History Unplugged Podcast

History Unplugged Podcast Episodes

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  The Sawmill – Along With Gunpowder and the Printing Press – Created the Modern World January 22, 2026 - 34 min
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  Gears, Gold, and Global Peace: A Steampunk Bitcoin Journey Through an Alternate 20th Century January 20, 2026 - 65 min
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  Before the Cold War, Russia and America Were the Closest of Distant Friends January 15, 2026 - 46 min
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  The Horrifying Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, the Titanic of the Great Lakes January 13, 2026 - 48 min
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  Inside the Deadly German U-Boats That Brought Britain to Its Knees (But Were Deadlier for Their Own Crews) January 8, 2026 - 41 min
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  Manifest Destiny, Powered by Coal: How “Black Gold” Conquered the American Continent January 6, 2026 - 49 min
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  Ancient Athens Picked Its Leaders by Lottery for Over 200 Years. Some Think This System Should Replace Electoral Democracy January 1, 2026 - 51 min
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  How Would Nixon Have Handled the Cuban Missile Crisis? December 30, 2025 - 28 min
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  Diogenes, the Father of Ancient Greek Stoicism, Loving Trolling His Audience and Could Out-Shock Borat December 25, 2025 - 49 min
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  Blown Off Course: How History’s Windy Turning Points Sank the Armada and Saved Japan from the Mongols December 23, 2025 - 46 min

About History Unplugged Podcast

For history lovers who listen to podcasts, History Unplugged is the most comprehensive show of its kind. It's the only show that dedicates episodes to both interviewing experts and answering questions from its audience. First, it features a call-in show where you can ask our resident historian (Scott Rank, PhD) absolutely anything (What was it like to be a Turkish sultan with four wives and twelve concubines? If you were sent back in time, how would you kill Hitler?). Second, it features long-form interviews with best-selling authors who have written about everything. Topics include gruff World War II generals who flew with airmen on bombing raids, a war horse who gained the rank of sergeant, and presidents who gave their best speeches while drunk.

Meet your Host

Scott Rank is the host of the History Unplugged Podcast and a PhD in history who specialized in the Ottoman Empire and modern Turkey. Before going down the academic route he worked as a journalist in Istanbul. He has written 12 history books on topics ranging from lost Bronze Age civilizations to the Age of Discovery. Some of his books include The Age of Illumination: Science, Technology, and Reason in the Middle Ages and History’s 9 Most Insane Rulers.. Learn more about him by going to scottrankphd.com.