Shows / History Shorts
History Shorts
Dive into the past with award-winning historian Peter Zablocki in this captivating daily podcast! Uncover hidden stories you never knew existed. And don't miss Friday Conversations where Peter teams up with top experts for riveting, in-depth discussions that bring history to life.
Episodes
History ShortsThe 1835 Bat Men of the Moon
In August 1835, a New York newspaper announced an astonishing discovery: life had been found on the Moon. According to The Sun, famed astronomer Sir John…
History ShortsPresident Wilson Has a Stroke
In October 1919, President Woodrow Wilson suffered a devastating stroke that left him partially paralyzed and severely impaired. But the full extent of his…
History ShortsRobert Harris on Agrippa: Friendship, Power & the Making of the Roman Empire
Bestselling author Robert Harris joins History Shorts for a conversation about his newest novel, Agrippa. Harris returns to ancient Rome to tell the story of…
History ShortsGeronimo Surrenders
For decades, Geronimo resisted attempts by the United States and Mexico to confine the Apache people to reservations. His small band repeatedly escaped into…
History ShortsDid FDR Push the U.S. into World War II?
Did Franklin D. Roosevelt secretly maneuver the United States into World War II? Long before Pearl Harbor, FDR was determined to help Britain survive Nazi…
History ShortsPeter the Great's Grand Embassy
In 1697, Tsar Peter the Great set out on one of history's most unusual diplomatic missions. Traveling across Europe under the alias "Peter Mikhailov," the…
History ShortsThe 1618 Defenestration of Prague
Sometimes history turns on the most unexpected moments. In 1618, a group of Protestant nobles stormed Prague Castle and hurled three Catholic imperial…
History ShortsEmperor Basil: The Bulgar-Slayer Who Blinded a Whole Army
In 1014, after a decisive victory over the Bulgarian Empire at the Battle of Kleidion, Byzantine Emperor Basil II made a decision that would echo through…
History ShortsThe Houston Riot of 1917
In the summer of 1917, the U.S. Army stationed the Buffalo Soldiers of the 24th Infantry in Houston, Texas, where they encountered the harsh realities of Jim…
History ShortsThe Insane 1909 Coast-to-Coast Race That Changed America, w/ Eric Moskowitz
Join me for an epic conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Eric Moskowitz about his gripping new book The Hardest, Longest Race: Henry Ford and…
History ShortsNizari Ismailis & the Origin of the Word 'Assassin'
The word "assassination" is spoken around the world, but its origins are rooted in one of history's most misunderstood groups. The medieval Nizari Ismailis…
History ShortsThe Union Spy in the Confederate White House
While the Civil War raged on the battlefield, one of the Union's greatest victories came through espionage. In the heart of the Confederate capital, Elizabeth…
History ShortsThe Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
On March 25, 1911, flames tore through the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City, claiming the lives of 146 workers in just eighteen minutes. Most were…
History ShortsPaul Revere's Ride: The Night That Saved America, w/ Kostya Kennedy
Today I'm thrilled to be joined by Kostya Kennedy — bestselling author, former Sports Illustrated senior writer, and the man who's brought us unforgettable…
History ShortsThe Day Americans and Germans Fought Together in WWII
In the final days of World War II, one of the war's most extraordinary battles unfolded inside a medieval Austrian castle. With Nazi Germany collapsing, a…
History ShortsThe Man Who Sued Satan
Can you sue the Devil in federal court? In 1971, one prisoner decided to find out. Filing a civil rights lawsuit against "Satan and His Staff," the plaintiff…
History ShortsThe Newspaper Revolution & Birth of America's Media Empire, w/ Alex Wright
In this fascinating conversation, I sit down with author and researcher Alex Wright to explore his new book, Empire of Ink: The Printers, Rogues, and Radicals…
History ShortsWas There a Female Paul Revere?
Did Sybil Ludington really make the legendary midnight ride of the American Revolution? According to tradition, the 16-year-old rode forty miles through a…
History ShortsThe Great Game: Britain v. Russia in Central Asia
For nearly a century, Britain and Russia engaged in a silent struggle for power across Central Asia. Known as the Great Game, it was a contest of spies…
History ShortsDid a Cake Start the Salem Terror of 1692?
