Rephonic
Artwork for Historically Thinking

Historically Thinking

Al Zambone
World War II
American Revolution
Philadelphia
Nationalism
Soviet Union
Roman Roads
Greek Revolution
French Revolution
Ottoman Empire
Horse
International Relations
Civil War
Violence
Prague
U-Boat War
War and Power: Who Wins Wars and Why
Sickness
Bible
Roman Empire
History

We believe that when people think historically, they are engaging in a disciplined way of thinking about the world and its past. We believe it gives thinkers a knack for recognizing nonsense; and that it cultivates not only intellectual curiosity and rigor, but also intellectual humility. Join Al Zambone, author of Daniel Morgan: A Revolutionary Life, as he talks with historians and other professi... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes300Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentaryHistorySociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Historically Thinking

Latest Episodes

“This is a book about a cruel and ruthless war—a war without mercy—in which those caught up in it believed they had nothing to lose by fighting without regard for the rules of so-called ‘civilized warfare.’ It was the War for American Independence. A... more

At his first inauguration, George Washington made a very carefully calibrated political statement: he wore a brown suit. It was tailored from a weave of superfine wool made in Hartford, Connecticut, and was so far from being the crude homespun which ... more

My guest Peter C. Mancall’s new book is Contested Continent: The Struggle for North America, c. 1000–1680. It is, now, the first volume in the Oxford History of the United States, an ongoing multi-volume narrative series—a series whose story is worth... more

In the 1930s, five young men at Cambridge University became members of the Communist Party. This is not too surprising, in retrospect; many others were doing so as well. But these five men were recruited by the intelligence services of the Soviet Uni... 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

Peter Mancall
Author of Contested Continent, The Struggle for North America, Circa 1000 to 1680
University of Southern California ( USC )
Episode: Contested Continent: Peter Mancall on the Struggle for North America, c. 1000–1680
Antonia Senior
Writer and historian, author of Stalin's Apostles
Author
Episode: Stalin's Apostles: Antonia Senior on the Cambridge Five and their Service to the Soviet Empire
Alexander Lee
Author and historian
Author of The First Ghetto: Venice and the Origins of Modern Antisemitism
Episode: The First Ghetto: Alexander Lee on Venice and the Origins of Modern Antisemitism
Adrian Goldsworthy
Historian and author of Athens and Sparta, The Rivalry That Shaped Ancient Greece
Author, Athens and Sparta
Episode: Athens and Sparta: The Rivalry That Shaped Ancient Greece
Anthony Kaldellis
Gaylord Donnelley Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Classics and the College, University of Chicago
University of Chicago
Episode: 1453: The Conquest and Tragedy of Constantinople
David Holloway
David Holloway is the guest author, a professor and historian of international history of nuclear weapons
Stanford University (as described in the episode)
Episode: Nuclear Weapons: An International History
Roderick Beaton
Author, Europe, A New History
King's College London
Episode: Europe: A New History
Melvin Patrick Ely
Historian and author of A Terrible Intimacy
Author/historian; specializes in slavery in the American South
Episode: Terrible Intimacy: Melvin Patrick Ely on Interracial Life in the Slaveholding South
Daniel Neep
Author of Syria, A Modern History; Senior Editor at Arab Center Washington, DC; non-resident fellow at the Crown Center for Middle East Studies at Brandeis University
Arab Center Washington, DC; Brandeis University
Episode: Syria: Daniel Neep on the Modern History of a Very Old Place

Host

Albert "Al" Zambone
Host and moderator; historian and author with focus on rigorous historical thinking.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 130 ratings
  • Best history podcast

    Al is a great raconteur and knows how to share the best of what his guests have. He also has a deep respect for the craft of history. This show is the best.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ben F Jones
    United States9 months ago
  • one of the best historical pods out there

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Elan Mask
    a year ago
  • Wonderful, insightful, enjoyable!

