We tell the weird, wonderful, and whimsical stories that make up the world's history, but we do it in our own way. We are HISTORISTS. This is a podcast geared for AP World History, AP U.S. History, and AP European History students, but is accessible for anyone else interested in history. It's the world's history, told our way.
The Gunpowder Plot was never just a failed attempt to blow up Parliament - it was a pressure-cooker story of religious persecution, covert networks, radicalization, and state power that still shapes how November 5th is remembered today. If you want the real story behind Guy Fawkes, the people who actually led the conspiracy, and why this plot became a foundational myth of English identity, this one is essential. Jen and Matt take you inside 1605 and trace how decades of anti-Catholic laws, crushing recusancy fines, and the brutal collapse of Catholic life in England created the conditions for violence. We unpack why Robert Catesby, not Guy Fawkes, is the real ideological architect, and how wealthy Catholic families, priest-holes, Jesuit networks, and women like Eliza and Anne Vaux helped sustain a secret underground world. The conversation also digs into the logistics that made the plan both audacious and fragile: a pre-existing tunnel under Parliament, 36 barrels of gunpowder, delays caused by plague, and the growing fractures inside the conspiracy as some plotters began to question whether the whole thing had gone too far. We finish with the bigger question of whether the plot was truly foiled or whether the state knowingly let it unfold so it could become a propaganda victory — a true strategy of tension event.
Show Notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h0tPlzkX8vg5hLKxYVrm0V6sWfsdKp4TL5Dp1DNsrQY/edit?usp=sharing (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h0tPlzkX8vg5hLKxYVrm0V6sWfsdKp4TL5Dp1DNsrQY/edit?usp=sharing)
The Rest is History: https://therestishistory.com/episodes (https://therestishistory.com/episodes)
24 Apr 2026
S4 E8: Desaparecidos - The Pinochet Coup in Chile, Part III
On September 11, 1973, Chile’s military overthrew President Salvador Allende, ending a democratic experiment and beginning Augusto Pinochet’s brutal dictatorship. In this episode, Jen Dumas and Matt trace how U.S. intervention, economic pressure, and local political forces helped set the stage for the coup, and how its effects reached far beyond Chile. We unpack what it meant to “make the economy scream,” including the impact of economic pressure, shortages, and inflation, and examine how covert operations and political violence weakened Allende’s government. The conversation follows the military takeover into the repression that followed: the secret police, detention and torture centers, the killing of folk singer Víctor Jara, and the thousands who were executed or disappeared. The episode also connects Chile to the wider Cold War, exploring Operation Condor, counterinsurgency strategies, and the economic ideas tested under Pinochet’s regime. Along the way, Jen and Matt reflect on how fear and ideology can be used to justify violence and why confronting the historical record matters.
Show Notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vUl_gXfi7BAnfQ9yhWqWoidBq8-whT79yWYXjZenBcw/edit?usp=sharing (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vUl_gXfi7BAnfQ9yhWqWoidBq8-whT79yWYXjZenBcw/edit?usp=sharing)
16 Apr 2026
S4 E7: Ripe Bananas - The Pinochet Coup in Chile, Part II
In this episode Jen leads Matt through the complex tapestry of Latin American history and the military coups that played a significant role in shaping the political landscape for decades. Why should you care about these events? In this episode, we’ll unpack the dynamics of military coups, focusing on Guatemala and Chile, to reveal what these historical events mean for contemporary society and governance. With insights drawn from personal experiences and academic research, you'll gain a deeper understanding of this critical aspect of history.
Show Notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1V6k7kmgP-J5RJFNYBrLp2P3YjdtmNANa30Ov790487o/edit?usp=sharing
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Apple Podcasts (US)
4.7 / 5
14 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
50 ratings
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