Prizefighters, Circus Freaks & Gangsters

Ok ok... we reached the end of Season 1 and almost nobody who's name we know dies.I mean let's not kid ourselves, the swashing and the buckling and the fact that there MUST be bad guys means that there's going to be a body count - but let's face it.  Here we are in Telanovela-land so it's going to be less gruesome that Star Trek.  Which - ya' know what?  It's fun sometimes to just escape into the past and only be confronted with sherry in pretty glasses, questions about what someone's social class is based on whether or not they are wearing anything on their head, and mysteries about cuff-links.But with horses and dramatic pauses.And that - thank you very much is what this delivers.Deadly plots - or are they?Intrepid newspaper reporters - And just how many languages were spoken in Alta California before it became a part if the USA (the answer is: probobly about the same number as now - lots)It's the end of Season 1 of Zorro.  So much fun, lets do it again!As always - you can reach us on the internets.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)

The Telenovela is blooming in it's full flower - we have secret baby - but even better, it is fake! We have mysterious mothers, promised weddings that were and were not completed, consumation while engaged to be married.  It's all a grand mess.Plus THE OUTFITSand finally Party Food.But wait, there's also the reveal that some of the bad GUYS are bad Girls.  This show has everything, including an evil priest.  There's nothing more to be desired - except a second season!As always - you can reach us on the internets.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)

Greta called it - the whole reason you have a Telenovela wedding is so you can not have a wedding.  Or did she?  This very Telenovela show has lots of tricks up its beautifully tailored sleeves.  And the resolution - or not of this wedding situation, did not see this ending coming. But don’t worry Jamie - the 19th century is here to fight about it.  And all the competing technologies are here to play.  Tomahawk/hatchet v. Knife v. Sword v. Whip v. Bow & Arrow v. Flint-Lock pistol v. Breech Load rifle Oh yeah - and Secret Baby showed up.  Fake Secret Baby.  Almost to Telanovela BINGO Fear not - all the ways to die are here to play - come along next week to see if all the mysteries are coming together.As always - you can reach us on the internets.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)

So - are you sure you saw what you saw?Memory construction is a hell of a thing... and we definitely are experiencing a new version of it with video, with rewind... and now with fake video creation.But back in the day when you didn't see anything - and you just got one vivid entertaining newspaper report, what does that do?  Many of us are quite excellent at creating images to go along with a description - and then that becomes the memory.But possibly even more interesting - is how much this intersection of news, story creation and noteriety have been doing this dance for as long as there have been newspapers... which is for less time than we think.  Also there's a wedding to plan...  So stay tuned for that next week!As always - you can reach us on the internets.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)

Say in the comments if it's too many locations #locations #toomuchBust seriously - your 6 eps in to a 10 episode season and you're just going to send this many hares running in the field of story.What Gives?Also - Greta admits she entirely absolutely was guessing and was WRONG.But that's happened before & will most likely happen again.You better start paying some things off in the next few episodes.  That's all I ask. Oh - and don't stop delivering on the fashion.As always - you can reach us on the internets.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)and his NEW YouTube Apprearances on Carved Outta Stone Wednesday AM or Friday PMSchedule Details: instagram.com/carvedouttastone&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)

So have you been following along?Now that we have our major players set up - and the relationships are established we can really get the plates spinning:Secret Societies - checkLove Triangle - checkTwin Brothers - checkMysterious/Nefarious Death - checkand a SLAP! - check and checkThere's some fun close quarters fighting, riding off frantically into the moonlight, and jaw clenching to beat the band.  Capt. Monestario get's to employ his jaw clenching in a range of emotional situations.We get a doctor that washes his hands (what!?)But most of all - Jamie and Greta hint what's next after we come to the end of the 1st season of Zorro.So saddle up - and come along for the ride.As always - you can reach us on the internets.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)and his NEW YouTube Apprearances on Carved Outta Stone Wednesday AM or Friday PMSchedule Details: instagram.com/carvedouttastone&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)

