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Explaining History

Nick Shepley
China
Neoliberalism
World War II
United States
Cold War
World War I
Ottoman Empire
Russia
Iran
Trump Administration
Capitalism
Donald Trump
Soviet Union
British Empire
Vietnam War
Austerity
Gaza
Holocaust
Labour Party
Brexit

How do we make sense of the modern world? We find the answers in the history of the 20th Century.

For over a decade, The Explaining History Podcast has been the guide for curious minds. Host Nick Shepley and expert guests break down the world wars, the Cold War, and the rise and fall of ideologies into concise, 25-minute episodes.

This isn't a dry lecture. It's a critical, narrative-driven convers... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes972Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryCoursesEducation

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Artwork for Explaining History

Latest Episodes

In this episode of the Explaining History Podcast, we are joined by Sam Parry of Cardiff Metropolitan University to discuss the concept of stateless nations – nations that have not achieved nation-state status for complex historical reasons.

We focu... more

In this episode of the Explaining History Podcast, we return to Keith Jeffery's official history of MI6 to examine a question that gets to the heart of how the secret state was built: who became a spy, and why?

When the First World War broke out, Ma... more

China’s war against Japan was one of the largest, bloodiest and most consequential theatres of the Second World War — yet it is still too often treated as peripheral to the wider conflict.

In this episode of the Explaining History podcast, we examin... more

In this solo episode of the Explaining History Podcast, we examine the American withdrawal from Iraq – the product of Trump's war with Iran, and a strategic defeat of historic proportions.

Iraq has been enormously important to the United States sinc... more

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Recent Guests

Sam Parry
Academic at Cardiff Metropolitan University
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Episode: Stateless Nations – Wales, Catalonia, and the Mezzogiorno
Peter Parker
Historian
Episode: A Way of Love – Gay Life in Post-War Britain with Peter Parker
Keith Lowe
Author of Prisoners of History; historian focused on memory and monuments
Author, Prisoners of History
Episode: Stalin's Statues – Monuments, Memory, and the Theme Parking of History
Liam Stanley
Author of Britain Alone
Author, Britain Alone
Episode: Britain Alone – The Hostile Environment and the Remaking of Britishness
James Loeffler
Author of An Exceptional Hatred: Antisemitism and The Fight Over Free Speech in Modern America
Author
Episode: An Exceptional Hatred – Antisemitism, Free Speech, and the American Culture War
David F. Walbert
Voting Rights Attorney
Author of Stealing Elections American Style
Episode: Voter suppression and stolen US elections
John McDonagh
Professor of Practice in the Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health
Harvard University
Episode: America's Wrong Turn – How Neoliberalism Broke U.S. Healthcare with John McDonagh
Jean Felser
Historian, author of California, A Slave State
Author, California, A Slave State
Episode: California and the origins of the carceral state
Tony Fox
Organizer of the Northeast Volunteers for Liberty, International Brigades Memorial Organisation for the Northeast of England
Episode: The International Brigades and the fight for Spain

Host

Nick Shepley
Host of Explaining History

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 283 ratings
  • Poorly researched and unbalanced

    First rule in history - check your sources.

    I just listened to the episode on British spy agent / IRA hitman Freddy Scappaticci. Horrific to hear the flippant comments and near praise for the man from both host and guest. Referring to him as hopefully moral with a noble cause? He knowingly tortured and killed innocent people with the full knowledge of the British state. He was a mass murderer. Incredibly biased take from a supposed history podcast. Genuinely stunned and sickened.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bestbees
    United Kingdom10 months ago
  • Covers a very wide range of modern history in an engaging way.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Polprofwatch
    a year ago
  • Horrible sound quality, background noise, can't even hear what he says sometimes because words are missing. Shame, such an important topic.

    Podcast Addict
    2
    Atlantisblauw
    a year ago
  • Speak into the mic

    Sound quality is terrible. Extremely soft followed by very loud adds

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    cancampaigner
    Canada2 years ago
  • Variable in quality

    A couple were good but many are terrible in presentation. Not everyone can did a podcast and this proves it despite my really wanting to like the content.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    ontariocanuck
    Canada2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Engaging, concise history with thoughtful context.
Some listeners critique audio quality or pacing at times.
Strong book recommendations and archival depth.
A trusted source for 20th-century history with accessible storytelling.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#223
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#146
Japan/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Voter suppression and stolen US elections
Q: Can you walk through the Garfield/Hayes/Tilden scenario and other examples like Bush v. Gore and 2020?
Walbert discusses the 1876 Hayes-Tilden controversy, where electoral votes were manipulated in the count, and compares it to later episodes like Bush v. Gore and the 2020 attempts to overturn results, emphasizing how different mechanisms and pressures produce similar risks to democratic norms.
Quebec's secret biological warfare history
Q: Why was the Grosse Île site chosen for the laboratory during WWII?
It offered a contained space with quarantine history and logistical separation from the mainland, making it suitable for secret research on cattle vaccines and potential biological agents, while also highlighting the human cost to local island communities.
Belfast and the international networked far right
Q: To our knowledge, is that successful? (regarding far-right influence across borders)
The guest suggests that while direct mass mobilization may be uneven, online networks and high-profile endorsements help spread anti-immigrant narratives widely, making coordinated countermeasures and reliable regulation essential.
Master of Lies – Anthony Blunt, the Cambridge Spy Who Changed the Course of World War II
Q: What motivated Thatcher to publicly out Blunt?
Thatcher was motivated by a belief in open government and accountability, but also resented the aristocratic protection Blunt had received, a stance that shifted her toward a more secretive stance and a push to reframe his legacy after being assured by insiders.
Master of Lies – Anthony Blunt, the Cambridge Spy Who Changed the Course of World War II
Q: How does Blunt get caught?
Blunt anticipated the net closing in after the war, aided Burgess's arrest by controlling the Burgess flat for four days to edit and seed the evidence, and then watched as Venona decrypted links connected the dots, leading to his exposure and confession decades later.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Explaining History

What is Explaining History about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Brisk, story-driven history discussions that connect 20th-century upheavals to contemporary events. Episodes typically feature rigorous analysis of wars, geopolitics, and ideological shifts, with a clear narrative through-line and accessible explanations in about 25 minutes. The show often pairs archival sourcing and expert guest perspectives to illuminate less-explored angles of well-known events, while drawing thoughtful parallels to today's world. A standout trait is the host's ability to distill complex histories into concise lessons, along with occasional deep-dives into espionage, empire, and political economy that appeal to curious listeners who enjoy critical context and book recommendations.

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How many listeners does Explaining History get?

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How many subscribers and views does Explaining History have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Explaining History?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Explaining History:

1. The Rest Is History
2. Empire: World History
3. Dan Snow's History Hit
4. Cold War Conversations
5. In Our Time

How many episodes of Explaining History are there?

Explaining History launched 14 years ago and published 972 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Explaining History?

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What guests have appeared on Explaining History?

Recent guests on Explaining History include:

1. Sam Parry
2. Peter Parker
3. Keith Lowe
4. Liam Stanley
5. James Loeffler
6. David F. Walbert
7. John McDonagh
8. Jean Felser

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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