The History Of cover art

The History Of

The History Of

By: Nik Hunter
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About this listen

 The History Of...
For people who were bad at history but not too proud to Google it now. This isn’t the history podcast for experts. It’s for the rest of us: the curious, the confused, the ones who zoned out during school but still wonder who invented the fork or why people used to put arsenic in their face cream. Each episode takes one thing an object, a place, a job, a trend and unpacks the weird, messy, often ridiculous story behind it. Just history for people who ask questions late at night and want answers that don’t feel like homework. You might actually enjoy it, and it's enough to make you feel clever at work...for a change.

New Episodes: Mon/Wed/Fri
(If people enjoy, and feedback via reviews and ratings is good, will release daily)

Topic Categories
  • Objects & Inventions
  • Jobs & Roles
  • Places
  • Health & Beauty
  • Books, Ideas & Beliefs
  • Music, Art & Culture
  • Myths, Monsters & Weird Beliefs
  • Trends & Fads
  • People
  • Sport
Request an episode: thehistoryoftheemail@gmail.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-history-of--6664775/support.Copyright Nik Hunter Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • Ep.26 Prostitution

    Ep.26 Prostitution
    Oct 8 2025
    From sacred rituals in Mesopotamian temples to the neon glow of modern red-light districts, prostitution has been called the world’s oldest profession for a reason. In this episode, we trace its long, complicated history as it began with fertility rites and sacred customs, shifted into a practice that was condemned and taxed across empires, and eventually became tangled with morality, law, and survival in the modern age. Along the way, we meet courtesans and concubines, street workers and activists, and see how societies across time have never fully decided whether to embrace, regulate, or punish sex work.

    New Episodes: Mon/Wed/Fri
    (If people enjoy, and feedback via reviews and ratings is good, will release daily)

    Request an episode: thehistoryoftheemail@gmail.com

    The History Of is your daily dose of weird, wonderful, and occasionally ridiculous history. Each episode takes one topic an object, a place, a job, a trend and unpacks the surprising story behind it. No homework, no boring lectures, just history you’ll actually want to share.

    A podcast for all ages, if you enjoy please share it and leave a review because that tells me you want more.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-history-of--6664775/support.
    Show More Show Less
    25 mins
  • Ep.25 The Compass

    Ep.25 The Compass
    Oct 6 2025
    Today we’re talking about one of humanity’s simplest yet most powerful inventions: the compass. Born in ancient China not as a navigation tool but as a device for divination, the compass slowly made its way west along the Silk Road, guiding sailors, merchants, and eventually empires. In this episode, we trace its journey from lodestones and fortune-telling to the Age of Discovery, polar expeditions, Boy Scout kits, spy gadgets, and even our idea of an “inner compass.” It’s the story of how a wobbling little needle changed the world and why, even in the age of GPS, we still find it strangely magical.

    New Episodes: Mon/Wed/Fri
    (If people enjoy, and feedback via reviews and ratings is good, will release daily)

    Request an episode: thehistoryoftheemail@gmail.com

    The History Of is your daily dose of weird, wonderful, and occasionally ridiculous history. Each episode takes one topic an object, a place, a job, a trend and unpacks the surprising story behind it. No homework, no boring lectures, just history you’ll actually want to share.

    A podcast for all ages, if you enjoy please share it and leave a review because that tells me you want more.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-history-of--6664775/support.
    Show More Show Less
    17 mins
  • Ep.24 Mood Rings

    Ep.24 Mood Rings
    Oct 3 2025
    In 1975, two New York inventors turned liquid crystal science into the grooviest gimmick of the decade: the mood ring. This episode traces the wild rise of the little band that claimed to read your emotions, from its birth in the “Me Decade” of introspection and astrology, to its short-lived cultural takeover, and its colorful afterlife in retro fashion. Were mood rings accurate? Not even close. Were they fun? Absolutely. Join us as we explore how a bit of science, a lot of marketing, and the human desire to know ourselves combined to create one of the most unforgettable fads of the 20th century.

    New Episodes: Mon/Wed/Fri
    (If people enjoy, and feedback via reviews and ratings is good, will release daily)

    Request an episode: thehistoryoftheemail@gmail.com

    The History Of is your daily dose of weird, wonderful, and occasionally ridiculous history. Each episode takes one topic an object, a place, a job, a trend and unpacks the surprising story behind it. No homework, no boring lectures, just history you’ll actually want to share.

    A podcast for all ages, if you enjoy please share it and leave a review because that tells me you want more.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-history-of--6664775/support.
    Show More Show Less
    22 mins
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