Before the Salem witch trials spiraled into one of the darkest episodes in American history, an unusual folk remedy set the stage. In February 1692, a witch…
History ShortsKing William's War: P. Schuyler, the Iroquois & America's Forgotten Conflict, w/ Samuel Marquis
I'm joined by bestselling and award-winning historian Samuel Marquis. He's written widely on colonial America, the Golden Age of Piracy, and World War II — and…
History ShortsThe Polio Vaccine's Cutter Incident of 1955
The announcement of the Salk polio vaccine in April 1955 was met with celebration across America. But within weeks, that joy turned to fear when some…
History ShortsThe Wilmington Massacre of 1898
In 1898, Wilmington, North Carolina, was home to one of the most prosperous and politically influential Black communities in the United States. Then, on…
History ShortsInside the White House as Chief of Staff to Laura Bush & Learning from the First Ladies, w/ Anita McBride
Join me for a fascinating conversation with Anita McBride — former Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush, longtime White House veteran across three…
History ShortsThe Truth About the Children's Crusade of 1212
The Children's Crusade of 1212 is often remembered as the tragic tale of thousands of innocent children marching to the Holy Land, only to be sold into…
History ShortsThe Eastland Disaster of 1915
On the morning of July 24, 1915, thousands of Chicago factory workers and their families gathered for a company picnic aboard the SS Eastland. The ship never…
History ShortsZheng He and the Treasure Fleets of Ming China
Nearly a century before Columbus crossed the Atlantic, Ming China launched the largest naval expeditions the world had ever seen. Commanded by the remarkable…
History ShortsThe WWII Battle of LA: The Night America Shelled an Empty Sky
In the early hours of February 25, 1942, Los Angeles erupted into chaos. Air raid sirens wailed, searchlights swept the sky, and anti-aircraft batteries…
History ShortsFrom Medieval Monastic Timekeeping to Our 9-5 Workday
Why do we work from nine to five? The answer begins not in a factory, but in a monastery. In 529 AD, St. Benedict created a daily schedule of fixed prayer…
History Shorts1800s Telegram Networks that Invented Modern Insider Trading
Long before high-frequency trading and algorithmic investing, Wall Street's greatest advantage was speed. In 1867, the stock ticker began delivering real-time…
History ShortsGhosts of Sicily: Navy-Mob Alliance vs. Nazis, w/ Leon Carroll, Jr.
In this full-length interview, I sit down with Leon Carroll Jr. — retired NCIS Special Agent, longtime technical advisor for the hit series NCIS, and co-author…
History ShortsThe Tailor Who Saved Washington - Twice
When the British evacuated New York in 1783, suspected Loyalists found themselves in danger. Among the most suspicious was Hercules Mulligan, an Irish tailor…
History ShortsThe Polish Mathematicians Who Cracked the Engima
Everyone knows Alan Turing helped break the Enigma code. Far fewer know that the first breakthrough came years earlier—from Poland. In 1932, mathematician…
History ShortsProject Iceworm: A Secret Cold War Base Under Greenland
Buried more than 100 feet beneath the Greenland ice sheet lies one of the Cold War's most astonishing secrets. In 1959, the U.S. Army built Camp Century—an…
History ShortsThe Civil War Hospital Ships that Invented Modern Trauma Care
The first hospital ship in U.S. Navy history wasn't purpose-built—it was a captured Confederate steamer transformed into one of the Civil War's greatest…
History ShortsThe Man Who Sold 'Winter'
In the early nineteenth century, the idea of shipping ice to the tropics sounded ridiculous. After all, who would pay for something that melted before it…
History ShortsNapoleon & the Invention of Canned Food
In this episode of History Shorts, we explore the remarkable story of Nicolas Appert, the Paris confectioner who revolutionized the way the world eats. Hoping…
History ShortsReviving Civic Education in American Classrooms, w/ Jack Miller Center President, Hans Zeiger
In this episode, I sit down with Hans Zeiger, President of the Jack Miller Center and former Washington State legislator. Hans shares how a childhood love of…
History ShortsThe Forgotten WWI Choctaw Code Talkers
Everyone knows the story of the Navajo Code Talkers in World War II. Far fewer know that the first Native American code talkers helped change the course of a…
History ShortsAbraham Lincoln's Lifelong Battle with Depression
