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History Unplugged Podcast

History Unplugged
World War II
Civil War
American Revolution
Barbary Wars
Ottoman Empire
Cold War
Slavery
United States
Soviet Union
Climate Change
Vietnam War
War Of 1812
Siege Of Leningrad
Alexander the Great
George Washington
Great Depression
Western Roman Empire
Christianity
Prohibition
Thomas More

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes1129Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistorySociety & Culture

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Artwork for History Unplugged Podcast

Latest Episodes

The 17th-century battlefield ushered in a new era, with formed musketeers and pistol-wielding cavalry gradually taking over from the knights and men-at-arms that had dominated the European battlefield. But knights could still be found on these battle... more

In 1861, an archaeologist named James Farrer broke into a grass-covered Neolithic tomb on the Orkney Islands expecting to find ancient bones and treasure. The tomb was empty. But its walls were covered with runic inscriptions, dozens of them, carved ... more

When the First Crusade arrived at the walls of Antioch in 1097, the two most powerful Muslim rulers in Syria were not preparing a joint defense. They were trying to destroy each other. Ridwan of Aleppo and his brother Duqaq of Damascus had been locke... more

On the morning of January 24, 1848, a carpenter named James Marshall climbed into a ditch beside a half-finished sawmill in the Sierra Nevada foothills, stooped down, and found gold. He crawled out clutching his hat to his chest like a hurt child, sh... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Nicholas Morton
Author of The Crusader Storm, A Global History of the Wars for the Middle East
Author
Episode: Why the Most Powerful Muslim Rulers in the Middle East Considered the Crusaders a Minor Annoyance
Nathaniel Philbrick
Author of The Rush, California Gold, the Civil War, and the Making of the Modern World
Author
Episode: The Gold Rush Created Get Rich Quick Schemes and ‘Move Fast and Break Things’
Andrew Coe
Author of American Bread, A History
Author, American Bread, A History
Episode: Every Fight in American History Was Also a Fight Over Who Gets to Eat Good Bread
Colin Duncan Taylor
Author of The Pyrenees, A Human History
Author, The Pyrenees, A Human History
Episode: Romans Quarried Marble, Cathars Hid in Caves, and Nazis Built Tank Turrets in These Same Mountains
Tim Whitmarsh
Author of Rome's Age of Revolution, Augustus' Empire and the Making of Christianity
University of Cambridge (historian)
Episode: The Roman Emperor Who Spread Christianity Most Was Arguably Augustus (Even Though He Died in 14 AD)
Florence Hazrat
Author of On the Mark, From Periods to Interrobangs, How Punctuation Remade the World
Author
Episode: 5,000 Years of Punctuation: Why It Terrified Roman Scholars and Started a Russian Revolution
James Palmer
Author of Charlemagne's Dream, The Rise and Fall of the Carolingian Empire
Editor and Historian, author
Episode: Charlemagne Dreamed of a Sword With Four Words on It and They Predicted Exactly How His Dynasty Would Fall
Catharine Edwards
Author of Cicero's Tongue, The Life of Rome's Greatest Orator and the End of the Republic
Author/Scholar
Episode: Cicero—Rome’s Greatest Orator—Saved the Capital From Insurrection, But Couldn’t Save the Republic From Collapse
Jared Diamond
Author of Guns, Germs, and Steel; author of Profits, Prophets, Coaches, and Kings
Charles/Harvard-affiliated author (as discussed)
Episode: Do Napoleons or Hitlers Really Matter? Whether Leaders Make History or Their Societies Make Them

Host

Scott Rank
Host of History Unplugged; resident historian who guides discussions and explores big questions in history.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 5.1k ratings
  • I was a 5+ year listener…

    until the advertisements swarmed the episodes. Hope Scott lives well, but this podcast is now dung!

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

    I love this podcast. I love history and have learned so much. I have researched areas covered because I want to learn more.

