Hostile History

David Borys / Curiouscast

Since the dawn of time humanity has been at war. Conflict in one form or another has been part of our existence since we first walked the earth.

While conflict and armed rebellion have evolved to look very differently over the centuries, if it feels like we’ve been here before it's because we have.

Join military historian David Borys who has spent his entire career studying armed conflict as he brings together some of the brightest minds to take you inside the world's most defining conflicts and rebellions. From Genghis Khan, and the Crusades to Vietnam and the war in Iran. If you want to understand the world today you need to go back because history doesn't just repeat itself, it echoes.

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10 episodes
Updated Wednesday

Episodes10

Newest first

Wednesday · 40 min
The Crusades
The Crusades are often remembered as a holy war between Christianity and Islam with images of armored knights marching east beneath blood-red crosses, driven by faith, glory, and the promise of salvation. In this episode I’m joined by historian Niall Christie, as we travel back to the Holy Land between the 11th and 13th centuries to try and to help me understand what exactly happened during this time because nearly a thousand years later, the echoes of the Crusades still shape politics, religion, and cultural memory across the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 22 · 35 min
Unpacked – The Odyssey – From Fable to Film
Christopher Nolan’s epic film The Odyssey released in July 2026 made much ado about casting and approach to Homer’s epic. In this episode David chats with author and host of the podcast Let’s Talk About Myths, Baby Liv Albert about one of the oldest surviving works of literature. Contact: Instagram: @canyonentertainment Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hostilehistory/ Liv Albert https://www.mythsbaby.com/books-by-liv-albert Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 15 · 42 min
Democracy: From the ashes of Athenian wars
Democracy is often treated like humanity’s greatest political achievement. A system built on freedom, equality, and the voice of the people. But its origins were anything but peaceful. Democracy was born in chaos, shaped by violence, and war. In this episode, we travel back with historian Jennifer Roberts from the City College of New York and the City University of New York Graduate Center to ancient Athens, where the world’s first experiment with democracy emerged. Long before modern elections and constitutions, Athens was a city teetering between tyranny, aristocratic power, economic crisis, and constant warfare. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 8 · 9 min
Unpacked – The Hitlerian Conspiracies
Did Adolf Hitler really die in his Berlin bunker? Explore the enduring conspiracy theories, alleged sightings, Soviet secrecy, and the historical evidence separating fact from fiction surrounding Hitler's death. Contact: Instagram: @canyonentertainment Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hostilehistory/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 1 · 46 min
Hitler's DNA
For decades, Adolf Hitler sold the world a fantasy of racial purity . A myth so powerful it fueled one of history’s darkest regimes. In this episode, we dive into the strange and controversial story behind Hitler’s DNA. From modern genetic testing and explosive media headlines, we unravel how scientists, journalists, and historians are trying to answer a question that still fascinates the world: who was Hitler? We are joined by geneticist Professor Turi King and historian Dr. Alex J Kay, to help us understand what happens when modern genetics asks questions history can’t answer?” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 17 · 32 min
Iran: Oil, Power and Protest - Part Four: Axis and Allies
In the final part of our series, we follow Iran beyond its borders and examine how the Islamic Republic built a powerful network of allies, militias, and proxy movements across the Middle East. Emerging from the trauma of the Iran–Iraq War and decades of isolation, Iran’s leadership developed a new strategy for survival: project influence without direct confrontation. Instead of relying solely on conventional military power, Tehran cultivated alliances with armed groups and political movements across Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Gaza, and Yemen. Once again we're joined by historian Roham Alvandi from the London School of Economics and Political Science as we conclude our journey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 3 · 41 min
Iran: Oil, Power and Protest – Part Three: The Ayatollah’s Iran
In Part 3 of our four-part series, we explore what happened after the revolution and how Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini transformed Iran from a monarchy into an Islamic Republic that would reshape politics across the Middle East because once the monarchy fell, the battle over Iran’s future had only just begun. Hostile History is once again joined by historian Roham Alvandi from the London School of Economics and Political Science as we continue our journey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 20 · 44 min
Iran: Oil, Power and Protest - Part One: In the Shadow of the Shah.
In the first episode of this four part series, we travel back in time to Iran to chart how a modern monarchy which was armed, wealthy, and globally backed lost control with the help of historian Roham Alvandi from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 20 · 34 min
Iran: Oil, Power and Protest - Part Two: The Road to Revolution
In Part Two of our four-part series on modern Iran, we move from the oil boom years of the 1970s to the collapse of the Shah’s regime and the birth of the Islamic Republic. Fueled by soaring oil prices, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi appeared stronger than ever. Tehran was transforming into a modern global capital, the military was expanding at breakneck speed, and Iran had become one of America’s most important allies in the Middle East. But beneath the surface, anger was building. Historian Roham Alvandi from the London School of Economics and Political Science joins Hostile History as we travel back in time to chart what happened after the monarchy lost control and revolution set in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 1 · 1 min
Coming Soon
Conflict in one form or another has been part of our existence since the dawn of time. Although war has evolved over the centuries, if it feels familiar, it's because it is. Every other week, military historian David Borys is joined by the world's brightest minds to take you inside defining conflicts and rebellions to better understand what's happening today. Because history doesn't just repeat itself, it echoes. Hostile History coming soon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices