The Best History Podcasts To Cram Some Knowledge Through Your Headphones

Malcolm Gladwell revisits the pockets of history that are often overlooked, misinterpreted, or misunderstood. From the history of satire and its effectiveness, to the effects of rich people’s love for golf, Gladwell leaves no stone unturned.

Part of Nikole Hannah-Jones’s Pulitzer Prize-winning The 1619 Project for The New York Times, 1619 is a podcast hosted by Hannah-Jones that traces American slavery back to its roots over 400 years ago.

From the makers of ESPN’s documentary film series of the same name, 30 for 30 is a podcast series covering unique stories from the “world of sports and beyond,” covering moments that have made history on and off the playing field.

From the creators of the WNYC hit Radiolab, More Perfect allows a behind-the-scenes look at the Supreme Court and the decision-making process that went into many of the rulings that have shaped American society as we know it today.

Gimlet Media’s Uncivil is a podcast of unrest. The series challenges America’s traditional teachings of the Civil War by revisiting its history and covering untold stories, hidden details, and an all-new perspective on that complicated era of American history.

Like it’s name might suggest, Throughline is intent on making important correlations between history and current events. NPR hosts Rund Abdelfatah and Ramtin Arablouei cover each episode with an emphasis on untold or overlooked aspects of relevant history.

Produced by Slate Plus and hosted by Leon Neyfakh and Josh Levin, Slow Burn covers a new political controversy each season. The seasons follow, in order, the Watergate Scandal, Bill Clinton’s impeachment, the Tupac Shakur versus Notorious B.I.G. tension, and the life and career of David Duke.

Hosted by Rebecca Onion and Jamelle Bouie and produced by Slate, The History of American Slavery is a podcast series that analyzes both the history of American slavery as well as the effects that the institution still holds within the fabric of today’s America.

Former film critic Karina Longworth’s passion for Hollywood is driven by some serious momentum... backwards, that is. With Longworth as your fanatic guide, You Must Remember This tells never before heard stories of 20th-century Hollywood in all its glory and gasps.

Host Nate DiMeo’s experimental approach to storytelling is both refreshing and captivating. The bite-sized episodes paint vignettes of specific moments, people, places, objects, or other icons of yesterday.