Top History Podcasts

Collected is a project of the African American History Curatorial Collective at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. This podcast offers compelling and accessible journeys through topics in African American history that are particularly relevant today. Season one looks at contemporary Black Feminism. Season two looks at Black women entertainers in American popular music.

History consists of heroes and villains (and, I suppose everything in between)... but it's usually the villains who are the most interesting: Their flaws, their quirks, the voids in their hearts that force them to do the unthinkable. These are the characters that fascinate us, that pull us in, that compel us to watch and don’t let us look away. And these are the characters that Scoundrel: History’s Forgotten Villains is all about.

Scoundrel, is a new bi-weekly anthology podcast from Kast Media and the award winning creators of Myths & Legends, that tells the stories of the rapscallions through time who were just a little more adept at hiding their evil from historians than others. By joining them on their treacherous journeys, we not only learn about what makes them tick, but more importantly, the times that created them.

Sidney Gottlieb, George Remus, Thomas Blood, James McClintock. They’ve all done horrible things...on varying scales. If there’s anything we can salvage from their misdeeds and incalculable human suffering, it’s the opportunity to use them to elucidate the times they’ve lived… so that we can better understand ourselves.

Unboxing Queer History is a podcast from Gerber/Hart Library and Archives, one of the largest LGBTQ libraries & archives in the world. Each episode in Unboxing Queer History focuses on a different story from inside Gerber/Hart’s collections and archives. The episodes range from discussions of the importance of collecting LGBTQ+ erotica to Chicago lesbian bar history and include interviews with community leaders, volunteers, researchers, and local historians.

SEASON TWO of Unboxing Queer History was co-created by Erin Bell and Jen Dentel; produced by Akaelah Flotho, Anna Mason, Quinn Rose, Hannah Viti, and Chijioke Williams; and edited by Bill Healy and Mara Lazer. Artwork by Mere Montgomery and Music by Mara Lazer. Major funding for Season Two of Unboxing Queer History is provided by the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, with additional meaningful funding from supporters of Gerber/Hart.

SEASON ONE of Unboxing Queer History was created by Ari Mejia, Jen Dentel, and Erin Bell. Produced by Ari Mejia with Hannah Viti. Artwork by Mere Montgomery & theme music by Danny Robles. Episode on People Like Us Books was co-written by Jules Gordon and episode on Lorrainne Sade Baskerville was co-produced by Alyssa Edes. Season One was funded by a "My Library Is... " grant from RAILS (Reaching Across Illinois Library System)

Join host Cody Noconi each week as he rants about the shockingly psychedelic history of Mormonism