    I came to this podcast through a friend and am glad I did! I’m not an expert on history, nor am I an historian. But I do enjoy learning about history and different perspectives and lessons we can learn about ourselves and our present through history. I am impressed by Mr. Zambone’s depth of knowledge and insight and have learned so much from this podcast. Highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DesiAnn74
    United States2 years ago
  • A Window more people need to look through

    Brings the past to life and reveals complexities, subtleties, and understandings that broad brushes almost always miss.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    orthoagnostic
    United States4 years ago
  • Thoughtful and Interesting

    This is a really interesting podcast. Hosted by a historian, it is a great resource for anyone wanting to engage in history on a deeper level. As a high school history teacher, I have learned a great deal not just about particular topics but about how to think and ask questions like a historian. Highly recommended.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IkeM96
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The show helps listeners think historically about current issues and long-running debates.
Guests are often leading scholars; discussions are rigorous and sourced.
Listeners appreciate the host's deep knowledge and ability to extract thoughtful insights from experts.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#26
Argentina/History
Apple Podcasts
#232
Singapore/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Contested Continent: Peter Mancall on the Struggle for North America, c. 1000–1680
Q: What role did print culture play in shaping European understanding of the Americas?
Print and engraving disseminated images and reports of the New World, democratizing knowledge, fueling curiosity and colonization, and sometimes exaggerating ideas about what America could be.
Contested Continent: Peter Mancall on the Struggle for North America, c. 1000–1680
Q: But the first question people are going to ask is, why start at 1000 instead of 1492?
The author explains that starting at 1000 highlights earlier developments—such as maize spread, Cahokia's rise and fall, and Norse exploration—that shape later encounters and reveal that discovery was mutual and complex rather than a simple European arrival.
Stalin's Apostles: Antonia Senior on the Cambridge Five and their Service to the Soviet Empire
Q: How did recruitment unfold among the five, and what does that tell us about the broader Soviet intelligence approach?
Recruitment was a mix of seduction and conversion—from early exposure to Marxist orthodoxy, through personal connections and ideological alignment, to formal selection by handlers. The process illustrates a broader Soviet approach of identifying promising individuals, offering a compelling narrative, and embedding them within existing power structures to maximize influence while minimizing visible risk.
Stalin's Apostles: Antonia Senior on the Cambridge Five and their Service to the Soviet Empire
Q: What about the other side? What did Stalin want from them? What were his strategic objectives in this period?
Stalin sought to leverage the Cambridge Five to gain strategic insight, influence diplomacy, and gather on-the-ground intelligence that could further Soviet imperial aims, particularly around Poland and postwar Europe. The guests emphasize that this was about more than mere spying; it was about shaping political outcomes and power balance through tailored intelligence.
The First Ghetto: Alexander Lee on Venice and the Origins of Modern Antisemitism
Q: What marks the so-called Golden Age in Venice for Jews?
Despite an initial intent for a temporary arrangement, the Golden Age arose because Venice' political and papal tensions briefly allowed a thriving Jewish culture, publishing, and trade, supported by a complex balance of economic need and controlled religio-social policies.

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 Historically Thinking

What is Historically Thinking about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A rigorously minded history program that invites scholars, authors, and professors to unpack historical topics with depth and nuance. Conversations span ancient Greece, Renaissance Europe, military and political history, and the mechanics of historiography, often tying past events to present-day ideas about power, culture, and memory. The show stands out for its demanding questions, thorough context, and ability to surface archival practices and methodological debates, making it appealing to listeners who want to think historically about complex issues and sources. This collection of interviews tends to emphasize careful sourcing, cross-cultural perspectives, and the long arc of ideas across centuries, which can be especially valuable for a... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Historically Thinking?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Historically Thinking. 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 Historically Thinking and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Historically Thinking get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Historically Thinking, 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 Historically Thinking?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Historically Thinking, 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 Historically Thinking have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Historically Thinking 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 Historically Thinking?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Historically Thinking:

1. The Econoclasts
2. The Rest Is History
3. The Medieval Podcast
4. The Last Best Hope?
5. Lectures in History

How many episodes of Historically Thinking are there?

Historically Thinking launched 11 years ago and published 300 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 Historically Thinking?

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 Historically Thinking?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Historically Thinking 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 Historically Thinking?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Historically Thinking. 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 Historically Thinking?

Recent guests on Historically Thinking include:

1. Peter Mancall
2. Antonia Senior
3. Alexander Lee
4. Adrian Goldsworthy
5. Anthony Kaldellis
6. David Holloway
7. Roderick Beaton
8. Melvin Patrick Ely

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