Rephonic
Artwork for Talking History

Talking History with Patrick Geoghegan

Newstalk
Ireland
Roman Empire
Winston Churchill
Sinn Féin
Trinity College Dublin
Septimius Severus
Jane Austen
Fianna Fáil
JMW Turner
World War II
Napoleon Bonaparte
Slavery
Oscar Wilde
Pride and Prejudice
Irish History
Oliver Cromwell
Irish Civil War
William the Conqueror
Good Friday Agreement
Mansfield Park

This unique and lively history show delves into some of the world's most important political, social and cultural events and the intriguing personalities behind them. Presented by Dr Patrick Geoghegan of Trinity College Dublin, Talking History unravels the gritty, sometimes uncomfortable, side of our past, and what we can learn from it.

CONVERSATION THAT COUNTS | Ireland’s national independent tal... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes256Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Talking History

Latest Episodes

In this episode, we explore the life and times of the Irishman who defeated Napoleon and went on to become the prime minister of Britain and find out his complicated relationship with this country.

Featuring: Dr Síle McGuckian, historian and lawyer... more

We mark the 300th anniversary of the publication of one of the most influential books ever written, Gulliver's Travels, & we find out how Jonathan Swift created one of the landmarks of world literature.

Featuring Dr Jason McElligott, Director of Mar... more

We explore the economic and social history of the Irish in England, with our panel: Prof Louise Ryan, Senior Professor of Sociology, and Director of the Global Diversities and Inequalities Research Centre at London Metropolitan University, Prof Neil ... more

We're exploring the extraordinary world of visionary artist and poet William Blake and we'll be finding out how this radical thinker influenced writers and artists from WB Yeats to U2 and beyond.

Featuring: Anne Hodge, the exhibition curator and Cu... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Síle McGuckian
Historian and lawyer; author
University/Oxford and UCD via bio mentioned
Episode: Wellington and Ireland
Gareth Glover
Former Royal Navy officer; military historian
Independent historian; Napoleonic Wars specialist
Episode: Wellington and Ireland
Michael Broers
Emeritus Professor of Western European History
University of Oxford
Episode: Wellington and Ireland
Daniel Cook
Professor of English and Scottish Literature, University of Dundee
University of Dundee
Episode: Gulliver's Travels at 300
Jason McElligott
Director of Marsh's Library
Marsh's Library
Episode: Gulliver's Travels at 300
Clíona Ó Gallchoir
Lectures in English and Digital Humanities, UCC
University College Cork
Episode: Gulliver's Travels at 300
David Kenny
Professor in Law, Trinity College Dublin
Trinity College Dublin
Episode: Gulliver's Travels at 300
Neil Cummins
Professor of Economic History at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
Episode: Irish Emigration To Britain
Cormac Ó Grada
Professor Emeritus of Economics at University College Dublin
University College Dublin
Episode: Irish Emigration To Britain

Host

Patrick Geoghegan
Host with a background in history and public discourse, frequently guiding scholarly conversations and linking exhibitions to broader themes.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 346 ratings
  • Always Fascinating

    I’m always so impressed by Dr. Geoghegan’s mastery of the diverse subjects he introduces here; It is what makes him a brilliant interviewer. His guests are accomplished and interesting. My “to read” book list is getting very long indeed.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Moira O'C
    United States3 years ago
  • A good history podcast

    Prof. Patrick Geoghegan asks a panel of academics to explain a topic in history each week.

    The topics range from the general to the very specific.

    I give it 4 stars on the grounds of the topics, which vary greatly in scope. The very general ones are, by their very nature, too vague but those of a specific nature are often excellent.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    S. Redmond
    Switzerland3 years ago
  • Dreadful Sound Quality

    The dreadful sound quality matches the dreadful show. Phone in guests are barely understandable the quality is so poor.

