Herodotus Talk

Episodes

1. 9

   The Molasses flood of 1919

   On January 15, 1919, a massive storage tank burst in Boston's North End, sending over two million gallons of molasses rushing through the streets. The disaster killed 21 people, injured around 150 others, and raised serious questions about industrial safety. In Episode 10 of The Herodotus Talk,...

   Oct 18, 2026

   5m
2. 8

   The Anglo Zanzibar War

   In 1896, Britain and Zanzibar fought what is often called the shortest war in recorded history. Lasting less than an hour, the conflict ended almost as quickly as it began. In this episode of The Herodotus Talk, we look at what caused the war, how it unfolded, and why it ended so fast.

   Oct 4, 2026

   7m
3. 7

   The Alaska Purchase

   In 1867, the United States bought Alaska from Russia for just $7.2 million. But why did Russia sell such a massive territory, why did America want it, and how did Alaska end up being sold for so little? In this episode of The Herodotus Talk, we explore the story behind one of the most famous land...

   Sep 14, 2026

   7m
4. 6

   The History of Coffee

   Coffee is everywhere today—but its journey to becoming one of the world’s most popular drinks was anything but simple. In this episode of The Herodotus Talk, we trace coffee from its early history in Ethiopia and Yemen to the coffeehouses of the Ottoman Empire and Europe, and eventually to its...

   Aug 30, 2026

   4m
5. 5

   The History of the Printing Press

   In this episode of The Herodotus Talk, Nathan Thomas explores the fascinating history of the printing press, from the early movable type developed in China and Korea to Johannes Gutenberg's revolutionary mechanized press in Europe. Learn who really invented movable type, why Gutenberg's...

   Jun 21, 2026

   6m
6. 4

   The History of the Olympics

   The Olympics are now a global sporting event, but they began as a religious festival in ancient Greece. This episode, traces the Games from Olympia and the worship of Zeus to their modern revival, exploring how the Olympics changed while still remaining about honor, competition, and pride.

   Jun 7, 2026

   9m
7. 3

   The History of Pizza

   In this episode of Herodotus Talk, we trace the history of pizza from the streets of Naples to tables around the world. We’ll look at how pizza began as a cheap food for workers, how Italian unification and migration helped spread it, and how tourism, American tastes, frozen pizza, and delivery...

   May 25, 2026

   5m
8. 2

   The Black Death

   In this episode of Herodotus Talk, we explore the Black Death, one of the deadliest pandemics in history. Starting with the trade networks of Genoa and the wider Old World, we look at how plague spread, how people in the 1300s tried to explain it, and how fear, religion, and early medical ideas...

   May 9, 2026

   8m
9. 1

   The Battle of Hastings

   In this episode of Herodotus Talk, we head to 1066, where a succession crisis pushed England into one of the most important battles in its history. We’ll cover William of Normandy’s claim to the throne, Harold Godwinson’s fight to keep it, and how the Battle of Hastings reshaped England for...

   Apr 25, 2026

   7m
10. The Peloponnesian War

    Two titans of the Hellenic world collide, as Athens and Sparta descend into a war that will reshape the ancient world.

    Apr 5, 2026

    5m