History's Living Voices: The Past, Told by Those Who Lived It

HLV

History's Living Voices is the ultimate, immersive history podcast that delivers firsthand, first-person historical accounts direct from the source. In every episode, we cut out the middleman and go straight to the primary documents: personal diaries, battlefield maps with handwritten orders, private letters, and last-will-and-testaments. Through these authentic, unfiltered voices, discover the true human behind the legend. Imagine a seasoned medieval knight storyteller, having just removed his helmet, guiding you through the troop positions in an ancient manuscript, his words grounded in actual historical records—like a weathered document sealed with a critical year, such as '1776'. From the front lines of global wars to the breakthroughs of visionaries, hear exactly what it felt like to be in the room where it happened. Perfect for fans of documentary storytelling and historical deep-dives who crave authenticity. If you want to know what it truly felt like to live through the moments that forged modernity, this is your journey. Hit follow to listen to the people who wrote the real story of humanity.

  1. How Far Did Rome Expand?

    37m ago

    How Far Did Rome Expand?

    Use code VOICE50 to get 50% off your first Factor box at https://bit.ly/47DiKwo! ------------------------------------- Written and Researched by Dr Raoul McLaughlin: https://youtube.com/channel/UCGk9VXhk_l__aLVp4Yp90lw Edited and Image Curation by Manuel Rubio - check out his amazing channel: @ArtandContext Original Art by Alex Stoica Narrated and Script Edited by David Kelly Music from Epidemic Sound and Artlist Thumbnail Art by Ettore Mazza References: McLaughlin, R. Rome and the Distant East (2010) McLaughlin, R. The Roman Empire and the Indian Ocean (2014) McLaughlin, R. The Roman Empire and the Silk Routes (2016) McLaughlin, Kim & Lieu, Rome and China: Points of Contact (2021) Image Credits: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Augustus_Prima_Porta_BM_GR1812.6-15.1.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bust_of_augustus.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:L%C3%A9gionnaires-romains.png https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Moulage_de_la_Colonne_Trajane_(EUR,_Rome)_(5911256989).jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Capsarius_(Trajans%C3%A4ule).jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:7_Statuen_nubischer_kuschitischer_K%C3%B6nige_Kerma_Musuem.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Combat_between_Achilles_and_Memnon,_Grave_amphora_southern_Italy,_330_BC.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biga_(chariot)#/media/File:Greek_-_Hydria_with_the_Fight_of_Achilles_and_Memnon_-_Walters_482230.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Roman_baths_suetonius_paulinus_02.JPG https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Relief_of_Soldiers_of_the_Praetorian_Guard_05_(51222075915).jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Inside_Meroe_Pyramid.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Inside_Meroe_Pyramid.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mer%C3%B6e_pyramids_reliefs_(13)_(34681435896).jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mer%C3%B6e_pyramids_reliefs_(15)_(34590571511).jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sudan_2017._Meroe.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sudan_Meroe_Pyramids_Ornament_30sep2005.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pompey_the_Great,_Augustean_copy_of_a_70-60_BC_original,_Venice_Museo_Archeologico_Nazionale_(22205132751).jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Autel_tricephale_MuseeStRemi_Reims_1131a.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Testa_in_pietra_con_pi%C3%B9_facce,_da_corleck_hill,_co._di_cavan,_I-II_secolo_dc._02.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CarnyxDeTintignac2.jpg https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cneo_Domicio_Corbul%C3%B3n#/media/Archivo:Pseudo-Corbulo_Musei_Capitolini_MC561.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman%E2%80%93Parthian_Wars#/media/File:Septimius_arch_-_relief.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RomanTerracottaMask_Satyr_BurjAlShimali_NationalMuseumOfBeirut_RomanDeckert06102019.jpg 00:00 The Edge of The Empire 06:38 West: Beyond Carthage (146 BC) 17:34 East: Hunting Mithridates (65 BC) 28:11 South: The Incense Trails (25 BC) 37:53 Further East: The Counterlanders (52 AD) 49:17 Further South: The Source of the Nile (61 AD) 01:04:35 North: The Forests of Germania (61 AD) 01:14:48 Further North: Advance and Engage! (43 - 85 AD) 01:23:46 Onward To Thule! (84 AD) 01:35:16 The Map (150 AD)​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    2h 19m

