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Artwork for Past Lives

Past Lives

Patrick Wyman
Slavery
History
Roman Empire
Transatlantic Slave Trade
Social Death
Serfdom
Assyria
Mamluk Empire
Ottoman Empire
Congo
Bangladesh
Mississippi
America
Crixus
Marcus Virgilius Eurysaces
Military Slavery
Alexander the Great
Cleopatra
Napoleon
Ancient Greece

History is built by people like you, and Past Lives is here to bring their stories to life. Every week, we’ll focus on the lived experiences of real people in the past, from the Stone Age to the near-present. Peasants, laborers, artisans, merchants, soldiers, and the enslaved are far too often overlooked in favor of kings, generals, and politicians; not here. On Past Lives, we keep the focus where... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes20Founded5 months ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

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Artwork for Past Lives

Latest Episodes

When we think about the past, whether we know it or not we're usually thinking in terms of texts: written sources that provide the information we use to understand what happened before our time. But there are many other potential sources of informati... more

Today we’re sharing a podcast that Patrick really loves: History Daily. History Daily tells the fascinating stories of what happened “on this day” in history, and new episodes come out every weekday. Since we just finished our season on slavery, the ... more

Slavery is a huge topic, but we've covered an enormous amount of ground from ancient Assyria to the 20th century, and now we can come to some conclusions about why slavery matters.

Become a member now at www.patreon.com/cw/PastLivesMedia. You'll get... more

In July of 1860, the last slave ship to reach the United States arrived in Mobile Bay. The Clotilda held 103 captives, Yoruba people from present-day Nigeria. Eighty years later, one of those captives - known by then as Matilda McCrear - died in Alab... more

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Host

Patrick Wyman
Host of Past Lives

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 216 ratings
  • Fabulous as always

    I am so pleased to see a new series of excellent podcasts from Patrick

    the stories are really fresh and engaging. These are stories that need to be told - as horrible as they are - it’s part of our history from forever

    We need to remember this history especially watching current history unfolding all around us .

    There is still slavery in many parts of the world today just as there is still war

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    zpic
    United States22 days ago
  • Consistently excellent and deeply relevant

    I am a huge Tides of History fan, but the first season of this was even better. I was a little worried that this series was going to be too gimmicky to sustain itself. In fact, Wyman blends narrative and discussion of the historiography to give a compelling, detailed, and haunting glimpse into the practice of enslavement.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IdeasManPhD
    United Statesa month ago
  • An incredible new podcast from an incredible podcast host. Patrick is one of the best in the business, and I have learned so much about history from him over the years. I'm beyond excited to see what this new show brings to the table - and what Patrick can do with a fully independent podcast!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Drysword
    a month ago
  • Excellent show

    Patrick is an excellent synthesizer of history, and this show does an excellent job providing an individual focus rather than collective.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Shredward0
    United Statesa month ago
  • Needs diversity

    The podcast is informative but needs diversity. Too many episodes on slavery. Just like with Kings, there were other people. Live up to the description of your podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    printedvintage
    Canadaa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Great production value and deep research; makes history feel personally relevant.
Excellent synthesis of history and historiography.
Listeners praise accessibility and depth of archival detail.
Shows need for diversity of topics beyond slavery, per listener feedback.
Focused on everyday people, not just great men, with humane storytelling.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#108
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#100
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#187
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#86
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#52
Israel/History
Apple Podcasts
#56
Mexico/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Freedmen, Work, and Race in Colonial Philadelphia: Interview with Professor Keith Pluymers
Q: What does a beautiful city look like to you, Joe?
Joe's vision would likely include a fair society with equal access to opportunities, reflecting his own experiences in a racially and economically stratified environment.

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 Past Lives

What is Past Lives about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A history show focused on the lives of ordinary people across time, from ancient to near-present eras. Each episode highlights personal experiences—workers, slaves, dissenters, artisans—instead of famous rulers, weaving in archival research, survivor testimonies, and broader social contexts. Production tends toward thorough storytelling anchored in archival detail, often coupling individual narratives with historiography to illuminate how everyday life shaped history. A standout is its explicit commitment to giving voice to the overlooked, creating a humane, accessible lens on the past that can resonate with listeners who value context, nuance, and social justice. This mix of narrative depth and accessible analysis makes it useful for liste... more

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How many listeners does Past Lives get?

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How many subscribers and views does Past Lives have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Past Lives 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 Past Lives?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Past Lives:

1. Tides of History
2. The Ancients
3. American History Hit
4. Gone Medieval
5. Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

How many episodes of Past Lives are there?

Past Lives launched 5 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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