Top History Podcasts

1951
History

The Minds of Madness – True Crime Stories – Grip Tape

Ordinary people who do unthinkable things...The Minds of Madness is a True Crime Podcast that examines the most disturbing criminal minds and the impact violent crimes have on survivors of homicide. Read More
Ordinary people who do unthinkable things…The Minds of Madness is a True C Read More
1952
History

Bombshell

This is Bombshell, a bi-weekly podcast coming to you from Washington insiders to dissect today’s foreign policy crises and tomorrow’s security challenges. We’ll talk military strategy, White House mayhem, and the best cocktails known to (wo)man. Brought to you by War on the Rocks. Read More
This is Bombshell, a bi-weekly podcast coming to you from Washington insiders to Read More
1953
History

Presidential – The Washington Post

The Washington Post's Presidential podcast explores how each former American president reached office, made decisions, handled crises and redefined the role of commander-in-chief. It was released leading up to up to Election Day 2016, starting with George Washington in week one and ending on week 44 with the president-elect. New special episodes in the countdown to the 2020 presidential election highlight other stories from U.S. presidential history that can help illuminate our current moment. Hosted by Lillian Cunningham, the series features Pulitzer Prize-winning biographers like David McCullough and Washington Post journalists like Bob Woodward. [When you're done, listen to Lillian's other historical podcasts: Constitutional and Moonrise] Read More
The Washington Post’s Presidential podcast explores how each former Americ Read More
1954
History

The Genealogy Gems Podcast with Lisa Louise Cooke – Your Family History Show

Genealogy Gems Podcast shows you, the family historian, how to make the most out of your family history research time by providing quick and easy to use research techniques. In addition, you will learn creative ways to share your family tree and the legacy of your ancestors. Lisa Louise Cooke guides you through the exhilarating process of discovering your family tree. She scours the family history landscape to find and bring you the best websites, best practices, and best resources available. And Lisa’s interviews with the experts in the field of genealogy make the Genealogy Gems Podcast your own personal genealogy conference. Guests include genealogists such as Dick Eastman, DearMYRTLE, Curt Witcher, Arlene Eakle, and the folks from Ancestry.com, as well as celebrities such as Tukufu Zuberi of The History Detectives, Kathy Lennon of the Lennon Sisters, Tim Russell of Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion, the band Venice, and Darby Hinton of the Daniel Boone TV series from the 1960s. Your family history is world history. Read More
Genealogy Gems Podcast shows you, the family historian, how to make the most out Read More
1955
History

Election College | Presidential Election History

Join us as we take a fun and informative look at the history of Presidential elections in the United States of America as well as all sorts of topics directly related to how our government and elections work! We also delve into the reasons and policies (Constitutional or otherwise) behind exactly what makes the highest offices in the land tick. Read More
Join us as we take a fun and informative look at the history of Presidential ele Read More
1956
History

TriPod : New Orleans at 300

Each episode of TriPod: New Orleans at 300 is devoted to a single story or subjects from New Orleans’ rich history.
Each episode of TriPod: New Orleans at 300 is devoted to a single story or subje Read More
1957
History

History of Japan – Isaac Meyer

This podcast, assembled by a former PhD student in History at the University of Washington, covers the entire span of Japanese history. Each week we'll tackle a new topic, ranging from prehistoric Japan to the modern day. Read More
This podcast, assembled by a former PhD student in History at the University of Read More
1958
History

World War II Chronicles

World War II Chronicles is a weekly look back to 'This Week in World War II, 75 Years Ago.' Originally produced in coordination with the National Archives to mark the 50th anniversary of the war, World War II Chronicles features original newsreel reports and archival footage to tell the story as it happened, week by week. Hosted by famed World War II newsreel anchor Ed Herlihy, World War II Chronicles is produced by the American Veterans Center. Read More
World War II Chronicles is a weekly look back to ‘This Week in World War I Read More
1959
History

The Fall of Rome Podcast – Patrick Wyman / Wondery

Barbarians, political breakdown, economic collapse, mass migration, pillaging and plunder. The fall of the Roman Empire has been studied for years, but genetics, climate science, forensic science, network models, and globalization studies have reshaped our understanding of one of the most important events in human history. PhD historian and specialist Patrick Wyman brings the cutting edge of history to listeners in plain, relatable English. Read More
Barbarians, political breakdown, economic collapse, mass migration, pillaging an Read More
1960
History

