15-Minute History

When reviewing evil in history, ancient kings are easy targets. Join us as we discuss two kings and detail two major events during their reign.

Welcome to the Pop Quiz! Every other Thursday, Joe asks a topical question about history, and Jon has to answer it without any help or resources - other than his legendary memory and knowledge of history. These episodes are unedited and a fun way for the team to interact more with you, our outstanding audience. Have an idea for a topic? Want to try and stump Jon? Send it to us at 15minutehistory@g...

When reviewing evil in history, ancient kings are easy targets. It is common to review their actions out of the context of their time, apply current values to ancient actions, and judge accordingly. In today’s episode, we review two kings and detail two major events during their reign.

Welcome to a new segment in 15-Minute History called, Thursday Thoughts! Every other Thursday, Joe will speak about a specific person, place, or event in history in under five minutes. This week, we teach you about Porter's Five Force model, how it helps break down the complexity of competition in the market, and its influence on businesses across the globe. Spoiler alert: Ever wonder why ther...

Join us as we discuss confronting evil, the three figures in history, and the actions that inspire others to stand.

Welcome to the Pop Quiz! Every other Thursday, Joe asks a topical question about history, and Jon has to answer it without any help or resources - other than his legendary memory and knowledge of history. These episodes are unedited and a fun way for the team to interact more with you, our outstanding audience. Have an idea for a topic? Want to try and stump Jon? Send it to us at 15minutehistory@g...

How do leaders confront villains? Among history’s most important lessons are seeing how people and nations face down rising evil. In this episode, we are going to examine the actions of three statesmen as they looked outward and saw gathering storms on the horizon. They took different approaches; some failed and others succeeded. And perhaps their deeds can shape our own if ever our societies are...

Welcome to a new segment in 15-Minute History called, Thursday Thoughts! Every other Thursday, Joe will speak about a specific person, place, or event in history in under five minutes. This week, we teach about the real history of a pastry you know and love. Spoiler Alert: The truth may cause some of you to reach a baking point.

Join us as we discuss the Inquisition, the horrors it brought, the heroes that ended it, and the fiction around this dark time in history.

Welcome to a new segment in 15-Minute History called, Pop Quiz! Every other Thursday, Joe asks a topical question about history, and Jon has to answer it without any help or resources - other than his legendary memory and knowledge of history. These episodes are unedited and a fun way for the team to interact more with you, our outstanding audience. Have an idea for a topic? Want to try and stump...

A small chapel in the German town of Erfurt was hardly a proper venue for world-shaping events to begin. Nothing much had happened in this part of the Holy Roman Empire, and the Augustinian monk who swept the chapel's floor thought mainly about his lunch. His straw broom pushed dust from the tombs built into the floor before the altar. The monk then lit candles and said a brief prayer. He hear...

Welcome back to 15-Minute History! We are excited to be back with you, our amazing audience, each week for more walks in history’s footsteps. History, like a haunted house, is filled with monsters. The people and events we selected for this season illustrate trends that have caused suffering and death for countless innocents. We know villains first by their words and then, if left unchecked or unc...

Join us for the second part of our Interviews with Heroes. In this episode, we speak with an ICU/Trauma Nurse and Advanced EMT. Note: Some of the content in these interviews is graphic. Listener discretion is advised. Contents: 0:40 ICU Trauma Nurse 29:04 Advanced EMT We close out this season with a two-part episode with interviews that highlight those who voluntarily go into professions we natura...

We close out this season with a two-part episode with interviews that highlight those who voluntarily go into professions we naturally take for granted – until we need them. Some of these professions are dangerous. Others are gross, uncomfortable, and thankless. None of these people have YouTube channels or millions of followers. They are gritty, graphic, and authentic. Those that choose such care...

Join us in this exciting discussion as we walk through the life of General George Patton, his leadership, heroism, and his effect on the world we know today.

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 the devastation wrought by their enemy on the Fatherland’s cities, but St. Lô was only a tiny provincial settlement far from t...

World War 1 had lasting consequences that can be seen in the world we know today. Join us as we discuss one part of that great conflict, the Arab Revolt, and the work of Thomas Edward Lawrence, who is known today as Lawrence of Arabia.

The riders sat on their mounts, horses and camels, and gazed across the desert toward the shimmering sea and a small village on its shore. An old fortress dominated what passed for a skyline, the only building that stood more than two stories above the ground. Clusters of palm trees waved in the hot, dry wind, and the soldiers could see knots of people moving about in the town's plaza. No enem...

Join us as we discuss the coronation of King Charles III with famed British historian, Dr. Dominic Selwood. In this special discussion, Dr. Selwood explains the impact of the coronation, what the world can expect from the new king, and the effect such events have had on world history. Dr. Dominic Selwood is a historian, journalist, and barrister. Most recently, he is a bestselling author of the cr...

Join us as we discuss the life and heroism of Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier in WW2.

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 take in this scene. First, consider eighteen men with two armored vehicles against two hundred infantry. Faced with just th...

Join us as we discuss Eisenhower's farewell address, the warnings he included, and the impact of what he got right.

The president sat at his desk in the Oval Office as technicians scurried about setting up lights and cameras. He looked down at the speech, his last to the nation he had served for almost a half-century, and his thoughts no doubt turned to the tumultuous events of his life. Two world wars, nations devastated and then reborn, and the constant menace of a new enemy armed with terrible weapons. But p...

Join us as we discuss Sir Isaac Newton, his discoveries, his impact, and how he was a hero in natural philosophy.

The two men walked out the door and into the garden. The weather was warm, with the sun falling over the horizon, almost blinding them as it set. They talked and strolled to an apple tree and sitting beneath it, sipped their tea as they watched the tall grass move against the wind. One of the men turned to his friend and spoke. “You know, I was just in the same situation not long ago, when the not...