Iraq Body Count is a website that has maintained the most thorough list of civilian casualties from the Iraq War. According to Jonathan Steele, writing in The Guardian, IBC "is widely considered as the most reliable database of Iraqi civilian deaths.” It has been featured in the Chilcot report, and other official government websites. But, there is …

Perhaps no country has been subjected to the whims of US imperialism as much as Nicaragua. In the 1800s, it was seen a new breeding ground for the Monroe Doctrine, and sent mercenaries over there to fight wars. In the early 1900s, during the quest for colonies, the US marines invaded again, and through the efforts of Agosto Sandino, they were pushe…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.historicly.net Today, we have the lovely Carl Zha join us again to tell us about the history of Bruce Lee, whose family story is the story of Hong Kong itself! Show Notes: 3:17 - The Coolie Trade - “Coolie” is a transliteration from a Chinese (and Indian) word. Coolie, in Chinese, me…

On Part 2 of Blindingly Unjust, we look at the way the law, public relations, the media interact with each other in order to manufacture consent. We start by examining the kid-gloves in which Sam-Bankman Fried is treated with and then we move on to examine the larger power structures that allows impunity for some and imprisonment for others. Show N…

Justice is often depicted as a blind woman who holds an evenly balanced scale as it is meant to reflect that justice is supposed to be dispensed impartially and to all members of society. Of course, within American hegemony is a popular myth that judiciaries are impartial arbiters of constitution and constitutionality. Today, attorney Christopher D…

The world has a lot of borders, but very few people understand what it means for the ordinary citizen and how it affects their lives. The problem this century is that these borders are not decided by people, in order to best serve them. Instead, there is a multi-tiered system that gives some humans some rights and many corporations a free-for all. …

It started with protests that was dubbed the Arab Spring, but western sources wants us to believe that protests over housing prices spontaneously erupted into a full-blown civil war. But, this is not the case. In fact, the so-called “moderate rebels” of Syria were armed, trained and funded by the west in a grandmaster plan to destabilize Syria in o…

It's time for another deep dive into non-OFMD pirate media! This time: Disney's "Treasure Island." Now infamous as one of the most expensive animated features of all time (and one of the costliest box office flops), this fusion of 19th-century adventure tale and futurist SF epic wowed Co-Captains Jenn and Lea. And not only because they are both dee…

Today, we have Carl Zha from the Silk and Steel Podcast joining us to discuss the Opium wars. Show Notes 0:00:00 - 0:03:12 - Introductions 0:03:14- 0:05:20 - Opium Beginnings Originally, opium was ingested orally. However, ingesting it in large quantities lead to death because it stopped breathing. However, after Europeans colonized the New World, …

We run down a bunch of sneak peeks, photo leaks and other tidbits from the OFMD cast and crew about the upcoming Season 2! Now that filming has finished, it's time to speculate and look ahead, from David Jenkins' provocative flag tweet to Vico's incendiary insta post. What are your hopes and predictions? Listen in and see if they match ours! Mythol…

It's a clip show! Jenn gathered up some outtakes, some of which you've never heard before, and also mined the archives to recall some of the fun bits and bobs from our early episodes, with a brand-new Wed Bed Behead and the longest-ever Bad Pirate Joke. Connect with Scott Johnson on Twitter: @thinpartitions Connect with Sarah J. Vest on Twitter: @o…

Today, anthropology scholar Elijah Fanan joins us to discuss the rich history of Morocco. A very special episode where we go through over 3000 years of history of a beautiful country. Show Notes 0:01:11 - The Geography of Morocco 0:02:00 - First Recorded Human life - 300,000 years ago. 0:04:11 - Mitochondrial Eve 0:04:38 - First Sign of Civilizatio…

It's a journey through illness and history as Jenn and Lea talk with epidemiologist Wes Martin and learn a lot about scurvy: What it is, how people get it, and why it's dangerous. (The teeth really do not go back in!) But we don't stop there: We'take a historical tour of the diseases and dangers of the Age of Piracy, many of which still afflict peo…

