Suggested Listening: A Podcast Recommendation List
Whether you are painting miniatures for a war game, working on a car, doing yard work, or otherwise engaging in any activity where you need some listening material, here are some suggestions to add to your library.
The Dangerous History Podcast
CJ is a college history professor who felt the need to explore aspects of history in more depth than his college curriculum allowed, and examine matters in light of new information and alternative perspectives. Thus, the DHP was born. If you want to consider aspects of major historical trends and events in a new light, this is a great place to start. This is revisionism in the best sense of the word, not to be confused with the counterfeit revisionism of the Alt-Right or the Social Justice Warriors.
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Dan Carlin turns real history into an exciting narrative. It's gripping historical fiction minus the fiction. Do you want to get a deeper understanding of World War 1? The Persian Empire? Speculation about the motivations of historical figures? Why great failures never succeeded? Dan Carlin gives his ideas on these subjects and more. He's not a historian, but he's a superb storyteller, and history is often better understood as the story than the dates and names. A word to the wise: Episodes of this podcast are free to download for some time, but eventually get cycled over to archives that require each episode to be purchased. Get 'em while they're fresh!
The History of Rome and The History of Byzantium
A linear narrative of the Roman Empire, first by Mike Duncan telling the history of Rome from its founding myths through the fall of the Western Empire, and then followed up by Robin Pierson telling the tale of the Eastern empire as it continued for nearly another millennium afterward. These podcasts are a superb blend of scholarship and entertainment.
The British History Podcast
"The BHP is a chronological retelling of the history of Britain with a particular focus upon the lives of the people. You won't find a dry recounting of dates and battles here, but instead you'll learn about who these people were and how their desires, fears, and flaws shaped the scope of this island at the edge of the world." - from the web page description.
That sums it up quite well. There is some overlap with the History of Rome podcast when both cover the Roman occupation of Britain, but the same events are discussed from different perspectives, lending opportunity for a deeper understanding. At the time of posting, the BHP is deep in the era of King Alfred the Great. Start from the beginning, though.
Twilight Histories
Instead of discussing what was, this discusses what might have been but wasn't. Within the framework of a science fiction dimension-hopping story, Jordan Harbour spins tales of French expansion across Asia into India under Napoleon, a Carthaginian colony on Mars, and an ice age journey through the wilderness.
Astonishing Legends
Here, we find not what definitely happened, but what some think might exist. Scott Philbrook and Forrest Burgess discuss urban legends, local folklore, unexplained occurrences, tall tales, and strange events.
Happy listening!