Best Mike Ware and Sam Lilly Podcasts (2024)

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34. Go For Broke Part II: Interview with Dr. Mitch Maki 51:51

3M ago51:51

51:51

Tune in to this episode and pick up where Hardtack left off last week in our interview with the President and CEO of the Go For Broke National Education Center, Dr. Mitch Maki.Sources: Go For Broke National Education Center - YouTubeGo For Broke – National Education Centernationalww2museum.org/war/articles/442nd-regimental-combat-teamRedress and Re…

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33. Go For Broke - Interview with Dr. Mitch Maki 31:59

2M ago31:59

31:59

Shortly after Japan launched its surprise attack on Naval Station Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, resulting in over 100k West Coast citizens and residents of Japanese descent into incarceration camps. Racism against Japanese Americans rapidly increased as distrust ballooned. What many Americans f…

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32. Special Guest - Steve Summers: Director, Writer and Producer of War Movie 1:02:47

5M ago1:02:47

1:02:47

Tune in to this episode of Hardtack for an interview with a special guest, the producer, director, writer, and editor of the five-part documentary series, War Movie: The American Battle in Cinema, Steve Summers. War Movie is a documentary series that examines not only the history of war in American cinema, but how this medium has shaped our country…

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31. AWOL - Widows Part I: Who Killed Ralph Sigler? 1:14:08

8M ago1:14:08

1:14:08

Standing five feet six inches tall and weighing just 145 pounds, the hazel eyed Catholic man of Eastern European descent fit the profile the FBI and Army Intelligence department were looking for in 1966 for a “special assignment.” The brown haired, spectacled man spoke Czech and German, had an understanding of Russian and several other Slavic langu…

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30. WWI: Battle of Tannenberg 33:03

11M ago33:03

33:03

The Battle of Tannenberg was one of the first major battles of World War I, fought between Russia and Germany in East Prussia. The early decisions of German leadership in World War I, and consequently the Eastern Front, resulted from the German war plan of 1914. However, Eighth Army’s operations in East Prussia did not adhere to the plan’s original…

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29. Night of Broken Glass: Nazi Purges Part II 24:26

11M ago24:26

24:26

On November 7th, 1938, Ernst vom Rath, a Nazi Party member and German Foreign Office diplomat was assassinated by a 17 year old Polish-German Jew named Herschel Grynspan. Grynspan entered the German embassy in Paris on the morning of November 7th and requested to speak with an embassy official claiming to have an important document to deliver. It w…

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28. The True Way of Miyamoto Musashi 27:32

1+ y ago27:32

27:32

The Sengoku Period, or Warring States Era, of Japan began in 1467 with the Onin War. Feudal Japan was characterized by violence between warring states, where kinsmen cut each other down in bids for territorial superiority. Independent warlords among the domains unleashed their samurai and fighting men on each other in anarchic attempts to gain domi…

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27. The Assassination of Julius Caesar 23:12

1+ y ago23:12

23:12

In 27 BCE, Rome transitioned from a republic to an empire. Emperor Augustus Caesar reinstated past political institutions and championed reform that enabled peace, prosperity, and targeted corruption. The rule of Augustus brought about the beginning of Pax Romana, or Roman Peace, a nearly 200-year period that is considered to have been Rome’s “gold…

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26. The Life of Philip II of Macedonia 36:26

1+ y ago36:26

36:26

Historian Richard A. Gabriel neatly summarized Philip II’s legacy, “Had there been no Philip to bring the Macedonian national state into existence, to assemble the economic and military resources to unite Greece, to create the bold strategic vision of conquering Persia, and to invent the first modern, tactically sophisticated and strategically capa…

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25. The Battle of Teutoburg Forest (9CE) 29:45

1+ y ago29:45

29:45

The year was 9 CE. Autumn winds, rain, and cool air blew through the trees of western Germania’s forests. The waters of the Rhine River were beginning their annual swell in the wake of summer’s heat. Though the autumns of Germania were relatively moderate, the season was one of transition and marked by a climate subject to swift change, even week t…

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24. Cold War: Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) 35:26

1+ y ago35:26

35:26

The year was 1962. In February, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth. The World’s Fair took place on April 21st in Seattle, Washington and the Space Needle, which stands at 602 feet tall and features a rotating SkyCity restaurant, was unveiled to the world. Black student John Meredith attempted to enroll at the University of Miss…

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23. Cold War: Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961) 32:41

1+ y ago32:41

32:41

Executing a plan developed and approved by the Eisenhower administration, President John F. Kennedy deployed a brigade of 1,400 Cuban exiles to overthrow Cuban Dictator Fidel Castro in 1961. The Bay of Pigs Invasion was terribly executed and a significant disaster for the Kennedy administration. You can find the Hardtack Podcast socials via linktre…

