The CIA and the Space Race — retold by Hollywood legends.

In this episode of Why Wars Happened, Jeremy Fox, Sir Howard Stringer, and Jeff Bewkes reveal how they’re reinventing history through immersive audio dramas. From Central Intelligence (Kim Cattrall) to Buzz (John Lithgow), discover the hidden espionage, moon landing drama, and storytelling secrets behind their work.

⏱ Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened

00:26 – Meet the guests

01:09 – Why media leaders entered podcasting

03:35 – Central Intelligence with Kim Cattrall

05:36 – Why historical audio dramas matter

11:53 – Behind the scenes of Central Intelligence

13:22 – Buzz: Buzz Aldrin’s story with John Lithgow

19:32 – Challenges in today’s entertainment industry

21:51 – Mission of Thoroughbred Studios

31:21 – Final thoughts

#CIA #SpaceRace #BuzzAldrin #HollywoodSecrets #AudioDrama #KimCattrall #JohnLithgow #WhyWarsHappened

Germany didn’t just “unify” — it was engineered through secret deals, ruthless power grabs, and reckless ambition that exploded into global war.

In this episode of Why Wars Happened, historian Katja Hoyer reveals how Bismarck’s strategy and Wilhelm II’s rise lit the fuse for World War I. Once you hear it, you’ll never look at Europe the same way again.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:58 Europe After Napoleon

01:48 The German Question

03:14 How the Great Powers Reacted

04:36 Prussia Steps Up

06:35 Life in a New Germany

12:52 Bismarck’s Strategy

15:43 Why His Legacy Still Divides

21:19 Wilhelm II Takes the Throne

25:44 Tensions Before the Great War

28:52 Social Friction and Culture Shifts

30:25 Final Thoughts

#GermanyHistory #Bismarck #WWI #WhyWarsHappened #HiddenHistory

The U.S. Marines had a soldier who fought with Chinese communists before WWII — and then created America’s first Special Forces.

In this episode of Why Wars Happened, Stephen Platt uncovers the forgotten story of Evans Carlson, the man who defied military tradition, clashed with generals, and built the Marine Raiders. His ideas shaped modern warfare, but the military wanted him erased.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro

00:49 – Meet historian Stephen Platt

01:27 – Who was Evans Carlson?

03:00 – Early life & influences

04:58 – Fighting with Chinese communists

13:21 – Founding the Marine Raiders

14:55 – Why his tactics caused friction

21:22 – What happened after the war

28:24 – Final thoughts & book info

#WWII #MarineRaiders #SpecialForces #MilitarySecrets #WhyWarsHappened