What is the Best American History Podcast?

If you have an interest in American History, whether it's your passion, your career, or to help you get a better grade in class, you might want to tune into a relevant podcast. But which one? Type American history into iTunes and something like 30 options come up. So how do you know which podcast is the best for American history? Here's a reveiw of a few of your options.

My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

This podcast uses historical comparisons to put modern political events into perspective. For example, the "American Financial Panics" episode compares the free-market debacles of 2008-09 to previous recessions including the stock market crash of 1929.

Sadly, host Bruce Carlson has the vocal variance of Ben Stein. Fortunately, though, the quality of his content more than makes up for a sincere lack of vivaciousness. This podcast will likely entertain political junkies and history buffs alike.

Speaking of History

Host Eric Langhorst is an eighth grade American history teacher who podcasts on techniques he uses in his classroom. Other primary school history teachers may find useful tips and ideas here; however, this podcast is not particularly useful in actually learning American history.

The Journal of American History Podcast

An historian's history podcast. Produced by the Journal of American History this podcast presumes the listener to have at least cursory knowledge of the subject matters discussed. Produced quarterly, a month prior to the journal's release, this podcast selects one contributing author to interview regarding his/her piece. Not being a reader of the journal of American History, I found this podcast to be over my head.

Teaching American History

If you are interested in being the fly on the wall in a classroom discussion is the podcast for you. While I was listening, my mind conjured the image of a bespectacled professor sitting affront his classroom, an overhead projector near at hand, while adult students fidget in uncomfortable chairs and raise their hands to participate in high minded dissection of history's minutia. These highly cerebral podcasts are recordings of seminars provided by the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University. I'm guessing being there in person is better than listening in like a classroom voyeur.

BackStory - With the American History Guys

BackStory is the podcast version of a public radio program in which three American historians select a current event to discuss and offer some historical perspective. Each of the "guys" specialize in a different era of time, the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The show is about an hour long and includes interviews as well as questions from callers. Well produced this show is easy to listen to, though a little disjointed in places where commercial breaks have been edited out.

Hope this helps you pick which American history podcast is best for you. If you are interested in more reviews like this one check out www.thepodreview.blogspot.com.