Oh you were confused last week?  Well it doesn't get any better this week.  If anything it gets worse... more soupy, more sloppy, more salacious.Greta badly speaks more Spanish - but mainly in the service of the 2! DOS! Zorros issue.Jamie is baffled by the twins issue - not twin Zorros, just regular Telenovella twins.Excitement as we are in New York.  Consternation as a transit across the Panama Isthmus is proposed.And as always we have fun dashing about the (not actually) old Los Angeles countryside as the Mexican sway over Las Californias is in the process of being lost.  But not before we are teased with more bears.  When will we solve the mystery of the dang bears!?As always - you can reach us on the internets.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)and his NEW YouTube Apprearances on Carved Outta Stone Wednesday AM or Friday PMSchedule Details: instagram.com/carvedouttastone&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)

What the Hell is going on?  That's the entire sentiment of this episode.And well, as viewers always trying to figure things out we may have brought it on ourselves.One approach of course is to take one story line and then make it endlessly twisty - each twist more diabolical than the last and it's some of the these post Game of Thrones shows where eventually people just can't care anymore.  The characters are so contradictory - nothing matters anymore.The other, more fun approach is to just keep throwing in new characters (who's Guadalupe Montero?), sting out plot points (what is up with the bear pins?) and moving the story around to new locations (how are we in New York - err Nueva York?)And that is what Zorro has chosen to do, because it is a fun show!  So buckle those swashes and let's go! (That will get old, I know.  But not yet)As always - you can reach us on the internets.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)

This episode is where this show goes mask off and shows it’s Telenovela True Colors.Go watch this episode first on Amazon Prime.  Twists, Turns, Escándalo! & we just sorted out that Dani Rojas from Ted Lasso is Zorro 1.  This series is SO MUCH FUN. Jamie and Greta are here to absolutely enjoy every last minute of the escapist nonsense.  Ok Ok - not just for the fun of it, but how it shows so much of what was up in 19th century California that was not concerned with America.  Which, actually, for along time was most of it. So come along for the wild ride that is Zorro - in Spanish.  You can go the Subtitles route... or English Dub.  We are #Team Subtitles, but enjoy it your way.As always - you can reach us on the internets.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)and his NEW YouTube Apprearances on Carved Outta Stone Wednesday AM or Friday PMSchedule Details: instagram.com/carvedouttastone&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)

Catch Season 1 of Zorro on Amazon Prime Video to watch alongAfter watching the movie Zorro - it became clear, we need more of Zorro.  We also need more of the 19th Century Americas... from something other than the USA America perspective. Because, during the 19th century, the Americnan America was a very different shape than the USA we live in now.  There were lots of other nations in those spaces we conveniently forget about. Also - the 21st century adventure and super hero stories have gotten a little... dark.  We need a little light.  Not to mention, some way better clothes.So get out the cape, saddle up and let's ride for better adventures with Zorro in Alta California.  A different way to pursue fashion, fighting and hey, let's have some fun.As always - you can reach us on the internets.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)and his NEW YouTube Apprearances on Carved Outta Stone Wednesday AM or Friday PMSchedule Details: instagram.com/carvedouttastone&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)

It's Season 2, and we are entering our Super Hero Era!It starts with Zorro.The 19th Century didn't just have rapidly changing food, fashion, fighting and all new ways to do crime - with the rise of the novel as popular entertainment, the crime fighters also changed.  And so did the adventure story.Sure Zorro may have been created in the 20th century, and inspired a rash of 20th century urban heros (Hullooooooooo! Batman), but he rides through Spansih California, and gives us Americans a better peek into the land we took over and made the place we would make... Movies ABOUT Zorro.So saddle up and come along for the first in our Zorro series - and what will likely be a multi-return visit to the earliest American Super Heroes - in their Cowboy Era.Vamonos Tornado!As always - you can reach us on the internets.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)and his NEW YouTube Apprearances on Carved Outta Stone Wednesday AM or Friday PMSchedule Details: instagram.com/carvedouttastone&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)

