Fascinating People, Fascinating Places

Every year tens of thousands of young people descend on the small Christian community of Taize in Eastern France. Founded by a Swiss man, Roger Schütz, the ecumenical ministry provides a place of refuge where Christians and non-believers can reflect, pray, study, and engage with their contemporaries from around the globe.  Special Thanks to: Sister Judith Russi sister of Saint Mary of Namur, is the director of Catholic educational charity EducareM Steven Betancourt Assistant Director of Campus Ministry at Loyola University Chicago Brother Sebastien of the Taize Community Picture: Croix de Taizé Surfnico Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Music: Bless the Lord © Ateliers et Presses de Taizé --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/message

Mobuto Sese Seko, once described by Ronald Reagan as “a voice of good sense and goodwill” was one of the most powerful and controversial figures of the post-colonial era in Africa. From humble roots, his charisma and intelligence propelled him from obscurity to power of halls of Kinshasa. Music and sound: Simon-Pierre Boka Di Mpasi Londi, "La Zaïroise" United States Navy Band, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons https://pixabay.com/ Intro from Dorsey Jackson - https://youtu.be/DxFyjYpKUVE of Dorsey Jackson Global at Compound City --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/message

Grace O’Malley, her name conjures up images of a wild, sword-wielding pirate terrorizing merchants off the West coast of Ireland. But in reality, she was far from the stereotypical patch-eyed, wooden-legged pirate of folklore. From her point of view, she wasn’t really a pirate at all. In this episode, I explore the woman behind the myth. The high-ranking, educated, intelligent, leader of Connacht who won an admirer if not an ally in the form of Elizabeth I Queen of England. This is an original production brought to you by Daniel Mainwaring's Fascinating People, Fascinating Places Podcast. For more information visit the website www.DanielMainwaring.com Music and Sound Effects: Pixabay Audio Under Public Commons 3.0 JS Bach Toccata and Fugue in D Minor Intro from Dorsey Jackson - https://youtu.be/DxFyjYpKUVE of Dorsey Jackson Global at Compound City --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/message

On the 1st of December 1135, King Henry I of England died. His choice of successor was controversial but unequivocal. His daughter Matilda -- previously crowned as Empress of the Holy Roman Empire -- would be crowned as the first Queen of England. In theory, she was the most powerful woman in Europe, but neither Henry’s plans nor hers came to fruition. In order to claim her throne, she’d have to overcome treachery, betrayal, and civil war. In this episode, I examine the life of the powerful woman known to history as Empress Matilda. Her rise to prominence, her political alliances which included two marriages, the setbacks she faced, her quest for revenge, and her enduring legacy. This is an original production brought to you by Daniel Mainwaring's Fascinating People, Fascinating Places Podcast. For more information visit the website www.DanielMainwaring.com Music and Sound Effects: Pixabay Audio Under Public Commons 3.0 JS Bach Toccata and Fugue in D Minor Intro from Dorsey Jackson - https://youtu.be/DxFyjYpKUVE of Dorsey Jackson Global at Compound City --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/message

With Germany divided, the GDR grapples with economic problems and unrest. The erection of the Berlin Wall draws US President John F Kennedy to Berlin, while the state represses the church, and embarks on a nationalized doping campaign to boost performance in sport. The arrival of Gorbachev signals the beginning of the end for Honecker and the Stasi. Feature subjects: Erich Honecker, Erich Mielke, Joseph Stalin, JFK, Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev, Munich Olympics, The PLO, Doping, Egon Krenz Cover picture: By Noir, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1402275 Music and Sound Effects: Pixabay Audio Under Public Commons 3.0 English: Address from the Brandenburg Gate (Berlin Wall). Full text at Wikisource Date12 June 1987SourceUniversity of Virginia Miller Center for Public Affairs President Kennedy's "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech. Transcript available.[1] Date26 June 1963SourceKennedy Presidential Library[2]AuthorJohn F. Kennedy Reagan Brandenburg Gate speech Public Domain National Anthem of Germany. Date 1797 Source Own work AuthorCsifoZsombor --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/message

