There are hundreds of podcasts devoted to every aspect of history – the French Revolution, Ancient Rome, World War 2, you name it! It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the number of alternatives available if you’re a history fan searching for a new podcast to listen to.
Whether you are a history buff or someone who wants to broaden their horizon, here is a list of some of the best history podcasts you can listen to.
1. Slow Burn
Addressing topics ranging from Watergate to the LA Uprisings and the Iraq War, each season of ‘Slow Burn’ takes a detailed and insightful look at events you’ve undoubtedly heard about. This audio podcast from Slate magazine is perfect if you’re searching for some very in-depth explanations of significant periods in recent American history.
2. Lore
Lore is one of the cool history podcasts that delve into the world of dark and historical real crime. In this modern ghostly experience, host Aaron Mahnke investigates horrific events, unusual animals, and peculiar tales from the old days. This is not a podcast for the weak-hearted since reality is more terrifying than fiction. People who enjoy riddles, conspiracy theories and sci-fi/fantasy will particularly like this show.
3. The History Chicks
History chicks is another one of the most entertaining history podcasts that feminist history fanatics genuinely enjoy. It is a show produced by two ‘history chicks’ who analyze the most famous historical female figures.
It is guaranteed to pique your interest in the thousands of years of female history. It discusses the struggles, setbacks, and intriguing information about personalities like Charlotte Bront and Grace O’ Malley. Many segments also center on the beginnings of fairy tale characters like Cinderella and Red Riding Hood, in addition to historic personalities. Episodes on the webpage are presented in chronological sequence for easier viewing.
4. Hardcore History
Dan Carlin, a veteran reporter, uses a unique method in his podcast ‘Hardcore History,’ making it one of the best history podcasts. He is a master at using historical references to highlight current challenges. Carlin engages the audience by delivering theatrically throughout, questioning some of history’s most pivotal moments.
He comes up with ingenious perspectives on historical occurrences. Was Alexander the Great, for example, a murderous madman like Hitler? Most programs are around five hours long, yet they keep people on edge by concentrating on famous figures, battles, and nuclear proliferation, among other topics.
5. Revolutions
Major societal shifts seldom occur without a bloodbath. The tumultuous events before the English Civil War, the French Revolution, and other prominent social revolutions are narrated by Mike Duncan. Duncan’s History of Rome podcast may be of interest to enthusiasts of Revolutions. You learn a great deal about a particular topic because each season is allocated to one movement.
This film has no theatrics, sketches, special guests, soundtracks, or music. His analyses of the relevant histories aren’t very new or original, and they’re free of academic jargon as well. There’s nothing unusual here; he’s simply telling us what happened. This may be why it works so well, making it one of the best ancient history podcasts!
6. Art Curious
Do you find art history to be boring? You might want to rethink your stance after this podcast. It’s strange, humorous, intriguing, captivating, and liberating simultaneously. Jennifer’s sincerity, expertise, and excitement show that these podcasts have been thoroughly researched, meticulously produced, and delivered.
Art enthusiasts and casual listeners alike will appreciate learning about the lives of legendary painters like Van Gogh and Picasso. Jennifer stays away from focusing primarily on artists and paintings that have already garnered much attention.
7. Burnt Toast
As the name suggests, this podcast is all about food. There isn’t a better option for history buffs that are also foodies. When you visit the website, you’ll see recipes based on the presumption that all of the conversations about food have made you hungry. ‘We are what we eat’ is a famous saying, and this podcast goes on to further explore how what we consume shapes our societies.
Michael Harlan Turkell, the speaker, examines tense moments in global history through the perspective of culinary tradition and features culinary professionals for an enthralling insight as to why we eat what we eat.
Final Thoughts
Given the scope, naturally, history podcast content is extensive, and there is a vast array available to choose from. To help you decide where to begin, we’ve gone through practically every history podcast available and picked just a few of the best history podcasts.
We’ve broken them down into categories and interests and chosen the most entertaining history podcasts from them. Whether you love food, art, revolutions, or feminism – we have you covered.