Rephonic
Artwork for History Unplugged Podcast

History Unplugged Podcast

History Unplugged
World War II
Civil War
Barbary Wars
American Revolution
United States
Ottoman Empire
Cold War
Slavery
Soviet Union
Atomic Bomb
Climate Change
Vietnam War
War Of 1812
Hiroshima
Siege Of Leningrad
Alexander the Great
Great Depression
Western Roman Empire
George Washington
Abraham Lincoln

For history lovers who listen to podcasts, History Unplugged is the most comprehensive show of its kind. It's the only show that dedicates episodes to both interviewing experts and answering questions from its audience. First, it features a call-in show where you can ask our resident historian (Scott Rank, PhD) absolutely anything (What was it like to be a Turkish sultan with four wives and twelve... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes1112Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistorySociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for History Unplugged Podcast

Latest Episodes

Humanity’s story from 10,000 BC to 3,000 BC (from the end of the ice age to the beginning of civilizations) follows this pattern: primitive hunter-gatherers slowly progressed to farmers, then to village-builders, then to city-dwellers and kings. With... more

One of the most feared inventions ever was the Linotype machine. Debuting in 1886, it was designed to eliminate tens of thousands of newspaper jobs, specifically the hand-compositors—the highly skilled workers who painstakingly picked individual meta... more

When Heinrich Himmler was appointed to command the army group defending Berlin in January 1945, his operations officer described briefing him as "talking about colors with a blind man." Himmler couldn't read a map scale, worked five hours a day due t... more

A three-inch baboon bone bearing twenty-nine deliberate incisions was pulled from a South African mountain range in 1970. It is approximately 43,000 years old, and microscopic analysis shows the notches were made over time with different cutting tool... 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.

Key Battles of American History
Key Battles of American HistoryKey Battles of American History
History That Doesn't Suck
History That Doesn't SuckProf. Greg Jackson
This American President
This American PresidentThis American President

Recent Guests

Roopika Risam
Author of Data Empire, The Power of Information to Organize, Control, and Dominate
Data Empire (book)
Episode: Writing Was Invented for Accounting and Scrawled on Baboon Bones
Mark Galeotti
Author of Siege of Kazan 1552, Ivan the Terrible Breaks the Kazan Khanate
Author/Historian
Episode: It Took Russia 300 Years To Destroy the Final Pieces of Genghis Khan’s Empire
Andrea Wulf
Author of The Traveller, The Revolutionary Life of George Forster, and His Search for Humanity
Author
Episode: The Wunderkind George Forster: Voyaging with Captain Cook at 10 and Dining with Benjamin Franklin in Paris in his 20s
Sophia Smith Galer
Author of How to Kill a Language, Power, Resistance, and the Race to Save Our Words
Author, Historian
Episode: Every 2 Weeks a Language Dies: Whether By Assimilation or Targeted Extinction
Vanessa Williamson
Author of The Price of Democracy
Author, The Price of Democracy
Episode: The Boston Tea Party Was a Protest Against the East India Company Being Too Big to Fail
Isaac Fitzgerald
Author of American Rambler, Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed
Author, American Rambler
Episode: Johnny Appleseed's Trees Were for Booze, Not Pies, and He Dressed Like a Hobo for Marketing Purposes
Rana Dasgupta
Author of After Nations
Penguin/Author
Episode: All the World’s Empires Became Nations in Less Than 100 Years, and What That Means for the Next 100
Antonia Senior
Author of Stalin's Apostles
Author, Stalin's Apostles
Episode: Five Cambridge Graduates Became Soviet Spies and Built Stalin’s Empire
H. W. Brands
Author of American Patriarch, The Life of George Washington
Author/Historian
Episode: Washington’s Power Went Beyond President or General – He Was a Full-Fledged Patriarch

Host

Scott Rank
Host of History Unplugged with deep expertise in history and a background as a scholar/media commentator.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 5.1k ratings
  • I like the show but

    Every couple shows there’s some crazy author, why waste our time? The “dying languages lady” is a fool and I will never get my 20 minutes of my life back. I sadly listen that long before asking why this good show would waste my time with this guest. Please try harder.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Future-is-bright
    United States15 days ago
  • Excellent show

    I have listened to perhaps a hundred episodes of this podcast. It's informative with good, knowledgeable guests. The host is solid, and he has a great sense of curiosity, which comes across to the listener.

