History Nerds United

Brendan Dowd

Let's make history fun again! Come listen to interviews with award winning authors, the rantings of a history nerd, and various other things. Enjoy!

  1. 1d ago

    The Atomic Bombs with James M. Scott

    Send us Fan Mail He's back! James M. Scott joins me to talk Empire of Ashes: Truman, Hirohito, and the Descent into Total War. Buy Empire of Ashes Check out James' website Support the show

  2. 3d ago

    Books I Don't Want You To Miss for July 2026

    Send us Fan Mail Another month, another list of books I don’t want you to miss just because they didn’t get to come on the pod! How to Rule the World by Theo Baker – or as I like to call it, how to make college more difficult than it needed to be. Baker tells the story of going to Stanford University where he expects to become another tech billionaire but somehow ends up on a collision course with the president of the university. Oops!  Stolen Revolution by Yeganeh Torbati and Bozorgmehr Sharafedin This book follows a few people in the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution. It puts so much in perspective and is one of those books which feels like so much is jammed into the book, but it never gets overwhelming. They Stole a City by Lauren Collins – speaking of overwhelming, in 1898 the legitimately elected and appointed government of Wilmington, North Carolina was overthrown by a bunch of White supremacists who proceeded to terrorize the Black community. Everyone collectively shrugged like it was somehow okay for that to happen. Collins follows the lives of many affected through the generations.  Kingdom of Devils by Katherine Grandjean – post- American Revolution serial killers! You probably never heard of the Harps (and neither had I), but in 1797 they went on a killing spree in the Kentucky and Tennessee countryside. This one was mind-blowing and proves there is still plenty of true crime left to discover.  The Gospel According Hobby Lobby by Michael Blanding – I think we have all at least driven by a Hobby Lobby or two. However, the founding of the stores is more fascinating than I ever expected, and Blanding writes a book that is balanced but will also probably cause some tense conversations around the house. The Greens are not just founders of a billion dollar store chain, but also the money behind a national movement.  Catherine the Great by Robert Massie – Massie was the master of Russian history as far as I am concerned, and Catherine the Great was one of my favorites. Love her or hate her, Catherine was powerful, intelligent, and unafraid to take a big swing. You know, like killing your spouse (allegedly!) for instance.  Support the show

  3. Jul 28

    Richard Pryor and a Terrible Word with Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor

    Send us Fan Mail Let's not say it! Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor joins me to talk Something We Said: Richard Pryor, a Notorious Word, and Me. Buy Something We Said Support the show

  4. Jul 21

    The Weather Underground with Zayd Ayers Dohrn

    Send us Fan Mail Let's go on the run! Zayd Ayers Dohrn joins me to talk Dangerous, Dirty, Violent, and Young: A Fugitive Family in the Revolutionary Underground. Buy Dangerous, Dirty, Violent, and Young Check out Zayd's website Support the show

  5. Jul 14

    An Innocent Man on Death Row with Pamela Colloff

    Send us Fan Mail Let's set him free! Pamela Colloff joins me to talk Catch the Devil: A True Story of Murder, Deception, and Injustice on the Gulf Coast. Buy Catch the Devil Check out Pamela's website Support the show

  6. Jul 11

    The L.A. Wildfires of 2025 with Jonathan Vigliotti

    Send us Fan Mail Let's get lit! Jonathan Vigliotti joins me to talk Torched: How a City Was Left to Burn, and the Olympic Rush to Rebuild L.A. Buy Torched Check out Jonathan's website Support the show

  7. Jul 7

    The U.S. Constitutional Convention with Lawrence Goldstone

    Send us Fan Mail Let's compromise! Lawrence Goldstone joins me to talk Imperfect Union: How Errors of Omission Threaten Constitutional Democracy. Buy Imperfect Union Check Out Lawrence's Website Support the show

  8. Jun 30

    The American Revolution with Rick Atkinson

    Send us Fan Mail Let's celebrate 250! The legendary Rick Atkinson joins me to talk The Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780. Buy The Fate of the Day Check out Rick's website Support the show

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4.7
out of 5
40 Ratings

About

Let's make history fun again! Come listen to interviews with award winning authors, the rantings of a history nerd, and various other things. Enjoy!

Information

  • Creator
    Brendan Dowd
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    230
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 History Nerds United
  • Show Website
    History Nerds United

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