Jo's Art History Podcast

Jo McLaughlin is an art historian and writer who started this podcast in 2020 with a simple goal: make art history feel less like a lecture and more like a conversation. Five years and 120 episodes later, she has delivered on that promise with remarkable consistency. The show is interview-based, bringing on guest artists, curators, historians, and writers to discuss everything from painting and sculpture to architecture, ceramics, and jewelry design. What sets Jo's Art History Podcast apart is the breadth of topics combined with a genuinely warm hosting style. McLaughlin is curious in a way that draws good answers out of her guests -- she asks the kinds of follow-up questions that a listener would want asked. Episodes run 40 to 75 minutes, long enough to cover a subject properly but never so long that they drag. Recent conversations have tackled subjects like the history of art condensed into a single sentence with critic Verity Babbs, which gives you a sense of the show's playful side. McLaughlin is openly passionate about breaking down elitism in the art world, and it shows in her guest selection and the way she frames discussions. You will hear from emerging artists alongside established names, and the tone stays grounded throughout. The podcast carries a perfect 5.0-star rating on Apple Podcasts (from 14 reviewers), and while the audience is still growing, the quality of the conversations suggests it deserves a much bigger one. If you prefer your art history served through lively dialogue rather than solo narration, this is a strong pick.