https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/power-politics-unraveling-history--6705246enSocial Sciences2025https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/ec145293c17f946181432748ce517454.jpghttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/power-politics-unraveling-history--6705246Sun, 23 Aug 2026 16:01:51 +0000Martin A. LessemMartin A. Lessemmartinlessem.talent@gmail.comPower & Politics: Unraveling History is a monthly podcast that will examine the history surrounding major political thoughts and issues. The first season we will be looking at the Constitution of the United States, through the history that...false9044621b-7ae2-5ec1-b1ad-6bf481e7edbeepisodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s2e1-petiton-of-right--74559597
As always, we will then look at how this influenced our own Constitution here in the United States. This is a longer Episode, but one well worth understanding if you want a better grasp of how the Third, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments came about.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74559597Sun, 23 Aug 2026 16:00:02 +0000Martin A. LessemToday we will be looking at the Petition of Right from England. To understand it, we will need to first take a brief look at England under both James I and mainly, his son, Charles I. We will look at the cuases of the English Civil War, which will...
As always, we will then look at how this influenced our own Constitution here in the United States. This is a longer Episode, but one well worth understanding if you want a better grasp of how the Third, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments came about.]]>4929charlesi,jamesi,olivercromwell,petitionofright,politics,usconstitutionfalse21fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1e12-season-finale--73035523
This Episode looks back at the first Season and gives you a small taste of what is coming in the second Season. Season two is a go and starts in August! ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73035523Sat, 18 Jul 2026 16:00:02 +0000Martin A. LessemThis is the Season Finale for the First Season of Power & Politics: Unraveling History. It has been a busy year, from an academic perspective for me as I finished my Masters Degree in political Science, and politically with everything going on in...
This Episode looks back at the first Season and gives you a small taste of what is coming in the second Season. Season two is a go and starts in August! ]]>721politicalhistory,politics,uspoliticsfalse112fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1e11-how-the-us-influenced-the-french-revolution--72507952
We will look at three of the main men who influenced the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen of 1789, the Marquis de Lafayette, Thomas Jefferson, and Thomas Paine.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72507952Sat, 13 Jun 2026 16:00:03 +0000Martin A. LessemToday we will be looking at something a little different, specifically, how the United States, and the seeds of modern-day democracy from here, influenced the French Revolution, and as such, this episode will be a little shorter than some of the...
We will look at three of the main men who influenced the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen of 1789, the Marquis de Lafayette, Thomas Jefferson, and Thomas Paine.]]>18431776,americanrevolution,frenchrevolution,history,marquisdelafayette,politicalhistory,politics,thomasjefferson,thomaspainefalse111fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1e10-a-discourse-on-impeachment-and-the-25th-amendment--72025844
This is especially important these days as I have seen so many misconceptions about both of these two Constitutional concepts floating around the internet. The memes which pop up regarding impeachment are especially headache inducing.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72025844Sat, 16 May 2026 16:00:03 +0000Martin A. LessemToday we will be examining the Impeachment Clause in the Constitution and the 25th Amendment with an eye toward what can realistically happen in the United States over the next two and a half years. This is especially important these days as I have...
This is especially important these days as I have seen so many misconceptions about both of these two Constitutional concepts floating around the internet. The memes which pop up regarding impeachment are especially headache inducing.]]>136825thamendment,constitution,impeachment,politicsfalse110fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1e9-the-court-of-the-star-chamber--71198821
Sometimes it is not a specific law or document that we need to look at to understand the United States Constitution, but a historical concept or event. These can be just as influential as documents for very similar reasons. One of these concepts which clearly showed influence on the United States Constitution, was the now infamous Court of the Star Chamber which rose to prominence under the Plantagenet and Tudor dynasties but was most ferociously wielded by the Stuarts.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71198821Sat, 18 Apr 2026 16:00:02 +0000Martin A. LessemToday we will be looking at the Court of the Star Chamber under the Tudors and Stuarts mainly, and how the abuses there led us to what we have in our Constitution now with the protections of Rights, especially in the Bill of Rights. Sometimes it is...
Sometimes it is not a specific law or document that we need to look at to understand the United States Constitution, but a historical concept or event. These can be just as influential as documents for very similar reasons. One of these concepts which clearly showed influence on the United States Constitution, was the now infamous Court of the Star Chamber which rose to prominence under the Plantagenet and Tudor dynasties but was most ferociously wielded by the Stuarts.]]>4438fifthamendment,henryviii,history,politics,starchamber,uscostitution,waroftherosesfalse19fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1e8-impeachment-a-perogative-of-parliament--70835387
To fully understand them, we will look the history surrounding this instance, and how the concepts raised influenced the US Constitution.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70835387Sat, 28 Mar 2026 16:00:02 +0000Martin A. LessemIn this, the Eighth Episode of Power & Politics: Unraveling History, we will be looking at Impeachment, and how it came about through the history of Edward III and the Hundred Years War. Actions during that conflict, led to the Impeachment of...
To fully understand them, we will look the history surrounding this instance, and how the concepts raised influenced the US Constitution.]]>3661clinton,edwardiii,impeachment,medieval,obama,politics,trump,usconstitutionfalse18fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1eb-podcasthon-2026-msf--70614655Medicines Sans Frontiers]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70614655Sat, 14 Mar 2026 16:00:02 +0000Martin A. LessemThis episode is part of Podcasthon 2026 and is all about Medicines Sans Frontiers, or Doctor's Without Borders. The work that this charity does around the globe is just amazing and critical in many impoverished areas. If you would like to learn more...Medicines Sans Frontiers]]>796charity,doctorswithoutborders,msf,podcasthon,podcasthon2026false1bonushttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1e7-two-provisions-a-statute-and-a-declaration--68574053
To fully understand them, we will look the history surrounding these documents, and how the concepts raised influenced the US Constitution.

