History Unplugged Podcast

History Unplugged

World War II

Immigration

Winston Churchill

Theodore Roosevelt

Septuagint

Russian Jews

Anglo-Saxon Warfare

World War I

Christianity

Second Temple Judaism

British Army

Benedict Arnold

Hebrew Bible

Translation

Bible

Congressional Gold Medal

Elizabeth Varon

James Longstreet

Albert Ballin

Jacob Schiff

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

5k ratings

Publishes	Twice weekly	Episodes	1024	Founded	8 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	HistorySociety & Culture

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Latest Episodes

The Horse That Ate the Legion: Rome’s Cavalry's Triumph Over the Infantry

The cavalry 'wings' that probed ahead of the Roman Army played a key role in its campaigns of conquest, masking its marching flanks and seeking to encircle enemies in battle. However, at the very beginning of Rome’s history, it didn’t even have a cav... more

Today • 41 min

Beyond Joan of Arc and Agincourt: How the 100 Years War Crushed Medieval Europe and Launched its Global Order

Modern France and Britain were forged in the fires of the Hundred Years War, a century-long conflict that produced deadly English longbowmen, Joan of Arc’s heavenly visions, and a massive death toll from Scotland to the Low Countries. The traditional... more

9 Oct 2025 • 58 min

Reverse Ellis Island: American Migrants Who Fought for Mussolini and Built Stalin’s USSR

America saw a significant reverse-migration in the 1800s and 1900s, with 20–50% of Italian immigrants returning to Italy as ritornati and tens of thousands of Americans, including ideologues and workers, moving to Germany, Italy, and the USSR in the ... more

7 Oct 2025 • 38 min

Don’t Use Rome as a Model of Why Societies Collapse; Use Crime Syndicates and Somalia Instead

12,000 years ago, human history changed forever when the egalitarian groups of hunter-gathering humans began to settle down and organize themselves into hierarchies. The few dominated the many, seizing control through violence. What emerged were “Gol... more

2 Oct 2025 • 49 min

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Recent Guests

Luke Kemp

Researcher at the University of Cambridge's Center for the Study of Existential Risk and author of 'Goliath's Curse'

University of Cambridge

Episode: Don’t Use Rome as a Model of Why Societies Collapse; Use Crime Syndicates and Somalia Instead

Tom Zoellner

Author of The Road Was Full of Thorns, Running Toward Freedom in the American Civil War

Episode: A Union General Found a Loophole in the Fugitive Slave Act, Causing 1 Million Slaves to Flee North

Scott Ellsworth

Author of Midnight on the Potomac, The Last Year of the Civil War, the Lincoln Assassination, and the Rebirth of America

Episode: The Civil War’s Brutal Finale: A War of Attrition as Terrible as WW2-Pacific and the Napoleonic Wars

Charles Ferguson

Former chaplain and historian of Camp David

Author of Presidential Seclusion, The Power of Camp David

Episode: Camp David Looks Like a 1970s Lakeside Retreat. Why is it the Site of the World’s Biggest Political Summits?

Rachel Lance

Author of Chamber Divers, The Untold Story of the D-Day Scientists

Episode: How British Scientists' Self-Experiments on Underwater Rebreathing Created D-Day Submarine Tech (And Nearly Killed Them in the Process)

Christopher Harding

Author of A Short History of Japan

Episode: How the U.S. Occupation of Japan After WW2 Forged the Most Durable Peace of the 20th Century

Robin Lane Fox

Scholar and teacher of Homer for over 40 years, author of Homer and His Iliad

Episode: Homer Couldn't Have Written the Iliad, But He Probably Dictated it Word for Word

Howard Husock

Author of 'The Projects, A New History of Public Housing'

Episode: Depression-Era Planners Thought They’d End Poverty with Public Housing. Instead, They Created the Projects

Gary Cross

Author of 'Free Time, The History of an Elusive Ideal'

Episode: The Industrial Revolution Was Supposed to Lead to Unlimited Free Time But Only Gave Us Smartphones and Endless Dopamine

Host

Scott Rank

Scott Rank, PhD, is the resident historian and host known for engaging discussions and call-in segments that address listeners' inquiries about historical topics.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 5k ratings

