エピソード

  • Trains at War

    Trains at War
    2025/05/21
    Miles Mercer unveils the critical but often overlooked role of railways in warfare, beginning with their strategic importance during the American Civil War. The episode examines how European powers incorporated railways into military planning, and how railway mobilization schedules tragically accelerated the outbreak of World War I. Listeners will learn about the massive logistical operations enabled by railways during both World Wars, including troop transports, supply lines, and evacuations. The narrative doesn't shy away from the Holocaust's dependence on railway logistics, while also highlighting acts of resistance by railway workers across occupied territories. From armored trains to railway artillery, the episode explores technological adaptations for warfare before concluding with reflections on how civilian infrastructure can serve both humanitarian and destructive purposes—a duality that continues to challenge our understanding of technology's role in human affairs.

    Click here to browse handpicked Amazon finds inspired by this podcast series!
    https://amzn.to/424pzou


    https://www.quietperiodplease.com/
    続きを読む 一部表示
    35 分
  • The Golden Age of Railroads

    The Golden Age of Railroads
    2025/05/21
    In this captivating episode, Miles Mercer explores the transformative era known as the Golden Age of Railroads, spanning roughly from the 1870s through the early 1920s. The narrative begins with the monumental achievement of the American Transcontinental Railroad, which revolutionized travel across the continent and catalyzed westward expansion. The episode then examines how railways reshaped societies globally, from Russia's Trans-Siberian Railway to Britain's colonial rail networks in India. Listeners will discover the luxury and opulence of iconic trains like the Orient Express, alongside the democratization of travel that made mobility accessible to ordinary citizens. The episode concludes by analyzing how railways standardized time, transformed business practices, revolutionized human perception of distance, and ultimately became potent symbols of modernity and progress that continue to influence our world today.

    Click here to browse handpicked Amazon finds inspired by this podcast series!
    https://amzn.to/424pzou


    https://www.quietperiodplease.com/
    続きを読む 一部表示
    31 分
  • The Iron Horse Revolution - How Steam Locomotives Changed the World

    The Iron Horse Revolution - How Steam Locomotives Changed the World
    2025/05/14
    "The Birth of the Iron Horse" takes listeners on an immersive journey to the dawn of railway transportation in the early 19th century. Miles Mercer, your correspondent, explores how visionaries like Richard Trevithick and George Stephenson revolutionized travel through steam power, transforming society, industry, and human connection. This episode traces the evolution from primitive wooden wagonways to the triumph of Stephenson's Rocket, revealing how these iron giants compressed space, accelerated time, and expanded horizons for generations to come. For more engaging historical podcasts that bring the past to life with fascinating clarity, visit https://www.quietperiodplease.com/ – your destination for thoughtful content that educates and entertains.

    Click here to browse handpicked Amazon finds inspired by this podcast series! https://amzn.to/424pzou
    続きを読む 一部表示
    20 分