Have you heard of Podcasthon?
🎧🌍 It’s the biggest charity Event in Podcasting world! An incredible and fast-growing non-profit initiative that unites thousands of podcasters globally. There's no money involved—it’s all about raising awareness for various charitable causes. ❤️
The initiative has already received strong backing from industry leaders and organizations like Podnews and Acast, among others! 💪 
This year, I'm proud to take part in Podcasthon, the world’s largest charity podcast event! I’ll be dedicating an episode of my podcast in March to support Médecins Sans Frontières a cause that truly matters to me.
Stay tuned for inspiring content - and let’s make a difference together!]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68574053Sat, 21 Feb 2026 17:00:02 +0000Martin A. LessemIn this, the Seventh Episode of Power & Politics: Unraveling History, we will be looking at four different documents which are all interrelated, and the history behind them. These are the Provisions of Oxford and Westminster, the Statute of...
To fully understand them, we will look the history surrounding these documents, and how the concepts raised influenced the US Constitution.

Have you heard of Podcasthon?
🎧🌍 It’s the biggest charity Event in Podcasting world! An incredible and fast-growing non-profit initiative that unites thousands of podcasters globally. There's no money involved—it’s all about raising awareness for various charitable causes. ❤️
The initiative has already received strong backing from industry leaders and organizations like Podnews and Acast, among others! 💪 
This year, I'm proud to take part in Podcasthon, the world’s largest charity podcast event! I’ll be dedicating an episode of my podcast in March to support Médecins Sans Frontières a cause that truly matters to me.
Stay tuned for inspiring content - and let’s make a difference together!]]>4354edwardi,england,henryiii,history,podmatch,politics,robertthebruce,usconstitutionfalse17fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1e6-magna-carta--68509856Magna Carta. From the founding of "modern" England in 1066 through the reign of King John, to 1215 when Magna Carta became a thing. We will look at how this document influenced the US Constitution, and how it still holds influence today.

Understanding the History which influenced the Framers is important, so this episode focuses on that history. ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68509856Sat, 24 Jan 2026 17:00:07 +0000Martin A. LessemIn this, the Sixth episode of Power & Politics: Uraveling History, we look at the History behind Magna Carta. From the founding of "modern" England in 1066 through the reign of King John, to 1215 when Magna Carta became a thing. We will look at...Magna Carta. From the founding of "modern" England in 1066 through the reign of King John, to 1215 when Magna Carta became a thing. We will look at how this document influenced the US Constitution, and how it still holds influence today.

Understanding the History which influenced the Framers is important, so this episode focuses on that history. ]]>2835history,kingjohn,magnacarta,podmatch,politics,usconstitutionfalse16fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1e5-the-constitutions-and-assize-of-clarendon--68406786
The concepts introduced in the Constitutions and the Assize touch upon our Freedom of Religion, Trial by Jury, the concept of a Grand jury, and thoughts on Evidence.

