Everybody loves historical yarn. We can watch the trials of humanity from a safe distance, then judge how well we did as a species or, more likely, how badly. And when you think things are getting better, along comes a figure or an act of nature that pushes us back to the brink again. Whatever your taste in bygone times, we've got some compelling history podcasts here, some light and humorous, some stuff you missed in history class in high school, but all ripe for learning more about the backstory on how we got where we are today.
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Dan Carlin is a history buff from America well known in these circles for his historical podcast called Dan Carlin's Hardcore History. On the show, he gets experts in to discuss the whole sweep of history, in what's always captivating and fascinating. Nothing is off-limits – one time, they could be talking about Romans, Celts, or the Medieval period in Europe, and the next, it could be Japanese dynasties, civil wars, American history, or the Cold War. Indeed, the conversation often creeps into modern or future stories. However, with so much to talk about, Carlin does sometimes run out of time, and if he feels the subject deserves more of a deep dive or that a particular branch of the subject went underexplored, here's where it might end up – in his Addendum podcast. It's always worth listening if you want to dive even deeper into a subject. This podcast is undoubtedly one of the best history podcasts out there, with new episodes always making ripples, and we're delighted to host it.
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Egypt has played host to perhaps the longest-lasting culture in human history. Stretching back to 5,000 years ago and only really petering out in the Roman era gives us about 3,000 years to play within this remarkable podcast. In each episode, a single event, character, object, or structure is discussed, which makes The History of Egypt Podcast run from ten minutes long to over an hour, so it's perhaps best to set it to continuous play if you're on a long journey or working out. If you have more than a passing interest in this remarkable land around the Nile, you will be inspired by the depth and detail in every listen.
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Read on if you like your history light, sprinkled with belly laughs. Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds are two US comedians who have found a loyal following over their 500+ episodes of The Dollop. In each episode, history buff Anthony reads a story or theme from American history, but it's always one that Reynolds knows next to nothing (and sometimes literally nothing) about. The result is a hilarious romp as the two comedians riff off each other and brings their unique perspectives to often highly obscure events. They might talk about a theme from centuries ago, a current event, or a living figure, so buckle up for a humorous walkthrough of US history. Note that this might not be one for the kids, as it contains strong language throughout.
