Rephonic
Artwork for The Scandinavian History Podcast

The Scandinavian History Podcast

Mikael Shainkman
Sweden
Denmark
Gustav Vasa
King Erik XIV
Northern Seven Years' War
1570s Civil War
Poland
Lutheranism
Catholicism
Catholic Church
Coup D'état
Jörgen Persson
John III
Thirty Years' War
Lutheran Reformation
Gustavus Adolphus
Erik XIV
Blood Silver
Danish Invasion
Kalmar War

A chronological journey through the history of Scandinavia from the last ice age to the dawn of the space age. Geographically, we cover the five modern Nordic countries of Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Sweden and Finland—as well as a few other bits and pieces here and there where it‘s relevant. Visit the SHP shop: bit.ly/podshpshop Make a donation: patreon.com/scandinavianhistory

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes133Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Scandinavian History Podcast

Latest Episodes

During the Golden Age, pressure mounted for political reforms in Denmark. The absolute monarchy was threatened by liberalism and nationalism, and the king feared that the smallest political reforms would start a process that would bring the whole kin... more

After the disasters of the Napoleonic Wars, state bankruptcy and losing Norway, Denmark was in bad shape. But even though the future looked bleak, a Golden Age was actually waiting right around the corner. Its writers and thinkers would shape Danish ... more

In 1818, Bernadotte became king of Sweden and Norway under the name Karl Johan. He was eager to develop his kingdoms economically and socially, but when his new subjects displayed dissatisfaction with his rule, the old revolutionary reverted to class... more

In the fall of 1814, Norway had lost the war against Sweden. The defeat had come as an unpleasant surprise to many Norwegians, who had believed the rousing patriotic speeches about liberty or death. Even those who accepted that they’d have to enter i... more

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

History of the Germans
History of the GermansDirk Hoffmann-Becking
The History of Byzantium
The History of Byzantiumthehistoryofbyzantium@gmail.com

Host

Mikael Shainkman
Host of Nordic history narratives with a focus on Scandinavia; known for thorough research, clear storytelling, and measured humor.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • Great!

    Very educational and clear

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    urakaipa57
    Sweden2 months ago
  • Well presented and full of interesting stories

    I really like the show. Helped a lot understanding the Scandinavia history during my trip to Norway

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HerrRadek
    Poland8 months ago
  • Knowledgeable and entertaining!

    It has been a delight to listen to this podcast. The narrator is funny to the point of making us laugh out loud sometimes. Plus, there's a lot of discussion about actual history versus mythological or story history. We are really enjoying this, we are going to Scandinavia in just two weeks and I think this will help us understand more about the culture. Terrific podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zezgirl
    United Statesa year ago
  • Don’t miss out on this gem!

    The Scandinavian history podcast is absolutely fantastic. Thanks for all your hard work in making this excellent podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tim the Enchanter 2.0
    United Statesa year ago
  • Very entertaining and interesting show

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Japa
    2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Highly recommended for Nordic history enthusiasts and travelers.
Accessible history that makes complex events feel clear and compelling.
Thoughtful, well-researched, and entertaining with a skeptical edge.
Engaging and informative—great balance of detail and storytelling.
Widely praised for humor and meticulous sourcing.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#89
Sweden/History
Apple Podcasts
#128
Poland/History
Apple Podcasts
#218
Finland/History
Apple Podcasts
#221
Denmark/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

081 Coup d'État
Q: Why do you talk about slaves in Viking Age Scandinavia instead of using the term thrall?
The use of 'slave' instead of 'thrall' is intentional to highlight that slavery in Viking Age Scandinavia was similar to slavery in other parts of the world, rather than romanticizing it.
088 Breitenfeld
Q: Where did the rest of the funding for the Swedish war effort come from?
The rest of the money came from various sources including tolls, taxes, loans, copper and tar sales, and plundering the Holy Roman Empire.
088 Breitenfeld
Q: Why couldn't Sweden demand payment for the toll from ships going in and out of the Öresund Strait?
Denmark had a monopoly on demanding toll from ships because both shores of the Öresund were in Danish hands since Scania was still Danish back then.

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 The Scandinavian History Podcast

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

A history-focused show covering the Nordic region from ancient times through early modern era, with a strong emphasis on political evolution, nationalism, and state-building in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. Episodes frequently recount pivotal moments such as constitutional milestones, independence movements, dynastic transitions, and regional diplomacy, often blending narrative storytelling with sharp analysis of power, economics, and culture. The host's dry wit and accessible storytelling help demystify complex medieval and early modern histories, while interwoven anecdotes and clear sources offer a compelling entry point for listeners planning trips or scholarship in Nordic history.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Scandinavian History Podcast?

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

How many listeners does The Scandinavian History Podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Scandinavian History Podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Scandinavian History Podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Scandinavian History Podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Scandinavian History Podcast have?

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

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

1. History of the Germans
2. The History of England
3. The Ancient World
4. The History of Byzantium
5. Not Just the Tudors

How many episodes of The Scandinavian History Podcast are there?

The Scandinavian History Podcast launched 5 years ago and published 133 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 Scandinavian History Podcast?

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 Scandinavian History Podcast?

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

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Scandinavian History Podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Scandinavian History Podcast. 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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days