Art of History

Amanda Matta built a massive following on TikTok by making art history and royal commentary genuinely fun, and she brings that same energy to Art of History. The premise is straightforward: each episode takes a moment from history and examines it through a specific work of art. No prerequisites, no academic jargon, just well-researched storytelling that connects a painting or sculpture to the people and events it captures. With 58 episodes released on a roughly monthly schedule, Matta has covered everything from antebellum America to European courts, always anchoring the narrative in a concrete visual object. Her research is thorough -- listeners regularly call out how well-sourced the episodes feel -- but the delivery stays conversational and warm. She has a knack for finding the human angle in historical events, the kind of details that make you actually remember what you heard two weeks later. The show sits comfortably in the space between a straight history podcast and a pure art appreciation show, which gives it a unique appeal. If you already listen to history podcasts and want more visual context, or if you love art but want the backstory behind what you are looking at, Art of History threads that needle well. It carries a 4.8-star rating from over 300 reviews and is part of the Airwave History network. Matta also offers bonus episodes and ad-free listening through a subscription tier, though the free episodes are complete and satisfying on their own.