That's Old News

Hayley has... issues... I think that's safe to say. But what better way to expose those issues than to shove a microphone in her face and just letter her speak about all the weird things that gives her that history horn. This time around we're going back to the ways of old and how we would punish criminals for their crimes or extract information from persons of interest and putting them into a tier list! Because even though Hayley has issues, it turns out we all do too.From punishing women for passing rumours around to village to interrogating prisoners for information by forcing their back passage onto a pyramid shaped block slowly and strapping the accused to "The Rack" in an effort to stretch them out like a length of silly putty (yes I am also disappointed that "The Rack" has nothing to do with boobs), join Hayley this week as she explores the torturous world of history's strangest and most punishing torture devices and places them into a tier list from least to most effective methods of torturing an individual.This episode was hosted by Hayley O'Connor and joined by Arron Keegan and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Join our Discord server and follow us on social media by following the links below!Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/ZScNqT8mP2 ⁠TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsoldnewspodcast ⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thatsoldnewspodcast/ ⁠Twitter/X: ⁠x.com/oldnewscast ⁠========Chapters:(00:00) Intro(00:35) Episode Start(02:22) Scold's Bridle(05:55) Heretic's Fork(18:08) Thumb Screws(20:28) Spanish Boot(25:45) The Rack(28:38) The Scavenger's Daughter(32:59) Judas Cradle(39:45) Catherine Wheel/Breaking Wheel(43:25) The Pear of Anguish(51:52) The Tier List and Post Show Banter

What do bubble wrap, the slinky toy, and Viagra have in common? Apart from an entertaining night at home alone, they all share in the fact that they were not originally invented to be what they eventually came to be! If anyone remembers an old episode of Hayley's, you may have learned that the chainsaw - yes, that tool used to level and topple towering trees - was first invented to help ease the process of complicated child births for pregnant women by cutting through bone and widening the pelvis, allowing for the easier passage of the baby from their mother's womb.That's what we're doing today! Looking at all those wonderful modern day inventions that began their lives as something entirely different. Some of them you can see what they were thinking, and can see the happy accident that created something so iconic, and some will leave you scratching your head wondering how they managed to create something so different from the mission statement that an entire rebrand was necessary just so save face.So join the gang this week as Quiz Master Granda Keego hosts his new series "Reinventing the Wheel", where we take some of history's greatest inventions and turn back the pages of time to see what they were originally designed to do! Play along at home, and see if you can beat Conor and Hayley in this new game show! Good luck!This episode was hosted by Arron Keegan, Hayley O'Connor, and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Join our Discord and follow us on social media by following the links below!Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/ZScNqT8mP2⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsoldnewspodcast ⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thatsoldnewspodcast/ ⁠Twitter/X: ⁠x.com/oldnewscast

In the last episode we saw Napoleon make an uncharacteristic mistake with his inability to win a decisive victory over the Russians at Eylau, allowing the Russians to retreat and fight another day. While they would be found again and defeated at Friedland, the campaign was a bloody affair. Napoleon won yet another victory over the coalitions formed against him, but not one without cost. And it is that very cost of the war that leads us into this episode.With the Continental System now including the likes of Prussia and Russia, the only real way for Britain to continue trading with the mainland was to do so through their oldest ally - Portugal. Napoleon, keenly aware of this, would launch his invasion of the nation, securing it with little effort as the royal family fled to their colony in Brazil after refusing to surrender to the French invader. With it now secure, not many were ready for what came next.French garrisons, said to free up Spanish garrisons to allow for the Spanish armies to aid in the invasion of Portugal, turned on their allies. Within months, Spain had fallen to Napoleon in a surprise coup that would see the Spanish royal family forced to abdicate their throne in favour of Napoleon's brother, Joseph, being named King of Spain. And this action, taken in haste as a justification to ensure the security of his southern flank from British invasion, would spell disaster for his empire. For as soon as Austria first heard of France's struggles in the Iberian peninsula - they formed the Fifth Coalition with Britain, and would deliver Napoleon's first decisive military defeat of his career.This episode was hosted by Arron Keegan and joined by Hayley O'Connor. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Join our Discord and follow us on social media by following the links below!Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/ZScNqT8mP2⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsoldnewspodcast⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thatsoldnewspodcast/⁠ Twitter/X: ⁠x.com/oldnewscast⁠ ========Sources & Further Reading:- Broers, Michael, "Napoleon: The Spirit of the Age", (2018).- Chandler, David G., "Napoleon's Marshals", (1987).- De Neef, Jonas, "Devils, Daggers, and Death: Eyewitness accounts of French officers and soldiers during the Peninsular War, 1807-1814", (2022).- Dodge, Theodore A., "Warfare in the Age of Napoleon Volume 3: The Battle of Austerlitz, the War of the Fourth Coalition, and the Early Peninsular Campaigns, 1805-1809", (2011).- Griffith, Paddy, "French Napoleonic Infantry Tactics 1792-1815", (2007).- Griffith, Robert (ed.), "Armies and Enemies of Napoleon 1789-1815", (2022).- Harvey, Robert, "The War of Wars: The Epic Struggle Between Britain and France, 1789-1815", (2007).- Johnson, Paul, "Napoleon", (2003).- McNab, Chris, "Napoleon's Military Machine: Operations Manual", (2019).- Mikaberidze, Alexander, "The Napoleonic Wars: A Global History", (2020).- Roberts, Andrew, "Napoleon the Great", (2015).- Zamoyski, Adam, "Napoleon: The Man Behind the Myth", (2019).========Chapters:(00:00) Intro(08:13) Recap(14:32) Invasion of Portugal(30:30) The Dos de Mayo Uprising(43:45) Iberia in Revolt(47:21) The War of the Fifth Coalition(53:33) The Battle of Aspern-Essling: Napoleon's First Major Battlefield Defeat(01:06:35) The Battle of Wagram: Napoleon's Comeback(01:15:16) End of the War of the Fifth Coalition(01:17:56) Post Show Banter

“We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us.” - Charles Bukowski.There have been quite a lot of deaths through history, (I know, it's a shocking revelation to me too!) but a lot of the ones we read about evoke certain emotions of us. National figures fighting in defiant last stands for their cause can invoke feelings of great national pride and patriotism, while more personal figures dying in horrible conditions or surrounded by their loved ones invoke those feelings of heart-wrenching pain and sadness.But then, throughout history, there are those deaths who do not fit into this binary. They don't even fit into the spectrum between those extremes. Instead, they sit in the little asterisk hiding away at the end of the sentence. The one that has the little addendum underneath the graph that says "Results shown do not include those deaths that have you bent over in fits of laughter". And that's what the gang is looking at today.Join us this week as we explore some of the wackiest deaths in history, ranging from famous last words that proved to be a great irony only seconds later, to lawyers showing off impressive party tricks that end up sending them careening towards the pavement from the 24th floor of a building at Mach "Whoopsie-Daisy", to prominent figures of the Holy Roman Empire going for a surprise skinny-dip in a vat of the town's excrement, and many more hilarious ends in between! If you don't leave this episode laughing out loud and scratching your head thinking "What the Hell were they thinking?" then we've done something wrong!This episode was hosted by Arron Keegan, Hayley O'Connor, and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Join our Discord server and follow us on social media by following the links below!Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/ZScNqT8mP2 ⁠TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsoldnewspodcast ⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thatsoldnewspodcast/ ⁠Twitter/X: ⁠x.com/oldnewscast

When you think of some of the greatest footballers to ever play the game, who comes to mind? Do you think of recent players at the pinnacle of their game like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Do you perhaps turn the clock back and look to the legends of the game like Pelé or Diego Maradona? Or do you instead look to those players who perform crucial roles but often go overlooked like Michael Carrick or Thomas Müller? Or do you look to those who defined over a decade of football, whose name was on the lips of every top manager and player as they all tried desperately to recruit him for their team... despite never playing a single professional game in his life?Join Conor this week as he recounts the tale of Carlos Kaiser, the Brazilian born con artist who was so good at the game that he simply never stepped foot on a pitch for a regular match and yet convinced over a dozen clubs to sign him. You'll hear about his poor roots growing up in poverty in Brazil, how a lie spiralled into him becoming one of the most recognisable names in football during his "career", and how he would shirk the phone calls of every manager and player in the profession on account of his mobile phone being nothing more than a children's toy phone that he carried with him everywhere and pretended to be constantly busy with calls from other clubs looking to buy him for ludicrous amounts of cash.You don't want to miss this.This episode was hosted by Conor Daly and joined by Arron Keegan and Hayley O'Connor. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Join our Discord server and follow us on social media by following the links below!Discord: https://discord.gg/ZScNqT8mP2 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsoldnewspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoldnewspodcast/ Twitter/X: x.com/oldnewscast

Born 21 September 1971, David Phillip Vetter was born with a hereditary disease which would affect his entire life - severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). It is a rare disease that involves defective antibody responses and results in an impaired immune system. The immune system is so compromised that it is effectively considered absent, leading to patients suffering immensely from something as simple as the common cold which could, and very often does, turn lethal.David's parents, Carol Ann and David Joseph, previously had a son who was also born with the disease and sadly passed away at seven months old. Doctors informed them that if they have another boy there was a 50/50 chance that he would be born with SCIDs, and unfortunately the coin toss landed on the wrong side. David was immediately placed in a sterilized cocoon bed prepared especially for him, and he would spend the rest of his life in this plastic bubble with media outlets cruelly referring to him as "Bubble Boy".Join Hayley this week as she recounts the incredible life of young David Vetter. Learn everything from the time of his birth to his unfortunate passing just 12 years later, including how objects were heavily sterilised to rid them entirely of germs, how NASA helped to develop his own containment suit that would allow him to leave the house, and how his passing resulted in him saving the lives of countless children who would have been born with SCIDs.This episode was hosted by Hayley O'Connor and joined by Arron Keegan and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Join our Discord server and follow us on social media by following the links below!Discord: https://discord.gg/ZScNqT8mP2 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsoldnewspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoldnewspodcast/ Twitter/X: x.com/oldnewscast ========Songs used in order:1) Ji Pyeongkeyon, "Sad Romance", (2002).2) Barry White, "Can't Get Enough of Your Love Babe", (1974).========Sources & Further Reading:- Grabowski & Tortora, "Principles of Anatomy and Physiology" (1993).- McVivker, Steve, "Bursting the Bubble" (1997).- Murphy, Mary Ada, "Bursting the Bubble: The Tortured Life and Untimely Death of David Vetter" (2019).- PBS, "David Phillip Vetter" (2006).- PBS, "David Vetter's Life, and Treatments for Immunodeficiency"- Retro Report, "The Boy in the Bubble" (2016).- Roane, Kit, "The Boy in the Bubble" (2015).- The American Experience, "David Vetter's Sister"

