History That Doesn't Suck

Prof. Greg Jackson has built something special here. History That Doesn't Suck is a bi-weekly American history podcast that genuinely lives up to its name, delivering seriously researched stories with the kind of energy you'd want from a favorite college professor. Jackson uses character voices, background music, and sound effects to dramatize events from the Revolutionary War through modern times, and it never feels cheesy. Each episode runs between 37 minutes and just over an hour, giving him room to really unpack the context around major events. With over 210 episodes and a 4.7-star rating from more than 6,000 listeners, HTDS has earned a dedicated following since launching in 2017. Jackson covers everything from Pearl Harbor to the Civil War to lesser-known political turning points, and he does it with the kind of detail that makes you realize how much your high school textbook left out. The narrative style means you're getting actual storytelling, not just a dry recitation of facts and dates. What sets this apart from other history shows is Jackson's commitment to primary sources combined with his natural ability to make those sources interesting. He'll spend weeks researching a single topic, and you can tell. The production quality through Audacy has gotten better over the years, but the core appeal has always been Jackson himself -- a guy who clearly loves this stuff and knows how to make you love it too. If you've ever said "I wish history class had been more like this," well, someone finally made that podcast.