Five History Podcasts To Love
Not me recommending history!
Look, I am not the same girl I was a decade ago. I have come to enjoy learning the names, dates, and facts of times past. Call me Winston Smith, but I have come to see history as the key to the present. And while I’m not quite up for reading a ton of history books just yet, I am looking up all the characters on The Gilded Age to see which ones are based on real people. And I am queuing up historical podcasts quite often these days. For me, humor helps to keep me interested, that or being on a topic I am already passionate about. These podcasts hit the mark, every time.
Official Description: On this first season, we're taking a deep dive into the history of punk rock, told through the stories of ten bands who helped define the genre. On our first series, we cover the so-called godfathers of punk, The Stooges. Join us as we explore the early days of Iggy and the boys as the more innocent of their drug-fueled escapades as the band tries figuring out their voice in the midst of the ultimately empty peace and love movement
Average Episode Duration: 30 minutes
Average Intro Chatter: 1-2 minutes
Hosts: Marcus Parks and Carolina Hidalgo
Structure: The hosts alternate narrating the history of the band, genre, or culture that comprises the episode’s topic. But it’s not your typical history lesson. They break it up with banter, jokes, and musical examples that illustrate the point. It really is a fun ride.
Review: As someone who typically enjoys music without knowing anything about the artist (not even the band members’ names), I would not have sought this out. My husband queued it up on a road trip a few years back and I was immediately hooked. They go deep and wide when exploring the context of a band or genre and bring so much levity into the conversation. It also expanded my appreciation for genres I had not explored much before.
Episode Recommendation: The Beastie Boys Pt 1: Hardcore New York
Rating: 5/5
Official Description: In 45 chronological episodes, the Presidential podcast takes listeners on an epic historical journey through the personality and legacy of each of the American presidents. Created and hosted by Washington Post reporter Lillian Cunningham, Presidential features interviews with the country’s greatest experts on the presidency, including Pulitzer Prize-winning biographers Doris Kearns Goodwin, David McCullough, Jon Meacham and Bob Woodward. Start listening at the very beginning, with the life of George Washington, or jump ahead to any president whose story you want to better understand.
Average Episode Duration: 42 minutes
Average Intro Chatter: None
Hosts: Lillian Cunningham (journalist)
Structure: A combination of historical narrative and interviews, episodes are dynamic and engaging.
Review: They are well researched and I feel smarter every time I listen to an episode. Though, it is not as funny as I typically need a history podcast to be to keep my interest, the tempo moves quick and manages to hook me in.
Episode Recommendation: Lyndon B. Johnson: Power
Rating: 4/5
Official Description: GirlTREK celebrates the power of Black women walking together for health and healing. Join us for walking meditations, wellness wisdom, and inspiring conversations with trailblazers changing the world one step at a time. From our popular Self-Care School program to stories from our million-strong sisterhood, we blend movement, joy, and ancestral wisdom in every episode. Whether you’re starting your wellness journey or deepening your practice, GirlTREK delivers empowering content that meets you where you are. Walk with us and discover how simple, daily movement can transform your life.
Average Episode Duration: 30 minutes
Average Intro Chatter: 2-5 minutes
Hosts: T. Morgan Dixon and Vanessa Garrison
Structure: Designed to be listened to while on a walk, the hosts themselves are walking during the call. Dixon and Garrison are friends with great chemistry, so listening feels like you’re on a call with friends who are funny, high energy, and just happen to know a lot of history. The episodes are grouped into 21 day series and explores Black history through a conversational format.
Review: Though I am not the target audience, Dixon and Garrison share their conversations publicly and invite listeners to learn with them through their podcast. I love their chemistry and their passion; it engages listeners to go deeper. And they do not shy away from the heavy parts in the histories they cover, but lean in to the complexity context of it.
Episode Recommendation: Day 6 | Nina Simone
Rating: 5/5
Official Description: The comedy podcast that takes history seriously. In each episode of You’re Dead to Me from BBC Radio 4, Greg Jenner is joined by a comedian and an expert historian to learn and laugh about the past. History isn’t just about dates and textbooks – it’s about extraordinary characters, amazing stories, and some very questionable fashion choices. How long did it take to build an Egyptian pyramid? What does the Bayeux Tapestry reveal about medieval life? Why did it take nearly half a millennium for Joan of Arc to become a saint? And was Catherine the Great really all that great? Whether you want to explore ancient landmarks like Stonehenge and Machu Picchu, dance through the history of Broadway and Bollywood, or find out how the Tudors rose to power, Greg and his guests promise to teach you something new that you won’t have heard in history lessons. Join them for a history lesson that’s as entertaining as it is enlightening - with no homework required.
Average Episode Duration: 30 minutes
Average Intro Chatter: Aside from guest introductions, none
Hosts: Greg Jenner
Structure: Host Greg Jenner hosts a conversation on one historical topic each episode that features a historian, who knows an awful lot about it, and a comedian, who usually knows nothing on the topic. Guided by Jenner’s questions, the historian shares insight and the comedian shares commentary. It’s a good time.
Review: Probably my favorite history podcast, if I had to choose only one. I’ve learned about people and places that have never occurred to me before, and laughed while doing it.
Episode Recommendation: Frederick the Great of Prussia
Rating: 5/5
Official Description: Over eight years and more than a dozen seasons, Karina Longworth’s blockbuster podcast You Must Remember This has revitalized a century’s worth of Hollywood history for a contemporary audience. From Marilyn Monroe to Charles Manson, Longworth excels at reframing stories about celebrities we thought we knew – or never thought twice about – from a fresh perspective. The show has become a must-listen for today's most prominent film & media-makers.
Average Episode Duration: 30 minutes
Average Intro Chatter: None
Hosts: Karina Longworth
Structure: Host Karina Longworth narrates the history of an old Hollywood person or picture, and includes all the salacious details. She brings quotes and facts together in a way that brings the story to life.
Review: A friend introduced to me to this podcast about ten years ago, so I’ve been listening for a while. What I love is how thorough the episodes are. Longworth does her research to the point where it feels like she left no stone unturned. Even though it is just one person talking for the duration of the episode, that has never held me back from getting sucked in.
Episode Recommendation: 146: Disney’s Most Controversial Film
Rating: 5/5
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