One hundred years ago, America entered the First World War. It was sparked by one of history’s most notorious wrong turns. That single blunder ignited a conflict that would claim more than 37 million casualties and sow the seeds of geopolitical strife for generations to come. This week, the PBS program American Experience is airing a three-part examination of WWI. Podcast host Dan Carlin appears in the program, and he joins us Monday to discuss the war’s outbreak and its place in history.

We spoke to Dan Carlin on April 6, 2017, the 100th anniversary of America's entrance into WWI. Carlin is the host of the Hardcore History and Common Sense podcasts. From 2013 to 2015, he produced a six-part series about World War I entitled "Blueprint for Armageddon." Links to those episodes can be found on his web site.

Dan Carlin also appears in a new PBS documentary about America's role in the First World War. The six-hour series for the program American Experience is called The Great War and will air in three parts, one each the nights of April 10, 11, and 12.