The movie WIld WIld West - Great idea, the steam punk era set in a slightly alt (and completely plausible) history.  Props - great.  Cast - all the big names of the day.The excection?  A stinker.But don't worry, you don't have to watch the movie because we did it for you.  And we won't be doing it again.  That aside, there is all the luxe you'd expect of the the mid-19th century, along with the frontier rought and tumble.  And Germans, we finally get Germans in their rightful frequency!And of course the question - is new, emerging tech ALWAYS hijacked, and turned to Nefarious Profiteering and Crime?If you are up for a discussion of historical fun & some critical movie criticism... come along.As always - you can reach us on the internets.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)and his NEW YouTube Apprearances on Carved Outta Stone Wednesday AM or Friday PMSchedule Details: instagram.com/carvedouttastone&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)

Not Depressing or Less Depressing than Expected...Regardless, Letitia Wright kills everyone who does her wrong.  Or at least gets to see them die.  It's a revenge flick, but first with suffering.  And yet strangely, the glory isn't in the gore.  Rather it's in the fight - and coming out the other side.  Want to know what it was really like to travel in a 19th Century Stage Coach in the high coutry of the Southweat?  Well, this gets you part way there.  No Smell-O-Vision (yay!) and you miss out on the choking dust and the bouncies - but you do get a little of the closed in nature, and the fact that you never want to see anyone waiting by the road.  That's never a good sign.But if you can hang on for a not sucky ending, saddle up pardner and come along for the ride.As always - you can reach us on the internets.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)and his NEW YouTube Apprearances on Carved Outta Stone Wednesday AM or Friday PMSchedule Details: instagram.com/carvedouttastone&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)

Bass is coming to the end of his trail.And it has to do with the ghost that has taken up residence inside his head - Esau.That insidious speech:  I, the Evil Guy - am not so different from you, The Good Guy who has messed up a bit along the way in the pursuit of good.  The thing where cruel people doing cruel things to make their personal life better is somehow equated with good people trying to reduce cruelty in the world.  And those people dedicated to making things less cruel, becasue they are suckers for redemption fall for this bit of hogwash.  And let it eat at their brains.And this is where we find Bass.  Fighting his way out.  Trying to do good, and not go down that sticky black hole.  Godspeed Bass.As always - you can reach us on the internets.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)and his NEW YouTube Apprearances on Carved Outta Stone Wednesday AM or Friday PMSchedule Details: instagram.com/carvedouttastone&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)

So you're a good guy.  You know you've made some mistakes along the way - and you SOMEHOW got away with it.  But you've made your way most of the time following the rules, dealing Justice - and bringing folks to Justice, or bringing Justice to folks.But our man Bass - it's all off kilter now.  He's lost his way, and Justice somehow is no longer the way to redemption.  In fact, it seems to be feeding Evil.  What's a man to do when a ghost takes up residence in your head - and no one can understand that the world seems off it's center?What's a man, a law man, a Freedman to do?Go a little mad it seems.  Come along for the the ride and the hunt.  Stay for the history commentary.As always - you can reach us on the internets.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)and his NEW YouTube Apprearances on Carved Outta Stone Wednesday AM or Friday PMSchedule Details: instagram.com/carvedouttastone&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)

The 19th Century contains so much of what the modern age is - and we get to see some of the stranger aspects in this episode…The Medicine Show or Carnival with spiritualism, menageries and mountebanks. And then the merging of the ancient work songs with the modern era - to create the soundtracks we now live with.And of course, the beginnings of traveling to go some place - just to see it. The idea that the world is a big giant place filled with wonders we have never imagined coming to a town or a room near you - where “you” is just a regular person - rather than a fabulously wealthy person… That is a huge legacy of the 19th Century. As is the frontier lawman - which is why we are hanging out in the world of Bass Reeves.We slosh around in a few metaphors... and Esau (Barry Pepper) rises boack to the top like the scum he is to start haunting our man.As always - you can reach us on the internets.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)and his NEW YouTube Apprearances on Carved Outta Stone Wednesday AM or Friday PMSchedule Details: instagram.com/carvedouttastone&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)