Napoleon, the victor of Austerlitz and conqueror of the Holy Roman Empire, had little time to rest on his incredible achievements. While the Russians were resoundingly defeated in December 1805, they were not quite out of the war just yet. With enough space to retreat back into friendly territory, they were set to regroup and strike again - but without allies on the continent, this would be a difficult task.To their luck, and soon to be to their disaster, the Kingdom of Prussia, who remained neutral during the War of the Third Coalition, had declared war on France in 1806. The shy and reserved Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III was convinced by Prussia's war party, who found an ally in his wife Queen Louise of Mecklenberg-Strelitz, to halt France's advance through Europe once and for all - but they should have listened to calmer heads in the Prussian army, who advised caution and warned of the threats to Prussia's position at the time war was being considered.They would soon be proven right, as Napoleon would see to their army within days of crossing into Prussian territory at the Battle of Jena-Auerstadt. But the Prussians would not give up entirely, as in 1807 the Russians had finally mobilised again and were ready to strike once again. While this war will display the brilliance of Napoleon's Corps system, it will also greatly challenge it...This episode was hosted by Arron Keegan and joined by Hayley O'Connor. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Join our Discord and follow us on social media by following the links below!Discord: https://discord.gg/ZScNqT8mP2 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsoldnewspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoldnewspodcast/ Twitter/X: x.com/oldnewscast ========Sources & Further Reading:- Broers, Michael, "Napoleon: The Spirit of the Age", (2018).- Chandler, David G., "Napoleon's Marshals", (1987).- Dodge, Theodore A., "Warfare in the Age of Napoleon Volume 3: The Battle of Austerlitz, the War of the Fourth Coalition, and the Early Peninsular Campaigns, 1805-1809", (2011).- Griffith, Paddy, "French Napoleonic Infantry Tactics 1792-1815", (2007).- Griffith, Robert (ed.), "Armies and Enemies of Napoleon 1789-1815", (2022).- Harvey, Robert, "The War of Wars: The Epic Struggle Between Britain and France, 1789-1815", (2007).- Johnson, Paul, "Napoleon", (2003).- McNab, Chris, "Napoleon's Military Machine: Operations Manual", (2019).- Mikaberidze, Alexander, "The Napoleonic Wars: A Global History", (2020).- Roberts, Andrew, "Napoleon the Great", (2015).- Zamoyski, Adam, "Napoleon: The Man Behind the Myth", (2019).========Chapters:

We love a good quiz. Is there anything to be said for a quiz? They can be some great fun. Get some friends together, pull up a real doozy of a question sheet, and see which of your friends is the most prolific and knee deep in the lore of My Little Pony... just me? That's embarrassing...But here at That's Old News, we had to look up how to spell "fun" in the dictionary just so I could write up that last paragraph. No, here we must do everything serious. We are all in constant competition with each other in an attempt to prove who is the historical mastermind and who's still playing with their Vikings colouring book... okay that sounds pretty cool, BUT STILL. But what better way to find out exactly who that intellectual powerhouse is than to do a quiz of 100 history questions!So join us this week as the gang tackles their hardest challenge to date - sitting an exam. But we couldn't simply just answer our own tests, that would leave too much room for cheating! So we've brought in a VERY special guest to oversee the whole operation. Tune in to meet her!And we want to hear from you! How did you do in the quiz yourself? Did you beat the champion, and take the crown for yourself? Play along with us!Quiz: https://quizquestions.uk/history-quizThis episode was hosted by Arron Keegan, Hayley O'Connor, and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Join our Discord and follow us on social media by following the links below!Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/ZScNqT8mP2⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsoldnewspodcast ⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thatsoldnewspodcast/ ⁠Twitter/X: ⁠x.com/oldnewscast ========Chapters:(00:00) Intro(00:29) Episode Start(06:10) Round One: Ancient History(23:50) Round Two: Medieval History(42:18) Round Three: Early Modern History(01:00:29) Round Four: 19th Century History(01:16:35) Round Five: 20th Century History(01:31:44) The Results!

Have you ever seen those crazy quizzes online where the website asks you what your shoe size is and it can tell you what figures from history you'd invite to your birthday party? Just me? Well, they exist, and we did two of them!The first quiz is far more serious, asking us some tough questions but with terrible answers to determine which historical dictator we are. Now if you were to ask Hayley and Conor which historical figure they though Keego was, they'd say he had a fondness for square moustaches and failed art schools. But Google knows best as we all know when we have a lingering cough and consult Dr Google himself only to find out we're dying of a disease that affects 1 in 1 billion people. Play along and let us know what you ended up getting!https://www.quizexpo.com/which-evil-dictator-are-youThe second one we simply cannot figure out how telling the site what our favourite colour is and which of these amorphous blobs most appeals to us tells us which historic figure we most resemble but if the lady in the funny smelling tent was able to tell me what my future would hold by looking into a crystal ball that hadn't seen a lick of water since it was bought and charging me €20 for the pleasure then I can't see how this could go wrong. Try it yourself and tell us who you got! https://www.buzzfeed.com/katangus/which-famous-historical-figure-were-you-in-a-pastThis episode was hosted by Arron Keegan, Hayley O'Connor, and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Join our Discord and follow us on social media by following the links below!Discord: https://discord.gg/ZScNqT8mP2 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsoldnewspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoldnewspodcast/ Twitter/X: x.com/oldnewscast

The entire point of this episode was an attempt by Conor to mentally break Keego, and it can confidently be concluded that he succeeded in spectacular fashion.Deadliest Warrior was... a show. That's the nicest thing I can think to say about it. It sought to pit history's deadliest warriors (go figure) against each other in an attempt to determine who was history's... well, deadliest warrior. On paper it sounds great. Who is history's best general? The most competent guerrilla fighter? The greatest hand-to-hand fighter? But that's where the praise ends, because how they go about proving it is not only an exercise in "How cool can I make this show so people switch off and don't question anything?" but just serves as an excuse by the hosts to play around with some of history's most iconic weapons.Normally this would be fine, but unfortunately for viewers of the show this attempt at inflating the cool factor leads to questionable conclusions and outright historically incorrect assertions. Some examples? I thought you'd never ask!- Ireland lost the War of Independence in 1920.- Who is the better fighter? The Viet Cong or the Waffen SS?- Napoleon Bonaparte being entirely incompetent with regard to light infantry and guerrilla warfare.- The iconic tools of the Irish Republican Army being a slingshot and a flamethrower.- SWAT teams promoting unit cohesion while a simulation pits them in an "every man for himself" scenario.And much, MUCH more.So join Conor and Keego this week as they delve into the horrifying world of the Deadliest Warrior to conclude once and for all if this show has some merit after all, or if we both wasted four hours of our life bashing our heads against a wall trying to forget everything we just subjected ourselves to... God help us.This episode was hosted by Arron Keegan and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Join our Discord and follow us on social media by following the links below!Discord: https://discord.gg/ZScNqT8mP2 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsoldnewspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoldnewspodcast/ Twitter/X: x.com/oldnewscast ========Chapters:(00:00) Intro(00:27) Episode Start(04:58) The IRA vs. the Taliban(19:49) GSG 9 vs. SWAT(39:50) Waffen SS vs. Viet Cong(56:45) Napoleon Bonaparte vs. George Washington(01:48:04) Rating Deadliest Warrior

Napoleon Bonaparte, now Emperor Napoleon I of the First French Empire, is under attack once again. Britain, in its continued strategy of undermining the French at every turn on the continental European mainland, has formed a new coalition - now the Third Coalition. Austria, Russia, and Sweden now join Britain in their efforts to finally put an end to the bloody French Revolution and oust the new emperor from this throne. A three-pronged attack is planned, with the main thrust coming through present-day southern Germany spearheaded by a combined Austro-Russian force. Whether certain of their success, ill-informed as to the present situation, or hopeful of their Russian reinforcements, Austria strikes too early, leaving the road open for what will become Napoleon's greatest campaign.While waiting for a hopeful invasion of the British Isles since 1803, French forces along the English Channel coast have been training and perfecting their art of war for years. They are just itching for the opportunity to launch their invasion, but this new threat forces them east. However, at sea, French Admiral Villeneuve is caught by British Admiral Horatio Nelson. Villeneuve is needed back at Boulogne and quickly to allow for the crossing, but he has no choice but to turn and face the Royal Navy off Cape Trafalgar. The humiliating defeat he will suffer here will cement Nelson as one of Britain's greatest heroes and entirely destroy Napoleon's hopes of crossing into and finally destroying Perfidious Albion.Join Arron this week as he continues his series on the life of Napoleon Bonaparte, this time culminating in Napoleon's greatest battle he has ever fought - the 1805 Battle of Austerlitz. Learn about his new way of waging war that will completely shape military history into the present day, how a single battlefield victory after months of hard campaigning entirely shifted the balance of power in Europe, and how Napoleon finally becomes the master of Europe. And yet despite dealing with this threat and cementing himself on the continent, Admiral Horatio Nelson is determined to put an end to France's ambitions of invading Britain at the Battle of Trafalgar - a battle for which he will sacrifice his life to ensure Napoleon will forever be trapped on land.This episode was hosted by Arron Keegan and joined by Hayley O'Connor and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Join our Discord and follow us on social media by following the links below!Discord: https://discord.gg/ZScNqT8mP2 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsoldnewspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoldnewspodcast/ Twitter/X: x.com/oldnewscast ========Sources & Further Reading:- Adkins, Roy, "Nelson's Trafalgar: The Battle That Changed the World", (2006).- Broers, Michael, "Napoleon: Soldier of Destiny", (2014).- Davies, David, "A Brief History of Fighting Ships", (2002).- Dodge, Theodore A., "Warfare in the Age of Napoleon Volume 2: The Egyptian and Syrian Campaigns & the Wars of the Second and Third Coalitions, 1798-1805", (2011).- Doyle, William, "Napoleon at Peace", (2022).- Esdaile, Charles J., "The Wars of the French Revolution, 1792-1801", (2019).- Griffith, Paddy, "French Napoleonic Infantry Tactics 1792-1815", (2007).- Griffith, Robert (ed.), "Armies and Enemies of Napoleon 1789-1815", (2022).- Harvey, Robert, "The War of Wars: The Epic Struggle Between Britain and France, 1789-1815", (2007).- Johnson, Paul, "Napoleon", (2003).- McNab, Chris, "Napoleon's Military Machine: Operations Manual", (2019).- Mikaberidze, Alexander, "The Napoleonic Wars: A Global History", (2020).- Roberts, Andrew, "Napoleon the Great", (2015).- Zamoyski, Adam, "Napoleon: The Man Behind the Myth", (2019).========Chapters:(00:00) Intro(04:40) Haiti(23:56) Episode Start: Boulogne(38:49) The Ulm Campaign(59:49) The Battle of Trafalgar(01:27:04) Napoleon's Masterpiece - The Battle of Austerlitz(01:54:39) Post Show

Alternative history scenarios are so much fun. With a range of well thought out scenarios where one key focal point in our timeline changes which entirely alters the course of history and leads to the near impossible becoming increasingly likely. The appeal of exploring such scenarios is so enticing that even prominent historians love delving into the depths of what could have been. Andrew Roberts, a leading historian on both Napoleon Bonaparte and Winston Churchill, said in defence of counterfactual history "... history is not on predetermined lines... it's a much more interesting and complex thing than the determinists would have you believe..."Then there's... the other side of alternate history. The one that leaves you scratching your head wondering why pen was ever brought to paper in the first place. Blatant impossibilities that drive entire scenarios with little or no regard to the history of the setting that they've chosen. And those are the ones we're looking at today. From a peaceful unification of Korea under Kim Jong Un that leads directly to an invasion of the United States of America, to Hitler becoming an advocate for peace and the protection of animals by forming a vegan and animal rights party in Germany, and throwing in a scenario where Hayley asks Keego which royal marriage would have better suited Napoleon's empire as a palate cleanser, we've got something for everyone this episode. Stick around, tell us what you think, and let us know what your favourite alt-history scenario is!This episode was hosted by Hayley O'Connor and Arron Keegan. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Join our Discord server and follow us on social media by following the links below!Discord: https://discord.gg/ZScNqT8mP2 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsoldnewspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoldnewspodcast/ Twitter/X: x.com/oldnewscast========Chapters:(00:00) Intro(00:30) Episode Start(03:00) Homefront: The North Korean Invasion of the United States(14:43) Medieval Knights Fighting Snails(16:55) Adolf Hitler's Vegan and Animal Rights Party(24:00) The Guns of the South: Time Travellers Gift the Confederacy AK-47s to Win the US Civil War(44:52) Which Marriage Would Be Better for Napoleon's Empire?(55:07) Temeraire: Dragons in the Napoleonic Wars

