Rephonic
Artwork for No One Saw It Coming

No One Saw It Coming

ABC Australia
Berlin Wall
World War II
Stonewall Inn
LGBTQ+ Rights Movement
Igor Stravinsky
Absinthe
Radium Girls
Cholera
The Rite Of Spring
Mona Lisa
East Germany
World War I
John Snow
Paris
Cold War
Phineas Gage
History Of Absinthe
Mark Segal
London
French Revolution

The bit players, the unexpected twists, the turning point you missed. Join Walkley award-winner Marc Fennell as he uncovers the incredible moments that changed the course of history. New episodes out Tuesday.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes68Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for No One Saw It Coming

Latest Episodes

In the late 1500s a man sails across the North Sea. He’s battered by wind and wave. The sea seems angry, almost furious at him. He thinks it must be more than just a bad storm. It must be supernatural.

This man is James VI, the King of Scotland and... more

Getting a letter these days is pretty special, especially when it’s from an 11-year-old listener. Ellie wrote us a letter asking about the nursery rhyme Ring a Ring o' Roses, wondering if it really is about the plague.

Amelia Huw Morgan, Senior lec... more

D-Day was the biggest land and water invasion in history and would go on to be a huge turning point in WWII. And it all depended on a plant.

Specifically a leaf from a tree that grows on the east coast of Australia, that would treat seasick soldiers... more

In a Dublin supermarket in 1984, a young woman makes a split-second decision.

She refuses to sell two grapefruits. Her job is on the line, and there’s a recession raging across the country. But she’s doing it for the human rights of people thousand... 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.

Recent Guests

Dr. Chris Kavelin
Expert in protection of Indigenous medical knowledge
Melbourne Medical School / Melbourne Medical Museum
Episode: The secret Aussie plant that saved D-Day
Rob Collins
Archaeologist
Vindolanda expedition
Episode: History’s favourite sex toys
Rob Sands
Archaeologist
Vindolanda expedition
Episode: History’s favourite sex toys
Luke Keogh
curator and historian with a PhD, author of The Wardian Case
Waruna? (as guest in episode)
Episode: The houseplant that changed the British Empire
Deborah Tyler
President of the Waruna Historical Society
Waruna Historical Society
Episode: The houseplant that changed the British Empire
Dr. Eleanor Janega
Medieval historian
Episode: Stop blaming rats for the plague
Jeff Chang
Former hip-hop journalist and author of Can't Stop, Won't Stop, A History of the Hip-Hop Generation
Author/Journalist
Episode: A teenager’s party created Hip-Hop
Clare Wright
Professor of history at La Trobe University, guest historian
La Trobe University
Episode: The vote that shocked the world
Matthew Bevan
Host of the podcast If You're Listening and author
ABC podcast If You're Listening
Episode: Beware gifts from Soviet spies

Host

Marc Fennell
Host of the show; prominent history storyteller with a capability for deep archival digging and engaging narrative.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • Fascinating!!

    I just love how much interesting and new information I am learning in such a short time. Marc’s interviewing is exceptional.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    J30azz
    Australia2 months ago
  • Love this podcast

    Great production quality, always interesting and different to other things out there! Love it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hekakaknne
    Australia2 months ago
  • I thought I knew historical obscurities…

    This podcast is brilliantly presented and put together by Marc and the expert guests, and covers such a wide range of subjects - some are super interesting details of stories you think you know, and others are completely out of left field. Entertaining and filled with fun facts that are bound to make you a hoot at parties!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CatM89
    Australia2 months ago
  • Great insights on a range of topics.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Josef
    3 months ago
  • Great listen

    Thank you and your team for all your work on this podcast, thoroughly enjoy!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    @samypaden
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Fans appreciate the breadth of topics and the quality of production.
The show is occasionally critiqued for background music or pacing in some episodes.
Episodes are described as well-researched, engaging, and easy to follow for history lovers.
Listeners praise the host's storytelling ability and accessible historical context.
Guests are consistently knowledgeable and provide deep expertise.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#120
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#245
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#79
Australia/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#7
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#215
Germany/History
Apple Podcasts
#58
New Zealand/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

History’s favourite sex toys
Q: So I guess walk us through what the concept of hysteria was, and whether or not it's real or just a myth, and what the evidence actually shows.
The concept of hysteria was a vague, umbrella category used to describe perceived excessive distress in women; it was not supported by evidence of a universal medical condition, and the popular belief that it was treated with women being masturbated to orgasm is largely debunked by scholars and primary sources.
The Met Gala began in a dead woman’s closet
Q: What changed after Diana Vreeland's era or after her departure?
After her departure and especially following her death in 1989, the gala shifted back toward fundraising and more traditional museum-oriented approaches before later reintegration of media and editors as chairs redefined the public-facing aspect of the event.
The Met Gala began in a dead woman’s closet
Q: How did Diana Vreeland influence the Met Gala and its public perception?
Diana Vreeland reinvigorated the gala by turning Vogue-era fashion into a broader, media-driven spectacle, leveraging exhibitions and publicity to elevate the event into a global fashion moment.
The Met Gala began in a dead woman’s closet
Q: What sparked the creation of the Met Gala in its early years?
It began as a fundraising effort called the Party of the Year to galvanize rich patrons and fashion insiders to support the new Museum of Costume Art and later the Met's costume wing, securing essential funding and attention.
The mafia bar riot that sparked gay pride
Q: What is life like for a gay activist in a time when society, America, the world does not want you to exist?
Life was tough with very few opportunities for gay individuals, leading to temporary jobs and a struggle for visibility.

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 No One Saw It Coming

What is No One Saw It Coming about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program delivers history-driven storytelling that blends archival research, expert commentary, and narrative devices to illuminate pivotal moments that reshaped societies. Topics span empires, scientific breakthroughs, cultural revolutions, and political turning points, with a dependable cadence of engaging guests who provide historical context and nuanced analysis. A standout trait is the show's ability to translate complex history into accessible, human-centered narratives, often highlighting lesser-known angles and the broader consequences of seemingly small innovations or events. For potential listeners, it's a good fit if you enjoy well-researched, story-rich explorations of the past told through the lens of historical causality a... more

Where can I find podcast stats for No One Saw It Coming?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for No One Saw It Coming. 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 No One Saw It Coming and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does No One Saw It Coming get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for No One Saw It Coming, 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 No One Saw It Coming?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for No One Saw It Coming, 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 No One Saw It Coming have?

To see how many followers or subscribers No One Saw It Coming 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 No One Saw It Coming?

These podcasts share a similar audience with No One Saw It Coming:

1. ABC Rewind
2. Conversations
3. If You're Listening
4. What's That Rash?
5. Rear Vision — How History Shaped Today

How many episodes of No One Saw It Coming are there?

No One Saw It Coming launched a year ago and published 68 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 No One Saw It Coming?

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 No One Saw It Coming?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for No One Saw It Coming 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 No One Saw It Coming?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of No One Saw It Coming. 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 No One Saw It Coming?

Recent guests on No One Saw It Coming include:

1. Dr. Chris Kavelin
2. Rob Collins
3. Rob Sands
4. Luke Keogh
5. Deborah Tyler
6. Dr. Eleanor Janega
7. Jeff Chang
8. Clare Wright

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