Best Code Talkers Podcasts (2025)

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112. How Language Made Us Human: The History of Language 1:06:22

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8d ago1:06:22

1:06:22

Put on your science pants Smoke Circle! KT is bringing us across the season six finish line with the brief history of language--from the first sounds of hominids to the formations of grammar to how culture shapes language around the world and how it is ever-evolving and changing year by year. We love a topic in which science and history shake hands…

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111. How to Start a War with Michael Trapani 1:33:21

21d ago1:33:21

1:33:21

It's our penultimate episode of season 6 and we've got an amazing guest to share it with! Author, podcaster and all around kick ass dude, Michael Trapani, joins the Smoke Circle to talk about his gripping book "How to Start a War: The Rise of Extremism, the Fall of Democracy and the Lead Up to World War II" Like many major world events, World War I…

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The History of Dragons Around the World 55:01

1M ago55:01

55:01

It's episode 110 and KT is bringing her deep love of dragons to the Smoke Circle! While you might think dragons are more likely to be found in fantasy novels and mythology books than in the pages of history, KT explores the cultural significance of dragons across various civilizations, touching on creation myths and the role of dragons in both chao…

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“Conservators of the Greatest Generation: The Journey Begins” 1:03:05

1M ago1:03:05

1:03:05

Podcast Episode 220By Digital Fourten Media

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109. The Code Talkers 1:01:46

2M ago1:01:46

1:01:46

They were told not to speak their language. Those respective languages helped win wars and save countless lives. In episode 109, Laurel takes the Smoke Circle through the incredible story of the Indigenous code talkers of World War I and II--the Navajo, Comanche, and other Native American men whose voices became unbreakable codes in the Pacific and…

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Episode 219 – Laura Tohe: Code Talkers, Poetry, and the Power of Story 56:35

2M ago56:35

56:35

Podcast Episode 219By Digital Fourten Media

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Yuck: The Weird and Wondrous History of the Iconic Joshua Tree 44:05

2M ago44:05

44:05

Welcome to a bonus episode in which Kt and Laurel have award winning author, screenwriter and essayist, Barret Baumgart, in the Smoke Circle. Together we discuss his newest book Yuck: The Birth and Death of the Weird and Wondrous Joshua Tree, Yucca Brevifolia. You might not believe it, but the Joshua Tree has a strange little part to play when reco…

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108. The Battle of Stamford Bridge: The End of The Viking Age 1:00:06

3M ago1:00:06

1:00:06

Welcome to episode 108 in which Kt takes us way back to the year 1066 and completes her own Viking Age saga that she has been unraveling over the course of the show. In this episode, Kt delves into the stories of legendary figures like King of Norway Harold Hardrada and the last Anglo-Saxon King, Harold Godwinson; the cultural significance of berse…

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“Free France’s Forgotten General: The Epic of Louis Dio” 1:26:11

3M ago1:26:11

1:26:11

Podcast EpisodeBy Digital Fourten Media

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107. Red Tails Rising: The Tuskegee Airmen Story 1:02:56

3M ago1:02:56

1:02:56

Welcome to 107! In this episode, we take flight into the history and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, America's first Black military aviators. We will explore the challenges these brave individuals faced, both in combat and at home, and highlight their significant contributions to World War II and beyond. Our discussion also touches on broader themes…

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106. History's Luckiest Cat: Unsinkable Sam's WWII Adventures 48:48

4M ago48:48

48:48

Welcome Smoke Circle! Kt's back and she's bringing us a whimsical journey into history with the tale of Unsinkable Sam, the legendary feline who survived three shipwrecks during World War II. Discover how this black and white cat became a symbol of hope and resilience for sailors amidst the chaos of war. We'll also explore the fascinating role of c…

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Fifty-Three Days on Starvation Island with John Bruning 1:07:11

4M ago1:07:11

1:07:11

Podcast Episode 217By Digital Fourten Media

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105. Unveiling the Red Scare: McCarthyism and Its Echoes 1:14:09

4M ago1:14:09

1:14:09

Laurel is back for episode three of season six! Join Kt and Laurel as they jump into the tumultuous era of McCarthyism, exploring the rise and fall of Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy and the widespread fear of communism in America. Grab some snacks, libation of choice and join your favorite stoner history sisters in the Smoke Circle as we discove…

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Judith Avila & Latham Nez on the Navajo Code Talkers 1:05:21

4M ago1:05:21

1:05:21

Podcast Episode 216By Digital Fourten Media

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104. Marilyn Monroe 1:19:09

4M ago1:19:09

1:19:09

It's time for Kt to take the wheel and talk about one of her lifelong favorite actors and pop culture icons--Norma Jeane Baker, better known to the world as Marilyn Monroe! While frequently thought of as a bombshell and sex symbol, Marilyn was more than that--she was a cultural icon, a savvy self-creator, and a woman navigating fame in a world that…

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Chronicling Combat: Sandra McGee on WWII Amphibious Forces 1:18:21

5M ago1:18:21

1:18:21

Podcast Episode 215By Digital Fourten Media

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103. Erased History: What the Government Doesn't Want You to Know 1:39:51

