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
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!
___
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!
During the summer break, the 15-Minute History podcast team are republishing some of their favorite episodes. This episode originally aired on October 10, 2022.
Season 9 begins Monday, October 7!
___
Familiar to millions as the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien believed that myths used stories of heroes to inspire generations of readers. He began his writing career with a children’s book, and w...
In this episode, Joe asks about the changes in culture and education after the collapse of Rome, and we discuss some historical parallels to our own day.
Join us each week for Pop Quizzes, and comment below with your thoughts and suggestions for new episodes!
During the summer break, the 15-Minute History podcast team are republishing some of their favorite episodes. This episode originally aired on June 12, 2023.
___
The dull hum of aircraft filled the morning air. German soldiers looked up from the French town of St. Lô, expecting to see a few enemy fighters bearing down on them. Their hearts froze in their chests as nearly a thousand bombers emerged from the clouds. They had heard of t...
This week, Joe asked about the soldiers who guard political leaders and why they sometimes turn on those whom they are sworn to protect. Why does it happen? What are the results? And could it happen today?
Join us every Thursday for pop quizzes, and comment below with your thoughts, questions, and suggestions for new episodes!
During the summer break, the 15-Minute History podcast team are republishing some of their favorite episodes. This episode originally aired on February 10, 2025.
___
Seven years ago, Joe and I began this podcast with a two-part episode on the Second World War in Europe. Today, we fulfill a promise to longtime listeners with the first installment of the Pacific War--from Pearl Harbor to Midway. Join us next week for the second part ne...
This week's pop quiz takes a historic approach to Marketing 101. Joe gives us his thoughts on recent trends at American Eagle, Cracker Barrel, Budweiser, and a gun company that shall not be named. By looking at how these companies have performed recently in their brand appeal, we can draw some lessons about how businesses interact with customers and be more aware of changes in their messaging strategies.
Join us every Thursday u...
Join Jon, Joe, and longtime guest host Dan as they discuss pivotal moments in history that could have gone very wrong, the effects of their outcomes, and the power of individual choice in each one.
If you would like to hear more discussions like this, let us know at 15minutehistory@gmail.com. As always, be sure to like, comment, and subscribe!
Welcome to the Pop Quiz! Every Thursday, one of the hosts will ask the other a question about history they must answer.
Have an idea for a topic? Send it to us at 15minutehistory@gmail.com or submit it to our website at https://www.15minutehistorypodcast.org. We promise not to give him any hints.
During the summer break, the 15-Minute History podcast team are republishing some of their favorite episodes. This episode originally aired on November 18, 2024.
___
Kim Philby, Donald Maclean, Guy Burgess, Anthony Blunt, and John Cairncross—passed almost 17,000 classified documents to the Soviet Union for 30+ years. The information was so extensive and the volume so large, that Soviet intelligence initially suspected some of it migh...
What is the Demon Cat of Washington? Where does folklore originate in culture? How do historians read folklore? Join us for this extended pop quiz as Joe and Jon discuss folklore and its effect on history.
And post your ideas for new episodes, comments, and questions in the comments. You make this show a success and we love to hear from you!
During the summer break, the 15-Minute History podcast team are republishing some of their favorite episodes. This episode originally aired on May 4, 2023.
___
On the morning of January 26th, Murphy and his men saw movement in the tree line ahead. As the morning fog cleared, over two hundred German infantrymen and six Mark VI Tiger Tanks appeared and began a counterattack.
I will stop here for a moment and give you an opportunity to ...
Was Charlemagne real? Did we land on the moon? Who are the real villains in history? Join us in this week's conversation about myths vs. reality and theory vs. facts when it comes to history.
And post your ideas for new episodes, comments, and questions in the comments. You make this show a success and we love to hear from you!
During the summer break, the 15-Minute History podcast team are republishing some of their favorite episodes. This episode originally aired on January 16, 2024.
___
Xerxes I, also known as Xerxes the Great, was a Persian king who ruled over the vast Achaemenid Empire from 486 BCE to 465 BCE. He was the son of King Darius I and Atossa, the daughter of Cyrus the Great. This lineage protected Xerxes during his time as a prince and solid...
Popular Podcasts
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.