how did it come to this?

how did it come to this?

Each fortnight we will take a current news item and look at the historical context and ask one simple question: how did it come to this?Contact us at: howdiditcometothispodcast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/hdicttpodcast/Twitter: @hdicttpodcasthttps://www.podchaser.com/howdiditcometothis Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

6.01 - Papal History “and on this rock I will build my church” - Matthew 16:18

April 23, 2025 • 64 mins

With the death of Pope Francis, the world reflects on the legacy of a modern papacy — but here at How Did It Come To This?, we ask: was it ever not chaotic?

In this episode, we dive into the strange, scandalous, and sanctified world of Popes past. From St Peter’s upside-down martyrdom to Popes who were pirates, teenagers, or (in one case) real estate agents selling the papacy — history has no shortage of holy chaos. We unpack the Sc...

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5.06 - The Stories We Missed 2024

January 6, 2025 • 92 mins
This week, the year that was. 2024 was full of events, much like any other year, and much like any other year we missed many on this show. From Trump to Diddy, Syria to South Korea, New Zealand Maoris to Social Media Bans, a man jailed for showing truth to power and a man arrested for showing perhaps a bit too much truth to power.

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5.05 - Conspiracies “When you conspire with everyone you come across, you're not really conspiring with anyone. You're just doing random crap” - Annie Edison, Community.

September 26, 2024 • 55 mins
This week, facts and fiction, disinformation and historical truth. The world of the conspiracy can be a deep dark rabbit hole. It can consume peoples lives with men in black suits, chemtrails and boogeymen. But sometimes they turn out to be true. Why do we like a good conspiracy? How can we tell if something is true? Can we ever combat the rise in conspiracy belief? Was the moon landing fake? Was someone on the grassy knoll? Was Ha...

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5.04 - Olympic Games “Citius, Altius, Fortius – Communiter”

July 30, 2024 • 67 mins
This week, higher, faster, stronger, together. The pinnacle of human physical achievement, the chance to be the best in the world, the ability to cheer on your nation with unbridled enthusiasm, the knowledge of a sport you had no interest in and will not show any interest in for the next four years. The Olympics is an international party that brings joy, heartache and pride to many around the world, but why does it exist at all? Ho...

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5.03 - "Assassination is the extreme form of censorship" - George Bernard Shaw

July 18, 2024 • 84 mins
This week, a shot that has massive implications for not only the united states, but possibly the world. A sniper on a roof and a former president and presidential candidate has brought into sharp focus the ramifications of assassinating a world leader. Why would someone want to murder a political leader? How do they even get close enough to try? What are the outcomes when it happens? Can we prevent it in the future? Why are we obse...

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5.02 - Israel/Palestine pt2. “We hereby declare the establishment of a Jewish state in the land of Israel.” - Ben Gurion

March 25, 2024 • 55 mins
This week, creating a nation always comes with pitfalls. The end of the colonial era gave many the opportunity for self-determination, and for some the opportunity to come back. But what happens when you try to reinstate a state when people are already living there? How do you tell someone their home no longer is their home? How did Palestine become Israel? Can there ever be a two state solution? What is a Knesset? Where is the Gaz...

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5.01 - Israel/Palestine pt1. "a Land flowing with milk and honey." Deuteronomy 26:9

February 22, 2024 • 53 mins
This week, the cradle of civilisation has been a hotly contested region since we have been able to record our conquests. Many people groups, kingdoms, empires and nations have called the land of Southern Levant home and it is no different today. Israel and Palestine have been locked in dispute over land of the eastern mediterranean for decades and recent events have brought into sharp focus the difficulties in bringing resolution t...

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4.04 - The Voice Pt.2 "You're the voice, try and understand it" - John Farnham

October 17, 2023 • 49 mins
In part 2 of our look at the. voice referendum we delve into the indigenous fight for rights and freedoms and the different advisory bodies that have come and gone. Join Daniel Mattes, Siobhan Dougherty, James Tuckwell and special guest Dee Mattes as they continue to discuss this important issue before the vote on October 14 2023.

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4.03 - The Voice Pt. 1 “This link is the basis of the ownership of the soil, or better, of sovereignty” - Uluru Statement of the Heart

October 4, 2023 • 48 mins

This week, we have the chan...

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4.02 - “and there surely will be conflict and confrontation” - Qin Gang

March 11, 2023 • 61 mins

This week, two of Australia's biggest international partners increase their rheto...

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4.01 - "To guard those relics ne'er to be restored." - Lord Byron

February 25, 2023 • 49 mins
This week, as pieces of historical significance are returned to Cambodia we were prompted to think about what do we do with items that are of historical ...

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3.03 - Ukraine pt.3 “Ukraine is the instrument for Russia to test the West's 'red lines'” - Lilia Shevtsova

September 26, 2022 • 91 mins

This week, part 3 of our coverage of the war in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin. Former K...

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3.02 - Ukraine pt2. “Is there anything more frightening than people?" –Svetlana Alexievich

May 12, 2022 • 53 mins
This week, part 2 of the complex issue that is Ukraine. From Empire to hetmanate to democracy, last week saw a land given and taken by the empires around...

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3.01 - Ukraine pt1. “It is better to be naked and honest than rich and an outlaw”

April 28, 2022 • 44 mins

The first in a series of 3 episodes on Ukraine. Pt 1 looks at the years 980 - 194...

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2.10 - “But harsh conditions create rebels.”

December 21, 2021 • 68 mins

This week on how did it come to this? Working conditions, bad bosses, freed...

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2.09 - Remembrance Day Special with Jesse Alexander

November 10, 2021 • 54 mins

On this special Remembrance Day episode of how did it come to this? with sp...

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2.08 - “We can't afford to leave Afghanistan to the Taliban and the terrorists.” (Afghanistan pt.2)

October 15, 2021 • 67 mins

This week on how did it come to this? From last weeks long history to a sho...

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2.07 - "Part of the reason it has remained unknown is because of this complexity." (Afghanistan pt.1)

September 30, 2021 • 64 mins

This week on how did it come to this? From Emirates to Kingdoms, Republics ...

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2.06 - "you need to control the country, and the main thing is not to ruin people's lives."

May 31, 2021 • 44 mins

This week on how did it come to this? A land that has been fought over,...

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2.05 - "the most Illustrious and most Exalted"

April 26, 2021 • 44 mins
This week on how did it come to this? A death that was expected and yet unexpected. The royals have a penchant to fascinate and be the source of go...

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