15-Minute History
Walking in the footsteps of history, fifteen minutes at a time. Join us for a 15-minute episode covering a person, place, or event in history, and stay for an extended discussion. New episodes and discussions every week.
Episodes
Washington burns. The White House is in flames. But from the smoke and ashes, a nation discovers what it means to be American.
The War of 1812's darkest hour became its defining triumph. As British veterans fresh from defeating Napoleon torched the capital, as rockets rained on Fort McHenry, as peace was signed but war raged on, Americans transformed humiliation into legend.
Join us for the explosive conclusion of our two-part se...
How did the writings of Greece and Rome influence our Founding Fathers, and what lessons did they take away from these documents? Join us for a conversation about the importance of representative government, the dangers of democracy, and how the Constitution both ensures our right to participate in government and protects us from tyranny.
Comment below with thoughts, suggestions, or a funny story--we love hearing from you!
From all o...
On this week of Thanksgiving, join us as we share stories of Thanksgiving throughout history. (This episode originally aired in November 2019.)
The 15-Minute History Podcast team welcomes you back to another Sketches in History. This segment, just for kids, shows that history isn't just a story, it's an adventure. Join Lottie Archer as she dives into her extraordinary notebook, where sketches from history come to life.
In this episode, she travels back to September 10, 1813, to the choppy waters of Lake Erie, where a young Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry faces impossi...
Detroit falls without a fight. War Hawks demand blood. But on a blood-slick deck, four words become legend: Don’t give up the ship.
The War of 1812 is often dismissed as a minor conflict, overshadowed by the Revolution and the Civil War. But this overlooked war forged American identity through fire and defiance on land and sea.
Join us as we launch our two-episode exploration of the War of 1812. In this first installment, we exp...
In this week's Pop Quiz, Joe asked about what the Founding Fathers were reading as they shaped the course and construction of American government and how these ideas influenced their decisions.
Join us each Thursday for Pop Quizzes or Sketches in History, and comment below with your thoughts, questions, or ideas for pop quiz topics!
While our episode on John Adams centered on his career, today's discussion focused more on his personality, beliefs, and relationships with others (especially Abigail and his children). We also covered some of Adams' legacy and what he and the other Founding Fathers gave to Americans today.
Join us every Monday for episodes or discussions and on Thursdays for Pop Quizzes and Sketches in History. Leave us a comment below--we ...
The 15-Minute History Podcast team welcomes you to a new season of Sketches in History. This segment, just for kids, shows that history isn’t just a story—it’s an adventure. Join Lottie Archer as she dives into her extraordinary notebook, where sketches from history come to life.
In this episode, she goes back in American history to the early hours of March 4th, 1801, and finds a tired John Adams making the final appointments of his...
In the popular mind, John Adams' life and one term as President of the United States is often treated as a footnote alongside the careers of Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington. But Adams left an indelible mark on his country's history. So as we continue our look into the revolutionary period, this episode shares three elements from his life that capture the essence of this fascinating man.
This week's pop quiz comes to us courtesy of a budding historian at Mr. Streeter's school! He asked about some details from our episode on George Patton a few weeks ago, and his questions were really deep and insightful. Thanks, Joshua, for sending these in--we love hearing from you (and everyone in our audience)!
Join us this week for a discussion on how and why the Americans revolted against King George III, the course that revolution took in the hearts and minds of the American people, and the hope seen at its end in the meeting between the King and America's ambassador, John Adams.
Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and tell us about any topics you'd like us to cover as we continue our journey to America's 250th birthd...
The 15-Minute History Podcast team welcomes you to a new season of Sketches in History. This segment, just for kids, shows that history isn’t just a story—it’s an adventure. Join Lottie Archer as she dives into her extraordinary notebook, where sketches from history come to life.
In this episode, she goes back to early America to witness a great debate and compromise. She finds a building full of arguing state delegates. George Wash...
America is often described as a nation of ideas because its founders risked everything for principles in which they believed. But the revolutionaries had to overcome fears in their own hearts and those of their more hesitant countrymen. In this episode, Jon takes us through how America found these ideas, overcame those fears, and clung to hope of victory.
Join us for new episodes and discussions every Monday, and comment below with ...
In this week's episode, Joe and I discuss the Roman defeat at Teutoburg and how it reflected the Empire's military philosophy.
Join us for pop quizzes and "Sketches in History" episodes every Thursday, and send us your thoughts in the comments below!
Join us for a discussion on last week's episode with our regular guest Dan Lindsey! Apologies for some audio issues when he first arrived--he was a bit too close to the microphone...
Let us know your thoughts or ask questions in the comments below. We are excited to get this season going and hope you will join us every Monday for new episodes and discussions on American history.
Who were they? Were they even real? And why did they fade? Joe and Jon discuss some of history's most fascinating warriors in this week's pop quiz.
Join us this season for regular pop quizzes and our special "Sketches in History" episodes for younger listeners every Thursday. And post your comments, questions, and thoughts below.
Season Nine is here!!!
This year, we are joining Americans in celebrating our country's 250th birthday with episodes about our nation's history. In the season premier, Jon takes a look back at moments of political and cultural change to bring some context to the climate in America today.
Join us next week for our discussion and post comments, questions, and thoughts below. We are thrilled to be back for a new season and hope you will...
In this week's episode, Joe follows up from our last pop quiz and asks about the knowledge lost in the Library of Alexandria, how its destruction affected other civilizations, and why preserving access to information is so important.
Join us on Monday for the start of Season 9!!
During the summer break, the 15-Minute History podcast team are republishing some of their favorite episodes. This episode originally aired on May 5, 2025.
Season 9 begins Monday, October 7!
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It was still dark. The group of men felt the breeze getting warmer as the eastern horizon began to show signs of light. One of the men, tall with no expression, watched as final preparations were made to a large object in front of the group.
T...
In this week's pop quiz, Joe asks about why and how military technologies fade from the battlefield.
Join us each week as we approach the start of the new season for new pop quizzes each Thursday. Comment below with your thoughts and ideas for new episodes!
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