The 1924 Army Mutiny was one of the most serious internal crises faced by the Irish FreeState, coming just after the Civil War. The state, formed in 1922 after the Anglo-Irish Treaty,was financially and emotionally devastated. With a Civil War army of 55,000 soldiers, thenew government needed to downsize to around 17,000–18,000 to cut costs and meet treatyobligations.This demobilisation enraged many officers—especially those with ties to the IrishRepublican Army Organisation (IRAO), a secret society within the National Army. Theybelieved demobilisation betrayed their sacrifices and favoured ex-British officers over War ofIndependence veterans. Dissatisfaction grew over perceived nepotism, the influence of theIRB within the Army Council, and the belief that military loyalty was being undermined.Veterans like Major-General Liam Tobin and Colonel Charles Dalton, once part of MichaelCollins’s intelligence network, claimed the Army was corrupt and unfairly structured. TheNational Army, they argued, was split: 40% ex-IRA, 10% civilians hostile to the IRA, and50% ex-British Army. Demands were sent to President Cosgrave, and if such demands were not met it was possible for Ireland to descend into a Second Civil War.Join Conor this week as he dives into the 1924 Army Mutiny, an event that could have spilled into a civil war worse than what came before with the new army comprising many veterans of that very conflict. From the immediate aftermath and quality of the National Army, to the reasons and demands levied by prominent members of the officer class of that army, and the resolution that had to be reached quickly to avoid any further bloodshed, witness how the new Irish Free State almost descended into a warzone yet again.This episode was hosted by Conor Daly and joined by Arron Keegan and Hayley O'Connor. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Join our Discord server and follow us on social media by following the links below!Discord: https://discord.gg/ZScNqT8mP2 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsoldnewspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoldnewspodcast/ Twitter/X: x.com/oldnewscast ========Sources & Further Reading:- Dorney, John, "The Civil War in Dublin".- Dwyer, Ryle, "Decisive leadership and selflessness saved the nation after the Army Mutiny", (https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-20260714.html).- Irish History Podcast, "The 1924 Army Mutiny".- Kinsella, Eoin, "The Irish Defences, 1922-2022".- McElhatton, Shane, "100 years since Army mutiny threatened new Civil War", (https://www.rte.ie/news/2024/0306/1436169-army-mutiny-1924/).- McElhatton, Shane, "'Set the heather on fire' - How a raid on Devlin's Pub ignited a second civil war", (https://www.rte.ie/news/2024/0303/1435185-mutiny-two/) .- The Irish Times, "Opinion - March 10th, 1924", (https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/march-10th-1924-1.479008).- White, Gerry, "Call to arms: creating the Irish National Army", (https://www.rte.ie/history/2022/0125/1275830-call-to-arms-creating-the-irish-national-army/).

How hungry have you ever been? Quick trip to the snack drawer? A cheeky Chinese takeaway on a Friday night? How about getting a large pizza instead of a medium one? Well have you ever been so hungry - so impressively famished - that you take a look at the family dog and think to yourself: "Yeah, that'll do the trick." For this week's episode, that's not the weirdest thing to cross Tarrare's mind.Born in 1772 near Lyon, France, Tarrare was a medical marvel unlike any other we've ever seen. The man with such an insatiable appetite that going back to the buffet counter for a second helping of everything on offer was a mandatory part of a meal and never a suggestion, he began his career as a showman travelling with a band of thieves and prostitutes demonstrating his incredible ability to just eat... and eat... and eat... An entire basket of apples? No problem. A quarter of a bullock? Piece of cake. Live animals you found roaming around the square where he was performing? Swallowed whole without the chance to ask him if he wants fries with that. If you thought The Duke from Resident Evil 8 could afford to say no to his 9th McDonalds order of the day, you've not seen anything yet.Join Hayley this week as she recounts the medical marvel that was Tarrare. From his early days as a showman to his enlistment in the Revolutionary Army during the War of the First Coalition and him putting James Bond to shame, to a potential mishap in a hospital where a one-year-old toddler went... "missing", this is one of those stories that will make you throw up whatever you ate last so it might be best to have a bucket nearby when listening to this one... just don't let Tarrare near it because he WILL slurp it up.This episode was hosted by Hayley O'Connor and joined by Arron Keegan and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Join our Discord server and follow us on social media by following the links below!Discord: https://discord.gg/ZScNqT8mP2 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsoldnewspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoldnewspodcast/ Twitter/X: x.com/oldnewscast ========Sources & Further Reading:- BBC, "The tragic fate of the man who couldn't stop eating", online at https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20161014-the-man-who-couldnt-stop-eating (15 Oct. 2016).- Bondeson, Jan, "Freaks: The Pig-Faced Lady of Manchester Square & Other Medical Marvels" (2006).- Bondeson, Jan., "The Two-Headed Boy, and Other Medical Marvels" (New York, 2004).- Bradley, T., Fothergill, Samuel, and Hutchinson, William (ed.) "Polyphagism" in "London Medical and Physical Journal, 42, (London), p. 205.- Gould, George M., and Pyle, Walter L. "Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine" (1896).- Millingen, J. G., "Curiosities of Medical Experience: Second Edition" (London, 1839).- O'Sullivan, Shawn Devin, "Tarrare" (2022).- Wall, Jonathan Frederick, "Intermedia, hypermedia, and metamedia" in "Tarrare: Consumption Studies" (University of North Carolina Dissertations & Theses, 2013).========Chapters:(00:00) Intro(00:30) Episode Start(05:47) Introducing Tarrare(15:58) Tarrare Enlists in the Revolutionary Army(32:36) Tarrare Becomes a Spy(41:03) Return to the Hospital and Trying to Find a Cure(44:58) Tarrare's Health Deteriorates(48:58) Post Show Banter

Across June 12th and 13th, the Israeli Air Force began the first phase of Operation Rising Lion - striking various targets inside Iran including, most prominently, three of its nuclear facilities at Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz. The strikes were targeted to neutralise Iran's growing uranium enrichment project, with the International Atomic Energy Agency declaring the state was in breach of the Iran nuclear deal of 2015 by enriching uranium up to 60% - far from its 3.65% imposed limit. With only 3-5% being necessary for commercial reactors and 20% needed for research reactors, concerns over Iran's potential for the construction of a nuclear weapon led to U.S. intervention and the use of 16 of its bunker busters, along with 30 Tomahawk missiles, to aid in the destruction of Iran's facilities.So what was hit? How important were they? And where do we go from here? We ask all these questions and more in this week's emergency episode as we look over the events between Israel and Iran over the last week, including our own assessments of the situation and what Israel's overall strategy could be with this sudden and precise strike. Are we looking at a regime change war in the Middle East, or could this conflict spill out into the wider world? Tune in and find out what we think!This episode was hosted by Arron Keegan, Hayley O'Connor, and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Join our Discord server and follow us on social media by following the links below!Discord: https://discord.gg/ZScNqT8mP2 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsoldnewspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoldnewspodcast/ Twitter/X: x.com/oldnewscast

Napoleon, the Hero of Italy, has returned from his failed campaign in Egypt and Syria, and instead of being berated as a coward who abandoned his army to the harsh Middle Eastern climate - he was instead welcomed as the Hero of Egypt. His propaganda machine worked overtime, ensuring his return was met with outright praise. But fate, as we know it, comes knocking for Napoleon at every turn, and he has arrived just in time for his next conquest - this time in the halls of power.Political turmoil, coup attempts, ongoing war, incredible strategic marches, decisive battles, and the rise of an empire are all on the table in this month's instalment of the life of Napoleon Bonaparte, including all the emerging controversies and a look at one of the greatest stains on Napoleon's entire career - the reintroduction of slavery and the Haitian expedition, as well as countering some myths and blatant untruths espoused by pseudo-historians (and that's being generous) like Claude Ribbe.This episode was hosted by Arron Keegan and joined by Hayley O'Connor and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Join our Discord server and follow us on social media by following the links below!Discord: https://discord.gg/ZScNqT8mP2 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsoldnewspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoldnewspodcast/ Twitter/X: x.com/oldnewscast ========Sources & Further Reading:- Broers, Michael, "Napoleon: Soldier of Destiny", (2014).- Dodge, Theodore A., "Warfare in the Age of Napoleon Volume 2: The Egyptian and Syrian Campaigns & the Wars of the Second and Third Coalitions, 1798-1805", (2011).- Doyle, William, "Napoleon at Peace", (2022).- Dubois, Laurent, "Avengers of the New World: The Story of the Haitian Revolution", (2005).- Esdaile, Charles J., "The Wars of the French Revolution, 1792-1801", (2019).- Harvey, Robert, "The War of Wars: The Epic Struggle Between Britain and France, 1789-1815", (2007).- Johnson, Paul, "Napoleon", (2003).- Mikaberidze, Alexander, "The Napoleonic Wars: A Global History", (2020).- Phipps, Ramsay Weston, "Armies of the First French Republic and the Rise of the Marshals of Napoleon Volume 5: The Armies on the Rhine, in Switzerland, Holland, Italy, Egypt, and the Coup d'Etat of Brumaire 1797-1799".- Roberts, Andrew, "Napoleon the Great", (2015).- Strathern, Paul, "Napoleon in Egypt", (2008).- Zamoyski, Adam, "Napoleon: The Man Behind the Myth", (2019).== Sources Specific to Refuting Claude Ribbe ==- Fondation Napoléon, "Napoleon, the Dark Side > Did Napoleon enacy 'genocide' in the French colonies?" (14 Apr. 2021).- Fondation Napoléon, "Napoleon, the Dark Side > Napoleon's re-establishment of slavery" (14 Apr. 2021).- Fondation Napoléon, "Napoleon, the Dark Side > Napoleon and the Colonies" (14 Apr. 2021).- Lentz, Thierry, "Napoleon - Hitler, the Improbable Comparison", available online at napoleon.org (2011).========Chapters:(00:00) Intro(03:59) Episode Start(11:00) Recap(13:01) Return From Egypt and the Coup of 18 Brumaire(33:58) Constitution of the Year VIII (December 1799)(38:53) Fighting the Second Coalition(01:05:42) The Battle of Marengo(01:28:22) The Assassination Attempt, Christmas Eve 1800(01:34:28) Stabilising and Improving France: The Concordat with the Pope, the Treaty of Amiens, Consul for Life, the Napoleonic Code, and the Proclamation of the Empire(01:58:06) Controversies and Shortcomings(02:20:41) The Haitian Revolution and the Refute of Claude Ribbe

