15-Minute History

The 15-Minute History Podcast team brings you a new segment, just for kids, called Sketches in History, where 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 to a workshop in Menlo Park. A man is working on an invention that will forever change how we communicate wit...

Join us as we discuss the life of Pope Francis, his reforms, and the controversies that defined his papacy. From his humble beginnings to his efforts to reshape the Catholic Church, discover how Francis challenged tradition, sparked global debate, and inspired both admiration and criticism. Whether you’re a devoted Catholic, a history enthusiast, or simply curious about one of the world’s most inf...

In this pop quiz, Joe asks me why some historians choose to interpret the past through current-day lenses and the problems that can create for students of history. We then get into a discussion on the role of experts in academic inquiry and see why a narrow focus can lead to some truly awful outcomes.

Join us this week as Joe and I delve into the political, social, and (of course) economic consequences of tariffs. We stay away from the politics--mostly--and try to hone in on the fact that every economic policy has consequences, good and bad, and that leaders need to be open in how they present their ideas and honest in explaining their effects.

The 15-Minute History Podcast team brings you a new segment, just for kids, called Sketches in History, where 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 to a dark night in Germany during World War II. She can see men whispering in the corners of a fortress, plan...

We're back from our spring break a week early! This episode is a timely overview of tariffs--taxes on imported goods--from a historical perspective. We will not get into the political aspects of the current trade war, but please join us next week for a discussion that will likely include some current events.

This week, Joe comes awfully close to asking a "what if" question (and getting a shoe thrown at him)! Join us as we discuss historical perspectives on the Yalta Conference at the end of World War Two and what the West could have done differently in confronting the growing Soviet threat in Eastern Europe.

During the next few weeks, the 15-History Podcast team is taking a break and bringing you some of their favorite previous episodes. This episode originally aired on November 1, 2021. _______ The old man lay in his bed surrounded by courtiers and family members. He had traveled from Rome to visit the place where his father had died many years ago, and now his own life was nearing its end. History r...

The 15-Minute History Podcast team brings you a new segment, just for kids, called Sketches in History , where 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 to ancient sands in the deserts of Egypt. She can see two men kneeling near a dark entrance on the brink of...

During the next few weeks, the 15-History Podcast team is taking a break and bringing you some of their favorite previous episodes. This episode originally aired on November 16, 2020. Join us as we teach you about the genius of Michelangelo Buonarroti, his timeless works of art, and the legacy he left behind. 

This week, Jon got to ask Joe about the morality of a military attacking civilian targets in war. His answer was very thought-provoking!

Join us for a conversation about the ideas behind Germany's unification, how that pivotal moment in world history shaped decades to come, and its legacy that the German people still confront today.

The 15-Minute History Podcast team brings you a new segment, just for kids, called Sketches in History , where 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 to a sandy beach on December 17, 1903. She can see two men next to a strange machine. Your kids will learn a...

The creation of a united, powerful Germany completely reshaped European power politics in the late 19th century. But how did it happen? What was the character of that new country, and did it reflect older ideas and values of its Prussian ancestor? Join us as we consider the creation of a country that created so much art and technology but also violence and death. Was its formation a good idea or a...

Join us every other week for a Pop Quiz! This week, Joe asked me about the Federal Reserve, how it works, and whether or not it's run by reptilian aliens. Well, maybe not the last one, but we do get into a conversation about the important--and dangerous--role the Federal Reserve plays in American finance today.

Join us as we explore the history of the steam engine, its impact on industrialization, and how both have translated into the modern age.

The 15-Minute History Podcast team is bringing you a new segment, just for kids, called Sketches in History, where 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 to dark night on April 18, 1775. In the distance, she hears a horse fast approaching. Its rider has a s...

In the workshop, all he could smell was the coal. It filled his nostrils day and night. The metal under his hands was hot. A few months before, the heat would have been unbearable, but the scares on his hands dulled the sensation. He bent over the two cylinders and watched as steam left one to fill the other. A spray of water went into the first cylinder, and he listened as the piston fell back in...

Hey kids! I know you were excited to hear Lottie bring you another episode of "Sketches in History." Unfortunately, she isn't here this week. But Joe has a story to tell you about a trip he took with his son, and then we have a Pop Quiz you can listen to with your parents. Lottie will be back with her notebook for another "Sketches" episode next week!

After a two-part podcast on this immense topic, Joe and I discussed some of the war's greatest impacts on society, how it shaped the lives of those who fought and suffered, and the tragic triumph that ended it.

In today's episode, Joe and Jon discuss King Henry VIII's "Great Debasement" (which has nothing to do with his palace's root cellar) and how it shaped our understanding of monetary policy.

Seven years ago, Joe and I began this podcast with a two-part episode on the Second World War in Europe. Today, we bring you part two, followed by our discussion next week. As always, you can send us questions or post comments on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts!

As promised, the 15-Minute History Podcast team is bringing you a new segment, just for kids, called Sketches in History, where 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 to a bustling marketplace in 79 AD. But something is very wrong. Imagine warm air, clear s...

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 and then an epic discussion later this month. As always, you can send us questions or post comments on Spotify or wherever you get...

In today's double pop quiz, Jon answers an audience question and then faces a historic moment for the podcast. Don't miss it!