How often does this podcast release new episodes?

This podcast updates bi-weekly.

Where can I listen to this podcast?

This podcast is available on 6 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.

Does this podcast accept guests?

Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

Now It's History

Claim This Podcast

by Richard Galant

5.0(1 reviews)

15 episodes

Updated Bi-weekly

Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸

Podcast Overview

Now It’s History explores the roots of today’s political and social turmoil by examining the past. Hosted by journalist Richard Galant, each episode uncovers the hidden patterns behind revolutions, protests, and power struggles, showing how events like President Richard Nixon’s resignation, the rise of social media and the election of Barack Obama continue to shape our world. Grounded in historical facts and expert interviews, this podcast reveals how history’s echoes influence our time. Discover how history rhymes, even if it doesn’t repeat. <a href="https://www.nowitshistory.com?utm_medium=podcast">www.nowitshistory.com</a>

Language

🇺🇲

Publishing Since

10/3/2024

Visit Website View on Apple Podcasts RSS Feed

1 verified contact email on file for Now It's History

Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.

See contact details

Recent Episodes

June 9, 2026

How a Nazi warship became the U.S. Coast Guard's Eagle

On June 13, 1936, the German Navy launched a steel-hulled tall ship at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg while Adolf Hitler and other Nazi officials looked on. The 295-foot long ship was one of five such vessels the Nazi regime commissioned to “circumvent the military restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles, using maritime training as a front to quietly rebuild naval strength,” as Will Sofrin’s new book notes. The Germans named the ship the Horst Wessel, after the man who wrote the lyrics for the Nazi anthem and was treated as a martyr after his killing in 1930.After Hitler’s death and the regime’s surrender in 1945, Allied officials began dividing up the German fleet among the victors. The superintendent of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy suggested obtaining Horst Wessel as a sail training ship for the academy’s cadets. Eighty years later, the Eagle will be leading the parade of tall ships from around the world sailing up the Hudson River — as it did for the 1976 bicentennial — to mark America’s 250th anniversary. Sofrin told me he’ll be on board for the occasion.The ship not only trains Coast Guard cadets, but serves as an ambassador for the United States around the world. Sofrin tells the story in his new <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/USCG-Cutter-Eagle-Legacy-Flagship/dp/1493092626">book</a>, USCG Cutter Eagle: The Legacy of the Coast Guard’s Flagship, published by Lyons Press. As noted in my conversation with Will, the book weaves in the stories of officers and rank and file members of the Coast Guard who have served on the Eagle. When the U.S. acquired the ship, it needed major repairs and a new engine. It also was short of the crew required to take it from Bremerhaven to the U.S., so its commander had to sail with many German crew members. Upon arrival, they were transferred to a prisoner of war camp and returned to Europe. On the final leg of the journey, from Bermuda to New York, a storm brought 60-knot winds and huge seas.As Sofrin recounted, the ship’s commander Gordon McGowan described the sound of the storm:“There was the sharp tearing sound—the ripping of the fabric of the gates of hell. . . . This tapestry of sound bore the pattern of maniacal majesty.” The fore upper and lower topsails were the first to go. They exploded in a flash, leaving ribbons streaming. The ship hit 16 knots at this point…the fastest the ship had ever gone. This speed was estimated based on their observations of the prop shaft’s revolutions when the clutch was released—something they had studied on the voyage. At this point, the foresail and main upper topsail blew out. The mainsail and main lower topsail held.Sofrin describes the risky maneuvers that were needed that day to keep the ship from disaster on its maiden voyage as the Eagle.Sofrin’s book includes a history of the Coast Guard, which traces its roots back to the U.S. fleet of revenue cutters used to collect tariffs during the time of President George Washington. With this antecedent, the Coast Guard is even older than the U.S. Navy. Why does the Coast Guard have a tall ship more than 150 years after the end of the Age of Sail? Sofrin explains: Sail training holds a vital place in the US Coast Guard and other military maritime forces around the world. Rooted in centuries of tradition, it is more than just a means of teaching seamanship; it also serves as a crucible for developing discipline, risk assessment management, teamwork, and leadership. Operating a sailing vessel demands precise coordination, clear communication, and a deep understanding of natural forces and human limitations. These challenges forge proficiencies in cadets and officers that translate directly into their roles aboard modern vessels. For the Coast Guard, sail training aboard Eagle is a rite of passage, instilling respect for the sea and seamanship principles that remain relevant.Life on the Eagle has changed significantly since June, 1976, when the first women cadets were admitted to the Academy. In 1980, 14 women were in the graduating class, along with 140 men. In 1984, several women played key roles in preserving lives when the Eagle was almost knocked down. A storm front struck it during a race of tall ships heading from Bermuda to Halifax, Nova Scotia; remarkably no one was killed aboard Eagle in that episode. The ship righted itself and suffered no damage. Several hours later, a squall capsized the 115-foot British ship Marques. The tall ship sank within a minute. Only nine of the 28 people on board survived. The Eagle has become a symbol of the United States. It sailed to Australia for that nation’s 1988 Bicentenary and to St. Petersburg, in Russia, in 1996.Presidents and world leaders have come aboard. But perhaps the most notable visitor mentioned in the book was a singer and songwriter. The captain of the Eagle, Ivan Luke, “had long been a devoted ‘Parrothead,’ a nickname famously associated with die-hard fans of Jimmy Buffett, his music, and his easygoing, tropical lifestyle,” wrote Sofrin. “From the moment Captain Luke took command of Eagle, he set his sights on a personal goal: to get Jimmy Buffett aboard the ship…After years of reaching out, Luke finally succeeded in bringing Buffett aboard. It was a surreal and meaningful moment for the captain, as he blended his love of the sea with the soundtrack that had accompanied much of his sailing life.” Buffett sailed on Eagle on a short loop from Salem, Massachusetts around Cape Cod. Aboard with his son, Buffett worked the lines, took part in drills and dined with the crew as well as in the officer’s mess. Buffett’s grandfather, James Delaney Buffett, had been a steamship captain out of Newfoundland and was a big influence on Jimmy.So when Buffett joined the Eagle’s captain (on harmonica) and a seaman (on guitar) for a jam session, they sang, among other songs, “Son of a Son of a Sailor.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://www.nowitshistory.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2">www.nowitshistory.com/subscribe</a>

