"WhatifAlthist" | World History, Philosophy, Culture

WhatifAltHist is a podcast from Rudyard Lynch that looks to try to find the patterns in history and anthropology so as to predict the future and understand the dynamics that result in civilizations rising and falling. It began as an enormously popular alternate history channel with nearly 600K listeners and more than 100M views on YouTube. Rudyard Lynch also hosts the podcast History 102 with Erik Torenberg, which attempts to solidly explain pivotal historical events in depth in under an hour. Topics covered: World History, Philosophy, Civilization, Culture  WhatifAlthist is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: turpentine.co

Website : https://www.youtube.com/@WhatifAltHist

RSS Feed : https://feeds.megaphone.fm/whatifalthist  

Last Episode : August 22, 2025 5:03am

Last Scanned : 21 minutes ago

Episodes

Episodes currently hosted on IPFS.

The Story of Black America
1
In progressive religion, African-Americans occupy a sacred caste status—beyond criticism, requiring constant resource redistribution. Yet this narrative ironically continues black America's core historical theme: dehumanization. Leftists project onto black Americans whatever serves their power needs rather than seeing them authentically. Growing up in majority-black Philadelphia taught me that most progressives from whiter areas fundamentally misunderstand black culture, perpetuating the very dehumanization they claim to oppose. SPONSORS: Zcash: The right technology reshapes politics and culture toward freedom and prosperity. Zcash—the "machinery of freedom"—delivers unstoppable private money through encryption. When your wealth is unseen, it's unseizable. Download Zashi wallet and follow @genzcash to learn more: ⁠https://x.com/genzcash⁠⁠ NetSuite:  More than 42,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine learning: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://netsuite.com/102⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shopify:  Shopify powers millions of businesses worldwide, handling 10% of U.S. e-commerce. With hundreds of templates, AI tools for product descriptions, and seamless marketing campaign creation, it's like having a design studio and marketing team in one. Start your $1/month trial today at ⁠⁠https://shopify.com/cognitive⁠⁠ LINKS: Link to my second podcast on world history and interviews: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0NCSdGglnmdWg-qHALhu1w⁠ Link to my Twitter-⁠https://x.com/whatifalthist⁠ Link to my Instagram-⁠https://www.instagram.com/rudyardwlynch/?hl=en⁠ Bibliography: Bibliography: Atrocities by Matthew White Plagues and Peoples by McNeil the Elder Rise of the West by McNeil the Elder Mosquito Empires by McNeil the Younger The Story of the Americas by Leland Dewitt Baldwin American Nations by Colin Woodard Albion's Seed by David Hackett Fischer African Founders by David Hackett Fischer Roll Jordan Roll by Eugene Genovese Ethnic America by Thomas Sowell Conquests and Cultures by Thomas Sowell Lineages of Modernity by Todd Emmanuel The Origins of Ideology by Todd Emmanuel Civilizations by Armesto A History of Civilizations by Braudel Bound Away by David Hackett Fischer Inside Africa by John Gunther Africa, a History by John Reader Generations of Captivity by Berlin Africa in History by Basil Davidson Who We are and How we got here by David Reich The Tree of Culture by Ralph Linton The Unabomber's Manifesto The Nine Nations of North America by Joel Garreau Seeing like a State by James Lindsay the 3D Gospel by Georges
Published Friday
The Rise and Fall of the Bluepill
1
A historic shift occurred in the early 20th century when the West completely suspended any concept of reality or meaning. We adopted a new religion whose core belief was that it WASN'T a religion—agnostic liberalism that declared thousands of years of human struggle for glory and meaning "unnecessary." This tyranny greater than Rome or the Catholic Church dominates every moment of our lives while remaining invisible, creating our current "age of platitudes." SPONSORS: NetSuite:  More than 41,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine learning: https://netsuite.com/102 Shopify: Shopify powers millions of businesses worldwide, handling 10% of U.S. e-commerce. With hundreds of templates, AI