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Artwork for Western Civ

Western Civ

Adam Walsh
French Revolution
Thirty Years' War
English Civil War
France
Charles I
Thirty Years War
Napoleon Bonaparte
Parliament
American Revolution
Holy Roman Empire
Protestantism
England
Spain
Louis XVI
Russia
Catherine De' Medici
Slavery
Oliver Cromwell
Sweden
Germany

A fast-moving history of the western world from the ancient world to the present day. Examine how the emergence of the western world as a global dominant power was not something that should ever have been taken for granted. This podcast traces the development of western civilization starting in the ancient Near East, through Greece and Rome, past the collapse of the Western Roman Empire into the D... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes603Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureHistory

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Artwork for Western Civ

Latest Episodes

Before FDR the idea of a "First Hundred Days" was not a thing. But Roosevelt was so incredibly active during that period that ever since American Presidents have been judged by his standard. Today I cover Roosevelt's First Hundred Days, what legislat... more

At first, the Wall Street Crash of 1929 is seen as a Wall Street issue. But it does not take long before the Great Depression grips the nation. Plus, in the high plains, the earth itself begins to come apart. patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

The Great Wall Street Crash did not cause the Great Depression. But it sure didn't help either... patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

In a fun little twist, today I sit down with Attorney Edward Cohn and we argue (and sometimes agree) about the justness of plea bargaining, the state of the Fifth and Fourth Amendments, and the overall state of our justice system.

Attorney Cohn is ... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Edward Cohn
Attorney
Episode: Is Plea Bargaining Just?
Jeffrey Stephens
Former attorney and author of Illusions of Trust
Author, Illusions of Trust
Episode: Illusions of Trust
Marc David Baer
Author and professor discussing his book Children of Abraham
Episode: Children of Abraham: The 1,400-Year History of Jewish–Muslim Relations
Brendan Ballou
Author of When Companies Run the Courts
Author/Writer
Episode: When Companies Run The Courts
Adrian Goldsworthy
Historian and author
Author of Athens and Sparta, The Rivalry That Shaped Ancient Greece
Episode: Athens and Sparta: The Rivalry That Shaped Ancient Greece
Roderick Beaton
Historian and author
University of Oxford (as implied by being a historian and author of Europe, A New History)
Episode: Europe: A New History
Matthew Sutton
Historian and author of Chosen Land
Author of Chosen Land
Episode: Chosen Land: How Christianity Made America and Americans Remade Christianity
James McDougall
Historian and author of Worlds of Islam: A Global History
Episode: Worlds of Islam: A Global History
Aman Verjee
Lawyer, economist, and author, former finance lead at PayPal
Episode: A Brief History of Financial Bubbles

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 383 ratings
  • Amazing

    Great podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ZachUWS
    United Statesa year ago
  • Probably…

    … the best short history podcast being produced today. The content and the production is unsurpassed.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Amused117
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Awesome

    Fantastic user-friendly review of Western Civ!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BJLOD
    United States3 years ago
  • Love this show

    Just finished the episode about Gregory the great. Truly fantastic and in depth story of western civilizations. The stories are all sequential BUT they have the ability to stand alone. My go to show now to unwind and learn some interesting history.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TweAt58
    United States3 years ago
  • Some great episodes, others not so much.

    I've listened to dozens of episodes of Western Civ. Many of them are very good and quite informative on a historically factual and chronological basis.Some episodes, often the ones that deal with the role of the Church in various parts of European history, are overly simplistic (failing to explain even basic doctrines or beliefs) which portrays them as backward, dishonest or just plain stupid.Other episodes centered around Christianity come off as covertly insulting, as if the narrator (Walsh) ... more

    Audible
    3
    Jennifer P.
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Shows clear, engaging storytelling and solid historical context.
High-quality production and accessible, broad coverage of Western history.
Listener feedback often notes strong host delivery and structure, with occasional audio quality critiques.

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This American Life
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Determined Society with Shawn French | Adversity & Mindset
Determined Society with Shawn French | Adversity & MindsetShawn French | Adversity & Determination Expert
Freakonomics Radio
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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Children of Abraham: The 1,400-Year History of Jewish–Muslim Relations
Q: How did early relations between Jews and Muslims in Medina begin, and what happened over time?
They began with alliances and mutual aid, forming a community that included Jews; over time, tensions and accusations led to expulsions and violence against Jewish groups in Medina.
Children of Abraham: The 1,400-Year History of Jewish–Muslim Relations
Q: What are the two main myths about Jewish–Muslim relations discussed in the introduction?
The utopian myth that Jews and Muslims always lived in perfect harmony, and the myth of perpetual or perennial antagonism that suggests constant conflict from the earliest encounters onward.
Athens and Sparta: The Rivalry That Shaped Ancient Greece
Q: Was Sparta a pure warrior society, or is that a simplification?
Sparta was an intensely militarized and secretive society, but it also involved sophisticated social structures, helot labor, and elite ritual training, all tied to maintaining control and stability within a highly unequal system.
Athens and Sparta: The Rivalry That Shaped Ancient Greece
Q: What should we think of when we think of Athenian democracy?
Athenian democracy was incredibly direct and participatory, allowing eligible citizens to assemble, vote on laws, and influence governance instantly, though it excluded women, foreigners, and slaves, making it a uniquely expansive but imperfect model.
Worlds of Islam: A Global History
Q: How did Islamic law view slavery in the early phases, and did it change later?
Islamic law accepted slavery as a fact of life, but slaves were considered persons, not property, which led to norms that encouraged manumission and limited the extent of slavery.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Western Civ

What is Western Civ about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show offers a fast-paced, narrative tour through Western history, connecting ancient roots to contemporary global dynamics. Across recent episodes, it emphasizes how Western power formed through commerce, war, reform, and diplomacy, while highlighting the tradeoffs, conflicts, and imperfect progress involved in building Western civilization. Listeners can expect broad coverage—from classical Greece and Rome to modern empire and nation-building—presented with clear storytelling, maps of cause and effect, and occasional primary-source references. A standout trait is its ability to thread big ideas across eras, making complex political and cultural shifts approachable without oversimplification, though some episodes acknowledge the messy, ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Western Civ?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Western Civ:

1. The History of English Podcast
2. The British History Podcast
3. Reconquista
4. Anglo-Saxon England
5. The Ancients

How many episodes of Western Civ are there?

Western Civ launched 12 years ago and published 603 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 Western Civ?

Recent guests on Western Civ include:

1. Edward Cohn
2. Jeffrey Stephens
3. Marc David Baer
4. Brendan Ballou
5. Adrian Goldsworthy
6. Roderick Beaton
7. Matthew Sutton
8. James McDougall

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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