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Heads may explode....Dan Carlin's latest Blitz episode is on the Atlantic slave trade

I've heard good things, but what is Carlin's style? Those are long podcasts for anyone, let alone someone with little free time. Just trying to understand what type of perspective they offer, how entertaining they are, etc. Might try them if I get myself to the gym.
 
I've heard good things, but what is Carlin's style? Those are long podcasts for anyone, let alone someone with little free time. Just trying to understand what type of perspective they offer, how entertaining they are, etc. Might try them if I get myself to the gym.
He’s excellent. You take them in chunks. I’ll drive and listen. Yard work and listen. Exercise and listen. He has some really great ones. They are worth the time.
 
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I've heard good things, but what is Carlin's style? Those are long podcasts for anyone, let alone someone with little free time. Just trying to understand what type of perspective they offer, how entertaining they are, etc. Might try them if I get myself to the gym.
Very conversational. Great voice too. Lots of first person/contemporaneous sources mixed with academic stuff.
 
I've heard good things, but what is Carlin's style? Those are long podcasts for anyone, let alone someone with little free time. Just trying to understand what type of perspective they offer, how entertaining they are, etc. Might try them if I get myself to the gym.

Don't see them as something you listen to in one sitting. They are often released months apart, even those episodes in the same series.

Feel like it's more of an entertaining form of a college lecturer, across a semester.

He has shorter form ones under his Common Sense banner.... he just did a 45 min one on Ukraine, first one he's had for months.

 
I don't listen to him as much as I probably should. I had real issues getting my phone to play the last podcast properly, it wouldn't keep track of where I left off. So almost every time I stopped it, I had to track down where I was to start listening again. In the old days, I downloaded his podcasts to an MP3 player and it was easy.

But his WWI podcast was as good as Burns' Civil War TV series. I loved it. I worry if I were to go all-in on him I'd die before I ever had time to read/listen to anything else.
 
I've heard good things, but what is Carlin's style? Those are long podcasts for anyone, let alone someone with little free time. Just trying to understand what type of perspective they offer, how entertaining they are, etc. Might try them if I get myself to the gym.
What others have said is accurate. Amazingly, he also says that his shows are largely unscripted. I'm sure he has at least an outline, and obviously has the quotes he reads in front of him. So at times it seems like he's rambling a bit. However, he amazingly manages to pull it all together into something that is very entertaining and informative.

His style is also a bit unique in that he will go into this louder voice that sounds like he's sort of talking out of the side of his mouth whenever he is quoting a first hand source. Even though it's the same voice for everyone he quotes, you get used to it pretty quickly.

I also play podcasts at a slightly faster than normal speed, so it does shorten his episodes a little bit. (I use an app called Overcast.)
 
I don't listen to him as much as I probably should. I had real issues getting my phone to play the last podcast properly, it wouldn't keep track of where I left off. So almost every time I stopped it, I had to track down where I was to start listening again. In the old days, I downloaded his podcasts to an MP3 player and it was easy.

But his WWI podcast was as good as Burns' Civil War TV series. I loved it. I worry if I were to go all-in on him I'd die before I ever had time to read/listen to anything else.
Ever since I switched cars, the app I use for podcasts (Overcast) will go back to the beginning of the podcast if I answer a phone call while listening in my car. Only time it does it, and it happens with any podcast I am listening to.
 
I don't listen to him as much as I probably should. I had real issues getting my phone to play the last podcast properly, it wouldn't keep track of where I left off. So almost every time I stopped it, I had to track down where I was to start listening again. In the old days, I downloaded his podcasts to an MP3 player and it was easy.

But his WWI podcast was as good as Burns' Civil War TV series. I loved it. I worry if I were to go all-in on him I'd die before I ever had time to read/listen to anything else.
I know on the iphone I had this problem then figured out I could drop the URL (provided by Carlin's website) in the podcast app and it would appear as a normal show. Don't know if that would help you or not (no idea if you're on iphone or android)
 
I know on the iphone I had this problem then figured out I could drop the URL (provided by Carlin's website) in the podcast app and it would appear as a normal show. Don't know if that would help you or not (no idea if you're on iphone or android)
iphone, and the app automatically downloads podcast episodes to my phone. Also, my issue is for any podcast I am listening to.
 
