#43 - Podcast Break

 This week let's talk about something a bit lighter; let's talk podcasts. I listen to a lot of podcasts, especially at work and during workouts. It's a great way to keep my brain engaged when my body needs to be doing other things. I thought I would share with you, dear reader, some of my favorite history and history-adjacent podcasts. I’m sure you have heard of some of these and if a favorite of yours has been missed, please reach out!

First up, Stuff You Missed in History Class, which has been around for a long time. I think I’ve been listening to them going on five years now. Overtime, the hosts have changed but have always been a duo of ladies who are passionate about the weird and wonderful things you may have missed in history class. Their topics go all over the place, from the Invention of the Stethoscope to Lola Montez (she may appear in my RVille research!), and from the Yummy History of Waffles to the Haunted Mansion. I find they tend to stick to more modern topics, which really makes the whole ‘Missed’ part of their schtick a bit funnier. They also focus on shorter episodes that get to the meat of the story and move on. I like to listen to SYMiHC when I have a bit of time and am in need of a bit of randomness and fun.

Next up is probably my all-time favorite podcast, although it is definitely NSFW (headphones required). The Last Podcast on the Left has also been around forever, I think more than ten years! They cover all sorts of weird and wonderful things like UFOs, true crime, and especially serial killers. And that's when the cannibalism started. They have the now classic trio of hosts: Henry the comedian and UFO fanatic, Marcus, he of the dulcet tones, the historian and serial killer buff, and Ben the pretend-oaf who plays the role of listener, keeping the story moving along. I love them for their irreverence and passion for the strange. They can be a bit crass and off-colour occasionally, but are always extremely funny. They probably have the honor of being the first podcast to make me laugh literally out loud. ...Unfortunately I was wearing headphones at work, so I got quite a few weird looks, ah well. LPOTL is exclusively on Spotify, but they have branched out into other podcast series like Side Stories which goes over recent weird news, Abe Lincoln’s Top Hat which is Ben’s political podcast, and if you can’t wait for the new movie LPN Deep Dives: Dune. 

The Bowery Boys is another extremely long running podcast. They delve deeply into all things New York City History, from its earliest ages as New Amsterdam to little known quirky events in more modern times. The two hosts, Tom and Greg, are longtime residents of NYC and after nearly 15 years of podcasting, they have really covered all sorts of things. During different seasons, anniversaries, and holidays they tend to keep to theme; I especially love their Halloween spooky episodes when they share scary tales and ghost stories. They even really pioneered virtual tours before it was Covid-cool. Every episode starts with ‘situating the listener,’ a quick summary on where in the City the episode’s story takes place, with notes and comments about the location of modern streets and landmarks. I had been listening to the Bowery Boys for about 3 or 4 years before I ever set foot in NYC. I had always dreamed of visiting Manhattan and walking Broadway from Battery to Central Park and staring at all my dreamy skyscrapers. I started listening to the podcast as a way to visit the city while being on the opposite coast. To my amazement, upon my first visit to NYC, thanks to the Boys, I found myself easily navigating around Manhattan by recalling episodes and their ‘situate-ings.’ Definitely check this one out because their banter and passion for NYC is a delight. 

The Fall of Rome started out as an experiment for me. I had been listening to the podcasts above, and some news and political ones, which I am not getting into here. But they were all heavy on the banter and usually only partially adhered to scripts. They all also featured multiple hosts. So, when I found Patrick Wyman’s Fall of Rome in like 2016, it was something different. Patrick reads/orates his episodes in an almost audiobook fashion. I find podcasts and audiobooks difficult sometimes because I am very sensitive to the sound of the hosts’ voices. I have stopped listening to countless probably awesome podcasts because I couldn’t stand something about someone’s voice. So, I was a little leery starting the Fall of Rome because I wanted desperately to like the podcast: I found the topics fascinating. It did take me a little while to get used to it. I find this style of podcasts to require a bit more focus because the hosts aren’t grabbing your attention with their back and forth conversations. But it was so worth it.  The Fall of Rome and its successor Tides of History are just amazing. They cover major cultural and structural shifts in human history. Considering Patrick’s background, it made sense to start in Rome, but his other series covers the rise of the modern world, the beginnings of the early modern period, and now human prehistory. These are really great series to listen to, Patrick is clearly extremely knowledgeable in his own right, but brings in experts frequently to talk to and learn more and he isn’t afraid to explore areas outside his expertise. If you already love audiobooks, I would definitely give these podcasts a try; and if  you don’t, listen to it anyway.

When I first started to research the Ryves Holt House and Lewes, Delaware, I knew I was going to need to brush up on my Early American History. I had taken a few classes and picked up some things here and there through college, but East Coast history was not something you really learn about in the West. So, since I was working fulltime and had no institutional affiliation through which to access good academic writing, I threw myself at podcasts. It actually took some hunting to find one I liked and seemed pretty reliable and well researched. But Ben Franklin’s World really hit the mark. The host, Liz has been at it for several years and has managed to really make her podcast a cornerstone in the field of academically rigorous podcasting. She, like Patrick Wyman, splits her time between solo discussion on topics and scholar interviews. She ranges all over Early America, but mainly focuses on events during Ben Franklin’s lifetime. A few years ago she teamed up with the Omohundro Institute to create even more content. Anyone interested in Colonial and Early America and how those pasts shaped our present should give this podcast a try.

I think by now, dear reader, you know that I like pirates. So of course I have a favorite pirate podcast to share. The Pirate History Podcast is another solo presented show, this time with host Matt. His cadence and voice are soothing and almost hypnotic, great for listening when you’ve had a busy day or need to zone out for a bit. He goes into incredible detail about the history of pirates, following buccaneers and villains and explorers around the globe and through the centuries. I like the way he is able to incorporate jokes and comments while dispelling myths from fact. I am woefully behind on this podcast, mostly because I have less time to listen to things, but so far I really enjoy the episodes and hope you do, too. 

 

And finally, my most recent acquisition to my podcasting time, The Mariner’s Mirror Podcast. This one is fairly new, it started in just October 2020 - just like this blog! I found them shortly thereafter and have absolutely loved it. The host, Sam, along with the Society of Nautical Research in the UK put on this podcast to talk about and learn about all things Maritime History. I was thankful to find this, since a few months before was when I started volunteering with the Nautical Archaeological Society, also in the UK, and wanted to learn more about their maritime past. Sam, of course, doesn't just talk about the UK. He, alongside other knowledgeable folk discuss major maritime battles, ships, and archives. He has even expanded into videos and interactives online. These episodes are often quite short, and in small series, so they are great for when you have a little bit of time, but aren’t wanting to commit to a 2.5 hour endeavour. 

These are some of my favorite podcasts, but I am always on the lookout for new ones! Do you have a favorite to share? Let me know! Next week we will return to more Lewes and RHH research, happy listening in the meantime.