Prick The Balloon
We can’t navigate safely to the future unless we understand what lies behind us. That’s why the move by cowardly politicians to limit the history we’re taught is so inexcusable. Sanitized hero worship does not move us forward. Enter Mike Vance’s podcast, the irreverent Prick the Balloon. It features Mike, a widely published historian, deflating popular myths and telling history that’s true, complete, impertinent, well-researched and fun. It’s a look at our real past, wherever that might lead us. Learning lasts a lifetime, and it might as well be enjoyable.
Episodes
![Prick the Balloon 10 - News Bias](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog17208210/10_cronkite_dsbkxp_300x300.jpg)
Tuesday Jan 30, 2024
Prick the Balloon 10 - News Bias
Tuesday Jan 30, 2024
Tuesday Jan 30, 2024
One side loves to complain about bias in the news. As always, they fail to understand the history of the topic. We had finally tamped down much of it until the system was blown apart by a conservative icon. This is the timeline of America's news.
Host Mike Vance Writer is the published author of 10 books with more on the way. He has written, produced and directed eight feature length history documentaries and over 150 short history films, and he sometimes teaches continuing studies in history at one of the country's highest rated private universities. He also headlined comedy clubs across North America for 16 years, so we'll keep things interesting.
![Prick the Balloon 9 - Party of Lincoln My Ass](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog17208210/9_Strom_Thurmond_sm_s7cykx_300x300.jpg)
Thursday Jan 11, 2024
Prick the Balloon 9 - Party of Lincoln My Ass
Thursday Jan 11, 2024
Thursday Jan 11, 2024
Political parties change. What was once a bunch of liberals becomes conservative, and vice versa. The run through of American political parties is fascinating and laugh provoking.
Host Mike Vance Writer is the published author of 10 books with more on the way. He has written, produced and directed eight feature length history documentaries and over 150 short history films, and he sometimes teaches continuing studies in history at one of the country's highest rated private universities. He also headlined comedy clubs across North America for 16 years, so we'll keep things interesting.
![Prick the Balloon 8 - Americans and Animals](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog17208210/8_Bald_eagle_at_the_Hawk_Conservancy_Trust_fwqxpi_300x300.jpg)
Thursday Dec 28, 2023
Prick the Balloon 8 - Americans and Animals
Thursday Dec 28, 2023
Thursday Dec 28, 2023
How is our relationship with animals? Have we gotten better or worse in our interactions with and stewardship of the animal kingdom around us? Mike lays it out so you can decide. But you'd better be nice to those dogs, or there will be trouble.
Host Mike Vance Writer is the published author of 10 books with more on the way. He has written, produced and directed eight feature length history documentaries and over 150 short history films, and he sometimes teaches continuing studies in history at one of the country's highest rated private universities. He also headlined comedy clubs across North America for 16 years, so we'll keep things interesting.
Creative Commons photo by Lewis Hurlbert. Thanks!
![Prick the Balloon 7 - Spanish American War](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog17208210/7_rough_riders_hej336_300x300.png)
Thursday Dec 14, 2023
Prick the Balloon 7 - Spanish American War
Thursday Dec 14, 2023
Thursday Dec 14, 2023
The Spanish-American War was a manufactured little conflict that, for the U.S. at least, lasted about three months. On the other hand it was the first time the American Empire expanded off the mainland North American continent. The lessons of intervention still apply.
Host Mike Vance Writer is the published author of 10 books with more on the way. He has written, produced and directed eight feature length history documentaries and over 150 short history films, and he sometimes teaches continuing studies in history at one of the country's highest rated private universities. He also headlined comedy clubs across North America for 16 years, so we'll keep things interesting.
![Prick the Balloon 6 - Most Corrupt State](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog17208210/6_Rod_Blagojevich_mug_shot_vpuuex_300x300.jpg)
Monday Nov 27, 2023
Prick the Balloon 6 - Most Corrupt State
Monday Nov 27, 2023
Monday Nov 27, 2023
This one is just a little fun. Sure it's history, but it's also wildly subjective. Let's face it, the U.S. is one corrupt nation, but which state takes the crown? You've probably got your own ideas, but you should get a few laughs and gasps listening to Mike's.
Host Mike Vance Writer is the published author of 10 books with more on the way. He has written, produced and directed eight feature length history documentaries and over 150 short history films, and he sometimes teaches continuing studies in history at one of the country's highest rated private universities. He also headlined comedy clubs across North America for 16 years, so we'll keep things interesting.
![Prick the Balloon 5 - Pilgrims and Puritans](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog17208210/5_puritans_2zvfqn_300x300.png)
Tuesday Nov 14, 2023
Prick the Balloon 5 - Pilgrims and Puritans
Tuesday Nov 14, 2023
Tuesday Nov 14, 2023
What should we make of those darkly pious New Englanders who sought freedom of religion in the 1600s? In Mike's opinion, the positives are few and far between. Though they have undeniably passed through several filters, their dour negativity is still being imposed on Americans today.
Host Mike Vance Writer is the published author of 10 books with more on the way. He has written, produced and directed eight feature length history documentaries and over 150 short history films, and he sometimes teaches continuing studies in history at one of the country's highest rated private universities. He also headlined comedy clubs across North America for 16 years, so we'll keep things interesting.
![Prick the Balloon 4 - US Grant](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog17208210/4_grant_6kqygu_300x300.jpg)
Monday Oct 30, 2023
Prick the Balloon 4 - US Grant
Monday Oct 30, 2023
Monday Oct 30, 2023
This episode gives a little love to a president who sometimes gets a bad rap. Though he was far from perfect, just like the rest of us, Ulysses S. Grant was a strong champion for civil rights and equality, and he even tried, unsuccessfully, to stop the nation's relentless killing of American Indians. It was Grant who gave us our first national park, too.
Host Mike Vance Writer is the published author of 10 books with more on the way. He has written, produced and directed eight feature length history documentaries and over 150 short history films, and he sometimes teaches continuing studies in history at one of the country's highest rated private universities. He also headlined comedy clubs across North America for 16 years, so we'll keep things interesting.
![Prick the Balloon 3 - Hollywood Blacklist](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog17208210/3_Nine_of_the_Hollywood_10_charged_with_contempt_of_Congress_1947_sq_z2ju68_300x300.jpg)
Sunday Oct 15, 2023
Prick the Balloon 3 - Hollywood Blacklist
Sunday Oct 15, 2023
Sunday Oct 15, 2023
The alternate title for this episode is Lucille Ball vs. John Wayne, but few things about the Hollywood Blacklist were that clear cut. It was a sad example of shutting down good Americans solely because of their beliefs, in many cases, not even their current beliefs. There is plenty of old-time movie gossip here, but also some lessons that resonate today.
Host Mike Vance Writer is the published author of 10 books with more on the way. He has written, produced and directed eight feature length history documentaries and over 150 short history films, and he sometimes teaches continuing studies in history at one of the country's highest rated private universities. He also headlined comedy clubs across North America for 16 years, so we'll keep things interesting.
![Image](https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/p4us9u/PTBlogo-Large.jpg)
Prick the Balloon
History belongs to all of us. In order to keep the idiots outside the gates, it helps to know our collective stories. But there's no reason we can't have some fun while we're learning. What could be better than than getting the whole unvarnished story from a guy who became a professional historian after 16 years of being a professional comedian?