Forwards & Backwards: A History of Quantum Computing

This is not a typical podcast and that is precisely why it belongs on your list. Forwards & Backwards is a six-episode limited series that tells the oral history of quantum computing, created to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the famous 1981 conference at Endicott House that essentially launched the field. Sebastian Hassinger, Matt Hooper, and Abraham Asfaw produced something that feels more like a documentary than a podcast. All six episodes dropped simultaneously in May 2021, and together they form a complete narrative arc from the origins of quantum computing theory through four decades of development. The 4.8-star rating from 13 reviewers on Apple Podcasts speaks to how well this series landed. The interviews include researchers and scientists who were actually present at pivotal moments in the field's history, giving you firsthand accounts you simply cannot get anywhere else. The production quality is noticeably higher than most quantum podcasts. This was clearly a passion project with real editorial planning behind it. Each episode builds on the previous one, creating a coherent story rather than a random collection of interviews. For anyone new to quantum computing, this series provides essential historical context that makes everything else you read and listen to about the field make more sense. For people already deep in quantum, it is a chance to hear the origin stories directly from the people who lived them. Finished and complete, it is a self-contained listening experience you can knock out in an afternoon.