High Quality History Podcasts

A curated podcast list by
SamuelHume

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About This List

This is a collection of historical podcasts that I have either personally found to maintain a high standard of accuracy, entertainment, and presentation, or have it on good authority that they do so. If your favourite show is not on this list, it doesn't necessarily mean that it hasn't made the cut. There are a lot of worthwhile shows out there that I haven't listened to yet. Suggestions are welcome!

Topical
Revolutions
42
12 40 517
A weekly podcasting exploring great political revolutions. Now: The Russian Revolution Next: ???
Society Culture
SamuelHume
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!
Tides of History
21
4 27 122
New episodes come out Thursdays for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers.Everywhere around us are echoes of the past. Those echoes define the boundaries of states and countries, how we pray and how we fight. They determine wh
History Society Culture
SamuelHume
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.
When Diplomacy Fails Podcast
5
6 18
A podcast covering the build up to, breakout of and consequences of various conflicts in history. Get bonus content on Patreon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Society Culture History
SamuelHume
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!
Second Decade
This is a historical show examining the momentous events and interesting people of the second decade of the 19th century, the 1810s. From Jefferson to Napoleon, from Iceland to Antarctica, historian Sean Munger will give you a tour of the decad
SamuelHume
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.
Stuff What You Tell Me! || Rebellion and Resistance in History, Art and Culture
Stuff What You Tell Me! is a podcast telling stories of rebellion and resistance in history, art and culture. Created by two contrary Australians living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, we explore the wider role of rebellion in history, by delvin
SamuelHume
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.
80 Days: An Exploration Podcast
80 Days is a podcast dedicated to exploring little-known countries, territories settlements and cities around the world. We're part history podcast, part geography podcast and part ramble. Each episode, we'll land in a new locale and spend some
SamuelHume
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.
History Of The Great War
History of the Great War is a weekly podcast that will cover the First World War that occurred from 1914 and 1918. Every week we will be discussing the events that occurred exactly 100 years ago.
SamuelHume
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!
The History of WWII Podcast - by Ray Harris Jr
A biweekly podcast covering the last great war. Join Ray Harris Jr as he explores World War Two in intimate detail.
SamuelHume
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.
Why Is That Podcast
The Why Is That Podcast is a podcast that explores the origins of today's common occurrences from word etymology to holiday traditions and everywhere in between. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
SamuelHume
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?

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