History is so full of people and events that opinions regarding them are often varied, but in a lot of cases some figures or events are either blown way out of proportion or had the spotlight stripped from them almost entirely to the point that even their very existence isn't a known fact. This perpetrates throughout history so much that today it can often be controversial to question the perceived excellence of certain historical figures or your take would be brushed aside because not enough people care about some obscure person or event. So what do we think?Controversy, supposedly, is our middle name, so why not ride that bandwagon off a cliff and give you guys some of our historical overrated and underrated figures and events from history! With figures like Alexander the Great and Grace O'Malley, to events like the 1914 Christmas Truce and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, all the way to the man who helped create that little tablet you take when you lose control over the flow of your back passage and the Battle of Bir Hakeim during the North African Campaign of the Second World War, we've got plenty of topics for you to scream at us for being so stupid or praise us because you never heard of it before! Who knows!Join the gang this week as they tackle the overrated and underrated figures and events from history, and see what you think of our conclusions. Will you agree with us, will you think we completely missed the mark, and did we miss any events or people that you think deserve to be mentioned? Be sure to let us know in the comments!The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Join our Discord server and follow us on social media by following the links below!Discord: https://discord.gg/ZScNqT8mP2 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsoldnewspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoldnewspodcast/ Twitter/X: x.com/oldnewscast

In April 1876, the Western Australian coast contained many ships carrying out their normal business. It wasn't anything unusual of course, the coasts were busy and it wasn't at all uncommon for there to be commotion on the docks. But one ship in particular off the coast was here for a very different reason. Dropping anchor, it sent out a boat to the mainland and the crew jumped out and seemed to be on a mission. Later that day, the locals would learn of a daring prison escape mounted that very day and it all relied on that one ship, anchored out at sea, seemingly fitting in with every other ship in the bay but really there to aid in the escape of those Irish Fenian prisoners who just escaped from Fremantle Prison. And it's name, was the Catalpa.Join Conor this week as he takes the gang through the daring escape of six Irish Fenian prisoners from Fremantle Prison in Western Australia and the role the Catalpa played in its success. We'll take you through the history of prisoners being sent to Australia to serve out their sentence, how Irish Fenians were sent there to keep them as far away from Ireland as possible, how Irish Fenians organised the whole escape over 11,000 miles away on the East Coast of the United States of America, and exactly how the Catalpa Rescue went down.This episode was hosted by Conor Daly and joined by Arron Keegan and Hayley O'Connor. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Follow us on social media and join our Discord server by following the links below!Discord: https://discord.gg/ZScNqT8mP2 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsoldnewspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoldnewspodcast/ Twitter/X: x.com/oldnewscast ========Sources & Further Reading:- Durney, James, "Jailbreak: Irish Republican Escapes 1865-1983".- Fennell, Philip, "History into Myth: The Catalpa" in Hibernia Review, vol. 9, pp 77-94.- O'Connell, Ronan, "The Catalpa Rescue: The story behind one of Australia's most incredible prison escapes", online at CNN (https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/catalpa-rescue-escape-australia-perth/index.html).- Pearse, Z. W., "The Catalpa Expedition".- Quinn, James, "Breslin, John J." online at Dictionary of Irish Biography (https://www.dib.ie/biography/breslin-john-j-a0947).

Hayley is here to get jiggy with a bunch of 16th century villagers who started a flashmob and began dancing in the street when one local woman declared "Oh, I wanna dance with somebody!" and just could not shake it off until the footloose bug left their system... No I'm not at all embarrassed for all those song references.From the strange beginnings, to the weird ways they tried to cure it, and looking into what scientific reasons may have caused this dancing plague, join Hayley this week as she takes the gang through this incredibly weird story of a humble German village busting moves harder than MC Hammer in parachute pants.This episode was hosted by Hayley O'Connor and joined by Arron Keegan and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to follow us on our social media pages! Simply search for That's Old News on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X or follow the links below!TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsoldnewspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoldnewspodcast/Twitter/X: x.com/oldnewscastDiscord: https://discord.gg/ZScNqT8mP2========Sources & Further Reading- Backman, LE., "Religious Dances in the Christian Church and in Popular Medicine", (Cambridge, 2008).- Bouruignon, E., "Possession", (Illinois, 1991).- Midelfort, EHC., "A History of Madness in Sixteenth-Century Germany", (Stanford, 1999).- Waller, John, "A Time to Dance. A Time to Die: The Extraordinary Story of the Dancing Plague of 1518", (Cambridge, 2008).- Waller, John, "A Forgotten Plague: Making Sense of Dancing Mania" in The Lancet, vol. 373. pp 624-625.- Wright, Jennifer, "Get Well Soon: History's Worst Plagues and the Heroes Who Fought Them", (2017).

What makes us proud to be Irish? Well in the long and varied history of the country, there are countless things that anyone can point to, but we've got our own reasons to look on our beloved Emerald Isle and smile.From the glowing smile of the Mr Tayto Man on a packet of cheese and onion crisps, to a succulent Irish meal in the local Supermac's after it won a landmark court case, to the history of rebellion and self determination of the Irish people, we've got a whole host of historical reasons why any of us would be proud to call this small island nation our home!Join the gang this week as they tackle the hard hitting question of what makes us proud to be Irish and throw them into a tierlist to see how they hold up against each other. Will you agree with us or do you think we missed something? Be sure to let us know!The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Join our Discord server and follow us on social media by following the links below!Discord: https://discord.gg/ZScNqT8mP2 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsoldnewspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoldnewspodcast/ Twitter/X: x.com/oldnewscast ========Chapters:(00:00) Intro(01:16) Tayto Crisps(11:09) Michael Collins(19:41) 1798 Rebellion(27:24) Tommy Tiernan(31:01) Chicken Fillet Roll(38:26) The Irish Defence Forces(43:01) Father Ted(44:57) The Dublin Spire(51:18) The GAA(01:05:09) The Irish Language(01:09:30) The League of Ireland(01:15:39) Irish Rugby(01:21:42) Thin Lizzy(01:27:25) The Supermacs VS McDonalds Lawsuit(01:35:21) The Good Friday Agreement(01:45:52) Honourable Mention: Jackie Charlton and Italia '90(01:50:43) The Tierlist and Post Show Banter

Napoleon, the Hero of Italy, has returned from his incredible triumph over the Austrians and finds himself without a command. But fate, as it always will with the young Corsican general, was about to come knocking. While war on the European mainland may have come to an end, France still had an enemy in Perfidious Albion whose island nation seemed impenetrable. Britain, likewise, was unable to land forces on the mainland without the overwhelming numbers of the French Revolutionary Army sending them back home on more than one occasion.Another way of subduing Britain had to be considered, and it would come as a suggestion from Napoleon himself in August 1797. Much of Britain's income came from their trade with the east, and cutting off that vital trade route would seriously hurt their merchant class. And so it was agreed, France's next endeavour would send Napoleon to the golden sands of Egypt.Join Arron this week as he dives into Napoleon's first and only non-European campaign as the Hero of Italy takes on the Ottoman Empire and Mamluk forces of Egypt. See how western and eastern armies clash and the resulting bloodbath as French discipline and musketry takes on Mamluk bravery and cold steel at the Battle of the Pyramids. Witness Napoleon acting as ruler of Cairo and begin to introduce domestic policies aimed at improving the everyday lives of the average citizen, and how those very same citizens would rebel against their French occupiers. And be shocked as Napoleon's darkest moments come to the fore in his treatment of prisoners of war, - and his own men. You do not want to miss this one.This episode was hosted by Arron Keegan and joined by Hayley O'Connor and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Join our Discord server and follow us on social media by following the links below!Discord: https://discord.gg/ZScNqT8mP2 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsoldnewspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoldnewspodcast/ Twitter/X: x.com/oldnewscast ========Sources & Further Reading:Broers, Michael, "Napoleon: Soldier of Destiny", (2014).- Davies, David, "A Brief History of Fighting Ships: Ships of the Line and Napoleonic sea battles 1793-1815", (2002).- Dodge, Theodore A., "Warfare in the Age of Napoleon Volume 2: The Egyptian and Syrian Campaigns & the Wars of the Second and Third Coalitions, 1798-1805", (2011).- Esdaile, Charles J., "The Wars of the French Revolution, 1792-1801", (2019).- Harvey, Robert, "The War of Wars: The Epic Struggle Between Britain and France, 1789-1815", (2007).- Johnson, Paul, "Napoleon", (2003).- Mikaberidze, Alexander, "The Napoleonic Wars: A Global History", (2020).- North, Jonathan, "Napoleon's Invasion of Egypt: An Eyewitness History", (2023).- Phipps, Ramsay Weston, "Armies of the First French Republic and the Rise of the Marshals of Napoleon Volume 5: The Armies on the Rhine, in Switzerland, Holland, Italy, Egypt, and the Coup d'Etat of Brumaire 1797-1799".- Roberts, Andrew, "Napoleon the Great", (2015).- Strathern, Paul, "Napoleon in Egypt", (2008).- Zamoyski, Adam, "Napoleon: The Man Behind the Myth", (2019).========Chapters: (00:00) Intro(03:35) Episode Start(07:59) Recap(10:35) France and Britain at a Stalemate(16:41) Why Egypt?(18:50) Departure(33:36) The Battle of the Pyramids and Securing Cairo(52:30) The Battle of the Nile and Trapping Napoleon(01:07:00) Cairo and Napoleon's Domestic Reforms(01:16:37) The Syrian Campaign, The Siege of Jaffa, and the Failure at Acre(01:38:10) Napoleon's Last Battle in Egypt - The Battle of Aboukir(01:41:23) Napoleon Leaves Egypt(01:44:43) The French Scientific Expedition(02:00:52) Post Show Banter

There have been a great number of prison escapes throughout history. Some are meticulously planned affairs that take months, or even years, to plan and ensure everything is in its proper place and ready for the big escape. Others seem to prop up at just the right opportunity, where a keen-eyed an intelligent prisoner is able to quickly assess an ever-changing situation and make their daring dash for freedom on a whim. And then there are escapes like that of James Stephens, that requires a bit of planning and a massive amount of "Luck of the Irish" that would see him stay in prison for less than two weeks!Join Conor this week as he takes us through the crazy escape of James Stephens from Richmond Bridewell prison from 1865. Seemingly a Fenian and Irish Republican from birth, Stephens lived a life that saw him be present for some pretty major events in world history as well as found prominent movements in Ireland that sought Irish independence in the mid-to-late 19th century. His time in prison was courtesy of these Fenian loyalties, but would the same man who went in to Richmond Bridewell be that same charismatic leader they would need when he left shortly after? Well for those looking to break him out they certainly hoped he was, and you'll see the efforts they went through just to break this one man out.This episode was hosted by Conor Daly and joined by Arron Keegan and Hayley O'Connor. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Follow us on social media and join our Discord server by following the links below!Discord: https://discord.gg/ZScNqT8mP2 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsoldnewspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoldnewspodcast/ Twitter/X: x.com/oldnewscast ========Sources & Further Reading:- Durney, James, "Jailbreak: Irish Republican Escapes 1865-1983".- McQuillan, Peter, "James Stephens", https://kilkennyarchaeologicalsociety.ie/james-stephens/ .- O'Donovan Rossa, Jeremiah, "Rossa's Recollections, 1838 to 1898".- Ramón, Marta, "A Provisional Dictator: James Stephens and the Fenian Movement".- Ramón, Marta, "James, Stephens", https://www.dib.ie/biography/stephens-james-a8277 .-Ryan, Desmond, "The Fenian Chief: A Biography of James Stephens".========Chapters:(00:00) Intro(00:30) Episode Start(03:42) The Early Life of James Stephens(16:55) Return From France, and Founding the Irish Republican Brotherhood(25:31) The Arrests Begin(29:15) The Plan and Escape from Richmond Bridewell Prison(41:18) The Aftermath of the Escape(49:30) Post Show Banter

