Podcast
History Shorts
Hosted by History Shorts Network · EN
Dive into the past with award-winning historian Peter Zablocki in this captivating daily podcast! Uncover hidden stories you never knew existed. And don't miss Friday Conversations where Peter teams up with top experts for riveting, in-depth discussions that bring history to life.
49episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
JFK's Missing Brain
4d ago00:14:02Tap to summarizeFew mysteries surrounding the assassination of John F. Kennedy are as strange—or as unsettling—as the disappearance of his brain. After Kennedy's assassination in 1963, his brain was removed during the autopsy and stored as evidence for further medical examination. Then, somewhere along the way, it vanished. In this episode of History Shorts, we explore the bizarre mystery of JFK's missing brain and the many theories that followed. Was it misplaced in government archives? Stolen to conceal evidence? Destroyed intentionally? Or was the explanation far more ordinary than conspiracy theorists would like to believe? This is a story of secrecy, suspicion, and unanswered questions—where one missing piece of evidence became part of the larger mythology surrounding one of the most scrutinized events in American history. SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast ADVERTISE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/advertise LEARN MORE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/ SPONSORED BY: https://www.podcastrepublic.net/get-it-now
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The Moon Rock Heist
5d ago00:12:27Tap to summarizeIn 2002, one of the strangest heists in modern history unfolded inside a NASA facility in Houston. A group of young interns and accomplices broke into a space center vault and stole something almost unimaginable: genuine lunar samples collected during the Apollo Program. In this episode of History Shorts, we explore the bizarre true story behind the theft of priceless Moon rocks—scientific treasures brought back by astronauts decades earlier. What began as an impulsive and reckless plan quickly spiraled into a federal investigation involving stolen safes, online black-market attempts, and one of the most unusual crimes ever connected to the space program. SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast ADVERTISE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/advertise LEARN MORE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/ SPONSORED BY: https://www.podcastrepublic.net/get-it-now
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How Do You Repay Those Who Died for Your Freedom? w/ Robert M. Edsel
6d ago00:38:41Tap to summarizeIn this episode of History Shorts Conversations, historian and bestselling author Robert M. Edsel joins us to discuss his powerful new book, Remember Us — a deeply moving story about American sacrifice, Dutch liberation, and the enduring promise to never forget those who gave everything during World War II. Together, we explore the emotional bond forged between ordinary Dutch civilians and the young American soldiers who helped liberate the Netherlands from Nazi occupation. We discuss the meaning of remembrance, the fading memory of the WWII generation, and why many Dutch families still honor fallen American soldiers decades after the war ended. LEARN MORE ABOUT the Forever Promise Project: https://www.foreverpromise.org/ SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast ADVERTISE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/advertise LEARN MORE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/ SPONSORED BY: www.thecollector.com
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The Quest for the Holy Grail
1w ago00:13:47Tap to summarizeFew objects in history and legend have inspired as much fascination as the Holy Grail—the mysterious cup said to have been used by Jesus at the Last Supper and later tied to miracles, eternal life, and divine power. For centuries, kings, knights, scholars, and treasure hunters have searched for it, convinced that somewhere, somehow, the Grail still exists. In this episode of History Shorts, we trace the evolution of the Holy Grail legend from medieval literature and Arthurian romance to real-world expeditions and modern conspiracy theories. Was the Grail ever meant to be a physical object at all? Or was it always symbolic—a spiritual ideal transformed into a treasure hunt by generations of believers and storytellers? SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast ADVERTISE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/advertise LEARN MORE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/ SPONSORED BY: https://www.podcastrepublic.net/get-it-now
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The Confederate Gold Mystery
1w ago00:12:14Tap to summarizeAs the American Civil War came to a chaotic end in 1865, rumors began to spread about a missing fortune belonging to the collapsing Confederacy. According to legend, millions in Confederate gold vanished during the final days of the war—hidden, stolen, or secretly transported before Union forces could seize it. In this episode of History Shorts, we explore the enduring mystery of the so-called Confederate gold. Did Jefferson Davis and his cabinet attempt to move the treasury south? Was the gold buried, looted, or lost forever amid the confusion of defeat? And why has the legend continued to inspire treasure hunters, conspiracy theories, and historians for more than a century? This is a story of collapse, rumor, and historical mystery—where the final days of the Confederacy gave rise to one of America's most enduring lost treasure legends. SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast ADVERTISE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/advertise LEARN MORE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/ SPONSORED BY: https://www.podcastrepublic.net/get-it-now
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Saipan: D-Day in the Pacific
1w ago00:14:14Tap to summarizeIn June 1944, as Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy in Europe, another brutal invasion was unfolding thousands of miles away in the Pacific. The Battle of Saipan would become one of the most important—and devastating—campaigns of World War II. In this episode of History Shorts, we explore why the tiny island of Saipan mattered so much to both the United States and Japan. American forces faced fierce resistance as they fought across jungles, cliffs, and fortified defenses, while Japanese soldiers and civilians confronted the terrifying reality of defeat. The battle would ultimately place Japan within range of American B-29 bombers, dramatically changing the course of the war. This is a story of sacrifice, strategy, and unimaginable human cost—where one island battle reshaped the future of the Pacific War and brought the conflict one step closer to Japan itself. SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast ADVERTISE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/advertise LEARN MORE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/ SPONSORED BY: https://www.podcastrepublic.net/get-it-now
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Naked and Unafraid: Did Celtic Warriors Really Fight in the Nude?
