History. Rated R.
Let's be honest. History is full of f*cked up sh*t. But what are we gonna do, pretend like it never happened? Have a drink with your host, actor and writer Will Sterling, and his more qualified former Presidential Speechwriting co-host, Dr. Craig Smith. They unpack the silly, salacious, scandalous, and serious stuff in history. If we don't learn from the past, we're doomed to repeat it. So let's at least try to do it with honesty and, wherever possible, a laugh.
Episodes
133 episodes
The (History?) of the Book of Revelation
The most controversial book in the bible!
Saint Paul (not the city) aka Saul of Tarsus
It's the man Will takes the most umbrage with when it comes to the new testament!
The Wizard of Oz and the Populist Movement
Did you know your favorite childhood book/movie is actually a piece of political writing by a guy making an argument for Populism? Well, it is!
Hollywood's Transition to Talkies
It's finally here! Will got his act together and did the research to bring you the history of Hollywood's transition from silent pictures to talkies.
Bernardo de Gálvez, Revolutionary War Hero
He's the Revolutionary War hero from Spain you've never heard of...Bernardo Gálvez!
The History of Jesus Christ (...Superstar?)
The man, the myth, the legend, it's ya boi...JC!
The History of Ancient Rome Part 2
We continue our journey down the road of the history of ancient Rome! Will continues to be under the weather but the show must go on.
The History of Ancient Rome Part 1
Rome!!! Everyone loves it. Who REALLY knows it? Your uncle Craig takes you from myth to history in part one of our deep dive into ancient Rome.
Bette Davis (Eyes!!!)
She's got Bette Davis eyes...because this episode is about...Bette Davis. Legendary film icon and star, your uncle Craig takes you through her life and career.
The History of Greece! (is the word that you heard)
Can we do the entire history of Greece in an hour? No, not really. But Craig covers a lot of ground starting from myth and winding into historical fact.
Robert F. Kennedy
He's the president who never was. Learn about the rise of the youngest Kennedy boy, Bobby, from spoiled rich kid to advocate for civil rights and social change.
America's Trail of Broken Promises to its Indigenous People
America sadly has a miserable track record for, well, a lot of things.
Legendary Civil Rights Leaders
We're continuing our celebration of Black History Month by taking a look at the most influential Civil Rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, W.
Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and Booker T. Washington
It's Black History Month and we're celebrating with a special 2 part series! Beginning with Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and Booker T.
The Realist Playwrights
Who were the Realist Playwrights?
Francisco Franco, Dictator of Spain (ft. Evita!!)
Francisco Franco was the dictator who couldn't be killed! By time at least. Dude ran the country from the 40's to the 70's.
Elizabeth Taylor
One of Hollywood's most famous and important icons (also VIP Gay icon!) Elizabeth Taylor was a woman of many talents and much power in the industry.
William Randolph Hearst and Marion Davies
The infamous William Randolph Hearst was one of the world's wealthiest and most legendary publishing magnates (and the inspiration for the film Citizen Kane).
Communism and the Hollywood Blacklist
The Red Scare had a far reach in the United States, and Mr. Joseph McCarthy had fun dipping his greasy fingers all the way into Hollywood.
Joseph McCarthy and the Red Scare
Senator Joseph McCarthy is one of history's great legendary villains.
Obscenity for Christmas or: "I'm Sick and Tired of Seeing this Godd*m Sh*t"
It's the holidays! Happy holidays to all and to all a great episode about how the courts defined obscenity as it came to film and pornography.
Films That Challenged the Code
We're continuing on our journey through a production code challenged Hollywood.
The History of the Motion Picture Production Code
We go back to our favorite place of Hollywood to discuss the always controversial and unbelievably strict and stupid Motion Picture Production Code, often
The Real Life History of Julius Caesar and Macbeth
Craig walks us further down our Shakespeare path, discussing the real life histories of two of time's (and ol' Bill's) most iconic figures, Julius Caesar and
Will's Birthday Gift from Grandma Olga
It's Will's birthday!
The Kings That Inspired Shakespeare
We continue our jounrey into the mind of good ol' Bill aka Bill Shakespeare aka Bill Skarsgaard's original form, William Shakespeare.
LIVE! At the Rancho Los Cerritos
History Rated R is coming to you LIVE!...well, pre-recorded technically.
Mahatma Gandhi
We're putting the R in History Rated R today as we talk about the revolutionary, and in many ways controversial, Mahatma Gandhi.
Martin Luther's Halloween Spooktacular!
It's Halloweeeeeeeen!!!! And we're celebrating by talking about...Martin Luther?
Maximilien Robespierre, Ooh La La
We're circling back to the time of Mary Wollstonecraft to talk about one of France's most powerful figures during the revolution, Maximilien Robespierre!
