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Comment by mauvehaus | Hacker News Reader

One of the absolute treasures of our time is The History of English Podcast. 186 episodes in, and he's just gotten past Shakespeare. The first 30 or so episodes might run a little slow for you for lack of written sources, but it really does pick up and has been hours of joy. https://historyofenglishpodcast.com/

For the prurient, Chaucer's Vulgar Tongue is a great place to dip a toe into it:

https://historyofenglishpodcast.com/2019/09/25/episode-129-c...

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I’m just ahead of you on episode 200! Just getting into the rise of printing in English.

I absolutely agree. This has become my comfort podcast when I just want to decompress.

To suggest another decompression / interesting podcast, "The Fall of Civilizations" by Paul Cooper. I do like the visual episodes he releases later on YT - its not just random stock photos but directly relevant to what's being discussed, but they release awhile after the audio. The audio is splendid as well though.

I’ve listened to a few of these. Agree it’s also really well done.

I haven't listened to this podcast, but if you want another one, the history of rome podcast by Mike Duncan holds a similar place in my heart. He's kind of monotone but I was entranced and would you believe that I couldn't listen to the episode for the final emperor because I didn't want the roman empire to fall. lol. What a good series.

His subsequent podcast: "revolutions" is also really good.

The revolutions podcast is perhaps one of my favorite podcasts of all time. The American, French, and Russian revolution seasons are all incredibly enlightening to the world that we live in, while plainly also being just so entertaining.

I've only listened to the French revolution, but it was absolutely electrifying. I would listen on my car ride home -- one day I burst through the door to my house and yelled "CHARLOTTE CORDAY MURDERED MARAT!!!" at my wife like it was breaking news.

I love this podcast, I've listened to it all the way through probably ten times.

That acoustic guitar riff followed by "Hello, and welcome to the History of Rome" is how I'll know I'm dead and I've arrived at the gates of heaven

Acoustic picking 18 from garage band....

Username checks out.

Oh my God, are you serious? I don't know how to feel about this

Yeah he says so in a Q&A episode.

200? The website only goes to 187. Do I need to get on Patreon or something?

I think there’s a numbering difference. He went back and re did a bunch of earlier ones.

I’m listening on Apple Podcasts. Season 5 episode 5 “Printin and Perkin” if it helps.

You're thinking of the The History of England podcast, not The History of English. The History of English Podcast does cover English history, often going deeper than is strictly necessary for tracing the evolution of English, but its primary focus is language. It's also very cozy, something you could listen to while sipping tea by a warm fire, and its consistency, clarity, and depth has made it my favorite podcast.

Oh that’s funny. Yes you’re right.

He has actually mentioned the History of English before, but I’ve never listened to it. Great to hear though!

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