Τα καλύτερα History Hit podcast (2025)

1
Material Girl in an Imperial World Edition Part 1 1:07:19

1d ago1:07:19

1:07:19

In the late 1980s, the English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys dominated the U.K. pop charts and staged an invasion of the American charts. Years later, founding member Neil Tennant dubbed this streak of creative and commercial supremacy the group’s “imperial phase”—a term that eventually caught on among music critics and pop fans. So, what does it tak…

1
The Bombing of Dresden 52:23

3d ago52:23

52:23

As the Second World War neared its bloody climax, Allied bombers unleashed a devastating firestorm on Dresden. In just two days the historic city was reduced to rubble, and tens of thousands were killed. The question remains - was this a legitimate military operation, or an unjustifiable act of destruction? For the latest episode in our 'D-Day to B…

1
Frederick Douglass: Civil War to Statesman 42:40

3d ago42:40

42:40

How did Frederick Douglass, born into enslavement, rise to become one of the most influential orators, writers, and publishers of his time. By the end of his life in 1895, he was world-renowned and owned an estate overlooking the Washington, D.C. skyline. In the first episode on Frederick Douglass, we explored his escape from enslavement and the be…

1
The Siege of Malta: Knights Hospitaller vs The Ottomans 44:41

5d ago44:41

44:41

This is the story of Suleiman the Magnificent's attempt to conquer Malta, the headquarters of a Catholic military order that had become a thorn in his side. They were known as the Knights Hospitaller, and the siege to come would pit Grand Master Jean de Valette and his force of outnumbered defenders against an elite Ottoman army. For this, we're jo…

1
Jamestown: The British and The Powhatan 1:07:16

6d ago1:07:16

1:07:16

From suspicion, to siege, to collaboration, to all out war - in this episode we uncover the complex reality of the Jamestown colonists' relationship with the Indigenous peoples of the East Coast. What were their first impressions of one another? How did the Powhatan view their dynamic with the British settlers? And how crucial were figures like Joh…

1
Iwo Jima: WWII in the Pacific 41:49

7d ago41:49

41:49

80 years ago, on the rocky volcanic island of Iwo Jima, the vicious battle for the Pacific reached ever bloodier crescendos. As Allied forces crossed the Rhine in Europe, American Marines won a costly victory on Iwo Jima in their island-hopping campaign towards the Japanese mainland. For the latest instalment of our 'D-Day to Berlin' series, we're …

1
Nostradamus 30:56

10d ago30:56

30:56

For centuries, Nostradamus has been hailed as the man who saw the future—his cryptic quatrains allegedly foretelling everything from the French Revolution and the rise of Hitler to the 9/11 attacks and the Covid-19 pandemic. But how much is true, and how much is myth? Joining Dan in this episode to unravel the true history of the French soothsayer …

1
Frederick Douglass: Enslavement & Escape 51:32

10d ago51:32

51:32

Born enslaved in 1818, by the time of the Civil War Frederick Douglass was famous around the United States and Europe for his work in the abolition movement. So how did this famous orator learn his trade, having never been to school? How did he escape enslavement? And how did his ideals change as war was brewing? Sidney Morrison introduces us to Fr…

1
2. The English Civil War: Roundheads vs Cavaliers 48:35

12d ago48:35

48:35

Episode 2/2. In 1642, England was torn apart by a fierce struggle. Royalist armies, loyal to the defiant King Charles I, clashed with the forces of Parliament, igniting a violent civil war that would decide the fate of the monarchy and the nation. In this second episode, we hear about some of the bloodiest battles between Roundheads and Cavaliers, …

1
Jamestown: The Journey To America 30:26

13d ago30:26

30:26

In May 1607, over 100 English settlers arrived at Chesapeake Bay on the East Coast of North America. Traveling 50 miles inland along the James River, they established what would become the first permanent English settlement: Jamestown. But what motivated their journey? Why was Chesapeake Bay their chosen destination? And how much do we know about t…

1
1. The English Civil War: How it Started 50:12

14d ago50:12

50:12

Episode 1/2. King Charles I's decision to rule without Parliament was just one of the many reasons that England found itself embroiled in a bloody civil war. In this first episode, we learn how subtle religious and political differences upset the balance of power in England, and plunged the kingdom into chaos. For this, Dan is joined by Minoo Dinsh…