    He is a great interviewer because he knows so much. He never gets in the guest’s way and keeps everything on track. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ms Aires Sky
    United Statesa month ago
  • 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. Today some nobody is tearing down a historic person, not a review of history with things that are unflattering but just a laundry list of negative comments without any history. We deserve better. Please try harder.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Future-is-bright
    United States2 months ago
  • 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 States2 months 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 States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

High-quality content with diverse historical topics; some episodes draw polarized reactions.
Listeners praise depth and scholarly rigor; some critique guest selections or ad frequency.
Audience notes thoughtful guests and strong host curiosity, though pacing and ads spark mixed reactions.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#75
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#105
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#109
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#207
Italy/History
Apple Podcasts
#215
Germany/History
Apple Podcasts
#117
United Arab Emirates/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why the Most Powerful Muslim Rulers in the Middle East Considered the Crusaders a Minor Annoyance
Q: Have you ever run down the street shouting the nomads are coming?
That playful line openers a broader point: nomadic and frontier threats shaped state responses across Eurasia, making centralized defense economies and frontier mobilization critical in understanding why the Crusades unfolded the way they did.
Why the Most Powerful Muslim Rulers in the Middle East Considered the Crusaders a Minor Annoyance
Q: Okay, Scott, can I ask you a question?
The question frames the larger debate: whether the Crusades were truly pivotal or if other regional dynamics outshined them, which pushes us to view the period as a network of interlocking ambitions rather than a simple clash of civilizations.
Cicero—Rome’s Greatest Orator—Saved the Capital From Insurrection, But Couldn’t Save the Republic From Collapse
Q: Why is Cicero's 63 BCE speech so impactful in the context of Rome's crisis?
The speech is impactful because it elevates rhetoric to a core political tool that can mobilize the Senate and save the Republic from imminent collapse, even as it exposes the fragility of institutions when faced with aggressive factionalism.
Charlemagne Dreamed of a Sword With Four Words on It and They Predicted Exactly How His Dynasty Would Fall
Q: How did Charlemagne view his relationship with the Papacy, and what happened at his coronation?
Charlemagne positioned himself as a defender of the church and used his power to safeguard the pope, while the coronation underscored a partnership with Rome that also asserted imperial legitimacy in the West; the papacy sought protection, and Charlemagne leveraged this to expand his political and religious authority.
Charlemagne Dreamed of a Sword With Four Words on It and They Predicted Exactly How His Dynasty Would Fall
Q: Tell us about the dream and its significance for Charlemagne and his empire.
The dream is used to symbolize an ideal trajectory for the dynasty, predicting multiple ages and testing the ruler's ability to balance conquest with moral leadership; it becomes a tool to analyze how Charlemagne's successors struggled to live up to heroic standards while managing a sprawling, diverse realm.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About History Unplugged Podcast

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

- A history-focused show that pairs long-form interviews with bestselling authors and expert analysis with a frequent emphasis on political power, empires, and cultural change across eras. Topics span ancient to modern, including data history, war, espionage, language endangerment, and economic policy, often tying historical events to contemporary issues. The format also features a resident historian guiding deep dives, with a reputation for rigorous research, clear storytelling, and a willingness to challenge myths and simplifications.

- Notable strengths include a broad range of high-profile guests, strong scholarly context, and episodes that connect big historical narratives to everyday relevance, making it useful for listeners who want... more

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Which podcasts are similar to History Unplugged Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with History Unplugged Podcast:

1. American History Hit
2. Key Battles of American History
3. History That Doesn't Suck
4. American History Tellers
5. History Daily

How many episodes of History Unplugged Podcast are there?

History Unplugged Podcast launched 9 years ago and published 1129 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 History Unplugged Podcast?

Recent guests on History Unplugged Podcast include:

1. Nicholas Morton
2. Nathaniel Philbrick
3. Andrew Coe
4. Colin Duncan Taylor
5. Tim Whitmarsh
6. Florence Hazrat
7. James Palmer
8. Catharine Edwards

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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