tools for product descriptions, and seamless marketing campaign creation, it's like having a design studio and marketing team in one. Start your $1/month trial today at https://shopify.com/cognitive Try High Flavanol Cocoa (Stem Cells & Nitric Oxide): (40% OFF PROMO FOR 48HR) https://blackforestsupplements.com/WHAT LINKS: Link to my second podcast on world history and interviews:    / @history102-qg5oj   Link to my Twitter-https://twitter.com/whatifalthist?ref... Link to my Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/rudyardwlyn... Bibliography: The Passion of the Western Mind by Tarnas A History of Western Philosophy of Bertrand Russell Mankind the Story of All of Us by the History Channel Maps of Meaning by Jordan Peterson The Gateway Protocol by Robert Monroe Leviathan and Its Enemies by Sam Francis The Total State by Auron Macintyre After Liberalism by Paul Gottfried The Crowd by Gustave le Bon The Revolt of the Elites by Lasch Ages of Discord by Peter Turchin Regime Change by Deneen The Economics of Discontent by Jean Michel Paul Warriors and Worriers by Joyce Benneson Fire in the Minds of Men by Billington A Conflict of Visions by Thomas Sowell
Published 06/06
Explaining Jewish Civilization
1
After reading 3,000+ pages for this series, I've concluded the Jews represent history's most improbable civilization. Pennsylvania alone has almost as many people as all Jews worldwide (15 million), yet this tiny desert tribe has repeatedly altered world history's trajectory over 4,000 years. They've produced ONE-THIRD of all Nobel Prize winners while comprising less than 1% of global population and birthed three major world religions. Their continued existence and influence completely defies rational historical models—making them perhaps history's most accomplished ethnic group. SPONSORS: NetSuite:  More than 41,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine learning: https://netsuite.com/102 Shopify: Shopify powers millions of businesses worldwide, handling 10% of U.S. e-commerce. With hundreds of templates, AI tools for product descriptions, and seamless marketing campaign creation, it's like having a design studio and marketing team in one. Start your $1/month trial today at https://shopify.com/cognitive Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code WHATIFALTHIST at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/whatifalthist LINKS: Link to my second podcast on world history and interviews:    / @history102-qg5oj   Link to my Twitter-https://twitter.com/whatifalthist?ref... Link to my Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/rudyardwlyn... Bibliography: Paul. Johnson's History of the Jews A History of the Jewish People by Ben Sasson Our Oriental Heritage by Will Durant Caesar and Christ by Will Durant The Age of Faith by Will Durant Who We Are and How we Got Here by David Reich The Passion of the Western Mind by Tarnas A History of Religious Ideas by Mircea Eliade The Ordeal of Civility by Cuddihy The Jewish Evolutionary Strategy by Kevin Macdonald The Culture of Critique by Kevin Macdonald The People that Will Dwell Alone by Kevin Macdonal Pax by Tom Holland Dominion by Tom Holland Migrations and Cultures by Thomas Sowell A History of the Ancient World by Ben Sasson The Shaping of America by Meinig American Nations by Colin Woodard Masks of the Gods by Joseph Camble Sex and Power in History by Amaury de Riencourt Lineages of Modernity by Emmanuel ToddT The Righteous Mind by John haidt The Evolution of Civilizations by Carroll Quiggley A History of Egypt by Breasted 1177 BC the Year Civilization Died by Eric Cline Debt by David Grabber A Guide to Late Antiquity by Peter Brown Fire in the Minds of Men by Billington Cynical Theories by James Lindsay The Decline of the West by Oswald Spengler The World's Religions by Houston Smith Blooodlands by Timothy Snyder
Published 05/17
WTF is the Left Even Doing?
1
