Dan Carlin is an American political commentator, amateur historian, and podcaster. Once a professional radio host, Carlin eventually took his show to the Internet, and he now hosts two of the most popular independent podcasts, Common Sense and Hardcore History.
Dan Carlin's Common Sense
Common Sense is an amalgam of several Dan Carlin hosted radio programs that aired between 1994 and 2004. The shows highlighted his independent political views and his sense of humor. The current podcast now riffs on global news and current events. Both sides of the political spectrum are subject to blistering criticism (and occasional praise.)
Hardcore History:
Hardcore History, the more popular of the two podcasts, is Carlin's forum for exploring various situations and events throughout world history. Topics vary widely from show to show-- Carlin is as comfortable discussing the causes of the Bronze Age collapse as he is the social implications of World War I.
Show 19 - Apache Tears: A traumatized people who traumatized their neighbors, the Native American tribe known as Apache were among the last Indians to surrender to the U.S. Government. Dan, of course, has thoughts. This is a long show!
Show 18 - A Fly on James Burke's Wall: In this episode, Dan discusses history with famed television host, author and science historian James Burke, the man the Washington Post called "one of the most intriguing minds in the Western world".
Show 17 - Judgment at Nineveh: Will our modern society ever decline and fall? Dan uses that idea as a backdrop for a look at the first great empire in history, the biblical-era Assyrians. Were they ancient Nazis, or the guardians of civilization?
Show 16 - Nazi Tidbits: What accounts for the fascination people still have with Adolf Hitler and the Nazis? Dan looks at some of the ideas of the German National Socialists and examines the demonic, charismatic Nazi Fuhrer.
Show 15 - Desperate Times: The tough economic climate after the First World War fostered the growth of radicalism around the world. Did it also create tougher people? Dan looks at the connection between tough times and the "Greatest Generation".
Show 14 - The Macedonian Soap Oper: When Alexander the Great bequeathed his empire "to the strongest" he set off a funeral contest that shook the world for decades. Murder, marriage, intrigue,and drama all feature prominently in the story.
Show 13 - Bubonic Nukes: What would happen if half the population died in a short period of time? Dan looks at the Black Death and other plagues that created almost apocalyptic conditions in the past...and maybe in the future.
Show 12 - Steppe Stories: Blood-sucking Scythian warriors, tattooed ice mummies, Amazons killing so they can mate, pot smoking head-hunters, scalp-taking, koumiss-drinking Mongols, Turks, Huns, and Aliens. What's not to like?
Show 11 - Thoughts on Churchill: We almost called this show "Things about Churchill that have interested Dan". Dan takes a look at various elements of the dramatic life and career of the great British leader.
Show 10 - The What-Ifs Of 1066: How might history have been changed if the events of the momentous year 1066 had turned out differently? Dan examines Normans, Vikings, Saxons, Bastards, Conquerers, Confessors, Godwinsons and Hardratas.
Show 9 - Darkness Buries the Bronze Age: What was the cause of the collapse of the Bronze Age? War? Famine? Natural disaster? Sauron the Dark Lord? Dan looks at all the potential villains...except for Sauron.
Show 8 - Scars of the Great War: Dan looks at the shock and awe caused by the First World War and marvels at how connected we still are to the empire-shattering effects of the conflict contemporaries simply referred to as The Great War.
Show 7 - The X-History Files: Napoleon is supposed to have said that "History is a set of lies agreed upon". With that in mind, Dan looks at some of the alternative and pseudo history ideas that many people embrace.
(most of this information was found on Dan Carlin's website, and some was copied from Wikipedia)