March 25, 2026

What Theodore Roosevelt learned in the Badlands

When the New York Times published its annual <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/travel/places-to-travel-destinations-2026.html">list</a> of “52 Places to Go” in 2026, traditional travel destinations like Los Angeles, Bangkok, Memphis, Big Sur and Iceland were included. But so was Medora, North Dakota — in the heart of the state’s Badlands. That is where — on July 4, 2026, more than 107 years since Theodore Roosevelt died —the nation’s 26th president will finally be honored with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.trlibrary.com">a presidential library</a>. It will also be the day the U.S. celebrates its 250th anniversary.In my podcast with TR Library CEO Edward O’Keefe, we explore why the library is sited in North Dakota and how the Badlands helped shape TR’s character and career. Ed is also the author of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Loves-Theodore-Roosevelt-Created-President/dp/B0CLHHCVS1/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=189438416314&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.U427spP3KhSmcFv_IRUWxzwr0cls4-uDAGdhQLH2ywhBgqoQmmqnQ97Rz1R83p4ohDfQm9Svsn4jo1HmFG-p2HIivR6FAdO9mbptrvPC7Gs2KnhvC04-izpnn9jX5JG7tyjKq1qlhRTkw3qdRYl0OPqSreZJNFq384jYX2BrqhJKpVFEeZrfUG700FXgbfnhHTgZsvAXA11PuG-MNLXuMma7OavyXV3jSwV2fUi6FLo.0NA3q86aJdG6CIEAwhsH_M1QI00a09_GSaf-MXcDRLQ&dib_tag=se&hvadid=792860483026&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9004509&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=7869284724882417496--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=7869284724882417496&hvtargid=kwd-2265650576520&hydadcr=2223_13831042_2447921&keywords=the+loves+of+theodore+roosevelt&mcid=28d35290bf0532e2908f7549964229e5&qid=1774380326&sr=8-1">The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt: The Women Who Created A President</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Loves-Theodore-Roosevelt-Created-President/dp/B0CLHHCVS1/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=189438416314&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.U427spP3KhSmcFv_IRUWxzwr0cls4-uDAGdhQLH2ywhBgqoQmmqnQ97Rz1R83p4ohDfQm9Svsn4jo1HmFG-p2HIivR6FAdO9mbptrvPC7Gs2KnhvC04-izpnn9jX5JG7tyjKq1qlhRTkw3qdRYl0OPqSreZJNFq384jYX2BrqhJKpVFEeZrfUG700FXgbfnhHTgZsvAXA11PuG-MNLXuMma7OavyXV3jSwV2fUi6FLo.0NA3q86aJdG6CIEAwhsH_M1QI00a09_GSaf-MXcDRLQ&dib_tag=se&hvadid=792860483026&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9004509&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=7869284724882417496--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=7869284724882417496&hvtargid=kwd-2265650576520&hydadcr=2223_13831042_2447921&keywords=the+loves+of+theodore+roosevelt&mcid=28d35290bf0532e2908f7549964229e5&qid=1774380326&sr=8-1">. </a>He talks in this conversation about the profound influence several women had on Roosevelt, including his mother, two wives, two sisters and his irrepressible daughter Alice Roosevelt Longworth. More than most of the presidents of the early 20th century, Roosevelt feels relevant to our time. He presided over the country in an era of extreme inequality in wealth, when immigration stirred controversy and when a muscular foreign policy and the Monroe Doctrine were in the news. As Doris Kearns Goodwin has written, TR took hold of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nowitshistory.com/p/what-lincoln-would-tell-trump">“bully pulpit”</a> of the presidency, building a strong relationship with journalists that helped him shape the messages he shared with the nation. No longer was the president a distant, dignified figure far away from the lives of most Americans. He now would become a flesh-and-blood personal leader who played a prominent role in the everyday lives of most people and whose idiosyncrasies would become the topic of talk around the dinner tables of families from coast to coast. One of the unforgettable scenes in Ed’s book recounts TR’s first bison hunt in