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
Killing Tojo
As the Americans rushed to his door, the General screamed through the window, "I am Tojo!" he then turned around to face the room, placed a loaded .32 caliber…
History ShortsConversations: Writing About Strong Women of WWII, w/Clare Mulley
Clare Mulley is a British author, historian, and broadcaster known for her biographies focusing on significant female figures, particularly those involved in…
- History Shorts
BONUS: Interview with a D-Day Veteran
Here is a conversation I had with Mr. Al Sipple for another project I was working on a couple of years ago. At 17 years old, he found himself part of the first…
- History Shorts
Double Life of Josephine Baker
Did you know that apart from being a renowned entertainer, the American beauty and sex symbol, Josephine Baker traded in her dancing outfit for more…
- History Shorts
Nazi Prisoner on the Run
During World War II, both the United States and Canada interned German prisoners of war in camps located within their territories. But did you know that on the…
- History Shorts
The White Rose Movement
When it comes to Nazi Germany and youth movements, the one that undoubtedly comes to mind is the infamous Hitler Youth Movement. But did you know that there…
- History Shorts
Jeep: The Little Truck that Could
As tensions rose globally in the late 1930s, the U.S. military recognized the need for a versatile, lightweight vehicle that could replace horses and…
History ShortsConversations: Why Writing About Teddy Roosevelt is Draining, w/ H.W. Brands
Our guest today is H.W. Brands, an award-winning historian, the Chair of History at the University of Texas at Austin, and a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer…
- History Shorts
Wall Street Under Attack!
Long before the World Trade Center bombing of 1993 and the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the most destructive terrorist attack in New York City occurred…
- History Shorts
Nero's Party House
Nero was one of ancient Rome's most infamous rulers, notorious for his cruelty and vice, and whose reign eventually descended into chaos and rebellion. But did…
- History Shorts
The Father of History
Did you know that the study of history, the very principles of historical inquiry and methodology that influence the discipline today began in Ancient Greece…
- History Shorts
The Hammurabi Way
The principle of "an eye for an eye" is often associated with the concept of lex talionis, which is Latin for "law of retaliation." But did you know that the…
History ShortsConversations: How History and Science go hand in hand, w/ Edward J. Larson
Today's guest is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author of, among other works, the best-selling Summer of Gods: The Scopes Trial and America's…
- History Shorts
Aliens Over Texas
Rosewell is indisputably the most famous alleged UFO crash site in American history. But did you know that one morning in 1897, six years before the Wright…
- History Shorts
Nazi Bureaucracy
World War II is one of the most documented conflicts in all of world history, with countless memoirs, documents, recorded recollections, pictures, and movies…
- History Shorts
Virginia Breaks Up With Virginia
We all know that there are two Virginias, but did you know that West Virginia is the only state formed because of the Civil War? While the rest of the nation…
- History Shorts
Edgar Allan Poe's Bad Reputation
Edgar Allan Poe was one of the most renowned American writers of the 19th century whose famous works have stood the test of time. But did you know that in his…
History ShortsConversations: The Ghost Army, w/Rick Beyer
Today's guest is Mr. Rick Beyer, a New York Times best-selling author, award-winning documentary producer, and co-host of the History Happy Hour podcast…
- History Shorts
Alexander's Missing Body
Did you know that although the Egyptian Supreme Court for Antiquities has officially recognized over 140 search attempts, no one has yet found the current…
- History Shorts
Becoming Sherlock Holmes
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a British writer best known for creating the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, one of the most iconic and enduring literary…
- History Shorts
Who Wrote the Bible?
Billions of people have read the Christian Bible over centuries, and countless scholars, rabbis, ministers, and priests have spent their entire lives studying…
History ShortsConversations: America's Founding Myths w/ Ray Raphael
Mr. Raphael is one of the United States' foremost authorities on the subject of the American Revolution and an author of twenty books. Howard Zinn called his A…
- History Shorts
A King's Deadly Dose
King Charles II, also known as the "Merry Monarch," was a significant figure in English history, particularly during the Restoration period. But did you know…
- History Shorts
Medal of Honor: The Toughest Thing He's Ever Done: SP5 Clarence Eugene Sasser
Specialist 5th Class Clarence Eugene Sasser served in Vietnam as an Army Medic. Through numerous wounds and excruciating pain, he continuously administered aid…
- History Shorts
No Civil War; No Coca Cola?
Leaving the argument of which is better, Pepsi or Coca-Cola, for another time, did you know that the most popular soft drink in the world, Coca-Cola, was…
- History Shorts
Stalin Needs a Doctor
The story of Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin's death is perhaps as much an enigma today as it was when shared with the world by the Russian propaganda machine in…
- History Shorts
Cleopatra and Caesar Have a Baby!
