CU Boulder alum Dan Carlin, creator and host of the award-winning podcast Hardcore History, will give the May 7 commencement address at Folsom Field.

Carlin, who graduated from CU Boulder in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in history, worked as a journalist in television and radio before he began podcasting in 2005. Considered a pioneer in the medium, his award-winning podcast Hardcore History has been downloaded more than 100 million times.

“As we enter a new decade with many big events in store, we decided we wanted to take the time to reflect and look back on our past,” said Chad Brokaw, president of CU Boulder's Senior Class Council, which is tasked with choosing the university commencement speaker.

“All of us as students and global citizens have a shared history that brings us together in innumerable ways. We thought Mr. Carlin, with his deep insight into history, would be able to help provide a much needed perspective into our shared past and help to reveal how humanity has always come together and persevered. With Carlin’s insight, we hope our graduating students will look to the future inspired, remembering the great people who have come before them,” Brokaw said.

Carlin is also the co-creator of the 2019 award-winning “immersive memory” First World War virtual reality experience War Remains and author of The New York Times 2019 bestseller The End is Always Near: Apocalyptic Moments from the Bronze Age Collapse to Nuclear Near Misses. He lives with his wife and two teenage daughters in Eugene, Oregon.

The May 7 commencement ceremony is free and open to the public, and no tickets are required.