Byzantium And The Crusades - The First Crusade Episode 2 “The Siege Of Antioch”

This podcast series tells the story of the Crusades from the Byzantine angle. It's based on the book "The Byzantine World War" by Nick Holmes. In this episode, we hear how the Crusaders laid siege to Antioch, a huge and heavily fortified city, that had previously been the third city of the Roman Empire. The siege would take months and nearly broke the Crusade.

Please take a look at my website nickholmesauthor.com where you can download a free copy of The Byzantine World War, my book that describes the origins of the First Crusade.

Byzantium And The Crusades - The First Crusade Episode 1 “The Crusaders March East”

This podcast series tells the story of the Crusades from the Byzantine angle. It's based on the book "The Byzantine World War" by Nick Holmes. In this episode, we hear how the First Crusade began as a mass popular movement in Western Europe, how various armies marched east to Constantinople, and how they fared in their first battles against the Turks who had occupied Byzantine Anatolia.

Please take a look at my website nickholmesauthor.com where you can download a free copy of The Byzantine World War, my book that describes the origins of the First Crusade.

Byzantium And The Crusades - The Fall Of Byzantium Episode 4 “Alexios Komnenos And The Call To The West”

This podcast series tells the story of the Crusades from the Byzantine angle. It is based on the book "The Byzantine World War" by Nick Holmes. In this episode, we follow the desperate attempts by the remarkable Byzantine Emperor, Alexios Komnenos, to save Byzantium from the host of enemies surrounding it, from Normans to Pechenegs and Turks. This would eventually lead to a plea for help to the West. This plea was the basis for one of the most extraordinary events in history: the First Crusade.

Please take a look at my website nickholmesauthor.com where you can download a free copy of The Byzantine World War, my book that describes the origins of the First Crusade.

Byzantium And The Crusades - The Fall Of Byzantium Episode 3 “What Is The Truth About Romanos Diogenes?”

This podcast series tells how Byzantium was central to the Crusades. It is based on the book "The Byzantine World War" by Nick Holmes. In this episode, we ask the question why do historians even today tend to write off Romanos Diogenes' attempts to save Byzantium? The answer takes us on a journey through the writings of the main Byzantine chroniclers of the time. We learn how the true story was purposefully hidden by Romanos' enemies and is still confusing historians today.

Please take a look at my website nickholmesauthor.com where you can download a free copy of The Byzantine World War, my book that describes the origins of the First Crusade.

Byzantium And The Crusades - The Fall Of Byzantium Episode 2 “The Loss Of Anatolia”

This podcast series tells how Byzantium was central to the Crusades. It is based on the book "The Byzantine World War" by Nick Holmes. In this episode, we hear about the reign of the Emperor Michael VII Doukas, which must count as the most disastrous reign in the whole of Byzantine history. By the end, Anatolia has been overrun by the Turks, and Byzantium is facing enemies advancing against it from both East and West.

Please take a look at my website nickholmesauthor.com where you can download a free copy of The Byzantine World War, my book that describes the origins of the First Crusade.

Curious City - Performers Speak Out About Racism In Chicago’s Improv And Comedy Scene

In this episode we speak with comedians Ashley Ray, Josie Benedetti and artistic performer Angela Oliver about how systemic racism has impacted Chicago’s improv and comedy scene, what they’ve experienced onstage and off and what it will take to change things.

Byzantium And The Crusades - The Fall Of Byzantium Episode 1 “Civil War”

This podcast series tells how Byzantium was central to the Crusades. It is based on the book "The Byzantine World War" by Nick Holmes. In this episode, we look at the fall of Byzantium after the Battle of Manzikert. We start with the civil war that followed the battle between the Emperor Romanos Diogenes and the powerful Doukai family who had betrayed him at Manzikert.

Please take a look at my website nickholmesauthor.com where you can download a free copy of The Byzantine World War, my book that describes the origins of the First Crusade.