Paper Empires

True stories of big dreams that failed

We dig into history's most fascinating failures. Lost cities. Doomed companies. Impossible dreams. Find out what went wrong — and why it still matters today.

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73 min

The Sultana: America's Forgotten Titanic

On April 27, 1865, the steamboat Sultana exploded on the Mississippi River, killing 1,864 people—more than the Titanic. Most victims were Union POWs who had just survived Andersonville and Cahaba prison camps. This is the story of the deadliest maritime disaster in American history, buried by history because it happened the same day John Wilkes Booth was killed.

Rubber rush 31 min

Fordlandia: Henry Ford's $20 Million Amazon Disaster

In 1927, Henry Ford tried to build an American utopia in the Brazilian Amazon. White picket fences, square dances, and fire hydrants from Michigan—all transplanted into the world's most untamed jungle. What he got was worker riots, ecological collapse, and a $20 million ghost town. This is the story of Fordlandia.

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What Is This?

History Podcast About Failures

Someone had a big idea. They spent millions. It all fell apart. We tell you what happened.

Each episode covers one real story. A car company in the jungle. A city built on impossible promises. A dream that turned into a disaster. You'll learn what went wrong — and why smart people keep making the same mistakes.

No fancy words. No boring lectures. Just true stories that are stranger than fiction. Perfect for commutes, workouts, or when you can't sleep.

"Wait, that actually happened?"
— Everyone who listens

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