History That Doesn't Suck artwork

History · Prof. Greg Jackson

History That Doesn't Suck

by Prof. Greg Jackson

HTDS is a bi-weekly podcast, delivering a legit, seriously researched, hard-hitting survey of American history through entertaining stories. To keep up with History That Doesn’t Suck news, check us out htdspodcast.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram: @historythatdoesntsuck. Become a premium member to support our work, receive ad-free episodes and bonus episodes.Pre-order Prof. Jackson's new book Been There Done That: How Our History Shows What We Can Overcome

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

213: Halloween Special VI: The ASEs & Guy de Maupassant

“‘What is that?' I asked. The Englishman answered calmly: 'It was my best enemy.’” This is the story of the little books that went to war, and the Frenchman whose ghosts

Oct 5
42 min

Bonus: GTDS: NASA and the Commercialization of Space

Following the Challenger and Columbia Space Shuttle disasters, the government had to rethink space exploration. In 2006, NASA launched the Commercial Orbital Transportati

Sep 28
1 h 18 min

212: The European Theater, 1943

"Wing Ding, you're either crazy as hell or you've got balls." This is the story of the European Theater in 1943. As Allied bombers learn the brutal cost of daylight pre

Sep 21
1 h 01 min

15 (Second Edition): “We the People:” Constitution Making in Philly

“What even is the Virginia Plan but democracy checked by democracy, or pork with a little change of the sauce?”  This is the story of 55 men from 12 of the 13 sovereign

Sep 7
1 h 07 min

211: Pacific Theater Epilogue with Capt. Mac Caldwell

Professor Greg Jackson and co-host Riley Neubauer are joined by returning guest Captain Mac Caldwell, a Marine veteran, to dive deeper into the Pacific Theater of early W

Aug 24
54 min

210: The Pacific War 1944: From the Cairo Conference to the Marianas Turkey Shoot

“If we ever lose Saipan, repeated air attacks on Tokyo will follow. No matter what it takes, we have to hold there.” As Operation Cartwheel neutralizes Japanese forces o

Aug 10
58 min

209: The Pacific War 1943: Operation Cartwheel, Tarawa, & Eleanor Roosevelt's Pacific Tour

“The ultimate defeat of Japan [will] be accomplished by blockade, bombing, and assault.” This is the story of American island hopping—or should we say leapfrogging?—thro

Jul 27
57 min

208: The Pacific War, 1942–43: Guadalcanal, the Aleutians, and Operation Vengeance

“Guadalcanal is not the name of an island. It is the name of the graveyard of the Japanese army.” This is the story of America's first major offensive in the Pacific sin

Jul 13
59 min

Introducing: Government That Doesn't Suck! with Professors Greg Jackson and Lindsey Cormack

Episode 1: We The Founders (The Constitution) | Introducing Government That Doesn’t Suck Follow GTDS on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen. What if

Jul 6
48 min

The Declaration of Independence at 250

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America, as read by Professor Greg Jackson and fellow citizens: Lindsey Cormack co-host of Government That Does

Jul 2
11 min

America250 Episode 8 Rerelease: Declaring Independence, the Rise of Alexander Hamilton, & the Fall of New York

In celebration of America’s 250th, we’d like to officially invite you to enjoy this special episode telling the tale of that audacious, terrifying, and formative step tak

Jun 22
1 h 02 min

Bonus: Prof. Greg Jackson interview on The Road to Now with Dr. Ben Sawyer

Professor Greg Jackson is interviewed by Professor Ben Sawyer on The Road to Now podcast to discuss Jackson’s new book, Been There, Done That: What Our History Shows What

Jun 15
1 h 00 min

207: Japanese Internment: Removal, Relocation, & Reckoning

"What I vividly recall is after getting to Tanforan and walking into this horse stable, and Mom… putting down her suitcase and just crying.” This is the story of Japanes

Jun 8
1 h 06 min

206: American Propaganda: Cap’s Debut, Frank Capra’s War Docs, and Casablanca

“Will young, freewheeling American boys take the iron discipline of wartime? … In my judgment the answer is Yes! ... if the answers they get are worth fighting and dying

