For over 17 years, “Stuff You Missed in History Class” has been illuminating the fascinating corners of human history that textbooks tend to overlook. Hosted by Tracy V. Wilson and Holly Frey (and previously by Sarah Dowdey and Deblina Chakraborty), this beloved podcast has tackled everything from forgotten female pioneers and bizarre historical events to the untold stories behind major world moments.
With over 2,000 episodes spanning ancient civilizations to modern mysteries, the show has built a devoted following of history enthusiasts hungry for the wicked tales that traditional education often leaves behind. Ok, let’s get into it, here are some of the top episodes that showcase why “Stuff You Missed in History Class” has become the gold standard for accessible, engaging historical content.
Defunct Olympic Sports
Listen on: Episodes.fm | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Pocket Casts
Throughout the contemporary Olympic Games, numerous sporting disciplines have been incorporated into and removed from the competition schedule. This discussion examines several of these events, many of which appeared only once in Olympic history.
Scarlet Fever
Listen on: Episodes.fm | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Pocket Casts
During the mid-1800s, scarlet fever represented the primary fatal illness among young people in certain global regions, though modern medicine can now combat it using antibiotic treatments. Presently, numerous unresolved questions continue to surround this condition.
A Brief History of Doughnuts
Listen on: Episodes.fm | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Pocket Casts
The practice of creating simple batters or doughs and cooking them in oil has existed within human societies for hundreds of years. Through this process, the doughnut gradually developed, and it also generated several passionate controversies during its evolution.
Measles: Historical Highlights
Listen on: Episodes.fm | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Pocket Casts
Although measles was officially eradicated in the United States many years past, cases continue to emerge there, while in other regions the disease remains far more prevalent. Prior to the widespread availability of immunizations, it claimed approximately 2.6 million lives globally on an annual basis.
Women’s march on Pretoria, 1956
Listen on: Episodes.fm | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Pocket Casts
This 1956 demonstration served as an objection to pass legislation that formed components of South Africa’s apartheid structure – particularly the mandate requiring women to carry identification documents. The protest represented both an element of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and the campaign for women’s equality.
The Race to the South Pole
Listen on: Episodes.fm | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Pocket Casts
When Scott and Amundsen initiated competing journeys to the South Pole, they understood that only one team could achieve the distinction of arriving first at the pole. Both explorers were confident their respective approaches would succeed, but which adventurer emerged victorious? Listen in and discover more details in this podcast.
Hitler’s Early Rise and the Night of the Long Knives
Listen on: Episodes.fm | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Pocket Casts
Throughout multiple days in 1934, Adolf Hitler, who served as both Nazi Party Leader and Reich Chancellor at that time, orchestrated an operation that removed all his political adversaries and allowed him to proclaim himself Fuhrer.
How the Black Death Worked
Listen on: Episodes.fm | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Pocket Casts
When the Black Death ravaged Europe, it claimed approximately 25 million lives — representing one third of Europe’s entire population. Listen in and discover more about the enduring consequences of the Black Death in this HowStuffWorks podcast.
SYMHC Classics: John Wilkins and His Moon Plans
Listen on: Episodes.fm | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Pocket Casts
This 2019 episode examines John Wilkins who devised what he believed would be necessary for humans to journey to the moon during the 1600s. Wilkins succeeded in navigating a turbulent period in England’s history with relative ease.
The First Tacoma Narrows Bridge – Galloping Gertie
Listen on: Episodes.fm | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Pocket Casts
The spectacle of the original Tacoma Narrows bridge extends far beyond its chaotic collapse. Additional elements comprise the narrative – from its origins to funding challenges to some unexpected legal developments, and how it generated completely new methodologies for bridge engineering.
Electrocardiograms
Listen on: Episodes.fm | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Pocket Casts
The initial electrocardiograph was created in 1895. That apparatus appeared considerably different from contemporary machines, and there exist some other candidates for the designation of “first.”
Walt Whitman, Poet of Democracy
Listen on: Episodes.fm | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Pocket Casts
Whitman is frequently praised as the finest and most significant poet in U.S. history, though he also served as an educator and a reporter. Additionally, his poetry career did not begin particularly successfully.
A Brief History of Tarot Cards
Listen on: Episodes.fm | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Pocket Casts
How did a card game acquire a reputation for being linked to mysticism? Tarot’s history experiences a significant transformation in the 18th century, but much of that change in perception stems from one author’s assumptions and hypotheses.
The Life and Disappearance of Rudolf Diesel
Listen on: Episodes.fm | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Pocket Casts
There exist sufficient elements of Rudolf Diesel’s life story that remain constant, allowing for a reasonably confident construction of his biography. However, the manner in which his life concluded will perpetually remain an enigma.
Ida Lewis, Lighthouse Keeper
Listen on: Episodes.fm | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Pocket Casts
Ida Lewis spent the majority of her existence quite secluded on a small island off the Rhode Island coast. However, it represented an existence she profoundly cherished. In her own words, “I could not be contented elsewhere.”
China’s Cultural Revolution: Red Guard and Purges
Listen on: Episodes.fm | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Pocket Casts
Mao’s strategy to restore China to the course of modernization was the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. The initial stage constituted a highly aggressive, radical sequence of purges and detentions that extended from 1966 to 1968. Read the show notes here.
How HItler’s Propaganda Machine Worked
Listen on: Episodes.fm | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Pocket Casts
Adolf Hitler’s renowned propaganda initiatives guided public sentiment with unparalleled accuracy. Discover how this extensive campaign shaped the ordinary wartime German in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.