Dan Carlin's Hardcore History podcast

Dan Carlin's Hardcore History

In "Hardcore History" journalist and broadcaster Dan Carlin takes his "Martian", unorthodox way of thinking and applies it to the past. Was Alexander the Great as bad a person as Adolf Hitler? What would Apaches with modern weapons be like? Will our modern civilization ever fall like civilizations from past eras? This isn't academic history (and Carlin isn't a historian) but the podcast's unique blend of high drama, masterful narration and Twilight Zone-style twists has entertained millions of listeners.

In "Hardcore History" journalist and broadcaster Dan Carlin takes his "Martian", unorthodox way of thinking and applies it to the past. Was Alexander the Great as bad a person as Adolf Hitler? What would Apaches with modern weapons be like? Will our modern civilization ever fall like civilizations from past eras? This isn't academic history (and Carlin isn't a historian) but the podcast's unique blend of high drama, masterful narration and Twilight Zone-style twists has entertained millions of listeners.

 

#16

Show 71 - Mania for Subjugation

What's the recipe for making a historically world-class apex predator? In the case of Alexander the Great, it might be the three Ns: Nature, Nurture, and Nepotism. ... Read more

07 Jun 2024

4 HR 11 MINS

4:11:39

07 Jun 2024


#15

Show 70 - Twilight of the Aesir II

Pagan Viking Sea Kings spend the 10th and 11th centuries morphing into Christian monarchs. But with rulers like Harald Bluetooth and Svein Forkbeard it's debatable whether things will be any less horrific for Scandinavia's neighbors ... Read more

19 Nov 2023

6 HR 23 MINS

6:23:08

19 Nov 2023


#14

Show 69 - Twilight of the Aesir

This show picks up where Dan's Thor's Angels show left off. In the early Middle Ages Pagan Germanic-language speakers like the Vikings are a dying breed. Many of their contemporaries wish they'd die faster. ... Read more

15 Jan 2023

5 HR 10 MINS

5:10:55

15 Jan 2023


#13

Show 68 - BLITZ Human Resources

The Atlantic Slave Trade mixes centuries of human bondage with violence, economics, commerce, geo-political competition, liberty, morality, injustice, revolution, tragedy and bloody reckonings. That sounds like a lot, yet this show merely scratches the surface of this enormous subject. ... Read more

07 Mar 2022

5 HR 39 MINS

5:39:12

07 Mar 2022


#12

Show 67 - Supernova in the East VI

When do spirit, tenacity, resilience and bravery cross into madness? When cities are incinerated? When suicide attacks become the norm? When atomic weapons are used? Japan's leaders test the limits of national endurance in the war's last year. ... Read more

08 Jun 2021

5 HR 45 MINS

5:45:52

08 Jun 2021


#11

Show 66 - Supernova in the East V

Can suicidal bravery and fanatical determination make up for material, industrial and numerical insufficiency? As the Asia-Pacific conflict turns against the Japanese these questions are put to the test. The results are nightmarish. ... Read more

14 Nov 2020

3 HR 32 MINS

3:32:34

14 Nov 2020


#10

Show 65 - Supernova in the East IV

Coral Sea, Midway and Guadalcanal are three of the most famous battles of the Second World War. Together they will shift the momentum in the Pacific theater and usher in the era of modern naval and amphibious warfare. ... Read more

03 Jun 2020

3 HR 58 MINS

3:58:33

03 Jun 2020


#9

Show 64 - Supernova in the East III

Japan's rising sun goes supernova and engulfs a huge area of Asia and the Pacific. A war without mercy begins to develop infusing the whole conflict with a savage vibe. ... Read more

25 Oct 2019

4 HR 53 MINS

4:53:43

25 Oct 2019


#8

Show 63 - Supernova in the East II

Deep themes run through this show, with allegations of Japanese war crimes and atrocities in China at the start leading to eerily familiar, almost modern questions over how the world should respond. And then Dec 7, 1941 arrives... ... Read more

12 Jan 2019

4 HR 01 MINS

4:01:55

12 Jan 2019


#7

Show 62 - Supernova in the East I

The Asia-Pacific War of 1937-1945 has deep roots. It also involves a Japanese society that's been called one of the most distinctive on Earth. If there were a Japanese version of Captain America, this would be his origin story. ... Read more

14 Jul 2018

4 HR 28 MINS

4:28:17

14 Jul 2018


#6

Show 61 - (Blitz) Painfotainment

Pain is at the root of most drama and entertainment. When does it get too real? This very disturbing and graphic show looks into some case studies and asks some deep questions. WARNING Very intense subject matter. ... Read more

28 Jan 2018

4 HR 31 MINS

4:31:01

28 Jan 2018


#5

Show 60 - The Celtic Holocaust

Julius Caesar is our travel guide as he takes us through his murderous subjugation of the native Celtic tribal peoples of ancient Gaul. It sounds vaguely like other, recent European colonial conquests...until the natives nearly win. ... Read more

09 Aug 2017

5 HR 59 MINS

5:59:51

09 Aug 2017


#4

Show 59 - (Blitz) The Destroyer of Worlds

What happens if human beings can't handle the power of their own weaponry? This show  examines the dangerous early years of the Nuclear Age and humankind's efforts to avoid self-destruction at the hands of its own creation. ... Read more

25 Jan 2017

5 HR 49 MINS

5:49:32

25 Jan 2017


#3

Show 58 - Kings of Kings III

If this were a movie, the events and cameos would be too numerous and star-studded to mention. It includes Xerxes, Spartans, Immortals, Alexander the Great, scythed chariots, and several of the greatest battles in history. ... Read more

07 Aug 2016

5 HR 00 MINS

5:00:30

07 Aug 2016


#2

Show 57 - Kings of Kings II

From Biblical-era coup conspiracies to the horrific aftermath of ancient combat this second installment of the series on the Kings of Achaemenid Persia goes where only Dan can take it. For better or worse… ... Read more

20 Mar 2016

4 HR 15 MINS

4:15:42

20 Mar 2016


#1

Show 56 - Kings of Kings

Often relegated to the role of slavish cannon fodder for Sparta's spears, the Achaemenid Persian empire had a glorious heritage. Under a single king they created the greatest empire the world had ever seen. ... Read more

29 Oct 2015

3 HR 32 MINS

3:32:40

29 Oct 2015