This post contains affiliate links, including links from the Amazon Associates programs. These links will direct you to products I recommend for further exploration and enjoyment of the topics I cover on my website and in my lectures. See more in the Privacy Policy below.
I’ve got you covered in this post!
There are so many great history podcasts at the moment — almost too many to keep up with. The podcast format seems designed to cover human history in a long, leisurely, and detailed way. I’m currently subscribed to over 10, and listen to them whenever my hands (or legs) are occupied by the mind is free: washing dishes, tidying the house, editing photos, and of course, on travel days.
I came to history very early — my imagination set on fire by the idea of the Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans from primary school studies. I poured over a copy of D’aulaire’s Book of Greek Myths, had an intense Little House period (who didn’t?) and became fascinated by Russia and the Romanovs at age 13, which led me to study Russian History at college, and ultimately write a book on the subject.
Becoming an enrichment speaker has allowed me to once again make the history genre my day job, as I craft talks on the history of the countries we visit on the cruise ships. It is wonderful to meet so many history enthusiasts on board and gratifying to know that history is very much relevant in the public imagination. Being an enrichment speaker has allowed me to both branch out beyond Russia and do deep dives into subjects that I knew little about such as Islam, the Nabataeans, the Dukes of Burgundy, the history of Byzantium, and the Vikings, while also letting me sink deeper into topics that have always fascinated me, such as Iceland, royal history, and of course, the culinary and cultural history of major cruise destinations.
Podcasts play a big part in this work — I often begin to explore a topic by listening to a few podcasts. This helps me hone my ideas and decide on which aspects of history will interest my audience.
This post is a major update of an original post from 2018, which I also updated in 2020. I find trying just five “best podcasts” is too challenging — there have been several new additions to the podcast roster since then, and it is hard to jettison old friends for shiny new objects. I’ve included longer reviews of what I find to be consistently the most interesting history podcasts, which I listen to each week without fail, and I am also adding several more that I think are also very worthy of your exploration.
Links provided are to Apple podcasts as this is the most popular platform, but you can get these podcasts on almost any of the major platforms.
The Top 5 History Podcasts
The Rest is History
There is something about the genial geeky banter between historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, which makes the The Rest is History podcast an absolute treat. Their enthusiasm for their subjects — ranging from Cleopatra to Castro — is absolutely infectious. The Rest of History does standalone episodes, but it also does four or five episode bundles in a mini-series format, providing a deep dive into complex historical issues such as the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the Civil Rights Movement, British history, the rise of Adolf Hitler, The French Revolution, and Roman Britain. Each episode is a masterclass in bringing historical events to vivid life and into historical context. In a world where becoming breathless about battles fought during the 100 Years War is not always understood or indeed tolerated, having these guys along for the ride is a real joy. I’m delighted they are becoming household names! Nothing will speed up a long car ride like some time with Tom and Dom!
Related Books
- Dominick Sandbrook is the author of numerous books, including the very engaging “Adventures in Time” series for children.
- Tom Holland is the author of several books, focusing on Roman history including his latest: Pax: War and Peace in Rome’s Golden Age
- The podcast has one related book, which covers popular questions about history and is a light but engaging read: The Rest Is History: From Ancient Rome to Ronald Reagan―History’s Most Curious Questions, Answered
The Ancients
The Ancients with Tristan Hughes is part of the sprawling History Hit Channel run by the indomitable Dan Snow, which has been likened to the history channel for podcasts. I enjoy many of the shows on the channel, but I literally pounce on The Ancients as soon as it drops into my feed. As the title suggests, the Ancients covers all aspects of ancient civilizations and ancient history. The format is an interview with a leading academic, museum creator, or archaeologist. Besides being a passionate historian, Hughes is also a meticulous researcher, and the resulting episodes are fluid, succinct, and highly informative…the occasional series, such as Biblical topics, which looked into historical evidence for events recounted in both the Old and New Testaments, allows The Ancients to dive deeper into these complex and compelling topics. I’ve learned so much about the ancient world from The Ancients, particularly the Persian Empire, the Roman Empire, ancient Babylonia, all things Alexander the Great, and an array of Biblical topics. I keep coming back for more!
Other History Hit Shows
In Our Time History
When I meet someone who “hasn’t really caught the podcast bug,” I become positively annoying about In Our Time with Melvyn Bragg from BBC Radio 4. This weekly 50-minute podcast chooses one topic from a wide range of thematic buckets: science, religion, history, and social science, and invites three experts to do a thorough analysis of the subject, moderated by Bragg. When I first started listening, I tended to pick and choose, but today I simply listen to each episode be it the life of Ibn Sina or the history of calculus. Each episode is fascinating and you cannot help but emerge better informed and often eager to learn more about the topic. In the past, my one criticism was that Bragg could be somewhat condescending to his female guests, but I have the sense in the more recent episodes that this has been brought to his attention and he is making an effort to curb his slightly misogynistic tendencies. This has only made the show better, and I eagerly look forward to its arrival each week in my feed. I get a lot of ideas for enrichment topics from In Our Time, and a huge amount of enjoyment — this is such a valuable resource to anyone who is human!
