Top History Podcasts

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Many historians and cultural observers argue we live in a post-truth world—but if truth is dead, who killed it? And how did it die? Join celebrated historian Jill Lepore as she cracks the case by examining key moments in the history of truth, doubt, and evidence across the last century.

In Who Killed Truth? acclaimed Harvard historian and New Yorker staff writer Jill Lepore traces the origins of our current post-truth crisis. In a series of spellbinding stories, Lepore investigates murders, hoaxes, lies and delusions to reckon with the instability of truth and fiction in the twenty-first century. Listeners will follow Lepore through a fascinating, erudite, and antic journey through the thorny problem of how we know what we know, and why it seems sometimes as if we don't know anything at all anymore. 

Revisiting key moments in U.S. history—from the Scopes Monkey Trial in 1925 to the 1977 National Women’s Convention to the first election predicted by computer, and more—Lepore uncovers the secrets of the past the way a detective might, hot on the trail of the killer of truth.

Please note: This collection includes content that has been previously released in The Last Archive podcast.

Season Two is here! The first episode was posted on April 14. 

Telling Jefferson Lies chronicles how history can be hijacked for ideological and political purposes, as well as a much broader story about the surge of Christian nationalism and the misuse of history which often goes along with it.  The series begins with an in-depth consideration of the methods of Christian nationalist story teller David Barton. Then I tell the story of how his book on Jefferson was pulled from publication in 2012 and the response of evangelicals to that rare event. From there, I broaden the scope to examine the varieties of Christian nationalism and the negative consequences of this way of thinking about church and state. The last segment examines the reasons why the separation of church and state is good history, good civics, and good religion. 

For more information, go to http://www.gettingjeffersonright.com. 

Out in Oak Lawn: A Queer History of Dallas is a student-produced podcast series focusing on the history of the Oak Lawn neighborhood in Dallas, Texas. Using archival sources and interviews with past and present queer icons, we are telling the stories of how Oak Lawn became a queer hotspot. Season 1, released in 2023, explores the early history of Oak Lawn, queer cowboy culture, businesses and nightlife, the lesbian experience, political activism, and the what the neighborhood is like today. Season 2, released in 2025, explores AIDS activism, trans history, public art, drag culture, the Cathedral of Hope, and the Dallas Voice. Our hope is that this series ensures that Oak Lawn’s history will not be lost due to the passage of time.

The HistoryNet Podcast features some of the greatest stories from HistoryNet.com's archive of over 25,000+ features. From ancient Rome to the Middle Ages, from the 18th century to the edge of recent memory, we zero in on the people and events that made the world what it is today. Vividly written by expert authors, thoroughly edited and fact-checked by magazine professionals, these stories bring history to vibrant life.

The narrators of this podcast, however, are not human beings but AI voices created by our partner, Instaread.co. Say what you will about AI, but in this case the voices are surprisingly real, capturing well the nuances of the articles they're reading aloud.

To read those stories in their original form, please go to historynet.com.

For advertising inquires, please contact advertisingsales@mco.com.

Martha Kearney, in conversation with former government ministers, reveals the truth behind the headlines of previously secret government files that have been released to the public

A podcast about the White supremacist origins of evangelical purity culture with historian Dr. Sara Moslener.

Join 35-year JFK assassination researcher, John Young as he breaks down the mystery of the Kennedy assassination. What’s the hidden facts that the history books didn’t tell you.

Hello, welcome to my podcast about Alexander the Great.

All episodes can be found here:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1569658/supporters/new 

Ι am Michalis, together we are going to analyse the life of Alexander the Great. We have a ton to talk about, at the age of 30 Alexander had conquered 2/3 of the known world. He had the equally great Aristotle as a tutor, he was born in Pella, that is, was and forever be Greek. I hope to put out an episode every two or three weeks.If you have any questions or suggestions i would love to hear from you.

Historian Andrew Roberts presents a series, recorded partly on location in Paris, which dispels some myths about Napoleon Bonaparte.

"If these walls could talk..." | Please join us as we discuss all things country houses. These are far more than mere bricks and mortar; they are family homes - living, breathing, changing and adapting over time. On The Country House Podcast we explore everything from their architectural history, gardens and collections to the lives of those who have lived and worked in them.

The goal of our platform remains true to its founding principles. We hope to inform people on a subject we are knowledgeable about, while proving that architectural and art history are accessible and engaging for everyone and can be enjoyed by all of us, whatever background or demographic we come from!

Country houses bring these subjects to life - their architecture encapsulates the progress of nations through the centuries, their collections speak of changing tastes, and their social histories include the lives of many great and powerful figures (and occasionally some rather unsavoury ones!) Country houses are not only beautiful buildings, but also important historical monuments and essential aspects of our respective national identities.

If you enjoy tuning in, please consider supporting us by joining one of our membership tiers on our Patreon page - we love getting to know members of our community. Please also like, share and comment as you see fit.

Love Geoff & Rory x

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Philippa Gregory’s Normal Women is a new podcast from HarperCollins, launched to coincide with the publication of this landmark work of scholarship and storytelling, from celebrated novelist and historian Philippa Gregory. 

Normal Women is a radical retelling of our nation’s story – not of the rise and fall of kings and the occasional queen – but of social and cultural change, powered by the determination, persistence and effectiveness of women– from 1066 to modern times. This is not another book or podcast about three or four well-known heroines; it is a story about millions of women: those who left records and those who were ‘hidden from history.’

The podcast weaves together Philippa’s narrative history with lively discussions, bringing together historians who are experts in their field, and guests with their own modern perspectives. From popstars to TikTok superstars, groundbreaking campaigners to best selling authors, Philippa welcomes women from all walks of life to look back at the past lives of half the population, and put women where they belong – centre stage.

This eight-part series starts on the 26th October, publishing weekly.

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This is the story of how two Heirs of Enslavement - Clive Lewis MP, a descendent of the enslaved, and Laura Trevelyan, of the enslaver - can come together to right the wrongs of the past.

In this six-part series, Clive and Laura will travel to Grenada, Barbados, and back to London to delve into their shared history. They’ll be asking what people across the Caribbean and beyond want, how to find a way forward, and whether true reparatory justice can be achieved. 

New episode every Friday.

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Expert history with a wicked twist: Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things is the podcast that goes behind palace doors and beyond the balcony smiles, to uncover the stories that the history books have politely skipped. 

Queens, Kings & Dastardly Things reveals the schemers, lovers, plotters and even the pets who’ve made the British monarchy the world’s longest-running reality show.

Hosts, Royal biographers Robert Hardman and Professor Kate Williams trace how power, passion and paranoia have shaped every crown. There are queens who ruled better than their husbands, and princes who partied harder than their people. We meet saints, sinners and those hovering somewhere in between – from the man formerly known as Prince Andrew to the less-vilified Richard III.

Sometimes we get reflective: how monarchy survives scandal, how image-making began long before Instagram, and why royal women have always been the best crisis managers in the room. Other times we’re just here for the gossip: who wore what, who slept where, and who accidentally started a war over breakfast.

Think of it as history with its crown slightly askew. If you like your royal stories with equal parts grandeur and chaos, step into the world of Queens, Kings & Dastardly Things because behind every coronation lies a cover-up, behind every portrait a scandal, and behind every great monarch… a very patient servant wondering how to get the blood out of the carpet.

New episodes out every MONDAY, wherever you get your podcasts.

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