Take a deep dive into History’s biggest moments with Tom Holland & Dominic Sandbrook.
Explore the stories of History’s most brutal rulers, deadly battles, and world-changing events. From the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, the Nazi conquest of Europe, and Hitler’s evil master plan for world domination, to the French Revolution, the sinking of the Titanic, or the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Tom and Dominic bring the past to life with gripping storytelling and expert analysis, as they unpack the high-drama moments that shaped our world.
Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at therestishistory.com.
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Latest episodes
Showing 20 · updated from the feed
707. The Terror: An Assassination in Paris (Part 1)
How did the infamous murder of Jean-Paul Marat, one of the great firebrands of the French Revolution, unleash the bloody Terror? Why did the clashing political factions o
Sep 20 1 h 25 min
706. Queen Victoria’s Revenge: Storming the Citadel (Part 2)
Who was Lieutenant Napier, the man set out to rescue the European hostages held by Emperor Tewodros II? How did he plan to attack the emperor’s fortress, Magdala? And, di
Sep 16 1 h 13 min
705. Queen Victoria’s Revenge: The Mad Emperor of Abyssinia (Part 1)
Who was Emperor Tewodros II, the colourful and controversial Emperor of Abyssinia? Why did he brutally imprison a number of British emissaries, and how did Queen Victoria
Sep 13 1 h 10 min
704. Roman Civil War: Master of the Republic (Part 4)
Who was Gaius Marius’ son, and how did he set out to bring down his father’s rival, Sulla? Which two rising stars in Sulla’s faction, Crassus and Pompey, would go on to b
Sep 9 1 h 10 min
703. Roman Civil War: Marching on the Senate (Part 3)
What shocking, unprecedented act did Sulla commit with his legions after having his ambitions frustrated once more by his bitter rival, the tribune Marius? How did Marius
Sep 6 1 h 13 min
702. Roman Civil War: The Barbarian Invasion (Part 2)
What was the ancient city of Rome actually like in the first century BC? Who was Lucius Cornelius Sulla, another great, but aristocratic, Roman general who would clash wi
Sep 2 1 h 18 min
701. Roman Civil War: Rise of the General (Part 1)
Who was Gaius Marius, one of the two men who would shape the fate of Rome in the first century BC? Why was his road to fame, fortune, and political greatness, from total
Aug 30 1 h 13 min
700. The Troubles: Bloody Sunday (Part 4)
How did Bloody Sunday erupt on the 30th of January 1972? Why did it follow on the heels of terrible violence? And, what were the consequences of that violent day?
Join
Aug 26 1 h 24 min
699. The Troubles: Return of the IRA (Part 3)
What was the Provisional IRA, and why did they return to the fray at the high point of The Troubles in Northern Ireland? How did a series of bloody battles, including th
Aug 23 1 h 23 min
698. The Troubles: The Brink of Civil War (Part 2)
Why did the violence of the Troubles escalate as it did in Ulster? How did a series of marches from Belfast to Derry in 1969 result in terrible violence, and heighten the
Aug 19 1 h 22 min
697. The Troubles: Murder in Belfast (Part 1)
How did the Troubles break out in Northern Ireland in the 1960s, and how far back does the dispute really go? Why did the conflict intensify as it did? And, what did it r
Aug 16 1 h 26 min
696. Elizabeth I vs The Catholics: Killing the Queen of Scots (Part 6)
How did the Babington Plot, another Catholic conspiracy to assassinate Elizabeth I and replace her with the imprisoned Mary Queen of Scots, unfold? Did the Spanish help h
Aug 12 1 h 09 min
695. Elizabeth I vs The Catholics: The Shadow War (Part 5)
Who was the charismatic Sir Philip Sidney, a beloved but also suspect courtier to Elizabeth I? Why, in 1585, was England in such danger from a Spanish invasion? And, woul
Aug 9 1 h 01 min
694. Elizabeth I vs The Catholics: A Treacherous Conspiracy (Part 4)
After ransacking Spanish treasure ships, would Elizabeth I betray Sir Francis Drake to her enemies? Who did she back in the French civil wars? And, with the help of Engli
Aug 5 1 h 12 min
693. Elizabeth I vs The Catholics: England’s Greatest Hero (Part 3)
Why is Sir Francis Drake enshrined as one of England’s greatest heroes? Where did he come from, and how did he rise to prominence and earn the adoration of Elizabeth I, f
Aug 2 1 h 16 min
692. Elizabeth I vs The Catholics: A Massacre in Paris (Part 2)
What inspired the deadliest bloodbath of the Tudor age: the St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre of 1572, in which protestants were slaughtered en masse? How did it drive Elizab
