Rephonic
Artwork for Hostile History
Iran
Star Wars
Vietnam War
Adolf Hitler
Democracy
The Odyssey
Crusades
Saladin
Baldwin IV Of Jerusalem
Ruhollah Khomeini
Andor
Athens, Greece
Trade
DNA
Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi
Iran–iraq War
Odysseus
Mythology
The Odyssey (film)
Richard the Lionheart

Since the dawn of time humanity has been at war. Conflict in one form or another has been part of our existence since we first walked the earth. While conflict and armed rebellion have evolved to look very differently over the centuries, if it feels like we’ve been here before it's because we have. Join military historian David Borys who has spent his entire career studying armed conflict as... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes20Founded4 months ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

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Artwork for Hostile History

Latest Episodes

The Woman Who Went to War Show Notes: Hannah Snell was an 18th-century English woman who defied every expectation, disguising herself as a man to join the British military. She fought in brutal battles, survived multiple wounds while hiding her ident... more

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History remembers the generals, the kings, and the men who marched beneath national flags. But buried are other stories of support systems and networks that included spies, resistance fighters, smugglers, and revolutionaries. Women, who stepped into... more

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On this episode of Hostile History, David Borys is joined by broadcaster, comic writer, and lifelong Star Wars fan Fred Kennedy to explore how George Lucas's space opera evolved from a simple adventure story into one of the most influential cultural ... more

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When George Lucas created Star Wars, he imagined a space fantasy filled with laser swords, galactic empires, and battles between good and evil. But beneath the aliens and starships was something far more grounded and shaped by real-world war, politic... more

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Recent Guests

Fred Kennedy
broadcaster, comic writer, lifelong Star Wars fan
Q107 radio host; creator/writer
Episode: Star Wars:Unpacked – In a Galaxy Not So Far Away
Chris Kempchall
Public historian who has written extensively on war and conflict
Author of Star Wars, Death Stars and Democracy (Rutledge)
Episode: Star Wars and Modern Warfare
Niall Christie
Medieval historian
Author of Muslims and Crusaders, Christianity's Wars in the Middle East, 1095 to 1382
Episode: The Crusades
Liv Albert
Host of Let's Talk About Myths, Baby
Let's Talk About Myths, Baby
Episode: Unpacked – The Odyssey – From Fable to Film
Jennifer Roberts
Historian from the City College of New York and the CUNY Graduate Center
City College of New York / CUNY Graduate Center
Episode: Democracy: From the ashes of Athenian wars
Turi King
Geneticist, Professor, Milner Centre for Evolution
University of Bath
Episode: Hitler's DNA
Alex J Kay
Historian, Potsdam University
Potsdam University
Episode: Hitler's DNA
Roham Alvandi
Historian from the London School of Economics and Political Science
London School of Economics and Political Science
Episode: Iran: Oil, Power and Protest – Part Three: The Ayatollah’s Iran

Host

David Borys
Host of Hostile History

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 22 ratings
  • It’s okay but…

    Too much reliance on one self-proclaimed expert who gets a lot wrong on the Iran subject and really only regurgitates pop culture understanding of history. We need more sources if this podcast is going to be taken seriously. Keep at it!

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Officematt
    Canada3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners may value the show's ambition to connect historical events to today's geopolitical climate but seek deeper, multi-source validation.
Listener appreciation for clear narrative but with demand for broader sourcing across topics.
A reviewer critiques overreliance on a single expert and calls for more sources to bolster Iran coverage.
Some listeners want more varied guest voices beyond the frequent pairings.
Feedback suggests the host delivers engaging history but could benefit from more diverse perspectives and data points.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#114
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#229
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#147
Mexico/History
Apple Podcasts
#168
New Zealand/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Star Wars:Unpacked – In a Galaxy Not So Far Away
Q: You know, how did this episode, what aspects of this episode resonated with you when you're listening to this more historical look at the way Star Wars reflects the world around us?
Fred Kennedy explains that the historical parallels in Star Wars, especially through Andor, resonate because they spotlight the human dimension of war and empire, showing how ordinary people navigate loyalty, survival, and moral ambiguity in the face of large political machines.
The Crusades
Q: So what were the Crusades?
They were a complex, multi-decade set of conflicts centered in the Holy Land, shaped by religious motivations but sustained by trade, politics, and shifting alliances; they included periods of intense warfare as well as long stretches of coexistence and exchange.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
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Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Hostile History

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

A historically focused, deeply contextual podcast that traces major conflicts and revolutions through oil, geopolitics, and power dynamics. Across episodes, the discussion centers on Iran's modern history—from nationalization and revolutions to sanctions, diplomacy, and proxy conflicts—paired with broad lessons about how leadership, foreign influence, and economic pressures shape events. Noteworthy elements include collaboration with renowned historians for expert context and a strong narrative drive that connects past occurrences to present crises, making it a potentially valuable listen for those seeking rigorous historical insight with clear real-world relevance.

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Which podcasts are similar to Hostile History?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Hostile History:

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How many episodes of Hostile History are there?

Hostile History launched 4 months ago and published 20 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 Hostile History?

Recent guests on Hostile History include:

1. Fred Kennedy
2. Chris Kempchall
3. Niall Christie
4. Liv Albert
5. Jennifer Roberts
6. Turi King
7. Alex J Kay
8. Roham Alvandi

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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