Some of the background music is by Algal the Bard, and I hope he is okay with me usuing some of his Bardcore music. Tthe rest of the music in the episode are actual pieces from the early 1200's and 1300's, excluding our normal Intro and Outro.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68406786Sat, 13 Dec 2025 17:00:08 +0000Martin A. LessemIn this, the Fifth Episode of Power & Politics: Unraveling History, we look at The Constitutions and Assize of Clarendon. These were two documents which came about during the reign of Henry II of England, but to understand how he got to the...
The concepts introduced in the Constitutions and the Assize touch upon our Freedom of Religion, Trial by Jury, the concept of a Grand jury, and thoughts on Evidence.

Some of the background music is by Algal the Bard, and I hope he is okay with me usuing some of his Bardcore music. Tthe rest of the music in the episode are actual pieces from the early 1200's and 1300's, excluding our normal Intro and Outro.]]>2701empressmathilda,england,history,kinghenryii,kingstephen,podmatch,politics,theanarchy,thomasbecket,usconstitutionfalse15fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1e4-a-discussion-on-the-bill-of-rights--68380531
The Constitution of the United States is among the most unique documents in the history of the world. Some may claim that religious texts fall into this category, and while it will be granted that they are unique in their origin, their uniqueness ends there, as many of them borrow from the same fables and stories of the past. Other documents, such as the Declaration of Independence and Magna Carta share their uniqueness with the US Constitution, and as we shall see, helped to influence that document.

My original plan had been to just talk about this in general terms, but with everything going on in the world at the moment, and especially the United States, I will be offering some commentary on what is currently going on. As a further disclaimer, I am on the liberal side of the spectrum, and while I will do my best to remain impartial, and will present anything current in solely factual terms, I may interject my opinion and it will be based on research and the history which we know.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68380531Sat, 15 Nov 2025 17:00:08 +0000Martin A. LessemFor this Episode of Power & Politics: Unraveling History, I am happy to welcome Professor Deborah Anthony from the University of Illinois at Springfield as my guest. We will be discussing the First, Fourth, Fifith, Sixth, Eighth and Fourteenth...
The Constitution of the United States is among the most unique documents in the history of the world. Some may claim that religious texts fall into this category, and while it will be granted that they are unique in their origin, their uniqueness ends there, as many of them borrow from the same fables and stories of the past. Other documents, such as the Declaration of Independence and Magna Carta share their uniqueness with the US Constitution, and as we shall see, helped to influence that document.

My original plan had been to just talk about this in general terms, but with everything going on in the world at the moment, and especially the United States, I will be offering some commentary on what is currently going on. As a further disclaimer, I am on the liberal side of the spectrum, and while I will do my best to remain impartial, and will present anything current in solely factual terms, I may interject my opinion and it will be based on research and the history which we know.]]>3738billofrights,history,legal,podmatch,politics,supremecourt,uis,usconstitutionfalse14fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1e3-the-bill-of-rights-part-2--68126847https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68126847Sat, 18 Oct 2025 16:00:09 +0000Martin A. Lessemin this, the third episode of Power & Politics: Unraveling History, we look at the second half od the Bill of Rights and the importance of these last five Amendments. We examine how they came about and some of the history surrounding them. We also...1862billofrights,constitution,history,podmatch,politics,usfalse13fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1e2-the-bill-of-rights-part-1--67832152https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67832152Mon, 29 Sep 2025 01:24:12 +0000Martin A. LessemWelcome to Season 1, Episode 2 of the Power of Politics: Unraveling History. This Episode will be looking at the first five Amendments to the Constitution, the first half of the Bill of Rights. We will examine the history behind them, and we will see...2692constitution,freedoms,history,podmatch,politics,rightsfalse12fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1e1-introduction-and-declaration-of-independence--67296789https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67296789Fri, 08 Aug 2025 04:32:34 +0000Martin A. LessemIn this episode, we look at the men who wrote the Declaration of Independence and why we had a formal declaration for separating from the United Kingdom. It is the first step toward understanding the United States Constitution.1766history,podmatch,politicalscience,politicsfalse1full