1w ago00:11:54Tap to summarizeTo the armies of Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece, the Celtic tribes of Europe seemed wild, fearless, and utterly unpredictable. Among the most enduring stories about them was one especially shocking claim: that some Celtic warriors entered battle completely naked. But was it true—or simply propaganda meant to portray them as savage barbarians? In this episode of History Shorts, we explore the historical accounts, archaeological evidence, and cultural traditions behind one of antiquity's most fascinating battlefield legends. From ritual combat and displays of bravery to practical realities of warfare, we examine why ancient writers described naked Celtic fighters and what those reports may actually have meant. SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast ADVERTISE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/advertise LEARN MORE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/ SPONSORED BY: https://www.podcastrepublic.net/get-it-now
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The Maharaja Who Broke Rolls-Royce
2w ago00:11:55Tap to summarizeIn the 1920s, one of the world's most prestigious luxury brands found itself humiliated by an insult it never saw coming. The story centers on Maharaja Jai Singh II and Rolls-Royce—a clash between colonial arrogance and royal revenge that became the stuff of legend. According to the tale, the Maharaja visited a Rolls-Royce showroom in London dressed modestly, only to be ignored or disrespected by staff who failed to recognize him. In response, he allegedly purchased several Rolls-Royce cars and sent them back to India to be used as garbage collectors—turning symbols of luxury into municipal trash wagons. SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast ADVERTISE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/advertise LEARN MORE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/ SPONSORED BY: https://www.podcastrepublic.net/get-it-now
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The Real Story of Ponce de Leon's Quest for the Fountain of Youth
2w ago00:11:24Tap to summarizeFor centuries, the name Juan Ponce de León has been tied to one of history's most famous legends: the search for the Fountain of Youth. According to popular myth, the Spanish conquistador sailed through the Caribbean in pursuit of magical waters said to restore youth and grant immortality. But how much of that story is actually true? In this episode of History Shorts, we separate legend from history, exploring Ponce de León's real expeditions through the Caribbean and his landing in Florida in 1513. We examine how myths about miraculous springs became attached to his legacy long after his death—and why the story endured for generations. SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast ADVERTISE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/advertise LEARN MORE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/ SPONSORED BY: https://www.podcastrepublic.net/get-it-now
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Truman's Real Decision on Dropping the Atomic Bomb, w/ Alex Wellerstein
2w ago00:41:23Tap to summarizeIn this episode of History Shorts Conversations, historian and author Alex Wellerstein joins the show to discuss his powerful new book, The Most Awful Responsibility: Truman and the Secret Struggle for Control of the Atomic Age. Together, we explore the tense and uncertain days following World War II, when President Harry Truman suddenly found himself in control of the most destructive weapon ever created. Far beyond the story of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, this conversation examines the hidden political battles, military rivalries, scientific debates, and moral questions that emerged as the United States entered the atomic age. Wellerstein reveals how Truman struggled to understand and contain the power of the bomb while competing factions inside the government fought for influence over America's nuclear future. SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast ADVERTISE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/advertise LEARN MORE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/ SPONSORED BY: www.thecollector.com
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