So is Bass Reeves the inspiration for the Lone Ranger - or not?  Or does it not matter that much in the end.For as much as people like to look back on the past, on the 19th century as simpler times with more direct paths and clearer values... Turns out it was not.  There were fewer distractions sure, but there were still hard decisions that had to be made, becasue people were just as much out for themselves then as they are now, and perfectly willing to justfy it then... just the way they do now.In the midst of that - Bass is trying to sort out - how do I be the Good Guy?As always - you can reach us on the internets.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)and his NEW YouTube Apprearances on Carved Outta Stone Wednesday AM or Friday PMSchedule Details: instagram.com/carvedouttastone&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)

If you already miss Donald Sutherland, or want to see him in a role where he's doing his best Donald Sutherland, come join us in watching Bass Reeves.David Oyelowo had this story he wanted to make and share... and for some reason Hollywood wasn't ready to do a story that rotated on the axis of a black lead Lawman.But with the success the 19th century stories around Yellowstone  the same money decided this was worth a shot.So WE - with you - get to follow along on the story of the first Black U.S. Deputy Marshal west of the Mississippi.  So come along to this complecated world that is shot so gorgeously in the area where Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma come together.  And see all the new problems and coalitions and choices and ideas that are all happening in this wild and vibrant place and time.Ride smart & shoot straight and come along for the adventureAs always - you can reach us on the internets.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)and his NEW YouTube Apprearances on Carved Outta Stone Wednesday AM or Friday PMSchedule Details: instagram.com/carvedouttastone&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)

And now for "Something Fun"Technically not in the 19th C last round... too earlyAnd now we blow right by the 19th C and end up in the 20th C.What is WRONG with us?  Well, after all the death and blood, it's time to watch no blood and all the jokes.  Mel Brooks takes on the The Western as an institution, as well as the Hollywood Production codes, which had just been axed in the early 60's to be replaced by the voluntary rating system we see today - G, PG, & R (General, Parental Guidence & Restricted)But before those were solidified, Mel Brook went out to the Back 40 and skewered all the tropes, and made decades of people giggle at boundary pushing naughtiness.  And you'll get to see how the "prim and proper" plus cowboy mythology is still painting us today - even if just by giving us stuff to rebel agains or fight over.Saddle Up!As always - you can reach us on the internets.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)and his NEW YouTube Apprearances on Carved Outta Stone Wednesday AM or Friday PMSchedule Details: instagram.com/carvedouttastone&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)

So we've come to the end of Shogun - a story that both haunted and informed us in our younger years.  Racist, Orientalist - as a book, YES!  But this version. as far as I'm concerned redeems the Entire Venture. And as a 1970's work written by a former prisoner of war during the Japanese Occupation during WW2, writing a book trying to get into the somewhat legendary history of Japan - it did what James Clavell wanted, it introduced Japan as a complex society to America and Britain and it's still sprawling empire at the time. Writing is hard, editing is much much easier.  Clavell's 1st try - needed some work, but somebody had to bust open the doors.  And Shogun did that.Now - how did the Blackthorne/Anjin-san story actually end?  Unclear.  But that's fine with me.Now let's all cheer for whatever H. Sanada has up his sleeve and hope it comes with All The Costumes.And don't forget to join us next week for something fun!As always - you can reach us on the internets.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)and his NEW YouTube Apprearances on Carved Outta Stone Wednesday AM or Friday PMSchedule Details: instagram.com/carvedouttastone&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)

