In this holiday episode of History for Cocktail Parties, hack historians James Ottley and Thornton Kennedy explore the historical roots of the Christmas story, peeling back the layers behind one of the most familiar narratives in Western civilization. The hosts examine the arrival of the Magi and the meaning behind their famous gifts, the political and logistical implications of the Roman census, and the very real fear sparked in Jerusalem by rumors of a newborn king. Along the way, they unpack King Herod’s reaction, the importance of Bethlehem, and the mystery of the star that guided travelers across the ancient world.
In this gripping final installment of History for Cocktail Parties’ series on the Great Locomotive Chase, hosts James Ottley and Thornton Kennedy follow the story to its breathtaking climax. Picking up at full speed, the episode tracks James J. Andrews and his Union raiders as they attempt one of the boldest acts of espionage in Civil War history — stealing a Confederate train and tearing up the railroad behind them to choke off supply lines to Chattanooga. Ottley and Kennedy break down the razor-thin moments that defined the chase: Andrews’ smooth-talking cover story with station agents, the stolen switch key that saved the mission from an early collapse, and the relentless pursuit by Captain William Fuller, who hopped from foot to handcar to locomotive in an unbreakable chase across Georgia. As the raid barrels toward its final showdown at a half-burned bridge, listeners will feel the tension, ingenuity, and high-stakes gamble of a mission hanging by a thread. Though Andrews’ Raiders were ultimately captured — with some escaping and others becoming heroes — their daring operation left a legacy that reshaped America’s understanding of wartime courage and railroad strategy.
Just in time for the holiday, History for Cocktail Parties hosts James Ottley and Thornton Kennedy carve into the real story behind Thanksgiving — and it’s far more complicated (and interesting) than the version most of us learned in school. From the Pilgrims’ voyage on the Mayflower to the American Indian communities they encountered, the hosts discuss how disease, timing, geography, and mythology shaped one of America’s most enduring narratives.
Ottley and Kennedy explore why the Pilgrims weren’t the first settlers, how a devastating pandemic reshaped the New England coast before they arrived, and why many passengers aboard the Mayflower weren’t separatists at all — just everyday people looking for a better life. They dig into the debated intent of their landing site, the exaggerations around the “brutal first winter,” and the role Native Americans had already played in cultivating the land long before the famous feast.
In the second installment on the Great Locomotive Chase, hosts James Ottley and Thornton Kennedy take listeners into one of the most daring operations of the Civil War. James J. Andrews succeeds in stealing a Confederate locomotive, damaging Southern supply lines, and cutting lines of communication. But the relentless Conductor William Fuller pursues him through North Georgia by foot and pushcart. Packed with suspense, historical insight, and the kind of storytelling perfect for your next cocktail conversation, this episode captures the bravery, blunders, and brilliant moments that made the chase legendary — and sealed its place in Civil War lore.
In this episode of History for Cocktail Parties, James Ottley and Thornton Kennedy fire up one of the most daring and cinematic episodes of the Civil War: the Great Locomotive Chase. With Chattanooga’s rugged geography as the backdrop, the hosts break down why this region became a strategic prize and how Union operative James J. Andrews hatched a plan bold enough to change the war’s trajectory. Ottley and Kennedy explore Andrews’ first failed sabotage attempt, the high-stakes mission to sever Confederate supply lines, and General Mitchell’s sweeping vision for a coordinated strike. From runaway locomotives to relentless Confederate pursuit, the episode reveals how planning, execution, and pure luck shaped one of the war’s most dramatic moments — and why one of Andrews’ raiders became the first-ever recipient of the Medal of Honor.
Our second episode on Charleston, S.C. dives into how the Southern city became the flashpoint for America’s greatest conflict. History for Cocktail Parties Hosts Thornton Kennedy and James Ottley continue their journey through Charleston’s rich past, exploring the city’s architecture, symbols, and the events that set the stage for the Civil War. You’ll learn why Charleston’s famous Palmetto tree became a lasting emblem of strength, how clever residents built their homes “sideways” to outwit the tax man, and why the USS Yorktown and Fort Sumter remain powerful touchstones of American history. Ottley and Kennedy also unravel the string of near-misses and misunderstandings — from misfired cannons to misplaced ice shipments — that almost started the Civil War before Fort Sumter ever did.
