The Duncan & Coe History Show - Podcast Rankings and reviews

Love that these two experts let us in behind the scenes a bit—they are each so knowledgeable, and it’s fun to be in on the conversation, like eavesdropping at a very smart party. This show makes history more accessible and personal, as the hosts hold their wealth of knowledge lightly enough to share it with a bit of a wink.

Duncan & Coe is great because it’s not a scripted, planned out narrative. The hosts bounce topics back and forth and take tangents through their respective areas of expertise. Episodes are also not too long so you get a bunch of delicious history morsels in an easy to digest format.

History is so many things but at its absolute best it is a storyteller relaying fascinating true events to an audience that knows how to ask the right questions. Duncan and Coe have great rapport, depths of knowledge, and especially the uncanny ability to pair esoteric facts with compelling storytelling.

An absolute delight.

I’ve listened to the Duncan & Coe for a while now, and it’s really good! Not as good as Duncan’s other podcasts (for example “The History of Rome”) and so I think everyone’s gotten a little spoiled, but this is interesting, not boring, and as respectful as can be to all people, and places. Definitely try it.

Boring, slow paced, pompous, self-indulgent, and lacking in depth. Do not waste your time. I’ve been a Mike Duncan listener for a long time, and I wanted so bad to enjoy this show, I have attempted to listen to most episodes and I haven’t made it through a single one. Neither of these two offer any real in-depth analysis or have any interesting or thoughtful discussion on their topics. You can tell these two are just in love with the fact they’re having a conversation, and gracing us by allowing us to listen to them. Frankly I’m shocked anyone would give this 5 stars. Literally any other history podcast is better than this. If you were a Mike Duncan fan too, this show is not for you. Mike is not an interesting guy. Excellent at written narrative and storytelling, but boring, self indulgent, and pompous in every other aspect of his life. Alexis Coe too is insufferable. She rivals Mike’s arrogance and acts like she’s the first female historian and some kind of brave trailblazer. Alexis wrote a biography on George Washington, which is one in THOUSANDS of others and adds nothing to the historiography. Alexis, You’re not first, you’re not pushing boundaries, and you’re not anywhere near as important as you attempt to inflate yourself to be. So if you want high-minded arrogant and narcissistic buddy talk between two “friends” (because they definitely cheated on their spouses with each other) this is the podcast for you! If you’re looking for actual interesting history-based conversations, you should look elsewhere. Seriously there are hundreds of wonderful history podcasts out there. As of writing this, they have finished their first season and hopefully they call it quits after this.

The hosts clearly find their banter to be witty and charming and delightful, and expect the audience to feel the same way. Maybe things will improve, but thus far it’s just not working. Good history podcasts require engaging storytelling, a skill Duncan obviously has. But this show unfortunately just feels like two people giving their opinion on current and recent political events, and so far there’s no clear reason why we the audience should listen or care.