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Conversations: The Tastes, Smells, and Feels of Ancient History, w/ Sam Kean

History Shorts

Release Date: 10/24/2025

The Real Conjuring (The Story of Ed & Lorraine Warren) show art The Real Conjuring (The Story of Ed & Lorraine Warren)

History Shorts

Before Hollywood turned them into ghost-hunting legends, Ed and Lorraine Warren were real people, devout Catholics, self-taught demonologists, and the most controversial paranormal investigators of the 20th century.   DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SUPPORT THE SHOW:  ADVERTISE:   LEARN MORE:  SPONSORED BY:  

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When the EPA Erased a Whole Town from Existence show art When the EPA Erased a Whole Town from Existence

History Shorts

In the early 1980s, a small town along the Meramec River in Missouri vanished, not from flood or fire, but from poison. This episode of History Shorts uncovers the chilling true story of Times Beach, a once-idyllic community that became America’s most infamous ghost town after being contaminated with deadly dioxin.   DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SUPPORT THE SHOW:  ADVERTISE:   LEARN MORE:  SPONSORED BY:  

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The British Woman Who Fell in Love With Hitler show art The British Woman Who Fell in Love With Hitler

History Shorts

In this episode of History Shorts, we trace the curious and troubling story of Unity Mitford, a young British socialite born into privilege, and her infatuation with Adolf Hitler. We’ll explore how she journeyed to Nazi Germany, embedded herself in Hitler’s inner circle, became an ardent supporter of fascism and antisemitism, and attempted to live out a fantasy of ideological romance that ended in tragedy.   DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SUPPORT THE SHOW:  ADVERTISE:   LEARN MORE:  SPONSORED BY:  

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Benjamin Franklin Goes to France show art Benjamin Franklin Goes to France

History Shorts

Before America won its independence, one man crossed the ocean to secure its future. In Paris, Benjamin Franklin used wit, charm, and sheer diplomacy to turn skeptics into allies and change the course of the Revolution. This History Shorts episode follows the Founding Father who fought not with muskets, but with words.   DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SUPPORT THE SHOW:  ADVERTISE:   LEARN MORE:  SPONSORED BY:  

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Conversations: When maps seize being tools and become narratives, w/ James Cheshire show art Conversations: When maps seize being tools and become narratives, w/ James Cheshire

History Shorts

Peter speaks with James Cheshire, whose captivating new book, The Library of Lost Maps: An Archive of a World in Progress, unearths a hidden collection of 19th- and 20th-century maps that chart everything from groundbreaking scientific discoveries to the dark undercurrents of empire and conflict. Through stunning reproductions and insightful narratives, Cheshire reveals how these artifacts not only documented a rapidly changing planet but also influenced pivotal moments in human progress. In this episode, we'll explore the dual-edged legacy of maps as tools of enlightenment and exploitation,...

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TODAY IN CONTEXT: The Penny Retires Into History (& What That Means for Us) show art TODAY IN CONTEXT: The Penny Retires Into History (& What That Means for Us)

History Shorts

TODAY IN CONTEXT BONUS: After more than 200 years in our pockets, cash drawers, and couch cushions, the U.S. penny has finally been retired. But ending the nation’s smallest coin isn’t just a symbolic moment; it’s a shift with real economic, cultural, and practical consequences. In this History Shorts: Today in Context episode, we explore why the penny became too costly to mint. From Lincoln’s legacy to the future of cash, this is the full story of America’s cheapest coin… and its surprisingly expensive farewell.   DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW!...

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When Women Went to War: Women's Overseas Hospital show art When Women Went to War: Women's Overseas Hospital

History Shorts

When World War I tore Europe apart, a group of American women refused to stay home. They built and ran the Women’s Overseas Hospital on the front lines,  saving lives and breaking barriers. This History Shorts episode tells the story of the doctors and nurses who fought two battles: one against war, and one for equality.   DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SUPPORT THE SHOW:  ADVERTISE:   LEARN MORE:  SPONSORED BY:  

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See It OR Skip It: Nuremberg (2025) show art See It OR Skip It: Nuremberg (2025)

History Shorts

In this BONUS episode of History Shorts: See It or Skip It, Peter takes the stand to judge one of 2025’s most talked-about historical dramas, Nuremberg, starring Rami Malek as U.S. Army psychiatrist Douglas Kelley and Russell Crowe as Nazi leader Hermann Göring.    SUBSCRIBE WHEREVER YOU ARE LISTENING TO THIS SHOW SO YOU DON'T MISS ANOTHER EPISODE BUY JACK EL HAI'S BOOK:   SUPPORT THE SHOW:  ADVERTISE:   LEARN MORE:  SPONSORED BY:  

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What Former U.S. Presidents Thought About the Civil War When It Was Happening show art What Former U.S. Presidents Thought About the Civil War When It Was Happening

History Shorts

What happens when former U.S. Presidents live long enough to watch their country fall apart? During the Civil War, the men who once held the nation’s highest office chose sides, and their decisions reshaped their legacies. This History Shorts episode explores the untold story of how America’s ex-presidents faced its darkest hour.   DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SUPPORT THE SHOW:  ADVERTISE:   LEARN MORE:  SPONSORED BY:  

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So, You Want To Become a Knight? show art So, You Want To Become a Knight?

History Shorts

Behind the shining armor was a brutal path of training, loyalty, and sacrifice. From childhood pages to battlefield warriors, this History Shorts episode reveals what it really took to become a knight in the Middle Ages and why chivalry was more than just a code; it was survival.   DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SUPPORT THE SHOW:  ADVERTISE:   LEARN MORE:  SPONSORED BY:  

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More Episodes

Peter is joined by New York Times Bestselling author Sam Kean to discuss his latest book, Dinner With King Tut. We look at ancient history through the five senses. Ever wonder what Roman fish sauce tastes like? 

DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!

 

MORE ABOUT SAM: https://samkean.com/ 

SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast

ADVERTISE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/advertise 

LEARN MORE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/

 

EPISODE SPONSORED BY THE COLLECTOR: www.thecollector.com