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 Shorts
BONUS Deep Dive: The Death of General Sikorski
Join Peter and his special guests, the authors of Sabotage!, Chris Wroblewski and Garth Barnard, as they discuss one of World War II's biggest mysteries - the…
- History Shorts
Just the Facts: Military History
HISTORY SHORTS' JUST THE FACTS: Military History Join Peter as he shares some obscure historical military facts you can surprise your friends with at the water…
- History Shorts
Landmarks: Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal, one of the most iconic structures in the world, was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Constructed…
History ShortsConversations: Writing about flawed historical characters is more fun, w/ Ben Macintyre
CONVERSATION SERIES: Ben Macintyre Join Peter as he speaks with Mr. Ben Macintyre, a renowned historian and bestselling author of Operation Mincemeat and Agent…
- History Shorts
Battle of the Overpass
Among the inconsistencies in Henry Ford's legacy of creating an automobile empire and putting Americans on the road with his affordable Model T is the often…
- History Shorts
Kidnapping the Pope
It was an incident that pitted two of the most powerful men in the medieval world of their time. Referred to as the "Outrage of Anagni," in 1303, King Philip…
- History Shorts
Killing J.P. Morgan
Some would have said that before America entered the conflict in 1917, the United States, with its neutrality and isolationism, was immune to the turmoil of…
- History Shorts
Marathon to Athens
For all of those Marathon runners out there who regularly survive the 26-mile run - did you ever wonder about the origins of the name and the seemingly…
- History Shorts
Trivia: Ancient Landmarks
HISTORY SHORTS SUNDAY TRIVIA - Ancient Landmarks Test yourself to see how many ancient landmarks you can recognize based on a brief description. And don't…
- History Shorts
Remastered: Sending Nazi POWs to College
REMASTERED: Join Peter for these bonus episodes as he revisits some of his early topics with extended content. Many people may not know that during WWII, the…
- History Shorts
Conquerors: Napoleon
HISTORY SHORTS LIMITED SERIES: Conquerors - Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military general, political leader, and eventually Emperor of the French…
History ShortsConversations: The Importance of a National History Day, w/ Cathy Gorn
CONVERSATION SERIES: Dr. Cathy Gorn Join Peter as he speaks with Dr. Cathy Gorn, the executive director of National History Day and adjunct professor of…
- History Shorts
History of the Potato
The potato, native to South America and domesticated by indigenous peoples thousands of years ago, was brought over to Europe by Spanish conquistadors in the…
- History Shorts
King Kong Breaks the Box Office
Long before Jaws popularized the term "Summer Blockbuster," the 1933 film King Kong was the first special effects box office sensation. This landmark in cinema…
- History Shorts
Fort Dearborn Massacre
Lost among the historiography on the War of 1812 between the United States and Britain,(and) its Native American allies, is often forgotten bloody incident…
- History Shorts
Machiavelli's The Prince
Niccolò Machiavelli's The Prince is one of the most famous political writings in Western history, known for its pragmatic, often controversial approach to…
- History Shorts
VINTAGE NEWS: Al Capone 1926
This is a new addition to the SUNDAY SERIES rotation alongside the SUNDAY TRIVIA and JUST THE FACTS. In VINTAGE NEWS, I will share headlines and stories from…
- History Shorts
Conquerors: Attila the Hun
Attila the Hun, born in 406 AD, was the ruler of the Huns, a nomadic group from Central Asia, who became one of the most feared enemies of the Western and…
History ShortsConversations: Winston Churchill During the Cold War, w/ Anthony Tucker Jones
CONVERSATION SERIES: Anthony Tucker-Jones Peter speaks with Anthony Tucker-Jones, a British military historian, author, and commentator known for his extensive…
- History Shorts
Ivan's Bloodless Faceoff
One of the most significant events of Russia's Ivan III's rule was the bloodless faceoff with the Mongols in 1480, which symbolized the end of the so-called…
- History Shorts
Chrysler vs. the Empire
Ultimately, the 1920s and 30s rivalry between the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building had a clear winner. Or, maybe it didn't. I guess the verdict…
- History Shorts
Nixon's Silent Majority
In 1968, Nixon believed that many Americans supported his policies but were afraid to publicly express their views for fear of being canceled by the more vocal…
- History Shorts
I am an American Day
Within the story of the more obscure American Holiday, Constitution Day, hides another, now long forgotten holiday from the 1930s and 40s, called the 'I Am an…
- History Shorts
JUST THE FACTS: Alcohol
HISTORY SHORTS' JUST THE FACTS: Alcohol This week, we introduce a new series into our SUNDAY rotation alongside the long-running SUNDAY Trivia. JUST THE FACTS…
- History Shorts
Conquerors: Julius Caesar
HISTORY SHORTS LIMITED SERIES: Conquerors - Julius Caesar Sure, we have all heard of Julius Caesar, the Roman general and statesman who left an indelible mark…
History ShortsConversations: Learning History from YouTube, w/ Steve Heimler
HISTORY SHORTS CONVERSATION SERIES Peter is joined by Steve Heimler, the internet YouTube sensation and, arguably, the world's most famous Advanced Placement…
- History Shorts
Trials by Ordeal
HISTORY SHORTS: Trials by Ordeal Trials by ordeal were a method of judgment and punishment used in the Middle Ages, primarily to determine guilt or innocence…
- History Shorts
Joan of Arc
HISTORY SHORTS: Joan of Arc Joan of Arc, also known as the "Maid of Orléans," was a French peasant girl whose actions and faith changed the course of the…
- History Shorts
Absaroka - the State that Never Was
HISTORY SHORTS: Absaroka - the State that Never Was Absaroka was a proposed state in the United States in the 1930s that was never created. The movement to…
- History Shorts
Ten Thousand Immortals
HISTORY SHORTS: Ten Thousand Immortals Here is the story of the Ten Thousand Immortals - an elite military unit within the Achaemenid Empire, often considered…
- History Shorts
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A feed drop highlighting other great podcasts from the Evergreen Podcast Family! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- History Shorts
Trivia: Literary Classics
HISTORY SHORTS SUNDAY TRIVIA: Literary Classics Let's see how well you remember the classics you read back in high school or college…
- History Shorts
Conquerors: Hannibal of Carthage
HISTORY SHORTS LIMITED SERIES: Conquerors - Hannibal of Carthage A brilliant strategist, Hannibal led the Carthage forces and is most famous for his daring and…
- History Shorts
New England Secession?
