What happened at the Mariupol Drama Theater — and what does it reveal about the larger war between Russia and Ukraine?

In this episode of Reckoning with Jason Herbert, historian Jason Herbert sits down with acclaimed journalist and author James Verini to discuss his powerful new book, The Theater, an intimate account of the bombing of the Mariupol Drama Theater during Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Together, they explore the siege of Mariupol, the human cost of modern warfare, and the terrifying role propaganda plays in shaping reality during conflict. The conversation moves beyond headlines into the deeper history of Russian imperialism, the contested identity of the Donbas, the rise of Ukrainian nationalism, and why Vladimir Putin’s war may ultimately have forged a stronger Ukrainian nation than ever before.

Jason and James also discuss:

• Why the bombing of the theater became a defining atrocity of the war
• Russian propaganda and the global information war
• The historical roots of the conflict going back to the Crimean War
• Volodymyr Zelensky’s transformation during the invasion
• NATO, the United States, and the future of global democracy
• Whether Putin can survive politically if Russia loses the war
• Why Ukraine’s fight resonates far beyond Eastern Europe

Part war reporting, part historical reckoning, and part meditation on democracy itself, this episode examines one of the most consequential conflicts of the twenty-first century — and the people trapped inside it.

Historian and food studies scholar Jeffrey Pilcher joins Reckoning with Jason Herbert to explore the surprising global history of beer and how one of humanity’s oldest drinks became a worldwide commodity. Drawing from his new book Hopped Up: How Travel, Trade, and Taste Made Beer a Global Commodity, Pilcher traces beer’s journey from ancient brewing traditions to modern craft breweries, revealing how beer shaped—and was shaped by—capitalism, industrialization, migration, empire, advertising, and working-class culture.

In this episode, we discuss the origins of brewing in the ancient world, the rise of lager and Pilsner in Central Europe, German immigration and American beer culture, the globalization of brands like Heineken and Corona, and the explosion of craft brewing in the United States. Along the way, we dive into Czech beer halls, IPAs, bourbon barrel stouts, the politics of drinking, and why beer has always been about more than what’s in the glass.

If you love history, food culture, globalization, craft beer, or simply a great conversation about the human need for community and connection, this episode is for you.

What made George Washington more than a Founding Father? In this episode of Reckoning with Jason Herbert, historian H. W. Brands joins Jason to explore the man behind the marble statue—soldier, strategist, slaveholder, revolutionary, and reluctant president.

Drawing from Brands’ new biography of Washington, the conversation dives deep into the personality and contradictions of America’s first president. Together, they examine Washington’s rise during the French and Indian War, his leadership during the American Revolution, the brutal realities of Valley Forge, and the immense pressure of holding the Continental Army together when independence seemed impossible.

But this episode goes beyond battlefield mythology. Jason and Brands explore Washington’s carefully crafted public image, his obsession with reputation and character, his complicated relationship with slavery, and the enormous influence he had on later American leaders like Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight D. Eisenhower. They also tackle a larger question: why does Washington still loom so large in American memory 250 years later?

From the halls of the Constitutional Convention to the frozen encampment at Valley Forge, this is a conversation about leadership, war, power, masculinity, and the creation of the United States itself.

Perfect for fans of American history, the Revolutionary War, presidential biography, and the complicated legacy of the Founding Fathers.

What does The Green Knight reveal about masculinity, honor, fear, and the strange world of medieval storytelling?

In this episode of Reckoning with Jason Herbert, historian and medievalist Matt Gabriele joins Jason for a deep dive into David Lowery’s haunting adaptation of the Arthurian legend Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Together, they unpack the film’s rich symbolism, eerie atmosphere, and surprisingly human portrayal of knighthood in the Middle Ages.

From Dev Patel’s unforgettable performance as Gawain to the mythology surrounding King Arthur, the conversation explores how medieval people understood honor, courage, religion, violence, and destiny. Jason and Matt discuss the real history behind Arthurian legends, the meaning of chivalry, the role of Christianity and folklore in medieval Europe, and why The Green Knight may be one of the most honest medieval films ever made.

Along the way, they tackle medieval masculinity, race in the medieval world, storytelling traditions, and the enduring power of myth in modern culture. Plus: bourbon, bad decisions, Monty Python, and why every historian secretly wants to talk about talking foxes and giants.