Companion Book
The In Our Time: The Companion is a wonderful guide to this long-running podcast by Melvyn Bragg and producer Simon Tillotson
Empire
Ah…Empire. This semi-weekly podcast with William Dalrymple and Anita Anand has leapt to the top of podcast charts and into the heart of this history buff thanks to the duo’s season-long exploration of the history of major empires including (to date) Russia, the Ottomans, Persia, America, and Britain. The episodes move chronologically, featuring interviews with leading authors and academics to cover individual historical figures. Dalrymple and Anand focus not only on how the history of empires unfolds but also on how empires end. The delightful, almost flirtatious banter between Dalrymple and Anand is the icing on the cake, making for entertaining listening as well as a thoroughly informative course on the phenomenon of empire. My only concern is that the duo are running out of empires to examine.
Related history books by the Hosts:
The History Extra Podcast
History Extra Podcast channel is an offshoot of the History Extra Magazine, the UK’s leading history magazine, and one of the more authoritative and entertaining channels out there. Hosts Ellie Cawthorne, Rhiannon Davies, and Rob Attar do a splendid job of keeping interviews with leading academics light and entertaining, while managing to provide a detailed look and tell a good story. Their regular “Everything You Wanted to Know About” series help unravel misconceptions and fill int he blanks on a wide range of topics. A subscription to History Extra Plus unlocks special series on topics such as the Bayeux Tapestry, Pearl Harbor, The World’s Greatest Cities, The First Crusade, Caesar, and Conspiracy Theories. This is classic podcasting at its best: reliable, entertaining, and informative and just a great listen!
Related:
Other Great History Podcasts
You’re Dead to Me
You’re Dead to Me with Greg Jenner blows away any remnant of the idea that history is boring. Jenner teams comedy superstars with leading historians to examine a wide range of historical topics in the perfect fusion of fun and learning.
Revolutions
Revolutions with Mike Duncan followed on from his smash hit The History of Rome, examining the phenomenon of revolution in France, America, and Russia.
The History of Rome
The History of Rome with Mike Duncan traces the rise of Rome from its legendary beginnings to the apogee of empire in one of the best of the “history of” subgenre.
Throughline
Throughline from NPR with Rund Abdelfatah is a reliably excellent podcast, which examines the historical origins of today’s headlines. An essential listen for context to recent events.
The History Chicks
The History Chicks with Beckett Graham and Susan Vollenweider considers the lives of outstanding women, whose stories are often ignored, forgotten, or suppressed. Always entertaining.
Stuff You Missed in History Class
Stuff You Missed in History Class with Holly Frey and Tracy Wilson covers an astonishing range of funky esoteric stories that might not merit mention in other podcasts. I don’t love their voices to be honest, but I often dip in to give them a second chance and am never sorry. In the end they’ve stayed the course and their output is impressive because they do an excellent job of unearthing fascinating topics.
You Must Remember This
You Must Remember This with Karina Longworth is a must for movie buffs and historians of entertainment, covering the first 100 years of Hollywood.
You’re Wrong About
You’re Wrong About with Sarah Marshall sets the record straight on aspects of history that have been misunderstood, misinterpreted, or deliberately mishandled. This is a thought-provoking listen about lesser-known stories.
Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History
I have a love/hate relationship with Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History with broadcaster Dan Carlin. The depth of research and coverage is so very impressive; his delivery, not so much. I don’t care for the slow burn aspect of it. However, his output is hard to beat — this is certainly in the top of long-runing podcasts — and his ratings suggest that my aesthetic concerns are not shared with the majority of the public, so he rates a mention here.
Equipment for Enjoying Podcasts
I listen to podcasts all day long at home, carrying my Bose Sound link Revolve+ (Series II) Bluetooth Speaker, portable speaker from room to room. I rely heavily on my Apple AirPods Max when traveling — there is nothing better for noise cancellation and quality of listening; they also now seem to be a must-have accessory for “travel cool” types, so I feel very in the loop wearing them onto the plane. I also have a pair of regular Air Pods, which I use at the gym, together with my essential Ultra Strong Magnetic Airpod Pro Strap Anti-Lost Cord Sports, which I now buy in bulk, because I don’t ever want to be without them!!
The New Books Network
I’m a sometime podcast host!
I really enjoyed my stint of podcast hosting for The New Books Network, the world’s largest podcast about books, started by Marshall Poe. It’s an impressive network of over 89 channels dedicated to a wide range of academic disciplines. Have a listen to some of my interviews with academic and food authors about their books:
