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Historical Figures

BySpotify Studios
71 episodes

Podcast Summary

Dive into the captivating world of "Historical Figures," a Spotify Original from Parcast that uncovers the fascinating stories behind the icons who shaped our past. Each episode reveals unexpected anecdotes and little-known facts about influential personalities, from Cleopatra's strategic prowess as the last Pharaoh of Egypt to the complex legacies of Mexican leaders during colonial rule. What sets "Historical Figures" apart is its engaging storytelling and the unique perspectives of well-known guests, including historians and authors, who discuss the enduring impact these figures have on our modern world. The podcast explores the nuances of power, culture, and identity, making history not just informative but truly engaging. Listeners will find themselves drawn into vivid narratives that challenge preconceived notions and spark curiosity about the past. With every episode, "Historical Figures" invites you to rethink the lives of those who have shaped history, making it a must-listen for history enthusiasts and casual listeners alike.

#1

Best of 2019: Nefertiti

Here’s one of our listeners’ most requested episodes of 2019: This famous Queen ruled Egypt during the mid-14th century, BC, over a period of immense religious upheaval. With her husband, she conspired to convert all of Egypt from the traditional polytheistic religion to the worship of a single God. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019-12-25•38mins
#2

Father Miguel Hidalgo

For centuries, Mexico lived under the rule of Spain. In that time, a discriminatory caste system was created to keep non-Europeans in their place. However, one priest, inspired by the thinkers of the Enlightenment, would cast the first stone and help bring about Mexico’s independence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019-12-11•42mins
#3

Pope Gregory XIII

Best remembered for his invention of the calendar we still use today, Pope Gregory XIII became a voice for reform in the Catholic Church by pulling the Vatican out of the dark ages and into the modern era. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019-11-27•43mins
#4

Mansa Musa

This 14th Century sultan of Mali became renowned for being the richest man who ever lived. During his 25-year reign, he helped Mali become one of the wealthiest and largest nations in the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019-11-13•42mins
#5

Professor Margaret Murray

A first-wave feminist of the 1800s and 1900s, Professor Margaret Murray was known as both "The Old Woman of Egyptology" and "The Grandmother of Wicca." She was one of the first to take up the subject of the witch-cults of England. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019-10-30•41mins
#6

Toussaint L'Ouverture

In the 1790s, Toussaint L’Ouverture emerges as a leading member of the most successful slave revolt in the Americas. This led to the formation of the country we know today as Haiti. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019-10-16•51mins
#7

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf married as a teenager and was a mother of four before she had a college degree. But her remarkable life was characterized by beating the odds. Despite an abusive husband, political persecution, and frequent fear for her life, she was elected President of Liberia in 2005 -- becoming the first democratically elected female head of state in all of Africa. Sponsors!Bombas - Save 20% on your first purchase when you shop at Bombas.com/HISTORICAL. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019-10-02•46mins
#8

Rosa Parks

In December 1955, Rosa Parks made history by refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger. Her resolve In the face of unfair treatment based on the color of her skin stands as a key point of the Civil Rights Movement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019-09-18•35mins

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#9

Louis Pasteur

Anyone who has ever enjoyed a wine and cheese night owes their good time to Louis Pasteur. This 19th century microbiologist and chemist developed the process now called pasteurization, as well as the first vaccine for rabies. Not only was Pasteur the father of germ theory, he was also a master of disguise, often using deception to outsmart his rivals and come out on top. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019-09-04•39mins
#10

Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher was Britain's first woman Prime Minister. For more than a decade, she spearheaded conservative politics from a seat of power in the British Parliament. To some she was a hero, and to others, she was a monster. Parcasters - This week on Crimes of Passion we take on the infamous case of Lorena and John Bobbitt! You won’t want to miss this one! Listen today on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019-08-21•47mins
#11