HISTORY SHORTS: New England Secession Every American child has learned about the nation's bloodiest conflict, the American Civil War, and how the secession of…
- History Shorts
SMS Cormoran
HISTORY SHORTS: SMS Cormoran Among the already hardly spoken-about historical period of the Pacific theatre of World War I is an even more obscure yet…
- History Shorts
Bomb City USA
HISTORY SHORTS: Bomb City USA In the 1970s, a crime wave characterized by multiple car bombings swept through the city of Cleveland, Ohio. Because of the…
History ShortsConversations: Writing Speeches for Presidents Nixon and Reagan, w/ Ken Khachigian
HISTORY SHORTS CONVERSATIONS SERIES In this episode, Peter speaks with Mr. Ken Khachigian, the special advisor and speechwriter to Presidents Richard Nixon and…
History ShortsConversations: Why John Adams Gets a Bad Rap, w/ Lindsay Chervinsky
Peter speaks with Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky, the renowned presidential historian, Executive Director of the George Washington Presidential Library, and author of…
- History Shorts
Trivia: Presidential Nicknames
How much do you know about Presidential nicknames? https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
History ShortsConversations: America's Contentious Elections w/ David Pietrusza
Peter speaks with David Pietrusza, an American author and historian who is considered an expert on the history of U.S. elections…
History ShortsConversations: Separating Reagan, the man, from the myth. w/ Max Boot
Joining History Shorts is Mr. Max Boot, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, bestselling historian, policy columnist for the Washington Post, Global Affairs Analyst for…
- History Shorts
America's Most Haunted House?
Even if one does not believe in ghosts, one must at least be intrigued by the stories surrounding San Diego's Whaley House. According to countless polls and…
- History Shorts
Mark Twain's Nightmare
Most of us know the name Mark Twain, but there is one story involving the famed author that, although it sounds like it belongs in a thriller, is actually true…
- History Shorts
A Storm Prevents a War
In 1889, a civil war in the Pacific Island kingdom of Samoa led Germany and the United States to intervene. The conflict seemed unavoidable, but Mother Nature…
- History Shorts
LBJ Goes to the Bathroom - and Lives
It is December 6, 1944, and the future president of the United States has to go to the bathroom. He knows there is no time as his B-26 bomber is about to take…
- History Shorts
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Highlighting other great podcasts from the Evergreen Podcast Family! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- History Shorts
Conquerors: Alexander the Great
We kick off our new weekend limited series with Alexander the Great (356–323 BCE), one of history's most legendary military leaders, the king of Macedon, and…
- History Shorts
Religions: Christianity
Christianity emerged in the 1st century CE in the Roman province of Judea, rooted in the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. Yet, the Apostle Paul, who never knew…
History ShortsConversations: How the Read Dead Redemption games mirror history, w/ Tore Olsson
Peter speaks with American History Professor at UTK, Tore Olsson, about his latest book, Red Dead's History: A Video Game, an Obsession, and America's Violent…
- History Shorts
The First Female Pharaoh
I assume most of us have heard of Cleopatra, Ancient Egypt's last queen pharaoh, or maybe even about some of the other twenty known Female Pharaohs. But how…
- History Shorts
The Black Swallow of Death
There are amazing stories in history, and then there are the really amazing stories. Gene Bullard's (an elderly elevator operator at New York's RCA building in…
- History Shorts
The Man Who Killed Booth
One may think that the person who brings down the man who assassinated one of the nation's most revered presidents would be a stand-up guy, a hero. Well, think…
- History Shorts
Ernesto and the Miranda Rights
While we might know what Miranda Rights are, most of us have never heard of Ernesto Miranda, who, in 1963, prompted the passage of a law that has become an…
- History Shorts
Trivia: Women's Suffrage
The fight for women's suffrage began in the early 19th century and gained momentum throughout the 20th century. Let's see how much you remember from school…
- History Shorts
Religions: Islam
Islam, one of the world's major religions, traces its origins to Muhammad, a prophet who lived in the 6th and 7th centuries CE in Mecca, a city on the Arabian…
History ShortsConversations: The Clandestine World of Josephine Baker, w/ Damien Lewis
Peter speaks with Damien Lewis, an award-winning former war and conflict reporter and the author of many number-one bestselling books, including The Ministry…
- History Shorts
The Lady with the Medal of Honor
As of 2024, approximately 3,536 Medals of Honor have been awarded, yet only one has ever been given to a woman. Here is the story of Mary Walker, the lone…
- History Shorts
Wacky History of the Flag Salute
Did you know that the story of the flag salute and the Pledge of Allegiance starts as an advertising gimmick for a magazine that ran from 1827 to 1929?…
- History Shorts
Who Were Mr. Mason and Mr. Dixon?
We have all undoubtedly heard of the surveyors' final product; we might have even spoken of it. But did you know that the Mason-Dixon line that divided the…
- History Shorts
Mad King and the Real Disney Castle
Walt Disney's visit to Neuschwanstein Castle in the Bavarian Alps is often cited as a key source of inspiration for the iconic Disney Castle, which appears in…