1
The Freewheelin’ Edition Part 2 1:02:48

16d ago1:02:48

1:02:48

At the movies, A Complete Unknown depicts Bob Dylan as a 1960s “it” boy—played by a 2020s “it” boy, Timothée Chalamet. But the film ends in 1965. What happened in the six decades after that? Dylan not only kept recording. He actually started topping the charts—in the 1970s, the era of Led Zeppelin, not Pete Seeger. And several of his chart-topping …

1
Auschwitz Commandant: Rudolf Höss 1:04:16

17d ago1:04:16

1:04:16

Every day Rudolf Höss oversaw the killing of thousands of people at the death camp and then went home and acted like a doting father to his family. Höss was brought in by top Nazis to pioneer the industrialisation of the mass murder of Europe's Jews and others. He lived in a house that shared a wall with Auschwitz, metres from the crematorium, wher…

1
FDR & Churchill 41:08

17d ago41:08

41:08

FDR and Winston Churchill spent 113 days in each others' company during WWII. FDR even saw Churchill naked. But how close were the pair in personality and in strategy? How did the personal relationship between these two giants of history shape the war? And why, in the end, did Churchill see it as a failure? Dan Snow, of our sister podcast 'Dan Snow…

1
The Hunt for Pablo Escobar 29:44

19d ago29:44

29:44

By the early 1990s, the Colombian city of Medellín was at the centre of the world's largest drug empire. The fearsome Medellín Cartel, led by the notorious drug lord and narcoterrorist Pablo Escobar, brought murder and mayhem to the city and the world for nearly two decades. In this episode, Dan is joined by the men portrayed in the critically accl…

1
What Does 'Caucasian' Mean? 40:01

20d ago40:01

40:01

In the 19th Century, a war on the boundary between Europe and Asia had an unexpected effect. It caused the American public to re-examine one of the terms with which they described race: Caucasian. Don Wildman is joined for this episode by the award-winning art historian Sarah Lewis. They explore how the term Caucasian came to be associated with whi…

1
A History of Auschwitz 58:31

21d ago58:31

58:31

On January 27th 1945, the Red Army liberated the concentration camp at Auschwitz unveiling its almost unspeakable horrors to the world. The concentration camp system began almost immediately after Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933. It was an integral part of the Nazi regime's rapid dismantling of German democracy. Within weeks, the …

1
The Panama Canal 33:32

24d ago33:32

33:32

What is the history of the Panama Canal and why does Trump think he can 'take it back'? Dan is joined by Professor Julie Greene to delve into the long backstory of this 50-mile waterway that changed the world. Its journey from concept to completion was fraught as many nations sought to build it over several centuries, with the US eventually taking …

1
FDR & Stalin 33:55

24d ago33:55

33:55

They say that the enemy of your enemy is your friend, but did that apply to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his Soviet counterpart, Joseph Stalin, during the Second World War? Despite their ideological differences, the United States and the USSR joined ranks on January 1, 1942, attacked by Japan and Nazi Germany, respectively. Their leaders wou…

1
How WW1 Inspired The Lord of The Rings 31:49

26d ago31:49

31:49

J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth is perhaps the most captivating fantasy world ever created. His mythology and folklore continue to influence the work of writers, filmmakers, musicians and artists to this day. He first conceived of the idea during the First World War and built his world to examine the fear and courage, despair and hope that he witness…

1
Vasco da Gama and The Rise of the Portuguese Empire 1:20:05

27d ago1:20:05

1:20:05

Dan tells the epic story of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, whose daring voyages at the turn of the 16th century laid the foundations for the Portuguese Empire. From navigating treacherous waters to forging vital trade routes with India, da Gama's exploits reshaped the world’s economic and political landscape. Dan explores the ambition, challeng…

1
Romans in America 38:10

27d ago38:10

38:10

Why was there once a fashion for styling your hair like Brutus, the most famous of Julius Caesar's assassins? Why are there so many neoclassical buildings in the United States? And how was the Ancient Roman Empire once used as a justification for the system of enslavement? Find out in this episode, as Don is joined by Caroline Winterer, William Rob…

