Historium

Jake Barton

4.8 (405)
HISTORY
UPDATED BIMONTHLY

Did you ever fall asleep in history class? You’re not alone. History can be boring when focusing on only dates and statistics. Historium seeks to find the narrative of history in some of the most unlikely places. Seamlessly blending history and storytelling, Jake Barton draws you into historical tales you’ve probably never heard before.

09/09/2025

#84 The Darien Disaster

The colonial ambitions of Scotland soon go sideways as they face the full brunt of Murphy's Law. The colonists face disease, mutiny, starvation, and shipwrecks before the backdrop of the golden age of piracy. The colony's ultimate fate unites a kingdom. For more episodes: patreon .com/historium Music: Hector the Hero by Geoff KnorrAll in Circles by Shida ShahabiThe British Empire by Brian TylerDenmark by the Portland Cello ProjectCock o’ the North by Geoff KnorrBonnie Dundee by Geoff KnorrEndless Falls by LoscilPieces of Eight by Bear McCrearyThe Wider Sun by Jon HopkinsScottish Snare by Geoff KnorrBaer by Hildur GudnadottirA Nation of Thieves by Bear McCrearyShimmy by Toussaint McCallMurder/Mermaid/Heavy Labor by Mark KorvenThe Spanish Empire by Brian TylerFuneral at Sea by Bear McCrearyLegions (War) by Zoe KeatingThe Sacred and The Profane by Paul Leonard-MorganElevator Song by Keaton HensenParcel o’ Rogues by Alastair McDonaldThe Final Journey by Christopher Spelmen Support the show

1h 53m
03/26/2025

[TEASER] Bonus Episode #32: Lost Children of the Alleghenies

Two boys go missing in rural Appalachia. Search parties scour the foothills, accusations fly, and some seek supernatural help in hopes of finding the pair of lost children. For the rest of this episode and access to Historium's entire back catalog of bonus episodes: patreon.com/historium Support the show

3 min
02/04/2025

#83: GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES: Last Man Standing

Against all odds, Shuja rises again. A figurehead for the British East India Company, he watches as an invading army devastates his homeland—in his name. Meanwhile, Dost Mohammed’s son Akbar Khan leads a counterforce to be reckoned with. In time, he becomes a threat to his own father’s power. The British, chief among them Alexander Burnes, learn the hard way: The wicked will not go unpunished. For the more episodes and the rest of the series: https://www.patreon.com/historium Complete original score by (MST). For more by (MST): Substack: ://mountainstandardtime.substack.com/ SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/mountainstandard Sources: Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan by William Dalrymple Afghanistan in the Age of Empires: The Great Game for South and Central Asia by Farrukh Husain Siraj al-Tawarikh by Faiz Muhammad Kāteb and translated by Robert D. McChesney. Support the show

2h 15m
01/21/2025

#82 GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES - Tournament of Shadows

The British East India Company plots an invasion of Afghanistan. A bogus casus belli and puppet king are all they need—and the rivalry between their agent, Alexander Burnes, and a Russian spy named Ivan Vitkevitch becomes a zero sum game. This is the beginning of the Great Game, or, as the Russians knew it: The Tournament of Shadows. For the more episodes and the rest of the series: https://www.patreon.com/historium Complete original score by (MST). For more by (MST): Substack: ://mountainstandardtime.substack.com/ SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/mountainstandard Support the show

1h 29m
01/07/2025

#81 GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES - The Ballad of Shah Shuja

In early 19th century Afghanistan, two warring dynasties contend for the throne. While the Sadozai brothers—grandsons of the empire’s founding king—feud amongst themselves, the Barakzai clan plots its ascendance. Shuja ul-Mulk of the Sadozais and Dost Mohammed Khan of the Barakzais grow up together in court, but as young men they become bitter enemies. Eventually, they must face each other on the battlefield. For the more episodes and the rest of the series: https://www.patreon.com/historium Complete original score by (MST). For more by (MST): Substack: ://mountainstandardtime.substack.com/ SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/mountainstandard Support the show

