Topical - Focused on one particular theme or global event
When Mike Duncan finished off the History of Rome, this was the project that he focused his knowledge and experience of podcasting on. This show looks at different revolutions and rebellions, how they came about, and what happened to the participants. The English Civil War, American Revolution, French Revolution, Haitian Revolution, and now the various revolutions of the 19th century are all covered in this show. Man the barricades!
A highly qualified and entertaining presenter, Dr Patrick Wyman hosts this thematic show. Incredibly well produced and highly informative, you know you’re getting accurate info from him. Dr Wyman creates composite characters, individuals that didn’t actually exist, but who are based on a range of people that did, to put his listeners into their shoes. It really helps contextualise events and societies that are completely alien to us; what the daily life of a Venetian merchant was like, or how European society kept going after the ravages of the Black Death etc. Backed up by the latest in scholarship, Tides of History is certainly worth a listen.
As you might expect from the name, Zack Twamley’s podcast is all about war, and particularly why wars happen, and it’s great. He does an amazing job of looking at the build up to wars, key battles, and important personalities. His, frankly ridiculous, work ethic means that you will probably never run out of content, which is always positive when you find a show as good as this!
Dr Sean Munger has chosen a single decade, the 1810s, for the topic of his show. This might seem like a very short time frame to dedicate a podcast to, but not at all. After all, this is the time of Napoleon, Bolivar, Frankenstein, and Madison, and one of those is not like the other.
A show all about the injustices of history, and the attempts by ordinary people to fight them. There are few podcasts that I’ve listened to that have made me angry, but this is one of them. Not at the show itself, of course, but at what people have suffered, and how often it keeps happening.
This is all tempered by the thoroughly enjoyable presentation. Imagine a more erudite, reasonable, and less-shouty Jim Jefferies, and you have the right idea.
Three Irish history and geography nerds in an internet-powered balloon talk about unusual, unknown, and unique places in the world. If you read their episode list and haven’t heard of the locations they cover, give it a download and listen. Every episode is devoted to a small, out of the way, unknown or just unique part of the world; it could be the Walled City of Howloon, the Jewish Autonomous Oblast in eastern Siberia, Liechtenstein or the Isle of Man.
We are just a few months away from the centenary of the Armistice. Now is the time to learn more about such a critical war, a conflict that is often overshadowed by its more destructive younger brother. This show is definitely worth your time, and if it strikes you fancy there are over a hundred and fifty episodes to binge through!
I don’t think any podcaster in this list has a topic as famous as Ray Harris has, and he does it great justice. If you have any interest in the Second World War, and who doesn’t, give this a try. With over 200 episodes to choose from, you may very well be spoilt for choice.
Your one-stop-shop for random chunks of knowledge. Travis answers questions you didn’t even realise you had; do you give a damn about the origins of ‘I don’t give a damn!’? Why do different countries drive on different sides of the road? What makes flags so ubiquitous, and why is the middle finger the black sheep of the hand family?
With a voice and style that is incredibly enjoyable to listen to, CJ will take you through some of the most controversial and fascinating subjects in all of history. Willing and eager to go against the grain when needed, Dangerous History is well worth a listen.
The past is a foreign country, and this show epitomises that. Everything from serfdom to self-mummification, witchcraft to Josep Tito, Dead Ideas handles the bizarre, unusual, and fascinating. Hosted by B. T. Newburg and supported by a range of co-hosts, listen to this if you’re interested in all the weird and wonderful things that humans have been up to.
Devon Field’s show is all about creating tales of subjects that are often forgotten in today’s world. He has a talent at making the listener feel like they know the individuals in each of his stories, with details and perspectives that help bring the people he talks about alive, while also setting them firmly in their surroundings and societies.
Two things tend to said when History on Fire is brought up. The first is that Bolelli is Italian, which is quite a rare accent in history podcasting, and notable because of it. The second thing is that History on Fire is INCREDIBLE. The depth and detail Professor Bolelli brings to the table is a good thing on its own, but the entertainment value he brings is on another level.
If someone has only ever listened to one history podcast in their entire life, chances are good that it was this. What can I say about this podcast that hasn’t been said a thousand times before? Dan Carlin may not keep to the same level of detail and accuracy as most of the other podcasters in this list, but he makes up for it tenfold in entertainment. Also, if I didn’t include him in this list, I’d get yelled at!
European History
THE classic history podcast by Mike Duncan. If your hypothetical one-podcast listener hadn’t heard of Hardcore History, they’ll have heard of the History of Rome. From the legendary foundation of the Eternal City, to the last western Emperor, this is a monumental undertaking, and every second is worth it.
Brilliant, funny, entertaining look at every aspect of English history. David Crowther is a self-described ‘man-in-a-shed’, a stereotypical ‘dad’ with all the awful jokes, cliché accents, and personal injections you’d expect. As of writing, Henry VIII has just died, and we are entering the era of Regency, Bloody Mary, and Gloriana!
A series of discussions between the creator of the History of England, and the creator of 10 American Presidents, two proud Englishmen who hate the way English patriotism has been co-opted by ugly racism and xenophobia. Each episode one of them brings up an institution or event that they believe ‘made England’; some you might expect, like 1066 and Dunkirk, but others might take you by surprise, such as the discussions on Ska and Brown Sauce. Together they decide where it can go on display in ‘The Cabinet’ as one of the things that made England. Very relaxed, often quite thought-provoking, and highly entertaining.
I don’t think there’s a show on this list that goes into greater depth than BHP. After 300 regular episodes, not counting all the bonus and premium episodes, Jamie is on Æthelstan, first King of the English. Astonishingly good podcast, and well worth your time.
