It's been argued that hidden in the text of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a subtle allegory that satirizes the politics of late 19th century America.

In this Bonus Episode Sebastian answers questions from listeners about the recent series on President McKinley.

It's impossible to assess the historical reputation of President William McKinley without tangling with the Spanish-American War. In this final part of the William McKinley trilogy Sebastian gets into the debate around what actually lead to the war. Could a war with Spain have been avoided? Was McKinley pushed into it by a manipulative American press? How did the outcome of the "splendid little war" change America, McKinley, and the world? Tune-in and find out how jingoes, yellow journalism, and the worst-timed naval accident in history all play a role in the story.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The 1896 election of William McKinley has been noted as an inflection point in American politics. But, historians are often conflicted about what story they want to tell.

It turns out a growing number of American conservatives, including Republican strategist Karl Rove, have been attempting to revive McKinley's reputation for years. What do they see in this turn-of-the-century politician?

In this Bonus Episode Sebastian takes questions about his recent exploration of mermaid mythology.

As European ships started stared exploring more distant waters, tales of mermaid encounters became increasingly common.

In this interview episode Sebastian speaks with podcaster, author, and host of Let's Talk About Myths, Baby Liv Albert.

In this bonus episode Sebastian responds to listener questions and comments about the Spartan series.

Almost everything about the Battle of Thermopylae has been exaggerated and distorted. Who were the real heroes?

According to some ancient sources the Spartans were incorruptible, never took bribes, and equally divided their land among the elite Spartiates. Is any of that true?

Is everything we know about the Spartans little more than a collection of historical myths?

In this throwback episode Sebastian takes you back to the start of Season 4 to explore the historical reputation of the Roman Emperor Hadrian.

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If you get your history from watching gangster movies, then you might be under the impression that Al Capone singlehandedly started Chicago's Beer Wars. That is certainly what is suggested by the 1932 gangster classic Scarface. The truth is considerably more complicated. Chicago's gang wars were messy multi-factional conflicts that can remind you of Japan's Warring States period. Al Capone was right in the middle of this wave of violence, but should he be blamed for it? Tune-in and find out how murderous florists, a guy named "Ragtime Joe", and Al Capone's fake furniture shop all play a role in the story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The life of the gangster Al Capone could be understood as a violent expression of the American Dream. A poor kid from Brooklyn, born to immigrant parents, used his wits, fists, and a certain ruthless determination to build an empire. The underworld figure has been the fodder for countless, books and biopics, not to mention inspiring a rogues gallery of fictional crime bosses. As you might expect his life is filled with elaborate legends and colorful myths. Capone was also a savvy manipulator of the news media, who did his best to put his own public relations spin on his life outside the law. How much should we believe about America's best known criminal? Tune-in and find out how Geraldo Rivera's boat, a knocked-out school teacher, and a guy named "snorky" all play a role in the story. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/Fakehistory See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this throwback episode Sebastian take you back to Season One and Episode #24. Ty Cobb has been remembered as one of baseball’s greatest villains. Despite being universally recognized as one of the game’s most talented players, Ty Cobb is mostly remembered as a violent racist who was hated by all who knew him. However, a new biography is claiming that Ty Cobb’s reputation was unfairly tarnished by an unscrupulous biographer looking to make a name for himself by exposing the “real Ty Cobb”. Was Ty Cobb really the monster that so many believe him to be? Tune in and find out how forged letters, pistol whippings, and Tommy Lee Jones all play a role in the story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the early 19th century central India was one of the most dangerous places a person could travel. Murders and robberies were incredibly common. Every year dozens, sometimes hundreds, of bodies were found in shallow graves near the highways. These unfortunate travelers were often the victims of gangs of murderous bandits. But who were these killers? The British authorities came to believe that these highway murders were the work of an India-wide network of cultists known as Thugs. But were the Thugs actually a coherent criminal sub-culture? Were they truly devoted to a religion based on human sacrifice? Or were real bandits being transformed into bloodthirsty fanatics by colonial propaganda? Tune-in and find out how poison milk, thug snitches, and the common enemies of all mankind play a role in the story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 1830 an anonymous letter was published in the Calcutta Literary Gazette warning that India was being threatened by a horrifying cult of murderers. These stranglers were known as Thugs and according to the letter they represented the single greatest threat to law and order in the country. These Thugs apparently worshipped the Hindu goddess Kali and performed their crimes in her name. This letter motivated the British authorities to take immediate action against this group. However, many scholar think that the anonymous author, a British administrator named William Sleeman, may have exaggerated the Thug threat. Some have even argued that the Thugs never truly existed. What should we believe about this storied group of highway robbers? Tune-in and find out how sketchy confessions, Queen Victoria's favorite book, and Indiana Jones all play a role in the story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The story of Mulan might be the best known piece of Chinese folklore. In China the story has been around for over 1500 years and has inspired dozens of poems, songs, plays, and films. Thanks to Disney, Mulan has become an international icon. The story of a young girl disguising herself as a male soldier to save her father from the military draft has proved to be surprisingly sturdy. However, many in China have complained that western adaptations of the tale misunderstand the source material. Some wonder if western creators are capable of capturing the "real" Mulan. This raises the question: is there a real Mulan? Is one version of this story more authoritative than another? Was there a real person who inspired this legend? Tune-in and find out how teenage siege-breakers, army buddies, and flexible Confucians all play a role in the story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.