  2. 1h ago

    The Art of War by Sun Tzu // Ancient Chinese Primary Source

    Here we have extracts from Sun Tzu's ancient classic, still relevant today. Translated by Lionel Giles. Huge thanks to Antony Cummins for the use of his images from his version of the text, and for his choice of extracts for this video. Pick up a copy of his clear and easy to understand version here: https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Art-War-Step-Step/dp/1786782715 Video actor and editor: David Kelly If this channel is something you like, if you think saving primary sources is important, head over to the patreon and join up! https://www.patreon.com/voicesofthepast — Don’t forget to subscribe to my brother's channel History Time, where he makes full length historical documentaries:- https://www.youtube.com/historytime — Music courtesy of:- Epidemic Sound Artlist.io We try to use copyright free images at all times. However if we have used any of your artwork or maps then please don't hesitate to contact me and we’ll be more than happy to give the appropriate credit. Thanks to: By vlasta2, bluefootedbooby on flickr.com - https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluefootedbooby/370458424/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1616406 By SY - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64875198 Joe Hunt Terracotta Warrior, Xian https://wellcomeimages.org/indexplus/obf_images/7d/eda234fc2aa4a6c3aa426a997f6c9d.jpg Gallery: https://wellcomeimages.org/indexplus/image/V0037646.html Wellcome Collection gallery (2018-03-21): https://wellcomecollection.org/works/qmcauudh CC-BY-4.0 AhaUFO / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) Photo by prostějovský časosběrač from Pexels Poemandpainting / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) Filipe Fortes from New York, United States / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    35 min

  3. 2h ago

    First Japanese Visitor After Sakoku Describes European Life // 1862 Tokugawa Embassy Primary Source

    More from Japanese national icon Fukuzawa Yukichi. After his groundbreaking trip to America, here we have the first detailed Japanese perspective of Europe, after the Sakoku period of isolation. England, France, Holland and Russia. Extract from The Autobiography of Fukuzawa Yukichi translated by Eiichi Kiyooka, 1934 edition. If this channel is something you like, if you think saving primary sources is important, head over to the patreon and join up! https://www.patreon.com/voicesofthepast — Don’t forget to subscribe to my brother's channel History Time, where he makes full length historical documentaries:- https://www.youtube.com/historytime — Music courtesy of:- - Epidemic Sound — Voice actor & editor:- David Kelly We try to use copyright free images at all times. However if we have used any of your artwork or maps then please don't hesitate to contact me and we’ll be more than happy to give the appropriate credit. Thanks to: OKJaguar opethpainterFlickr: Hôtel du Louvre Alessio Bragadini CharmaineZoe's Marvelous Melange French Fashion Plate - 1848-1864 Operating theatre: The original uploader was MykReeve at English Wikipedia. This Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons image is from the user Chris 73 and is freely available at //commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sea_of_Japan_Map.png under the creative commons cc-by-sa 3.0 license. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    24 min

  4. 3h ago

    First European Description of Philippines (1521) // Magellan's Last Days // Pigafetta Primary Source

    Get MagellanTV here: https://try.magellantv.com/voicesofthepast & get an exclusive offer extended to our viewers: an extra month FREE. MagellanTV is a new kind of streaming service run by filmmakers with 2,000+ documentaries! Check out our personal recommendation and MagellanTV’s exclusive playlists: https://www.magellantv.com/explore/history ------------------------------------------- Here we have Antonio Pigafetta's description of The Philippines, and Ferdinand Magellan's last days. If this channel is something you like, if you think saving primary sources is important, head over to the patreon and join up! https://www.patreon.com/voicesofthepast — Don’t forget to subscribe to my brother's channel History Time, where he makes full length historical documentaries:- https://www.youtube.com/historytime — Music courtesy of:- - Epidemic Sound — Voice actor & editor:- David Kelly We try to use copyright free images at all times. However if we have used any of your artwork or maps then please don't hesitate to contact me and we’ll be more than happy to give the appropriate credit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    17 min
  5. First Englishman Relates Adventures in Shogunate Japan

    4h ago

    First Englishman Relates Adventures in Shogunate Japan

    Sign up for a 14-day free trial and enjoy all the amazing features MyHeritage has to offer: https://bit.ly/VoicesofthePast3 ------------ Extracts taken from: The original letters of the English pilot, William Adams, written from Japan between A.D. 1611 and 1617: reprinted from the papers of the Hakluyt Society. The voyage of Captain John Saris to Japan, 1613 / Edited from contemporary records by Sir Ernest M. Satow The obituary of William Adams by Richard Cocks Edited, Image Researched and Animated by Manuel Rubio @ArtandContext Diaries Edited and Narrated by David Kelly Music from Epidemic Sound and Artlist Thumbnail Art by Ettore Mazza https://www.instagram.com/ettore.mazza/?hl=en Sound Editing by Jack White Images of Coria del Rio by CarlosVdeHabsburgo​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    40 min
  6. Primary Narratives of History's Worst Military Disasters

