An alternate history podcast
We welcome the five-fold threat that is Adam Fedyski to help us unpack the life and reign of Tsar Nicholas II! Zach tries to take credit for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Adam lays down some fire diss tracks, and Brian reads straight from the diary of Short Nick.
You can support the show over on Patreon! Check out our sweet rewards.
Hey everyone! We're changing our release schedule a little bit. As a result, today's episode will be available next Saturday. Sorry for the delay. We have some brief announcements and plugs here. Have a good time!
Denver darling Kevin O’Brien joins us as we take a look at Catherine the Great. Zach does his best sales pitch for Smirnoff, Kevin throws some Kennedy history in there, and Brian pays a visit to the shtetl.
You can support the show over at our Patreon page!
If you live in the Denver area, come check out our new live show “Nighttime Tonight” at Deer Pile (above City o’ City) Thursday, February 16th at 9pm!
The fabulous Meghan DePonceau joins us as we discuss Peter the Great (no relation). Zach introduces us to a leader of questionable qualifications with tiny hands and strong connections to Russia, Meghan signs a letter of commitment to Chimneysweep University, and Brian demands clarification on nuts.
You can support the show over on our Patreon page. Check out our reward options!
The amazing Rachel Weeks stops by to talk about the fierce af Sofia Alekseyevna! Zach puts a positive spin on prison, Rachel writes some Russian epitaphs, and Brian shares the ramblings of a fevered mind.
Also, we in the Denver comedy community lost our wonderful friend Heather Snow recently. She was always hilarious, brilliant, and supportive and we will all miss her. If you are so inclined, we ask you to please send a donation to the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society: https://www.lls.org/rocky-mountain
The wonderfully hilarious Matt Cobos is our guest as we delve into the story of the Stroganov family! Zach says things only 90s kids will understand, Matt goes through his Russian stereotype checklist, and Brian reveals his celebrity obsession.
Now you can support the show over on Patreon!
The multi-talented Geoff Tice joins us as we dive into the deep end of Russian history with Ivan the Terrible! Zach does solid historical detective work, Geoff gets us excited for Russia’s national pastime, and Brian visits some multiverse Russias.
We’re thrilled to be joined once again by Janae Burris and Christie Buchele for another special episode! Janae and Christie are here to talk about Ida B. Wells and the White Rose, and we still try to deal with the election of President Putin’s puffier cousin. In this episode, Zach calls Gollum on his horseshit, Janae practices her new closer, Christie asserts her place on the list of very important people, and Brian abandons all hope of segues. As serious as this episode gets, one of the best tangents ever in the show happens in this episode, so check it out!
Two of the most brilliant comics in Denver, Christie Buchele and Janae Burris join us for what was supposed to be a totally normal episode. Instead, we have an emotional, free flowing, occasionally hilarious conversation about the impact of the 2016 election. Minimal editing has been done on the audio, Zach and I (Brian) share a mic, and it was one of the most cathartic experiences I've had. Christie and Janae stick around to record a more traditional episode, out in two weeks. But if you need some release, or to feel connected to someone, this episode is for you.
It’s the climax of our Halloween spooktacular! We’re joined by the wonderful Caitie Hannan as we discuss Elizabeth Bathory and rack up a huge body count! Zach gets into some Middle Ages diagnostic tools, Caitie gives us one of our craziest histories yet, and Brian teases the best-worst medieval band name.
HELL-o, boils and ghouls! It's the second episode of our Halloween Spooktacular, featuring the hilarious Corey Rhoads helping us dissect the Axeman of New Orleans! In this episode, Zach buries a pun so deep, we almost forget about it, Corey plays Doctor Frankenstein, and Brian somehow manages to not make a "Gorey Rhoads" pun while writing these show notes!
Greetings boils and ghouls! To help us kick off our Halloween Spooktacular, we've resurrected our very first guest, the scarily hilarious Kira MagCalen to help us discuss the Dyatlov Pass Incident! In this episode, Zach invites us all to please to study with him in Ural Mountains, Kira makes us take the red pill, and Brian's accents spiral out of control.
The delightful scamp Jacob Rupp is our guest as we discuss the unassailable Queen Lili'uokalani of Hawai'i! Jacob pulls out his twitter and you won't believe what happens next, Zach breaks out his emergency stash of hot takes, and Brian gives us the secrets to terrifying banana bread.
As we talk about before on the show, we draw a lot of our guests and our energy from Denver comedy. The community recently lost one of our most beloved members, Jordan Wieleba. As promised in the intro, here are the links to make donations on her behalf, or on behalf of anyone you know and love in the LGBTQ community. Thanks from Zach and Brian.
National Jewish Health Center's Fund to Cure Asthma
One Colorado
Trans-Youth Education & Support of Colorado
Also, download her album here.
The fabulous Byron Graham makes his return to the show as we discuss Red Cloud of the Ogallala! Zach issues the least surprising American History spoilers, Byron demands more wackiness, and Brian describes the challenges of getting needed resources on the prairie.
The delightful Jeremy Pysher is here to help us bayonet our coverage of the American Revolution by discussing the Battle of Yorktown (1781)! In this episode, Zach waxes nostalgic about ol' fashioned podcastin', Jeremy defies our efforts to derail him, and Brian faints at the thought of blood.
*Apologies for some audio irregularities in the first 8 minutes.
We have a special double-length episode for you, the only way to discuss Alexander Hamilton! Our guest is The wonderful Chicago actress Shannon Campe! In this episode, Zach violates many of Shannon’s rules, Shannon sets the high bar for true stories, and Brian writes a love poem to ham.
Steve Vanderploeg makes a hilarious return to the show as we discuss John Laurens! In this episode, Zach touts the romantic advantage of robots, Steve comes up with a judging system that is more arbitrary than guessing, and Brian shows off his southern accent.
It's a very special episode as we celebrate our one-year anniversary by welcoming our old friend and former co-host of our old podcast and stand-up show Pat Medaugh to discuss the Culper Ring! Brian and Jen Kolic have also prepared a trivia game where we talk about the most notable revisionist historians-conspiracy theorists! Meanwhile, Zach is writing a D&D themed erotic novel, Pat makes rank in the Navy, and Brian gets giggly.
Thanks for all your support, and here's to growing the show in the next year!
Our guest is the fantastic Ben Bryant as we discuss America's favorite fighting Frenchman, Lafayette! Zach is working on his gritty Ferris Bueller reboot, Ben invents several new kinds of debauchery, and Brian comes up with the saddest Sadie Hawkins day possible.
The delightful (x2) Zac Maas stops by this episode as we revisit Valley Forge! Zach falls for a baron, Zac issues a vaguely threatening party invite, and Brian tries to put his thumb on the scales.
**Apologies for the poor audio quality on Brian in this one. Still getting used to recording in the new space.**