Radium. That notoriously radioactive element that have been responsible for such devastating events in human history like the 1986 Chernobyl accident which saw a devastating nuclear reactor explosion from which the region has never truly recovered. But as is the case with all of our history, we did not simply spawn into this world with the knowledge that while radium certainly has some uses, you can't take it into the shower with you and try to use it like a bar of soap.From medical advice advocating patients take a dose of radium with their daily intake of water to spa baths advertising radium pools to help cure all forms of ailments and a court case against radial manufacturers during the First World War which encouraged women to lick the tip of their radium packed paintbrushes to give their job that extra bit of shine - join Hayley this week as she takes the gang on the terrifying trip through the history of radium, from its first uses as a cure-all remedy to its disastrous consequences for those exposed to it.I can safely say, dear listener, some of these stories are not for the squeamish. Keego nearly threw up while recording at one point! You'll want to bring your bucket for this one.This episode was hosted by Hayley O'Connor and joined by Arron Keegan and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to follow us on our social media pages! Simply search for That's Old News on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X or follow the links below!TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsoldnewspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoldnewspodcast/Twitter/X: x.com/oldnewscastNEW DISCORD SERVER: https://discord.gg/ZScNqT8mP2========Sources & Further Reading- Kovarik, William, “The Ethyl Controversy: How the News Media and Health Advocates Set the Agenda for a 1920s Environmental Debate over Leaded Gasoline and the Alternatives,” Ph.D. dissertation, University of Maryland, 1993.- Macklis, Roger M., "The Great Radium Scandal" in Scientific American, a division of Nature America, Inc., Vol. 269, No. 2 (August 1993), pp. 94-99.- Martland, Harrison S., Conlon, Philip, and Knef, Joseph P., “Some Unrecognized Dangers in the Use and Handling of Radioactive Substances" in Journal of the American Medical Association, (December 5, 1925): 1669.- New York Telegram, “Woman Awaiting Death Tells How Radium Poison Slowly, Painfully Kills,” May 13, 1928.- ORAU Museum of Radiation and Radioactivity, "Radithor", https://www.orau.org/health-physics-museum/collection/radioactive-quack-cures/pills-potions-and-other-miscellany/radithor.html========Chapters:(00:00) Intro(00:30) Discord Server Announcement(04:46) Episode Start(12:26) Radium and Early Medicine(29:15) Radium, the First World War, and the Radium Girls(51:05) Ebenezer McBurney Byers and the Harrowing Effects of Radium(58:45) Post Show Banter

On February 28th, 2025, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. president Donald Trump met in a televised bilateral meeting in the Oval Office. Most of the broadcast went well, but tensions would skyrocket in the last 10 minutes. What many referred to as an ambush broke out, leading to a shouting match between Zelensky, Trump, and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance. No sooner were voices raised that headlines were already being made for what Trump would call an ordeal that "would make great television".The immediate aftermath saw many events unfolding, from Zelensky leaving the White House without signing the original mineral deal to a number of nations questioning their long-standing with the United States - concerned that the volatile and unprecedented outburst, followed quickly by the retraction of vital intelligence aid sent to Ukraine, would make the U.S. an untrustworthy ally. A "Coalition of the Willing" began to form, notably among European nations as well as nations like Canada, in the wake of concerns about old alliances.But perhaps the most important question of all remained on everyone's minds - What would this mean for the future of the war in Ukraine? There have been many speculations about what this outburst and subsequent U.S. policy means for Ukraine's immediate concerns for the end of the war and what future security for Ukraine against Russian aggression.Join the gang this week as we dive right in to the controversial meeting in the Oval Office, how the world reacted in the weeks following what can only be described as a meltdown, and what it could mean for the future of the war in Ukraine.This episode was hosted by Arron Keegan, Hayley O'Connor, and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Follow us on social media! Just search for That's Old News on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X!=TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsoldnewspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoldnewspodcast/Twitter/X: x.com/oldnewscast

"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few". Indeed, no truer words need be spoken to describe the heroics of those brave pilots who defended Britain's skies during the Battle of Britain - ensuring that Britain could live on to continue the struggle against Nazi Germany at the beginning of the Second World War. And the man of this episode, John Allman "Paddy" Hemingway, not only made his name known during this period, but lived such an incredible life that it was impossible not to do an episode on him.Sadly, Hemingway passed away at the incredible age of 105 years old on March 17th, 2025. With his passing came the end of what Churchill called "The Few". He was the last verified British pilot who fought in the Battle of Britain, and the RAF rightly called his passing the "end of an era".In memory of him and in honour of his service, join Arron this week as he recounts the incredible life of "Paddy" Hemingway. From his early life to his time in the RAF, diving headfirst into the Invasion of France and the Battle of Britain, then straight into his service as an air traffic controller for the D-Day Landings, his time near the end of the war in Italy, and his postwar life. And hear about how he, incredibly, survived being shot down four times - with two of those times happening behind enemy lines, and forcing Paddy to sneak his way back to friendly territory to continue the fight!This episode was hosted by Arron Keegan and joined by Hayley O'Connor and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to follow us on social media! Just search for That's Old News on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X, or head to the linktree in the podcast's about section!

At this point in our story, Napoleon is still a young man but lacks direction. His posting as an artillery officer was going nowhere, he failed to bring the revolution to his native Corsica, and was cast out as a political refugee from his homeland. It was through a turn of fate that his friend, Antoine Christophe Saliceti, had recommended the young artillery officer for a position commanding the right wing at a siege ongoing in the southeast of France, and one that would finally thrust him into the history books - The Siege of Toulon.Join Arron this week as he looks at the earliest commands of the young Napoleon Bonaparte, beginning with his brilliant tactical mind first being displayed at the 1793 Siege of Toulon, continuing into his ruthless and brilliantly effective suppression of a Royalist mob seeking to overthrow the government on 13 Vendémiaire, and ending with his incredible strategic prowess in the First Italian Campaign. We have heartbreak, funny moments, incredible moments of bravery, and stunning acts of strategic oversight that would see seemingly hopeless situations turn into brilliant opportunities for Napoleon to display his mastery at the art of war.This episode was hosted by Arron Keegan and joined by Hayley O'Connor and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Follow us on social media! Just search for That's Old News on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X or head to the linktree in our bio!========Chapters:(00:00) Preamble(01:53) Intro(03:13) Madame Tussaud(07:02) Part 1 Recap(09:37) Background to the Siege of Toulon(21:34) The Siege of Toulon(40:02) The Interim(43:40) 13 Vendémiaire(54:15) Joséphine de Beauharnais(59:01) The Italian Campaign, From Start to End(02:35:27) Post Show Banter========Sources & Further Reading:- Broers, Michael, "Napoleon: Soldier of Destiny", Vol. 1.- Esdaile, Charles J., "The Wars of the French Revolution, 1792-1801".- Griffith, Paddy, "French Napoleonic Infantry Tactics, 1792-1815".- Johnson, Paul, "Napoleon"- Mikaberidze, Alexander, "The Napoleonic Wars".- Phipps, Ramsay Weston, "Armies of the First French Republic, Vol. 5: The Armies on the Rhine, in Switzerland, Holland, Italy, Egypt, and the Coup D'État of Brumaire 1797-1799".- Popkin, Jeremy D., "A New World Begins: The History of the French Revolution".- Roberts, Andrew, "Napoleon the Great".

"Sadness, anger, horror, pain, silence, trauma – all words that describe the legacy of the Irish Civil War. Although the conflict only lasted eleven months, the trauma of the Civil War can be seen all over this island – North, South, East and West, like a wound that has not healed." - Liz Gillis.From the outbreak of the war, to the Free State offensive in the south, to the clean-up operations in the west, and to the reprisal attacks that marked its conclusion, we've explored the Irish Civil War from beginning to end. We've seen a new Free State army rise up in the remnants of the War of Independence and deal with all the struggles of a new fighting force where none existed before. We've witnessed families torn apart because of allegiances to either the new Pro-Treaty Free State Government or the Anti-Treaty IRA. Close friends turned on each other because of the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, leading to targeted attacks, heart-breaking execution orders, and wounds that won't be healed for decades. And so all that's left is to see what happened in those years following the end of hostilities.Join Conor this week as he jumps in to the last episode of his series on the Irish Civil War and how the country tried to heal after months of gruelling war. From the role of the Catholic Church in reconciling past grudges, to how the new government would retain control and quell the violence, and the demobilisation of 30,000 men from the National Army, this episode is all about building a future worthy of the Republic so many fought and died to achieve. We hope you've enjoyed the series to date, and it's time to go out with a bang,This episode was hosted by Conor Daly and joined by Hayley O'Connor and Arron Keegan. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Follow us on our socials! Just search for "That's Old News" on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X, or head to the linktree in the podcast's about section and follow us from there!========Chapters:(00:00) Intro(02:03) The effects of the Irish Civil War(08:25) A Strong Democracy, Avoiding Communism and Fascism(15:37) The Role of the Catholic Church(21:59) Government Control and Regaining Control on the Monopoly of Violence(43:01) Issues in the National Army(57:05) Politics(01:16:45) Conclusion and Ireland Today(01:19:48) Post Show Banter========Sources & Further Reading:- Bielenberg, Andy, "The Irish Civil War Fatalities Project: death and killing in the Civil War", available online at https://www.rte.ie/history/civil-war-fatalities/2024/0306/1436312-death-and-killing-in-the-irish-civil-war/- Bielenberg, Andy, and Dorney, John, "Explore the Fatalities Map", available online at https://www.ucc.ie/en/theirishrevolution/irish-civil-war-fatalities-project/explore-the-fatalities-map/- Dorney, John, "The Civil War in Dublin".- Ferriter, Diarmaid, "Between Two Hells".- Ferriter, Diarmaid, "The legacy of the Civil War", available online at https://www.rte.ie/history/the-end-of-the-civil-war/2023/0228/1359432-the-legacy-of-the-civil-war/- History Ireland, "A Century On, How do we View the Civil War?".- History Ireland, "How Many Died and How in the Irish Civil War".- History Ireland, "The Irish Civil War: A Military Analysis".- Hopkinson, Michael, "Green Against Green".- Irish History Podcast, "The Road to War: How the Irish Civil War Started".- Kavanagh, Jack, "The largest losses: National Army casualties in the Civil War", available online at https://www.rte.ie/history/civil-war-fatalities/2024/0220/1433337-the-greatest-losses-national-army-casualties-in-the-civil-war/- Kinsella, Eoin, "The Irish Defence Forces, 1922-2022".- McCarthy, John P., "O'Higgins, Kevin Christopher", available online at https://www.dib.ie/biography/ohiggins-kevin-christopher-a6812- Talking History with Patrick Geoghegan, "The Irish Civil War".- The History of Ireland, "How do we View the Irish Civil War?".