In 1841, a thirty-one-year-old lawyer from Illinois wrote a heartbreaking letter to his law partner: "I am now the most miserable man living." That lawyer was…
History ShortsWhen the Coffeehouse Became the Most Dangerous Room in Europe
In 1675, King Charles II of England declared war on an unlikely enemy: the coffeehouse. These weren't taverns or gambling halls—they were places where ordinary…
History ShortsTHE HISTORIANS #2 - How "Wild" was the Wild West? I Paul Andrew Hutton & Mark Lee Gardner
Welcome back to THE HISTORIANS — the series here on History Shorts where I sit down with two leading historians for an unscripted conversation about the…
History ShortsClara Barton's Missing Soldiers Office
When the American Civil War ended, the fighting was over—but for thousands of families, the agony had only just begun. Sons, husbands, and brothers had…
History ShortsWhen Teachers Waged War Against Calculators
In the 1970s, a tiny electronic device sparked one of the most unexpected battles in education. It wasn't over politics, funding, or curriculum. It was over…
History ShortsThe Dark WWII History of Paris's Hotel Lutetia, w/ Jane Rogoyska
I'm delighted to be joined by acclaimed historian and author Jane Rogoyska. In her powerful new book, Hotel Exile: Paris in the Shadow of War, Jane tells the…
History ShortsThe Resolute Desk's Ghost Ship Past
One of the most famous pieces of furniture in the world wasn't built for a president. It was built from the timbers of a ship that refused to die. In this…
History ShortsPoinsettismo: The Christmas Flower's Forgotten Diplomatic Disaster
Every December, millions of bright red poinsettias decorate homes, churches, and holiday tables around the world. Few people realize that the beloved Christmas…
History ShortsMarcus Garvey's Fleet of Dreams
In the years after World War I, millions of people of African descent dreamed of a future free from colonialism, discrimination, and racial oppression. No one…
History ShortsThe Last Stands of Custer, Crazy Horse, & Sitting Bull, w/ Tom Clavin
In this timely episode, we sit down with #1 New York Times bestselling author Tom Clavin to discuss his gripping new book Vengeance: The Last Stands of Custer…
History ShortsMerrill's Marauders
Hollywood remembers Merrill's Marauders as fearless jungle fighters. The reality was far harsher. In this episode of History Shorts, we follow the elite…
History ShortsStalin's Cannibal Island
In the spring of 1933, thousands of Soviet citizens were dumped onto a small island in Siberia with virtually nothing—no food, no tools, no shelter, and no…
History ShortsAre We Heading Toward Great Power War? w/ Odd Arne Westad
Today I'm honored to be joined by one of the world's foremost historians of modern international relations, Professor Odd Arne Westad. He is a Professor of…
History ShortsThe Age of Pericles
The Parthenon remains one of the greatest architectural achievements in human history. But what did it really cost? In this episode of History Shorts, we…
History ShortsThe Last Hours of Alexander Hamilton
Most people know Alexander Hamilton died after his infamous duel with Aaron Burr. Fewer know he survived for another 31 agonizing hours. In this episode of…
History ShortsThe 1637 Mystic Massacre
Before sunrise on May 26, 1637, English colonists and their Native allies surrounded a fortified Pequot village near Mystic, Connecticut. Their orders were…
History ShortsInside the National WWII Museum w/ Cory Graff
What does World War II still have to teach us in a world where fewer and fewer people remember it firsthand? In this episode of History Shorts: Conversations…
History ShortsMansa Musa and the Pilgrimage that Broke an Economy
In 1324, the richest man in history set out on a pilgrimage—and accidentally shook the global economy. In this episode of History Shorts, we follow the…
History ShortsThe Last Revolutionary War Soldier: Daniel Frederick Bakeman
When most people think of the American Revolution, they picture powdered wigs, battlefield heroics, and the birth of a new nation. Few realize that the last…
History ShortsHow the American Revolution was GLOBAL, w/ Sarah Pearsall
In this compelling episode, we sit down with award-winning historian Sarah M. S. Pearsall to explore her groundbreaking new book, Freedom Round the Globe: A…
History ShortsWhy did Hitler call it the "Third" Reich?
In 1933, Adolf Hitler rose to power and began transforming Germany into a dictatorship. But one of the most revealing clues about his ambitions wasn't found in…