Each day I sit at my desk and scroll through my podcast app trying to decide which episode and show I should listen to next. Podcasts, and specifically history podcasts, are what keep me entertained on a day-to-day basis. When I refresh my app to bring in newly released episodes I always stop to wonder what I would do if every single show in my app came back with a notification of a new episode. How would I organize which to listen to first?





This question fascinated me and I have decided to explore it by making a list of my 42 favorite history podcasts. The list is determined by which show I would listen to first. It should be noted that I have listened to far more than 42 shows so I really do love all of the shows that appear on this list and I think you would too. Or maybe I just have a problem and listen to way too many podcasts.





You might be wondering, “Why 42?” Well, if 42 is good enough to be the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything then it is certainly good enough to be my arbitrary number.





The one rule I had for this list is that it has to at least be realistic that the show would update with a new episode. That means I did not include any retired or completed shows (sorry Lars Brownworth and Neil MacGregor) and the show has to have at least one episode that has released in 2019 with plans for more.





42. History of Japan













In making lists I find it always hardest to determine your top five and your first one on the list; in the case of History of Japan it has been one of my favorite finds of the past year. Host Isaac launched the podcast in 2013 and has produced nearly 300 episodes since then. That is remarkable and this weekly podcast on Japanese history is sure to be the highlight for many. For me, having found it less than a year ago I have not caught up yet so I am just loving my days going through the extensive back catalog. The show even inspired an episode of my show when Isaac discussed the chopstick’s entrance into the island. Based on my criteria of ranking these shows based on which show I would listen to a new episode first if every show on this list released one at the same time, well since I haven’t caught up yet the new episodes won’t really impact my listening schedule too much. That said, this show is wonderful and I look forward to one day in the future when I have listened to all available episodes.









Irish History Podcast 41.Irish History Podcast









This show launched in 2010 and currently has 162 episodes with the oldest on the RSS feed being from 2013. In that time host Fin has established himself as one of the premier history story tellers in the podcasting world. I found this course when Fin started his shift to focusing on the Irish Famine. The Irish Famine was an episode in history that particularly stayed with me after I learned more about it in a Modern British and Irish History course I took in University. Ever since then I have wanted to know more and Fin has provided that opportunity and his take on the many events has been phenomenal. Whether you want to learn more about the Famine or Medieval Irish History then this is the show for you.









40. Podcast on Germany









The Podcast on Germany launched back in October and has been great so far. Starting from the beginning we get to delve into the Germanic tribes that often just get lumped into the category of Barbarians and I am really enjoying it thus far. Recently we have made it to Caesar and I am very excited to see how the podcast progresses now that the Roman Empire is about to be on the scene.









39. The Exploress Podcast









The Exploress Podcast recently launched season 2 and I was very excited to see that host/explores Kate is taking us to Ancient Egypt. One of the things that set this show apart is that rather than focusing on biographies this show delves into subjects and the context of an era. It allows you to really get to know a time period, era or civilization. The focus is still on women’s histories, but the amount of world-building that Kate puts into her episodes really makes the world they lived in come to life.









38. The History of China









The History of China Podcast was launched in 2013 and the host, Chris, has been committed to telling the 5000 year history ever since. When I started listening to podcasts a history of China was one of the top subjects I wanted to find as my University history education covered Modern China and the Rise of the Mongols in two different courses, but did not touch much prior to that time period. Chris has been my cure for that and he presents a great show whether you are brand new to Chinese history or have some background in it as I did.









37. What’s Her Name Podcast









The description for What’s Her Name Podcast is that it tells the stories of fascinating women you’ve never heard of, but should have. Case in point is the recent episode, “The Translator,” which tells the story of La Malintzin. She was the interpreter, advisor and intermediary for the Conquistador Hernán Cortés. Before the episode I knew that he had a native interpreter, but wow is her story fascinating. Hosts Katie and Olivia provide these type of stories every episode, typically around 40 minutes long, and they are great from beginning to end every episode.