Are Jamie & Greta fighting?  Is Mariko sad about her son no longer being hers - or did she just eat some bad fish, and never really cared?  But at least everyone can agree that Yabushige is the master of the expressive grunt, even if Fuji is the queen of eye-acting.  And we all know what's going to happen to Yabu next ep.Oh yeah... and we will be laughing at Ishido's expense as he steps on all the rakes.  Dames - can't talke to 'em, can't listen to 'em. Listen and find out all the ways Anjin looks ridiculous (and yet somehow compelling?) this weekAs always - you can reach us on the internets.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)and his NEW YouTube Apprearances on Carved Outta Stone Wednesday AM or Friday PMSchedule Details: instagram.com/carvedouttastone&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)

I dunno what is up with this episode, but the comparrisons are flying fast and thick.  But what really matters is Greta's synopsis of Romeo & Juliet along with the implication that Toronaga is actually a bit of a Drama Queen and the analysis of Japanese house construction technology.There's the problem with what happens when you do try to go home again, and what happens when going into the trap is actually the best option.  Lots goes down in this Episode of Shogun... and we are here to tell you all about it.As always - you can reach us on the internets.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)and his NEW YouTube Apprearances on Carved Outta Stone Wednesday AM or Friday PMSchedule Details: instagram.com/carvedouttastone&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)

Curious George should have taught us - be wary of the man in the unusual hat.  But we just won't learn.Good stories, expert neeling and why does everyone feel the need to share their relationship woes in the midst of the most tenuous moments?Kilingon revelations & more Zombie Buntaro for all of us to enjoy,As always - you can reach us on the internets.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

Join us to find out WHO IS CORRECT!Jamie says there's no fighting this episode.Greta says there's lots of fighting - you just have to listen for it.And then there's the whole thing where we discuss just how bad the YA Movies of the 1980's & 1990's screwed up the sexes abilities to ya' know... talk to one another.Join us for this, and some music memories.As always - you can reach us on the internets.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

What show can bring you managerial manipulation, whispers of medival animal cruelty, zombie family insights and pheasant fetishization?Shogun of course - and as always with phenominal costumes and nice views of some of the behind the scenes that are required to run the world.  As in... have you ever tried to get rabbit blood out of a bamboo cutting board without Dawn Dish Soap?If any of this sounds like fun to you, jump in the palanquin and come along for the adventure.As always - you can reach us on the internets.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

This is the one with treachery & an explodey ending.Just watch the show and then enjoy our digging into the “what is going on!”Sorry - I’m moving.  I’m out of time.But look up _The Religion_ by Tim Willocks to understand European Feudal Bushido… and siege warfare You have the Googles. As always - you can reach us on the internets.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

Doctors, Courtesans, Archery (and yes the English bowmen used the Yew Tree!)Tricky Bureaucracy - I tell ya, this show has it all.If there's one thing to learn, that husband is not out of the way until you see the body.  No presumptive closes with those people.But also, if you get motion sick - you CAN be too rich in feudal Japan.Once again - a lot is going down in the Kantō, in Osaka, in the Bay - and you want to be there to see it all!  So come join Greta & Jamie and see how we relate this visually sweet show to what we really care about in the 19th century. I tell you, this is where it starts to get good. Optional HW:Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel You can find us:Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

Shōgun Episode 2! Check out this intro sequence - Game of Thrones, but make it Japan. This is the problem with hereditary rulership positions.  Power can only change with a death.  And no matter how hard everyone keeps trying to make it otherwise, death is messy!  And for the number of times this happens, it seems like no one is willing to make it not chaos. I mean honestly - has the regent system ever worked out?  Why do people keep trying to make Regency happen? Not solving that.  But come on - look at the textiles.  It’s absolutely insane. And we also get to find out that this is also an eight sided fight.  Just like Warrior, but with a few more dimensions added in.Apple Spotify Spreaker/Web Luckily for us - they color code the Main Players - Brown - our main guy ToronagaRed - Kiyama, a Christian, but also in it for the ¥¥¥¥¥¥Grey - Ohno, as in Oh No... Leprosy (also a Christian becasue leprosy?)Blue - Ishido, who runs the castle, and despite being the least noble runs the Regency CouncilBlue-Green & a Great Beard - Sugiyama, the old wise man, and the one to say, "hold up - not so fast."This is also the one where I talk about what is up with the hair.So come grab your oar in the stand-up rowing bay of the galley, and lets go for a wild ride!You can find us:Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