    4h ago

    Primary Narratives of History's Worst Military Disasters

    Enjoy 10% OFF and free shipping on all Hoverpens with code VOTP: North America & other countries: https://bit.ly/votp_novium UK & Europe: https://bit.ly/votp_noviumeu --------------------- Extracts taken from: Paterculus' Roman History, translated by F.W. Shipley. James Brundage, "The Crusades: A Documentary History", (Milwaukee, WI: Marquette University Press, 1962) "Captain Cuellar´s Narrative of the Spanish Armada" translated by Robert Crawford 1897 "The Diary of a Napoleonic Foot Soldier" by Jakob Walter Account of Second Lieutenant David Rodger Fyffe in "Gallipoli: The Dardanelles Disaster in Soldiers' Words and Photographs" by Richard van Emden and Stephen Chambers: https://www.amazon.com/Gallipoli-Dardanelles-Disaster-Soldiers-Photographs/dp/1408856158 Editing by David Kelly and Luiz Murphy Image Editing by Manuel Rubio - check out his amazing channel: @ArtandContext Music from Epidemic Sound and Artlist Thumbnail Art by Ettore Mazza Art by Bilal Erlangga 00:00 9 AD Battle of the Teutoburg Forest 05:09 1187 Battle of Hattin 11:12 1588 The Spanish Armada 17:54 1812 Napoleon´s Invasion of Russia 25:31 1915 Landing at Gallipoli Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    43 min
  7. Enslaved Icelander Recounts Atrocities of Barbary Pirate Raid (1627) // Diary of Ólafur Egilsson

    5h ago

    Enslaved Icelander Recounts Atrocities of Barbary Pirate Raid (1627) // Diary of Ólafur Egilsson

    Claim your SPECIAL OFFER for MagellanTV here: https://try.magellantv.com/voicesofthepast. Start your free trial TODAY so you can watch Myths and Monsters and the rest of MagellanTV’s history collection: https://www.magellantv.com/explore/history -------------- Extracts taken from The Travels of Reverend Olafur Egilsson: The Story of the Barbary Corsair Raid on Iceland in 1627. by Olafur Egilsson (Author), Karl Smari Hreinsson (Translator), Adam Nichols (Translator) https://www.amazon.com/Travels-Reverend-Olafur-Egilsson-Barbary/dp/0813228697 Thumbnail Art and Art by Alex Stoica. Stock footage taken from Videoblocks and Artgrid. Music from Epidemic Sound and Artlist. Image Credits: Westman Islands By Bruce McAdamCamera location62° 55′ 41.37″ N, 20° 27′ 25.92″ WView this and other nearby images on: OpenStreetMap - originally posted to Flickr as Vestmannaeyjar, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6994388 Grass Roof Houses By michael clarke stuff - originally posted to Flickr as Grass-roof houses, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7014145 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    24 min
  8. Most Tragic Testimonies of First Contact in History

    5h ago

    Most Tragic Testimonies of First Contact in History

    Play War Thunder now with my link, and get a massive, free bonus pack including vehicles, boosters and more: https://playwt.link/pastvoiceswt War Thunder is a highly detailed vehicle combat game containing over 2000 playable tanks, aircrafts and ships spanning over 100 years of development. Immerse yourself completely in dynamic battles with an unparalleled combination of realism and approachability. ------------------------------------------------------ Extracts taken from: The Roman History of Ammianus Marcellinus published in Vol. III of the Loeb Classical Library edition, 1939 Cronica Mexicana Broken Spears by Miguel Leon-Portilla Copyright © 1962, 1990 by Miguel Leon-Portilla Expanded and Updated Edition © 1992 by Miguel Leon-Portilla Reprinted with permission from Beacon Press, Boston Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 1 (1908) translated by Francis Augustus MacNutt Abel Tasman's journal: http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks06/0600571h.html Letter from Emperor Qianlong: https://china.usc.edu/emperor-qianlong-letter-george-iii-1793 From E. Backhouse and J. O. P. Bland, Annals and Memoirs of the Court of Peking (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1914), pp. 322­-331 Edited and Image Curation by Manuel Rubio - check out his amazing channel: @ArtandContext Thumbnail Art by Ettore Mazza Art by Alex Stoica Music from Epidemic Sound and Artlist, Footage from Artgrid and Storyblocks. 00:00 380: Coming Of The Huns 04:24 1519: The Spaniards Arrive 07:46 1520: Cortes Meets Montezuma 17:00 1642: Abel Tasman and the Maori 22:58 1793: Qianlong´s Letter To George III​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    36 min
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About

History's Living Voices is the ultimate, immersive history podcast that delivers firsthand, first-person historical accounts direct from the source. In every episode, we cut out the middleman and go straight to the primary documents: personal diaries, battlefield maps with handwritten orders, private letters, and last-will-and-testaments. Through these authentic, unfiltered voices, discover the true human behind the legend. Imagine a seasoned medieval knight storyteller, having just removed his helmet, guiding you through the troop positions in an ancient manuscript, his words grounded in actual historical records—like a weathered document sealed with a critical year, such as '1776'. From the front lines of global wars to the breakthroughs of visionaries, hear exactly what it felt like to be in the room where it happened. Perfect for fans of documentary storytelling and historical deep-dives who crave authenticity. If you want to know what it truly felt like to live through the moments that forged modernity, this is your journey. Hit follow to listen to the people who wrote the real story of humanity.

Information

  • Creator
    HLV
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    96