36. Latin American History









Latin American history is one that can be easy to overlook or only tell as a periphery of the story in terms of colonialism. However, as this podcast shows it is a story worth telling by itself and after subscribing fairly early in the show’s run I have come to really enjoy the story of Latin America. The host, Max, has an excellent way of explaining the complex history and he really brings the extremes of the region’s history to life.









35. The History of Spain Podcast









As you venture through my list of favorite shows you will find that I love “the History of…” shows, especially those presented in chronological order. The History of Spain Podcast have followed that tried and true format yet David has made this show his own. His passion for the Spanish history is infectious and I am very excited to get beyond the Roman Empire as that was the time period I was most interested in learning more about for Spain.









34. The Eastern Border Podcast









One of my favorite things about podcasts is their ability to allow us to hear perspectives that we may not get on a regular basis. The Eastern Border is one of those unique perspectives. The host, Kristaps, lives in Riga, Latvia and was educated at the University of Latvia. This allows for a fascinating take on Eastern European history along with some great Soviet and Russian jokes.









33. Presidencies of the United States









One could argue that the President of the United States is the most powerful person in the world today. That is not an argument that could be made one hundred years ago and certainly not one that could be made 230 years ago when the office was founded. Host Jerry Landry takes us back to those early days and explores the development bit by bit. If you want a very deep dive into the office of the President then this show is for you. For instance, George Washington’s Presidency encompasses 36 episodes and every single one is loaded with information. This is a show that perfectly demonstrates what the history podcast channel can do for history.









32. The History of the Barbarians’s Podcast









I remember in my younger days when all I really thought about the barbarians were that they were Conan’s tribe, a sweet D&D class or the fodder for my favored Greek and Roman war machines to mow down in various combat. As my knowledge of history deepened so too did my interest in the crude barbarian tribes that on closer inspection really were not any cruder than any “civilized” group. That is why I have so enjoyed the work done by Joshua in this podcast as he explores those people history calls the barbarians.









31. French History Podcast









Ah, the French. One of my favorite places I have ever visited was the city of Paris and one of the subjects I almost decided to cover when I launched my own podcast was the history of France. The podcast launched back in December and is off to a fantastic start thus far. I personally cannot wait to get past the Romans and into the Franks, but the current exploration of Gaul has been fascinating and I have enjoyed each episode thus far.









30. The History of Vikings









As a Minnesotan, I probably would listen to a show with this title whether they were talking about the football Vikings or the warrior Vikings. For the rest of you don’t worry Noah focuses on the warriors; although I wouldn’t mind if he eventually discusses the Scandinavian migration, but that is way down the line. The Vikings are one of the most interesting groups of people of all-time. Many of the shows on this list have a need to mention the Vikings as they pretty much invaded everywhere. The History of Vikings Podcast finally shines the spotlight on these fascinating warrior people and Noah does a terrific job of bringing these Scandinavians to life.









29. A History of the United States









A History Of Podcasts from Jamie Refern are always great. His Hannibal and the Punic Wars was a masterpiece, Alexander the Great was shorter but no less amazing and of course we have to mention the Arab Spring. Jamie is now lending his skills to the United States and he has recently started his exploration of the 7 Years War. It took over 100 episodes to get there and he shined the light on many aspects of the Pre-Revolution history that often do not get talked about enough. The show starts with Jamestown and I am sure will eventually get to Lexington and Concord.