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I’ve used Stitcher forever and have never had any problems. Highly recommend.
 
I know on the iphone I had this problem then figured out I could drop the URL (provided by Carlin's website) in the podcast app and it would appear as a normal show. Don't know if that would help you or not (no idea if you're on iphone or android)
I am android, but I'll try that.
 
I also play podcasts at a slightly faster than normal speed, so it does shorten his episodes a little bit. (I use an app called Overcast.)

Never knew that was a thing

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What others have said is accurate. Amazingly, he also says that his shows are largely unscripted. I'm sure he has at least an outline, and obviously has the quotes he reads in front of him. So at times it seems like he's rambling a bit. However, he amazingly manages to pull it all together into something that is very entertaining and informative.

His style is also a bit unique in that he will go into this louder voice that sounds like he's sort of talking out of the side of his mouth whenever he is quoting a first hand source. Even though it's the same voice for everyone he quotes, you get used to it pretty quickly.

I also play podcasts at a slightly faster than normal speed, so it does shorten his episodes a little bit. (I use an app called Overcast.)
One of my best friends (also IU guy) and I are cyber stalking Carlin, trying to find a speaking engagement we can go to and track him down and see if we can buy him a beer.
 
One of my best friends (also IU guy) and I are cyber stalking Carlin, trying to find a speaking engagement we can go to and track him down and see if we can buy him a beer.
First time I listened to Carlin. He is way too dramatic for me, which does make listening interesting but I keep wishing he would speed up the flow. Which leads me to my second point, he is too inefficient in that he takes too many words to convey information. I get too impatient and want him to move on. I also eagerly anticipate a point I think he is about to discuss, but he doesn’t get there as he swerved away. For what it’s worth, I’ve had the same discussion with my stoker and law partners—too many words. That is why my most effective learning method is reading, not listening.

Oh, my car radio is tuned to 60’s hits, Willy’s Roadhouse, or FNC Headlines, the most efficient and clean delivery of news I’ve found.
 
What others have said is accurate. Amazingly, he also says that his shows are largely unscripted. I'm sure he has at least an outline, and obviously has the quotes he reads in front of him. So at times it seems like he's rambling a bit. However, he amazingly manages to pull it all together into something that is very entertaining and informative.

His style is also a bit unique in that he will go into this louder voice that sounds like he's sort of talking out of the side of his mouth whenever he is quoting a first hand source. Even though it's the same voice for everyone he quotes, you get used to it pretty quickly.

I also play podcasts at a slightly faster than normal speed, so it does shorten his episodes a little bit. (I use an app called Overcast.)
How much time do you estimate you save on 5 1/2 hours using the faster speed?
 
First time I listened to Carlin. He is way too dramatic for me, which does make listening interesting but I keep wishing he would speed up the flow. Which leads me to my second point, he is too inefficient in that he takes too many words to convey information. I get too impatient and want him to move on. I also eagerly anticipate a point I think he is about to discuss, but he doesn’t get there as he swerved away. For what it’s worth, I’ve had the same discussion with my stoker and law partners—too many words. That is why my most effective learning method is reading, not listening.

Oh, my car radio is tuned to 60’s hits, Willy’s Roadhouse, or FNC Headlines, the most efficient and clean delivery of news I’ve found.
Absolutely true. Were I to just want to learn the history, and do it quickly, I'd read a book. I like Carlin's podcasts because, unlike a book, he does lead up to a point and spend some time discussing the flavor, etc. so it makes it perfect for driving, working out, commuting on the train. Also, I think of Carlin as an intro into a subject that if you want to dive deeper, he gives you his sources. (I don't have time to do that but would love to be able to.)

I can't listen to audio books because if I miss something, I'm afraid I'll miss the entire argument and it's too frustrating to rewind constantly.
 
I can't listen to audio books because if I miss something, I'm afraid I'll miss the entire argument and it's too frustrating to rewind constantly.
So much this. I tried (I really did!) audiobooks but, as you note, I would forget where exactly I stopped paying attention or drifted and would have to rewind. With a book I'm pretty good about catching myself wandering mentally from the text.
 
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So much this. I tried (I really did!) audiobooks but, as you note, I would forget where exactly I stopped paying attention or drifted and would have to rewind. With a book I'm pretty good about catching myself wandering mentally from the text.
Exactly. Something willl be said which will trigger something and I’m off the track. I also wanna ask questions if it’s non- fiction.
 
