the home front calm, the emperor can again assume a role on the Eu…

1
Ep. 161 – A Luxemburg Empire 26:24

24m ago26:24

26:24

All is well in the empire. The Golden Bull had been debated, agreed, sealed and then celebrated at the great diet in Metz in 1357. The first time in decades that all the Prince Electors had come together and performed the ancient duties of their offices. Even the Dauphin of France had come to do homage to Karl IV for the lands he held inside the em…

1
Breaking Worse 43:03

9d ago43:03

43:03

Jo and Ronni stage a Shot takeover to discuss the collapse of brainworm-infested RFK Jr’s US presidential campaign and the apparently-not-brainworm-infested Linda Reynolds' inexplicable campaign of cruelty against rape survivor Brittany Higgins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Nathaniel Ledbetter: From Humble Roots to Speaker of the House 31:58

2d ago31:58

31:58

I was honored to have Alabama Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter on the podcast recently. He has a big title and tremendous responsibility across the entire state, but just a few minutes into our conversation, one thing became clear — this is a man who remembers where he came from and who has a deep love and respect for people from all walks …

1
Ep. 160 – The Golden Bull of 1356 26:27

2h ago26:27

26:27

“Every realm that is divided internally will go to uin, for its princes have become the comrades of thieves. The Lord has poured out the spirit of deceit among them, so that they grope about at midday as though in darkness, and He has withdrawn the light from their dwellings, so that they are blind and leaders of the blind. And those who wander in …

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Paltering, Poison and Profit 44:27

8d ago44:27

44:27

As Dave’s European sojourn continues, Jo chats to Royce Kurmelovs about his excellent new book, Slick: Australia’s Toxic Relationship with Big Oil, an entertaining and enraging look at how the extractive industries plotted to keep mining and polluting even as they knew of their disastrous consequences. A fascinating and forensic account of Big Oil’…

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Ep. 159 – The Rise to Imperial Power, Charles IV journey to Rome 34:32

1h ago34:32

34:32

This season has now gone on for 22 episodes. We started with the interregnum of largely absent rulers and after a brief renaissance under Rudolf von Habsburg the empire became a sort of oligarchy where 3 families, the Luxemburgs, the Wittelsbachs and the Habsburgs took turns on the throne. Succession usually involved some form of armed conflict bet…

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Heed History’s Warning 31:30

4d ago31:30

31:30

With Dave swanning around Europe, Jo interviews Dennis Glover on his cri de coeur Repeat: A Warning from History in which he argues the 20s and 30s have returned and draws scarifying analogies between Hitler and Stalin and Trump and Putin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Ep. 158 – Prague – The New Rome? Karl IV’s great plans for his capital city 32:51

29d ago32:51

32:51

“Karl, by the grace of God, King of the Romans, ever august, and King of Bohemia [ ] We have turned over in careful contemplation, and have been diligently pondering how our hereditary kingdom of Bohemia may flourish in all its beauty, thrive in peace, and not fear the loss of its riches to its enemies, and how the general good and benefit of the s…

1
Ep. 157 – The Black Death and other Calamities 34:57

1M ago34:57

34:57

In around 1320 near the lake Issy-Kul in Kyrgysistan the rats started dying. Shortly after the inhabitants became affected with terrible diseases. Some started coughing up blood and all who did, died within 3 days. Others developed swellings of the lymph nodes, particularly in the groins and armpits. Roughly half of them died within five days. A sm…

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Charles McNair: South Alabama Writer Lives High in the Andes 35:07

26d ago35:07

35:07

Writer Charles McNair Lives High in the Andes, but His Roots are in South Alabama My conversation with Charles McNair felt a little like a family reunion as we connected many dots in our common roots. It was fascinating to learn how a boy from South Alabama wrote his way to being a Pulitzer-prize nominee, continues to write, and now resides a bit s…

1
The Engine of Privilege 42:47

1M ago42:47

42:47

Jo and Dave are joined by Myra and Clive Hamilton to discuss their book FOR THE FEW, a damning exposé of elite privilege and the central role of private schools in perpetuating it. And all hail Kamala! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Ep. 156 – What Price a Crown - Karl IV fight for the throne 25:11

1M ago25:11

25:11

The year is 1346 and we have, yes, another succession crisis. Without checking through my 1500 pages of transcripts, I have counted a total f 14 contested imperial elections in the 427 years we have covered so far. Henry the Fowler, Herny II, Henry IV, Henry V, Lothar III, Konrad III, Philip of Swabia, Otto IV, Frederick II, Konrad IV, Richard of C…