Shogun - The Mini Series - The RebootHow, you ask, can we justify leaping all the way back to the 17th Century in a 19th Century podcast?  Tune in and find out.But also - the perils & hilarity of reading the source material are revealed.Who'd face blind?Why do the Japanese interiors look so cool?Find out who has the best beard!They're aren't many fights - but there's plenty of all the other F's!Come for the standard stuff, but stay for the detours.And go enjoy the stylish as hell show.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

All beautiful things must come to an end - but PLEASE not this one!Somehow we are at the last Warrior episode in existence as of the end of 2023!And all sorts of things are left hanging - but more importantly, the board is cleared of all the useless pieces.  Printer Girl Yan Mi catches a trainLi Yong no longer has a friend or a wifeAh Sahm has had to choose Tong Brother or Blood Sisterand we are left with QUESTIONS!Has Wong Chao made his last deal?How much hate does it take to break out of Alcatraz?Has O'Hara found the perfect amount of grumpy?And - who is Leary's new 18yr old Scoth supplier?So join us for this Grand Finale!Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

So much happened in this episode... and it was just a warm up!Lai will never learn - never.Yan Mi shows that she just might learn - and act.Mai Ling is just gonna Mai Ling... Leary has his note book out - but might be ready to write a conclusionChao has a plan!  OK that's not new.Young Jun is faced with making a choice... with no backsiesAh Sahm is gonna have to choose the dock or the ship and has Strickland finally gone so far he might face consequences.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

Things begin to really Get OUT of HAND!There's a heavily armed weddingThere's an innaugurationThere's a blood bathThere's hallucinationsThere's a jail cell cage fightAnd There's a "train your competition" - yes that's a death threatLook this episode is chock full - and it's just a warmup for the even more unhinged rest of the season.  So strap on your roller skates (which were popular by 1880) if you want to keep up.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

This is the episode where people seem to think they are owed. Pimp guy thinks Ah Toy owes him his prostitutes back, Some dad thinks Leary owes him getting his stupid sons outta jail, Happy Jack thinks Abby owes him her attention and space and the best one...Mai Ling thinks everyone owes her coming to her wedding. While the rest of the people are pretty wrong, Mai Ling has the clout or at least is terrigying enough to be right. Or at least get people to agree to show up for her wedding.And then there's Young Jun. Giving business lessons in the weirdest way - showing you how not to business well. And this week's lesson - why yelling at your employees and threatening them with death all the time will sap them of all initiative. And how that will make your life worse.So come hang out before things get really really murdery!Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

Well it is about time this show went properly poly-glot. Finally MORE languages in what was an absolute babble of a city. Portuguese, Italian, Chinese (multiple dialects, but mainly Cantonese) along with Spanish and English and German. We finally get German. As well as someone completely hopped up on cocaine. (The particular alkyloid was isolated in 1959 for a German PhD project - I bet that was one hell of a final presentation!)You also get to hear me show off a little of my southern side. Yikes!And we may get the answer to whether Lee can or cannot grow a beard.Anyway, whoever you are, don't accept train rides from strange men. It tends not to go well. Good luck escaping.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

This is one of those episodes where everyone gets a very bent version of what they wanted all along. Power - but not that way. Friendship, but whoops! it is not. A chance to go out in a blaze of glory, but thwarted - but in the good way.And of course, setting up the perfect trap that... traps you.An episode full of twists and turns - and a certain amount of smacking oneself in the face. Outsmarting all around. Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

What happens when everyone gets to lean into their worst instincts? You set up all the crises!Young Jun's gonna spit in the eye of authority, Mai Ling's gonna be the one asking for approval and Buckley is going to allow a woman to hold his hand.In otherwords, everything is about to go off the rails and it's all going to go gorgeously wrong. I mean if you are here for a scrap.So buckle up - and whatever you do, don't go out to eat in a fancy restaurant in short sleeves.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