28. FireStarters Podcast









th century and it may very well be the most pop culture and history packed song in existence. I can say fairly confidently that you probably do not understand every single reference made in the song (I know I don’t), well have no fear for this podcast aims to tackle each one in new episodes. It makes for a very unique concept for a show and a fun one. I particularly enjoyed the episode on Marilyn Monroe and would recommend it as a great episode to experience the show. Rosenbergs, H-bomb, Sugar Ray, Panmunjom. Brando, The King and I, and The Catcher in the Rye. Dan and Henry didn’t start the fire. It was always burning, Since the world’s been turning, and we have known it since Billy Joel rhymed it. “We Didn’t Start the Fire” is one of the most iconic songs of the 20century and it may very well be the most pop culture and history packed song in existence. I can say fairly confidently that you probably do not understand every single reference made in the song (I know I don’t), well have no fear for this podcast aims to tackle each one in new episodes. It makes for a very unique concept for a show and a fun one. I particularly enjoyed the episode on Marilyn Monroe and would recommend it as a great episode to experience the show.









27. HI101









HI101 is a little different from a lot of the shows on this list as it draws on guest hosts to help tell the stories of various historical topics in a conversational rather than lecture style. The show recently covered Red River Rebellions and previously covered such topics as Alchemy, Occultism and American Expansion. Adam keeps the narrative running and it is easy to get lost in each and every episode.









26. The Civil War Podcast













Move over Ken Burns there is a new king and queen of the Civil War and it is Rich and Tracy. With well over 280 episodes this show can be a little daunting to start as you aren’t sure how you will ever catch up, but take my word for it it is worth every minute. The show has recently been covering Vicksburg and as someone who absolutely loves US Grant I have been so excited to hear more about this battle since I started listening to the show. The Civil War has a tendency to either be entirely too simplified, skipped over or just seem like a mess. Rich and Tracy have dedicated themselves to wading through all of that to deliver a concise show with a straight forward telling of the bloodiest war in US History.









25. The History of England Podcast









The History of England is one of the big podcasts of the amazing history podcast network Agora. David has been releasing episodes since 2010 and is creeping close to the official episode 300 though he does have over 300 episodes in the feed already. It is a wonderful telling of jolly ol’ England’s history from the Anglo Saxons to someday getting to the present day. David even went back and beefed up his pre-1066 episodes to give those of us interested in that often over-looked time period a better look.









24. Rex Factor









Two England podcasts in a row! If you like your history delivered via light-hearted conversations and plenty of laughs thrown in to keep you entertained then the Rexy Pod Family is for you. Rex Factor is the original and it aims to review all the Kings and Queens of England and Scotland. The Rex Factor first gives a brief biography of the King/Queen/Consort before rating them in the categories of Battleyness, Scandal, Subjectivity, Longevity and Dynasty. From there it decides whether or not the subject of the episode has the special essence they like to call Rex Factor. It is fun and entertaining.









23. Wonders of the World













Oh, I wonder, wonder, what is in the wonder ball. Oh, wait, wrong wonders. The Wonders of the World Podcast delves into the history of the Wonders of the World. First the Seven Wonders of the World before branching out to other wonders in chronological fashion. The host, Drew, provides context of the brilliant wonders of the world, how it impacted the people around it and provides information about what the site is like today. If you are a person who likes to travel and see historical sites while you do it then this is a must. If you instead don’t really travel, but would like to live vicariously, then this is also the show for you. The show delves into history through Drew’s research and narration, interviews of specialists and interviews of people who have visited. It is a great ride through history and around the world.









22. Odyssey: The Podcast









Back in 2016 host and professional storyteller Jeff enthralled us with the dramatic retelling of the Trojan War Epic. He, of course, used Homer’s Iliad to provide the tale of the rage of Achilles, but he explored the works of the other Greek poets, playwrights, historians and writers to tell the full epic. In 2019 he returned with his follow-up in Odyssey: The Podcast. The same brilliant storytelling has emerged from his tireless research and it is a must listen.









21. Pax Brittanica









tells the story through extensive scholarship and expert interviews. Sargon the Great’s Akkadian Empire was said to have ruled “the totality of the lands under heaven” and “from sunrise to sunset.” It is possible that this empire was the first to come up with the idea of their ruler reigning over an empire upon which the sun never set. We know today that the Akkadian Empire did not actually reach this hyperbolic statement a reality, but the more recent British Empire certainly had an empire upon which the sun never set. The British Empire is the largest empire in the history of the world and Pax Brittannica (British Peace) tells the story of that world spanning empire. PhD candidate and podcasting veteran (previously of the History of Witchcraft) Samueltells the story through extensive scholarship and expert interviews.









