Olympia: Episode 2- Trouble in the Tortugas

Olympia: Episode 2- Trouble in the Tortugas

In this episode, I sail in a small boat to a remote string of islands and the largest brick fortress in the Americas, one which began sinking into the sand the moment it was finished.  It's a story that involves Cuban revolutionaries, Spanish silver mines and how a pile of wet coal in the wrong place can sink a battleship and an empire. And how the truth about what actually happened took almost a century to float to the surface.

Olympia: Ep 1 - How to forge an empire, and then have breakfast

In this series we discover how a bizarre, beautiful, steampunk hybrid called USS Olympia, a ship I first came to know as a kid, destroyed one empire, birthed another. Then had breakfast. It’s a story that involves a (literal) mountain of silver, how Hoagies came to be and why coal, battleships and revolutions are a terrible combination. And how America first tried on becoming an empire. And decided it didn’t fit.

The Conestoga Dilemma: Historic preservation when there is no 'thing' left.

In this episode, recorded before a live audience in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, we look at Conestoga Town through a different lens: the challenge of historic preservation without physical artifacts. Looking for inspiration, we discover 27 miles of fabric and cans of red spray paint. What happens next is up to you.

The Hidden Fortress: Episode 5 - Found

In this, the final episode of this series, my family discovers a new war and a new fortress in the fields of Negiuchi. The B-29 Super Fortress. Much is lost. But some things are found. And saved.

The Hidden Fortress: Episode 4 - The Three Unifiers

For 150 years during the Sengoku Jidai, thousands of men, both distinguished and noble men, had a go at making all of Japan theirs. Three men made it happen. One was labeled a fool, another was born a peasant, and the last established a dynasty. An omnipotent dynasty powerful enough to rule all of Japan for over two hundred years. But was toppled by six Black Ships.