We're living through a historic inflection point where the left lost the presidency but still dominates virtually every Western institution. Despite their electoral defeat, they control the bureaucracy, UN, Big Tech, media, academia, and even the Catholic Church—while the right has built no alternative power structures. The burning question is what the left will actually DO with this paradoxical position, as their own leadership seems unsure following Trump's victory. Their next moves will inevitably shape our historical trajectory as history is carved into stone before our eyes. -- SPONSORS: NetSuite:  More than 41,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine learning: https://netsuite.com/102 Shopify:  Shopify powers millions of businesses worldwide, handling 10% of U.S. e-commerce. With hundreds of templates, AI tools for product descriptions, and seamless marketing campaign creation, it's like having a design studio and marketing team in one. Start your $1/month trial today at https://shopify.com/cognitive Surfshark: Go to https://surfshark.com/whatdeal for 4 extra months of Surfshark -- LINKS: Link to my second podcast on world history and interviews:    / @history102-qg5oj   Link to my Twitter-https://twitter.com/whatifalthist?ref... Link to my Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/rudyardwlyn... Bibliography: The Righteous Mind by Jon Haidt Ages of Discord by Peter Turchin End Times by Peter Turchin The Master and His Emissary by Ian McGhilchrist The Storm before the Calm by George Friedman On Grand Strategy by John Lewis Gaddis The True Believer by Eric Hoffer Woke Racism by John McWhorter Leviathan and its Enemies by Sam Francis Regime Change by Patrick Deneen The Origins of Woke by Richard Hanania The Unabomber's Manifesto The Revolt of the Elites by Lasch The Total State by Auron Macintyre A Conflict of Visions by Thomas Sowell Seeing like a State by James Scott After Liberalism by Paul Gottfried Japan and the Shackles of the Past by Taggart Murphy Destined for War by Graham Allison Envy by Helmut Schoeck Cynical Theories by James Lindsay Spiral Dynamics by Don Beck Forgotten Truth by Houston Smith The Economics of Discontent by Jean Michel Paul
Published 03/17
The Politics of Dehumanization
1
Reality operates through paradox—simultaneously everything and nothing, connected yet divided. The most revealing truth? People project their own nature onto their enemies. The left accuses the right of exactly what it does itself: institutional control, hatred, and power obsession. Modern civilization's greatest hypocrisy? Proudly championing "human rights" while systematically dehumanizing its population into interchangeable cogs. This isn't a bug—it's industrial society's primary function and underlying purpose. SPONSORS: NetSuite:  More than 41,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine learning: https://netsuite.com/102 Shopify:  Shopify powers millions of businesses worldwide, handling 10% of U.S. e-commerce. With hundreds of templates, AI tools for product descriptions, and seamless marketing campaign creation, it's like having a design studio and marketing team in one. Start your $1/month trial today at https://shopify.com/cognitive LINKS: Link to my second podcast on world history and interviews:    / @history102-qg5oj   Link to my Twitter-https://twitter.com/whatifalthist?ref... Link to my Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/rudyardwlyn... RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. Founders Fund's Delian Asparouhov and researcher Nadia Asparouhova kick off the series with an unfiltered conversation about their relationship evolution. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVg YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod Bibliography: The Lonely Crowd by David Riesman Thus Spake Zarathustra by Nietzche Darkness at Noon by Arthur Koestler The Gulag Archipelago by Solzenitsyn Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker The Blank Slate by Steven Pinker Humanity's Ascent by Charles Eisenstein The Unabomber's Manifesto Man and His Symbols by Carl Jung Das Kapital by Karl Marx Universe 65 by Calhoun Sex and Power in History by Amaury de Riencourt Nihilism by Seraphim Rose The Passion of the Western Mind by Tarnas A Secular Age by Charles Taylor Seeing like a State by James Scott The Leviathan and Its Enemies by Sam Francis The Managerial Revolution by James Burnham The Master and His Emissary by Ian McGhilchrist Atrocities by Matthew White The Decline of the West by Oswald Spengler The History of Philosophy by Will Durant The History of Philosophy by Bertrand Rusell The Web of Meaning by Jeremy Lent Envy by Helmut Schoeck The Happiness Hypothesis by John Haidt
Published 2/08/2025