Have To Know History

Jason Freewalt
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Have To Know History – it’s history you just have to know. Hosted by teacher and storyteller Jason Freewalt, this podcast explores strange tales, wild myths, and unbelievable moments from the ancient world. From the Minotaur to Alexander the Great, these are the quirky, fascinating stories that make history feel alive. Adapted from the YouTube series of the same name, each episode is like a mini time-travel adventure. New episodes drop every couple of weeks—or whenever time allows. Follow now and don’t miss a thing!

  1. Jul 31

    The Odyssey Explained: The Real History Behind Homer’s Greatest Story

    Did the adventures of Odysseus really happen? In this episode of Have To Know History, we journey back more than 3,000 years to explore the fascinating historical world behind Homer's Odyssey. Along the way, we'll meet the Cyclops, the Sirens, Circe, Calypso, Scylla and Charybdis, and discover how real geography, Bronze Age history, archaeology, and centuries of storytelling may have transformed historical events into one of the greatest epics ever written. Were these monsters ever real? Could some of the famous locations still be identified today? And how much of Odysseus's incredible journey might have been inspired by actual people and places? We'll separate what historians know, what archaeologists have discovered, and where the evidence gives way to legend—while exploring why The Odyssey continues to captivate readers nearly three thousand years after it was first told. Whether you're a fan of ancient history, Greek mythology, archaeology, or simply enjoy a great story, this episode offers a fresh look at one of history's most enduring adventures. This is Have To Know History—history you just have to know. Thanks for being here!

    The Odyssey Explained: The Real History Behind Homer’s Greatest Story

  2. Jul 17

    The Medici: How Bankers Built the Renaissance | Renaissance Mini-Series Part 3 of 3

    How did one family of bankers help shape one of the greatest cultural movements in history? In this episode of Have To Know History, we conclude our three-part series, From the Silk Road to the Renaissance, by exploring the incredible story of the Medici family of Florence. The Medici weren't kings, but their wealth, political influence, and patronage helped transform Florence into the heart of the Renaissance. We'll look at how banking, trade, and ambition fueled an explosion of art, architecture, scholarship, and learning that still shapes our world today. Along the way, we'll explore: How the Medici Bank became one of Europe's most powerful financial institutionsCosimo de' Medici and his influence over FlorenceRenaissance patronage and why artists needed wealthy supportersHumanism and its renewed interest in ancient Greece and RomeWhy Renaissance art looked so different from medieval artHow members of the Medici family became popesThe surprising connection between the Renaissance and Martin Luther's Protestant ReformationHistory isn't just a list of dates. It's a web of connected stories. From Marco Polo and the Silk Road to Florence, the Medici, and the Reformation, this episode shows how one thread can change the course of history. This is Part 3 of 3 in the series From the Silk Road to the Renaissance. If you enjoy the podcast, I'd appreciate it if you'd follow the show and leave a rating or review. It really helps others discover Have To Know History. This is Have To Know History—history you just have to know!

    The Medici: How Bankers Built the Renaissance | Renaissance Mini-Series Part 3 of 3

  3. Jul 5

    Italian City-States and the Rise of the Renaissance | Renaissance Mini-Series Part 2 of 3

    What if the Renaissance wasn’t just about great artists, beautiful paintings, and famous sculptures? What if it was also about cities? In this episode of Have To Know History, we continue our three-part series, From the Silk Road to the Renaissance. Part 2 focuses on the Italian city-states: places like Venice, Genoa, Milan, and Florence. During the Renaissance, Italy was not one united country yet. Instead, it was a collection of powerful city-states that made their own deals, fought their own wars, competed with each other, and became incredibly wealthy through trade, banking, textiles, shipping, luxury goods, and political ambition. We’ll talk about why these cities mattered, how wealth helped create opportunity, why Florence became such an important center of art and learning, and how the Renaissance grew out of a world of merchants, bankers, artists, scholars, and powerful families trying to make their cities richer, stronger, and more impressive. The Renaissance didn’t appear out of nowhere. Goods moved. Money moved. Ideas moved. And in the cities of Italy, those forces helped create one of the most creative periods in history. This is Part 2 of 3 in the series: Part 1: Marco Polo and the Silk Road Part 2: Italian city-states and the Renaissance Part 3: The Medici, money, art, and the road toward the Reformation Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/w748zVjLzYw This is Have To Know History — history you just have to know.

    Italian City-States and the Rise of the Renaissance | Renaissance Mini-Series Part 2 of 3

  4. Jun 19

    Marco Polo, the Silk Road, and the Journey to the Renaissance | Renaissance Mini-Series Part 1 of 3

    What if the Renaissance didn’t begin with a painting, a sculpture, or a famous artist? What if part of the story begins with the Silk Road? In this episode of Have To Know History, we begin a three-part series called From the Silk Road to the Renaissance. Part 1 follows Marco Polo, the Silk Road, and the world of trade, travel, stories, inventions, and ideas that helped open Europe’s imagination after the Middle Ages. We’ll talk about Europe after the fall of Rome, the Crusades, the Black Death, Mongol rule, Kublai Khan, Venice, China, the Old Man of the Mountain and the Assassins, and how Marco Polo’s book helped Europeans imagine a much larger world. The Renaissance didn’t appear out of nowhere. Goods moved. Ideas moved. Stories moved. And eventually, Europe began to change. This is Part 1 of 3 in the series: Part 1: Marco Polo and the Silk Road Part 2: Italian city-states and the Renaissance Part 3: The Medici, money, art, and the road toward the Reformation Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dMhZr40HBfQ This is Have To Know History — history you just have to know.

