In this episode, we talk about the consequences of World War I across geopolitics, economics, technology, and culture. We explain how the Treaty of Versailles imposed territorial losses and reparations on Germany, how the war redrew borders across Europe and the Middle East, and how mandates in Syria, Iraq, and Palestine replaced Ottoman rule under British and French control. We cover the collapse of global grain trade, the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918–1919, the rise of PTSD (then called “shell shock”), and the spread of fascism and communism in the interwar period. Finally, we explain how WWI laid the structural, ideological, and psychological groundwork for World War II—and why peace was never the outcome.

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In this episode, we talk about the Angkor Wat and the lost Khmer Empire that turned Cambodia’s jungles into the largest city on Earth at its peak. We break down how god-kings, colossal temples, vast reservoirs, and an intricate canal network made Angkor possible — and how over-ambition, silt, deforestation, religious shifts, and Siamese invasions triggered its collapse. From Henri Mouhot’s 1860 rediscovery to NASA radar and modern LIDAR scans, we cover how archaeologists are still mapping hidden temples and canals today, proving that Angkor was never just a ruin — but a sprawling hydraulic metropolis bigger than medieval London, powered by rice, water, and belief.

Join us on Apple Podcasts or Patreon to explore all topics covered by the National Media Archive:

• Power & Influence
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• Crime & Corruption (True Crime)
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• News, Culture & Society
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In this episode, we talk about the real story behind ancient Egypt’s most powerful women — from Hetep Heres’s gold-filled tomb near the Great Pyramid, to Hatshepsut’s temples and military campaigns, to Nefertari’s role as royal diplomat and queen of Ramses the Second, to Arsinoe the Second’s economic genius and divine image, all the way to Cleopatra’s political maneuvers with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. We break down how they used coins, temples, titles, trade routes, and diplomacy to shape Egypt’s politics, economy, and cultural influence for over six thousand years.

Join us on Apple Podcasts or Patreon to explore all topics covered by the National Media Archive:

• Power & Influence
• Luxury & Prestige
• Wealth & Finance
• Erotic Audio
• Personal Growth & Achievement
• Crime & Corruption (True Crime)
• Knowledge & Ideas
• History & Legacy
• News, Culture & Society
• Technology & Innovation
• Exploration & Wonder