1
Things are getting weird! 22:37

2M ago22:37

22:37

Dave and Ronni rant about "virtue signalling" versus effective political protest, Penny Wong's "deep concern" about Gaza, the Republican National Convention starring Hulk Hogan and other assorted weirdos, and the suspiciously unhelpful anti-corruption commission Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Ep. 155: The Youth of the Emperor Karl IV 28:29

27d ago28:29

28:29

You have heard me complaining regularly over the last 154 episodes that what we report as political ambitions or strategic plans of the kings and emperors was pure conjecture derived from their actions and public statement. But we could never know what they were really thinking because none of them kept a diary, or if they did they did not survive …

1
Grace Pettis: Living Her Life Down To The Letter 33:45

1M ago33:45

33:45

Singer/songwriter Grace Pettis talks about her new album "Down To The Letter" with Fred Hunter. --- Grace's music is described as a little bit of folk, a little bit of country/Americana, and a whole lot of soul. Grace is the winner of many of the nation’s most prestigious songwriting contests, grants, and residencies, including NPR’s Mountain Stage…

1
Ep. 154 - The Blind King John of Bohemia 40:06

2M ago40:06

40:06

The noble and gallant King of Bohemia, also known as John of Luxemburg because he was the son of the Emperor Henry of Luxemburg, was told by his people that the battle had begun. Although he was in full armour and equipped for combat, he could see nothing because he was blind. He asked his knights what the situation was and they described the rout …

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ANDREW FOWLER -- Nuked: The submarine fiasco that sank Australia’s sovereignty 38:47

2M ago38:47

38:47

Jo and Dave are joined by Andrew Fowler to discuss the disaster that is AUKUS. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Pierce Pettis: This Traveling Troubadour Is Right Where He Wants to Be 1:06:27

2M ago1:06:27

1:06:27

Throughout his career as a performer, songwriter, and recording artist, Fort Payne native Pierce Pettis has been inside the hurricane they call the music business. But he is also an outsider, never achieving the often sought-after goal of world fame — and for that, he is grateful. Through his work with Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, PolyGram Publishin…

1
Ep. 153 – The Rise of the city of Nürnberg 27:24

2M ago27:24

27:24

“In the same way that Jerusalem is the navel of the world, is Nurnberg the navel of Germany” is how Matthäus Dresser described the city in 1581. The astronomer Johannes Regiomontanus moved to Nurnberg in 1471 because there" ...one can easily associate with learned men wherever they live. Because of the cosmopolitanism of its merchants, this place i…

1
Julian Assange is free 27:03

2M ago27:03

27:03

Dave and Ronni discuss the end of Julian Assange's 14 years in captivity, the uselessness of the National Anti Corruption Commission, and all matters truth and transparency. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Damon Johnson is Grateful for his Rock and Roll Life 1:01:13

2M ago1:01:13

1:01:13

Let me tell you, I would not have imagined when I left Fyffe High School in 1971 that five decades later I’d be sitting on my sofa watching a guy from Geraldine playing guitar with Lynyrd Skynyrd on the network’s New Year’s Eve special. Damon Johnson finds it equally unbelievable that he is THAT guy. “I’ve had a lot of memorable gigs in my life, Da…

1
Ep.152 - The (not so) Ugly Duchess Margarete Maultasch 35:00

3M ago35:00

35:00

“The twelve-year-old Margarete, Princess of Carinthia and Tyrol, was travelling from her seat near Meran to Innsbruck for her wedding with the ten-year old Prince Johann of Bohemia. [..] Still and serious she sat, in ceremonial pomp. Her bodice was so tight that she had had to be laced into it; her sleeves of heavy green satin, in the very extreme …

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Jerry Ellis is a Writer and Spiritual Traveler 1:13:48

3M ago1:13:48

1:13:48

When I called Jerry Ellis a man of letters, he liked that so much he asked me to repeat it. But I really wasn’t kidding. The Fort Payne native and graduate of The University of Alabama has written nine books. His inaugural book, about walking the Trail of Tears, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award. I will call this interview …

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It's not Aniti-Semitic to want this to stop 9:50

3M ago9:50

9:50

David Milner Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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It's not anti-semitic to oppose genocide 27:36

3M ago27:36

27:36

The Shot Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Ep. 151 – The Kurverein zu Rhens – featuring William of Ockham 37:15

3M ago37:15

37:15

This week we look at the central intellectual debate of the 14th century, did Jesus own property? If yes, then it was right and proper that the church owned land, privileges, entire counties and duchies, yes that the pope was not just the spiritual but also the secular ruler of all of Christianity. And if not, then the pope as a successor to the ap…

