Dan Snow's History Hit Podcast: Defining Moments In Human History

Even people who claim that they are not “school material” love history. After all, there is no Math Channel, but there is a very popular History Channel.

Today, we’ll cover one of the best history podcasts in the industry. Dan Snow’s History Hit is a popular, award-winning history podcast hosted by British broadcaster and historian Dan Snow. Launched in 2015, the show explores defining moments in human history through on-location reporting, deep-dive investigations, and interviews with world-leading experts, academics, and authors. The podcast covers an incredibly wide range of historical eras and topics. Regular episodes focus on major military battles and turning points, the rise and fall of empires, historical origins of modern cities and everyday objects, and insightful deep dives into major headlines and historical mysteries, such as the Titanic.

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The network also produces The Ancients: Hosted by Tristan Hughes, focusing purely on antiquity and ancient civilizations, Gone Medieval: A deep dive into the Middle Ages, and Betwixt the Sheets: Exploring the history of sex, scandal, and society. The network also produces History Hit TV, which is a subscription-based video-on-demand service that streams history documentaries and expert-led programming.

In March, the show released a timely and fascinating episode called: Can air power alone topple a government? Snow says, “With the Iran war still unfolding, we ask the question: Can air power alone topple a government? From the First World War onward, military strategists have argued that bombing from the air could break a nation’s will and force political change without costly ground invasions. Today, we test that claim through a century of conflict - from WWI to NATO’s intervention in Kosovo in the 1990s.”

“Joining us is Mike Pavelec, a military historian at McGill University, to provide some insight into the efficacy of air power.”

In another sign of timely reporting, Mr. Snow replayed an old episode about the “History of Iran.” It’s clear that no one on the current administration listened to that episode because if they did, they would not have made so many miscalculations when starting hostilities.

History Hit takes a wide-angle lens to history, covering topics as diverse as the history of the tank to the Boleyn’s. A recent episode that defines the show is -- Anglo-Saxons vs Vikings: The Battle That Gave Birth To England. In the episode, Dan Snow explains the Battle of Brunanburh, an epic clash that decided the fate of the British Isles. On one side, the Anglo-Saxon forces of King Æthelstan, fighting for his vision for a unified England; on the other, a massive ‘anti-Wessex’ coalition of Vikings, Scots and Celts, determined to stop the English project from taking hold. The episode deftly explores the high-stakes diplomacy that led to this point, hears how this savage battle played out, and digs into its consequences for the modern UK.

Dan Snow has years of experience as an interviewer, and it shows. He has a keen eye for irony, happenstance, luck, and destiny in the historical record.

Here’s a clip of Dan Snow on YouTube talking about the show’s launch on the platform.

History Hit is one of the best history podcasts out there. Mr. Snow can condense complex historical events into about 45 minutes and keep history buffs engaged.

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Teaching Through Emotions (TTE), the podcast hosted by psychodynamic therapist Betsy Burris, has just announced the release of a special episode centered on Vahombey Project, a school library project in the rural village of Bekitro, Madagascar. Alongside the episode, TTE is launching a fundraising campaign to support the library and its students.

Vahombey Project was founded by Jullian Androkae, podcast creative strategist and co-founder of PodVision, and a longtime producer of Teaching Through Emotions. The project brings library access and educational support to students at the local school in Bekitro, a community where basic resources like books, chairs and even a working terrace are scarce.

“Working on Teaching through Emotions has informed part of my approach building Vahombey, which has been running for the past five years as a beacon of hope for local educators. This is all thanks to the perseverance and aptitude of our librarians, whom we hope this episode and fundraiser help tremendously.” says Jullian Androkae.

The special episode highlights firsthand testimonies and voices of the librarians who run Vahombey day to day, named Raissa and Hary. Listeners will hear the librarians describe the daily reality of the library and the surrounding school: overcrowded classrooms, students who quietly disappear from their studies when they aren’t encouraged to stay, and a delicate working relationship between teachers and librarians over how to handle students who act out in class.

“This episode puts TTE listeners in communication with educators who live 9000 miles away in conditions vastly different from those we’re used to in the US — but who embody the same values of care and connection that matter in all teaching. It’s thrilling to hear Raissa’s and Hary’s voices tell stories that all educators can relate to!” says Betsy Burris, creator and host of Teaching through Emotions.

Together, Betsy Burris and Jullian Androkae paint a picture of a library and a school community doing more with less. The stories in this episode are a testament to the common challenges and struggles of educators everywhere, not just in Madagascar.

Alongside the episode, TTE is launching a fundraising campaign to support Vahombey’s most pressing needs, including:

• 500 books for the library’s collection

• The next 12 months of these amazing librarians’ salaries

• 25 additional chairs to accommodate students more comfortably

• A TV to set up multimedia learning opportunities

• Repairs to the library’s terrace and exterior

“I feel so lucky to know Jullian and to feel, through him, a connection with the people of Bekitro and the Vahombey project. It blows my mind how even a small donation from any American can make a huge difference in the lives of students, teachers, and librarians so far away. They need our support. So let’s give it.” says Betsy Burris.

Vahombey Project was started in April 2018 as an initiative to help the villagers of Bekitro, Madagascar, with a relevant issue in their community, to later become an education-oriented project. They are an evolving group of Malagasy and international activists who dedicate themselves to improving education and building community for Madagascar’s youth. Vahombey’s mission is to improve education for all in Bekitro, a village in the South of Madagascar, primarily for the local middle-school students, enabling them to learn new skills, update their learning conditions, increase their awareness and connect them with people from around the country and the world.

Listeners can donate to the project’s Chuffed campaign.

Teaching through Emotions (TTE) is a Women Who Podcast award-winning podcast that provides a rare form of relief for educators. Hosted by Betsy Burris, PhD, teacher educator and psychotherapist, the podcast looks at bad feelings and bad behavior as meaningful and useful. Through a psychodynamic lens, she unpacks how emotions influence student behavior and teacher mental health. If you’re struggling with classroom management, feeling the weight of burnout, or dealing with the “bad feelings” that come with high-stakes teaching, TTE offers the psychological strategies, tools, and resources you need to stay grounded. You also get to hear beyond-surface-level tips and unique takes during interviews with remarkable experts.