5 History Podcasts to Listen to During Your Study Break
Have you ever made it through a couple hours of homework, reading, and studying to realize that you're only halfway done? In that moment you probably wanted to push yourself to keep going, or worse yet- give up, pack your bags, and go on the road Jack Kerouac style. Studies have shown our brains can get overwhelmed when overloaded with information. That’s called Mental Fatigue. One researcher at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign looked at this issue directly by asking two groups to complete a simple data entry ask: Group 1 was allowed two breaks, and Group 2 didn’t take any. In the end, the group taking breaks performed significantly better. They concluded that breaking up your work into easy to digest sections allows you to maintain your overall focus for longer.
So study smarter, not harder! Take that break.
And while you’re at it keep your brain engaged with something like a podcast! Check out these great history podcasts- that way you get to keep your stuff and don’t have to explain the beatnik lifestyle to your family at Thanksgiving.
Uncivil- Hosted by Jack Hilt & Chenjerai Kumanyika Average run time: 30 minutes
This Peabody Award winning limited series is the perfect thing to keep your brain going. The show delves into the fascinating and often overlooked stories of real African American people during the Civil War. With episodes coming in around 30 minutes, you’ll be able to learn about spy rings, mutinies, and the pressures of the antebellum south.
Sidedoor by Tony Cohn Average run time: 25 minutes
How much do you know about the golden age of Atari or the marvelous life of Amelia Earhart before her final flight? This Smithsonian podcast covers some of these and other historical hidden gems using the online archives and memorabilia housed in the institute. Don't just hear about these stories, visit the podcast’s site to see the artifacts, such as one of the last remaining “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" Atari cartridges that was buried in the middle of the New Mexico desert or the make-up cases used by Earhart’s organization the “Women Flyers of America.”
Revisionist History by Malcom Gladwell Average run time: 40 minutes
If you’ve ever browsed the “Top Shows” section of Apple Podcasts you’ve likely seen this podcast come up- right after the true crime shows. That’s because Malcom Gladwell is a force to be reckoned with. He uses his penchant picking up on patterns in culture to review moments in history and relate things back to our current climate. With about 50 episodes of Revisionist History under his belt, he has explored everything from espionage during the Vietnam war to the differences between Country and Rock music.
Stuff You Missed in History Class by Holly Frey & Tracy Wilson Average run time: 30 minutes
This is not your father’s history podcast. Think of it like your quirky older sister’s history podcast. It’s two women, and sometimes guests, chatting about unacknowledged moments and characters throughout history. If you’re looking to learn about the women behind the men, overlooked female inventors, heroes breaking gender barriers, and don’t mind using the word “herstory” this show is for you. One such amazing story is about Feida Belinfante, one of the first female conductors in history who went undercover as a man to during World War II and worked as a Dutch resistance fighter.
Witness History by BBC World Service Average run time: 10 minutes
With episodes coming in under 10 minutes this podcast is perfect for a quick study break. This BBC show uses the firsthand accounts of real people who experienced pivotal and exciting moments in history. And given their huge catalogue of content, a couple thousand episodes, you can learn just about anything- like the start 1980’s East German Punk movement, about the first Indian woman to win the Miss World pageant., or how the Dodo bird went extinct.