1
The ABC of Craven Capitulation 6:02

3M ago6:02

6:02

By Jo Dyer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Cynthia Stinson: The Innkeeper Found Unexpected Roots in Mentone 30:43

3M ago30:43

30:43

After winding up Alabama 117 from Valley Head in DeKalb County, you arrive at a four-way intersection in the town of Mentone. On your right is the most charming calling card you can imagine: the Mentone Inn, nestled against a backdrop of trees and lush landscaping, with an almost irresistible wrap-around porch. Stepping inside is like getting a big…

1
I met racist who wasn't there... 5:55

3M ago5:55

5:55

Laura Tingle has been flayed alive for suggesting that Australia is a racist country. But, writes Michael Bradley, we are being played for suckers, we know it, and yet we can’t resist the lure. A reading of piece published in The Shot on Friday, 31st May 2024. Read by Michael Bradley. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Ep. 150 – The Last Chivalric Battles – Morgarten and Mühldorf 38:25

3M ago38:25

38:25

The 14th century is a time of fundamental change in practically all areas of social, political and economic life. It is a time when the certainties of the Middle Ages are replaced by a process of trial and error, sometimes successful, but almost always violent. We see new frameworks of how society and in particular the religious authorities should …

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Russell Gulley: Giving the Gift of Art in Many Forms 1:33:06

3M ago1:33:06

1:33:06

Sometimes you don’t realize how much your senses absorb when you’re growing up, but you find out later how those experiences shaped you. Russell Gulley grew up on Southern gospel and shape note music. His mother was very conscious of how much music and art can enrich lives. Russell sought a career in rock and roll, but later paid his mother’s gift …

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Ep. 149 – The Real Ludwig of Bavaria 39:39

3M ago39:39

39:39

A few months after emperor Henry VII had died in the Tuscan village of Buonconvento and before a successor had been elected, a young man, Ludwig, second son of the duke of Upper Bavaria made his name defeating a much larger Habsburg force. This success could not have come at a more opportune time as it propelled him into contention for the title of…

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Ep. 148 - Imperial Swansong – the End of Henry VII’s Campaign in Italy 37:14

4M ago37:14

37:14

The year is 1312 and Henry VII is finally embarking on his journey to Rome that will bring about the first imperial coronation in almost a century and hence the formal end to the Interregnum, the time without emperors. Becoming emperor is hard enough, but being emperor is even harder, as the first Luxemburger to ascend the throne of Charlemagne wil…

1
Ep. 147 – Brescia or Bust – Henry VII’s Big Mistake(s) 34:43

4M ago34:43

34:43

Henry VII had gained control of most of Northern Italy in less than three months. It will take him 9 months to lose it all again. How did he go from bringer of peace and justice and all out saviour of Italy to brutal conqueror and godless tyrant? Let’s find out. The music for the show is Flute Sonata in E-flat major, H.545 by Carl Phillip Emmanuel …

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Ep. 146 – The Return of the King – Henry VII’s Journey to Rome 33:49

4M ago33:49

33:49

In the winter of 1310 the emperor elect Henry VII not yet 40 years of age and every inch a king appears in Italy. An Italy torn apart by incessant violence, between and within the cities. Allegedly it is a struggle between the pro-imperial Ghibellines and the pro-papal Guelphs, but 60 years after the last emperor had set foot on Italian soil and se…

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Greg Fowler: A Musical Meteor Brought Him to Alabama 1:01:07

4M ago1:01:07

1:01:07

As a young DJ at his dream job in Myrtle Beach, Greg Fowler repeatedly read an ad encouraging people to visit The Bowery to hear a group who, at that time, was known as Wild Country. Little did he know that spark would change his life, eventually intertwining his path with that of the most successful band in country music history — ALABAMA. Read th…

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Beth Cowan Drake: Inspiring Photographers To Open Their Eyes To The World Around Them 44:05

4M ago44:05

44:05

Beth Cowan Drake loves outdoor photography and astrophotography, and she loves inspiring other people to explore their world through the camera lens. Through her exemplary work and her incredibly popular Alabama The Beautiful Facebook group, Beth shines a spotlight on our beautiful state and the breathtaking skies above us.…

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Chance Gray: Taking the Road by the Horns and Achieving His Dreams 38:49

4M ago38:49

38:49

Chance Gray definitely feels like he's home as merchandise manager for recording artist Jason Isbell. The Fyffe, Alabama, native travels the country and the world with whom he considers the greatest songwriter of our era. To get there, he paid his dues by working hard and proving his dedication to the job at hand for artists as varied as Larry the …

