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The History Podcast

BBC Radio 4
IRA
Harry Houdini
Maze Prison
Nazi Germany
World War II
Brighton Bombing
Margaret Thatcher
Lord Lucan
D-Day
Sandra Rivett
Afghanistan
Augusto Pinochet
Holocaust
Royal Marines
Jugroom Fort
Northern Ireland
Hitler Diaries
Adolf Hitler
Chemical Weapons
London

An unlikely gang of mavericks decide enough is enough. Their protest against the pitying portrayal of disabled people explodes into something much bigger. They don't ask politely. They aren't "inspirational" in the way disabled people are so often expected to be. They're smart, loud and utterly fearless.

There's David Ruebain, sent away to special school as a child to learn how to be a tailor- or,... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes155Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

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Artwork for The History Podcast

Latest Episodes

An unlikely gang of mavericks decide enough is enough. Their protest against the pitying portrayal of disabled people explodes into something much bigger.

They don’t ask politely. They aren’t “inspirational” in the way disabled people are so often ... more

In the concluding chapter of How Houdini Made Magic, Derren Brown explores how even in death, Houdini knew how to ensure his legend would endure.

The legendary death-defier would eventually fall, not to a locked water cell or an icy river, but to a ... more

World War I and the Spanish Flu caused devastation. Estimates are that up to 120 million people died as a result of both in 6 years - many of them relatively young. It led to the revival of an already popular new religion: Spiritualism.

Spiritualis... more

During the filming of the 1919 film, The Grim Game, there was a real-life mid-air plane crash. The star of the movie was the greatest escape artist of all time: Harry Houdini. So how did the producers capitalise on the crash? By telling the press tha... 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.

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Recent Guests

John Cox
Houdini historian who has studied his diaries and regularly attends Houdini séances
Episode: How Houdini Made Magic: 10. Cement your legacy
Rory Sutherland
Marketer
Episode: How Houdini Made Magic: 10. Cement your legacy
Richard Wiseman
Magician and psychologist
Episode: How Houdini Made Magic: 10. Cement your legacy
David Jarr
Screenwriter and cultural historian
Episode: How Houdini Made Magic: 9. Stay relevant
Anna Thurlow
Great-granddaughter of medium Margery Crandon
Episode: How Houdini Made Magic: 9. Stay relevant
Matthew Solomon
Film historian who studies Houdini and early cinema
Episode: How Houdini Made Magic: 8. Keep ahead of the times
Paul Zenon
Magician and Houdini student
Episode: How Houdini Made Magic: 7. Master the media
Andrew Cook
Investigative historian and author who researched William Melville
Episode: How Houdini Made Magic: 6. Make influential friends
John Mendez
Former CIA chief of disguise who served 27 years undercover
Central Intelligence Agency
Episode: How Houdini Made Magic: 6. Make influential friends

Hosts

David Dimbleby
Host of Invisible Hands; long-running presenter with broad historical and public affairs expertise
David Baddiel
Host/guest known for comedy and presenting; features across episodes

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 688 ratings
  • Love Andrew Hunter Murray

    All the series are excellent but Andrew Hunter Murray’s on the Hitler diaries is so well done witty history

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KMcLit
    Canadaa month ago
  • Series 11 was fascinating

    Excellent

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hoboctn-nta
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Season 15

    The American Century podcast is simply stunning! Love the narration, music, tone and editorial work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GoldfingerMonkey
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Season 15

    Extremely interesting, very well researched and narrated

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ci gat
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Insightful and perfectly delivered

    An absolutely brilliant show, perfectly presented and narrated. Keeps one captivated and is really insightful. Extensive research went into this and it shows. Well worth a listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Twigmaster1988
    South Africa3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests and archival sourcing are repeatedly highlighted as strong points.
Pacing and episode length are occasionally noted as slower or dense for casual listeners.
High production values and thoughtful historical framing are consistently praised.
The series is often described as emotionally engaging and thoroughly researched.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#143
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#24
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#96
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#55
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#75
Germany/History
Apple Podcasts
#92
Italy/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Houdini Made Magic: 6. Make influential friends
Q: Was Houdini a spy?
Derren Brown says there is no basis to call Houdini a spy in the conventional sense, but that he may have exchanged information through relationships with powerful people, which also opened doors for him.
How Houdini Made Magic: 6. Make influential friends
Q: Would a famous magician like Houdini have been hired as a spy?
John Mendez says Houdini's need for an audience and applause made him unlikely to work as a spy, since intelligence agencies require secrecy. Andrew Cook considers it credible that Houdini may have been an informant who shared information through his international contacts.
How Houdini Made Magic: 10. Cement your legacy
Q: Would I like him? Admire him? Certainly, that's easy. But would I like him?
John Cox says that reading Houdini's letters and diaries changed his expectations: he found a witty, compassionate man who loved animals and his wife.
How Houdini Made Magic: 10. Cement your legacy
Q: What would have happened if Houdini had survived and lived to a ripe old age and been performing as a decrepit magician during American Depression?
The speakers suggest that an older, less resilient Houdini might have faded from public memory, whereas dying at the height of his powers let his story become legend.
Sixty Years of Hurt: Bonus: David Baddiel live at Crossed Wires Podcast Festival Fringe
Q: How does the national anthem tie into England's football identity?
The discussion emphasizes how national anthems reflect imperial power and how different nations' anthems mirror who they are, with England's songs seen as tied to power and a complex history of national representation.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About The History Podcast

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

A history-focused series that examines pivotal moments in 20th-century geopolitics, foreign policy, and cultural identity through archival voices, expert analysis, and narrative storytelling. Episodes often center on covert operations, diplomatic turning points, and big policy decisions, weaving in perspectives from historians, biographers, and journalists. A notable strength is the cohesive, story-driven approach that foregrounds big ideas (like Bretton Woods, Cold War power dynamics, and Middle East interventions) alongside human consequences, making complex history accessible without sacrificing nuance. The show frequently features guest divers representing academia, journalism, and cultural commentary, which helps ground big-picture eve... more

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How many listeners does The History Podcast get?

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How many subscribers and views does The History Podcast have?

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

These podcasts share a similar audience with The History Podcast:

1. Intrigue
2. Americast
3. The Slow Newscast
4. More or Less
5. Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast

How many episodes of The History Podcast are there?

The History Podcast launched 3 years ago and published 155 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 Podcast?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for The History Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The History Podcast?

Recent guests on The History Podcast include:

1. John Cox
2. Rory Sutherland
3. Richard Wiseman
4. David Jarr
5. Anna Thurlow
6. Matthew Solomon
7. Paul Zenon
8. Andrew Cook

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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