With the release of a new cache of documents, there has been a renewed interest amongst the American Public on the truth behind the JFK assassination. Today, we interview film director JFK Assassination and Mrs. Paine, where he painstakingly, over a few years interviews a key witness in the Kennedy Assassination Ruth Paine. 0:00:45 - Introductions …

We'll end the year with a side quest! Instead of our favorite pirate media, Co-captains Lea and Jenn take a deep dive off the plank to talk about a DIFFERENT pirate media: "Muppet Treasure Island," starring the absolutely luminous Tim Curry and a great cast of our favorite muppets (and some of our favorite humans). How did a 19th-century novel beco…

Today, we have Author Aaron Good, join us to talk about the driving force behind the US foreign policy for the past 100 years. He talks about who the actors are, what actually occurs and what the end result is, in this extremely informative interview. 0:00:49 - Aaron Good’s transition from working on the Obama Campaign to writing the book “American…

Last month, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni drew some waves when she (rightfully) criticized French Colonialism in Africa. She drew particular attention to the CFA Franc Zone. While her critique was rightful, there is much to be said about her motivations. Today, we are joined by Ndongo Samba Sylla, author of “Africa’s Last Colonial Currency”…

In today’s episode we have Alexander Buzgalin from the Moscow State University to talk to us about the history of Russia, Ukraine and the economic implications of this war. We apologize for the delay, I am currently in Russia reporting about the war in Donbass, and our internet connection has been spotty. We have worked out the kinks, and we will b…

It's our favorite month and our favorite holiday! Jenn and Lea celebrate Spooktober with a look at some Pirate Horror. From the not-so-scary ("Headless") to the engagingly creepy ("Pirates of the Caribbean," "Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island") to the truly scary ("The Fog"), we compare and rate some ways to combine our love of pirates with our--well, Le…

We have come a full circle. When we first started our podcast back in 2018, Lula was in prison because of a judicial coup called “Lavajato.” Bolsonaro was the leading candidate. We were trying to understand the coup effort sponsored by the US state department against Lula De Silva. Before he went to prison, Lula gave a very inspiring speech, where …

Jenn and Lea talk with Ruth Hanson, the hilarious dynamo who's creating the upcoming pilot "Ladies of Fortune," a queer pirate drama centering on Anne Bonney and Mary Read. (Co-starring Damien Gerard as Ben Hornigold!) So how did we end up talking so much about Eddie Munson, Steddie fanfic and "Stranger Things"? And how did we talk so much about mo…

Sorry for the delay in posting. Esha is in Russia and is just getting settled. We will resume our scheduled posting next week. Today, we have Booker Omole, the head of the Communist Party of Kenya to discuss with us everything related to theory: Dialectical & Historical Materialism, Hegels, Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin and Gramsci. We also learn abo…

It's our first live show! We couldn't find anyone to mug for a dinghy, so we couldn't get to Bristol in person for Our Con Means Death. Not to worry: The Con Crew set us up with a virtual platform. We take questions from Twitter and the live chat and argue about bad pirate jokes, cats vs. dogs and spend more time than you might expect talking about…

At the turn of the 19th century and early 20th century, people all over the world were demanding the rights given to them in theory on old documents, be put into practice. There was unprecedented activity in unions, unemployment collectives, and civil rights organizations. All of them demanding a voice in the government. Edward Bernays realized the…

Con season has been in high gear, and while we fans still have lots of chances to connect, cosplay and generally enjoy our hyperfixations together, there's just one event that we're waiting for most eagerly: Our Con Means Death, the first OFMD fan con! We talk with the crew about how it all came about and what con-goers (in-person and virtual) can …

