Rephonic
Artwork for History As It Happens

History As It Happens

Martin Di Caro
Donald Trump
United States
Russia
Iran
Ukraine
Israel
Cold War
Democracy
Vietnam War
NATO
American Revolution
Gaza
Trumpism
Fascism
Vladimir Putin
Richard Nixon
Hamas
Venezuela
Palestine
World War II

Discover how the past shapes the present with the best historians in the world. Everything happening today comes from something, somewhere. History As It Happens features interviews with today's top scholars and thinkers, interwoven with audio from history's archive. Subscribe for ad-free episodes, early access, and bonus content. historyasithappens.supercast.com/

PublishesDailyEpisodes612Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryNewsPolitics

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for History As It Happens

Latest Episodes

Subscribe to listen to the entire 22-minute episode (or preview 8 minutes).

New developments in Yemen bode poorly for global oil flows or a peaceful settlement of the Greater Middle East's raging conflicts. The Associated Press reports the Houthi re... more

Subscribe today to support the show and enjoy ad-free listening!

History As It Happens is "on location" in this episode. Host Martin Di Caro visits Thomas Jefferson's historic Monticello estate in Virginia to talk to Brandon Dillard, its director of... more

Subscribe today to skip ads and get all of our bonus content!

Twenty-five years ago, on September 11, 2001, nineteen al-Qaeda hijackers working for Osama bin Laden killed nearly 3,000 people in New York, Washington, and a Pennsylvania field. The U.S... more

Subscribe to enjoy ad-free episodes and early access, plus all our bonus content.

Maybe U.S. presidents need to read a how-to manual on avoiding quagmires. Or maybe it wouldn't make much difference anyway. To understand why the United States keeps b... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
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.

The Foreign Affairs Interview
The Foreign Affairs InterviewForeign Affairs Magazine
We the People
We the PeopleNational Constitution Center

Recent Guests

Peter Bergen
Historian and security analyst, expert on al-Qaeda and the global jihadist movement
New America / CNN / Arizona State University (as described in episode)
Episode: 25 Years of Terror
Emma Ashford
Senior Fellow in the Grand Strategy Program at the Stimson Center; author of First Among Equals, US Foreign Policy in a Multipolar World
Stimson Center
Episode: Structures of 'Forever War,' Revisited
Eli Clifton
Investigative journalist focusing on money in politics and US foreign policy
Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
Episode: Origins of Israel's Lobby
Kai Bird
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and biographer
Author, Historian
Episode: Meet Roy Cohn, Donald Trump's Mentor
Albie Sachs
South African communist, anti-apartheid activist, expelled from SA in 1966 after solitary confinement
Former anti-apartheid activist
Episode: 'The Battle of Algiers' 60 Years On
Adam Weinstein
Deputy Director of the Middle East Program at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
Episode: Iraq Between Washington and Tehran (Bonus)
Maitrii Aung-Thwin
Professor of Myanmar history
National University of Singapore
Episode: Myanmar's Long, Long, Long Civil War
Mark Kawar
Author of America But Bigger, Near Annexations from Greenland to the Galapagos
Author/Journalist
Episode: American Empires
Mark LeVine
Historian, University of California, Irvine
University of California, Irvine
Episode: What Happened at Camp David?

Host

Martin De Caro
Host of History As It Happens; appears frequently as the primary interviewer; associated with History As It Happens.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 111 ratings
  • Very good

    Great podcast that always has clear, concise, yet in-depth and interesting episodes. I highly recommend this show - it is an underrated podcast in the history category.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Barack Ollama
    Canadaa month ago
  • Misunderstood Russian hour with Anatol Lievan

    Di Caro strikes me as someone who never questions the algorithms that dominate his post-Iraq “restrainer” worldview. Anatol Lievan’s first move was to make an equivalence between the Monroe Doctrine and Russia’s ongoing genocidal war in Ukraine (yes Martin, Russian imperialism from Czar Alexander to Stalin has attempted to eradicate Ukrainian culture by killing its writers, starving its farmers, and making illegal the Ukrainian language). Lievan does it on purpose, but I expect you to at least g... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    JanMasaryk
    United States2 months ago
  • Best history-based podcast.

