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 ShortsWhat Happened to Cleopatra's Kids?
After Cleopatra's fateful death, her children, once heirs to Egypt's greatest dynasty, were thrust into the heart of Rome's empire. This History Shorts episode…
History ShortsConversations: The Real Story of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday, w/ Mark Lee Gardner
A native of Missouri, Mark Lee Gardner has researched and written about the American West since he was in high school. Mark, considered an authority on the…
History ShortsThe Real Pirates of the Caribbean
Long before Hollywood turned them into legends, the real pirates of the Caribbean ruled the seas with blood, smoke, and gold. This History Shorts episode dives…
History ShortsWhen Poetry was an Olympic Event
This History Shorts episode explores the forgotten era of the Olympics, when art, literature, and architecture stood beside running and wrestling at the Games…
History ShortsTODAY IN CONTEXT: Dick Cheney's Legacy
Whether you admire Dick Cheney or condemn him, one thing is undeniable: he changed the office of the vice presidency forever. No one before him, not Adams, not…
History ShortsBefore Hitler Stole the Swastika
Long before it became a symbol of hate, the swastika was a mark of peace, prosperity, and the divine found in ancient temples from India to Greece. This…
History ShortsConversations: How much do you know about Christopher Columbus? w/ Matthew Restall
Peter speaks with Matthew Resatll about his newest book, The Nine Lives of Christopher Columbus. Restall takes us beyond polemic, sifting through the evidence…
History ShortsYOU DECIDE: The Vietnam War - Necessary Intervention or Disastrous Mistake?
Some see the Vietnam War as a necessary intervention to protect global stability and prevent the spread of communism, while others view it as a tragic mistake…
History ShortsThe Death that Shaped U.S.-Iran Relations
The violent death of American Vice Consul Robert Whitney Imbrie in Tehran in July 1924 shocked both the United States and Persia (modern-day Iran). A mob…
History ShortsConversations: Malcolm Gladwell's Revenge of the Tipping Point
Peter speaks with a true master of storytelling and insight, Malcolm Gladwell. A staff writer for The New Yorker since 1996, Malcolm has captivated millions…
History ShortsThe Japanese Schindler
The Holocaust produced not only vast tragedy but also extraordinary instances of moral courage, moments when individuals defied bureaucracy, prejudice, and…
History ShortsHome Rule: D.C.'s Fight for its own Democracy
The passage of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act in 1973 marked a pivotal moment in the long and unfinished struggle for democracy in the nation's…
History ShortsThe War Hero Who Refused to Die: Eddie Rickenbacker's 24 Days at Sea
When the Second World War came, Rickenbacker was already in his early sixties. He could've stayed home, basking in his fame and business success; he was…
History ShortsConversations: How the Jefferson/Hamilton Debate Still Defines Us Today, w/ Jeffrey Rosen
Peter speaks with Jeffrey Rosen, President and CEO of the National Constitution Center, as he discusses his upcoming book, The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton…
History ShortsYOU DECIDE: Napoleon - Military Genius or Tyrant?
YOU DECIDE SERIES: Napoleon's legacy is one of contradictions. To some, he is the ultimate military genius, a visionary who spread revolutionary principles…
History ShortsThe Speech that Sparked the American Revolution
Patrick Henry's "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" speech, delivered in March 1775 at St. John's Church in Richmond, electrified the Virginia Convention and…
History ShortsConversations: The Tastes, Smells, and Feels of Ancient History, w/ Sam Kean
Peter is joined by New York Times Bestselling author Sam Kean to discuss his latest book, Dinner With King Tut. We look at ancient history through the five…
History ShortsDeath Below the Waves: The Curse of UB-65
During World War I, the German submarine UB-65 gained a chilling reputation among sailors as a vessel cursed by death. After a series of mysterious accidents…
History ShortsThe Phantom Continent that Fooled the World
For centuries, European cartographers filled the blank southern hemisphere with the imagined continent of Terra Australis Incognita, a vast land they believed…
History ShortsHollywood's Hays Code
The Hollywood Hays Code, enforced from the 1930s to the late 1960s, imposed strict moral guidelines on American films, banning depictions of crime, sexuality…
History ShortsConversations: Reevaluating Robert McNamara, w/ Philip and William Taubman
Peter is joined by Philip Taubman and William Taubman, two esteemed brothers whose combined expertise in journalism, history, and biography has produced some…
History ShortsYOU DECIDE: The Crusades - Holy War or Colonial Agression?
