This week, a nor’easter uncovers a long-buried shipwreck on Nantucket—and gives us a remarkable connection to Black Sam Bellamy and the Whydah. Then Blackbeard raids a ship for its wine, Christopher Condent pulls off the pirate dream of getting rich and actually knowing when to quit, and we've got three pirate gatherings stretching from California to England.

Discover how pirate crews challenged kings long before the American Revolution, explore Disney's newest cursed pirate, and set sail on a swashbuckling adventure in Destin

Hollywood has given us a pirate image that's impossible to forget. Long coats. Towering boots. Gold buckles. Feathered hats. But how much of it is actually true? This week we're peeling back the myths to discover what pirates really wore, revisiting one of Blackbeard's most ruthless betrayals, and setting a course for Pirate Day at the Central Coast Renaissance Festival. So tighten your sash, keep one eye on the horizon, and let's separate pirate fact from pirate ficti

Every now and then, the sea gives something back. This week, archaeologists uncovered pirate-era wrecks in Nassau Harbor—the very waters once sailed by Blackbeard, Calico Jack, Charles Vane, and Henry Every. Meanwhile, we'll revisit the day Blackbeard lost the Queen Anne's Revenge, follow Levasseur's narrow escape from the Royal Navy, and raise a flag worthy of any modern pirate republic.

Some pirates chased treasure. Others chased freedom. And a rare few became legends. This week, we celebrate the rise of Black Bart Roberts—the pirate captain who captured over 400 ships and built an empire beneath the black flag. Along the way, we’ll visit pirate festivals, hidden adventures, and a Wild West journey where history itself goes off course. The horizon is calling once again. Let’s set sail. Welcome to Episode 55 of The Pirate Republic.

Not all pirates were cut from the same bloody cloth. Some ruled their decks through fear, pain, and terror. Others commanded loyalty through respect, fairness, and shared purpose. This week, we place two men beneath the same black flag — and ask a simple question: What kind of pirate leader would you follow?

In this issue, we cut through the myths to uncover what pirates really did, why certain tropes stuck, and how pirate imagery sailed from history into pop culture, sports, and modern festivals. Along the way, we’ll explore how the word “pirate” itself became a badge of rebellion—and why it still flies proudly today. No tall tales required. Just salt, history, and a sharp eye.