The Rest Is History
Goalhanger
SummaryIf you have ever found yourself wondering how the past shapes our present, The Rest Is History is the ultimate deep dive. Hosted by historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, the show takes a refreshingly human approach to the grand narrative of our world. Rather than delivering dry lectures, the hosts treat history as a living, breathing story, filled with the same messy contradictions, unintended consequences, and vibrant characters that define life today. Across their expansive series, you will find a blend of rigorous scholarship and sharp wit. Whether they are deconstructing the fatal rivalry between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, tracing the surprising evolution of national anthems, or examining how authoritarian regimes have historically weaponized sports like football, the hosts peel back the layers of myth to reveal the truth underneath. They excel at placing monumental events—like the Dutch Revolt or the end of apartheid in South Africa—into a global context, showing how personal ambitions and grand ideologies collide to spark change. The podcast is perfect for anyone who loves an intellectual adventure that doesn’t take itself too seriously. By balancing well-researched accounts with engaging, conversational banter, Holland and Sandbrook make history feel immediate and relevant. If you want to understand the origins of the modern world or simply enjoy a fascinating story about the people who built it, this is the destination for your ears.
Updated Jul 5, 2026
Episodes
685. Hamilton: Duel to the Death (Part 3)
Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr collide in a defining clash of ambition, political rivalry, and the fatal duel.
684. Franklin: Revenge of the American Genius (Part 2)
Benjamin Franklin navigates the evolution from loyal British subject to radical architect of the American Republic.
683. Washington: Hero of the Revolution (Part 1)
Explore the legendary life and military struggles of George Washington as he leads the Continental Army to survival.
682. South Africa: Mandela and the Death of Apartheid (Part 6)
Nelson Mandela uses the 1995 Rugby World Cup to unite a fractured nation and dismantle the legacy of apartheid.
681. Brazil: The Emperor’s Anthem (Part 5)
The Braganza dynasty flees to Rio as Dom Pedro I leads Brazil to independence with a cry of liberty or death.
680. The Netherlands: The Revolt that Made The Modern World (Part 4)
The Dutch Revolt transformed seventeen fragmented provinces into the prosperous, innovative, and independent Netherlands.
The Fascist World Cup: Mussolini's Football Dictatorship | History of the World Cup
Discover how Mussolini used the 1934 and 1938 World Cups to project fascist strength and propaganda through football.
The Fascist World Cup: Mussolini's Football Dictatorship
Mussolini turned the 1934 and 1938 World Cups into instruments of fascist propaganda, virility, and national power.
679. Germany: The Song Hitler Stole (Part 3)
Discover the complex, often misunderstood history of the German national anthem from Haydn to the modern day.
678. Britain: God Save the King (Part 2)
Discover how the British national anthem evolved from a Jacobite loyalist song into an icon of parliamentary rule.
678. England: God Save the King (Part 2)
The origins of God Save the King reveal a turncoat anthem that evolved from a Jacobite prayer to a national symbol.
677. USA: The Star-Spangled Banner (Part 1)
Francis Scott Key penned the American anthem during the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812.
676. The First World War: Churchill’s Calamity (Part 6)
The Gallipoli campaign descends into a bloody, dysentery-ridden stalemate as Churchill’s political career collapses.
675. The First World War: Slaughter at Gallipoli (Part 5)
Winston Churchill orchestrates the disastrous Gallipoli campaign, a catastrophic naval gamble in the First World War.
674. The First World War: The Spy Who Took on the Germans (Part 4)
The true story of Edith Cavell, the heroic nurse who defied German occupiers to lead a daring WWI escape network.
673. The First World War: The Submarine Strikes (Part 3)
The sinking of the RMS Lusitania by a German U-boat in 1915 serves as a turning point in the First World War.
672. The First World War: Italy’s Doomed Campaign (Part 2)
Italy gambles on an opportunistic, blood-soaked campaign for empire that fuels the rise of fascism.
Empress Matilda: Civil War and the Fight for the Throne
Empress Matilda challenged King Stephen for the English throne, igniting years of brutal civil war known as the Anarchy.
671. The First World War: Blood in the Trenches (Part 1)
Experience the visceral reality of 1915 trench warfare through the eyes of the young soldiers on the Western Front.
670. Tom Holland Meets Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney reflects on how his Liverpool childhood and the post-war era shaped the music and optimism of the Beatles.
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