    The presenter certainly enjoys the sound of his own voice and the overall presentation is lack lustre. I find myself drifting…

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Mallarie121
    United States4 years ago
  • Sound Levels Again

    Another great show, but the sound balance is terrible. Some of the participants dialing in are so low that I have to jack up the volume to hear but then I get blasted when the show moves on.

    Surely it cannot be beyond the wit of man to fix this?

    Thanks.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Trappef in Texad
    United States5 years ago
  • Very good show. A real variety of topics, excellently moderated

    I’ve been a fan of this show for years. Having grown up in Ireland, I’m actually less interested in the shows on Irish history, and really look forward to the more general topics instead.

    But regardless of the topic, what really elevates this show above so many others is the presentation. There is usually an good variety of guests, and the researchers have clearly done their jobs. But Patrick Geoghegan is excellent as the host, keeping things moving along without ever cutting across his guests.... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    G0S
    Ireland7 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Balancing depth with accessibility makes it appealing to both specialists and general listeners.
Highly informative with thorough scholarly context.
Audio quality can be inconsistent across episodes.
Strong host and varied guests elevate topics.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#62
Ireland/History
Apple Podcasts
#203
Finland/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Rasputin
Q: Do you think Rasputin helped in terms of their son? And do you think that he did have some kind of healing power?
Rappaport and Beevor discuss Rasputin's perceived healing influence over the hemophiliac heir, noting psychosomatic effects and the power of belief, while also acknowledging genuine doubt about supernatural abilities.
Rasputin
Q: So to talk to us about this story, Anthony, why do you think the story of Rasputin captures the public imagination and captures the imagination of historians?
Beevor explains Rasputin's paradoxical influence, suggesting that his physical presence, political leverage through the Empress, and the surrounding myths all combined to create a lasting, sensational narrative rather than a straightforward historical figure.
Mary, Queen of Scots
Q: How did Mary end up in captivity and what shaped her treatment over the years?
She fled to England seeking help after a failed rebellion and abduction attempt in Scotland; her treatment evolved from a seemingly lenient, near-hostess arrangement to a strict, fearsome captivity, especially under harsher captors later in life, reflecting political calculations and Elizabeth I's cautious approach to Mary's potential as a rallying symbol.
What Did Anne Boleyn Look Like?
Q: How difficult was it to ensure reach across centuries and include diverse careers?
Pangonis explains that it was a contentious selection process, prioritising breadth of history and avoiding clustering around a single era or movement, even if it meant difficult choices like leaving out Simone de Beauvoir.
Ancient Egypt's Innovation
Q: How have popular representations distorted our understanding of ancient Egypt?
Popular culture often depicts ancient Egypt through the lens of myth and grandeur, overshadowing the complexities of daily life and craftsmanship.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Talking History

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

A history-focused discussion program that brings together scholars, museum curators, and experts to unpack major political, social, and cultural events across eras. Episodes blend archival research, exhibition context, and cross-disciplinary analysis—from Swift and Gulliver to Irish emigration, Blake, Proust, samurai history, Rasputin, and pivotal figures in Irish and American history. The format tends to pair rigorous scholarly context with accessible storytelling, often connecting past events to memory, national identity, and cultural legacy through exhibitions, archives, and dialogue. Notable strengths include data-informed historical perspectives, wide-ranging guest panels, and a knack for linking literature, art, and public history to ... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Talking History?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Talking History. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Talking History and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Talking History get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Talking History, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Talking History?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Talking History, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Talking History have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Talking History has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Talking History?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Talking History:

1. The History Show
2. Three Castles Burning
3. Irish History Podcast
4. Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan
5. Documentary on One Podcast

How many episodes of Talking History are there?

Talking History launched 19 years ago and published 256 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 Talking History?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Talking History?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Talking History from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Talking History?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Talking History. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Talking History?

Recent guests on Talking History include:

1. Síle McGuckian
2. Gareth Glover
3. Michael Broers
4. Daniel Cook
5. Jason McElligott
6. Clíona Ó Gallchoir
7. David Kenny
8. Neil Cummins

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days