He started life with the nickname “Useless” and ended it as the general who broke the Confederacy. In this episode of Mil History Talk, Hope and Brian dig into the unlikely journey of Ulysses S. Grant—from a quiet Ohio boy who hated his dad’s tannery, to a failed farmer and struggling civilian, to the Union’s relentless general-in-chief.

Along the way, you’ll hear about Grant’s daredevil moments in the Mexican–American War, his struggles with drinking and business flops, the legendary bromance with William Tecumseh Sherman, and the trust he built with Abraham Lincoln that carried the Union to victory.

Join Hope for the sass and pop culture comparisons (think “Grant as the ultimate underdog rebrand”) and Brian for the deep-dive analysis on strategy, leadership, and the realities of industrial warfare. History has never been this fun—or this fierce.