YOU DECIDE SERIES: The Crusades, nearly two centuries of intermittent military campaigns, are among the most famous and contested events of medieval history…
History ShortsGalen: The Doctor of the Roman Empire
Galen of Pergamon, a Roman physician born in 129 CE, revolutionized medicine by combining rigorous empirical observation with classical Greek medical theory…
History ShortsConversations: How Ancient India Transformed the World, w/ William Dalrymple
Peter is joined by New York Times Bestselling author, William Dalrymple to discuss his latest book, The Golden Road. We discuss India's often forgotten…
History ShortsLincoln's Lost Speech
Abraham Lincoln's "Lost Speech," delivered at the Illinois Republican Convention in Bloomington on May 29, 1856, was a fiery and passionate address against the…
History ShortsThe Assyrian Empire
The Assyrian Empire, emerging in the early 25th century BCE in Mesopotamia, became one of the ancient world's most powerful and militaristic civilizations…
History ShortsLevi's Jeans
Levi's jeans were created in 1873 by German immigrant Levi Strauss and tailor Jacob Davis, who patented the first pair of riveted denim pants designed for…
History ShortsConversations: Inside Hitler's U-Boat War, w Roger Moorhouse
Peter speaks with internationally bestselling author, Roger Moorhouse about his latest book, Wolfpack: Inside Hitler's U-Boat War. We look at the Battle of the…
History ShortsYOU DECIDE: The Civil War - About States' Rights or Slavery?
YOU DECIDE SERIES: Was the Civil War caused by the abstract principle of states' rights, the idea that each state should govern itself without federal…
History ShortsNational Park Service's Special Agents
Beneath the serene landscapes of America's national parks lies a hidden history of law enforcement and intelligence. The National Park Service's Intelligence…
History ShortsConversations: How Travel Helps Us Understand Our Place in the World, w/ Rick Steves
In this engaging episode, travel guru Rick Steves joins us to discuss his lifelong philosophy on traveling, sharing how embracing vulnerability and cultural…
History ShortsImperial Germany's Plan For the Invasion of the U.S.
In the decades before World War I, Imperial Germany conducted daring, but largely forgotten, studies imagining an invasion of the United States. These…
History ShortsTemporary Roman Dictatorships
In the early Roman Republic, the temporary dictatorship was a bold solution to extraordinary crises, granting one man near-absolute authority, but only for a…
History ShortsWhen NYC Almost Seceded from the Union in 1861
In the spring of 1861, as the United States plunged toward civil war, New York City flirted with the unthinkable: municipal secession. Mayor Fernando Wood, a…
History ShortsThe Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services (OSS), led by William J. Donovan, conducted daring intelligence operations across Europe and the Pacific, coordinating with…
History ShortsZoroastrianism
Long before Christianity, Islam, or even Buddhism had taken firm root, an ancient faith blazed across the Iranian plateau, a faith centered not on capricious…
History ShortsWhen the New Deal Became Unconstitutional
During the early 1930s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal programs sought to revive the American economy amid the Great Depression, introducing…
History ShortsConversations: NYC's Secret Subway & the Origins of Mass Transit, w/ Matthew Algeo
In this episode, we dive beneath the streets of 19th-century New York with historian and author Matthew Algeo, exploring the daring story of Alfred Beach, an…
History ShortsMASH Units
In the rugged mountains and freezing valleys of Korea during the early 1950s, a new kind of battlefield hospital emerged, one that would forever change the…
History ShortsThe Kidnapping Epidemic of the Great Depression
During the 1930s, amid the economic devastation of the Great Depression, the United States faced a surge in high-profile kidnappings, capturing public…
History ShortsNixon's Checkers Speech
Richard Nixon's Checkers Speech, delivered on September 23, 1952, was a defining moment in American political history, exemplifying the rising influence of…
History ShortsThe Twelve Labors of Hercules
Hercules, the legendary Greek hero, was tasked with completing twelve nearly impossible labors as penance for a tragic act spurred by divine madness. These…
History ShortsSecret WW2: Gortz - WWIIs Unluckiest Spy?
