Pirates: Totalus Rankium

Here is the live speech we gave at last year's Intelligent Speech Conference. All about how you have been deceived about pirates! 
We are keynote speakers this year - tickets are out now! It's on the 28th of Feb, and if you go to intelligentspeechonline.com you can get your tickets. Use the code Rankium to get a discount!

We cover the rest of the story of Black Bart. The 3rd pirate to get the nickname of "black" in the series. but does he live up to it?

We come to another pirate with a cool nick name. Two episodes on him, but why? is the pirate we have all been waiting for?

It's not a long episode. And his name is not Christopher Condent. But don't let that disturb you - maybe he is great! Maybe?  

This week we look into the life of an Irish pirate called England! We have come across him a couple of times already, but lets see what his story is all about.

We go to the friend of Ann this week. What, if anything, makes her stand out from her partner in crime? Does she have a new and equally probably made up back story? Find out!

We get to one of the most interesting pirates of the age - Ann Bonny. The pirate world was not kind to women, so how did Ann navigate the tumultuous waters of being a pirate and a woman? Find out! (Oh, and there is a load of fun nonsense from the General History too) 

Jamie and I will be keynote speakers at next year's Intelligent Speech conference! It is always a great time. 
Intelligent Speech Online is happening February 28th, 2026.
·         The theme is Companions and Rivals
·         Tickets are on sale at intelligentspeechonline.com
·         Earlybird pricing is available on tickets until December 31st, 2025.
·         Use discount code Rankium to get a discount!
·         Your ticket includes access to recorded copies of all presentations of the day, in case you aren’t able to attend live
Intelligent Speech is a veritable three ring circus of content, composed of four virtual “rooms” running 40 minute sessions simultaneously. In one of the said rooms, the session consists of a roundtable discussion and Q&A with our hand-selected panellists. In the regular sessions, a fascinating online personality will present a topic of their choice, followed by a lively Q&A with the audience. These Q&As, together with space and time for separate chats, create a unique experience in which members of the community can engage directly with the creators they follow.

At the end of Vane's episode he was overtaken by his quartermaster. But who was that man? Why was he wearing these clothes, and why are the turtle hunters so buff? Find out!

Last time we saw what he got up to under Henry Jennings. But now he is on his own leading a pirate faction against all the leading pirates. Oh, and Woods Rogers is on his way!