Podcasts on History
There are a number of readymade history podcasts available online that can be used in the online classroom. Historical Podcasts at http://historicalpodcasts.googlepages.com/ lists many of these. These podcasts are often better options for instructors than recording their own lectures because they are professionally produced and include interviews and discussions as well as lectures. A single episode of these podcasts could be used to replace a lecture. Here is a selection of history podcasts that I recommend:
BBC History Magazine at www.bbchistorymagazine.com/podcast.asp: This really an advert for the upcoming edition of the magazine. However, the podcast, which contains interviews with historians whose articles appear in the magazine, is informative and covers all areas of history.
Great Speeches in History at www.learnoutloud.com/Catalog/History/Speeches/Great-Speeches-in-History-Podcast/21306: Some of the speeches are original and some are narrated renditions. The quality of the speeches vary: a number of the narrations are rather dry while others are extremely moving. Selective use of this podcast could really enhance a history course.
History according to Bob at www.summahistorica.com : Historian Bob Packett presents a series of short, and very entertaining, lectures that focuses on a wide array of topics.
History @ 33 1/3 at www.history3313.com/iWeb/History3313.com/Home.html: This is presented by a Professor of Middle Eastern History at Long Island University who interviews historians about their work. The interviews are very enlightening but tend to be a little too long. Still, a graduate class in history would find much of interest here.
In Our Time at www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/inourtime: This is a radio program on the history of ideas broadcast by the BBC and presented by Melvyn Bragg. Each program is a roundtable discussion on a wide range of topics. Some of the programs focus on rather obscure topics but the discussions is always of the highest quality.
Making History Podcast at http://makinghistorypodcast.com: This is a podcast in which leading historians discuss their work.
New Books in History at http://newbooksinhistory.com: Marshall Poe interviews historians about their latest books.
Talking History at http://talkinghistory.oah.org: This is a wonderful podcast produced in association with the Organization of American Historians (OAH). It contains music, commentary, news, and interviews with historians. They suspended broadcast operation in July 2006 but their shows are still archived on iTunes.
Talking History on Newstalk 106"108 fm at www.newstalk.ie/newstalk/podcasts.html: This is an excellent Irish radio broadcast. Like In Our Time, each episode is a roundtable discussion on historical topics but the topics are often more popular than those featured in the In Our Time broadcast and just as informative.