Hermann Görtz, a German spy during World War II, became infamous not for his cunning but for his extraordinary string of misfortunes and blunders. Despite…
History ShortsThe Surprisingly Eccentric U.S. Postal Service
From horseback riders braving the Wild West to early airmail pilots risking it all in open cockpits, the history of the U.S. Postal Service is full of…
History ShortsConversations: The Horse and the Rise of Empires, w/ David Chaffetz
In this episode, we explore the remarkable impact of horses on human history with historian and author David Chaffetz. His newest book, Raiders, Rulers, and…
History ShortsThomas Nast Battles Corruption
Thomas Nast revolutionized political commentary in the 19th century by using cartoons to expose corruption in a way that words alone could not. His incisive…
History ShortsThe Nazi History of the VW Beetle
The Volkswagen Beetle originated in Nazi Germany as part of Hitler's vision for an affordable "people's car," designed by Ferdinand Porsche to embody…
History ShortsThe 'Cool' in Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States, earned the nickname "Silent Cal" for his famously quiet and reserved nature. Beneath this calm…
History ShortsThe U.S. Army Camel Experiment
In the mid‑19th century, the U.S. Army experimented with camels to traverse the harsh deserts of the American Southwest. Imported from the Middle East, these…
History ShortsSecret WW2: The 1945 Plot to Surrender Nazi Forces
LIMITED SERIES 11: SECRET WW2 - In the final months of World War II, secret negotiations known as Operation Sunrise took place in Switzerland, aiming to secure…
History ShortsTODAY IN CONTEXT: Jimmy Kimmel & The First Amendment
TODAY IN CONTEXT: In a world where a comedian's punchline can get him pulled off the air, how secure is your right to speak freely? This episode unravels the…
History ShortsThe Berlin Wall
At midnight on August 13, 1961, East German forces, backed by the Soviets, began erecting a barrier that would become the Berlin Wall, physically and…
History ShortsConversations: Ken Burns' The American Revolution
Join us for an unforgettable conversation with legendary filmmaker Ken Burns, the master of historical storytelling. We dive deep into his career-defining…
History ShortsWho Were the American Whigs?
The Whig Party, active from the 1830s to the 1850s, arose in opposition to Andrew Jackson's perceived executive overreach and championed economic modernization…
History ShortsFDR's Struggle Against Opposition
Franklin D. Roosevelt's unprecedented four-term presidency earned him both admiration and fierce criticism, as opponents accused him of fostering a "cult of…
History ShortsThe Madness of Goya: Secrets of the Black Paintings
In the final years of his life, Francisco de Goya painted the haunting Black Paintings directly onto the walls of his home, creating a series of dark, intimate…
History ShortsConversations: Suffrage, Free Love, & the First Woman to Run for President, w/ Eden Collinsworth
In this episode of History Shorts, Eden Collinsworth joins us to explore her newest book, The Improbable Victoria Woodhull. We dive into the life of Woodhull…
History ShortsSecret WW2: Salon Kitty
LIMITED SERIES #11: Secret WW2- During World War II, Salon Kitty, a high-class Berlin brothel, was covertly transformed by the Nazis into an espionage hub…
History ShortsThe State of Franklin That Never Was
The State of Franklin was an unrecognized, short-lived territory in the 1780s formed by settlers in what is now eastern Tennessee who sought to create a new…
History ShortsConversations: Ancient Mesopotamia and the Birth of History, w/ Moudhy Al Rashid
Join us as Moudhy Al Rashid delves into Between Two Rivers: Ancient Mesopotamia and the Birth of History, exploring the cradle of civilization where writing…