FBI Retired Case File Review

Have you ever thought how cool it would be to eavesdrop on the FBI? On FBI Retired Case File Review, host Jerri Williams, a retired agent herself, is on a mission to show you who the FBI is and what the FBI does by interviewing her former Bureau colleagues who share personal stories about the Bureau's most intriguing and high-profile cases, as well as many you've never heard of. Listen in on their conversations and experience what it’s like to hunt down a serial killer or terrorist, catch a spy during an espionage case, comb through a file cabinet of incriminating documents in a corruption investigation, or sit on a wire and conduct a physical surveillance to gather evidence of drug trafficking or organized crime. Investigate the show at https://jerriwilliams.com/. Read More
Have you ever thought how cool it would be to eavesdrop on the FBI? On FBI Retir Read More
1961
History

Shattered Souls

What happens when a double homicide case lands in your lap? What if it is the oldest active cold case in the history of American true crime? What if your father held a family secret for fifty years before he confided in you that one of the victims was your great-great uncle and that your grandfather had been held as a suspect? What if the murders happened during the most corrupt era our nation has ever known? And what if you are a retired detective, like me, with the unique skill set needed to figure out an 87-year-old family mystery? Well, you put everything else on hold and set out to solve it. This is my story. Shattered Souls: The Car Barn Murders is presented by CrimeOnline and iHeartPodcasts. Music by Sam Johnson Read More
What happens when a double homicide case lands in your lap? What if it is the ol Read More
1962
History

Astonishing Legends

The world is more mysterious than most people are comfortable imagining. We cross paths with the mystical from time to time and may not even notice it. If we do, we quickly return to our usually mundane daily existence. But what if we not only acknowledged the unknown, we investigated it and spoke with those in the know? That’s what co-hosts Scott & Forrest, and their producer Tess Pfeifle do at Astonishing Legends. Over 100 million downloads and hundreds of thousands of listeners have shown that exploring and embracing the wonders of our world can be not only enlightening but exciting.  Welcome to Astonishing Legends! Read More
The world is more mysterious than most people are comfortable imagining. We cros Read More
1963
History

The Black Dahlia Serial Killers

Hollywood and Crime is a ground-breaking true crime series about the most infamous murders in Tinseltown history.

In The Black Dahlia Serial Killers, host Tracy Pattin investigates the sensational unsolved murder of Elizabeth Short. Known as the Black Dahlia, Short was a star-struck young woman whose body was found completely severed at the waist in January 1947. Many remember her tragic story, yet few know that more than a dozen other women died in similar circumstances around that same time.

All episodes are available now. You can binge the series exclusively, and ad-free, on Wondery+ or on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or Amazon Music Unlimited subscription. 

Read More
Hollywood and Crime is a ground-breaking true crime ser Read More
1964
History

Sword and Scale – Sword and Scale

Sword and Scale is a true crime podcast covering the dark underworld of crime and the criminal justice system’s response to it. The first episode launched January 1st, 2014 and feature stories of murder, abduction, rape, and even more bizarre forms of crime. It’s the purest form of true-crime where the raw uncensored audio tells the story. Everything from 911 calls to court testimony, interviews with victims and sometimes with perpetrators give listeners a 360 degree look at the seedy underbelly of human nature and so-called civilized society. Told from an everyman's point of view, Sword and Scale goes beyond the news clips and the sensationalist headlines to hold up a mirror to the audience and ask, "Is it us versus them? Or are we just like 'them' too?" Sword and scale proves that the worst monsters are real. Read More
Sword and Scale is a true crime podcast covering the dark underworld of crime an Read More
1965
History

The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe

What started as a series of short mysteries for the curious mind with a short attention span has evolved into enlightening conversations for the not-so-short attention span. Whether it’s a short mystery, a long conversation, or an audio book, The Way I Heard It is a veritable box of chocolates for the ears, because you never know what you’re going to get. Read More
What started as a series of short mysteries for the curious mind with a short at Read More
1966
History

Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History

In "Hardcore History" journalist and broadcaster Dan Carlin takes his "Martian", unorthodox way of thinking and applies it to the past. Was Alexander the Great as bad a person as Adolf Hitler? What would Apaches with modern weapons be like? Will our modern civilization ever fall like civilizations from past eras? This isn't academic history (and Carlin isn't a historian) but the podcast's unique blend of high drama, masterful narration and Twilight Zone-style twists has entertained millions of listeners. Read More
In “Hardcore History” journalist and broadcaster Dan Carlin takes hi Read More
1967
History

