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
Lost City of Angkor
For hundreds of years, rumors of the lost city of Angkor spread among Cambodian peasants. Then, on a hot day in 1860, Henri Mahout and his porters discovered…
- History Shorts
Ghosts of a Murdered Dynasty
The fate of Tsar Nicholas II and his family during the Russian Revolution is a tragic and pivotal event in Russian history, and despite all that we know, their…
- History Shorts
Lolita Shocks the World
Vladimir Nabokov's 1955 novel Lolita is now considered one of the greatest works of American literature of the 20th century. But, at the time of its…
- History Shorts
Van Gogh's Ear
Did you know that the famed painter Vincent Van Gogh led a life marked by poverty, mental illness, and relative obscurity? And, at one point, in a manic act…
- History Shorts
Trivia: Famous Women
Ready to test your knowledge about famous women throughout history? https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…
- History Shorts
What If: Mexico Defeated the U.S.
One of the primary reasons for the U.S. instigation of the Mexican-American War in 1846 was Mexico's perceived weakness and inability to mount an adequate…
History ShortsConversations: William H. Harrison, w/ Jerry Landry
Join me as I talk to Jerry Landry, the host of the Presidencies of the United States Podcast, as he discusses his deep-dive research into the life and the…
- History Shorts
Killing Truman
Did you know that if it had not been for some quick thinking on the part of the Secret Service on November 1, 1950, Harry Truman might have been added to the…
- History Shorts
Fountain of Youth
You might have been to Florida at least once in your life. But did you know that supposedly the Spanish Explorer Juan Ponce the Leon only found it by accident…
- History Shorts
Mt. Everest Death Zone
There is no denying that expeditions to ascend Mt. Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, are some of the riskiest actions a person can undertake on this…
- History Shorts
Uncle Sam
The story of Uncle Sam is a quintessential piece of American folklore and symbolism, representing the personification of the United States government and the…
- History Shorts
Trivia: American Presidents
Want to take the next few minutes to test your knowledge of American Presidents? Don't worry—I'll give you the answers at the end!…
- History Shorts
What If: RFK Became President
Robert F. Kennedy, who was tragically assassinated in June 1968 while campaigning for the presidency of the United States, was a prominent figure with strong…
History ShortsConversations: The Importance of Compromise in the United States, w/ Alan Taylor
Professor Alan Taylor is a prominent American historian known for his work on early American history, particularly focusing on the colonial and Revolutionary…
- History Shorts
Titanic by the Numbers
When the luxurious passenger liner RMS Titanic was built in 1912, it was deemed practically unsinkable. Well, we all know how that ended. When looking at the…
- History Shorts
Sex and Corn Flakes
Cereals; the good wholesome breakfast for children and adults alike for nearly two centuries. Sure, we all have our favorite. But did you know that the pioneer…
- History Shorts
Sheep Wars
Sure, by the mid 20th century, the American West became more settled and regulated through the development of laws and regulations regarding land use and…
- History Shorts
Four Diaries of Anne Frank
Anne Frank, a Jewish girl living in Amsterdam during World War II, gained worldwide fame posthumously for her diary, which she wrote while in hiding from the…
- History Shorts
Genghis Khan (Where are they now?)
We finish our Where Are They Now series with the man who, although dead for centuries, remains ever present today. An international group of genetics…
History ShortsConversations: Visiting the graves of all American Presidents, w/ Brady Carlson
Mr. Brady Carlson is a reporter, author of Dead Presidents, on-air NPR host, and podcast producer and host of the Cool, Weird Awesome podcast…
- History Shorts
Grant and Twain
Following Ulysses S. Grant's dismal presidency and failed investments in later life, the former president fought against death itself to ensure his wife was…
- History Shorts
Mayan Portal to the Underworld
Did you know that apart from their sophisticated cities, monumental architecture, and complex social systems, the Mayan civilization was also known for…
- History Shorts
1968 Democratic National Convention
President LBJ took a deep breath, looked up, and spoke very slowly: "I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as…
- History Shorts
Orphans Preferred
In 1860, posters went up in Sacramento: Wanted: Young, skinny, wiry fellows not over 18, Must be expert riders… orphans preferred. Pony Express was about to…
- History Shorts
The Story of Pocahontas (Where are they now?)
Did you ever wonder what happened to John Smith, Pocahontas, and her true love, John Rolfe, after the events often presented in history and popular culture?…
History ShortsConversations: The true story of Sgt. York, w/ James C. Nelson
James C. Nelson has written five books about the American experience in World War I. His newest release, The York Patrol: The Real Story of Alvin York, has…
- History Shorts
The Ghost Ship
Not many maritime mysteries are equal to the mystery of Mary Celeste, an American merchant brigantine who was discovered adrift and abandoned in the Atlantic…
- History Shorts
FDR's Close Call
Did you know that if it had not been for one woman's courage to throw herself against a crazed would-be assassin during a rally in 1933, none of the feats that…
- History Shorts
Shadow Amendment
Did you know that another 13th Amendment was proposed in 1861, striving to forever protect the very institution that the 1865 Amendment abolished? In…
- History Shorts
Lenin Has Second Thoughts
Did you know that in 1921, when Lenin's socialist order and plans for a world-scale communist revolution seemed to be coming apart in Russia, the so-called…
- History Shorts
Failed Presidential Assassination Attempts
Most recent shocking events out of Pennsylvania point to another example of how history is often circular and not linear. And while everyone undoubtedly…
- History Shorts
Alexander Graham Bell (Where are they now?)