Chris’ passionate interest in the Victorians shines through in this monthly show. So far, he has examined the foundation of the Victorian era in the ashes of the Napoleonic Wars, as Britain finally triumphs over its continental rival, ushering in the Pax Britannica.
This may come as a shock, but the topic of this podcast involves Napoleon Bonaparte. However, it also involves a highly engaging narrative of the context of 18th and 19th century Europe, how and why the French Revolution broke out, and the rise to power of the man himself. An incredible look at an incredible topic.
A spiritual successor to the History of Rome. Robin Peirson’s History of Byzantium continues from there, breathing incredible life into the medieval Roman Empire that is often overlooked. Hear about the reigns of emperors you’ve heard of, like Justinian and Nikephoros Phokas, and those you might not have, like Heraclius or Michael the Amorian. The political scheming may be appropriately Byzantine (heh) but Robin steers you through it like an expert.
The history of Bulgaria is often criminally overlooked. If you don’t believe me, give this show a listen. Think of this like the more relaxed cousin to the History of Byzantium, due to how often their stories coincide.
Dr Patrick Wyman’s earlier work, and just as premium quality as Tides. Rome is his specialty, you can tell that this is a topic that he is passionate and incredibly knowledgeable about.
Ryan Stitt’s show covers every possible aspect of the Greek civilisation, from the set piece battles that have echoed down the millennia, to the philosophers and playwrights whose works have played an immeasurable role in the development of ‘Western Civilisation’. Also, there’s the Bacchanalia. Don’t know what that is? Don’t just google it, give this show a listen and find out.
From the barbarian tribes that plagued Rome to the Kaiser of the German Empire, Travis Dow is covering the history of the Germanic peoples who have played a central role in not just European, but global, history. As an added bonus, you can listen to it in a choice of English, Germany, or Arabic!
Vikings are fun. This is an incontrovertible fact. I say this with a millennium or more to keep them away from me, since they’re still the baddies. I certainly wouldn’t want to be resident along any stretch of European water for roughly three centuries. Still, they’re fun to learn about, and Noah backs up his own knowledge and expertise with guest appearances from a variety of experts, from re-enactors to leading academics.
It seems to me that Poland is one of those countries that tends to get overlooked, except when it falls victim to one of its neighbours. Trevor does an amazing job at fixing that. Currently in the medieval era, Trevor has shown Poland unite, fall apart, reunite, adopt Christianity, reject Christianity, play kingmaker in Russia and play the diplomatic game with the Holy Roman Empire and Hungary. It is a genuine treat to see a new episode appear in my feed, and it will be the same for you.
Possibly the youngest podcast in this list, Pontifacts has come rushing out of the gate. Bry and Fry are devoting an episode to each Pope, and most anti-popes; this means that some of the episodes will be incredibly short (how much can you really talk about Urban VII’s 13 day reign?) and others will be incredibly long (John Paul II for example, but that will be a while away in show-time). One of the few collaborative shows to make this list, and well deserved.
American History
A podcast that uses the political institutions of the American Colonies as a framework for a history of the continent. How did the English settlements react to the turbulent religious and political upheavals back home? Did they really have to listen to a parliament that was half a world away?
A narrative of the events leading up to and during the Great Rebellion of Ungrateful Colonials…. I mean, the American War of Independence. Sorry, that just slipped out.
Michael Troy takes an incredibly detailed and insightful look at the context of the war, the growing discontent with the political situation, and how the conflict was actually fought.
Hosted by a Stanford PhD student, Daniel speaks to some of the leading scholars on Antebellum America, the crème de la crème of academia, and so presents his listeners with high quality information. That’s important for a subject as controversial as Jacksonian America, with topics like slavery, relations with Indians, piracy, and banking.
I have enjoyed every interview I’ve listened to, and come away knowing a lot more than I did about this era.
Telling the story of the US Civil War through the lens of the individuals involved, ranging from the generals and politicians you might have heard of, and the less famous but just as fascinating people among the millions the conflict effected, Christopher Moore does a fantastic job of teaching the subject. As someone who didn’t know much about it, as a non-American, Portraits has greatly helped fix my lackluster knowledge!
You may like to think of these last four podcasts as linked. Listen to all four, and you’ll get a pretty good grasp of the makings of the modern United States
Created by Roifield Brown, this show brings on a variety of quality podcasters to talk about… American Presidents. Dan Carlin talked about Nixon, Mike Duncan about George Washington etc. They’re engrossing to listen to, and each host brings their own style to the episodes.
Asian History
Chris Stewart does an amazing job at making a several thousand year old civilisation consumable for ordinary people. I wouldn’t have a chance of either remember or pronouncing the various Chinese names, dynasties, and regions without him. Absolutely incredible history with so much brutal slaughter and machiavellian politics it’s like if A Song of Ice and Fire had a baby with Warhammer 40k, and the baby had the Mandate of Heaven to do whatever it wanted, including wipe out entire family trees based on a whiff of treason, or sacrifice thousands of lives to build a monument to their own divinity, before drinking mercury to try and reach immortality.
A topical podcast, rather than a narrative history, Laszlo’s China History Podcast covers subjects as varied as they are informative. How did the Middle Kingdom develop its martial arts? What happened when Nixon visited the PRC? Why is tea so important? Seriously. There is a ten-part series on tea. It’s a big deal.
A former-PhD student at the University of Washington, Isaac Meyer proves his credentials not only by having one of the best logos in all of podcasting, but also because his doctorate was on… the History of Japan! With almost 250 episodes so far, set aside some time for this incredibly thorough and fascinating show.