5M ago1:39:51

1:39:51

Welcome to season six! We're a bit late on kicking it all off so thank you for your patience! In season six, we decided to change up our format and each of us will take an episode, instead of doing two stories per episode. We are also stretching our total number of episodes per season to 10 instead of 8 (5 episodes per sister.) Laurel is starting t…

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Remembering Jake Larson 1:56:44

5M ago1:56:44

1:56:44

Podcast Episode 214By Digital Fourten Media

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Behind the Scenes of Band of Brothers and More — A Conversation with Producer Kirk Saduski 1:02:26

5M ago1:02:26

1:02:26

Podcast Episode 213By Digital Fourten Media

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Fourth of July Reflections, Wartime Realities, and Battles Around July 3rd 1:30:15

6M ago1:30:15

1:30:15

Podcast Episode 213By Digital Fourten Media

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Forging Naval Leaders: Craig Symonds on WWII and Annapolis 1:00:19

6M ago1:00:19

1:00:19

Podcast Episode 211By Digital Fourten Media

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"Carrying the Torch: Stepping Up for History and Community" 1:15:40

7M ago1:15:40

1:15:40

Podcast Episode 210By Digital Fourten Media

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102. The Pig, The Pope, and The Tortoise: A History of Absurdity with Derek from History's Greatest Idiots 1:12:10

7M ago1:12:10

1:12:10

Welcome to the finale of season five! In episode 102, we invite a long time friend of the Smoke Circle--Derek from History's Greatest Idiots! History is full of idiotic moments, ranging from little whoopsies to full blown, planet-altering fuck-ups. In today's episode, we talk an escaped Galapagos Tortoise, a dead pope put on trial and a pig who sta…

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101. Top 5 Oui-diculous Moments in French History and the Hunchback of Notre Dame 1:55:58

7M ago1:55:58

1:55:58

Welcome back! We saved you your favorite spot in the Smoke Circle! Spark up and get curious as the sisters are back together for another themed episode. Kt requested French history for this episode and we have a lot of stories for you! First up, Laurel has a top 5 list of "Most Oui-diculous (get it?!) Moments in French History. Ranging from history…

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“Frogmen, Firepower & a Patreon Giveaway” 1:12:05

8M ago1:12:05

1:12:05

Podcast Episode EP-209By Digital Fourten Media

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100. Brave Hearts Be Free Tonight (Historians Watch Braveheart!) 2:49:11

8M ago2:49:11

2:49:11

It's time to celebrate episode 100! To do so, we are tackling one of Hollywood's most famous (maybe infamous?) historical blockbusters--Braveheart. The film turns 30 this month (May 2025) and the sisters spark up and sit down in the Smoke Circle with Dr. Darren R. Reid, associate professor of history at Coventry University. Dr. Reid is himself Scot…

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"The Weslaco Eight: A Snapshot in Time with Andrew Booher" 1:34:04

8M ago1:34:04

1:34:04

Podcast Episode 2008By Digital Fourten Media

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99. Raiders of Ancient Egypt: The Rosetta Stone and Discovery of King Tut's Tomb 1:25:25

8M ago1:25:25

1:25:25

Welcome to episode 99 of High Tales of History! (Can you believe that we are at 99?!) For this history sesh, we travel back into the sands of time with two stories on raiders of Ancient Egypt. First up, Kt covers Napoleon's invasion of Egypt and the subsequent finding and deciphering of the Rosetta Stone. Next, Laurel covers the discovery of the to…

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98. The Queen's Seer: A History of Divination, from the Elizabethan Period and Beyond, with Psychic Medium, Saundra (pt. 2) 1:42:48

9M ago1:42:48

1:42:48

Welcome to episode 98 and part two of The History of Divination! After leaving the Ancient Romans in part one, we fast forward to the Tudors and the Elizabethan Era. We'll meet Dr. John Dee, who was Queen Elizabeth I's trusted seer and learn about the attitudes around magic and divination before Elizabeth's successor begins his witch hunts. We'll a…

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"Rangers, Resistance, and 'The Houdini Club': A Conversation with Mir Bahmanyar" 1:21:50

9M ago1:21:50

1:21:50

Podcast Episode EP-207By Digital Fourten Media

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97. Divining the Future in Ancient Civilizations with Psychic Medium Saundra (Pt. 1) 1:34:21

9M ago1:34:21

1:34:21

Welcome to episode 97 (season 5, episode 3) of High Tales of History! We knew you'd be here because we saw it happen in our scrying mirror. We have our friend Saundra in the Smoke Circle with us for a two part episode on divination through history. Saundra is a psychic medium and intuitive tarot card reader and we have a blast all hanging out and t…

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Episode 206 - Unlocking Your Family’s WWII History with Zach Morris 1:02:56

10M ago1:02:56

1:02:56

Podcast Episode 206By Digital Fourten Media

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96. I Love When Women... 1:27:07