1
Charlemagne 1:05:24

28d ago1:05:24

1:05:24

Charlemagne was king of the Franks and Emperor of the mighty Carolingian Empire. His unusually long reign saw him conquer vast swathes of Europe, and shape them into an empire that would inspire rulers for centuries to come. His efforts earned him the title of the "Father of Europe", and the consequences of his reign would be felt long after he was…

1
The Freewheelin’ Edition Part 1 1:04:39

30d ago1:04:39

1:04:39

At the movies, A Complete Unknown depicts Bob Dylan as a 1960s “it” boy—played by a 2020s “it” boy, Timothée Chalamet. But the film ends in 1965. What happened in the six decades after that? Dylan not only kept recording. He actually started topping the charts—in the 1970s, the era of Led Zeppelin, not Pete Seeger. And several of his chart-topping …

1
The Rise of Napoleon 42:05

1M ago42:05

42:05

Napoleon Bonaparte is a household name; a rare example of someone who is as well remembered by his supporters as by his enemies. His life is rich with dramatic irony. He was a key figure in the creation of the First French Republic, yet became a self-appointed Emperor. Surrounded by enemies, he secured peace in France through war abroad and was hat…

1
FDR vs Hitler 1:01:04

1M ago1:01:04

1:01:04

The leaders of the two most powerful nations fighting in the Second World War, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Adolf Hitler, never met. They never even spoke. In this episode, we explore the war of words between them, the involvement of each of their allies and when it became certain that war would break out between their two nations. Don is jo…

1
Who Owns Greenland? 34:03

1M ago34:03

34:03

It sounds outlandish that President-Elect Donald Trump has said he wants to buy Greenland but this isn't the first or even second time the United States has tried to acquire this arctic territory. Dan is joined by Professor Robert Rix from the University of Copenhagen to trace the long history of settlement in Greenland - from the Indigenous Inuit …

1
Who Was Sitting Bull? 49:07

1M ago49:07

49:07

Sitting Bull, Jumping Badger, Slow - what do we know about the man who went by each of these names? How did he earn them and what was his role in the changing United States of the late 19th century? Don is joined by none other than Sitting Bull's great-grandson, Ernie Lapointe, to hear stories passed down in his family about this Native American ic…

1
Roald Amundsen 47:58

1M ago47:58

47:58

Roald Amundsen was surely one of history's greatest explorers. He beat Scott to the South Pole, and was the first person to reach the North Pole and to traverse the perilous Northwest Passage. His adaptability, meticulous precision and fearlessness propelled him to international fame in life and beyond. Today we're joined by Stephen R. Bown, author…

1
President FDR & the New Deal 39:53

1M ago39:53

39:53

In 1932, amidst the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected the 32nd President of the United States. He was more than a leader; he was a beacon of hope, steering the nation through its darkest days... and the newly-elected president had a plan. In this episode, Don is joined by historian Eric Rauchway to explore the New Deal, an ambitio…

1
How to Survive a Medieval Crusade 37:21

1M ago37:21

37:21

What would it have been like to go on a medieval crusade? What dangers would you have faced on the gruelling journey to the Holy Land, and what would it have been like once you arrived? Dan and Matt Lewis, host of the 'Gone Medieval' podcast, discuss the logistical nightmares, deadly battles and harsh conditions faced by crusaders, and the brutal r…

1
The First 12 Days of the Civil War 35:00

1M ago35:00

35:00

In April 1861, Union forces having lost the first battle of the Civil War, attention turned to the Confederacy's likely next target - Washington DC. Entirely unprepared, the American capital was to be undefended for the next 12 days. To explore the fears, preparations and movements of these days, Don is joined by Tony Silber, author of 'Twelve Days…

1
Rome's Greatest Humiliation: Roman Empire vs Germanic Tribes 57:47

1M ago57:47

57:47

In 9 AD, the rebel chieftain Arminius and his confederation of Germanic tribes ambushed three Roman legions in the Teutoburg Forest. For days the Romans were relentlessly stalked through the woods and pounced on by their pursuers. All told, up to 20,000 Romans were killed in the chaos, and only a handful were able to escape. The battle proved to be…