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22. Origins of the Imperial Japanese Army (1868) 35:53

1+ y ago35:53

35:53

The Imperial Japanese Army was born of, and found its conclusion in, violent conflict. Westernization had come to Japan during the mid to late nineteenth century and divided the nation, for a time reversing the unification efforts of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Consisting of warring clans and provinces governed by a militarily ordered form of governmen…

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21. WWI: The Battle of Dogger Bank (1915) 32:48

1+ y ago32:48

32:48

The year 1915 was a significant year for the participants of the Great War, and a great many memorable events occurred. The Gallipoli Campaign commenced, along with the Raid on the Suez Canal, the Second Battle of Ypres began, the RMS Lusitania passenger ship was sent to the seabed by a German U-Boat, to name a few. A lot was happening. The Great W…

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20. The Edgewood Arsenal Drug Experiments 33:15

1+ y ago33:15

33:15

The United States Army Chemical Corps conducted classified human medical experiments at Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland between 1955 and 1975. During the twenty-year span, the US Army Chemical Corps exposed approximately 7,000 volunteer soldiers to over 250 chemicals ranging from alcohol, LSD, nerve agents, to simple caffeine in research focused on disa…

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19. WWII: The Tragedy of the Sandakan Death Marches 42:47

1+ y ago42:47

42:47

This week we are joined by the Australian Military History Pod host, Warwick. In this special episode, we will talk about the horrific Sandakan Death Marches. One of the many consequences that followed after the Commonwealth forces surrendered to the Imperial Japanese Army in the Battle for Singapore in 1942. Learn about the Battle for Singapore, H…

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18. Vietnam: Operation Crimp (1966) 31:11

1+ y ago31:11

31:11

On January 8th, 1966, at 0930h Indochina Time, salvos of American artillery, napalm, and explosive ordnance from B-52s rained down on an underground Viet Cong base believed to be a political headquarters. The location was the Ho Bo Woods of the Binh Duong Province in South Vietnam, 70 km north of Ho Chi Minh City. It was about to become host to a s…

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17. WWI: Battle of Sardarabad - Birth of a Nation 26:50

1+ y ago26:50

26:50

In May of 1918, after years of resistance against foreign rule dating back to ancient times, and even genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire, Armenia won its independence. In this episode we will explore some of Armenia's history, Russian and Ottoman politics in the Caucasus Region, and visit the battlefield of Armenia's freedom. Join us this …

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16. Vietnam: Operation Pony Express 26:19

1+ y ago26:19

26:19

Join us this week as we discover the clandestine missions of the United States Air Force 20th Special Operations Squadron in Vietnam and Operation Pony Express. Operation Pony Express was one of the most successful operations conducted during the Vietnam War, and the efforts of the United States Air Force 20th SOS went beyond the borders of Vietnam…

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15. WWII: Dunkirk Part II - The Evacuation 34:36

1+ y ago34:36

34:36

In this series' final part, we will discuss the Dunkirk Evacuation, codenamed Operation Dynamo. The miracle of 338,000 Allied soldiers rescued from the beaches of Dunkirk over nine days. You can find the Hardtack Community on all of our socials via our linktree. If you have any feedback on our episodes or suggestions for future episodes, please sen…

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14. WWII: Dunkirk Part I - The Fall of France 31:47

1+ y ago31:47

31:47

Join Mike and I this week as we discuss Germany’s 1940 invasion of Belgium and the Western Front. We follow the British Expeditionary Force and their Allies’ numerous counteroffensives against the Wehrmacht in the Battle of Boulogne and the Siege of Calais. Tune in and learn about the failed Allied counteroffensives before the evacuation at Dunkirk…

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13. AWOL Episode: Israel Keyes - Soldier, Serial Killer 46:07

2y ago46:07

46:07

Former United States Army Soldier Israel Keyes became a terrifying and meticulous serial killer who evaded police detection for over a decade. With an arsenal of kill caches buried across the United States, ready to be unearthed at his pleasure, Keyes terrorized unsuspecting victims with blatant disregard for human life. Join Mike and Sam for this …

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12. WWII - Battle of Okinawa Part II 26:58

2y ago26:58

26:58

Tune in final episode of this two-part series on Operation Iceberg, the American invasion of the Japanese island of Okinawa, the largest amphibious landing in the Pacific and final battle of World War II. You can find the Hardtack Podcast socials via linktree. If you have any feedback on our episodes or suggestions for future episodes, please send …

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11. WWII - Battle of Okinawa Part 1 21:47

