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The Napoleonic Wars Podcast

Zack White
Napoleonic Wars
Napoleon Bonaparte
British Army
Peninsular War
Battle Of Waterloo
French Revolution
American War Of Independence
Waterloo
Prussian Army
Spanish Army
French Army
American Revolution
Wellington
Duke Of Wellington
French Revolutionary Wars
Royal Navy
Slavery
British Navy
Battle Of Leipzig
George Washington

Who was Napoleon Bonaparte? What was his legacy on history? And why, more than 200 years later, does the conflict which he gave his name to still matter? Join award-winning Napoleonic historians Dr Zack White, Dr Luke Reynolds, and Liam Telfer as they host Europe's leading show devoted to the American War of Independence, French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars. From interviews with leading research... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes396Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Napoleonic Wars Podcast

Latest Episodes

Dr Graeme Callister joins us to discuss how Napoleon conscripted the soldiers who would be so integral to his success on the battlefields of Europe, exploring how people were conscripted, how they evaded conscription, the political dangers of conscri... more

On the 27th September 1810, British and Portuguese forces under the command of the Duke of Wellington defeated a French army under Marshal Massena. Dr Graeme Callister joins us for this latest instalment of our Peninsular War saga to talk through how... more

The Peninsular War series meets our battle series as we deep dive the Battle of Bussaco in the first of a two-parter on Wellington and Massena's duel in the Portuguese mountains. Graeme Callister joins us to talk about the French plan of operations, ... more

Josh Provan returns for another instalment of our blow by blow retelling of the Peninsular War, which this episode being the first in a triple bill of Peninsular-focused episodes. We cover the Combat at the Coa, the combobulation of Black Bob Craufur... more

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Recent Guests

Josh Wildeast
Author and historian contributing to the discussion
Author of Every Hazard and Fatigue, Bullock's Grain and Good Madeira
Episode: The Peninsular War: Coa & Almeida
Connor O'Brien
Toronto-based film director, creator of The Coward
Independent filmmaker
Episode: Redcoats in Combat - ON FILM!
Ed Shawcross
Historian on Napoleonic history
Author of The People's Emperor, The Unlikely Rise and Spectacular Fall of Napoleon III
Episode: The Last Napoleonic Coup: Napoleon III's power grab
Dr Zack White
Expert on discipline in Wellington's army
Napoleonic historian
Episode: Waterloo Weekend at Apsley House
Luke A. Reynolds
Historian guest appearing at Waterloo Weekend
Unknown (as referenced in episode)
Episode: Waterloo Weekend at Apsley House
Mark Thompson
Author of Wellington and the Lines of Torres Vedras, The Defence of Lisbon During the Peninsula War, and Wellington's favourite engineer
Historian/Author
Episode: The Royal Engineers
Alistair Nichols
Historian and author specializing in foreigners in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars
Hellion Books
Episode: The King's Foreigners: The Men who fought for Britain
Edward Shawcross
Historian, author of The Last Emperor of Mexico and The People's Emperor
Historian and author
Episode: The 'Other' Napoleon: Napoleon III's early life and haphazard career
Evan Wilson
Author of Horrible Peace; historian
Independent/Author
Episode: The Father of Nelson's Navy: John Jervis, Earl St Vincent's Early Life

Hosts

Liam Telfer
Co-host and quartermaster on The Napoleonic Wars Pod; key host with broad coverage across episodes.
Zack White
Host with a strong emphasis on discipline, military history, and Napoleonic topics; co-hosting alongside Luke.
Luke Reynolds
Co-host and academic-contributor; brings historiography and scholarly framing to episodes.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 647 ratings
  • Great accompaniment to walking the ground

    On my way to Waterloo I ran out of time so decided to visit the Quatre Bras site instead and leave the big one for the next day. It’s a great location, easy to visualise the battle, and even better for finding this podcast to listen to before and after the visit, with specific episodes on the different parts of the Waterloo Campaign, not just the main battle. Friendly and informative, I’ll be listening to the others with pleasure. Thanks.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Posh Tim
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • Great stuff!