    There are some reviews that reference ads. First, I skip the ads. Second, I'm always amused when people aren't shy to broadcast their own ignorance of a particular topic. Many have no understanding of bulk advertising and the rotation of ad packages. But why do reviewers hold the host respo... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BWPnovelist
    United States24 days ago
  • 1873 financial crisis

    Much enjoyed this episode. Best wishes

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Alain LaVerdiere
    Canadaa month ago
  • I was a 5 year listener, until

    TPUSA became your advert sponsor.

    Boycotting Scott now.

    Over and out✌🏿

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Jeremiah ben Jonah
    United Statesa month ago
  • Commercials

    I really wanna give this podcast 5 stars, I really do….the production, host and topics are great, but the interruptions from commercials makes me skip or not even listen. Idk what the solution is, bcz I understand the economics of all this but damn. It’s jarring and forces me to completely change to another podcast. Sorry Scott…I already know this won’t change anything but you ask for reviews, so here ya go

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Avidpodlistener
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the breadth and depth of topics.
The show is seen as serious, professional, and well-researched.
Some critiques focus on ads and perceived political slant by a few guests or sponsors.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#60
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#111
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#164
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#16
Philippines/History
Apple Podcasts
#90
South Korea/History
Apple Podcasts
#153
Israel/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Wunderkind George Forster: Voyaging with Captain Cook at 10 and Dining with Benjamin Franklin in Paris in his 20s
Q: How did Forster influence Humboldt?
Andrea explains that Forster mentored Humboldt in taxonomy and systems thinking, inspiring Humboldt's later explorations and his idea of nature as an interconnected whole.
The Wunderkind George Forster: Voyaging with Captain Cook at 10 and Dining with Benjamin Franklin in Paris in his 20s
Q: What is this stage like with Franklin?
Andrea describes Forster meeting Benjamin Franklin in Paris, engaging in intellectual salons, and how this encounter helped elevate his status and influence in revolutionary circles.
All the World’s Empires Became Nations in Less Than 100 Years, and What That Means for the Next 100
Q: What might the future look like if the US no longer dominates global affairs?
The host suggests a multipolar world with several regional powers and non-state actors, including tech companies, shaping global order, potentially reducing the dominance of any single nation-state.
All the World’s Empires Became Nations in Less Than 100 Years, and What That Means for the Next 100
Q: How did France and Britain differently shape Frenchness and British national identity?
France tied sovereignty to theological authority and mystical nationhood, whereas Britain emphasized property, enterprise, and a more secular, law- and contract-based national identity that spread through colonization and private corporations.
All the World’s Empires Became Nations in Less Than 100 Years, and What That Means for the Next 100
Q: So what does change from empires to nations? What problem did that solve?
The guest explains that empires centralized power but often caused instability and high costs, while nations provided a framework for self-determination, legitimacy through myth and religion, and a more manageable system for governing diverse populations as societies industrialized.

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 Unplugged Podcast

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

History Unplugged often features in-depth conversations with historians and authors, exploring big historical questions through biographical portraits, geopolitical narratives, and sometimes archival mysteries. Episodes frequently center on empire, war, ancient civilizations, and long-running cultural themes, with guests ranging from scholars to book authors providing context, nuance, and accessible storytelling. The show stands out for its breadth of topics, rigorous historical framing, and a mix of narrative history with expert analysis, appealing to listeners who want substantial background and practical takeaways from historical studies.

Noteworthy elements include a strong emphasis on primary-source context, cross-disciplinary connect... more

Where can I find podcast stats for History Unplugged Podcast?

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

How many listeners does History Unplugged Podcast get?

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

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for History Unplugged Podcast, 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 Unplugged Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers History Unplugged Podcast 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 Unplugged Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with History Unplugged Podcast:

1. Key Battles of American History
2. American History Hit
3. History That Doesn't Suck
4. This American President
5. Ben Franklin's World

How many episodes of History Unplugged Podcast are there?

History Unplugged Podcast launched 9 years ago and published 1112 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 Unplugged Podcast?

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 Unplugged Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for History Unplugged Podcast 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 Unplugged Podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of History Unplugged Podcast. 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 Unplugged Podcast?

Recent guests on History Unplugged Podcast include:

1. Roopika Risam
2. Mark Galeotti
3. Andrea Wulf
4. Sophia Smith Galer
5. Vanessa Williamson
6. Isaac Fitzgerald
7. Rana Dasgupta
8. Antonia Senior

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