{"podcast":{"title":"Explaining History","slug":"explaining-history-524006","podcast_index_feed_id":524006,"rss_url":"https://rss.acast.com/explaininghistory","website_url":"http://www.explaininghistory.org","image_url":"https://assets.pippa.io/shows/60f6d9ac4a4aff65190f9c27/1767646091904-a5aed489-f452-4f74-af70-c7f8364b8d92.jpeg","author":"Nick Shepley","episode_count":943,"summary":"How do we make sense of the modern world? We find the answers in the history of the 20th Century. For over a decade, The Explaining History Podcast has been the guide for curious minds. Host Nick Shepley and expert guests break down the world wars, the Cold War, and the rise and fall of ideologies into concise, 25-minute episodes. This isn't a dry lecture. It's a critical, narrative-driven conversation that connects the past to your present. Perfect for students, history buffs, and anyone who wants to understand how we got here. Hit subscribe and start exploring. Join us at Explaining History for daily modern history articles and news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-02T06:17:05.993018+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/explaining-history-524006"},"episode":{"title":"Are We Already in World War III?","slug":"are-we-already-in-world-war-iii","published_at":"2026-03-18T18:03:32+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/explaining-history-524006/are-we-already-in-world-war-iii","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/explaining-history-524006","url":"http://explaininghistory.org","audio_url":"https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/explaininghistory/e/69bae8f46a048c4e8ec4d39d/media.mp3","summary":"Description: In this episode, Nick explores a question currently weighing on the minds of historians and observers alike: are we witnessing the opening stages of a third global conflict? Drawing on the work of Richard Overy and examining the \"quasi-peace\" of the 20th century, Nick argues that our definitions of \"World War\" may be too narrow, often ignoring the unrelenting conflict experienced by the Global South since 1945. We delve into the \"hollowing out\" of the American economic imperium—a transition from the industrial powerhouse of the Eisenhower era to a financialized economy struggling with internal stagnation. Nick compares the relative decline of the United States to Britain’s post-war trajectory, examining how the rise of China as a strategic, state-planned power has fundamentally broken the neoliberal order of the 1990s. From the resource-driven proxy wars in Venezuela and Iran to the looming shadow of the Taiwan Strait, we ask: can a \"Great Power settlement\" be reached, or are we destined for a generational period of violent transition? Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share. ▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive Content Become a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory ▸ Join the Community & Continue the Conversation Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcast Substack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com ▸ Read Articles & Go Deeper Website: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.","meta_description":"Description: In this episode, Nick explores a question currently weighing on the minds of historians and observers alike: are we witnessing the opening st…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1865,"processing_state":"processed","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/explaining-history-524006/episodes/are-we-already-in-world-war-iii/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/explaining-history-524006/are-we-already-in-world-war-iii.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}