Sometimes there can be too much of a good thing. ANd this time it was recording this episode. I don't want to talk about it.In the meantime - counterfeiting money is not good for a happy life, and you should really work on that relationship with your sibs. It could go bad.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

Oh - you think you've seen all the ways to fight? You ain't seen nothin' yet. It's time to break out the MEAN GIRLS!Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

And Season 3 of Warrior is BACK!If Season 2 went graphic novel, Season 3 seems to be going simply GRAPHIC as in the "this changes your rating to NC-17"Right out of the gate Ah Sahm seems a little more unhinged, Mai Ling seems a little more murder-y, Wang Chao is tempting death that much more, Lee has more brain bruises, Buckley is that much more power hungry and Leary is that much more an Irish Bruiser.And the injury effects - blech. Jamie who loves a good horror flick is here for it. Greta, who is much more squeamish when it comes to onscreen injury may watch more of this season from behind her hands.So let's get this season started with a few big fights and a bad misfire from an old pistol!Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

America - we know what's up. And we are not afraid to America-splain to you about how your country/culture works. That's right, we are just that good.Or bad.Or something.This is the FUN Mummy movie from 1999 - not the gritty reboot from 2017. So pop the popcorn and get ready for things to get a little silly. While Greta enjoys the comic book nonsense of it all, Jamie is skeptical that anything this ridiculous can be good. Shoot-em-ups, punch-em-ups, romance tropes, practical special effects for the mummies and early CGI - this has it all - and body paint!Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

100 Years after Gangs of New York - and we are BACK to the Naked City with 8 million stories (to steal from the 1948 film - The Naked City)Are things any better? Do you want to call the cops now? Is anyone more sober now? (Doesn't seem that way)Are there just as many ways to die? While there are definitely more rats, there's also running water - so win some, lose some.While the last film had a promising premise, and produced a terrible film - this one has a depressing premise, but produced a great film. Except for the opening music. But for being a tight, well paced flik, we'll let the credits music slide.Come along to the not so far past and see how it ties in to the 19th century.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

Welcome to our Second Movie Break!What is wrong with us? For a movie that made us this angry and dissapointed - we sure spent a lot of time talking about it. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is that kid with every advantage and so much potential... that even when it's clear they're not going to make the team of become a doctor, you still can't let it go.And like so many others - we look at what might have been. To balance out the (granted enjoyable) dissapointment - we spend time considering who a bunch of Real Cool 19th C avengers might have been. So come along if you dare...Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

What have we learned about Buckley? He's a twisty dude. What has Penny learned bout dealing with Buckley? Not a dang thing. But Mai Ling, because SHE isn't particulary straight forward might have a handle on the whole thing.But all of that is cute and all - what this REALLY is all about is the Hero's Journey.So jump in, buckle up, and hang on. And we have both a cliff hanger and some surprise endings.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

What are the odds?Episode 25 on December 25th - I certainly didn't see it coming.But if you ever wanted to know about the connection between Bill Murray, 1980's rat infested New York, the Muppets, Vampires, PT Barnum and Christmas, this is the place to be!So snuggle up with your most troubled Santa memories and watch the world change as we look at 19th century Christmas and how it's making out lives crazy today!Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

This week we start out as a TikTok POV video - but rapidly pulls out into lots and lots of fightsSo many fights that China Town is no longer left standing.We get the team ups we've been waiting for. Ah Sahm and Li Yong get to fight back to back. We also get the appearance of the nunchuck - and the disappearance of Ah Sahm's shirt.Ah Toy and Mai Ling get a team up too - though it's needles not knives.And while everyone else is stressing out about the chaos, Buckley is excited about it, and wondering how he can have more... more ..... MORE!The world has changed by the end, and for once the bonnet situation is not the most distressing part.Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood all over)Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

