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The History Hour

BBC World Service
World War II
Nazi Germany
Taiwan
South Africa
Nelson Mandela
Greece
Apartheid
Second World War
Post-War Germany
Charleston Church Shooting
Paris Climate Agreement
Spain
Iran
Islamic State
Cyprus
Boko Haram
Ireland
United States
Holocaust
Dismaland

A compilation of the latest Witness History programmes.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes512Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryPersonal JournalsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The History Hour

Latest Episodes

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History episodes.

We learn why, in 2004, Uruguayans voted to enshrine water as a human right in their constitution - the first country in the world to do so. And environmental historian Ellen A... more

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History episodes from the BBC World Service.

Our guest is Dr Elisabeth Fondren, Associate Professor of Journalism at St John's University in New York, USA.

We start by hearing some groundbreak... more

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History episodes focussing on Kenya.

We hear about Muthoni Kirima, one of the last Mau Mau fighters to come out of hiding and lay down her arms.

Caroline Elkins, Professor of History at Harvar... more

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History episodes.

This week, we hear about the end of decades-long martial law in Taiwan and discuss its impact on the country's literature with Ti-han Chang, the Deputy Director of Centre of T... more

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Witness HistoryBBC World Service
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Recent Guests

Elisabeth Fondren
Associate Professor of Journalism at St John's University, New York
St. John's University
Episode: The battle of Mandalay and the New World screwworm
Muthoni Kirima
First and only woman Field Marshall in the Kenya Land and Freedom Army
Mau Mau
Episode: The Mau Mau uprising and man-eating lions
Caroline Elkins
Professor of African American Studies, Harvard University
Harvard University
Episode: The Mau Mau uprising and man-eating lions
Stefania Gotse
Reporter/narrator guiding segments on Kenyan history
BBC World Service
Episode: The Mau Mau uprising and man-eating lions
Tom Gnoske
Scientist, Field Museum; descendant of John Henry Patterson
Field Museum
Episode: The Mau Mau uprising and man-eating lions
Alan Patterson
John Henry Patterson's grandson
Independent researcher
Episode: The Mau Mau uprising and man-eating lions
Jill Kersley
Interviewer/reporter
BBC World Service
Episode: The Mau Mau uprising and man-eating lions
Paula Kohumbu
Wildlife conservationist
Hala Park, Mombasa
Episode: The Mau Mau uprising and man-eating lions
Fred Chin
Former student and political prisoner in Taiwan during the White Terror
Taiwanese dissident
Episode: Taiwan's White Terror and the making of City of God

Host

Max Pearson
Host of The History Hour

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 2.1k ratings
  • Strangely blind

    Having listened to the podcast by Jad Abumrad called Fela Kuti - Fear No Man, I came looking for more about Fela Kuti and found your episode about Festac ‘77. But I was flabbergasted to hear you cover the festival, the military regime in Nigeria, the brutal treatment of Fela and his mother Funmilayo by soldiers, and not a single mention of the brutal colonisation by the British that led to all of this.

    Seems strangely blind for a history programme.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Deeol99
    Ireland8 months ago
  • A diverse selection of historical happenings. Always worth a listen.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    listener alan
    a year ago
  • The first one

    The first time

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sufishuhu
    Switzerlanda year ago
  • Insulting review

    Well that’s just rude!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Vote2018
    United States2 years ago
  • Brilliant

    Well researched stories, 3-4 per episode, about aspects of history, both well known and totally obscure. Well presented, of course— it’s the BBC!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bilas Peles
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience appreciates original sources and expert context.
Shows strong archival sourcing and eyewitness voices, making history tangible.
Some reviews mention bias or pacing; overall positive reception of storytelling quality.
Broad range of topics keeps episodes fresh and insightful.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#224
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#128
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#132
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#37
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#109
Italy/History
Apple Podcasts
#111
France/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The first Comic Con and making Oasis’ Wonderwall
Q: How did the 1964 New York Comic Con come together despite early setbacks?
Bernie Bubnis describes how a small team, working on fanzines and using personal funds, pivoted from failed early plans to relocate and finally establish the convention, relying on community, improvisation, and the commitment of a few key allies to turn an idea into a global movement.
The evacuation of Tristan da Cunha and Japan surrenders to China at the end of World War Two
Q: But those who stayed, why? What is the appeal of living in such a remote and isolated place?
Many valued the freedom and lifestyle, despite the challenges of remoteness.
The evacuation of Tristan da Cunha and Japan surrenders to China at the end of World War Two
Q: What was the resettlement like?
Resettlement was difficult initially due to shortages of essentials and losses from the volcanic eruption.
The fight against sexual harassment in Egypt and Omar Sharif enters the world stage
Q: What was your experience during the years running up to that change in the law?
Nicola Pratt reflects on the widespread problem of sexual harassment and how it was often considered taboo, making it difficult for women's rights campaigners to advocate for change.
Nigeria’s Festac’77 and Gander’s generosity during 9/11
Q: What has been the legacy of FESTAC?
It raised the profile of Nigeria and Nigerian music and highlighted the cultural exchanges through the legacy of enslavement.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The History Hour

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

Structure focuses on global historical themes delivered through eyewitness accounts, archival recordings, and scholarly context. Episodes span decolonization, political repression, culture, science, and media history, often weaving personal testimonies with expert analysis to illuminate how memory shapes public understanding. Noteworthy is the show's pattern of cross-continental storytelling, blending archival material with contemporary reflections to bring long-forgotten or underrepresented moments to a broad audience. The program is likely to appeal to curious listeners who value original sources, nuanced storytelling, and a mix of political, cultural, and technological history framed by human experiences.

Where can I find podcast stats for The History Hour?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The History Hour. 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 The History Hour and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The History Hour get?

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What are the audience demographics for The History Hour?

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How many subscribers and views does The History Hour have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The History Hour 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 The History Hour?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The History Hour:

1. Witness History
2. The Documentary Podcast
3. HistoryExtra podcast
4. In Our Time
5. Lives Less Ordinary

How many episodes of The History Hour are there?

The History Hour launched 13 years ago and published 512 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 The History Hour?

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 The History Hour?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The History Hour from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The History Hour?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The History Hour. 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 The History Hour?

Recent guests on The History Hour include:

1. Elisabeth Fondren
2. Muthoni Kirima
3. Caroline Elkins
4. Stefania Gotse
5. Tom Gnoske
6. Alan Patterson
7. Jill Kersley
8. Paula Kohumbu

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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