Battlecast

Battlecast

Battlecast is the world’s foremost podcast about war and it’s sociopolitical impact. Each month Dr. Luke Wolf works to bring you an unfiltered understanding of the most important battles and wars of mankind’s history. The official motto of the show: “not left, not right: above,” provides a fresh look at the conventional understandings found in history books. So pull up a chair, grab a beer, and join the conversation.

Episodes

January 18, 2026 50 mins
In the fall of 1775, 1,000 Americans entered the western wilds of Maine and pushed overland to the very edge of modern-day Quebec. The trip was supposed to take three weeks. It took nearly triple that. Then the winter came. The Americans froze. They ate their own shoes. They ate green dog soup. And the… Continue reading The Skeleton March and the Battle of Quebec /// 109
Mark as Played
Bunker Hill was one of the most important battles of the American Revolution. In this struggle, Britain attempted to break out of Boston, suffering some of the worst casualties incurred by the English in the entire war. At the same, General George Washington, in command of tens of thousands of unruly New England militia, sought… Continue reading A Military History of the American Revolution: B...
Mark as Played
Before The Battle of Lexington and Concord many thoughtful commentators, in both England and the American colonies, thought peace was possible between the colonies and the mother country. When they woke up on April 19, 1775, the men were at peace. When they laid their heads down that night, millions of people, across the greatest… Continue reading The Shot Heard Round the World: Lexington and&...
Mark as Played
The Guangxi Massacre was the largest documented case of mass cannibalism in human history. The Guangxi culinary abomination took place between 1967 and 1968 in Guangxi, China, a province located directly to the north of North Vietnam. Accordingly, the cannibalistic incident illustrates basic concepts of geopolitics and the way geography, lines of communication, and strategy… Continue reading C...
Mark as Played
Monaco is a nation smaller than one square mile but filled with more wealth per capita than almost any other country in the world. According to one historian, the tiny principality has zero natural resources. However, there is one resource Monaco does possess: The Rock – an impregnable natural fortress jutting into the azure water… Continue reading The Definitive Military History of Mona...
Mark as Played
The Battle of Pearl Harbor was one of the most important events in United States – and human – history. It unleashed the most powerful nation the world has ever seen into mankind’s greatest war. This is the story of that battle. It’s all here and it’s all free on Battlecast – the world’s foremost… Continue reading A Military History of the Attack at Pe...
Mark as Played
The Battle of Pearl Harbor: a day that lived in infamy. Thousands of American servicemen were caught unaware – fish in a tropical barrel. Many died. Many lived. As a direct result of this two-hour battle, The United States of America entered the Second World War, inaugurating what Niall Ferguson called the largest hegemonic empire… Continue reading The Military History of the Battle of P...
Mark as Played
In this concluding episode of the definitive podcast history of torture, the focus is on interpersonal torture by non-state actors. This episode provides an overview of psychopathic torture, torture in the drug trade, torture for information, sexual torture, torture between ethnic groups and torture for entertainment. It should be pointed out, as Peter Edwards (1996)… Continue reading A Histor...
Mark as Played
American torture. For years, philosophers, jurists, and legal theorists struggled with American use of torture in the war on terror. Just a few days after the events of the September 11th attacks, President George Bush was authorizing the use of torture on suspected members of international terrorist organizations. After a few months, American leaders were… Continue reading An American Torture...
Mark as Played
This is a history of torture on the North American continent, including Native American, Canadian and United States torture practices. It’s all here and it’s all free on Battlecast – the world’s foremost podcast on war and its sociopolitical impact. This is part six of an ongoing series on torture. You can find part five… Continue reading A History of Torture in America /// 100
Mark as Played
The Cambodian Genocide was a second holocaust. Approximately 1.6 million human beings were killed in the terrible bloodletting. But the genocide was unique – it’s one of the only cases in human history where people from the same ethnic group murdered whole segments of its own population – guilty of being born in the wrong… Continue reading A History of the Cambodian Genocide ...
Mark as Played
The Soviet punitive system was the heir of literally hundreds of years of secret police interrogation. For centuries, the Czar’s secret police had tortured, refined, and perfected the art of interrogation – all of it based on practice – not theory. That is why American researchers were so amazed at the Soviet interrogation success rate.… Continue reading Gulag: A History of S...
Mark as Played
The Inquisition: it’s a byword for tyranny in much of the Western world – especially among the English-speaking peoples of the world. In today’s episode the surprising origins, history, and impact of the Inquisition are detailed. In addition, this episode features a concise history of torture in India. It’s all here and it’s all free… Continue reading The Inquisit...
Mark as Played
This is part two of an ongoing series providing an exhaustive history of torture. All forms of torture, including forms never detailed in any other history of torture, will be covered in this series. Come and hear the way men share their love for one another. It’s all here and it’s all free on Battlecast… Continue reading A History of Torture: Roman, Christian and South American //...
Mark as Played
“Torture was legal, morally accepted, and commonplace in most ancient, medieval, and early modern societies.” This was the way historian Christopher Einolf succinctly described the history of torture: ubiquitous, common; in short: everywhere. Torture is a sort “reverse” gospel – as it is written in Il Libro Dell’avversario, chapter 6: And when the wealthy governors… Continue reading
October 18, 2024 100 mins
The Battle of Takur Ghar, also known as the Battle of Robert’s Ridge, was one of the bloodiest engagements in the history of the United States’ war in Afghanistan. Dozens of men died in the hills and mountains of the Shahi-Kot Valley. Scores more were wounded. The battle also featured one of the first documented… Continue reading The Battle of Takur Ghar /// 94
Mark as Played
Thousands of drone strikes have killed tens of thousands of targets since the introduction of unmanned aerial vehicle warfare in the early 2000s. This is the story of that warfare. It’s all free and it’s all here on Battlecast – the world’s foremost podcast on war and its sociopolitical impact.  Download episode 93 here: download… Continue reading Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Military History /...
Mark as Played
A man is sitting on his porch before he suddenly geysers upward, somersaulting through the air like a discarded plaything. A work truck is cruising across the Gaza Strip at fifty-miles-an-hour and then is suddenly crushed like a coke can and engulfed in flames. Scores of mass-produced Turkish drones flood the Armenian sky, raining death… Continue reading Drones: A Military History /// 92<...
Mark as Played
The Battle of Hamburger Hill was one of the most famous battles of the Vietnam War. Almost immediately after the conclusion of the battle, dumbfounded American journalists described the horrific assault of Hill 937 – and the inexplicable American withdrawal from the hill just a few days later. To journalists, and their well-fed, luxuriating readers… Continue reading The Battle of Hamburg...
Mark as Played
Hamburger Hill is one of the most famous battles from the Vietnam War. This is the complete story of that bloody conflict. It’s all here and it’s all free on Battlecast, the world’s foremost podcast on war and its sociopolitical impact. This is part two of an ongoing series. You can find part one here.… Continue reading The Battle of Hamburger Hill part 2 /// 90
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.

    On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.