Diana, Princess of Wales

In July 1981, Princess Diana became the first non-royal to marry into the British Royal family in centuries. As the Princess of Wales, she became a style icon and a humanitarian force, all while contending with the very public infidelity of her husband, Charles, heir apparent to the British Throne.Parcasters - Is there any truth behind the rumored society that protects the secrets of the Holy Grail? Learn more about the Priory of Sion on this week’s episode of Conspiracy Theories! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019-08-07•42mins
#12

Muhammad Ali

Today, Muhammad Ali is one of the most celebrated athletes and activists in history, but he was not always so appreciated. In 1969, Ali was stripped of his fighting license and his title after being convicted of draft evasion. A year later, he would return to the ring, and continue to speak truth to power.Parcasters - Don’t miss all of our special Summer of ‘69 episodes by subscribing to Parcast Presents: Summer of ‘69, on Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts!Sponsors!Gabi - Take two minutes and go to Gabi.com/HISTORICAL to see if you can save up to $865 a year on car insurance! Grove Collaborative - Go to Grove.co/HISTORICAL and get a FREE 5-piece Spring Cleaning Set from Mrs. Meyer’s and Grove— a $30 value! Simon & Schuster - One Giant Leap is full of surprises as it chronicles mankind’s greatest achievement and its enduring legacy. Available wherever books are sold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019-07-24•53mins
#13

James "Jesse" Owens

Jesse Owens broke four world records in a single day. Even after facing down the bigotry of Hitler's Germany in the 1936 Olympics, he returned to an America that was not willing to accept him. Sponsors!Simon & Schuster - The Vagabonds is available now wherever books are sold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019-07-10•45mins
#14

Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Bach never knew it during his lifetime, but he revolutionized classical music. Centuries after his death in 1750, Bach is known as one of the main fathers of classical composition.Sponsors!Gabi - Take TWO MINUTES and Go to Gabi.com/HISTORICAL to see if you can save up to $865 a year on car insurance today!Grove Collaborative - Go to Grove.co/HISTORICAL to get a FREE FIVE-PIECE Spring Cleaning Set from Mrs. Meyer’s and Grove. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019-06-26•39mins
#15

Wangarĩ Muta Maathai

Born in 1940 in British-occupied Kenya, Wangarĩ Muta Maathai learned at a young age how the environment and poverty were inextricably linked. As one of Africa's first women to obtain a PhD, she dedicated over forty years of her adult life fighting to teach the people of Kenya about sustainable farming and standing up against the corrupt institutions of her home country's governmentSponsors!The Farmer’s Dog - Get 50% off your two week trial of fresh, healthy food at The Farmers Dog dot com slash HISTORICAL. Plus, you get FREE shipping! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019-06-12•42mins
#16

Max Planck

As one of the earliest pioneers in the field of quantum physics in the late 19th century, Max Planck would work with his protege, Albert Einstein, to redefine an entire field of science... just as Germany was falling under the iron fist of the Nazi Regime. Sponsors!The Farmer’s Dog - Get 50% off your two week trial of fresh, healthy food at The Farmers Dog.com/HISTORICAL. Plus, you get FREE shipping!Grove Collaborative - Go to Grove.co/HISTORICAL you will get a FREE FIVE PIECE Spring Cleaning Set from Mrs. Meyer’s and Grove - a THIRTY DOLLAR value! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019-05-29•49mins
#17

Alfred Bernhard Nobel

The prize most coveted by the best and brightest minds in society owes its name to one man: Alfred Nobel. This Swedish inventor born in 1833, has a complicated history after battling through childhood poverty in which only three of his seven siblings reached adulthood. Parcasters - We're tackling one of the most famous couples in history this week on Crimes of Passion? Can you guess who made up this outlaw pairing? Find out now at parcast.com/passion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019-05-15•38mins
#18

Walter Elias Disney

He’s a studio. He’s a theme park. He’s a Man. Born in Chicago in 1901, Walter Elias Disney would become one of the defining figures of entertainment. But the flesh-and-blood man was far from perfect, and his life was defined by an insatiable desire to push the boundaries of what was possible.Parcasters - Don't miss the exciting conclusion to our exploration of the Robert Blake murder trial, coming up tomorrow on Not Guilty! Catch up on the first episode now at parcast.com/notguilty Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019-05-01•38mins
#19

Ludwig van Beethoven

Famously temperamental, this musical genius is celebrated today as one of the most influential cultural figures in history. His story has stood the test of time; a difficult childhood, marked by an abusive, alcoholic father, would serve as his inspiration to seek a better life.Sponsors!Simon & Schuster - “Ten Caesars: Roman Emperors from Augustus to Constantine” by classicist and historian Barry Strauss is available now wherever books are sold or visit BarryStrauss.com.Robinhood - Robinhood is giving listeners of Historical Figures a FREE stock like Apple, Ford, or Sprint to help you build your portfolio. Sign up at Historical.Robinhood.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019-04-17•45mins
#20

Isaac Newton

London. The 17th century. Against a backdrop of raging fires and devastating plagues, one man came to prominence as the premiere scientific mind of the age. Soft spoken, brilliant, troubled, prone to fits of rage and nervous breakdowns: This was Isaac Newton. SPONSORS!Simon & Schuster - “Ten Caesars: Roman Emperors from Augustus to Constantine” by classicist and historian Barry Strauss is available now wherever books are sold or visit BarryStrauss.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019-04-03•37mins
#21

Harriet Tubman

Born into slavery during the early 1800s in Maryland, she survived a tragic, violent childhood before ultimately escaping and gaining her own freedom. Unsatisfied, Harriet Tubman embarked on a mission of liberation, freeing slaves and shepherding them to the North via the Underground Railroad. Sponsors!Robinhood - Robinhood is giving listeners of Historical Figures a FREE stock like Apple, Ford, or Sprint to help you build your portfolio. Sign up at Historical.Robinhood.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019-03-20•42mins
#22

Christopher Columbus

In the late 15th Century, explorer Christopher set out with on a mission that had never been attempted before: cross the Atlantic Ocean and find an alternate route to Asia. Instead, he landed in the Caribbean, and set himself up to be credited as the "man who discovered America". In reality, Columbus was a zealot and an egomaniac who oversaw the death and enslavement of thousands of native Americans. Parcasters - You won’t want to miss this special episode on American icon John McCain on HOSTAGE, wherever you get your shows. Listen now at parcast.com/hostage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019-03-06•38mins
#23

Nefertiti

This famous Queen ruled Egypt during the mid 14th century, BC, over a period of immense religious upheaval. With her husband, she conspired to convert all of Egypt from the traditional polytheistic religion to the worship of a single God. In the end, that devotion would cost Nefertiti her legacy, her life, and her tomb.Parcasters - Learn about more powerful couples by listening to our new podcast CRIMES OF PASSION today! Check it out at parcast.com/passion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019-02-20•38mins

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#24

Johannes Kepler

There was a time when science and religion worked in harmony, as two parts of a celestial design. Astrologer and philosopher Johannes Kepler oversaw this marriage of theory and belief when he proposed the revolutionary laws of planetary motion in the early 17th century. Amidst personal loss and the chaos of post-schism Europe, Kepler held true to his personal mission to find God among the stars.Parcasters - When you’re done listening Johannes Kepler’s rules of planetary motion, find out what else is out there in the universe. Check out Parcast’s newest podcast Extraterrestrial at parcast.com/extraterrestrial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019-02-06•36mins
#25

Simón Bolívar

As the world changed in the early 19th century, one man saw a future for a free Latin America. His name was Simón Bolívar, and he would lead a number of successful fights for independence against Spain. Though he was eventually given the name, El Liberador, he also came to known as a dictator in his own right.Sponsors!Zola - To start your free wedding website and also get $50 off your registry on Zola, go to Zola.com/HISTORICAL. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019-01-23•38mins
#26

Oskar Schindler

As World War 2 raged on, Europe was rocked by the horrors of the holocaust, failed businessman turned Nazi spy, Oskar Schindler embarked on a personal mission to save the suffering Jewish prisoners of Poland's Płaszów Concentration Camp.Parcast News - Be sure to check out Parcast’s first fictional crime show MIND’S EYE at Parcast.com/MindsEye! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019-01-09•39mins
#27