1h 8m
12/13/2024

#80 The Prophet of Jazz

"I can say more with music than I ever could with words.” -Eric Dolphy Music: - Ceiling Gazing by Mark Kozelek & Jimmy LaValle - Nero's Nocturne by Chilly Gonzales - Warm Canto by Mal Waldron, Eric Dolphy, & Booker Ervin - Easy Opium by Ben von Wildenhaus - Rearranging Furniture by Gabriel Yared - The Homeless Wanderer by Emahoy Tsege Miriam Gebru - God Bless the Child by Eric Dolphy - Conquistadores by Chico Hamilton - Yearnin' by Eric Dolphy - When the Lights Are Low by John Coltrane & Eric Dolphy - Stolen Moments by Eric Dolphy - It Never Entered My Mind by the Miles Davis Quintet - Max sad clarinette by Michel Portal - Such Owls as You by Brambles - Meditations by Charles Mingus & Eric Dolphy Support the show

32 min
07/08/2024

#79 Eternity's Echo

What if sound lives forever? Music: Imaginary Landscape No. 4 by John CageTezeta by Mulatu AskatkeElectronium Music Score by Raymond ScottLacrymae by MelodiumKapsburger by ClogsA Lake by Emily A. SpragueTiden Effert Hoffet by I.B. SundstromWhen the Northern Lights by Max RichterX-Ray by Youth LagoonLegions (War) by Zoe KeatingDisintegration Loops #3 by William Basinski92982.3 by William BasinskiPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/historium Support the show

29 min
03/18/2024

#78 The Blowout

The story of one of the worst numerical beatdowns in the history of professional sports. Music: - Reckless by Brocker Way - Green Groves of Erin by Yo Yo Ma - Concerto No. 2 in G minor by Vivaldi - Classic Battle by Sam Spence - Denmark by Portland Cello Project - Independant by Brocker Way - Tilting at Windmills by Brocker Way - Ride of the Valkyries by Richard Wagner - Spanish Flea by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass - 2 by AAEPSO - Climax Rag by James Scott - Chariots of Fire by Vangelis - En Gang Agde by 1900 - Epilogue by Brocker Way For more episodes and pictures for the episode: https://www.patreon.com/historium Support the show

40 min

See All (90)

4.8

out of 5

405 Ratings

A Love Letter to Humanity

04/17/2024

Jacob Whitt

From the very moment i heard the 1st episode i could tell i had found a kindred spirit. Someone who also looked at shining moments on our long journey here and felt awe, respect, and wonder. The Speaker clearly resonates with the very real people that he explores and sees them for what they are, good or bad, GIANTS. Monolyths of the human story and our species' most infamous children. Their stories show us the enourmous lengths we can go to, the Invictus Anima of our ancestors, and that no matter how vast the gap of time between us, we are all of one blood. We are Human Beings and this podcast is our love letter to ourselves. Cannot recommend enough!
Great stories, but the constant music in background

01/29/2025

CynthiaP007

I’m noticing on the last few episodes the music is quite distracting and I thought it would only be when the story was making a point but the last episode has had it throughout. Since it’s over an hour decided not to finish. Sorry just my opinion. Thanks.
World Class

07/22/2023

Tolga M

Discovered the show in searching for a history/overview of Robert Oppenheimer and the Manhattan Project when I happened upon the Historium: Atomic Dawn series...wow! The writing is phenomenal, they managed to fit such a great breadth of material, created a really engaging story arc and knocked it out of the park. So impressed...and also so personally enriched by their work. Thank you!! Also great in citing their marvelous sources, a few of which I plan to pick-up including the book about the heavy water production site sabotage...should be a movie. Thank you SO much for what is clearly a labor of love, and investing heart and soul!!!
absolute banger of a show

03/13/2023

And also Thomas

incredible depth and breadth of topics, and really compelling narration. so many of these stories have the drama and intensity of like an hbo miniseries.

Did you ever fall asleep in history class? You’re not alone. History can be boring when focusing on only dates and statistics. Historium seeks to find the narrative of history in some of the most unlikely places. Seamlessly blending history and storytelling, Jake Barton draws you into historical tales you’ve probably never heard before.