20. A History of Europe, Key Battles









I have long enjoyed military history; specifically the descriptions of battles. The one difficulty that I have noticed in podcasts is that so much of what I enjoyed in my studies of military history are the charts and visual representations of battle as they really helped to illustrate what happened during the battle. Obviously having the visual representation is not always possible in an audio podcast (sure you can look on the website, but how often does a listener actually do that?). Carl has put together a battle history podcast that rises above that difficulty to create a superb podcast. He gives great descriptions so that the listener is able to picture the battle without the use of images and the multiple episode arcs to cover a battle allows Carl to provide both sides of the story so that we get a full picture of these key battles.









19. Our Fake History









What if MythBusters had been on the history channel rather than the Discovery Channel? Well, then they might have called it Our Fake History! This podcast explores the myths that people think are history along with the actual history that is hidden within myths. This podcast is fun and has nice dosage of humor, but don’t let that fool you into thinking that this show isn’t massively informative. It makes a nice combination to form an entertaining history podcast. It is definitely my opinion that you should make Sebastian a part of your day.









18. Wittenberg to Westphalia









Last year when I posted my favorite podcast list in one of the history podcast Facebook groups I had quite a few suggestions for new shows that people thought belonged on my list or that I might enjoy. Among those suggestions of Wittenberg to Westphalia. The show has skyrocketed up my list and I quickly caught up on all of the released episodes. Ben has a way with words that keeps you enthralled even when he gets slightly off track or you aren’t really sure why he is drilling so far into a subject yet at the end he ties it all together. Great show.









17. Literature and History









Literature is a remarkable tool to help in understanding the people and culture of various time periods. History is a remarkable tool for understanding different eras of literature. That is a bit of a round about circle, but I have heard both echoed as reasons to study one another. Doug combines the two by giving us the background of text, a summary of the text and how it all ties together. It is the perfect balance between the two and really helps deepen the understanding of the Anglophone world and its literature. If all of that was not enough he also ends each episode with a funny song.









16. History of the Papacy Podcast









Steve started the History of the Papacy Podcast back in 2013. Since then he has been putting out excellent main canon and sidetrack episodes. I particularly love the Arian Century series as the Arian heresy has quickly become one of my favorite impacts on history that can be pretty easy to glaze over when talking about general world history.









15. The Age of Napoleon









Napoleon, you know him, you love or hate him, but either way you have definitely heard of him. Napoleon is an individual whose footprints and fingerprints are on much of the past 200 years of history (thank you for Louisiana and the Napoleonic Code, less thank you for the other thing.). As Napoleon is so famous he has been mentioned in many podcasts, ones on this list and ones not on this list. Can you get too much of Napoleon? If you haven’t listened to the Age of Napoleon then that answer is a resounding no.









14. Pontifacts













Pontifacts is a member of the #rexypod family and is proud to have been inspired by the #24 on this list, Rex Factor. However, instead of reviewing those stuffy old Kings and Queens this show turns its attention to the much cooler Popes. The goal of the show is to start with Peter and go all the way to the current Pope, Francis. The show started near the end of May, 2018 and its anniversary episode even featured a question from yours truly! The shows hosts, Bry and Fry, have a wonderful rapport and so far I agree with the recipients of the Papal Bull. Are you unsure what being a recipient of a Papal Bull means? Well, you better subscribe to this show and find out!









13. Giants of History









Similar to a couple other shows of this list Giants of History aims to provide biographical information about some of the major figures in history. These are the people that it is best to at least be generally aware of even if you are not a huge history nerd like I am. This show fills a wonderful place with highly informative series on figures such as Teddy Roosevelt, Che Guevara and Cleopatra. Trust me, there is someone of interest to everyone.









