Fan of History

We march into the Persian Empire with Xenophon and Alex Petkas to break down the opening of Anabasis—a story of betrayal, survival, and leadership born from failure. This isn't just ancient military …

“If they are free men, they are the basest cravens in the world; but if they are slaves, none would love their masters more.” — Herodotus, on the Ionians

A Persian army on the run. A desperate warning…

Introducing the first ever LazRus Podcast by the creative genius Aniello Dougherty - who is also a teenager!

Something different. Something New. Check it out and let us know what you think.

This is a p…

The Vengeance of Wu Zixu: Blood Feud in the South

The Spring and Autumn period just got personal. Wu Zixu watched his family fall at the hands of King Chu—and now, serving King Helü of Wu, he’s coming…

We follow a mysterious figure named Zhuan Zhu, chosen by a rebellious prince to carry out a job that could change the future of Wu. There’s a banquet. There’s a blade. And you’ll want to hear what ha…

A volcanic eruption in 79 CE buried a villa. Two thousand years later, an AI read its scrolls.

In this episode of What’s New in History, we dive into the jaw-dropping breakthroughs that let artificial…

Darius the Great wasn’t just a king—he was the architect of the Persian Empire. In the 510s BC, he faced two major challenges: conquering the Scythians, and organizing the largest empire the world ha…

Rome left us roads, aqueducts, and massive temples—but they also left us a mystery. The Roman Dodecahedron is one of the most bizarre artifacts of the ancient world—found across Europe but with zero …

Darius is firmly in charge of the Empire, so what's next? Well go get a bunch of wives for one!

Dan takes us through the beginning of Darius' reign of this HUGE empire.

Another thing to think about... …

From Republic to Autocracy, How Ancient Rome Warns Us About Democracy’s Fragility

Alex Petkas is a writer, entrepreneur, and the host of Cost of Glory, a podcast celebrating Western Civilization's emi…

We wrap up the Roaring 520s BC with a stellar cast of characters: The Buddha, Confucius, Lao Tzu, Darius and more! 

Tying up loose ends in China, a young Confucius meets the wise old Taoist sage Lao T…

Most high school students are busy with math and history—but Michael Hoffen took it a step further and learned ancient Egyptian! In this episode, we talk with the teen author of Be a Scribe!, a beaut…

In 524 BC, the unthinkable happened—four capitals in ancient China were engulfed in flames on the same day. But this wasn’t a random disaster; it was foretold. In this episode, we uncover the prophec…

One of our favorite recurring guests, Gil Kidron, has another podcast about movies and we had a wild time discussing the 1956 classic movie "The 10 Commandments" starring Charlton Heston, Yule Brenne…

The 520s BC in China were anything but quiet. With states like Qi and Jin vying for influence, leaders like Zichan rising to prominence, and strange omens hinting at disaster, this decade laid the gr…

In this cross-podcast collaboration recorded in Barcelona, we explore the universal appeal of virgin and unusual birth myths. With Gil from Podcast of Biblical Proportions and Garry from History in t…

In the glittering Aegean of the 520s BC, Polycrates of Samos was a man of unmatched ambition and cunning—a tyrant who ruled the seas and defied the odds. But every rise has its fall. In this episode,…

An ancient Passover letter might not be what it seems. New research suggests it could reflect Zoroastrian influences, reshaping what we know about Judaism’s origins. Join me and Gil Kidron of A Podca…

Dan and Bernie return to Greece in the 520s BC where Kimon "The Booby" gains an Olympic title but loses his head. Did he win by running like an insane person in full hoplite gear? You'll just have to…

The Behistun Chronicles: How Darius Turned Chaos into Control.

Darius the Great didn’t just take an empire—he wrote the ultimate victory speech on a mountainside! Join us on our journey as we explore …