Rabies - a vaccine preventable, zoonotic, viral disease affecting the central nervous system. It infects mammals, spreading through saliva, scratches, or direct contact with mucosa (eyes, mouth, or open wounds). As soon as clinical symptoms , rabies is near-100% fatal. It is present on all continents except Antarctica, and is responsible for, at least, some 59,000 deaths annually. Historically it has been present for thousands of years, with the first written record of a person killed as a result of rabies arising in 2300 BC in the Mosaic Esmuna Code of Babylon. And yet, it wouldn't be until 1885 AD when the first cure for rabies, in the form of a vaccine, was created and trialled.Join Hayley this week as she dives head first into the terrifying world and history of rabies, from its causes, its terrifying symptoms, and how the man who helped to revolutionise the way we consume and store milk created the vaccine that would save millions of lives with nothing more than a dream and a fascination for removing the spines of rabbits and injecting it into his test subjects all in an effort to cure this terrible disease... but it was worth it in the end!This episode was hosted by Hayley O'Connor and joined by Arron Keegan and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Follow us on social media! Just search for "That's Old News" on Tiktok, Instagram, and Twitter/X, or head to the linktree in our bio and follow us from there!========Chapters:(00:00) Intro(05:04) 1950s America, Little Timmy, and Buddy the Rabies-Ridden Dog Story(15:38) "Mad dog disease", What is Rabies, and the History of Identifying the Virus(18:04) Symptoms, Furious and Paralytic Rabies, and How it Spreads(24:42) Louis Pasteur and the First Vaccine for Rabies(49:09) Rabies in Today's World(55:00) Post Show Banter========Sources & Further Reading:- Held, Joe R., Steele, James H., and Tierkel, Ernest S., "Rabies in Man and Animals in the United States, 1946-65: An Epidemiologic Review" in "Public Health Reports (1896-1970) 82, no. 11 (1967).- Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Animal Health Surveillance, "Rabies", available online at https://www.animalhealthsurveillance.agriculture.gov.ie/individualdiseaselistings/rabies/ .- John Hopkins Medicine, "Encephalitis", available online at https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/encephalitis#:~:text=Encephalitis%20is%20inflammation%20of%20the,light%2C%20mental%20confusion%20and%20seizures- Parker, Steve, "Medicine: The Definitive Illustrated History".- World Health Organization, "Rabies", available online at https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rabies#:~:text=Rabies%20is%20a%20vaccine%2Dpreventable,%2C%20cats%2C%20livestock%20and%20wildlife .

"The art of history lies in the debate" is an adage that Arron lives by. One can be as well read on any particular topic as possible, but it is through discussion that facts are made concrete and we can fully understand a topic. It opens our minds to opposing viewpoints that challenge what we believed, and either helps to reinforce or reassess our positions. And what better way than to do that in a freeform conversation?Join Arron and Hayley this week as they dive in to some history discussion topics, ranging from interesting thought experiments such as "Can we ever truly know history?" to more controversial questions like "Should the British Museum return artifacts to their countries of origin?", as well as mixing history with modernity and ask "Is the modern United States an imperialist power?" This was great fun to record, and we'd love to hear what you all think about either these topics or the answers we've given!This episode was hosted by Arron Keegan and Hayley O'Connor. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Follow us on social media! Just search for "That's Old News" on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter, or head to the linktr.ee in our bio!========Chapters:(00:00) Intro(03:52) Can we ever truly know history?(11:18) Did the French Revolution need to be so bloody?(19:20) Should history include ethical judgements?(28:28) Is the modern US an imperialist power?(33:03) Should the British Museum return artifacts to their countries of origin?(42:38) Should history lessons focus on the history of your own country?(53:53) Should British people be proud of the British Empire?(01:02:00) What was the main cause of World War I?(01:11:46) Did the fall of the Berlin Wall symbolize the definitive end of the Cold War?(01:20:29) Post Show Banter

What do the release of Shrek, a turkey puppet singing at the Eurovision, and two tone-deaf Irish "artists" with too much free time and hairspray have in common? Well they make it onto our tier list of course! These 3 along with 27 more events of the last 25 years have made an impact on our world in one way or another, and today the gang is going to rank them from S tier all the way down to F tier! Usually when writing about history, the last 20 years can't be written about as it doesn't qualify as "historical" just yet so what about some events that will one day make its way into history curriculums? Tune in this week to find out!What do you think of your tier list? Do you agree with us, or will you fight tooth and nail to move some of our rankings either higher or lower? Let us know, and any suggestions you may have for what didn't make it onto the list!This episode was hosted by Arron Keegan, Hayley O'Connor, and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda.========Chapters:(00:00) Intro(07:28) Paris Terror Attacks(12:48) Y2K Bug(20:12) Lelli Kelly Shoes(24:46) Assassination of Osama bin Laden(30:25) Deepwater Horizon(39:00) Michael Jackson's Death(43:33) US Withdrawal from Afghanistan(48:48) PlayStation 2(53:15) Shrek(55:51) Death of Gay Byrne(01:03:17) Edward Snowden(01:10:27) Swine Flu(01:14:32) The Celtic Tiger(01:23:10) Malaysia Flight 370(01:30:08) Jedward(01:32:14) Tayto Chocolate Bar(01:36:48) YouTube Launching(01:42:10) Pausing Live TV(01:46:47) Ireland at Euro 2016(01:53:10) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident(01:58:25) 2010 Chilean Miner Rescue(02:04:31) Hardy Bucks(02:10:00) The Arab Spring(02:18:36) New York City Synagogue Tunnel Incident(02:26:44) Gangnam Style(02:30:50) Xi Jinping President for Life(02:37:43) Isabelle Dinoire First Partial Face Transplant(02:42:37) F*$# You Deputy Stagg!(02:45:59) Dustin the Turkey at the Eurovision(02:48:16) Nintendo Wii(02:53:30) Conclusion

All legends have an origin. For the great Napoleon Bonaparte, that origin was on the small Mediterranean island of Corsica - purchased just one year before his birth. In the span of one lifetime he came from a modest but humble upbringing, especially by French standards, and became the dominant power of Europe. His story, from the first signs of life to the final breaths before death, is so fascinating that there have been more books written with Napoleon in the title or subtitle than there have been days since his death all the way back in 1821. But where did it all begin? Napoleon did not simply spawn in as Emperor of the French with an empire that challenged the old monarchies of Europe, or a legacy that is still discussed today. Join Arron for his first of twelve episodes on the incredible life of Napoleon Bonaparte, beginning with the first part all about his life right up until the 1793 Siege of Toulon. From his early struggles, his academic exceptionalism, his early military career, his influences and outlook on life, and his prime positioning to create a legend. This episode was recorded by Arron Keegan and joined by Hayley O'Connor and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X for clips, memes, and fun facts! ======== Chapters: (00:00) Preamble (02:52) Introduction (20:44) Birth and Corsican Life (30:59) Early Schooling and the École Militaire (42:22) Commissioned Life, "On Suicide", Losing Virginity, and Questioning Royal Authority (57:31) The French Revolution (01:32:32) Corsican Revolutionary (01:43:56) Post Show Banter ======== Sources & Further Reading: ======== Broers, Michael, "Napoleon: Soldier of Destiny", Vol. 1. Johnson, Paul, "Napoleon" Mikaberidze, Alexander, "The Napoleonic Wars". Popkin, Jeremy D., "A New World Begins: The History of the French Revolution". Roberts, Andrew, "Napoleon the Great".

The guerrilla stage of the Irish Civil War has come to an end. With a defeat in conventional warfare and now being scattered to the wind, Anti-Treaty IRA forces are now completely unable to mount an effective resistance against the Free State forces who for months have constantly kept up mounting pressure against their strongholds in the south and west. Clean up operations are now underway to ensure the pacification of the most contested regions throughout this struggle, but the bloodshed is far from over. Punishments and reprisal attacks, effectively tit-for-tat attacks, are in full swing. The darkest moments of the Civil War are about to unfold. The Public Safety Act, better known as the Emergency Powers Act, has been passed. In short, government forces were free to arrest, trial, and ultimately execute those suspected of either being actively involved with Anti-Treaty IRA forces or enabling them to continue their armed resistance against the new Free State. 81 Anti-Treaty prisoners were formally sanctioned and executed by the Army Council, resulting in IRA forces targeting "Big Houses" - symbols of the old Protestant Ascendancy - and prominent TDs who would take their seats in the new, now officially recognised, Dáil Éireann. Join the gang this week for the penultimate episode in Conor's Irish Civil War series as we look at one of the darkest chapters in the history of the history of the Irish Free State and Republic. This episode was hosted by Conor Daly and joined by Arron Keegan and Hayley O'Connor. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to follow us on social media! Just search for That's Old News on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X!

I've been working on the railroad, all the live long day! I've been working on the railroad, until a 3'8" tamping rod is blown right through my brain!... wait a minute those aren't the lyrics. Well if your name happens to be Phineas P. Gage and you work as a blasting foreman during the great western railroad expansions in the United States then those lyrics hit a lot closer to home than you might think. In a freak accident on just a normal day of work, Gage's trusty tamping rod was blown straight through his brain before landing 30 yards away. After what amounted to a little lie down, an unbothered Gage simply stood up and walked back home to get some medical attention. And after the whole ordeal, Gage would live for almost another 12 years before finally succumbing to his injuries. Join Hayley this week as she recounts the explosive life of Phineas P. Gage, all the way from his birth until his death and everything in between. From the freak accident itself and the methods employed to try and save his life, all the way to how we understand how the brain works and the frontal lobe's role in our every day lives. So strap in for this incredible tale, and maybe don't listen to this episode while you're chomping down on your dinner... you can thank me later. This episode was presented by Hayley O'Connor and joined by Arron Keegan and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to follow us on social media! Just search for That's Old News on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X! ======== Chapters (00:00) Intro (11:36) Phineas Gage and U.S. Railroad Expansion West (19:48) Gage's Job and the Blasting Accident (30:39) Dr John Martyn Harlow and Gage's Recovery (45:02) Gage's Changing Mood and the Impact on Neuroscience (54:43) Deteriorating Health, Death, and his Lasting Impact on Science (58:54) Post Show Banter

What do you do to celebrate Christmas? Do you wait until the family is all downstairs to start opening presents from Santa with a hot cup of cocoa? Maybe you head off to Christmas morning mass? Perhaps you get all the family together for Christmas dinner? Or do you instead get so drunk on eggnog full to the brim with rum, whiskey, and grog, and stage a riot at your local military academy that becomes such a tense situation that it nearly blows up into a full-scale mutiny?.... Just me? Well today's hilarious tale involves just that! A riot that took place at the United States military academy at West Point thanks entirely to copious amounts of eggnog, a series of unfortunate events, and a faculty staff that was so bewildered by the happenings of just a single night that for weeks after it they simply had no idea what to do about it. And it all started because the superintendent pre-empted American Prohibition by an entire century and declared an outright ban on drinking of any kind for all West Point cadets - except for July 4th and Christmas celebrations of course, he wasn't a monster! But as we'll see, that decision wouldn't last long. Join Arron this week as he takes the gang through the West Point Eggnog Riot, and listen to some of the wackiest series of events that you ever heard that almost led to an outright mutiny by almost 100 cadets against only a handful of officers on duty. This episode was presented by Arron Keegan and joined by Hayley O'Connor and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure you check us out on social media! Just search for "That's Old News" on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X, or simply head to our linktree in the podcast's about section to find links to all our pages! Merry Christmas! ======== Chapters: (00:00) Coming Up This Week (01:14) Intro (11:01) West Point and Colonel Sylvanus Thayer's Reforms (17:22) Benny Haven's Shenanigans (23:55) July 4th 1826 (25:53) The Plan for an Illegal Christmas Party and Thayer's Christmas Spirit (31:12) The Eggnog Riot Begins and Captain Hitchcock (41:12) The Night Descends Into Chaos and Lieutenant William Thornton (51:57) The Morning After, the End of the Riot, and "Consequences" (57:46) Post Show Banter

