15-Minute History

In this week's discussion, we cover more detail about the building of the canal and the herculean medical and engineering feats American and Panamanian workers achieved. (Joe even gets to put on his doctor's hat and tell us about yellow fever.) We then get into some of the current-day events and what the future might hold for America and its southern neighbors. Join us every Monday for dis...

With events in Iran moving hour by hour, Joe asked about the Iranian Revolution of 1979, how that regime could hold onto the country for so long, and why we are now seeing a possible change in government in the coming weeks (or perhaps even days). Join us each Thursday for pop quizzes and Sketches in History, and let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Over a century ago, the United States blasted its way through a continent in one of the largest engineering projects in world history. The Panama Canal's construction brought with it decades of American involvement in Latin America--the effects of which are still felt today. Join us every Monday as we explore topics in American history leading to our 250th birthday in July and for pop quizzes...

During the holiday break, Jon and Joe wanted to reshare some of their favorite episodes. This episode originally aired on December 14, 2023. New episodes starting this Monday, January 12. __ Have an idea for a topic? Want to try and stump Jon? 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 holiday break, Jon and Joe wanted to reshare some of their favorite episodes. This episode originally aired on January 27, 2025. New episodes starting next week! ___ The Battle of Agincourt, though small by modern standards, stands as a turning point in European history by bringing democracy to the battlefield. Joe takes us through the battle in all its detail and asks whether Henry V&#...

During the holiday break, Jon and Joe wanted to reshare some of their favorite episodes. This episode originally aired on June 5, 2025. ___ In this double pop quiz, Jon answers a question from an audience member and then discusses the Overton Window and how the range of "acceptable" political discourse changes over time. Join us every other week for these pop quizzes during the summer, a...

During the holiday break, Jon and Joe wanted to reshare some of their favorite episodes. This episode originally aired on June 23, 2025. ___ This season has been about good and bad ideas, and we are concluding with Jon's thoughts on a journey he's been on through early American history. In his 1989 book Albion's Seed , Dr. David Hackett Fischer describes how four groups of English sett...

The imagery of Jesus' birth has evolved over the century, but its meaning to all humanity remains as simple as ever in this holiday season. Special thanks to my Uncle Matt for giving me the idea for this episode! - Jon This episode originally aired on December 23, 2024.

In this last episode of 2025, Jon takes us on a journey through time and space to learn the stories of several beloved Christmas carols. We hope you enjoy them, and we look forward to seeing you in January with new episodes, discussions, pop quizzes, and "Sketches in History." Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Music: O Come All Ye Faithful

What are the essential works of history every curious reader should know, and where should someone actually start when diving into them? Join Jon and Joe for the first of many conversations about the timeless texts that shaped civilization. Join us each Thursday for Pop Quizzes and Sketches in History, and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

"Based on a true story." "Inspired by actual events." "The following actually happened." These five words might be Hollywood's greatest magic trick, transforming entertainment into education, fiction into fact, and Brad Pitt's abs into ancient Greek warfare. More Americans learn their history from movies than from any other source. Think about that for a moment. Our understanding of the past - of...

Why do dumb ideas keep popping up like weeds? Why do people embrace them despite mountains of evidence they don't work and huge piles of bodies left in their wake? Are they true believers or just grifters? And should 15-Minute History rebrand itself into "fifteen minutes of rage-bait"? Join us each Thursday for Pop Quizzes and Sketches in History, and let us know your thoughts in the...

"Don't give up the ship." "The Star-Spangled Banner." "Old Hickory." The Battle of New Orleans. The War of 1812 gave us some of America's most enduring symbols and phrases. But did it actually change anything? The treaty that ended it resolved almost nothing. The boundaries stayed the same. Impressment wasn't even mentioned. And the greatest American victo...

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 returns to September 10, 1813, to witness the dramatic conclusion of the Battle of Lake Erie...

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 ex...

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-...

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 Oliv...

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. I...

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 Hi...

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...

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...

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 j...