May 22
1 h 03 min

205: Total War on the Home Front: Victory Gardens, Volunteering, and the Double V

“I suggest that while we keep defense and victory in the forefront, that we don't lose sight of our fight for true democracy at home.” This is the story of life on the A

May 11
58 min

Bonus: “Messy Tales,” an Excerpt from the Prof’s book, Been There, Done That

Been There, Done That: How Our History Shows What We Can Overcome, Prof. Jackson’s new book publishing June 16th, takes us on a chronological journey—from the very start

May 4
34 min

204: The Holocaust: Anne Frank, the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, & Auschwitz

“Everybody’s dead. Don’t ask me about anybody. Everybody’s dead.”  This is the story of the Final Solution.  From Anne Frank’s annex to countless ghettos, Jews who have

Apr 27
1 h 02 min

203: The Holocaust: Killing Squads, Ghettos, & Gas Chambers

“The procedure is a pretty barbaric one and not to be described here more definitively. Not much will remain of the Jews.” —Joseph Goebbels This is the story of how the

Apr 13
1 h 04 min

202: Holocaust Prologue with US Holocaust Memorial Museum Director, Sara J. Bloomfield

After turning our attention back to Europe in the last few episodes, it’s time to finally examine the Holocaust. Back in episode 185, we covered a broad history of antise

Mar 30
44 min

201: A Soft Underbelly: The Allied Invasion of Sicily & the Fall of Il Duce

"My dear Duce, it’s no longer any good… At this moment you are the most hated man in Italy.”  This is the story of Operations Underworld, Mincemeat, and Husky.  On the

Mar 16
54 min

Chart trend

Position in the History chart (US), last 90 days.

#3
all-time peak
1
day in the top 3 since Nov 2024

Chart positions

Where History That Doesn't Suck ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 18, 2026).

#13 — History US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

So many of these episodes capture your attention, make it relatable, and educate all at the same time. My kids enjoy it and we’ve had lots of fun, hard, and funny conversations while listening. Even some of the bad accents make it endearing.

Smitty-Smit · Oct 2026

This tells history in a very interesting and informative way. I discovered it about 2 years ago and have finally caught up! 200 plus episodes. It has reduced my anxiety about the USA we find ourselves in today Yes it’s bad but we have been in bad situations before and found our way through it. This podcast gives me confidence we can come together as a nation again

Andy Randolph · Sep 2026

I have never binged a podcast as much as I have since finding HTDS. Prof Jackson is a great story teller. His balance between the macro events of US history, interwoven with personal accounts and stories has me craving every episode. Thank you Prof Greg Jackson!

ChrisSSutton · Sep 2026

I have been a long-time fan of the Hazardous Tales book series, which kinda started my interest in history. This podcast continues my love of the American Revolution, and World War 1&2, and i think Greg Jackson did an AMAZING job! I am only on Episode 10, but i already LOVE it!!!

Orcaiceberg · Aug 2026

If this podcast were targeted to middle school students, it would be okay. However, if you are even a moderately intelligent adult, it’s hard to get beyond all the aggressive dumbing-down in terms of vocabulary, sentence structure, and historical complexity. In a particularly stupid touch, the host refers to historical figures by modern nicknames (Alexander Hamilton = Alex). You just get the sense that whoever writes these episodes assumes that the audience isn’t very bright, is easily bored, and can’t handle even remotely complex discussions of historical issues. It’s weird to have a podcast talk down to you, but that is what this one specializes in. Finally ads erupt into the episode at random intervals, sometimes in the middle of a thought.

arrrrrrrghh! · Oct 2024

Listened to one episode, “That One Time When George Washington…” This story speaks from a colonial paradigm, utterly disregarding the native peoples on who this story is plastered over. The indigenous nations inhabiting the land being invaded by the subjects of this episode are mentioned in brief to the extreme and even then in a passing glib that diminishes their presence and dismisses their perspective entirely. Whatever the intention, the effect is borne nonetheless: white-washing of this history. Particularly with a platform such as this, there is a great responsibility to the storyteller to convey a full context that is completely missing here.

najsDovuywebs · Mar 2023

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Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of History That Doesn't Suck, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.

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