The French History Podcast

Evergreen Podcasts

France

French Revolution

First Crusade

Crusades

Mental Health

Jerusalem

Philippe II

Louvre

World War II

Christianity

Battle Of Bovine

Occitania

Notre-Dame De Paris

Relationships

Napoleon Bonaparte

Self-Esteem

Ghosting

Chivalry

Entrepreneurship

University Of Paris

A weekly history podcast that will cover France from 3 million years ago to present. Presented by Dr. Gary Girod, with contributions by numerous scholars.

848 ratings

Publishes	Weekly	Episodes	281	Founded	8 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	Society & CultureHistory

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Latest Episodes

Jewish Women & the Memory of the Holocaust with Dr. Ashley Valanzola

Dr. Ashley Valanzola discusses how seven women's experiences in the Holocaust and its commemoration.

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26 Jun 2026 • 44 min • Most popular

Civilizing Germany? The French Occupation of Germany with Dr. Drew Flanagan

Did France 'civilize' Germany after WW2? Many French leaders certainly tried and Dr. Drew Flanagan talks all about it.

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21 Jun 2026 • 48 min • Popular

91: Occitan Society

All about life in sunny Occitania before the Albigensian Crusade.

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20 Jun 2026 • 39 min

Working together: Spain & France in the American Revolutionary War with James Giesler

Author James Giesler talks about Francisco de Saavedra, the man who coordinated Spain and France's joint war efforts in the American Revolutionary War.

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13 Jun 2026 • 22 min

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Recent Guests

Dr. Ashley Valanzola

Author of When She Remembered, Seven Women Who Transformed French Holocaust Memory

Clark University (Assistant Professor of History, Holocaust Pedagogy and Anti-Semitism Studies)

Episode: Jewish Women & the Memory of the Holocaust with Dr. Ashley Valanzola

Dr. Drew Flanagan

Assistant Professor of History at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford

University of Pittsburgh at Bradford

Episode: Civilizing Germany? The French Occupation of Germany with Dr. Drew Flanagan

James Giesler

Author, Francisco de Saavedra's American Revolutionary War

Episode: Working together: Spain & France in the American Revolutionary War with James Giesler

Christopher Hodson

Associate professor of history at Brigham Young University; author of The Acadian Diaspora in 18th century history

Brigham Young University

Episode: France on the High Seas with Dr.s Christopher Hodson & Brett Rushforth

Brett Rushforth

Editor-in-chief of the Huntington Library Quarterly; author of Bonds of Alliance

Huntington Library; University of Oregon; College of William and Mary

Episode: France on the High Seas with Dr.s Christopher Hodson & Brett Rushforth

Dr. Sarah Fishman

Professor of history, University of Houston; author of Bridges to Feminism, Marcel Eau Claire, Marcel Segal, and Women's Magazines in 20th Century France

University of Houston

Episode: Women Talking: Advice Columnists in 20th century France with Dr. Sarah Fishman

Wyatt Wiggins

PhD candidate in the history department; 2025 Chateaubriand Fellow; Global Slavery History Fellow

University of California Irvine; International Institute of Social History

Episode: Burning Flesh in the French Empire by Wyatt Wiggins

Dr. Jeff Horn

Dean of Social Science, Bellevue College; historian of European and World History

Bellevue College

Episode: Becoming a Terrorist with Dr. Jeff Horn

Elana Passman

Professor of history and clerk of the faculty at Erlem College in Richmond, Indiana

Erlem College

Episode: Making Friends with Germany, 1925-1963 with Dr. Elana Passman

Host

Gary Girod

Host of The French History Podcast

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 848 ratings

Gary is a pro!
Stumbled upon this treasure trove after a week of galloping through prehistoric, Medieval, Roman, and WWII sites in Bretagne and realizing the internal timelines of my French husband and I were a mess. Our visit to the Carn de Barnenez led me to this podcast and I’ve been hooked for months. Gary’s start at the very beginning approach is excellent and helps to make a lot of unconnected books and visits make a lot more sense. His guest podcasters are also great. I’ve learned so much and continue t... more
Apple Podcasts
5
WooComputerGirl
United States2 months ago
Excellent Deep Dive Yet Concise
Excellent deep dive yet Gary is still perfectly concise. He explains events in Gaul and France, with a nod to broader world events. Wonderful voice and sense of humor.
Apple Podcasts
5
BlueBird867
United States2 months ago
When!
Are you going to make an episode that continues the narrative soon? the last one I saw was during the reign of Philip ll Augustus.
Apple Podcasts
5
Lil Phez
United States4 months ago
Life lessons
I LOVE the FHP. Gary’s passionate and methodical research and love of French culture and language make this a must for anyone who truly desires to understand what makes France tick. I have learnt so much not only about France but European and world history, it’s hard to pinpoint one strand or episode. Hint: order it from oldest to new and start from the first episode to get the most of it.
Apple Podcasts
5
TempliereSP
Australia7 months ago
Wonderfully researched and dictated!
Great show with a wonderful host
Apple Podcasts
5
@Fakename
United Statesa year ago