It's been a big week in the fandom, between the skele-maid flag, the "Dungeons and Damiens" fundraiser, and Dragon*Con, but we start with an interview with Benny, who talked about autism representation on OFMD, with some added notes by other autistic fans. Then Lea and Jenn delve into the show's depiction of trauma in various guises. It's a comedy!…

We're back! We've been hiding in the (metaphorical) walls, trapped in a (mostly metaphorical) box, and like Lucius surely will do, we return to the ship! Our return from unintended hiatus is ably assisted by Dr. Rob Spirko, disability studies scholar, who brings us great insights and a helluva game of "Wed, Bed, Behead." And Co-Captain Jenn brings …

Critical theory as it's been canonized within the Western Academy, is a tradition that comes out of a group of thinkers affiliated with what's called the Frankfurt School. It purported to offer a kind of radical critique of capitalism, consumer society and issues of contemporary society and how they are controlled. However, once again proving Grams…

We have studied many events in human history, we have delved a little bit into humanity before history, but today, we decided to learn more about time and space itself. Sean Johnson, a professor of Astronomy from the University of Michigan joins us to talk to us about the history of the universe. We answer questions like “How did our solar system f…

Today, on our podcast, The Rising Sons of Japan with Tim Shorrock. Summary of Podcast Episode Since the murder of former prime minister Shinzo Abe, there has been many hagiographies that distort his historical role and his rise to power, in the process of doing so, they also end up distorting the history of post war Japan. Today, we have Tim Shorro…

Meet Father Teach himself! Jenn interviews actor Damien Gerard, who has captured our hearts with his inspirational, heartfelt and engaging Twitter. Damien shared about his journey, from the UK to California, surviving life-threatening injury and illness along the way. His philosophy is to do everything with full enthusiasm, and to do everything wit…

We're living our pirate truth by abandoning some of our podcast rules. For starters, Jenn talks about Calico Jack! Without complaining! We play the world's toughest game of "Wed, Bed, Behead" (rules-free!) for which Jenn gets her villainous nature cranking. Along the way we celebrate Disability Pride Month (Jenn sends love to her fellow spoonies, w…

Most of us have heard about the great heroic Salt March of Mahatma Gandhiji, and the boycott of British fabrics, but very few of us have heard of the Great Indian Naval Mutiny, an event which gave a great scare to the British colonial powers and helped chart the course for Independence. Today, we have Pramod Kapoor, author of 1946 Royal Indian Navy…

Podcast-ception! Podcaster and game designer August Gates shares their insights about fictionalizing history--and what that means for our gay pirate brainrot. Then BGDP superfan Jenne Foronjy chats with us about Pride, about making playlists, and about connecting with beloved (and hated) characters. Don't worry, there's time for Jenn to squeeze in …

You've seen our guests' work all over the socials! First, Jenn chats with Kermit and Gabbi, whose handmade Blackbeard Pride flags were a hit at their local Pride and also featured in a viral TikTok. Don't worry, we also hear an abridged version of Gabbi's extensive Izzy Hands analysis. Next, Jenn and Lea meet Erin, who recreated the pattern for the…

During the cold war, the CIA was obsessed with mind-control. There vision was creating a something like a Cylon from Battlestar Galactica. And so, they began a division called the MK-ULTRA, within MK-ULTRA, they conducted many gruesome experiments on human beings around the world. Some of it came to light during the church hearings. Some of it came…

Jenn and Lea talk with none other than Ra Vincent, Production Designer on "Our Flag Means Death" and much more, including "Thor: Ragnarok," "Thor: Love and Thunder," "JoJo Rabbit" and "What We Do in the Shadows." What goes into creating a show or movie's distinctive look? And what's up with the elastic floor plan of The Revenge? Ra emphasizes that …

It's Pride Month! And Renewal Month! Co-Captains Jenn and Lea are in a celebratory mood as they interview Tiarne Lambert, who specializes in insightful and well-researched twitter threads, including the one about plant symbolism in OFMD. Next, Jenn chats with Traci Sisson of Knox Pride about the show, and about the work of the Knox Pride Center. Wh…

