Best History Podcasts (2026)
History podcasts are having a moment. Whether you want a cinematic deep dive into ancient Rome or a quick 30-minute episode on a topic you never knew existed, there's a show for you. Here are 10 of the best.
Waking up with a podcast on iOS
Podcast Alarm is a fully featured podcast player and alarm. You can set up queues of your favourite episodes and listen to them whenever you like. Why not subscribe to your favourite podcast and have the latest episode wake you up every weekday morning. There are lots of screenshots and videos in our "How to set a podcast as an alarm on iphone?" blog post.
1. The Rest Is History
Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook are the most entertaining double act in history podcasting. They cover everything from the fall of the Roman Empire to the rise of the Nazis across multi-part series that feel more like conversations between brilliant friends than lectures. Over 800 episodes and still going strong.
2. Hardcore History
Dan Carlin produces episodes that run four to six hours and somehow never feel long. His series on World War I ("Blueprint for Armageddon") and the Mongol Empire ("Wrath of the Khans") are genuinely some of the best audio storytelling ever made. New episodes only drop a few times a year, but every one is an event.
3. Fall of Civilizations
Paul Cooper examines how great civilisations collapsed, from the Bronze Age to the Aztecs. Each episode is a standalone documentary with cinematic production quality and gorgeous writing. The podcast has passed 100 million downloads for good reason — there is nothing else quite like it.
4. You're Dead to Me
Greg Jenner's BBC podcast pairs a historian with a comedian to cover one topic per episode. The format is simple and it works brilliantly — you get proper academic depth alongside genuine laughs. Over 130 million downloads and now in its tenth series.
5. Throughline
NPR's Rund Abdelfatah and Ramtin Arablouei trace current events back to their historical roots. Each episode asks "how did we get here?" and answers it with sharp storytelling and excellent sound design. It is the best podcast for understanding why today's headlines actually matter.
6. In Our Time
A BBC Radio 4 institution that has run for over 25 years. Each episode brings together three academic experts to discuss a single topic in history, science, or philosophy. Misha Glenny took over hosting duties from Melvyn Bragg in January 2026, and the format remains as strong as ever.
7. Revolutions
Mike Duncan walks through the great political revolutions in history — the English, American, French, Haitian, and Russian revolutions, each covered across dozens of episodes. Duncan is a masterful narrator who makes complex political history genuinely gripping. He returned in late 2025 with a new series on Irish independence.
8. Gone Medieval
History Hit's medieval history podcast covers everything from Viking ships to the Crusades. Hosted by Cat Jarman, Matt Lewis, and Eleanor Janega, it releases new episodes twice a week and recently passed 500 episodes. Perfect if you want to go deep on the Middle Ages without the dry textbook feel.
9. Stuff You Missed in History Class
Holly Frey and Tracy Wilson have been filling in the gaps of your school education since 2008. Episodes run about 30 minutes and cover the overlooked stories — forgotten inventors, obscure wars, unsung figures. Two new episodes every week, so the back catalogue is enormous.
10. HistoryExtra
From the team behind BBC History Magazine, HistoryExtra releases six episodes a week featuring interviews with leading historians. It covers an incredibly wide range — from ancient Egypt to the Cold War to Tudor England. If you want a daily history habit, this is the one.
Listen on your schedule
Never miss an episode. Set your favourite history podcast as your morning alarm and start each day learning something new. Download Podcast Alarm and wake up to history.
Waking up with a podcast on iOS
Podcast Alarm is a fully featured podcast player and alarm. You can set up queues of your favourite episodes and listen to them whenever you like. Why not subscribe to your favourite podcast and have the latest episode wake you up every weekday morning. There are lots of screenshots and videos in our "How to set a podcast as an alarm on iphone?" blog post.