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Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise rigorous research and knowledgeable hosts, with many noting engaging storytelling and clear expertise.

Some reviews call the pacing slow or the delivery a barrier to accessibility for casual listeners.

A few listeners critique perceived biases or political overtones in some episodes.

Chart Rankings

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Apple Podcasts	#170	Ukraine/History
Apple Podcasts	#236	Argentina/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Working together: Spain & France in the American Revolutionary War with James Giesler

Q: What does this story reveal about the broader Atlantic world during the war?

The narrative shows a highly interconnected Atlantic world where Mexican silver, Havana's provisioning, Caribbean trade, and cross-continental diplomacy worked together to sustain the war effort against Britain, underscoring how American independence was supported by a global chain of people, money, and ships.

Working together: Spain & France in the American Revolutionary War with James Giesler

Q: How did Saavedra personally influence the war effort and what were his major contributions?

Saavedra's involvement spanned administration, military logistics, and finance; he connected the Cuban-based naval and financial networks with French campaigns, helped coordinate actions through Galvez, and ultimately played a role in sustaining both fleets and land operations across the Atlantic theater.

Working together: Spain & France in the American Revolutionary War with James Giesler

Q: What brought you to this project and the sources you used to write this book?

The author explains that his master's research in Seville, coupled with extensive archival work in Spanish, French, and Caribbean archives, led him to focus on Saavedra as a crucial but understudied link between Spain and France in the war, with a broader aim of showing how empire-wide logistics and diplomacy supported North American independence.

Jewish Women & the Memory of the Holocaust with Dr. Ashley Valanzola

Q: Tell us about the seven women that you chose. Who were they and why did you choose to write about them?

The seven women survived different wartime experiences—some in hiding, some in resistance, some deported—and all dedicated themselves to memory work after the war, using speeches, plaques, and archives to ensure the experiences of Holocaust survivors and Jewish victims were remembered, discussed publicly, and integrated into education for future generations. Their diverse backgrounds and post-war activities reveal how memory can be shaped by personal trauma, family, and evolving social movements, especially around 1968 and beyond.

Civilizing Germany? The French Occupation of Germany with Dr. Drew Flanagan

Q: No, that's great, actually. How did French civilizing aims change over time due to the Cold War?

The aims shifted from top-down cultural expansion to re-civilizing and pacifying Europeans, with greater emphasis on economic integration and partnership within a Western European framework as American and British influence grew stronger; this also included moving toward European integration mechanisms like the Schuman Plan and ECSC.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The French History Podcast

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

The show consistently centers on French history through a wide lens, from medieval Provence and culinary movements to Atlantic world connections, colonialism, and late-20th-century social change. Guests are often scholars and authors who bring deep archival research, interdisciplinary angles, and narrative storytelling to complex topics such as empire, revolution, gender, and Franco-German relations. A notable strength is the breadth of subjects, which ranges from rigorous academic analyses to culturally themed explorations, frequently featuring guest experts and authors who illuminate lesser-known angles of French history. Potential listeners can expect thoughtful, detail-rich episodes that connect historical events to contemporary culture... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The French History Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The French History Podcast:

1. History of the Germans from the Middle Ages to Reunification
2. The History of Byzantium
3. The Age of Napoleon Podcast
4. The History of England
5. Gone Medieval

How many episodes of The French History Podcast are there?

The French History Podcast launched 8 years ago and published 281 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 The French History Podcast?

Recent guests on The French History Podcast include:

1. Dr. Ashley Valanzola
2. Dr. Drew Flanagan
3. James Giesler
4. Christopher Hodson
5. Brett Rushforth
6. Dr. Sarah Fishman
7. Wyatt Wiggins
8. Dr. Jeff Horn

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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