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Absolutely true. Were I to just want to learn the history, and do it quickly, I'd read a book. I like Carlin's podcasts because, unlike a book, he does lead up to a point and spend some time discussing the flavor, etc. so it makes it perfect for driving, working out, commuting on the train. Also, I think of Carlin as an intro into a subject that if you want to dive deeper, he gives you his sources. (I don't have time to do that but would love to be able to.)

I can't listen to audio books because if I miss something, I'm afraid I'll miss the entire argument and it's too frustrating to rewind constantly.
I am crazy about Audible, and use it in the car. But you are right, things miss. If I miss something I pause and go to music so I can rewind later. My car radio will pause but won't back up.

But I walk almost every lunch and that is where I love it. I used to read at lunch so switching to Audible has killed my reading.

But my real Audible complaint are maps. You can't hear a map. My current listen is Saipan The Battle that Doomed Japan. I try to remember place names so I can look them up later.
 
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How much time do you estimate you save on 5 1/2 hours using the faster speed?
I really don't know. You can amp it up to 3x but it's impossible to listen to it. I would guess the setting I use cuts about 15% off the total time. Probably brings 5:30 hours down to 4:40 hours. But I use the bare minimum speed increase. You can still easily listen at the next speed level, which might bring 5.5 hours down to 3:45?
 
I am now 3:42 into the podcast, and it is really, really good.

One amazing factoid I learned: between ~1500 and 1820, 77% of the people who immigrated to the Americas were African slaves.

His discussion of Thomas Jefferson was also fascinating, particularly with respect to Sally Hemings. I did not know that Sally Hemmings was the half-sister of Jefferson's wife, who died in 1782 (prior to Jefferson's "affair" with Sally Hemmings). Jefferson inherited Hemmings when her father died. Sally Hemmings was 25% African, as both her father and her grandfather were white slave owners. Perhaps one of the hardest things to fathom was that the 6 children of Jefferson and Hemings were slaves owned by Jefferson due to the fact that their mother was a slave owned by Jefferson.
 
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I am now 3:42 into the podcast, and it is really, really good.

One amazing factoid I learned: between ~1500 and 1820, 77% of the people who immigrated to the Americas were African slaves.

His discussion of Thomas Jefferson was also fascinating, particularly with respect to Sally Hemings. I did not know that Sally Hemmings was the half-sister of Jefferson's wife, who died in 1782 (prior to Jefferson's "affair" with Sally Hemmings). Jefferson inherited Hemmings when her father died. Sally Hemmings was 25% African, as both her father and her grandfather were white slave owners. Perhaps one of the hardest things to fathom was that the 6 children of Jefferson and Hemings were slaves owned by Jefferson due to the fact that their mother was a slave owned by Jefferson.
I'm not far behind you.

Also, though I was aware of this, the fact that in many cases 90-95% of indigenous people in the Americas were wiped out due to (mostly) disease was startling. Literally millions in under a century. And that this greatly contributed to why they brought Africans across the Atlantic (b/c they were often more resistant to malaria and other tropical maladies).

This podcast is equal parts disturbing and eye opening. While I was definitely taught about the middle passage, the way he describes the ships as buses basically making stops to pick up slaves and then sitting in the African sun for weeks/months on end and what that situation must have been like (including the contemporaneous accounts) is chilling.
 
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Perhaps one of the hardest things to fathom was that the 6 children of Jefferson and Hemings were slaves owned by Jefferson due to the fact that their mother was a slave owned by Jefferson.
And that she was a slave because she was 25% black (only). I suppose the math dictates that their slave children were 12 1/2% black...
 
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I really don't know. You can amp it up to 3x but it's impossible to listen to it. I would guess the setting I use cuts about 15% off the total time. Probably brings 5:30 hours down to 4:40 hours. But I use the bare minimum speed increase. You can still easily listen at the next speed level, which might bring 5.5 hours down to 3:45?
My Audible speed is 1.3 times normal for most books. I have hit a couple of books where the actor spoke faster to begin with so I had to scale back, and a science book I had to go back to the normal time just to comprehend what was being said. But at 1.3 I think a 13-hour book cuts to 10.
 
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