Robin Williams

Since he was a child, it was apparent that Robin had a special ability to make others laugh. He often described his home life in Chicago as lonely, and used his sense of humor to garner attention from his parents. But deep down Robin battled a darkness that would never go away.Sponsors!Audible - For a limited time, you can get 3 months of Audible for just $6.95 a month when you go to Audible.com/HISTORICAL or text HISTORICAL to 500 500. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2018-12-12•40mins
#28

King Arthur

Around 6th-century AD, legendary tales began circling of a great warrior king that defended Britain against invaders. The man in question? King Arthur. The stories don’t stop there. A thousand years later, King Arthur’s conquests involving the Holy Grail, Excalibur, and the Knights of the Round Table are still shining him in a heroic light. New Shows!Parcast Network - Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to our new podcast Assassinations! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2018-11-28•39mins
#29

Sacagawea

Responsible for leading the first expedition across North America in 1804, Sacagawea was only 17 when she made the trek, while pregnant, across the continent. The daughter of a Native American chief, Sacagawea was captured and enslaved by an opposing tribe and then sold as a bride to a canadian fur trapper.Sponsors!Parcast - Rate, review, and subscribe to our new podcast Kingpins! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2018-11-14•39mins
#30

Frederick Douglass

A pioneer in the abolition movement and women's suffrage, Frederick Douglass escaped slavery and championed a movement through his speeches and writings during the Civil War.Sponsors!Parcast - Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe to our new podcast Kingpins! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2018-10-31•42mins
#31

Joseph Stalin

This poor young revolutionary would one day sit aside Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt in the aftermath of the greatest conflict in human history. What can we learn from Stalin's improbable rise to power?Subscribe to our new show - Hostage - today!Sponsors!Parcast - Sign up for the Parcast Monthly Newsletter at Parcast.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2018-10-17•43mins
#32

Gregor Mendel

Known as the Father of Genetics for his groundbreaking work on pea plants and subsequent discovery of the fundamental laws of inheritance, Mendel also struggled with mental health issues such as severe depression and anxiety. Sponsors!Harper Collins Children's Books - “The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue” and “The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy” are available wherever books or audiobooks are sold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2018-10-03•32mins
#33

Yangdi

Yangdi was the last emperor of the short-lived Sui dynasty. He was responsible for many great things like strengthening the northern border by rebuilding the Great Wall and building the Grand Canal. But he also had a violent streak which he used to seize power by killing both his older brother and his father. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2018-09-19•48mins
#34

Andrew Carnegie

Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish American industrialist, who helped build the American steel industry. He became one of the richest men in the world, and also one of its leading philanthropists. But his very first job was as a “bobbin boy” in a cotton factory where he was responsible for bringing bobbins to loom weavers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2018-09-05•44mins
#35

Lydia Pinkham

Thanks so much for listening to Historical Figures. Parcast has another podcast called Great Women of Business where we profile amazing female business leaders. This episode is on Lydia Pinkham, an historic figure in her own right! We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we do!In a time when women were desperate for safe and effective treatments for women’s health issues, Lydia Pinkham’s Vegetable Compounds became one of the best-known medicines of the 19th century. She began by giving away the compound for free to create a strong referral network, which fueled the rapid growth of her business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2018-08-29•1hr 3mins
#36

Galileo

Galileo Galilei is known as the father of modern science and the man whose work proved that the Earth orbits the sun. His scientific discoveries were in opposition of what the Catholic Church taught. But did you know that while he was a math professor at the University of Pisa, Galileo was fined because he refused to obey the school’s dress code and wear a toga? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2018-08-22•47mins
#37

John Locke

Having stated that marriage and death “are nearly the same thing,” John Locke instead dedicated his life to knowledge, thought, and peace in one of England’s most turbulent times. From humble beginnings to the halls of power, John Locke’s philosophical ideas constructed the modern definition of the self. His political ideas surrounding the separation of church and state laid the foundation for democracy, and are also credited with starting the Age of Revolutions in the 18th century. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2018-08-08•53mins
#38

Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan is known as one of the most vicious rulers in history, but did you know that he created one of the first international courier systems called The Yam? It was a set of well-spaced outposts across his empire. Goods and information could be transported faster by replacing tired horses with fresh horses and it also allowed him to keep a closer eye on his network of military spies and scouts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2018-07-25•41mins
#39

Sir Francis Bacon

Sir Francis Bacon was many things. A philosopher. A lawyer. A scientist that is sometimes credited with formalizing the Scientific Method, a process that includes making a hypothesis, testing and retesting it until the results are found. But was he also...William Shakespeare? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2018-07-11•50mins
#40

Anwar El-Sadat

Anwar El-Sadat was an Egyptian president who is credited with bringing peace between Egypt and Israel in the late 1970s. But, as a young soldier, he formed a group called The Free Officers, a revolutionary movement that would eventually overthrow King Farouk and liberate the Egyptian people from British rule. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2018-06-27•1hr 3mins
#41

Mark Twain

Most people know Mark Twain as one of America’s most popular writers and humorists. Some even know that as a young man, he was a Riverboat pilot. But did you know that during the Civil War, he volunteered for the war effort to fight for the South? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2018-06-13•59mins
#42

Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson was the first black man in America to cross “the color line” and play baseball in the major leagues. But when he was in his early teens, Jackie joined a street gang and had numerous run-ins with the law. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2018-05-30•1hr 0mins
#43

Jesse James

Jesse James was one of the most iconic American outlaws of all time. He made a name for himself robbing trains, banks, and stealing horses. Is it possible that his abandonment by male role models during childhood gave rise to Jesse James's extreme bad boy persona? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2018-05-16•58mins
#44

Thomas Edison

We all know Thomas Edison for his inventions of the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and the incandescent light bulb. But did you know that when he was a teenager, he published his own newspaper from a train baggage car? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2018-05-02•51mins
#45

Frida Kahlo

Her self-portraits are well known: thick eyebrows, a striking stare, and a mysterious smile. But Frida Kahlo’s paintings weren’t just works of art; they portrayed life’s emotions and her own revolutionary ideals. The spirit of revolution defined her art, her life, and her ever-present legacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2018-04-18•49mins
#46

Nelson Mandela

Born on July 18, 1918 in Mvezo, South Africa, Nelson Mandela grew up to be an influential activist and political leader. Despite being jailed for decades because he joined the fight against apartheid, Mandela became the first black president of South Africa and one of the most celebrated political leaders of all time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2018-04-04•48mins
#47

Oscar Wilde

Even as a child, Oscar Wilde dreamed of becoming famous. We dive deep into the life of the now notorious playwright, artist, and celebrated author. He is celebrated for his passionate writing, sharp wit, and taste for art. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2018-03-28•50mins
#48

Hernan Cortes

Hernan Cortes was born in 1485 in Medellin, Spain. From an early age, he sought adventure and romance, which led him to trouble throughout his life. He grew to be one of the first Spanish conquistadors who brought European culture to the Americas. His legacy lives on as both a hero of the Spanish Empire... and as a violent conqueror who slaughtered thousands of indigenous peoples in his quest for money and power. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2018-03-21•47mins
#49

Helen Keller

She was a student, an author, an activist. She met thirteen presidents, and won the Presidential Medal of Freedom. But Helen Keller was much more than just a symbol for people who are deaf or blind. Her life was filled with both triumphs and tragedies, and with the aid of her mentor, Annie Sullivan, Helen Keller became a legacy that still serves as an inspiration to all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2018-03-14•41mins
#50

John D. Rockefeller

John D. Rockefeller came from humble beginnings in Ohio. He had dreams to achieve the impossible: become the wealthiest man in the world. John accomplished this goal, but used controversial methods to do so. Was he a genius? Or was he a tyrant? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2018-03-07•48mins

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