    This is a fantastic podcast. Always timely w/ needed insight from guests that are sought after in their respective fields. And Martin actually believes that history can teach up something. An idea I fully embrace.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Andre Hollings
    United States6 months ago
  • Ads Louder than the Content

    I don’t necessarily mind ads, but I will not listen to the content when the ads are significantly louder than the content, as they are here. Too bad.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Rebar3
    United States10 months ago
  • Leftie bias

    Didn't realize history is left handed

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    GGSANE
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Many describe the discussions as timely, thoroughly researched, and NPR-like in quality.
Listeners praise the show for clear, concise yet in-depth historical analysis and strong guest lineups.
Some reviews criticize perceived bias or platforming controversial figures, suggesting a polarizing reception.

Top History Podcasts

World War II with Tom Hanks
World War II with Tom HanksThe HISTORY Channel | Back Pocket Studios | Audacy
History's Greatest Mysteries
History's Greatest MysteriesThe HISTORY Channel | Rewind Studios
Plagues with Dr. Keith
Plagues with Dr. KeithKeith Sumey, MD
History That Doesn't Suck
History That Doesn't SuckProf. Greg Jackson
The Ancients
The AncientsHistory Hit

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

'The Battle of Algiers' 60 Years On
Q: Isn't it cowardly for you to send in basket bombers and blow up cafes and kill all these innocent people?
The guest suggests that the FLN's tactics were a response to colonial violence, arguing that the line between civilian harm and political objective is central to evaluating legitimacy in asymmetrical warfare.
Myanmar's Long, Long, Long Civil War
Q: What explains the military's long-standing grip on Myanmar's politics after independence?
The military consolidated power early after independence, viewing itself as the guardian of national unity and sovereignty, while civil institutions remained weak, making the armed forces the most stable and influential institution in a fragmented political landscape.
Saudi Nukes (Bonus)
Q: What is the history of Saudi Arabia's nuclear ambitions?
The guest explains that Saudi Arabia's interest in nuclear technology emerged prominently around 2009-2010, with a spike in Arab nations' interest following Iran's nuclear activities, leading to talks of multiple reactors in the early 2010s; a major shift occurred with a recent agreement that now appears to enable enrichment, though the economic rationale and governance remain contentious.
Sudan's Unrelenting Agony
Q: What is the current outlook for peace between the RSF and SAF, and is there any realistic path to a settlement?
The guest explains that neither side seeks total victory, true peace remains elusive, and external pressures have not yet produced a viable framework; a comprehensive peace would require a credible, enforceable agreement with concessions from both sides and a supportive international coalition, which is currently lacking.
Congress' Slide Into Irrelevance
Q: From your book, what are the most enduring reforms from the 1974 Watergate class?
The Watergate class brought process changes that made it easier for freshmen to gain power, shifted committee assignments to be more responsive to new members, and increased opportunities for younger legislators to rise—while also highlighting the need for stronger checks on executive power and better institutional resilience.

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 History As It Happens

What is History As It Happens about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A historically focused interview show that brings top scholars and policy thinkers to unpack how past events shape present-day politics, security, and diplomacy. Episodes frequently center on wars, imperial legacies, and state-building, with guests ranging from university professors to think-tank analysts and policymakers. Noteworthy is the consistent use of deep archival context, cross-regional comparisons, and a willingness to challenge conventional wisdom, making it valuable for listeners who want rigorous, historically grounded analysis of current affairs. The format tends to be concise but richly sourced, often linking historical episodes to today's geopolitical debates.

Where can I find podcast stats for History As It Happens?

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

How many listeners does History As It Happens get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for History As It Happens, 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 History As It Happens?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for History As It Happens, 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 History As It Happens have?

To see how many followers or subscribers History As It Happens 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 History As It Happens?

These podcasts share a similar audience with History As It Happens:

1. Booknotes+
2. The Foreign Affairs Interview
3. Lectures in History
4. Conversations with Bill Kristol
5. We the People

How many episodes of History As It Happens are there?

History As It Happens launched 6 years ago and published 612 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 History As It Happens?

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 History As It Happens?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for History As It Happens 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 History As It Happens?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of History As It Happens. 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 History As It Happens?

Recent guests on History As It Happens include:

1. Peter Bergen
2. Emma Ashford
3. Eli Clifton
4. Kai Bird
5. Albie Sachs
6. Adam Weinstein
7. Maitrii Aung-Thwin
8. Mark Kawar

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