On the morning of March 31st 1926, a local gardener from the La Mancha estate in Malahide ran into town screaming out for help. The house, set in thirty acres of good farmland, was on fire, and the six occupants - four brothers and sisters, their domestic servant, and the farm hand - were still inside. The Gardai, Ireland's police force, were alerted and together with local firefighters they rushed into the scene to quell the flames and save the owners. But as the flames finally began to subside, the bodies of all six occupants were found throughout the house. As Gardai closed off the scene, something wasn't right about what they were seeing. James, the farm hand, had what appeared to be defensive wounds on his forearms and a deep wound on his skull. The bodies of the brothers and sisters were so badly burned that they were nearly indistinguishable from each other. But right beside one of the brothers, Peter McDonnell, was a fire poker. And at its tip plain for all to see was the undeniable look... of brain matter. Something more than a simple but tragic house fire was going on here in what became the largest mass murder of political violence in the history of the Irish state. And if that wasn't significant enough, the state was only five years old - and only four years ago were brothers in arms engaged in a horrible and bloody civil war whose scares still affect Irish politics to this day. What possibly could have transpired at La Mancha for this to happen? This is a story with plenty of twists and turns that you're going to want to get your detective's hat and notepad out, and see if you can figure out the events of the La Mancha Murder Mystery. This episode was presented by Conor Daly and joined by Arron Keegan and Hayley O'Connor. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to follow us on social media! Just search for "That's Old News" on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X, or head to the linktree in the podcast's about section! ======== Chapters: (00:00) Coming Up This Week (00:55) Intro (02:52) La Mancha, the McDonnell Family, and Henry McCabe (10:28) The House Fire, and the Murder Mystery Begins (24:02) The Investigation Begins (32:52) Arrest, Trial, Execution, and Aftermath (48:55) Post Show Banter

Paracelsus, Vesalius, Tagliacozzi, and Wormius. Despite what you may be thinking, these aren't the names of horrible diseases that you may contract in your lifetime. They're actually the names of some prominent figures in the history of medicine. However, if you had any kind of ailment and your local medicine man was any of these lovely gentlemen then you'd have better odds of survival if you just decided to do nothing about your affliction and hope it passes naturally if you ignore it for long enough. But if you still decided to show up to your appointment on time, you could expect to receive all types of treatment! Ranging from diagnoses that involved water people and gnomes that lived in mines causing venereal diseases that were to be cured by phallic-shaped orchids, to forcing patients to endure a week's-long salute by pinning the patient's arm to his nose to allow face skin grafts to 'take', you would certainly need a strong constitution to put up with some of these crazy procedures. And do you want to know the best part? Those aren't even the weirdest treatments we've got for you this week! Join Hayley this week for the final installment in her Crazy Medical Procedures series, and we're certainly going out with a bang this week as we once again ask the question "How did we ever survive so long as a species when doctors spent millennia unknowingly trying to send us to an early grave?" And as it turns out, the answer was just incredible luck! This episode was presented by Hayley O'Connor and joined by Arron Keegan and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to follow us on social media! Just search for "That's Old News" on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X, or head to the linktree in the podcast's about section! ======== Chapters (00:00) Coming Up This Week (01:08) Intro (05:33) Paracelsus (17:46) Vesalius (25:05) Syphilis (32:32) Gaspare Tagliacozzi (43:31) "Cabinets of Curiosities" (55:30) Medical Museums (01:08:29) Post Show Banter

The police force in the United States resembles its own little army, with weapons and equipment on hand that make our little Irish minds boggle as to why they could possibly need all this firepower within arm's reach. But that's a very interesting question - Why? Why is it that policing in the USA requires such weapons to be readily available? What happened that forced local police departments to ditch the pepper spray for the AR-15? This week's episode is just one of the reasons why policing in America underwent such an overhaul. On February 28th 1997, Los Angeles was rocked when a confrontation between two bank robbers and LAPD erupted into a shootout that, while lasting for only 44 minutes, saw North Hollywood shut down from around 9am until almost midnight, with children being kept in lockdown in schools until 8pm. Our suspects are Larry Phillips Jr. and Emil Mătăsăreanu - two armed robbers who stormed into a Bank of America branch at the intersection of Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Archwood Street in North Hollywood at 9:16am. 44 minutes later, Larry would lay dead and Emil would be under arrest. But why is this event so different? Bank robberies weren't uncommon, especially not in Los Angeles, and this was, surely, just another heist - right? Well, before Larry and Emil walked into the bank, they were fitted with armour plating, and enough guns and ammunition that will see 2,000 rounds of ammunition fired by the shootout's end and enough protection that despite being hit several times - both gunmen could continue to stand and resist the LAPD. Strap in folks, this one is going to keep you glued to the episode like nothing else. This episode was recorded by Arron Keegan and joined by Hayley O'Connor and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure you follow us on social media! Just search for "That's Old News" on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X! ======== Chapters (00:00) Coming Up This Week (00:44) Intro (05:27) Los Angeles: A Haven For Robbery (12:11) Larry Phillips Jr. (14:03) Emil Matasareanu (20:29) A Bad Start (28:36) The Robberies Begin (30:48) February 28th, 1997 - The North Hollywood Shootout (01:03:42) The Aftermath and the Future of Policing in the USA (01:09:52) Some Funny Moments During the Shootout (01:17:02) Post Show Banter and Discussion

Conor's Irish Civil War series continues with the immediate fallout from the previous Free State Offensive that saw any hopes for the continuation of a conventional war completely dashed, and a return to the guerrilla warfare that characterised the War of Independence. But having suffered a crucial defeat in Munster, IRA forces are more disconnected than ever. This week we see the beginnings of the clean-up operations conducted by the Free State Army, and the underhanded tactics used by the IRA to make every inch of territory gained by the Free State a nightmare. From blowing up railway lines to ramping up the frequency of of ambushes, see just how desperate the IRA were getting as they began to constantly be on the backfoot with precious little that could be done to contend with the ever expanding forces of the Irish Free State. And yet despite the continued threat, some higher ups of the Free State Army believed that now was the time to relax more and begin inspections of the new army. This oversight would culminate in the greatest loss to the Free State Army in the assassination of its Commander-in-Chief, Michael Collins. This episode was hosted by Conor Daly and joined by Arron Keegan and Hayley O'Connor. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to follow us on social media! Seach for "That's Old News" on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X, or head to the linktree in the podcast's about section! ======== Chapters: (00:00) Coming Up This Week (00:42) Intro (03:32) Recap and Where We Stand (14:20) Two Great Losses for the Provisional Government (21:29) Michael Collins, Béal na Bláth, and the Immediate Aftermath (39:08) Beginnings of a Bitter End to the War (55:30) Support for the Republicans Dwindles (01:13:50) Post Show Questions and Banter

Around this time last year, three disenfranchised history students decided that the world needs something it has never seen before - a podcast! I know, what a completely original idea! In the time between then and now we've suffered through a horrendous take on the life and exploits of Napoleon courtesy of Ridley Scott, embarked on what will culminate in a fantastic five-part series that will cover the outbreak of and eventual culmination of the Irish Civil War researched by our very own Conor, cringed at the both horrific and hilarious ways humanity has tried to solve any and all medical problems courtesy of the amazing and incredibly warped mind of Hayley, and questioned just exactly how old is Arron and when will he ever do his episode on Napoleon. Needless to say, it has been an incredible year and it's all thanks to the continued support of you - our loyal listeners. So this episode is just for you, where we answer your burning questions so you can get to know us better, how we view history, and give our takes on some of your historical questions. From how the podcast started, to how we contend with understanding historic figures in the modern day, and what exactly makes us so passionate about history. This episode would be impossible without your continued support. Your constant engagement with the podcast, from just listening to each episode to leaving comments across our social media pages, is a constant source of inspiration for us. We have no intentions of slowing down or stopping any time soon and that's almost exclusively down to you. From Arron, Hayley, and Conor - we thank you all so much for allowing us to have this opportunity to speak about our passion with you. And with all that said, we hope you enjoy this 3-hour episode! Strap in guys, it's a long one. Chapters: ======== (00:00) Intro (14:50) #1: Why did you guys start a podcast? (23:30) #2: What's each of your favourite episodes you've researched and recorded? (31:31) #3: How did you guys meet? (39:40) #4: Why do you guys call Arron old? (46:32) #5: When will you allow Arron to do an episode on Napoleon and his campaigns? (50:30) #6: I saw the fallout from the TikTok video on Ireland's need to defend its neutrality. Wanna talk about it? (01:01:15) #7: Looking at the political events prior to both the First and Second World Wars, do you think we could be looking at a Third World War in the near future? (01:08:42) #8: If you could have a deep conversation with any historical figure, who would it be? (01:11:42) #9: If you could witness any historical event, what would it be? (01:17:24) #10: Next year will be 160 years since the end of the American Civil War. How is there still disagreement over why it started - and to firmly cement it, why do you guys think it started? Was it slavery or was it state’s rights? (01:28:36) #11: How in the modern day do you understand historic figures? And should I feel bad for liking historic figures despite their actions? (01:37:55) #12: Who was the most influential figure of the 20th century? (01:44:18) #13: Is there a way for Germany to have won WW2? I keep seeing alt-history scenarios and I just don’t believe them. (01:49:34) #14: Are you guys going to do episodes on historical subjects that aren’t European or US history? (01:53:50) #15: Q for Hayley - how much of the history of medicine is people stumbling on cures as opposed to actively looking for it? (01:59:43) #16: Question for the guys - what got you into military history, especially since you guys in Ireland don’t have big military cultures? (02:06:38) #17: Where would you recommend people visit for history in Ireland? (02:16:00) #18: Q for everyone - how does war influence the progress of medical research? (02:23:50) #19: With the recent election in the US, how does the current war in Ukraine look? (02:33:36) #20: How worried should we be with “historians” like Darryl Cooper and people that listen to him? (02:44:57) #21: What makes you so passionate about history?