    Marco Polo, the Silk Road, and the Journey to the Renaissance | Renaissance Mini-Series Part 1 of 3

  5. May 29

    Mansa Musa: Gold, Trade, and the Richest Man in History

    When people hear the name Mansa Musa, they usually hear one claim right away: the richest man who ever lived. But how did someone become unimaginably wealthy in the middle of the Sahara Desert? In this episode of Have To Know History, we explore the real story behind Mansa Musa — not just his gold, but the systems that made his wealth possible. From silent barter and the salt trade to camel caravans, trans-Saharan routes, and the rise of the Mali Empire, this is the story of how West Africa became one of the most connected regions in the medieval world. We’ll look at: How silent barter worked and why it depended on trust Why salt was just as valuable as gold How trade crossed the Sahara using camel caravans The fall of the Ghana Empire and the rise of Mali How Mansa Musa controlled trade rather than mining gold himself Islam as a global cultural and economic network Mansa Musa’s famous pilgrimage to Mecca The rise of Timbuktu as a center of learning How Greek ideas were preserved and expanded through Islamic scholarship Mansa Musa wasn’t rich because of legend or exaggeration. He was rich because he understood geography, trade, and global connections. This is Have To Know History — history you just have to know. Thanks for being here.

    Mansa Musa: Gold, Trade, and the Richest Man in History

  6. May 8

    Beowulf — Monsters, Dragons, and the First English Epic

    Imagine a story so old it was told long before it was ever written down… A story of monsters, warriors, revenge—and one hero who decides to fight a creature with his bare hands. That’s Beowulf. In this episode of Have to Know History, we dive into one of the oldest surviving stories in the English language—a tale of Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a final battle with a dragon that comes many years later. But this isn’t just a monster story. It’s about fame.It’s about legacy.And it’s about what happens when even the greatest hero grows old. Along the way, we explore how this ancient story connects to Viking culture, medieval beliefs, and even later works like those of J. R. R. Tolkien. Whether you're a student, a history fan, or just love a great story, this is one you have to know. 🎧 Have to Know History is also available on YouTube for full video episodes.

    Beowulf — Monsters, Dragons, and the First English Epic

  7. Apr 17

    The Hidden History of Baseball: It Didn’t Start Where You Think

    Baseball feels as American as summer nights, hot dogs, and a game of catch in the backyard… but the real story of how it began is far more surprising. In this episode of Have To Know History, we go beyond the familiar myths and uncover the true origins of baseball—from ancient stick-and-ball games played in Egypt, Greece, and Rome… to chaotic medieval games… to the rise of professional teams in places you might not expect. Was baseball really invented by Abner Doubleday in Cooperstown? Why was the first professional team the Cincinnati Red Stockings… and not a team from New York or Boston? And how did small Midwestern teams like the Fort Wayne Kekiongas help shape the game we know today? This episode explores how baseball evolved—not from a single moment, but over time—and how it became something much bigger than just a game. Because in the end, baseball isn’t just about rules or teams… It’s about something humans have always done:Pick up a stick. Hit something. And see what happens next. 🎙️ Have To Know History — history you just have to know. #JasonFreewalt #HaveToKnowHistory #BaseballHistory

    The Hidden History of Baseball: It Didn’t Start Where You Think

  8. Mar 27

    The Great Pyramid of Giza: The Last Wonder Standing

    The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only ancient Wonder of the World still standing — and the more we study it, the more questions it raises. Built over 4,500 years ago during the reign of Pharaoh Khufu, this massive monument was once a gleaming white mountain in the desert, aligned with the stars and designed for eternity. But how was it built with such precision? Who were the workers really? And why is Khufu’s name almost completely missing from inside the pyramid? In this episode of Have To Know History, we explore:• how the Great Pyramid was actually constructed• the workers’ graffiti that links it to Khufu• the mystery of the empty granite box• the solar boats buried beside the pyramid• the engineering of the King’s Chamber• the star-aligned shafts and spiritual symbolism• and why this monument still matters today This isn’t just a tomb — it’s a cosmic monument built from engineering, mathematics, astronomy, and belief. And it’s the last survivor of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. This is Have To Know History — history you just have to know.Thanks for being here.

    The Great Pyramid of Giza: The Last Wonder Standing
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About

Have To Know History – it’s history you just have to know. Hosted by teacher and storyteller Jason Freewalt, this podcast explores strange tales, wild myths, and unbelievable moments from the ancient world. From the Minotaur to Alexander the Great, these are the quirky, fascinating stories that make history feel alive. Adapted from the YouTube series of the same name, each episode is like a mini time-travel adventure. New episodes drop every couple of weeks—or whenever time allows. Follow now and don’t miss a thing!

Information

  • Creator
    Jason Freewalt
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jason Freewalt
  • Show Website
    Have To Know History