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The 15 Minute Book Club

Alex Churchill, Matt Bone
Second World War
Ancient History
World War II
Warsaw Uprising
Zoe Zawacka
Women's Role In History
Jerusalem
Mark Antony
Resistance Fighters
Women In War
Poland
Historical Research
African History
Cornelia
Tamiris
Women In History
Home Army
James Skinner
Anthropology
D-Day

We don't always have an hour or so to spare. In this new, short-form podcast, Alex and Matt interview an author, gameshow style, and they have fifteen minutes on the clock to convince you to buy their new book. With a minute to go, the alarm sounds and your hosts will throw out the meanest, saddest comment they think the internet will come up with about the book and the author gets a chance to res... more

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Latest Episodes

On the 17th March 2026, author Len Deighton passed away at the age of 97. To remember this wonderful author, Boney is in the hot seat as he tries to convince Alex that Bomber is a must read from the extensive cateloge of Deighton's books.

Patreon me... more

At the beginning of the Great Depression, three groups of Germans moved to Floreana Island in the Galápagos to create their own utopia. Over the coming years, paradise crumbled into sex, acrimony, and eventually murder. Author Abbott Kahler joins Ale... more

Our old buddy Kit Chapman joins us to tell us all about his new book, which looks at the global quest to achieve immortality, cure all disease and transmute lead into gold as he reveals the illuminating stories of how the alchemists first broke new g... more

In August 1940, a man walked into Leon Trotsky's study in Mexico City and drove an ice pick into his skull. While the death of Trotsky is well known, the paths taken to that fateful day in Mexico City are not, and Josh Ireland had an incredible story... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Abbott Kahler
Author of Eden Undone
Random House (publisher)
Episode: Eden Undone with Abbott Kahler
Kit Chapman
Author of The Age of Alchemy
Author
Episode: The Age of Alchemy with Kit Chapman
Josh Ireland
Author of 'The Death of Trotsky'
Episode: The Death of Trotsky with Josh Ireland
Marion Orr
Political science professor at Brown University and author of House of Diggs.
Brown University
Episode: House of Diggs with Marion Orr
Alexander Larman
Author of 'Lazarus: The Second Coming of David Bowie'.
Episode: Lazarus: The Second Coming of David Bowie with Alexander Larman
Vaseem Khan
Author and historian known for the Inspector Chopra series and now the Quantum of Menace series.
Episode: Quantum of Menace with Vaseem Khan
Sarah Lodge
Professor of 19th century literature and culture
University of St. Andrews
Episode: The Mysterious Case of the Victorian Female Detective with Sarah Lodge
Alanna Skuse
Associate Professor of Literature at the University of Reading
University of Reading
Episode: The Surgeon, The Midwife, The Quack: How to Stay Alive in Renaissance England with Alanna Skuse
Phil Tinline
Author of "Ghosts of Iron Mountain: The Hoax That Duped America and Its Sinister Legacy"
Episode: Ghosts of Iron Mountain with Phil Tinline

Hosts

Alex Churchill
Co-host of The 15 Minute Book Club; historian and writer with deep involvement in book-focused discussions.
Matt Bone
Co-host of The 15 Minute Book Club; engages with authors in a fast-paced format and adds historical/bibliographic context.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 336 ratings
  • Hitler years

    New to this podcast but finding it enjoyable.

    Does he cover the lack of action by European powers to help the Jews,especially Britain?

    Or the rife anti-semetism in European countries ?

    Do his books link to settler colonialism in Palestine and the Israeli persecution of Palestinians ?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    veganman1961
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Audio quality so regrettable

    Love the content here in mid-America. My hearing is worsening so it’s utterly crushing to find the audio quality is so dreadful, not even remotely professional. For example, I have to turn the levels up to understand the challenging Scottish guest discussing Alfred the Great - it’s one of the most unpleasant listening experiences ever. And I love scottish accents and Alfred! Akin to listening to Radio Moscow in the mid 80’s via shortwave I’m sorry to say.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    BobbyQuads
    United States10 months ago
  • some great episodes in a haystack of history. much like the history extra podcast, but less formal.

    Podchaser
    4
    sketchn98
    a year ago
  • Great Series

    Love History Hack - always interesting, always fun. It’s history but not pompous.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Trevor366
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Poles Apart & Awesome

    History Hack is an amazing show presented smoothly by the wonderful Alexandra Churchill an the equally awesome Alina Nowobilska.

    This dynamic duo interview an incredible bunch of talented historians specialising in everything from Tudor Women to Polish secret agents such as Agent Zo and everything in between.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gngibson
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Fans appreciate the mix of history and biography, plus the hosts' dynamic banter and accessibility.
Listeners praise the show for breadth of topics and expert guests, noting a fun yet informative vibe.
Audio quality is a recurring critique, with some episodes needing better production for easier listening.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#224
United Kingdom/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Eden Undone with Abbott Kahler
Q: How did you handle portraying controversial figures in nonfiction?
I aimed to present them as fully realized people, balancing compelling narrative with factual accuracy, and letting the complexities of their choices drive the story rather than caricature.
The Age of Alchemy with Kit Chapman
Q: Is there a big disclaimer at the front about not trying these recipes?
Kit confirms there are dangerous recipes in the book and explicitly warns readers not to attempt them, noting risks like mercury fumes and arsenic-based methods, while framing the historical curiosity.
The Age of Alchemy with Kit Chapman
Q: Is alchemy simply chemistry before chemistry, or is it something distinct?
Kit explains the term originated as al-kimia with influences from different cultures, and that alchemy encompasses real science, myth, and philosophy rather than being solely a precursor to modern chemistry.
The Age of Alchemy with Kit Chapman
Q: Your last book was on Formula One. What made you bring this alchemy idea to your agent/publisher, and how did you sell it?
Kit says his fascination with 'weirdos' and the history of chemistry drove the project, highlighting the story of Henig Brand and the progression from mysticism to real science as central to the book's arc.
The Death of Trotsky with Josh Ireland
Q: Why after all these years are we still banging on about Trotsky?
Trotsky matters for the role he played in history and for being representative of a time when powerful ideas drove people's actions.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The 15 Minute Book Club

What is The 15 Minute Book Club about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Short-form interview show where two hosts challenge authors to convince listeners in fifteen minutes, followed by a rapid-fire post-pitch critique. Episodes center on new books across history, biography, and literature, with entertaining banter and behind-the-scenes Patreon content for deeper insight. Notable is the frequent pairing of hosts with historians and writers, creating a lively yet informative format that helps potential readers quickly gauge a book's appeal and the author's perspective. A distinctive element is the clean, game-show-style structure that blends accessible discussion with credible expertise, making it especially suitable for listeners who want quick recommendations plus curious, personality-driven conversation.

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How many listeners does The 15 Minute Book Club get?

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How many subscribers and views does The 15 Minute Book Club have?

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Which podcasts are similar to The 15 Minute Book Club?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The 15 Minute Book Club:

1. Dan Snow's History Hit
2. WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk
3. HistoryExtra podcast
4. The WW2 Podcast
5. Cold War Conversations Podcast

How many episodes of The 15 Minute Book Club are there?

The 15 Minute Book Club launched 6 years ago and published 990 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The 15 Minute Book Club?

Recent guests on The 15 Minute Book Club include:

1. Abbott Kahler
2. Kit Chapman
3. Josh Ireland
4. Marion Orr
5. Alexander Larman
6. Vaseem Khan
7. Sarah Lodge
8. Alanna Skuse

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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