Before it was a postcard-perfect city of pastel houses and cobblestone streets, Charleston, South Carolina, was a rowdy port town bursting with ambition, intrigue — and pirates. In this episode of History for Cocktail Parties, hosts Thornton Kennedy and James Ottley trace the city’s colorful origins from its 1670 founding under the Lords Proprietors to its golden age of piracy on the Carolina coast. You’ll hear how the restoration of King Charles II shaped “Charles Town,” why philosopher John Locke had a surprising hand in its early government, and how Charleston’s mix of taverns, churches, and brothels made it one of the liveliest — and most scandalous — colonial outposts in America. Then, Ottley and Kennedy dive into tales of high-seas rogues like Blackbeard and the “Gentleman Pirate” Steed Bonnet, whose escapades turned Charleston Harbor into a stage for swashbuckling drama.
In the latest episode of History for Cocktail Parties, James Ottley and Thornton Kennedy discuss one of the strangest chapters in American political history: Georgia’s “Three Governors Controversy” of 1946–47. When governor-elect Eugene Talmadge died before taking office, chaos erupted under the Gold Dome. In a spectacle equal parts tragedy, farce, and backroom brawl, three men — outgoing governor Ellis Arnall, lieutenant governor-elect Melvin E. Thompson, and Talmadge’s son Herman — each declared themselves the rightful governor. For weeks, Georgia had three governors with locked offices, a hidden state seal and even a state trooper standoff.
This episode of History for Cocktail Parties examines the FBI’s international pursuit of James Earl Ray, the assassin of Martin Luther King Jr. Hosts James Ottley and Thornton Kennedy follow Ray’s desperate flight across Canada and Europe, his paranoid search for new identities, and his ill-fated dreams of becoming a mercenary. The story highlights the unprecedented scale of the manhunt, the international collaboration it required, and the careless mistakes that ultimately led to Ray’s capture at Heathrow Airport. It’s a riveting blend of history, detective work, and true crime.
This episode of History for Cocktail Parties explores the largest manhunt in FBI history — the international search for Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassin, James Earl Ray. Hosts James Ottley and Thornton Kennedy trace Ray’s flight from Memphis to Canada, his use of fake identities, and the pivotal clues that ultimately unraveled his escape. It’s a gripping mix of history and true crime, highlighting both the FBI’s relentless pursuit and Ray’s fatal mistakes.
In this episode of History for Cocktail Parties, James Ottley and Thornton Kennedy examine the largest manhunt in American history—the pursuit of James Earl Ray, the assassin of Martin Luther King Jr. The hosts trace the events leading up to King’s assassination in Memphis, the FBI’s challenges in tracking Ray across international borders, and the racial and political tensions that shaped the investigation. From prison escapes to global chases, this story reveals the twists and turns behind a search for justice that gripped the world.
From soccer scrums to Bowl games, football’s journey is as fascinating as the game itself. In this episode, hosts Thornton Kennedy and James Ottley trace the evolution of the South's favorite pastime, spotlighting the legends who shaped it, the rivalries that defined it, and the cultural forces that turned Saturday afternoons and bowl games into national traditions.
In the final installment of our Panama Canal series, History for Cocktail Parties traces the disastrous opening chapter of America’s canal campaign. Tropical diseases, political missteps, and sheer stubbornness nearly doomed the United States to repeat the French failure. But under Teddy Roosevelt’s leadership, a new team of engineers and visionaries stepped in to change the course of history. William Gorgas conquered yellow fever and malaria, John Stevens reshaped the construction strategy, and the locks system became the key to success. It’s the story of how near disaster turned into one of America’s greatest engineering triumphs—and a legacy that still shapes global trade today.