Some might be familiar with the story of how the man from Scotland invented the telephone. Still, the story of Bell shortly after that behaving quite strangely…
History ShortsConversations: What Role do Books Play in Wars? w/ Andrew Pettegree
British author and historian Andrew Pettegree is a distinguished professor at the University of St. Andrews and an expert on the history of books and media…
- History Shorts
Do We have Freedom of Speech?
We have heard someone say, "This is a free country, and I have the freedom of speech." But did you know that the concept and practice of freedom of speech…
- History Shorts
Tower of London Kills Again
The Tower of London has a long and storied history as a site of imprisonment, torture, and execution, dating back over a thousand years. But did you know that…
- History Shorts
History's Deadliest King
Many rulers in history stand out for their cruelty, violence, and the profound impact their actions had on their subjects and the world at large. But did you…
- History Shorts
William's Disastrous Funeral
William the Conqueror is perhaps best known for defeating King Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. But did you know that after a freak horse accident, he…
- History Shorts
Jesse Owens (Where are they now?)
Have you ever wondered what happened to the famed Olympic athlete Jesse Owens after the 1936 Berlin Olympics, in which he won four gold medals? Look no more…
History ShortsConversations: The Legacy of Former First Ladies, w/ Kate Andersen Brower
Kate Andersen Brower is renowned for her best-selling books that give us an unprecedented look into the lives of the people living in and around the White…
- History Shorts
Presidential Sex Scandals
There was once a time before Clinton and Trump when the tabloids refused to carry stories of the American President's sex scandals, yet that certainly does not…
- History Shorts
Hollywood's 1924 Murder Mystery
The 1924 murder mystery surrounding the death of Thomas H. Ince, Tinseltown's most prominent and known movie producer of the time, on William Randolph Hearst's…
- History Shorts
Got Milk?
Did you know that the history of milk is one of controversy, propaganda, and even death? It was even once referred to as "liquid poison."…
History ShortsConversations: Battle of Britian w/ Martin Dugard
Mr. Martin Dugard is the historian and author of the upcoming Taking London and the #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of the Killing series. His books on…
- History Shorts
Christopher Columbus (Where are they now?)
There have been many made-up stories about Columbus over the years, and recent reexaminations of the man's less savory actions have definitely led to a…
History ShortsConversations: Why there is always more to say about Lincoln, w/ Harold Holzer
Harold Holzer is a prominent American historian, author, and lecturer whose work has significantly impacted the understanding of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil…
- History Shorts
Booth Saves a Lincoln
Sure, we all know how the story ends. The famous actor John Wilkes Booth secretly creeps into the presidential box at Ford's theater on April 15, 1865, and…
- History Shorts
Bounty Jumpers
While patriotism is a fine concept, during the American Civil War, the Union and the Confederacy had to offer recruits monetary bounties to enlist. But did you…
- History Shorts
Escaping the Confederacy
During the American Civil War, both the Union and Confederate armies operated prisoner-of-war camps to detain enemy combatants. But did you know that while…
- History Shorts
Bad Day for a Picnic
Following the secession of southern states after Abraham Lincoln's election into office in 1860, the American people were not quite ready for the carnage that…
- History Shorts
Wright Brothers (Where are they now?)
Who has not heard of Orville and Wilbur Wright and their famous feat at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903? The Wright Brothers, one-time bicycle…
History ShortsConversations: How much did the U.S. help win WWI, w/Matt Seelinger
In this episode, I am honored to discuss the U.S. role in World War I with Mr. Matt Seelinger, the Chief Historian at the U.S. Army Historical Foundation of…
- History Shorts
Annie Oakley Shoots the Kaiser?
Annie Oakley was a legendary figure in the world of sharpshooting and entertainment during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. But did you know that "The…
- History Shorts
WWI German Internment
The story of the Japanese Internment Camps in the United States during the Second World War has slowly been brought to mainstream American history. But did you…
- History Shorts
The Black Chamber
You probably know about the Central Intelligence Agency, commonly known as the CIA. And you might have even heard of its WWII predecessor, the Office of…
- History Shorts
Zeppelins Over London
Those who study World War II history have undoubtedly heard about the Blitz, the horrific German bombing of London throughout the conflict. But did you know…
- History Shorts
Paul Revere (Where are they now?)
"Where Are They Now?" Limited Summer Weekend Series. Did you ever wonder what happened to the characters you learned about in history after the big events they…
History ShortsConversations: Battle of Saipan, w/David Sears
Today's guest, David Sears, is a military historian and frequent commentator for the History Channel on the Pacific Theatre of World War II…
- History Shorts
Japan's Last Soldier
Did you know that there was one particular soldier who really took the Samurai code of honor ideology to heart by fleeing from the invading Americans on Guam…
- History Shorts
Bat Bombs
Way before the invention of the Atomic Bombs through the Manhattan Project, in 1943, President Roosevelt approved another top-secret military project that…
- History Shorts
Cherry Blossoms at Night
We have all learned about the last few months of the Pacific War in 1945 and its infamous end in August when the United States dropped two Atomic Bombs on…
