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Lectures in History

C-SPAN
American Revolution
World War II
Cold War
Civil Rights Movement
George Washington
Vietnam War
C-Span
Gilded Age
Baseball
Slavery
Civil War
Richard Nixon
Abortion
Great Depression
Lizzie Borden
Ronald Reagan
Reproductive Rights
Appalachia
Title IX
American Revolutionary War

Go back to school with the country's top professors lecturing on a variety of topics in American history. New episodes posted every Saturday evening. From C-SPAN, the network that brings you "After Words" and "C-SPAN's The Weekly" podcasts.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes600Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsHistoryNews

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Artwork for Lectures in History

Latest Episodes

San Diego State University professor Edward Blum examines the state constitutions created before the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1787. He explores how states approached questions of political power, representation, and individual rights—and how... more

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The Founding Fathers have inspired many writers and politicians, but who inspired the Founding Fathers? Washington University in St. Louis professor Fannie Bialek looked at the people who inspired early American political thought.

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This week on Lectures in History — from the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., the story of one Air National Guard pilot’s experience on September 11th, 2001.

Heather Penney was one of the first F-16 pilots scrambled from Andrews Air... more

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Washington University hosts its “1776: Then and Now” lecture series. This lecture examines why Thomas Jefferson owned a Qur’an and explores his study of Islam and its influence on his thinking about religion and religious freedom.

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Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Heather Penney
Air National Guard pilot who was scrambled on 9/11 to potentially engage hijacked aircraft
United States Air National Guard
Episode: 9/11: Air National Guard Pilot Heather Penney Recalls Her Mission
Michael Beschloss
Presidential historian and author
Author and historian
Episode: Michael Beschloss Explores the Revolutionary War, Civil War & 20th Century America
Kathleen Duvall
Professor of history at the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
Episode: The American Revolution Era and the Rest of the World
Dr. Aaron Aster
Professor of history at Maryville College
Maryville College
Episode: Appalachia's Role in America's Founding
Dr. Doug Sofer
Faculty colleague of the presenter
Maryville College
Episode: Appalachia's Role in America's Founding
Kathleen DuVal
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian
Washington University in St. Louis
Episode: International Context of the American Revolution
Ken Burns
Documentary filmmaker
PBS/C-SPAN project
Episode: Revolutionary War Leadership
Rick Atkinson
Pulitzer Prize-winning author
Harper/WW II War history
Episode: Revolutionary War Leadership
Joseph Dunford
Retired Marine Corps General, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
U.S. military
Episode: Revolutionary War Leadership

Host

Peter Castor
Host/lecturer accompanying the audience in the lecture series

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 843 ratings
  • Couple issues

    Can be a great show with valuable information. However…

    First, it’s distasteful to listen to a vocal-fry professor mock others accents. Even if the said accent if from a group of people “acceptable” to make fun of (realize the logic in that statement?).

    Second, we can handle more. There’s no need to only select lectures from post-syllabus week freshman year introductory undergrad courses. Accessibility is definitely a goal, but trust that your audience can understand and comprehend more detai... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    consumer1156
    United States2 months ago
  • Great stuff but…

    don’t expect to hear only opinions you like. These are lectures presenting historical facts which are sometimes then interpreted and applied to contemporary life. But unlike so many podcasts it isn’t pretending to be what it’s not.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TV Food and Drink
    United States3 months ago
  • !

    Cool

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    !huh
    United States4 months ago
  • Great Overall

    Many of the lectures are very good. Skip the cult and the prison gang ones, though. You won’t learn much about either.

    Would enjoy more variety of subjects. History has a lot of great topics.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    historyheather
    United States7 months ago
  • 1876 Great Sioux War

    I was just grinding my teeth this entire lecture. It was extremely biased against USA. Is the Professor by any chance Native American for crying out loud? It was too one sided for me. He was unsuccessful in taking a balanced approach. Too much liberal sentiments studded this interesting subject. 🤷🏻‍♂️

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    ballpeen brain
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the scholarly rigor and broad guest mix, noting strong historical context and engaging Q&As.
A few critiques mention bias or selectivity in topic choices and sound quality from certain lectures.
Some episodes draw attention for balance concerns or pacing, with feedback on voice speed and editorial balance.
Positive feedback often highlights high-profile guests and practical leadership takeaways from history.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#242
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#235
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#185
Israel/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#215
Spain/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Michael Beschloss Explores the Revolutionary War, Civil War & 20th Century America
Q: If you could change the presidency, how would you change the way presidents are elected or constrained?
He advocates preserving a democratic element in choosing presidents while strengthening checks on executive power, noting past attempts at reform and emphasizing the importance of accountability and clear constitutional boundaries.
Michael Beschloss Explores the Revolutionary War, Civil War & 20th Century America
Q: How did you get access to those tapes, and what did you learn from them?
Beschloss explains that access came through key archival contacts and introductions, notably involving Johnson Library directors, and that the tapes offered an unprecedented, intimate window into decisions, emotions, and real-time leadership during moments of national crisis.
The American Revolution Era and the Rest of the World
Q: Would loyalties change if you were Métis, like mixed?
The Métis tended to align with mixed identities, often siding with British or Indigenous communities depending on proximity and kinship, illustrating how personal and community identities influenced allegiance during the war.
Appalachia's Role in America's Founding
Q: How would you respond to the idea that Native American identity evolved as a defining quality of America, changing over time?
The lecturer agrees and expands that Americans differentiated themselves from English norms partly through dress and cultural representations, signaling a developing American identity that included Native imagery and interactions, but also acknowledges that this process was complex and often shaped by conflict and negotiation.
Why Did America Declare Independence?
Q: At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, do we have any information on what percentage of the colonists were loyalists or not?
Historically, claims have varied, but it's clear that support for the revolution was more widespread than earlier scholars suggested, with many people supporting it for different reasons and at different times.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Lectures in History

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

A rigorous history-focused series featuring top university professors, historians, journalists, and authors examining American history from the Revolutionary era to modern times. Episodes emphasize deep context, primary sources, and thoughtful discussion on leadership, religion, politics, and culture, often including Q&A or panel formats to illuminate complex historical debates. Notable strengths include high-profile guest appearances, strong scholarly grounding, and a clear mission to educate while connecting past events to contemporary discussions. The format mixes lectures, expert commentary, and narrative storytelling to help curious listeners discern nuance in historical narratives and leadership lessons across eras.

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Which podcasts are similar to Lectures in History?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Lectures in History:

1. Booknotes+
2. For the Ages: A History Podcast
3. American History Hit
4. Washington Today
5. Ben Franklin's World

How many episodes of Lectures in History are there?

Lectures in History launched 15 years ago and published 600 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 Lectures in History?

Recent guests on Lectures in History include:

1. Heather Penney
2. Michael Beschloss
3. Kathleen Duvall
4. Dr. Aaron Aster
5. Dr. Doug Sofer
6. Kathleen DuVal
7. Ken Burns
8. Rick Atkinson

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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