The Plays of William Shakespere
It's Craig's birthday! So we're celebrating how the man wants, not by talking about the history of Shakespeare's life but of Craig's favorite plays!
A Brief History of 21st Century Feminism
On the heels of Wollstonecraft being an OG feminist, Craig brings us into the 21st Century with several notable and notorious women who furthered and advanced
Mary Wollstonecraft, Feminist Icon
The rolls are reversed once more as Will regales Craig with the life story of Mary Wollstonecraft, one of feminisms early icons and writers, and the mother of
Edmund Burke and James Fox
In honor of the Queen, we continue our celebration of British people! Historic British people!
A Brief History of the Monarchy
God save the queen! Craig gives us a hot quick deep dive (mmm) into the history of the Monarchy and God damn are there a lot of Edwards. And Georges.
Galileo (di Vincenzo Bonaiuti de') Galilei!
Craig brings us the tale of ever the controversial astronomer, physicist, and engineer Galileo Galilei! How did the man himself up against the Catholic church?
Great Parliamentary Speakers
Craig has a curveball for today as we focus on great Parliamentary speakers of England, how the politics of the UK have often connected with the US', and an
Classic Hollywood Couples aka HRR Goes (back) to Hollywood!
Pairs. They're better than singles. Better than unos. You know...they're better than who knows? Well today, Craig knows.
W. and Obama aka Finally! No More Presidents Episodes!!
Craig takes us on a quick overview of George W. Bush and Barack Obama's presidencies to round out and conclude our history of US Presidents.
History. Rated R. Goes to the Movies!
We're going to the movies!
The Suffragists! (Not Suffragettes?)
Craig takes us on a journey of the important history leading up to and through the passing of the 19th Amendment which gave women the right to vote, and its
Catherine the Great
Cate the Great was great for a lot of reasons. She ruled Russia as its Empress for 34 years and got some shit done.
The Impeachment of Bill Clinton
William Jefferson Clinton was the man so many say had charisma and charm, but was also arguably a big f*cking creep who took advantage of several women, most
The Gipper! Ol' Ronnie Reagan
Conservatives love him. Liberals love to hate him. In the shocked words of Doc Brown, "Ronald Reagan?? The actor!?"
Craig Smith, Speechwriter for President Gerald Ford!
Continuing with Craig's "Forest Gump years," we turn to his time working in the White House as a speechwriter for president Ford.
The History of Roe v. Wade
Considering last week's landmark supreme court decision to do some bullsh*t, we're discussing the history of Roe v.
The Bible's Big Queer History
They call it, "The Greatest Story Ever Told." But what if it was, "The Gayest Story Ever Told?"
Bloody Mary, Queen of England
Mary I of England certainly had a reputation. So strong of a reputation in fact, she became known as "Bloody Mary."
Watergate! or President Nixon's Vitality Loaf
We've made it! Arguably the most talked about, drama'ed about, written about, argued about event in American Politics...Watergate!
Tricky Dick Nixon, Part 2
Nixon's road to the Presidency, as we've already seen in the 1960 election, was at times rocky but always steady.
Tricky Dick Nixon, Part 1
Arguably the most talked about and controversial figure in American political history, Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th president of the United States and
JFK Gets Assassinated, Lyndon Johnson Saves the Day
Was JFK really as transformative a President as he gets credit for? He's the reason we started sending troops to Vietnam.
How JFK Got Elected
It's Part 1 of our deep dive into the Presidency of John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
The History of the 2nd Amendment
Uh oh. Controversy. Arguably one of the most challenging and debated pieces of American politics is the 2nd Amendment.
Percy Bysshe Shelley, Swish Swish Bysshe
We continue our two parter of the hottest couple to ever grace the romantic movement with Mary's husband, infamous poet and controversial firebrand...Percy
The Modern Prometheus, A Frankenstein Bonus Episode
In a special bonus episode, we're flashing back to an episode of Will's old podcast, "The Motivation Report," for an in depth look at the novel, "The Modern
Mary Shelley, Mother of a Monster
Craig and Will switch seats this episode!
Cleopatra...High Above Me, She's So Lovely
Cleopatra. She's so high-ey-ai-ay! High above us. But also, she had a storied history with Rome and its many rulers and fighters and politicians and boys.
Harry Truman and Why We Didn't Need to Nuke Japan
President Harry Truman was a lot more progressive than most preisdents when it came to equality, and when we needed someone to get us out of the war.
The Presidential Lightning Round: Teddy, Taft, Wilson, Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover
We skipped a bunch of Presidents before we got to FDR so Craig is making up for it with a lightning round, running down US Presidents Teddy Roosevelt, William