About this episode
Get early episodes & bonus perks on Patreon: https://patreon.com/DrowsyHistorian You join the Donner Party in 1846, chasing the American dream. What you find is starvation, snow, desperation, and one very bad shortcut. In this slow, immersive historical nightmare, we walk every brutal mile from Missouri to the Sierra Nevada — through dust, dysentery, hallucinations, and hard choices no one should have to make.This isn’t a lecture. It’s a descent into cold, hunger, and what happens when Manifest Destiny meets real life. Perfect for history lovers, dark bedtime thinkers, and anyone who’s ever wondered how bad it really got.So pull up a blanket. Dim the lights. And prepare to reflect on how thin the line is between civilization and collapse. 🛏️ Drowsy Historian’s Favorite Sleep Tools Looking to upgrade your nighttime routine? These are a few things I personally use or recommend: • Sleep Earbuds for Enhanced Immersion → https://amzn.to/4pVFoJy • Blanket Soft Enough to Make the Plague Feel Tolerable → https://amzn.to/3GSOq8f • Weighted Blanket for Pretending You’re a Mummified Pharaoh → https://amzn.to/4kVJCgE • Sleep Mask Headphones For Total Historical Escape → https://amzn.to/4nWsNVn • Book Light for Reading About Plagues at 2AM → https://amzn.to/4eSg0iu • White Noise Machine for Blocking Out the 21st Century → https://amzn.to/3GJ9jTw These are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them—at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the show while staying cozy.