Jul 29 1 h 11 min
691. Elizabeth I vs The Catholics: The Queen’s Spymaster (Part 1)
How did Elizabeth I rule England? Why was she constantly in mortal peril in 1569? Who was Sir William Cecil, and why was he so crucial to her reign? And, how did his netw
Jul 26 1 h 12 min
690. A Murderous Affair: Death at Mayerling (Part 2)
What really happened at the Habsburgian hunting lodge, Mayerling? Did Crown Prince Rudolf and his mistress, Baroness Mary Vetsera, really commit a romantic murder suicide
Jul 22 1 h 19 min
689. A Murderous Affair: The Habsburgs’ Greatest Scandal (Part 1)
What was Vienna like in the 1880s? Why was Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria seen as the outcast of the prestigious Habsburg dynasty? And, how would meeting 17 year-old Baro
Jul 19 1 h 12 min
688. The Odyssey: Return of the King (Part 2)
How did the second half of Odysseus’ long journey home to Ithaca play out? What does the epic’s account of the Olympian gods indicate about Ancient Greek religion? And,
Jul 15 1 h 05 min
Chart trend
Position in the overall Apple Podcasts chart (US), last 90 days.
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all-time peak
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days in the top 3 since Nov 2024
Chart positions
Where The Rest Is History ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 21, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
You can find many faults with The Rest is History. However by far the best podcast I have seen. The dedication, humor, knowledge of both Tom and Dominic are drivers. You do not need to enjoy history to adhore this series, that is the crazy thing, despite being a top-notch history series.
muun71 · Sep 2026
Presenting history in a very approachable, informative and entertaining way. Money well spent- one day I will see them live in the UK!
Rushisnumberone · Aug 2026
I love the banter and dynamic between Tom and Dominic, but they either need a new producer or a new mic and enunciation lessons for Dominic. He has a very annoying tendency to trail off and finish his sentences under his breath, making it impossible to understand him half the time he speaks.
aallllas · Aug 2026
I love this podcast. I never thought history could be so enjoyable. Even though I'm one of the so called "tax evading Americans" as you so often call me, I am thoroughly entertained. Like other listeners, you are helping me get through this rough time in U.S history by knowing that others have survived crazy anointed or elected leaders. Thank you for this peace of mind. Brillant!
Cindy Fowler · Dec 2024
I just finished listening to the 5 part series on the Aztecs of Mexico. The series was so one-sided favoring the Spanish, it could have been used for as an advertisement for the wonders of enslaving conquered people. The insensitivity toward the native people of Mexico was shocking. No depth or insight regarding the indigenous people of Mexico was ever offered. As a matter of fact, the last episode featured comparisons of Cortez and the Aztec leader as to their character and humanitarian values. Of course the Aztec leaders were seen as ruthless and cruel. Did the writers of this podcast understand that the land of these leaders was being destroyed and the people of that land were being decimated! I understand one of people presenting this racist presentation was a children’s book author. Thus, the next generations of anglo rulers has a new guide book. I just cancelled my subscription to this one.
Singing707 · Nov 2024
Disappointing and Superficial As someone with a deep interest in history, I was excited to dive into this podcast. Unfortunately, it fell far short of my expectations. The episodes are disappointingly superficial, barely scratching the surface of complex historical events and often getting basic facts wrong. The inaccuracies are glaring and undermine any educational value the podcast might have had. To make matters worse, the hosts seem to compensate for their lack of depth with silly and juvenile banter. While a bit of humor can lighten the mood, here it comes off as a distraction from the substance—or lack thereof—of the content. If you’re looking for a podcast that takes history seriously and treats its audience with respect, I would suggest looking elsewhere.
Mare2322234 · Aug 2024
We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.
Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of The Rest Is History, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.