In 1949, communist leaders formalized the division of a nation with the creation of the German Democratic Republic. In the West, this was portrayed as an opportunistic act by puppets of the Soviets who wished to impose their ideology on Eastern Europe. But the story of German communism began long before 1949. In this episode, I will examine the roots of the ideology. Its adherents, growth, and the factors that led to the creation of the totalitarian state widely known as East Germany. Featured Subjects: Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Rosa Luxemburg, Karl Liebknecht, Walter Ulbricht, Ernest Thalmann, Erich Mielke, Erich Honecker, Lenin, Bela Kun, Max Hoelz, Wilhelm Pieck, Spartakusbund, Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands, Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands Music: Public Domain and Creative Commons 3.0 Choir and orchestra of Bolshoi Theatre, conducted by G. Rozhdestvensky May 2012 Русский: Государственный гимн Советского Союза, 1968 English: National anthem of the Soviet Union in its post-1955 arrangement Sound Effects: Pixabay English: Address from the Brandenburg Gate (Berlin Wall). Full text at Wikisource Date12 June 1987SourceUniversity of Virginia Miller Center for Public Affairs President Kennedy's "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech. Transcript available.[1] Date26 June 1963SourceKennedy Presidential Library[2]AuthorJohn F. Kennedy --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/message

The Great Exhibition of 1851 was the world's first global trade fair. Attendees included Charles Dickens, Lewis Carroll, and Karl Marx. But beyond the pomp and ceremony, there were fears of a violent insurrection. Critics implored the Queen to cancel the event. In this episode, I explore the exhibition's founders, critics, highlights, and enduring legacy. Coming Sunday 26 September. Music licensed under Creative Commons 3.0. Handel - Zadok the Priest 2 June 2013 archive.org St Matthew's Concert Choir; Damien Giromella, director --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/message

As the Nazi regime was defeated, East Germans hoped for a brighter future. Political exiles such as Erich Honecker returned to Berlin and set about rebuilding the nation. But, the fragile alliance of World War II soon collapsed. The Western nations found themselves at odds with the Soviets and Germany was divided. In this episode, I explore the origins of communism in Germany, the rise and the fall of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). Coming in October 2021 Licensed under Wiki Commons 3.0 English: Portrait of Erich Honecker, leader of East Germany (1971-1989). Cropped using Photo Editor at https://www.befunky.com/ and reuploaded to Wikimedia Commons by Emiya1980 English: Address from the Brandenburg Gate (Berlin Wall). Full text at Wikisource Date12 June 1987SourceUniversity of Virginia Miller Center for Public Affairs President Kennedy's "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech. Transcript available.[1] Date26 June 1963SourceKennedy Presidential Library[2]AuthorJohn F. Kennedy --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/message

The Great Exhibition of 1851 was the world's first global trade fair. Attendees included Charles Dickens, Lewis Carroll, and Karl Marx. But beyond the pomp and ceremony, there were fears of a violent insurrection. Critics implored the Queen to cancel the event. In this episode, I explore the exhibition's founders, critics, highlights, and enduring legacy. Coming Sunday 26 September.  Music licensed under Creative Commons 3.0. Handel - Zadok the Priest 2 June 2013 archive.org St Matthew's Concert Choir; Damien Giromella, director --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/message

The depraved and sadistic Roman emperor was one of the most reviled figures of antiquity. Allegations of incest, murder, and more bizarrely the promotion of his beloved horse to consul still linger in popular culture today. But was he really the deranged tyrant we learned about in history class or was there another side to him? In this episode, I will explore the truth of the man behind the legend. This is an original production brought to you by Daniel Mainwaring's Fascinating People, Fascinating Places Podcast. For more information visit the website www.DanielMainwaring.com Additional material provided by Dorsey Jackson - https://youtu.be/DxFyjYpKUVE of Dorsey Jackson Global at Compound City Covert art is a bust of Emperor Caligula, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek made by Louis Le Grand in March 2007 Made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC-BY-SA 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en). Audio effects and music Pixabay --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/message

Roman Emperor Caligula raised an army and marched across Gaul with every intention of invading Great Britain. Having set sail, he neared the famous white cliffs of Dover before returning course and disembarking in France. Upon his return, two soldiers: Gaius and Lucius, are surprised to find themselves tasked with something other than battle. This is an original production brought to you by Daniel Mainwaring's Fascinating People, Fascinating Places Podcast. For more information visit the website www.DanielMainwaring.com Cover art is a bust of Emperor Caligula, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek made by Louis Le Grand in March 2007 Made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC-BY-SA 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en). Music used is Bach – Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 by Carl Weinrich | Music promoted on https://www.chosic.com/ Creative Commons --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/message