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Ep. 145 - How to make Friends and Influence People – The Luxemburgs become Kings of Bohemia 29:46

4M ago29:46

29:46

Henry, the new king of the Romans, just 30 years of age, tall and blond, every inch his forebearer the great Charlemagne had a one track mind. There was one thing he wanted and that was the imperial crown. It is now 60 years since there last had been a crowned emperor. We had such an interregnum before, in the 10th century between the death of empe…

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Ep. 144 - The Rise of the House of Luxembourg - The election of Emperor Henry VII 23:35

4M ago23:35

23:35

On November 27th, 1308 the prince electors chose Henry VII, count of Luxemburg to be their new king of the Romans and future emperor. Little did they know that this decision will give rise to a dynasty that will rule the empire for as many decades as the Ottonian, the Salian and the Hohenstaufen had. A dynasty that featured such emblems of chivalri…

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Ep. 143 – The Murder of a King - Albrecht I von Habsburg. 34:45

5M ago34:45

34:45

The late 13th century was the sniper’s alley for many a powerful family. The disappearance of great dynasties, the Arpads of Hungary, the Premyslids of Bohemia, the Zaehringer, Babenbergs, the counts of Holland to name just a few wasn’t down to lack of fertility but down to violence. Murder became so common, even those who did not have swords stick…

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Ep. 142 - Adolf von Nassau - A Shadow of a King 30:05

5M ago30:05

30:05

After the death of Rudolf von Habsburg the Prince Electors chose another, now truly impecunious count, Adolf von Nassau to be king. They chose him over Rudolf’s son Albrecht and over the overwhelmingly most powerful prince in the empire, King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia. This cultured and competent man became known to German history as a Schattenkönig…

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Ep. 141 - Rudolf von Habsburg Semper Augustus - Allezeit Mehrer des Reiches 32:59

6M ago32:59

32:59

Martin Rady in his highly amusing and exceptionally well written book on the Habsburg said: “The remainder of Rudolf’s reign up to his death in 1291 was a failure. He did not manage to have himself crowned emperor by the pope and had to make do with the title of king…it was a false dawn, both for the Holy Roman empire and for the Habsburgs” I most …

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Ep. 140 – Rudolf von Habsburg and the Golden King Ottokar II of Bohemia 34:48

6M ago34:48

34:48

This week we will look at what the poor count Rudolf of Habsburg does once he had been elected King of the Romans. This is not the first time the electors have chosen a man of much more modest means than themselves. William of Holland and Hermann von Salm had failed to leverage their elevated status into tangible gains. But Rudolf is different. Thr…

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Ep. 139 – The End of the Interregnum - The Election of Rudolf von Habsburg in 1273 37:01

6M ago37:01

37:01

On October 1, 1273 seven princes elected a new king of the Romans. Their choice was a momentous one that set European history further down its path away from a universal empire to separate kingdoms and principalities. The pope had demanded that they come to a unanimous decision so that the empire could again participate in a crusade to stop the rem…

1
Season 8 From the Interregnum to the Golden Bull (1250-1356): Catch-up Episode 50:44

6M ago50:44

50:44

This episode is something I never thought I would do, it is a run through the history of the Holy Roman Empire from 919 AD to 1250, pretty much most of the periods I have covered so far. Why do it? If you’re one of those who have listened religiously to all 137 episodes so far and feel completely up to date with what happened in the past, this will…

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Ep. 137 – The Conversion - Albrecht, Grand Master of the Teutonic Order becomes a protestant duke 29:18

7M ago29:18

29:18

This week we will talk about the end of the rule of the Teutonic Knights in Prussia. Instead of a land ruled by a chivalric order answering to the pope, Prussia became a secular state, ruled by a protestant prince and run by a newly created class of land-owners, the famous Prussian Junkers whose impact on German history stretched well into the 20th…

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Ep. 136 – 13 Years of War - The Prussian League shifts allegiance 28:24

7M ago28:24

28:24

The theocratic state of the Teutonic Knights had survived the devastating defeat at Tannenberg with most of its territory intact. But underneath the foundations of the edifice are crumbling. The economy is in tatters, the theological justification for their existence has disappeared and their power as a military force has failed to keep up with the…

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Ep. 135 - After Tannenberg - The rule of the Teutonic Knights in Prussia weakened 26:51

7M ago26:51

26:51

Last week we ended with the famous battle of Tannenberg or as the Poles would call it Grunwald and the Lithuanians Zalgiris. This battle is not just famous for its outcome but also for the various accounts of what happened. There is a Polish version there is a Lithuanian version and there's obviously a German version, actually 2 German versions. Th…

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