In this episode of History for Cocktail Parties, hosts James Ottley and Thornton Kennedy unravel the astonishing story of the Panama Revolution — the chain of unlikely, cinematic events that allowed Panama to break free from Colombia and pave the way for the canal. From a revolutionary who won just enough at the gambling table to fund his mission to New York, to a railroad superintendent who cleverly stranded 500 Colombian sharpshooters without their general, every detail had to align perfectly — and somehow, every one did. With coded messages, political intrigue, and bold gambles, the revolution that created Panama is as gripping as any thriller, and a page-turner in its own right.
The Greatest Lobbying Campaign in History!
In this episode of History for Cocktail Parties, hosts James Ottley and Thornton Kennedy uncover the true-life political thriller behind the Panama Canal. For decades, U.S. leaders planned to dig an interoceanic canal through Nicaragua—until two master lobbyists, Philippe Bunau-Varilla and William Nelson Cromwell, changed history. With intrigue worthy of Hollywood—coded cables, backroom deals, and a volcanic twist—they convinced President Theodore Roosevelt and Congress to buy the failed French canal project in Panama for $40 million. It’s a story of ambition, disaster, and the power of persuasion that reshaped global trade forever.
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In this episode of History for Cocktail Parties, hosts James Ottley and Thornton Kennedy unpack the dramatic rise and fall of the French attempt to build the Panama Canal. Led by Ferdinand de Lesseps, famed for the Suez Canal but lacking any engineering background, the effort was plagued by deadly disease, financial mismanagement, and brutal terrain. The discussion highlights key figures like Jules Dingler, whose personal tragedies mirrored the larger collapse of the project. From the underestimated power of the Chagres River to the fatal missteps at the Culebra Cut, this story captures the high cost of ambition gone awry. It also sets the stage for the eventual American takeover, where a new strategy, and new politics, would reshape one of the modern world’s greatest engineering feats.
In the third installment of our Panama Canal series, we dive into the bold yet flawed French attempt to carve a path through the Isthmus of Panama. Led by Ferdinand de Lesseps—celebrated hero of the Suez Canal but no engineer—this phase of the canal’s history is marked by grand ambition, shaky logistics, and devastating consequences. From the formation of the Société Civile Internationale and the controversial Wyse Concession to the theatrics of the International Canal Congress, this episode unpacks how politics, pride, and poor planning set the stage for disaster. Hosts James Ottley and Thornton Kennedy explore how disease, denial, and the unforgiving terrain undermined one of the 19th century’s most audacious engineering efforts, and laid the groundwork for a future American takeover.
In this episode of History for Cocktail Parties, James Ottley and Thornton Kennedy talk about the geopolitical race for canal dominance, focusing on the ambitious endeavors surrounding the Panama Canal. They unravel the stories of dreamers and diplomats, from the visionary yet unqualified Ferdinand de Lesseps to the strategic maneuvers of global powers. Discover how the Suez Canal's success fueled France's determination to reclaim its honor through the Panama Canal, despite overwhelming challenges.
Hack Historians James Ottley and Thornton Kennedy trace the early history of the Panama Canal, from the first European crossing of the Isthmus to the dreams and delusions of travel writers and pontificators who never visited the region. They explore how the Gold Rush and the Panama Railroad laid the groundwork for the canal’s eventual construction. Along the way, James and Thornton examine the role of international politics, tropical disease and 19th-century hubris. It’s a story of ambition, missteps and the irresistible pull of a shortcut between oceans.
In the winter of 1968, a 20-year-old Emory University student and heiress to a real estate fortune was ripped from her motel room in the dead of night by a pair of masked kidnappers. After drugging her mother and forcing her into their car, Gary Steven Krist and Ruth Eisemann-Schier buried her alive in a custom-made box, deep in a Georgia pine forest, with only an air pump and sedative-laced water to keep her alive. Demanding a $500,000 ransom, the kidnappers sparked one of the largest FBI manhunts of the decade. Join History for Cocktail Parties as we explore this harrowing true crime story, the ingenious — and terrifying — method of her captivity, and how Barbara Mackle’s courage and a father’s determination helped bring her home.