If you love medieval history, Arthurian lore, fantasy films, mythology, or thoughtful movie analysis, this episode is for you.

Topics Include:

• The Green Knight explained
• King Arthur and the origins of Arthurian legend
• Medieval masculinity and chivalry
• Dev Patel as Gawain
• Religion and magic in the Middle Ages
• Medieval storytelling and folklore
• Race and diversity in medieval Europe
• Why The Green Knight feels so different from other medieval films
• The real meaning of honor and oathkeeping

What if our most famous environmental dystopias reveal as much about fear and ideology as they do about the future?

In this episode of Reckoning with Jason Herbert, I sit down with film scholar Matthew Thompson, author of On Life Support, to unpack the haunting world of Soylent Green—and the larger tradition of eco-dystopian cinema that emerged in the 1970s.

We explore how films like Soylent Green, Planet of the Apes, and Silent Running channeled the anxieties of the early environmental movement, from overpopulation and pollution to resource scarcity and class inequality. Drawing on the influence of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, we examine how these films translated real-world fears into unforgettable cinematic visions.

But this conversation goes deeper. Thompson argues that beneath their ecological warnings, these films often carry troubling assumptions—about population control, class, and who gets to survive. From the legacy of The Population Bomb to the shocking logic behind Soylent Green’s infamous twist, we ask: what do these stories really say about environmental politics—then and now?

We also connect the 1970s to today’s resurgence of eco-dystopian storytelling, from Snowpiercer to Don’t Look Up, and consider what modern climate anxiety reveals about our own moment.

This is a conversation about film, history, and the uneasy truths lurking beneath our visions of the future.

What if American slavery didn’t begin in 1619?

In this episode, historian Linford Fisher joins me to discuss Stealing America: The Hidden Story of Indigenous Slavery in US History and the overlooked history of Indigenous enslavement.

We explore how Native slavery shaped early America—from the Pequot War and Yamasee War to land theft, westward expansion, and boarding schools—and why this history still matters today.

A powerful rethink of American origins—and the stories we’ve been missing.

What does The Fast and the Furious actually tell us about Hollywood—and about us?

This week on Reckoning with Jason Herbert, I’m joined by Dan Hassler-Forest to break down one of the most unlikely blockbuster franchises of the 21st century. From its origins as a street racing film in 2001 to a global, multi-billion-dollar saga, Fast & Furious didn’t just evolve—it helped reshape how Hollywood thinks about franchises, audiences, and storytelling.

We dive into the rise of serialized blockbusters, the meaning of “family,” the franchise’s approach to masculinity and diversity, and why this series resonates with audiences around the world. Along the way, we explore the turning points—from The Fast and the Furious to Fast Five—and ask whether the franchise ever jumped the shark… or if that’s the whole point.

If you’ve ever wondered why these films endure—or why you can’t stop watching them—this episode is for you.

Two of our earliest guests are back — and 200 episodes later, the conversation is better than ever.

Jason sits down with Emily Contois (Associate Professor of Media Studies at the University of Tulsa and author of *Diners, Dudes, and Diets*) and Mark Johnson (Assistant Professor of History at UT Chattanooga and author of the newly released *American Bacon: The History of a Food Phenomenon*) to dig into the 2022 satirical horror film *The Menu* — and end up covering pretty much everything worth knowing about American food culture along the way.

What starts as a film discussion quickly becomes a wide-ranging conversation about class anxiety and culinary capital, the rise (and fall) of the celebrity chef, the myth of Southern food exceptionalism, why farm-to-table can only exist after industrialization, and what it really means when you pull out your phone to photograph your dinner. They debate who deserves their fate in the film, why the cheeseburger scene might be the most important moment in the whole movie, and whether food can ever truly be "authentic."

Plus: Jose Andres, Anthony Bourdain's complicated legacy, Mario Batali, the bread scene, s'mores as satire, Noma's $1,500 tasting menu, and why gumbo might just be the most American food there is.

*Spoilers throughout — watch the film first.*

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*Emily Contois is on Instagram and Bluesky. Her book Diners, Dudes, and Diets is available wherever books are sold. Mark Johnson's American Bacon is out now — and he'll be back on the pod soon for a dedicated book episode.*