Welcome to the very first episode of the History Shorts Weekend Show: a soon-to-be weekly Patreon Exclusive, but for now, offered as a full public preview. This lighter-toned, less-scripted companion to the main History Shorts feed brings together storytelling, commentary, historical insight, and exclusive clips from the Conversation Series vault.
Think of it as your weekend coffee companion: part history magazine, part variety show, and part behind-the-scenes peek into what's coming next on the podcast.
In This Episode:
This Week in History (Nov 23–29)
From the first Roman gladiatorial games in 534 BCE to the birth of the Macy's Parade, and MORE!
Today's News (For Tomorrow's History Books)
Governments begin drafting the first major regulations for AI-generated political ads and deepfake voices. Will future historians see this as the beginning of a new era of information trust?
Short Story of the Week:
"The First Computer Hack in History (1903)"
Long before cyberspace existed, a stage magician named Nevil Maskelyne hijacked Guglielmo Marconi's wireless telegraph demonstration in front of the Royal Institution. What began as a prank became the world's first live cyberattack, and a warning about the dangers of unencrypted communication that still echoes in today's digital world.
Historian Spotlight:
A preview clip from my upcoming conversation with historian Richard Bell, discussing his new book The American Revolution and the Fate of the World — available next Friday in the Conversation Series.
For the Good of the Order:
A reflection inspired by a line from Marcus Aurelius:
"You have power over your mind — not outside events."
History may be filled with battles, crises, and breakthroughs, but at its core, it is the story of how humans respond to circumstances beyond their control.
If you enjoy this preview episode, consider joining our paid community on Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus shows, early releases, and exclusive Weekend Show content:
patreon.com/HistoryShortsPodcast
And don't forget to check out our website for transcripts, notes, and more: www.historyshortspodcast.com
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