Dan Carlin's Hardcore History

About Dan Carlin's Hardcore History

In "Hardcore History" journalist and broadcaster Dan Carlin takes his "Martian", unorthodox way of thinking and applies it to the past. Was Alexander the Great as bad a person as Adolf Hitler? What would Apaches with modern weapons be like? Will our modern civilization ever fall like civilizations from past eras? This isn't academic history (and Carlin isn't a historian) but the podcast's unique blend of high drama, masterful narration and Twilight Zone-style twists has entertained millions of listeners.

Publisher

Dan Carlin

Category

history

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

29 Oct 2015

Latest episode

31 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

6 of 19 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   31 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Show 74 - Mania for Subjugation IV

   Dan Carlin explores the pivotal Battle of Issus, revealing its profound impact on ancient history and the clash between Alexander and the Persian Great King.

2. 

   22 Dec 2025TRANSCRIPT

   Show 73 - Mania for Subjugation III

   Dan Carlin's Hardcore History examines Alexander the Great's ambition to conquer the Persian Empire at a young age, highlighting his unique blend of military genius and personal drive.

3. 

   3 Jan 2025TRANSCRIPT

   Show 72 - Mania for Subjugation II

   Dan Carlin interviews himself about Alexander the Great's early reign, exploring the dangers of young leadership and military power.

4. 

   7 Jun 2024TRANSCRIPT

   Show 71 - Mania for Subjugation

   Dan Carlin explores how nature, nurture, and nepotism forge world-class apex predators like Alexander the Great in this interview episode.

5. 

   19 Nov 2023TRANSCRIPT

   Show 70 - Twilight of the Aesir II

   Dan Carlin explores how pagan Viking sea kings transform into Christian monarchs, questioning if Scandinavian neighbors face less horror under rulers like Harald Bluetooth and Svein Forkbeard.

6. 

   15 Jan 2023TRANSCRIPT

   Show 69 - Twilight of the Aesir

   Dan Carlin explores the precarious existence of pagan Germanic peoples like the Vikings during the early Middle Ages, facing pressure from encroaching Christian societies.

7. 

   7 Mar 2022

   Show 68 - BLITZ Human Resources

   Dan Carlin explores the brutal complexities of the Atlantic Slave Trade, examining its intertwined history of violence, economics, and morality.

8. 

   8 Jun 2021

   Show 67 - Supernova in the East VI

   Dan Carlin explores Japan's leaders testing national endurance with spirit, tenacity, resilience, and bravery crossing into madness during the war's final year.

9. 

   14 Nov 2020

   Show 66 - Supernova in the East V

   Dan Carlin explores how suicidal bravery and fanatical determination tested Japan's material and numerical insufficiency in the Asia-Pacific conflict's nightmarish turn.

10. 

    3 Jun 2020

    Show 65 - Supernova in the East IV

    Dan Carlin explores the pivotal Coral Sea, Midway, and Guadalcanal battles, revealing their impact on World War II's Pacific momentum and modern warfare.

11. 

    25 Oct 2019

    Show 64 - Supernova in the East III

    Dan Carlin explores Japan's aggressive expansion and the brutal nature of the ensuing conflict in "Supernova in the East III."

12. 

    12 Jan 2019

    Show 63 - Supernova in the East II

    Dan Carlin explores the escalating Japanese war crimes in China and the world's response leading up to December 7, 1941.

13. 

    14 Jul 2018

    Show 62 - Supernova in the East I

    The Asia-Pacific War of 1937-1945 has deep roots. It also involves a Japanese society that's been called one of the most distinctive on Earth. If there were a Japanese version of Captain America, this would be his origin story.

14. 

    28 Jan 2018

    Show 61 - (Blitz) Painfotainment

    Pain is at the root of most drama and entertainment. When does it get too real? This very disturbing and graphic show looks into some case studies and asks some deep questions. WARNING Very intense subject matter.

15. 

    9 Aug 2017

    Show 60 - The Celtic Holocaust

    Julius Caesar is our travel guide as he takes us through his murderous subjugation of the native Celtic tribal peoples of ancient Gaul. It sounds vaguely like other, recent European colonial conquests...until the natives nearly win.

16. 

    25 Jan 2017

    Show 59 - (Blitz) The Destroyer of Worlds

    What happens if human beings can't handle the power of their own weaponry? This show  examines the dangerous early years of the Nuclear Age and humankind's efforts to avoid self-destruction at the hands of its own creation.

17. 

    7 Aug 2016

    Show 58 - Kings of Kings III

    If this were a movie, the events and cameos would be too numerous and star-studded to mention. It includes Xerxes, Spartans, Immortals, Alexander the Great, scythed chariots, and several of the greatest battles in history.

18. 

    20 Mar 2016

    Show 57 - Kings of Kings II

    From Biblical-era coup conspiracies to the horrific aftermath of ancient combat this second installment of the series on the Kings of Achaemenid Persia goes where only Dan can take it. For better or worse…

19. 

    29 Oct 2015

    Show 56 - Kings of Kings

    Often relegated to the role of slavish cannon fodder for Sparta's spears, the Achaemenid Persian empire had a glorious heritage. Under a single king they created the greatest empire the world had ever seen.

Inside a recent episode

Show 74 - Mania for Subjugation IV

Published 31 Jul 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] The crews would camp and eat and find water then. So if the Persian fleet, for example, wants to leave from Egypt to operate, you know, in the area that's now the Turkish coast, it can't go from Egypt to there. It's going to go point to point to point along the coastline all the way up camping every night, you know, sort of at sundown. If you take away those areas where they can camp, well, they have to go farther and farther away, right? If Alexander's going to send forces to take all the possible areas that would be a good landing site for the Persian fleet, they have to camp farther away. And the range between this new camp, away from Alexander's troops, and where you want that fleet, maybe right outside this city Alexander's trying to attack, is too far. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

16,371,689

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

64,055 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

28,377 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 52 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

28

Social presence

0

YouTube

93

Engagement

100

Contact Dan Carlin's Hardcore History

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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