    So many really good episodes, and always fun to hear Zack talk about discipline in the British army of the period

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bosworth-to-Waterloo
    Australia6 months ago
  • Great for the Napoleonic Nerd

    This is a great podcast if you already know the subject as it has lots of additional nerdy details. However, as an example, if you don’t know what happened at the Battle of Talavera you wouldn’t get any clear sense of chronology or narrative from the episodes focusing on this battle. If the hosts told the story using a clear , exciting and chronological narrative, then added all the nerdy details along the way, this would be five stars. At the moment, it’s only worthy of a listen if you alrea... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    sjw976
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • Fascinating, illuminating, entertaining

    Thank you to all who have provided such an interesting, engaging and entertaining podcast over the past year. Look forward to what lies in store in 2026. Happy new year!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bob 00000000000000000
    United Kingdom10 months ago
  • Napleonic Fanatic

    I absolutely look forward to this show, great way to here the facts on the Napleonic wars, I like the format so much that it would be great to see the same done for the American Civil War

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ratfink82
    United States10 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise accessible yet rigorous history with engaging guests.
Fans appreciate deep dives and expert context, especially for esoteric topics.
Some episodes are noted as long with a strong narrative, while others want tighter focus.
Overall reception is highly favorable for nerdy, well-sourced content.
A few listeners seek broader global perspectives and more French-side coverage.
Positive feedback highlights the host banter and scholarly guests as key strengths.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#150
South Africa/History
Apple Podcasts
#183
India/History
Apple Podcasts
#237
Japan/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Napoleon's Conscripts
Q: Talk us through that transition and that transformation from levy through to conscription in proper terms.
They discuss moving from the old levy system to a regular annual conscription, emphasizing fairness, predictable manpower, and the goal of turning a professional army into a citizen force while maintaining national defense.
Napoleon's Conscripts
Q: So for you, I mean, you've come and sort of speculated about why you chose to write the book. Why did you decide to write this book?
The author explains his long-standing interest in conscription, tracing it back to undergraduate research and later archival work; the aim was to synthesize how conscription operated at both the civilian and military levels and to spotlight the ordinary soldiers behind Napoleon's campaigns.
The Battle of Bussaco: The Peninsular War Saga
Q: What does this battle reveal about Wellington's command style and the army's development?
Wellington's leadership appears hands-off on the ground due to terrain, relying on capable divisional commanders like Crawford, Wallace, Picton, and Leith. The battle highlights the groundwork being laid for a cohesive Anglo-Portuguese army, with leaders taking initiative and the Portuguese integrating more effectively into British-led actions.
The Battle of Bussaco: The Peninsular War Saga
Q: How did the crisis resolve for the Allies, and what role did terrain play in the outcome?
Mist and rugged terrain limited French deployment and visibility, while Wallace's counterattack and Crawford's leadership with open-order Portuguese troops helped stabilize the line. The ground's steepness and confined space prevented a successful French breakout, allowing the Allied centers to hold and push the attackers back.
The Battle of Bussaco: The Peninsular War Saga
Q: Walk us through that first attack. How close did the French come to establishing themselves on that part of the ridge?
The attack began in the center of the ridge with Rainier's corps, meeting stiff resistance from British and Portuguese troops fortified on the slope. The French were unable to deploy effectively in the narrow defiles, and after initial progress they faced intense musketry and artillery, preventing them from winning the ridge.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Napoleonic Wars Podcast

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

This show attracts deep-docus and contextual history lovers with a strong focus on Napoleonic-era military and political affairs, often featuring in-depth conversations with historians, authors, and subject-matter experts. Episodes blend biographical storytelling, battlefield analysis, and historiography, frequently exploring topics like reform, warfare logistics, regimental life, and the broader resonance of Napoleonic events in modern memory. Notable strengths include rigorous sourcing, a willingness to challenge myths, and a steady stream of expert guests who bring archival insight and scholarly balance to controversial or overlooked angles. The format supports nerdy deep-dives as well as accessible overviews, making it appealing to both... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Napoleonic Wars Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Napoleonic Wars Podcast:

1. The Age of Napoleon Podcast
2. WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk
3. Dan Snow's History Hit
4. Ancient Warfare Podcast
5. Generals and Napoleon

How many episodes of The Napoleonic Wars Podcast are there?

The Napoleonic Wars Podcast launched 7 years ago and published 396 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 Napoleonic Wars Podcast?

Recent guests on The Napoleonic Wars Podcast include:

1. Josh Wildeast
2. Connor O'Brien
3. Ed Shawcross
4. Dr Zack White
5. Luke A. Reynolds
6. Mark Thompson
7. Alistair Nichols
8. Edward Shawcross

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