Buzz
When those business school bullies laughed at your decision to pursue a doctorate in medieval literature, they had no idea about the fascinating realm of history podcasts that awaited you. Now, it’s incredibly trendy to share your academic insights from the comfort of your closet. Podcasts have become a powerful medium for exploring history across various eras and scales, offering bite-sized lessons. Many of these shows have been around for over a decade, predating the rise of Serial, giving you plenty of content to dive into. Building on our earlier recommendations, which featured Something True, Crimetown, and Revolutions, here are three more exceptional history podcasts (excluding that one ultra-famous one).
Tides of History
“Events and individuals are merely the surface ripples, while the deeper currents of history carry the true weight of change.”
Historian Patrick Wyman opens Tides of History with this insightful quote from Fernand Braudel, setting the stage for his exploration of the Modern Era’s evolution. Wyman shares Braudel’s belief that history is best understood through broad trends rather than a focus on kings and battles—though these elements serve as valuable illustrations of the larger forces at play. For Wyman, it’s the underlying tides that illuminate the emergence of the modern nation-state.
While many histories mark the Modern Era’s beginning around the Renaissance, Wyman traces its roots much further back—around the time his previous podcast, The Fall of Rome, concluded. Unlike specific events tied to kings and battles, the tides of history defy exact dates. This approach makes the initial episodes feel like groundwork, but the series gains momentum as it unfolds, offering listeners a profound understanding of life and the world’s workings during the millennium between Rome and the Renaissance. For the best experience, I recommend starting from the very first episode.
Like many history podcasts, Wyman’s show is essentially a series of lectures. However, it’s less like a dry classroom and more akin to an engaging TED Talk—and I mean that as a compliment. Wyman often opens episodes with vivid, sound-rich scenes that immerse listeners, evoking the excitement of starting a game of Civilization. These moments help make the abstract ideas he discusses more tangible and relatable.
Wyman shifts between the early and late Middle Ages, exploring the long buildup to significant historical phenomena before revealing their climax. For instance, before delving into Christopher Columbus and the Age of Discovery, he dedicates an episode to Medieval exploration. Once you adjust to this Westworld-like narrative style, you’ll see how the show transforms historical names and dates from mere trivia into a meaningful understanding of how today’s world came to be.
The Bowery Boys
The Bowery Boys takes a completely different approach. With 262 episodes, this conversational podcast dives into New York City’s history, each episode focusing on a specific figure, era, or event. Hosts Greg Young and Tom Meyers bring a casual yet knowledgeable vibe, making the show feel less like a lecture and more like eavesdropping on two brilliant minds chatting at a bar.
A bar like McSorley’s Old Ale House, one of countless iconic New York City landmarks I was certain the Boys had explored even before verifying. (Thanks to the show’s blog tags, you can effortlessly navigate from that episode to more nightlife stories or delve into other East Village history.) A simple search for “Bowery Boys” along with any notable New York figure or institution will likely lead you to their coverage, often from multiple perspectives.
A standout example and an excellent entry point is “Revisiting the Stonewall Riots: The Evolving Legacy of a Violent Night,” a 2017 revisit of their 2008 episode on this pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ rights history. History is, in essence, historiography, and Young and Meyers demonstrate this by examining how the Stonewall narrative has been simplified, often sidelining trans and minority activists while centering white men. They reflect on how this narrow view influenced their earlier work and now strive to include the stories they once overlooked. This thoughtful approach lends the show a sense of depth, despite its informal tone.
The Memory Palace
Most podcasts would benefit from being shorter, as few truly justify a two-hour runtime. Nate DiMeo, however, ensures every second of The Memory Palace is worthwhile. Each 10 to 20-minute episode is a poetic exploration of a historical figure or artifact. DiMeo’s quiet, reflective style has earned him a Peabody Award and a feature in the New Yorker (where you’ll discover he’s also written for shows like Parks and Rec).
Like The Bowery Boys, I discovered this podcast through a Mytour commenter: Reader Tom C suggested starting with the episode “Notes on an Imagined Plaque,” and I wholeheartedly agree. The full title, which is quite lengthy, hints at how DiMeo’s historical vignettes often intersect with contemporary political debates, such as the controversy surrounding statues of slaveholders and Confederate leaders: “Notes on an Imagined Plaque to be Added to the Statue of General Nathan Bedford Forrest, Upon Hearing that the Memphis City Council has Voted to Move it and the Exhumed Remains of General Forrest and his Wife, Mary Ann Montgomery Forrest, from their Current Location in a Park Downtown, to the Nearby Elmwood Cemetery.”
You’re welcome to jump between the standalone episodes of The Memory Palace, but keep in mind that most titles are intentionally vague, offering just a word or two without revealing the topic. DiMeo has curated his own top-ten list, focusing on episodes from the middle of the show’s timeline. While we await an updated selection of his recent favorites, he has highlighted his top pick from 2017: “If You Have to Be a Floor,” created during his residency at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