The conservatives complain about godlessness, reactionaries think god punishes America for its godlessness, progressives think that America is too religious. But, wherever one might be on the spectrum, they each are unhappy about how religion manifests itself in America. Today, we have Justin Clark from Red Reviews Podcast here to talk about the hi…

Jenn interviews Emily Capettini, writer and assistant professor of English at Indiana State University, about great characterizations and queer rep in OFMD. Why does our funny piratical comedy sometimes make us cry? As always Jenn inflicts a corny joke on Lea, but not before she gets to play FMK (with a twist) with Em. Connect with Emily on Twitter…

Lea and Jenn chat with author Laura Sook Duncombe, author of "Pirate Women," about real pirates, fictional pirates, and why we love them. Meet the Pirate Queen, gossip about Mr. Teach, and play "Wed, Bed, Behead," a classier version of FMK. Connect with Laura on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lauraduncombe1 Want Laura's excellent book, along with oth…

Editor’s note: Apologies for the delay. I had a seizure and I was in the hospital. During the seizure I also broke my nose. We will resume with our regular weekly content. We also plan on including some bonus content for the weeks we missed. We apologize. And now, let's get right back to my conversation with Asad Zaman. Enjoy. Audio chapters * 4:11…

Jenn and Lea talk with Kendall Wells, actor, fight choreographer and stuntperson. He was the stunt double for Will Arnett/Calico Jack, and he's the creator of Whippies! Hear about some of the infamous details behind the show's whipwork, including the death of Karl and that one scene with Taika! (Jenn still manages to work in a bad pirate joke and p…

We talk with artist and illustrator Evelyn Rogers about the show, and how it has inspired their artwork. And then we meet fellow gay pirate obsessive Sinbay Tan for a truly chaotic round of FMK. But first, Lea takes Jenn on another multiple-choice journey into the world of real, historical pirates. Connect with guest Evelyn Rogers on Twitter, @wow_…

Today Jeffrey Epstein talks with Asad Zaman about the 2001 edition of Karl Polanyi's 1944 book, The Great Transformation. Professor Zaman is a PhD economist based in Pakistan, with many lectures, papers, and posts on the topic. The Great Transformation reveals, essentially, that what we think to be a foundation of our economy and society is, in fac…

Hey, why do white people deny that Blackbeard is Indigenous? He is, y'all! We take a deep dive into how our beloved Gay Pirate Show decenters whiteness as well as straightness, with an assist from our twitter friend Hayley. We'll also take a look at colorism in fanart. Then we get back to our usual shenanigans with a special FMK guest (game streame…

Co-captain Lea quizzes co-captain Jenn about one of the real-life pirates on OFMD (and she probably didn't really have a nose jar). We have some hot (or at least lukewarm) takes and we manifest our wishes for Season 2. Special Guest and OFMD superfan drops by to share the love and play FMK. Want books that relate to OFMD? Check out our Bookshop lis…

Today's part two of my two-part conversation with Jackson Winter, on the 2001 edition of Karl Polanyi's 1944 book, The Great Transformation. This is also part two of a larger four-part series on the book. Jackson is co-writer and editor for PEGS Institute, which is a project to demystify and explain some commonly misunderstood realities of the mode…

This month, we will have four special episodes hosted by our correspondent,Jeffrey Esptein. Today, he will talk author Jackson Winter about the 2001 edition of the Karl Polyani book, “The Great Transformation” Jackson is co-writer and editor for PEGS Institute, which is a project to demystify and explain some commonly misunderstood realities of the…

While mainstream media is running a propaganda Blitz on Ukraine, where they seem to frame it as “Russian aggression” against Ukrainians, Ukraine was already invaded 8 years ago. The movie Ukraine on Fire goes through the armed coup, planned at the US Embassy with then Under Secretary Victoria Nuland, where they picked the leaders, and the army and …