12. History of Philosophy without any gaps









Professor Peter Adamson hosts this cornerstone of the history podcasting genre. I have always thought that the ‘without any gaps’ piece was quite a boast, but with over 300 episodes this show is quickly looking to realize that lofty title. I love learning about thought and any series that can put together the ideas and lives of the prominent philosophers who shaped the way we think today while also putting it all into an historical context is well worth the time.









11. The History of Ancient Greece Podcast









In popular parlance the idea of “Western Civilization” typically begins with the Ancient Greeks. It is the “birthplace” of democracy and so many other things we all hold dear, or so the story goes. In THoAG, Ryan gives us the low down of the true story of all things in the Hellenized world. Whether he is diving into the epics, exploring with Herodotus or polticing in the polis, each episode is chockfull of information that will interest any of us philhellenes.









10. The History of Egypt Podcast









Ancient Egypt with its astounding monuments like the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Sphinx has helped nourish many a history enthusiast throughout the past 5000 years, myself included. Everyone has heard at least a little about Egypt’s glorious history and have some idea about how it should be told. This makes it a very tricky subject to cover, but when you listen to Dominic’s podcast that worry melts as he has crafted a show that so perfectly balances the expectations behind an Egyptian history podcast and the rigors of providing accurate details. This is always one of my go-to shows for new podcast listeners as an excellent introduction into what history podcasting done right looks like. It certainly helps that Dominic is an Egyptologist which allows him to speak with some authority on the various topics he covers.









9. Tides of History









In the beginning Tides of History explored the fall of Rome (as it completed Patrick’s previous podcast subject) and the early modern period. Most of those episodes are now only available on Spotify Premium. However, even without those early episodes this show still puts out several fantastic episodes each month. Patrick is a wonderful storyteller and I was surprised to learn how capable he is as an interviewer as well. He knows how to tell the story of famous and feckless leaders and he isn’t afraid to shine light on the struggles of the peasants. If you are interested in the Early Modern period then this show is a must-add to your listening regime.









8. The History of English Podcast









Based on the Why Is That Podcast’s many episodes on etymology it is rather obvious that I love the history and development of language. The History of English Podcast has long been one of my favorite drugs for that language addiction. Kevin guides us on the fascinating journey of the English language from its origins in the Indo-European language to growing into a global language. As it is a narrative history of the language I would recommend starting from the beginning, but if you are particularly interested in a certain subject or time period of English then it isn’t too difficult to jump in to a later subject of the show.









7. The History Chicks









The History Chicks cover various women throughout history in episodes that typically range to somewhere around an hour and a half. Beckett and Susan do not follow a specific chronology (though the website keeps track of that if you have a specific time period of interest), but instead jump from one fascinating topic to the next similar to the way the TARDIS will do it. If you have never listened to an episode and you want a suggestion on where to start rather than starting from the top, I would recommend episode 97: Queen Lili’uokalani. In my episode on Hawai’i I was unable to mention Queen Lili’uokalani, but her story is absolutely fascinating and this episode tells it beautifully.





6. The History of Byzantium









The History of Byzantium Podcast picks up where the History of Rome left off and gives us all the details of the Eastern Roman Empire that continued for almost another millennia after the West fell. The official line is that this podcast will tell the story of the Roman Empire from 476 to 1453. Robin recently recounted the Great Schism (1054 CE) and looking forward things are about to get messy between East and West.









5. The Ancient World









We are currently six episodes into his new series that brings us to the time period after Alexander the Great’s death and into the world of the Seleucids and Ptolemies. The Ancient World is hosted by Scott and when I started listening to podcasts it was one of the first that captured my attention. I have always loved the ancient world and Scott has a way of making the old pyramid and labyrinth builders come to life. The episodes are meticulously researched and something about his voice makes me feel like I am having an old friend regale me with amazing stories from history.We are currently six episodes into his new series that brings us to the time period after Alexander the Great’s death and into the world of the Seleucids and Ptolemies.

















