History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps

Peter Adamson took the title literally. When he started this podcast, the promise was to cover the entire history of philosophy without skipping anyone — and nearly 500 episodes later, he's still at it. The show is currently working through early modern European thought, with recent episodes on Pascal's Wager, Cartesian medicine, and Elisabeth of Bohemia's correspondence with Descartes. At this pace, Adamson might reach the 21st century sometime around 2040, and honestly, that commitment is part of the charm. Adamson holds professorships at both LMU Munich and King's College London, so the academic credentials are serious. But the delivery is anything but stuffy. He has a relaxed, conversational way of explaining dense material, and listeners consistently praise his voice as genuinely enjoyable to listen to for extended stretches. Episodes run 20 to 40 minutes and drop every two weeks, building sequentially on each other. You can jump in anywhere, but there's a real satisfaction in following the chronological thread from ancient Greek thought forward. What makes this show unusual is the attention paid to figures most philosophy podcasts ignore entirely. You'll hear dedicated episodes on lesser-known Islamic, Indian, and African philosophers alongside the big names. Adamson also brings in guest scholars who specialize in particular traditions, which keeps the perspective fresh. The show holds a 4.7 star average from 1,590 ratings on Apple. It's free, there are no ads, and the companion website at historyofphilosophy.net has additional resources. For anyone who wants to actually understand how philosophical ideas developed over centuries rather than just getting highlights, this is the definitive resource in podcast form.