The history of medicine is so vast and eyebrow raising that you would be forgiven for asking how we, as a species, managed to survive this long without accidentally wiping the lot of us off the planet. With the last episode ending in the Medieval period there are still centuries of crazy and hilarious medical practices to comb through and they're nothing short of baffling to say the least. From traveling tooth pullers yanking out your wisdom teeth to the rhythm of a drum, to deformities in children thanks entirely to the mother of the child looking at... anything at all before the child was born, and cures for syphilis involving taking a hand drill to a gentleman's family jewels, join Hayley this week as she continues her look into the crazy medical procedures that helped us to, albeit eventually, understand how the human body works and how to cure any ailments that may arise. Word of warning, if in future you need to go to the hospital and you hear that the doctor examining you is Dr Hayley - I would highly recommend leaving as soon as possible. Unless you're into the kind of treatments that have more chance of putting you in the ground than keeping you above it, you freak. This episode was presented by Hayley O'Connor and joined by Arron Keegan and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to follow us on our social media pages! Just search for "That's Old News" on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X, or head to the linktree in the podcast's about section! Chatpers: ======== (00:00) Intro (00:45) Episode Start (01:23) Medieval Procedures (07:49) The "Trotula" (08:50) William of Saliceto, and treating tortured patients (13:03) Hildegard of Bingen, the Gwyneth Paltrow of the 12th Century (19:50) Renaissance Procedures (21:20) King Charles II's Unfortunate End (30:30) Syphillis (43:23) Post Show Banter

Learning a new language is hard, and when the Duolingo bird is outside your bedroom threatening your family unless you keep up your streak and do your German lessons today - it can be a bit overwhelming. But when it comes to the Native American Navajo language, even the Duolingo bird misses some of his lessons. That's because this incredible language is so complicated that if you weren't ingrained in the Navajo culture for your whole life you would have a terrible time even asking what time of the day it is. Thanks to its complicated nature, the Navajo language was perfect for encrypting messages. And so when the Second World War made its way to the shores of the United Sates, it's no wonder that a program to use Navajo men to encrypt and decode messages for wartime communication was implemented. Enter the Navajo Code Talkers, a unit initially comprised of 30 native speakers but would rise to well over 300 by the war's end. And their mission was as simple as it was vital - transmit messages, and make sure the enemy cannot decode them. Join Arron this week as he explores the origins of using the Navajo as code talkers, dives into how the language itself worked, and shows how the language was morphed into a code that was so effective that it remains the only verbal code during the Second World War to never have been broken. This episode was presented by Arron Keegan and joined by Hayley O'Connor and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to follow us on our social media pages! Just search for "That's Old News" on Tiktok, Instagram, and Twitter, or head to the linktree in the podcast's about section! Chapters: ======== (0:00) Intro (05:25) Episode Start - The Navajo Code Talkers (06:34) A Quick History of Relaying Messages in War (12:37) Native American Code Talkers (13:46) Philip Jonhston (17:12) Forming the Navajo Code Talkers and Trials (20:49) Learning (or at least understanding) Navajo (31:48) Understanding the Navajo Code (34:58) Some Country Names Translated (40:12) Some Thoughts on the Code (43:40) Wartime Example and A Navajo Speaking the Code (52:23) Expansion of the Navajo Code Talkers (58:22) Post-War Recognition (01:02:41) Post Show Banter

Conflict is inherent to the human experience. It has shaped our world since the earliest times when Ungo Bungo wanted Bongo Dongo's priceless large rock collection. To this day nothing had changed. With resources aplenty and neighbours who can't stand to live next to each other, many have resorted to conflict to get their way. It is no surprise that Prussian strategist Carl von Clausewitz's words still resonate to this day: "War is regarded as nothing but the continuation of state policy with other means." And with the undeniable fact that war and conflict will always be with us so long as humans roam the earth, what has Ireland done to ensure its safety - especially in recent years with conventional warfare once again unfolding in Europe? Well, it turns out the answer is to do nothing. Since the inception of the state, Ireland has always pursued a policy of neutrality which has resulted in a defence force so neglected that when a Russian ship parked itself off our coast to investigate our underwater data cables that links Europe to the US - we could do nothing about it, and had to wait for the British RAF and Royal Navy to see them off. But how did we even get to this point? And were we ever really a neutral country that we can just neglect the importance of the defence of the island? Join Arron and Conor this week as they look into the history of Irish neutrality, investigate times where the Irish state has very clearly taken sides in global conflicts, see how the Irish Defence Forces have been so neglected that estimates show they would be defeated in less than an hour, and discuss our vision for a much better and stronger army capable of safeguarding the people of Ireland. This episode was presented by Arron Keegan and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to check us out on social media! Just search for "That's Old News" on TikTok, Instagram, and X/Twitter, or head to the link.tree in the podcast's about section! Chapters: ======== (00:00) Intro (01:42) Context (05:53) Historical Background (11:12) Examples of Some Non-Neutral Actions (24:44) Neglect of the IDF and Our Security Concerns (44:10) Defending Ireland (01:02:28) Inability to Safeguard the State (01:08:32) Russia, the threat to Europe, and Irish Defence (01:23:50) Ireland and the World Stage (01:41:58) Our Conclusions

Many moons ago a young man called Conor began exploring the outbreak and initial stages of the Irish Civil War. Unfortunately he was ambushed by a squad of Anti-Treaty IRA and hauled all the way down south to the (real capital) city of Cork. Luckily for him he managed to escape, but not before witnessing the newly formed Irish Free State take the fight directly to the IRA who ran from Dublin down to the province of Munster. Our war hero has returned to tell us all about the events of the first proper campaign of the Free State Army. (For legal reasons all of this is a joke. Remember folks, despite being the youngest of the three it's actually Granda Keego who is the oldest and of course was there to witness all of these events firsthand.) From troubles in training the new army, to parking 18-pounder artillery guns right outside post offices and one of the first amphibious landings in modern military history, join Conor this week as we look at the Munster Offensive - the decisive military stroke of the Civil War that would see much of the Anti-Treaty IRA scattered and any hope for their victory in this conflict was quickly and decisively destroyed. This episode was hosted by Conor Daly and joined by Arron Keegan and Hayley O'Connor. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to follow us on our social media pages! Just search for "That's Old News" on Tiktok, Instagram, and Twitter/X! (00:00) Intro (01:08) Recap (06:52) The IRA and the Munster Republic (11:50) The Free State Offensive Begins (13:13) Battle of Limerick (23:24) Taking Waterford (33:00) Battle of Killmallock (56:15) The National Army Conduct Amphibious Landings (01:12:57) Post Show Banter

The history of health and medicine is such a crazy ride that it's truly a shock to consider just how good the quality of healthcare is today as opposed to even as recent in human history as a century ago. But in order to get to this point we have had a long and varied history of absolutely crazy medical procedures that you wonder how anyone was even left alive to improve on some of these things. From sucking boils and blisters off your arms, hands, and your bare bottom to cursing the Amazon delivery driver for all eternity for delivering someone else's urine sample, and even drinking that golden liquid for its health benefits after you eat some cabbage, join Hayley this week as she delves into these absolutely bonkers practices that helped pave the way for our modern understanding of medicine. And just a little word of warning, you might need to have a bucket on standby when you hear some of these! This episode was presented by Hayley O'Connor and joined by Arron Keegan and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to follow us on our social media pages! Just search for "That's Old News" on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X! (00:00) Intro (01:30) Ancient Egyptian Procedures (04:12) Ancient Greek Procedures (08:04) Hippocrates' Obsession With Hemorrhoids (12:36) Ancient Greek Honourable Mentions (14:16) Ancient Roman Procedures (26:35) The Black Death and Medieval Practices (37:27) John of Gaddesden, Mental Health, and the Rose of Medicine (41:59) Bald's Leechbook and Elf Disease (45:31) Medieval Surgeon's Practices (55:30) Urine, the "Liquid Window" (58:41) Avicenna and the Epicentre of Lovesickness (01:01:30) Post-Show Banter

How do you improve the millions of weapons of war that we've come to know throughout history? Do you perhaps create bullets that can be loaded into magazines to move away from single shot muskets and rifles? Would you instead create a massive tube and fill it with the biggest lead ball you can find to create a cannon and do away with catapults? Perhaps you would instead strap a massive bomb to the underbelly of a crop duster and create a bomber plane to hit targets well behind enemy lines? Well no matter which option you picked here you're wrong! As these investors show, the best improvements to any weapon of war is to create some of the wackiest concepts known to man! From a crane designed to pick up and drop Roman ships like a claw machine in an arcade, to the very rockets that inspired the national anthem of the USA that originated in India, and strapping a jet engine to a propeller aircraft in the hopes of creating a plane that can break the sound barrier, the world is full of some absolutely wacky weapons of war. So join Arron this week as the takes the gang through 10 weapons of war that didn't exactly shape history but are so crazy in either design or concept that they're sure to leave you scratching your head. This episode was presented by Arron Keegan and joined by Hayley O'Connor and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to follow us on our social media pages! Just search for "That's Old News" on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X! (00:00) Intro (02:00) The Shewee Gift (05:58) Dorothy Thompson's Review of Mein Kampf (13:05) Archimedes' Claw (21:42) The Kpinga (30:50) Puckle Gun (39:30) Nock Gun (50:42) Mysorean Rockets (58:11) The Drip Rifle (01:08:01) The Kettering Bug (01:13:01) Bat Bombs (01:20:53) Soviet Anti-Tank Dogs (01:29:29) Republic XF84H Thunderscreech (01:38:38) Post-show banter

The Irish struggle for independence spans centuries of conflict and contains many prominent figures, from the FitzGeralds of Kildare to Michael Collins. From military figures to politicians and humble labourers, many Irish men and women are remembered for their contributions to this ultimate goal. One such figure who was instrumental in the success of the Irish War of Independence was Kerry born Tom Barry. From humble beginnings as a mischievous school boy to becoming a prominent and incredibly effective guerrilla commander, Irish republican Tom Barry is very well known for his role during the independence war of 1919-1921, and for his position as an Anti-Treatyite leading into the Civil War. But how much else do you know about this life? Join Conor this week as he takes the gang through the life of Tom Barry and explore the tactical mastery of this revolutionary fighter, all the way from his birth to his death. This episode was presented by Conor Daly and joined by Arron Keegan and Hayley O'Connor. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to follow us on our social media pages! Just search for "That's Old News" on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X!

What better way to spend your day than listening to the emergence of the theories that helped to start the bloodiest war in human history? Nothing, that's the answer. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the gang as they explore the origins of one of the deadliest and most controversial "sciences" ever put to paper. From its origins and links with Darwinism, its emergence as a "legitimate science", and its links to the tyrannical Third Reich and its use of eugenics to justify the terrible actions of their regime. Hayley has been threatening this episode for a long time now, and it's finally here. Make sure to follow us on our social media pages! Just search for "That's Old News" on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X! This episode was hosted by Hayley O'Connor and joined by Arron Keegan and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda.

History is great. It's accessible to all, there are millions of written histories across plenty of subjects, and it helps us to understand how we got here. Facts and figures paint a story of how we came to be where we are today, and historical debate helps us to greater understand the past. But what happens when you just... don't do your research and then go onto a podcast that brings in millions of views? Well, the answer is you get Darryl Cooper - host of the MartyrMade Podcast and described by the Tucker Carlson Show as possibly being "the best and most honest popular historian in the United States."... Sorry America, you don't deserve this. Cooper's interview has taken the internet by storm and has been responded to by a great number of historians from the humble amateur to the professional. But now it's our turn, and boy do we have some things to say. I mean just LOOK at how long this episode is! This episode was hosted by Arron Keegan, Hayley O'Connor, and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music 0 Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to follow us on our social media pages! Just search for "That's Old News" on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X!

The most common thing in the history of humanity is our need to fight each other on both national and international theatres of war. But what happens when you've had enough of shooting the humans and want something else to shoot at instead? Well in our quest to wage war in every conceivable way possible, throughout history we've conscripted animals to go to war with us! Join Arron this week as he takes the gang through some of his favourite war animal stories, ranging from the humble message carrying pigeons of the First and Second World Wars to Cairo the dog who helped in the raid on Osama Bin Laden's compound, and along the way we'll find some artillery bears, horses being promoted to staff sergeant, and a camel who fired the final shot at the Battle of Berlin! This episode was presented by Arron Keegan and joined by Hayley O'Connor and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Be sure to follow us on our social media platforms! We have pages on Instragram, TikTok, and Twitter/X. Just search for That's Old News and give us a follow!

Spooky scary skeletons most certainly send shivers down your spine, but of course they are not the only haunting figures that go bump in the night. Irish Mythology is home to many creepy creatures that have inspired many haunting figures throughout history, but the Irish ones are the best on the simple and inarguable fact that I said so. Join the gang this week as they do a second part to the mythology arc by delving into some of these haunting figures from our mythology, ranging from the infamous wailing Banshee to a completely different understanding of fairies - sorry Tinkerbell, you're not coming out of this one unscathed! This episode was presented by Arron Keegan, Conor Daly, and Hayley O'Connor. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda.