Pirate stories often sound like adventure — treasure maps, freedom, and life on the open sea. But the real life aboard a pirate ship was far from paradise. It was harsh, dirty, and often short-lived.

In this calm, long-form history, we drift gently through:

• The cramped, disease-ridden conditions on board

• The strict pirate codes and surprising shipboard democracy

• The food, drink, and punishments that shaped daily life

• The myths versus the reality of treasure and plunder

• How most pirate lives ended — not in glory, but on the gallows

Told slowly and softly, this story strips away the legend and reveals the quiet, uncomfortable truth of piracy’s so-called golden age. Perfect for late-night listening, when you want history that soothes instead of excites.

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