Author: Geoff Micks
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Q&A Mailbag Bonus Episode: The Tape Recorder Trilogy

Here’s a Q&A Mailbag episode to bridge the gap between Seasons Two and Three! We received questions through the Typeform link in every episode’s show notes, as well as via Bluesky, Facebook, LinkedIn, Reddit, and by email. There were so many great topic ideas and discussion prompts, in fact, that there is another ~30-minute ‘bonus of…
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Season Two Historical Notes and Acknowledgments: The Tape Recorder Trilogy

An end-of-season extra episode offering some updates on the podcast, background on the history behind the content, and also some much-deserved credit to the people who helped make Season Two and the book it was based upon possible. Based on the historical notes and acknowledgements of Beginning by Geoff Micks. Enjoying the show? Tell…
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Buboes: The Tape Recorder Trilogy – S2E16

(~541 – 542 CE · Constantinople, Egypt, & the Waters Between & 2015 CE · Northern India) The Narrator is living a happy life as the dutiful husband of a devout Christian woman in Constantinople when an apocalyptic plague sweeps across the known world killing millions. Based on Chapter 15 of Middle by Geoff Micks. …
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The Fall of a Colossus: The Tape Recorder Trilogy – S2E15

(~79 – ~540 CE · Gades & Rome) The Narrator’s great project in the heart of downtown Rome evolves and changes over time, just as the Roman Empire does too. From dizzying heights, the decline and fall happens both slowly and seemingly all at once. By the time this particular story ends, there is almost…
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The Rise of a Colossus: The Tape Recorder Trilogy – S2E14

(~55 – ~79 CE · Gades & Rome) The Narrator has a reoccurring dream of a statue that moves and changes its face. While discussing it with a charlatan posing as a soothsayer, he decides on what his next great adventure must be. Though he hates the place, he needs to go to Rome at…
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The Governor: The Tape Recorder Trilogy – S2E13

(60 BCE · Gadir/Gades, Rome, & the Sea Between) The Narrator sails someone from Further Spain to Rome in under sixteen days. As a result, that man went on to become arguably one of the most famous people who ever lived. Based on Chapter 13 of Middle by Geoff Micks. Gadir/Gades in the time of…
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Zama, Nadir: The Tape Recorder Trilogy – S2E12

(216 – 202 BCE · Carthage) The Narrator describes the rest of the Second Punic War, including the battle of Zama, the fall of Carthage, and the aftermath. Based on Chapter 12 of Middle by Geoff Micks. The bust of the Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca was discovered in the Italian city of Capua in 1667.…
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Cannae, Zenith: The Tape Recorder Trilogy – S2E11

(220 – 216 BCE · Carthage) The Narrator recaps the first half of the Second Punic War to set the scene for when Mago and Marco brought news of Hannibal’s great victory at Cannae back to Carthage. Based on Chapter 11 of Middle by Geoff Micks. The bust of the Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca was discovered…
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A Champion with a Stick: The Tape Recorder Trilogy – S2E10

(~330 – ~220 BCE · Western Europe, Northern Africa & Southern Spain) The Narrator offers a brief summary of the First Punic War from the Carthaginian perspective to prepare listeners for the story of how he first met and became the patron of the Spanish bandit Marco, a man forgotten by history but destined for…
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The Knock at The Door: The Tape Recorder Trilogy – S2E09

(2015 CE · Northern India) The Narrator meets the woman whose visit has haunted his dreams. Based on Chapter 9 of Middle by Geoff Micks. A photo of Rishikesh, India taken from uphill by Vikram Singh Valera in 2021, generously made publicly available on Wikipedia. I was not able to find the photo of Paul…