The affair between Julius Caesar and Cleopatra is one of history's most famous and intriguing love stories. But did you know that it also produced Caesar's…
- History Shorts
Cinco de Mayo is NOT Independence Day
Few people remember Napoleon III's attempt to use the turmoil of the American Civil War in the 1860s to sneak past the United States Monroe Doctrine and…
- History Shorts
Abe Lincoln Buys Cocaine
Did you know that in the 1930s, a historian named Harry E. Pratt studied Abraham Lincoln's purchase history and found a receipt for a fifty-cent purchase of…
History ShortsConversations: The Meaning of Courage w/ Col. Jack H. Jacobs
Our guest today is Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Jack H. Jacobs. His selfless acts under fire in Vietnam saved the lives of fellow soldiers and earned him…
- History Shorts
The Lady Who Said "No" to War
The Montana-born feminist and pacifist Jeannette Rankin may have been the first woman elected to the American Congress. But did you know that, to military…
- History Shorts
King Tut's Curse
The ancient Egyptian pharaoh, King Tutankhamun, became one of the period's most famous rulers after the discovery of his nearly intact tomb in the Valley of…
- History Shorts
Elvis' Last Moments
Who has not heard at least one of Elvis Presley's songs or knows exactly who they are looking at when they see his image? But did you know that the details…
History ShortsConversations: Forging Passports to save Jews from the Holocaust, w/ Roger Moorhouse
Today's guest is Mr. Roger Moorhouse, the famed British historian, author, and professor whose extensive research and books on Eastern European and World War…
- History Shorts
Boxing Gangsters vs. American Nazis
The story of the American Great Depression, as taught in schools, often shies away from discussing one of the nation's most embarrassing debacles, namely the…
- History Shorts
Killing Socrates
Everyone has heard of the great Greek philosopher Socrates, who lived in Athens in the 5th Century BC and, together with his student Plato and the latter's…
- History Shorts
Cod Wars
Among the various wars of the twentieth century is one less known, albeit not less significant. At its height, the conflict forced the involvement of NATO…
- History Shorts
The Search for Molly Pitcher
You probably remember learning about the legendary figure in American History, Molly Pitcher in grammar school. But did you know that the famous Revolutionary…
- History Shorts
Sgt. York's Army of One
Since the First World War, the story of Alvin York has often been used as an example of unwavering bravery and heroism. But did you know that even in today's…
- History Shorts
Who was Jim Crow?
The name Jim Crow is often used to describe the segregation laws, rules, and customs that came to be after the Civil War and Reconstruction, but did you know…
- History Shorts
Catherine's Doomed Husband
Catherine the Great of Russia, whose reign extended from 1729 to 1796, needs no introduction, but did you know that to become "great," Catherine had to first…
- History Shorts
Thou Shall Not Kill Cats
If you believe the internet, Pope Gregory IX issued a papal bill in the 13 century that declared cats as instruments of satan, which led to huge numbers of…
History ShortsConversations: Flags of Our Fathers w/ James Bradley
Join us for a short conversation with James Bradley, the New York Times #1 bestselling author of such works as Flags of Our Fathers, Flyboys, The Imperial…
- History Shorts
Napoleon's Missing Hand
For any of us who have seen a portrait of Napoleon, we have undoubtedly noticed that he always placed a hand inside his vest or shirt when posing. There is no…
- History Shorts
The Auschwitz's "Canada"
During World War II, Canada significantly supported the Allied forces and contributed to the war effort. But did you know that its reputation as a country of…
- History Shorts
The Time of Three Popes
For centuries, the Catholic Pope has held a position of immense importance within the Catholic Church, a spiritual leader and a representative of Christ on…
- History Shorts
Harlem Hellfighters and Jazz
History students have undoubtedly heard the story of the famed World War I, the all-African American 369th Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army, the Harlem…
- History Shorts
Britain's Twelve-Day Sleep
It was not a national crisis of narcolepsy nor a curious phenomenon of unexplainable proportions, but did you know that on the night of Wednesday, September 2…
- History Shorts
Serial Killer in Nazi Berlin
The following episode contains sensitive information - listener discretion is advised. Nazi crimes need no introduction - with millions of lives lost to Adolf…
- History Shorts
Barbers at Moscow's Gates
The impact of Peter the Great on Russia was perhaps greater than even the most famous absolute ruler, Louis XIV, had on France. But did you know that as part…
- History Shorts
Mr. Celsius and Mr. Fahrenheit
We have all heard their last names, yet many of us do not know much of the men behind them. But did you know that the world's most known temperature scales are…
- History Shorts
Picasso Steals the Mona Lisa?
One does not need to be an art specialist, nor even like art for that matter, to have heard of the famed artist Pablo Picasso or Leonardo DaVinci's 1507…
- History Shorts
The Real Kamikaze
The term Kamikaze is most commonly associated with a specific type of suicide attack carried out by Japanese pilots during World War II. But did you know the…
- History Shorts
The Hollow Man
Sure, there were once proponents of the theory that the earth was flat, but all of those theories were eventually dispelled during the 15th century's age of…
- History Shorts
Cary Grant on Acid
In the 1950s and 1960s, there was no bigger male star in Hollywood than Cary Grant. But did you know that in stark contrast to the confident and stylish…
- History Shorts
Caligula Mourns his Sister
Most of us have heard about the infamous, tyrannical, and erratic Roman emperor of all time, Caligula, but did you know that the despotic ruler was so…
- History Shorts
Murderer from the Mayflower
In 1620, the Mayflower embarked on a famous voyage from Plymouth, England, to the New World, carrying a group of English Separatists known as the Pilgrims. It…
- History Shorts
Nine Capitals of the United States
Perhaps you have visited the United States capital of Washington D.C. and marveled at its architecture, which includes such staples as the White House, the…
- History Shorts
The Woman Called "Moses"
Harriet Tubman likened to the biblical character Moses, is known throughout history for leading more than 300 slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad…
- History Shorts
Our (Maybe) Gay President
Historians to this day cannot agree as to whether the 15th President of the United States, James Buchanan, was gay. But did you know that the former…