Lore

The award-winning podcast (also a TV show & book series) about dark historical tales. Each episode explores the mysterious creatures, tragic events, and unusual places that fill the pages of history. Because sometimes the truth is more frightening than fiction. Read More
The award-winning podcast (also a TV show & book series) about dark historic Read More
1968
History

Stuff You Missed in History Class

Join Holly and Tracy as they bring you the greatest and strangest Stuff You Missed In History Class in this podcast by iHeartRadio. Read More
Join Holly and Tracy as they bring you the greatest and strangest Stuff You Miss Read More
1969
History

Stuff You Missed in History Class – iHeartPodcasts

Join Holly and Tracy as they bring you the greatest and strangest Stuff You Missed In History Class in this podcast by iHeartRadio. Read More
Join Holly and Tracy as they bring you the greatest and strangest Stuff You Miss Read More
1970
History

the memory palace – Nate DiMeo

From public radio producer, Nate DiMeo, comes The Memory Palace, a finalist for the 2016 Peabody Award and one of iTunes Best Podcast of 2015. Short, surprising stories of the past, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes hysterical, often a little bit of both. "The most potent pieces of audio being produced today." - The AvClub thememorypalace.us The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX, a curated network of extraordinary, story-driven shows. Learn more at radiotopia.fm Read More
From public radio producer, Nate DiMeo, comes The Memory Palace, a finalist for Read More
1971
History

There Goes the Neighborhood

A podcast about how and why gentrification happens. Season 3, produced in partnership with WLRN, Miami’s public radio station, introduces us to “climate gentrification,” reporting about the ways climate change, and our adaption to it, may seriously intensify the affordable housing crisis in many cities. In many parts of the US, black communities were pushed to low-lying flood prone areas. As Nadege Green reports, in Miami, the opposite is true. Black communities were built on high elevation away from the coast. Now because of sea level rise that high land is in demand. WNYC Studios is a listener-supported producer of other leading podcasts including Radiolab, Snap Judgment, Death, Sex & Money, 2 Dope Queens and many others.© WNYC Studios Read More
A podcast about how and why gentrification happens. Season 3, produced in partne Read More
1972
History

Lore – Aaron Mahnke

The award-winning podcast (also a TV show & book series) about dark historical tales. Each episode explores the mysterious creatures, tragic events, and unusual places that fill the pages of history. Because sometimes the truth is more frightening than fiction. Read More
The award-winning podcast (also a TV show & book series) about dark historic Read More
1973
History

The Black Dahlia Serial Killers

Hollywood and Crime is a ground-breaking true crime series about the most infamous murders in Tinseltown history.

In The Black Dahlia Serial Killers, host Tracy Pattin investigates the sensational unsolved murder of Elizabeth Short. Known as the Black Dahlia, Short was a star-struck young woman whose body was found completely severed at the waist in January 1947. Many remember her tragic story, yet few know that more than a dozen other women died in similar circumstances around that same time.

All episodes are available now. You can binge the series exclusively, and ad-free, on Wondery+ or on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or Amazon Music Unlimited subscription. 

Read More
Hollywood and Crime is a ground-breaking true crime ser Read More
1974
History

BackStory

BackStory is a weekly public podcast hosted by U.S. historians Ed Ayers, Brian Balogh, Nathan Connolly and Joanne Freeman. We're based in Charlottesville, Va. at Virginia Humanities. There’s the history you had to learn, and the history you want to learn - that’s where BackStory comes in. Each week BackStory takes a topic that people are talking about and explores it through the lens of American history. Through stories, interviews, and conversations with our listeners, BackStory makes history engaging and fun. Read More
BackStory is a weekly public podcast hosted by U.S. historians Ed Ayers, Brian B Read More
1975
History

The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe – The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe

What started as a series of short mysteries for the curious mind with a short attention span has evolved into enlightening conversations for the not-so-short attention span. Whether it’s a short mystery, a long conversation, or an audio book, The Way I Heard It is a veritable box of chocolates for the ears, because you never know what you’re going to get. Read More
What started as a series of short mysteries for the curious mind with a short at Read More