4. When Diplomacy Fails









When Diplomacy Fails is one of my favorite names of any podcast in any genre; it conjures an idea and an image in your head while not being so specific that it restricts the host to a single subject. In November of 2018, the host Zack started one of the most audacious history podcast projects I have experiences with his Versailles Anniversary Project. It releases episodes that depict events 100 years to the date in order to take a deep dive into the Paris Peace Conference that ended World War I. It is an amazing way to experience history and one that all history friends will enjoy.









3. The Partial Historians









The Partial Historians are the duo of Dr. Radford and Dr. Greenfield who are partial to the history of Rome as both are PhDs with Roman history backgrounds. The podcast is a conversation between the two and provide information on a range of subjects. Episodes 1 to 35 discuss topics ranging from women and sexuality in Ancient Rome, the Julio-Claudians, Rome on film, Year of the Four Emperors and related topics. From Episode 36 the podcast has shifted to a more narrative focused show as it recounts the history of Rome from the founding of the city. Typically they each explore separate primary and secondary sources to discuss the specified time period which provides a great conversation on the differences in our sources while also keeping those who love narrative invested in the story of Rome.









2. Totalus Rankium









Je nais Caesar or if an American President is an AmeriCAN or an AmeriCAN’T. The show initially started as Roman Emperors Totalus Rankium and has since expanded to three shows (American Presidents and Whisky Battles) along with their Roman Republic Member’s Only show. The Roman Emperors are well into season two with the Byzantine Emperors, the Presidents are just about to be on the other side of the Civil War and the Whisky Battles is, well, an excuse to drink whisky so, why not? Rob and Jamie have put together a very informative and entertaining show so don’t be a Jeff and make sure to subscribe! If all that doesn’t convince then I would say at least check out the on-topic comedy sketches at the end. They are top notch. Totalus Rankium is the last member of the #rexypod family of shows. Like those previously mentioned Totalus Rankium provides a conversational biography of a historical figure then ranking them in a variety of categories before ultimately deciding whether or not a Roman Emperor has thator if an American President is an AmeriCAN or an AmeriCAN’T. The show initially started as Roman Emperors Totalus Rankium and has since expanded to three shows (American Presidents and Whisky Battles) along with their Roman Republic Member’s Only show. The Roman Emperors are well into season two with the Byzantine Emperors, the Presidents are just about to be on the other side of the Civil War and the Whisky Battles is, well, an excuse to drink whisky so, why not? Rob and Jamie have put together a very informative and entertaining show so don’t be a Jeff and make sure to subscribe! If all that doesn’t convince then I would say at least check out the on-topic comedy sketches at the end. They are top notch.









1. Revolutions









No introduction is needed for the host and podcasting great Mike Duncan. Originally known for the History of Rome Podcast, Revolutions has actually surpassed the old Rome epic in number of episodes and each one of them has been fantastic. His story telling ability, humor and ability to make sense of complex events highlight the great aspects of the show. If you have ever wanted to learn more about the English Civil War, American Revolution, French Revolution, Haitian Revolution or the year 1848 then this is the place to start. He is currently working on the much anticipated Russian Revolution. An added bonus is this show is one of the most reliable out there. You can expect that every Sunday a new episode will be added; at least until the year 2021.









-1. The Why Is That Podcast









Whoa, wait a minute… entry -1. What does that mean? It means this show is so good I listen to it before it is even released! Well, actually it is because the Why Is That Podcast is my show. If you have enjoyed my above list then there is a good chance our history interests are compatible and that means you just might like my show too. The show explores the origins of today’s common occurrences. Some of the topics include why the Pope is the supreme Catholic Church authority, why we call each other Dude and why buck, quid, bradman and loonie are all slang for money. Episodes are typically in the 20 to 30 minute range and probably have covered at least one thing you have wondered about, but were too lazy to google to find the answer.







