
Rear Vision — How History Shaped Today
History Podcasts
Move beyond the headlines to see how the past defines our world.
Location:
United States
Description:
Move beyond the headlines to see how the past defines our world.
Language:
English
Episodes
Could the Baltic States be the new Ukraine?
8/2/2025
The Baltic States, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – once part of the Soviet Union - are now all members of NATO. But Latvia and Estonia both have large Russian speaking minorities. Analysts worry that Russia could use these minorities as an excuse to impinge on their sovereignty.
Could the Baltic States become the new Ukraine and if so, would the rest of NATO invoke article 5 and go to war with Russia?
Duration:00:29:06
War in Ukraine - the military story
7/26/2025
The history of the Russia Ukraine conflict. The situation in Ukraine today and why Russia invaded.
Duration:00:29:36
Australia's superannuation system
7/19/2025
The rise and rise of Australian superannuation. Having now reached the 4 trillion dollar mark we ask, How did we get here? And is our retirement system serving its purpose?
Duration:00:29:06
2014 and Ukraine's relationship with Russia
7/12/2025
After 1991 Ukraine followed the bumpy path of many post-Soviet states, attempting to forge a modern democracy next door to a powerful neighbour with interest and influence in its internal affairs. The 2014 political crisis in Ukraine turned into a tug-of-war between the Russia and the West.
Russia’s occupation of Crimea, an autonomous region in Ukraine, become a test of US power and its limits as well as a critical moment for the Russian president.
Rear Vision looks at this moment which arguable led to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
Duration:00:28:55
The history of immigration and detention in the so-called land of immigrants: United States of America
7/5/2025
The United States like to see itself as a nation of immigrants, yet it’s always had a difficult relationship with immigrants. The history of US immigration and detention policy from the nation's founding in 1776 through to Donald Trump.
Duration:00:29:19
Israel's nuclear history
6/28/2025
This week on Rear Vision, the story of Israel's nuclear industry.
Duration:00:28:58
Iran's nuclear program
6/21/2025
This week on Rear Vision we revisit the story of Iran's nuclear industry.
Duration:00:29:06
The assassination of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia
6/14/2025
The story behind the assassination of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia on October 16, 2017.
Duration:00:29:06
Rare Earth minerals
6/7/2025
Rare earth minerals are in the headlines.
Their supply and who control’s them, are ringing alarm bells, as Tariff negotiations put world trade on edge.
Rear Vision looks into their backstory, their significance, and their role in today's geopolitics.
Duration:00:29:05
A new Gilded Age
5/31/2025
Periods of rapid technological and social unrest are not unique. Over 100 years ago, many of the same conditions existed.
What can we learn from this period in American history known as The Gilded Age - and what might it tell us about where the country is heading.
Duration:00:29:06
The silencing of Voice of America
5/24/2025
Rear Vision puts contemporary events in their historical context.
Duration:00:29:01
The history of the electric car
5/17/2025
100 years ago there were more electric vehicles on the road than gasoline or petrol cars.
Duration:00:29:04
Romania at a political crossroads
5/10/2025
Last Sunday a far-right anti-European candidate won the first round of the Romanian presidential election with 40 per cent of the vote. The stage is now set for the second-round runoff between the far-right candidate George Simion and the progressive pro-European Mayor of Bucharest Nicusor Dan. So why has a far-right candidate done so well in Romania and how might the election result reshape Romania and possible the European Union?
Duration:00:28:51
Kashmir
5/3/2025
Kashmir is a mountainous region bordering India and Pakistan. The Pakistanis will tell you that Kashmir is in the north east corner of Pakistan. The Indians, that it is in the north west corner of India.
Today on Rear Vision we take a look at the long history of this dispute.
Duration:00:29:05
Finland: A mad prepper nation or a role model for all small to medium democracies
4/26/2025
As the world becomes an increasingly dangerous and uncertain place – how prepared are we in Australia to face these new challenges? This week on Rear Vision the story of one nation that take security and preparedness very seriously – Finland.
Duration:00:28:56
Chocolate - the back story
4/19/2025
Chocolate is one of our most popular indulgences but there is a darker side to the industry – one connected with colonialism, the industrial revolution and modern-day slavery.
Duration:00:29:07
Donald Trump and the wrecking ball: The end of the world as we know it
4/12/2025
Is the liberal international rules-based order – that has underpinned international relations for the past 80 years - about to collapse. The United States once its greatest champion is withdrawing funding from hundreds of international organisations, and at the same time unending the global economy by imposing of tariffs across the board. What might this mean for global security, and the global economy and can we blame Donald Trump and his wrecking ball or are there deeper forces at play?
Duration:00:28:55
The anti-vaccination movement
4/5/2025
While many children miss out on vaccines due to poor health services, some parents choose not to have their children vaccinated.
This Rear Vision looks at the political history behind this trend.
Duration:00:29:06
Not so tolerant Allies: The story of Canadian and the United States
3/29/2025
President Trump not only want to make America great, he also wants to make it bigger and incorporating Canada as the 51st state would certainly do that – except for the fact that Canada is a sovereign nation. The story of Canada and the United States and why President Trump wants to turn Canada into the 51st States of the Union.
Duration:00:28:57
Trump, trade and tariffs
3/22/2025
President Trump loves tariffs but most economists hate them.We look at how tariffs work and what history can tell us about their impact on economies. And the industries protected by them.
Duration:00:29:06