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20 of the Best History Podcasts for Bringing the Past to Life

A curated podcast list by
Morgandelisle

Creation Date July 21st, 2018
Updated Date Updated July 1st, 2022
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About This List

The very best - in my humble opinion - history podcasts on all things old and dusty. Categories include: Everyone, Everywhere (podcast that cover all the world's history at any time), A Bit More Specific (shows that cover some people or just some places), The American Ones (American history, clearly), Even More Specific History (the history of the things you like), and History at High Speed (short and sweet shows)

  1. Everyone, Everywhere

  2. Dan Carlin's Hardcore History

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    In "Hardcore History" journalist and broadcaster Dan Carlin takes his "Martian", unorthodox way of thinking and applies it to the past. Was Alexander the Great as bad a person as Adolf Hitler? What would Apaches with modern weapons be like? Wil
    chinese historyHistory
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    Morgandelisle

    Dan carlin is not a historian and he wants you to know that, but the podcasting world has made it clear that he is our historian, as his show has won awards and gained a massive following over the years. Hardcore History is the place you go if you want to be prepared to lecture on a topic, because Carlin has done more research than you can imagine and makes it available in episodes that average around four hours a piece. From Rome to the Asia-Pacific War, Carlin is covering everything and sparing no detail to make sure you can learn everything possible about the world, and I am always so excited to listen.

  3. In Our Time: History

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    Historical themes, events and key individuals from Akhenaten to Xenophon.
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    Morgandelisle

    This is a podcast that goes in depth on all sorts of stories. A BBC Radio show, Melvyn Bragg discusses history from all over the world and from every century to reveal things you may have never heard or give more information on something you’ve heard many times. I appreciate that Bragg has different guests who specialize in the history being discussed, who he makes sure he turns to for expertise, varying perspectives, and to answer his questions. I like that the show is discussion driven but stays on topic and gives me all the information I could want. Episodes average forty-one minutes in length.

  4. Revisionist History

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    Revisionist History is Malcolm Gladwell's journey through the overlooked and the misunderstood. Every episode re-examines something from the past—an event, a person, an idea, even a song—and asks whether we got it right the first time. From Pus
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    Morgandelisle

    What about history do you feel you know for a fact? That there is no debate on, that is set in stone? Well, Malcolm Gladwell is here to show you what you may have missed and how that little detail or perspective or person or word, just might change how we understand the topic altogether on his podcast, Revisionist History. I love how Malcolm weaves a fascinating story using narration, interviews, recordings, and dramatic reenactments to make old history and overlooked stories something I am happy to get lost in for a while. Episodes average thirty-six minutes in length.

  5. Lore

    Lore is a bi-weekly podcast (now also a TV show and book series) about dark historical tales. Each episode explores the mysterious creatures, tragic events, and unusual places that fill the pages of history. Because sometimes the truth is more
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    Morgandelisle

    This is a storytelling podcast for all the stories you’ve never heard and probably the ones you never really wanted to hear. Aaron Mahnke takes a deep-dive into the dark parts and people that are scattered across the centuries by telling gruesome, frightful, or horrifying stories that are easily overlooked because that’s just much more comfortable. But the subjects combined with Mahnke’s grim sense of humor make this an addicting and educational show. And, if you do become addicted, you can get even more content as Lore has become a book and a television show. Episodes average twenty-nine minutes in length.

  6. Stuff You Missed in History Class

    Join Holly and Tracy as they bring you the greatest and strangest Stuff You Missed In History Class in this podcast by iHeartRadio.
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    Morgandelisle

    I hit this podcast up when I don't want to hear more details on topics I already know way too much about. The title says it all; Holly and Tracy take listeners through events and lives you probably haven't heard of but that had major repercussions throughout history. Personally, I love how balanced the two make the show, presenting an argument and immediately explaining the multiple — and often oppositional — viewpoints of the people involved at the time. This is also a show recognizing the many people groups whose history will never be formally taught and thus spends time on those stories. Episodes average thirty minutes in length.

  7. 1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries Podcast

    Where History Comes Alive! A fast-paced, well-researched weekly podcast covering a wide range of historical events, persons, places, legends, and mysteries, hosted by Jon Hagadorn. 1001 Heroes Podcast is a proud part of the 1001 Stories Podcast
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    Morgandelisle

    History is clearly all about stories, and this is the place for every story imaginable, including the ones that may or may not be true but are still inspiring us and our culture today. Jon Hagadorn walks you through history as if you were reading a fictional short story and with as much enthusiasm as the nerdiest of history lovers. I love the fact that this podcast covers anything, from where Winnie the Pooh came from to UFO’s, all with the same care and historical research. Nothing is off limits and nothing is too insignificant to cover. Episodes average forty-four minutes in length.

  1. A Bit More Specific

  2. The History Chicks

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    Two women. Half the population. Several thousand years of history. About an hour.
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    Morgandelisle

    If you're like me and tired of white men dominating the history scene, this is the podcast for you. Beckett and Susan walk through every century and continent to let you know what the other sex has been up to all these years through well-researched and often humorous narratives of the women that shaped our world. I love that Beckett and Susan investigate these stories with the critical eye of a historian, but never lose sight of the fact that their subject was a human being, a woman, with feelings and thoughts and fears and choices to face. That reminder always makes these stories resonate with me. Episodes average around one hour and you can read my conversation with the hosts in Podchaser's "Articles" section.

  3. Revolutions

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    A weekly podcasting exploring great political revolutions. Now: The Russian Revolution Next: ???
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    Morgandelisle

    When Mike Duncan finished explaining to us Rome from beginning to end, he started on a new project: teaching the world about every major revolution that has happened in world history. Revolutions is now ten revolutions down and there is no end in sight as Duncan opens our eyes to where revolutions come from and who sat at the center of each of them. I love the way that Duncan focuses on a lot of different people and moments as he builds toward the revolution, providing a much larger and clearer picture of each one than I had ever encountered. Episodes average thirty-four minutes in length.

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