All the wars this episode - the Hop Wei has finished the war with the Fung Hai, we see flashbacks in the American Civil War in federally manadated sepia tone, and the smaller action between fought between Young Jun and Father Jun.But really, it's all about chaos Buckley can't wait to unleash in San Francisco now that he holds the mayor's power in his hands (insert manaical laughter here)Help us out - Download! And leave a Review to Get the Word OUT! You can find us: Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood on Insta & Threads)Questions? Comments? Corrections? [email protected] Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

We are out of the movie and back in the "real world" - whatever that means in this case. I mean, c'mon look at Mai Ling's wardrobe these days.But Young Jun & Ah Sahm have discovered that just getting the money back by winning the fight festival was only the first step. Now they have to deal with Dad!Everyone else is facing that moment of truth - how will they handle it?Penny's backed into a corner (2 corners?), O'Hara has to take credit for faking it, Lee is on to him, Zing goes before the court, Leary realizes taking his girlfriend on the bombing raid was an error, Ah Toy and Lai have some demons to slay, and Nellie decides solitary splendor isn't so great.Tune in to find out how badly everyone handles their problems!HOMEWORK (Optional):Barbara Tuchman - A Distant Mirror: The Clalamatous 14th Century (a history of the plague in Europe)The Guns of August (the beginning of the beginning of WWI)Video of Edward VII's funeral procession that Tuchman describes. Alas - no sound and you can't see the gorgeous colors of all the uniforms and regalia)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:4125s2.ogvhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2GjjBiN19Q&t=9sHelp us out - Download! And leave a Review to Get the Word OUT! You can find us: Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood on Insta & Threads)Questions? Comments? Corrections? [email protected] Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

Hot Damn!It's the Season 2 Movie! And we nearly died of sheer glee.Seriously ... all the fight styles, witty banter, sweet tailoring, shoe appreciation, the cheesiest sex scene outside of a Velveeta fetish, all in service of a Revenge Quest!It has all the Eater Eggs for those fans of Enter the Dragon (the Bruce Lee love is real) - and just the motivation the rest of us need to go track it down and watch it - to see the source material.So get out the popcorn for this one, warm up with some Seergio Leone Spaghetti Western soundtracks, and sure, enjoy a tequila if that's your bag.Let go down by the Border of Olde Mexico.Help us out - Download! And leave a Review to Get the Word OUT! You can find us:Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength) & Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood on Insta & Threads)Questions? Comments? Corrections? [email protected] Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

This is an ANGRY EMOTIONAL EPISODE! OK. Enough with the ALL CAPS - but honestly, we are here for the cool fights on the stairs. It has hands, guns, knives, swords and even indoor arrows! The lines and set ups from all the 80’s movies (and a few from even earlier…) all the fun clichés are here. And it all ends with slo-mo pit fighting in the rain and a sibling throw down. Honestly - what more do you want from a mid-season episode?(Optional) HOMEWORK:Learn about why most of the world's grape wine is now grown on European branches sprouting out of American roots:SpotifyAppleSpreakerHelp us out - Download! And leave a Review to Get the Word OUT! You can find us:Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength) & Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood on Insta & Threads)Questions? Comments? Corrections? [email protected] Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast

When are the talking episodes good? When they are like THIS!The tributes to story tropes & the turning them on their head. And a director (Loni Peristere) who is SO good at faces.We get "you made me a murderer", "the using 1 guy to go on a secret date with another", "crime lord checking out the drug operation", "locker room badness" & the "come for me - miss me!"And of course, Hong continues to snuggle in next to our black little hearts as our new favorite maniac.Oh and it's also time for a good, thorough Family Betrayal! What could be better?(Optional) HOMEWORK: Book - The 13th Element - by John Emsley(In the pod I mentrion Sulfur, but I was thinking of Phosphorous)Help us out - Download! And leave a Review to Get the Word OUT!You can find us: Jamie Lewis (plagueofstrength.com & IG @plagueofstrength)&Greta Hardin (The History of American Food podcast & @THoAFood on Insta & Threads)Questions? Comments? Corrections? [email protected] Look for us weekly and on Instagram & Threads: @pcgpodcast