2y ago21:47

21:47

Tune in to part one of a two-part series on Operation Iceberg, the American invasion of the Japanese island of Okinawa, the largest amphibious landing in the Pacific and final battle of World War II. You can find the Hardtack Podcast socials via linktree. If you have any feedback on episodes or suggestions for future episodes, please send an email …

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10. A History of Military Chow 44:10

2y ago44:10

44:10

Food is sustenance, it keeps us alive, it keeps us energized and it keeps us happy. In the context of military history, it can also determine the outcome of a battle. Tune in and learn about our episode's namesake, Hardtack, and a brief history of military rations from America, Australia, and Japan. You can find the Hardtack Podcast socials via lin…

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9. Ancient Assassins: Daggers of the Sicarii 30:28

2y ago30:28

30:28

Looking for something exciting? Perhaps a bit of murder? Tune in and learn a bit about the Sicarii, a group of Ancient Jewish assassins willing to do whatever necessary in opposition of Roman rule in first-century CE Judea. You can find the Hardtack Podcast socials via linktree. If you have any feedback on episodes or suggestions for future episode…

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8. Cryptology: Operation Magic 27:00

2y ago27:00

27:00

What is cryptology? What is "Purple" and Operation Magic? How are they related to American and Japanese relations? What does any of it have to do with Pearl Harbor? Tune in and try to decipher the enigma of the American Black Chamber and discover the beginnings of American cryptology. You can find the Hardtack Podcast socials via linktree. If you h…

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7. Unconventional Military Vehicles 1:11:57

2y ago1:11:57

1:11:57

From ancient to modern times, innovators have dreamt up a wide variety of vehicles as means of travel, for the transport of goods and materiel, or for the sake of simple entertainment. Militaries have not been immune to the innovative itch, and have had their fair share of unique, inventive vehicles, built with a specific task in mind and aimed at …

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6. The Soviet-Chinese Spy Wars 1:11:26

2y ago1:11:26

1:11:26

Following the end of World War II, the world anticipated an ease in tensions amongst global powers, and with Nazi Germany eradicated, a hint of normality was on the horizon. However, a sequence of unprecedented events followed and the Cold War, the birthplace of the Nuclear Arms race and sophisticated networks of espionage, emerged. Listen in and e…

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5. Philippine War: Battle of Manila (1899) 1:01:19

2y ago1:01:19

1:01:19

Americans have coined the Korean War ‘the forgotten war’ as it was largely overshadowed by both World War II and Vietnam. However, the Korean War is far from forgotten and the title is perhaps best bestowed upon the Philippine War, fought over a century ago from 1899 to 1902, and overshadowed by the Spanish-American War and World War I. Perhaps as …

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4. Women's Contributions in Military History 1:13:22

2y ago1:13:22

1:13:22

This will be a special, extended episode of Hardtack in recognition of Women’s Equality Day, which is observed in the United States every year on August 26th. During this episode we will briefly discuss the origins of Women’s Equality Day and the woman who championed the bill in the United States Congress. We will also hear from each of our hosts w…

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3. Australia: The Great Emu War 1:12:16

2y ago1:12:16

1:12:16

The year is 1932, the world is in the midst of the Great Depression, Norway annexes Greenland, Iraq becomes an independent kingdom under Faisal, Japan and the Soviet Union reform their diplomatic connections and Australia enters another Great War… the Great Emu War. For this episode, the squad will be navigating the plains of Western Australia, whe…

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2. Night of the Long Knives: Nazi Purges Part I 1:01:17

2y ago1:01:17

1:01:17

The Night of the Long Knives, also known as Rohm Putsch, began on June 30th, 1934, when Adolf Hitler along with an entourage of Schutzstaffe began the purge of Sturmabteilung leadership. What followed was a multi-day power consolidation characterized by arrests and slaughter, driven by Hitler’s infamous paranoia. The results of the purge made clear…

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1. WWII: The Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima 1:01:20

2y ago1:01:20

1:01:20

At 0815 on the morning of August 6th, 1945, an atomic bomb known as ‘Little Boy’ was released by Bombardier Thomas Ferebee above the Japanese city of Hiroshima. What followed was a new type of destruction never before visited upon humanity. Buildings burned, Japanese citizens ambled about in confused terror and pain, and radiation began its deadly …

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Hardtack: Trailer 0:46

2y ago0:46

0:46

Here at Hardtack, I hope to increase your knowledge of Military History through open exploration and analysis of history’s armed forces, their conduct of war, leadership theory, and other topics integral to the field. Listeners are encouraged not only to consider the topics discussed, but to expand upon the material presented and contribute to the …

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