the Badlands, in September, 1883. After days of looking, he and a hunting partner came across the “great beasts.” Roosevelt aimed for the largest animal’s shoulder but instead hit its ribs, and it galloped away. His partner managed to intercept the buffalo. TR fired again and missed. “As I urged the horse still closer — for it was very dark — the bull turned... and charged me,” Roosevelt wrote. “The lunge of the formidable looking brute frightened my pony, and as he went off he threw up his head and knocked the heavy rifle I was carrying against my head with such force that it gave me a pretty severe cut on the crown, from which the blood poured over my face and into my eyes so that it blinded me for the moment.” Then the “infernal beast escaped after all.”As with other reverses in his life, Roosevelt didn’t let this defeat deter him. He kept hunting and returned to New York with the head of a bison and other mounted creatures he would install in Sagamore Hill, his summer home in Oyster Bay, Long Island. On February 14 of 1884, TR suffered the unimaginable loss of his wife Alice and his mother on the same day in the same house in New York City. To cope with his grief, he journeyed later that year to the Badlands, where the epic scale and beauty of the landscape soothed Roosevelt’s mind.So did the women around him, including his childhood friend, second wife and future First Lady, Edith Kermit Carow. Ed O’Keefe, who was born in North Dakota, explains in our conversation how this mix of influences helped mold one of America’s most distinctive presidents. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://www.nowitshistory.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2">www.nowitshistory.com/subscribe</a>

February 26, 2026

When presidents become monarchs

Through his books and podcasts, constitutional law professor <a target="_blank" href="https://substack.com/profile/20138685-corey-brettschneider">Corey Brettschneider</a> has been a keen observer of how presidents can overturn constitutional safeguards — and how citizens can work together to restore them.I asked Corey where we are on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being a normal U.S. government, 5 representing a constitutional crisis and 10 being the end of democracy. His answer: we’re between a 7 and an 8 — in grave danger of losing our 250-year-old democratic form of government. I hope you will listen to our conversation. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://www.nowitshistory.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2">www.nowitshistory.com/subscribe</a>

15 total episodes available

Deep-dive analytics for Now It's History

Frequently asked questions

Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

What is Now It's History?: Now It’s History explores the roots of today’s political and social turmoil by examining the past. Hosted by journalist Richard Galant, each episode uncovers the hidden patterns behind revolutions, protests, and power struggles, showing how events like President Richard Nixon’s resignation, the rise of social media and the election of Barack Obama continue to shape our world. Grounded in historical facts and expert interviews, this podcast reveals how history’s echoes influence our time. Discover how history rhymes, even if it doesn’t repeat. <a href="https://www.nowitshistory.com?utm_medium=podcast">www.nowitshistory.com</a>
How often does this podcast release new episodes?: This podcast updates bi-weekly.
Where can I listen to this podcast?: This podcast is available on 6 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
Does this podcast accept guests?: Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

Legal Disclaimer

Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.

All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.

We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.

While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.

By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.