Long time subscriber, But I just cannot….
Stay with a show that accepts dolla dolla from a corrupt hate filled organization.
Seriously…. A dog killer named Noem threatening my neighbors?
A polite and sad no thank you.
Apple Podcasts
1
kjfheights
United Statesa month ago
Turn to Right Wing Politics
I have enjoyed this podcast for many years but your recent podcast on the fall of Rome was a disgrace. The obvious political bias of your guess against immigration and equating US immigration to the fall of Rome is straight from MAGA talking points. Do better.
Apple Podcasts
1
Sir Camaris
United Statesa month ago
Goodish
This podcast is great if you thing Fox News is fair and balanced. As long as you understand the history you are listening to is consistently from a very right bias, with no breath to consider this from the authory, it's a pretty good podcast.
I am very surprised this isn't a Hoover Institute funded show.
Pandering to PragerU type crowd, without the lack of success or daddy's money.
Not a bad podcast once that's considered.
Apple Podcasts
2
viponswole
United Statesa month ago
Terrible Take on Wide Awakes
I kept waiting for the reasons that the Wide Awakes were so radical and problematic, and all I got was a comparison of an abolitionist group that formed to protect abolitionist speakers from the violence of the south to Charlottesville marchers because they both carried torches? Southerners were afraid they MIGHT be violent, but we aren’t worried about the actual violence of slavery or the attacks on abolitionists? Then they all went off and fought for the north to end slavery? These are the peo... more
Apple Podcasts
1
T Spolans
United States2 months ago
American Anarchist
William McKinley may have been shot by an American Anarchist, but his death was not due to the gunshot wound, but rather because of complete incompetence and disregard for cleanliness of the Doctor in charge.
The guest implies differently and is lying by omission.
Apple Podcasts
2
Evan Stevoid
United States2 months ago

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Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the engaging mix of historical topics and expert interviews.

The call-in format allows for a unique interaction that many find refreshing and informative.

Some have expressed concerns regarding perceived biases in the selection of topics and guests, particularly around contemporary political themes.

Positive feedback highlights the educational value and insight provided in discussions, offering a deeper understanding of historical contexts.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts	#70	United States/History
Apple Podcasts	#131	Canada/History
Apple Podcasts	#216	United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts	#163	Australia/History
Apple Podcasts	#184	France/History
Apple Podcasts	#144	Israel/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A Union General Found a Loophole in the Fugitive Slave Act, Causing 1 Million Slaves to Flee North

Q: What happens to these contraband camps after the war ends?

The ends of these camps varied; some were shut down quickly while others faded into the landscape as communities formed.

Don’t Use Rome as a Model of Why Societies Collapse; Use Crime Syndicates and Somalia Instead

Q: What do you think are the takeaways of how to be forward-thinking in the face of a societal collapse?

Kemp highlights that inclusive institutions and democracies tend to be more resilient during crises, offering better recovery and social capital than hierarchical structures.

Don’t Use Rome as a Model of Why Societies Collapse; Use Crime Syndicates and Somalia Instead

Q: To limit this question, I'll focus on the Western Roman Empire—why did Rome in its Western manifestation collapse?

Kemp explains that Rome's collapse was characterized by increasing inequality, elite factionalism, corruption, and diminishing returns on extraction leading to its eventual vulnerability to external shocks.

Don’t Use Rome as a Model of Why Societies Collapse; Use Crime Syndicates and Somalia Instead

Q: Can you tell me about how you came up with this framework to analyze things, whether it's Cahokia or Rome?

Kemp discusses his approach involving both qualitative and quantitative analysis, utilizing various historical databases and case studies to understand the patterns of societal failure.

The Civil War’s Brutal Finale: A War of Attrition as Terrible as WW2-Pacific and the Napoleonic Wars

Q: What are Confederates hoping to achieve with their new strategy?

Confederates aim to affect public opinion in the North by creating panic and bolstering peace movements to let the South go as they shifted to asymmetric warfare strategies.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About History Unplugged Podcast

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

Aimed at engaging history enthusiasts, this show uniquely combines audience interaction with expert insights. Episodes feature a call-in format where listeners can pose any historical question, followed by in-depth discussions with bestselling authors covering a wide range of historical topics. From military figures in World War II to insights into significant speeches by presidents, the discussions are diverse, making history both accessible and entertaining. The show also delves into the complex narratives of lesser-known historical figures and events, enhancing the listener's understanding of the past in relation to contemporary issues.

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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?

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What are the audience demographics for History Unplugged Podcast?

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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. This American President
4. History That Doesn't Suck
5. American History Tellers

How many episodes of History Unplugged Podcast are there?

History Unplugged Podcast launched 8 years ago and published 1024 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?

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What guests have appeared on History Unplugged Podcast?

Recent guests on History Unplugged Podcast include:

1. Luke Kemp
2. Tom Zoellner
3. Scott Ellsworth
4. Charles Ferguson
5. Rachel Lance
6. Christopher Harding
7. Robin Lane Fox
8. Howard Husock

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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