The Digression Podcast

Arminius, also known as Hermann the German, was a Germanic warrior and chieftain who played a crucial role in the early first century CE in the region that is now modern-day Germany. He is best known for his leadership of the Germanic tribes against the Roman legions during the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, a pivotal event in the history of the Roman Empire.

Arminius was born around 18 or 17 BCE into the Cherusci tribe, one of th...

The American Civil War was a pivotal moment in history, with the Confederacy battling the Union for its very existence. In the summer of 1862, during the Seven Days Battle, General Robert E. Lee and his Confederate forces came tantalizingly close to turning the tide of the war in their favor. Indeed, the Confederates almost won the Civil War during those fateful seven days.

General Lee, a master tactician, devised a bold plan to re...

Augustus Caesar, also known as Octavian, was a pivotal figure in ancient Rome. His reign as the first emperor of Rome was a transformative period in history. His political reforms, cultural patronage, and long-lasting peace left an indelible mark on the Roman Empire, shaping Western civilization for centuries to come.

Early Life and Rise to Power

Augustus Caesar was born on September 23, 63 BCE, in Rome. He was the adopted son of J...

Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa was born in 63 BC in a small town near Rome. He came from a humble background, but his talents and determination propelled him to great heights. Agrippa was known for his military expertise, exceptional organizational skills, and unwavering loyalty to Augustus. These qualities made him an indispensable companion to the future emperor.

Agrippa's military prowess was evident from an early age. He played a cru...

Julius Caesar, born Gaius Julius Caesar, was a prominent Roman statesman, military general, and dictator who played a pivotal role in transforming the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. Born on July 12, 100 BC, in Rome, Caesar rose to power during a time of political turmoil and instability, leaving an indelible mark on Roman history.

Caesar came from a noble family, and his early years were marked by military service and politi...

Since WWII ended, thousands of movies have explored every conceivable aspect of the conflict. But how often do these films get the story right, let alone the "feel" of the period and the "look" of the uniforms, weapons, cars, landscape, strategy, and tactics? That's the question we're asking in this episode as we present the TOP 10 Most Realistic WWII Movies. Enjoy!

Show notes at https://thedigressionpodcast.com/104

Sound Off! With...

Pompey, also known as Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, was a Roman general and politician who lived during the late Roman Republic. He was born in 106 BC in Picenum, a region in central Italy, and he died in 48 BC in Egypt.

Pompey's military career began at an early age. He served in the Roman army under his father and then under the consul Lucius Cornelius Sulla during the civil wars of the 80s BC. Pompey quickly proved himself to be a ski...

Gaius Marius was a prominent Roman general and statesman who played a pivotal role in transforming the Roman Republic into an empire. He was born in Cereatae into a plebeian family, which meant that he was not of noble birth. However, Marius rose to prominence through his military prowess and political savvy, ultimately becoming one of the most powerful men in Rome.

Marius began his military career in 134 BC, serving as a junior of...

Scipio Africanus was one of the most outstanding military leaders in ancient history. Born in 236 BC in Rome, Scipio came from a noble family of the Roman Republic. He was the son of Publius Scipio, a distinguished general who had fought in the First Punic War against Carthage.

Scipio's early years were marked by tragedy. His father and uncle died in battle during the Second Punic War against Hannibal, leaving Scipio to carry on th...

If you grew up in the 1970s, you probably know Colonel Steve Austin. He was an astronaut and test pilot who became the world's first bionic man after a horrific plane crash. Steve Austin was fictional, but that plane crash was real...and so was the pilot; his name was Bruce Peterson.

Bruce Peterson was a renowned test pilot who made significant contributions to the aviation and aerospace industry. One of his notable achievements wa...

Hannibal Barca (247-183/182 BC) was a Carthaginian general and statesman who is widely regarded as one of the greatest military strategists and tacticians in history. He is most famous for leading an army across the Alps into Italy during the Second Punic War (218-201 BC), where he won a series of spectacular victories against the Roman Republic.

Hannibal was born in Carthage (in modern-day Tunisia) to a prominent Barcid family, an...

As a young boy, Alexander was tutored by the famous philosopher Aristotle, who taught him a range of subjects, including philosophy, politics, and science. Alexander showed great intelligence and a thirst for knowledge, which would serve him well in his later conquests.

When his father was assassinated in 336 BC, Alexander became king at the age of just 20. He immediately set about consolidating his power and expanding his kingdom....

The Belknap and Kennedy collision was a tragic incident that occurred on December 22, 1975, during a training exercise in the Mediterranean Sea. The USS John F. Kennedy, an aircraft carrier, collided with the USS Belknap, a guided missile cruiser, causing significant damage to both ships and resulting in the deaths of seven sailors and injuries to dozens more.

The incident began when the Kennedy, which was operating as the flagship...

Sun Tzu of Wu was a great military strategist who lived in ancient China more than 2,500 years ago. His name has become synonymous with military strategy and tactics, and his ideas are still studied and applied today by military leaders and business executives.

Sun Tzu was born into a noble family in the state of Chi somewhere around 544 BC. His grandfather was a provincial governor and his father was an accomplished military gener...

Leonidas of Sparta was a legendary figure in ancient Greek history, known for his bravery and leadership during one of the most famous battles in history, the Battle of Thermopylae. He was born into the Agiad dynasty, one of the two ruling dynasties of the Spartan city-state. He was the son of Anaxandridas II and the brother of Cleomenes.

Sparta was known for its strict military training and discipline, and Lionidas' upbringing wou...

We're back! Since this is our first episode of 2023, we pause for a moment to reflect on the last year and give a shout-out to all the folks who make this podcast what it is! Thanks, everyone!

We're also excited to have friend-of-the-show, Michael Shanks, co-host this episode! Michael holds the distinction of being The Digression Podcast's very first listener! He's also the Director of Business Development for Genasys Long Range Ac...

Christmas has always been an important holiday in the U.S., but it took on a special meaning during World War II (1941-45) because so many families had loved ones serving in the armed forces that they were not able to return home for Christmas. Although the Second World War did not have holidays, Americans both at home and overseas did everything they could to celebrate Christmas. Christmas 1941 was not much different for most Amer...

The spy satellite photos created real panic in the Pentagon! An enormous Soviet airplane–probably an interceptor–with engine intakes the size of small cars. The wings were huge, which suggested it had maneuverability far beyond anything America's McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II could achieve. The Pentagon was looking at the prototypes of what would become the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 Foxbat. After the airplane appeared in public fo...

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