18 History Podcasts to Listen to in 2018

Understanding the World Through History

History podcasts are barely scratching the surface of humanity’s past, but every year, more and more shows attempt to tell the story of our ancestors. Last year, I made a list of 17 history podcasts that you needed to listen to. It’s still an awesome list, but there are always more to add. Here are 18 history podcasts that you should listen to this year:

1. With Tides of History, Patrick Wyman has crafted a very accessible view of the changing landscape of the early Middle Ages. He tells the story as a narrative, interjecting composite characters to illustrate how these people’s lives may have been. It is well-researched and well-produced and includes really interesting, in-depth interviews with experts. Start with: Episode 1: The Ebb and Flow of History
2. Uncivil looks at the myths that grew up around the American Civil War and blows them out of the water. Hosts Chenjerai Kumanyika and Jack Hitt present the Civil War and its ramifications in all of its ugly glory with an eye towards the current state of the United States. Start with: Episode 1: The Raid
3. Art Curious looks at the history behind some of art’s most famous painters, paintings, and styles. Jennifer Dassel takes you on the fantastic voyage behind the artwork, from art and the Nazis to the fascinating story of Vincent Van Gogh’s life. Start with: Episode 27: What Happened to the Amber Room?
4. Who knew that wandering around Canadian cemeteries would bring such a wealth of absolutely wonderful storytelling? In The Marble Garden, the lives of those interred were beautiful, messy, and consequential. Start with: Episode 3: The Blackburns
5. Americana in a podcast is the best way to describe The Most Wonderful Wonder. The team of Welcome Little Stranger creates both excellent storytelling and excellent music to highlight America’s metaphorical Route 66, from snake oil salesmen to pirate radio. Start with: Beautiful Ohio, Part 1
6. The narration in Wittenberg to Westphalia is witty, in-depth, well-researched, and best of all, really interesting. Ben Jacobs takes you through the transition from the Middle Ages to the Reformation, and as of this writing, he has given us a lot of the background and has yet to really talk about the title subject. Start with: Episode 13: Where Have All the Merry Romans Gone?
7. History on Fire consistently delivers some of the best history in podcasting. Daniele Bolelli has taken on Native American history, Renaissance history, and even Roman history. No matter what the subject is, he presents a unique look at that topic. Start with: Episode 24: The Pirate Queen

The beauty of Human Circus: History is that it feels obscure, as if the stories told are almost a secret. In them, the world is revealed in a way that most history books never do. Start with: Thomas Dallam Part 1.

1. Illusion is not necessarily a history podcast, but it is history adjacent. This delightful show explores the many different ways people have used deception and trickery. Start with: Episode 5: The Knockers of Rochester
2. Witch Hunt is a brilliant look at various witch hunts throughout history, starting with America’s most well known, the Salem Witch Trials. And who better than a local to guide you? The host, Nancy Mades Byrd runs tours in Salem, and is an expert on the subject. Start with: Episode 1: The Biggest Little Witch Hunt in History
3. The History Chicks make one of the most consistently impressive history podcasts out there. Hosts Beckett Graham and Susan Vollenweider highlight women throughout history and they just plain give good history. Every. Single. Time. Start with: Episode 86: Eleanor of Aquitaine
4. This isn’t a history podcast per se, but the Seeing White series from the Scene on Radio is perhaps the most powerful and relevant podcasting I have heard in the past few years. If you want to know the origin of whiteness in America and how that has affected society, this is the perfect series for you. Start with: Seeing White, Part 1
5. Our Fake History is one of the coolest podcasts out there. It exists at the edge of myths that became history and history that has become myth and the forces that perpetuate both. Start with: Episode 37: Did Robert Johnson Sell his Soul to the Devil?
6. DIG covers a hodgepodge of topics ranging from protests during the Vietnam War to Puritan sexual mores to how houses were heated and illuminated in the 19th century. The research is quality and the episodes are always interesting. Start with: The Little Ice Age: Weird Weather, Witchcraft, Famine and Fashion
7. You are not going to get a more geographically diverse history podcast than 80 Days. It gives the fascinating history of some of the world’s most far-flung locations. Start with: Easter Island
8. Letters From War showed up late in 2017 and quickly became a must listen for me. It is the story of one family’s experience during World War II, told through their letters, found audio, and narration. It is an exquisite reminder of the personal toll War takes. Start with: 1941:The Calm
9. I will admit that I am new to Historical Blindness, a fascinating, albeit a bit terrifying, show about the things in history that are overlooked. I might have started with the scariest episodes — about suspected devil worshippers throughout history — but I will certainly listen to more to find out. Start with: The Specter of Devil Worship Part One
10. Historium Unearthia, by Crystal Ponti, is a new podcast that exposes stories that don’t always get the limelight that they truly deserve, such as Vermont’s Wampahoofus legend or a slave who later became an executioner. It is truly fascinating. Start with: Episode 3: World War II’s Rumor Clinics Dispelled the Scuttlebut and Tall Tales

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