1
Introducing Broken Record: "Norah Jones Begins Again" 1:22:53

1M ago1:22:53

1:22:53

To kick off the New Year, we're sharing a podcast that we think Hit Parade listeners are going to love: Broken Record. Check out this episode with singer/songwriter Norah Jones, co-hosted by Blue Note Records President Don Was. Norah has been with Blue Note Records since releasing her juggernaut 2002 debut album, Come Away With Me. In this conversa…

1
The Battle of the Bulge 54:24

1M ago54:24

54:24

In the dead of winter, 1944, the frozen forest of Ardennes erupted in chaos. In a desperate, last-ditch attempt to turn the tide of the war, Hitler threw his armoured divisions at the thinly spread Allied frontline. The battle that followed was the bloodiest fought by the Americans in the war, and their determined defence helped to seal the fate of…

1
President Herbert Hoover: Did He Cause the Great Depression? 42:06

2M ago42:06

42:06

President Herbert Hoover is synonymous with failure. As the Great Depression hit, shanty town across America were nicknamed 'Hoovervilles' in honour of the man held responsible for their birth. But there's more to him than this. Today Don restores depth and nuance to Hoover's tragic story with his wonderful guest Eric Rauchway, author of "Winter Wa…

1
The Great Fire of London 28:45

2M ago28:45

28:45

In the early hours of September 2, 1666, a small fire broke out on the ground floor of a baker's house in Pudding Lane. In five days that small fire would devastate the third largest city in the Western world. Adrian Tinniswood is a historian, teacher and writer, as well as a consultant to the National Trust. Adrian joins Dan to explore the catacly…

1
Remembering Jimmy Carter: Life & Legacy 1:03:52

2M ago1:03:52

1:03:52

In this special episode, Don Wildman is joined by experts Jonathan Alter and Jefferson Cowie to delve into the remarkable life of the 39th president of the United States, Jimmy Carter, who has died at the age of 100. Carter, who served in office from 1977 to 1981, is the longest-lived president. From his early days in rural Georgia, to a hostage cr…

1
Japanese in America 51:15

2M ago51:15

51:15

When the US turned to Japan for workers in the late 19th Century, they probably never foresaw that one day soon they would imprison those who arrived, their successors, and their families, en masse in camps around America. To hear about the Japanese American experience through history, Don is speaking to Kristen Hayashi. Kristen is Director of Coll…

1
The Fall of Constantinople 37:04

2M ago37:04

37:04

May 1453 saw the siege that would lead to the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire. It was the culmination of an age-long struggle between Christianity and Islam for control of the Eastern Mediterranean. The Ottoman leader Mehmed II had dreamed of possessing the city since he was a boy, and now the shining light of Christian civilization, which had las…

1
The Bridge: Slate Music Club 2024 35:12

2M ago35:12

35:12

The Slate Music Club is back, in a special edition of Hit Parade – “The Bridge”! Our year-end panel of critics—NPR Music’s Ann Powers, Hearing Things’ Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, Slate’s own Carl Wilson and Hit Parade host Chris Molanphy—discuss their favorite albums and singles and the trends that shaped the year in pop, rap, country, Latin and gl…

1
I’d Like to Teach the World to Buy Edition Part 2 44:49

2M ago44:49

44:49

That damned jingle! In that infernal commercial trying to sell you cars, sneakers, soda, gum! Can’t get it out of your head? Well, what if we made it longer, had a famous singer perform it, and put it on the radio? How would you like it then? A surprising number of hits across chart history got their start in advertisements: the Carpenters song tha…

1
The Origins of Istanbul 43:47

2M ago43:47

43:47

Today we dig into the history of Istanbul, the city at the crossroads of East and West. Across thousands of years, the city has survived the rise and fall of empires, weathered sieges and Crusades, and remained a centre of world religion, trade and politics. With us is Jonathan Harris, Professor of the History of Byzantium at Royal Holloway and aut…

1
Lexington & Concord: The First Battles of the Revolutionary War 42:55

2M ago42:55

42:55

The shot heard ‘round the world'; the start of the American Revolution. An event that would have profound consequences for world history, especially western democracy. Who’d have thought that something of such magnitude would begin in a small settlement with as many cows as people living in it? Don Wildman hops across the Atlantic from American His…

Podcasts που αξίζει να ακούσετε

History Hit Podcasts

Podcasts που αξίζει να ακούσετε

Οδηγός γρήγορης αναφοράς