It is a rare event that a podcast – a history podcast no less – to merit attention on an entertainment site. For starters, it has to be entertaining. There are thousands, possibly tens of thousands, of podcasts out there; some are worth listening to and some are not. For any interest out there, I wager there is a dedicated community podcast for it. Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History podcast merits some attention for his latest episode, the conclusion of “Death Throes of the Republic.”
Dan Carlin has had three radio shows starting in the 1980s. Carlin currently runs two podcasts, one showcasing his amateur historian skills in Hardcore History and the other in a podcast from a self-described independent point of view titled Common Sense. I am not here to send people to the political podcast, but I must disclose that it is there, lest someone suspect I am up to no good, here. Hardcore History has an excellent production value, especially when one considers that there is ambient music, sound effects, and an narrative that keeps the listener engaged. Hardcore History is released every two months, on average, but there is no set schedule on releases – it is a matter of when Carlin completes his research, then finishes the recording.
“Death Throes of the Republic” deals with the fall of the Republic in Rome. Carlin concedes that there are many events coined as the end, but with all things in history, events are intertwined and enmeshed. One cannot fully discuss Caesar and hope to make sense unless one talks about the previous Dictator, Lucius Cornelius Sulla. One cannot discuss Sulla without bringing up Gaius Marius. Likewise, one cannot bring up Marius without bringing up Gaius and Tiberius Gracchus – the brothers who elevated (some might say ‘abused’) a position called the Tribune of the Plebes. The Tribune is a post that is exceptionally prominent, and Dan Carlin begins the story with the Gracci brothers.
The “Death Throes” series started last year, and according to Carlin had become such a ponderous tale that listeners were starting to get bored – I wager that Carlin himself felt overburdened with the idea of staying on the Roman subject for much longer. “Death Throes VI,” therefore, is 5.5 hours long! Now I have listened to that in its entirety, and it is a compelling listen – though far easier to break up at one’s leisure. I would not call myself a history nerd, but I find Carlin’s telling of past events to be compelling enough to inspire me to pick up a new book here and there.
I think it would be unfair for me to write this, and advocate the free download (Carlin accepts donations, and I suspects gets some sponsorship from audible.com) of Hardcore History starting at the latest installment. Now if you the listener decide you don’t mind a little confusion, by all means get the current installment. I think that if the fall of the Roman Republic piques your interest, that you may wish to start at episode 34. There are other subjects, like a detailed story of the eastern front in World War 2 (“Ghosts of the Ostfront”).
Carlin has a strong community, full of people who don’t mind your input, and Carlin reads every email he is sent (so he says). Carlin is committed to being heavily involved in his own web forum, and he maintains an active blog. He admits his mistakes, and his insights are dangerously thought-provoking.
I reviewed Sucker Punch earlier this year, and I think Hardcore History is better than that. I cannot think of a way Carlin could improve the production of this podcast – short of more frequent episodes, which might in turn diminish the quality of the podcast, thus nullifying my suggestion. After all the entertainment we pay for, it is refreshing, albeit somewhat exciting, to have something educational pass off as something that is riveting as well.
FINAL GRADE: A
TRR Music Revue by Geoffrey Beebe