10M ago1:27:07

1:27:07

In episode 96, the sisters jump into some women's history beginning with the amazing and long history of Black midwifery in America. In early America, enslaved Black midwives (as well as Indigenous women) were responsible for birthing nearly all children in the United States. Today, Black midwives only make up between 5 to 9% of the profession whil…

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Episode 205: Dr. Roger Newman on Boys, Brotherhood, and the Battle for Hill 314 53:05

10M ago53:05

53:05

Podcast Episode EP 205By Digital Fourten Media

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95. The History of American Protest Music 2:22:49

11M ago2:22:49

2:22:49

Welcome to the season five opener! It's episode 95 (we will be reaching 100 during this season!) and we have invited our musician bestie, Matty Baker, on to chat about the very long and very deep history of American protest music! From Yankee Doodle to Kendrick Lamar; from the Revolutionary War through the Black Freedom Struggle, Vietnam and queer …

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The Battle of Iwo Jima, Honoring K9 Duke, & Another Patreon Giveaway 1:35:10

11M ago1:35:10

1:35:10

Podcast Episode 204By Digital Fourten Media

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Harriet Tubman: Half Baked Mini-Episode 20:01

11M ago20:01

20:01

**The following episode is a bonus "pre-season five" Half Baked mini-episode released for all. The rest of our Half Baked episodes are a part of our Patreon Best Buds Club. Come join Laurel in the Smoke Circle in her old man sweater and get a taste of the Half Baked as we talk the badass that is Harriet Tubman. How much do you know about Harriet Tu…

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The 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz 1:31:34

11M ago1:31:34

1:31:34

Podcast Episode 203By Digital Fourten Media

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Unseen WWII Photos, Book Picks, and HBO's When Trumpets Fade - Re-Deployment Part 94 1:08:58

11M ago1:08:58

1:08:58

Podcast Episode 94By Digital Fourten LLC

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Kicking Off Year 7 with Henry Sledge: Unveiling The Old Breed Complete Story 1:09:17

12M ago1:09:17

1:09:17

Podcast Episode 202By Digital Fourten Media

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Wicked: The Fascinating and Unexpected History of the Wizard and Witches of Oz 1:03:36

12M ago1:03:36

1:03:36

Welcome to episode 94, our season 4 finale! In it, we take a trip down the yellow brick road and meet the man behind the curtain--L. Frank Baum and talk about the creation of his immortal book, The Wizard of Oz. Over the years since the release of the book, many parables and metaphors have been applied to the story as well as inspirations for its c…

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"Episode 200: WWII Stories and Historical Fiction with Robert B. O'Connor" 54:50

1y ago54:50

54:50

Podcast Episode 200By Digital Fourten Media

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"Thanksgiving Tales, Model Building Evolution, and a Catch-22 Debate" 46:58

1y ago46:58

46:58

Podcast Episode 199By Digital Fourten Media

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The Great Feather Heist | Frederick Douglass: The Icon Behind Black History Month 1:19:07

1y ago1:19:07

1:19:07

Hi there! We saved you a spot in the smoke circle! Puff, puff, pass y'all! Otherwise, KT has some "Cab Sav" for you if you're interested. This week's episode covers a wide span of history starting with Laurel's story of more recent times about the Feather Heist of a scientifically and historically priceless collection of rare birds from the British…

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Yi Sun-sin, Korea's Greatest Admiral | The Theft of the Mona Lisa 1:52:34

1y ago1:52:34

1:52:34

It's episode 93 and it is time for some HIGH seas and some HIGH-sts (heists, we might have been trying a bit too hard there with the word play) First up, Kt takes us to Korea during Japan's invasions of the nation, commonly known as the Imjin War in Korea's Joseon Period (1392 to 1910). There we meet Korea's great admiral, Yi Sun-sin, who won sever…

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"The Forbidden Garden: Survival, Sacrifice, and the Botanists of Besieged Leningrad" 58:03

1y ago58:03

58:03

Podcast Episode 198By Digita Fourten Media

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Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes | The Naked Ride of Lady Godiva 1:21:09

1y ago1:21:09

1:21:09

It's episode 92 and we're talking about t*ts and shipwrecks! First up, we dive into North America's Great Lakes and learn about the first known shipwreck in 1679--Le Griffon--and bookend it with the last major shipwreck, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. We also talk about the Great Storm of 1913 and the weather systems that can make the Great Lakes so dan…

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VKE 2024 Insights, Creative Reenactment Ideas, and New Gear! 1:19:04

1y ago1:19:04

1:19:04

Podcast Episode 197By Digital Fourten LLC

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The Dyatlov Pass Incident | A History of Witches 1:34:43

1y ago1:34:43

1:34:43

Welcome to the Halloween Episode! In episode 91, we first take a dive into one of history's greatest adventure mysteries--The Dyatlov Pass Incident which has been unsolved for over 65 years! In the middle of winter in 1959, 9 experienced hikers disappeared in the Ural Mountains and died under mysterious circumstances. Theories range from avalanche …

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EP-197: The Ramblings of a WWII Bomber Pilot 1:09:32

1y ago1:09:32

1:09:32

Podcast Episode 197By Digital Fourten Media