Dr. Claire Aubin is a historian at Yale and the host of This Guy Sucked, a podcast that pulls back the curtain on some of the world’s most consequential historical figures and proves that it’s never too late to have haters. Her work has been featured in The Guardian and TIME, and she regularly appears as an expert on a variety of podcasts. Learn more about Claire and the show here.
Trust Me, I’m A Doctor
As an academic, I want to make a fairly simple claim: all smart-person podcasts are not created equal. This list features real, credentialed experts thinking outside the ivory tower and making occasionally opaque topics like history, philosophy, and science accessible and engaging for the general public. These shows encourage listeners to think a little harder about the world we live in today – and remind us that you can still have fun while learning!
This Guy Sucked (hosted by me, Dr. Claire Aubin!)
This is my show, and I think it’s pretty great. Every episode features a different scholar discussing a historical figure from their research who was actually kind of terrible, and they often lead us down some really fascinating rabbit holes relating to the world we live in today. Topics have ranged from ‘were Charlemagne and Alexander all that great?’ to ‘who is responsible for American gun culture?’ and they all (hopefully) leave listeners a little bit smarter.
Pale Blue Pod (hosted by Dr. Moiya McTier)
I am terrified of outer space. It’s too big, too confusing, and I grew up with the impression that understanding it requires a lot of math. On Pale Blue Pod, astrofolklorist Moiya proves me (and anyone else like me) very, very wrong. Every episode makes the universe feel a lot less scary and a lot more friendly – I know from personal experience, having been one of the show’s guests.
Overthink (hosted by Dr. Ellie Anderson & Dr. David Peña-Guzman)
I absolutely love this show, which takes everyday concepts like laziness, curiosity, and intuition, and elevates them to spaces of real inquiry. Ellie and David make some of the world’s most famous thinkers much more accessible to the philosophically-curious, and we’re all much better off for it.
This Podcast Will Kill You (hosted by Dr. Erin Welsh & Dr. Erin Allmann-Updyke)
This podcast might kill you, but it might also give you some life-saving knowledge along the way. The show teaches listeners about all the world’s many microflora and -fauna, some of which are definitely not safe, and the knowledgable hosts are wonderfully fun to listen to.
Tides of History (hosted by Dr. Patrick Wyman)
This is a podcast for people whose Roman Empire is… well… the Roman Empire. Patrick makes even the most arcane ancient history engaging, and the show’s variable format (including interviews and theoretical explorations) keeps topics feeling fresh. The sound design is absolutely unbeatable, too.
Lingthusiasm (hosted by Dr. Lauren Gawne & Gretchen McCulloch)
If you’re like me, you find words fascinating. If you’re not like me, this podcast will convince you that they’re fascinating. Every week, Lauren and Gretchen do deep-dives into the origins and thought processes behind language that always leave me feeling like I really learned something new. Highly recommend the episodes on swearing and whether or not a hot dog is a sandwich.
In Defense of Plants (hosted by Dr. Matt Candeias)
This show has – no joke – changed the way I view the world. Every episode, Matt makes a case for the importance of understanding the green (and brown and every color in between) life around us. Topics like biodiversity and climate change come up regularly, and he makes them all feel thoroughly captivating whether you went into the show knowing anything or not.
The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
This is an antidote to modern pop-psychology shows, which often lack real scientific foundation and end up leaving me feel worse off than before. Beyond the fact that it is rigorously researched, Laurie brings warmth, clarity, and humor to big questions about wellbeing, making highly complex science feel personal. Insight and inspiration can be found everywhere, and The Happiness Lab has helped me learn how to look for it.
Entitled (hosted by Dr. Tom Ginsburg & Prof. Claudia Flores)
Before becoming a historian, I was a human rights law nerd, so believe me when I say that this podcast feels like it was made for me. I love the way the hosts explore how rights shape both our daily lives and global politics, using real-world cases to illustrate their conversations. It’s always thoughtful and timely.
Very Bad Wizards (hosted by Dr. Tamler Sommers & Dr. David Pizarro)
My show is pretty irreverent, and I love hearing other academics treat their topics similarly. Philosopher Tamler and Psychologist David mix expert insight with humor and honesty, which leads to a podcast that feels like an unfiltered chat with two fascinating friends. There are hundreds of episodes to listen to, and I highly recommend throwing one on when you need a (smart, thoughtful) laugh.
Strict Scrutiny (hosted by Prof. Leah Litman, Prof. Kate Shaw, & Prof. Melissa Murray)
Did I mention I’m a law nerd? I did? Well, this one’s for all the other law nerds interested in something other (although often including) human rights. This show covers the absurdities, frustrations, triumphs, and failures of the US’ Supreme Court, and I consistently find it enlightening.
This Day (hosted by Dr. Nicole Hemmer, Dr. Kellie Carter-Jackson, and Jody Avirgan)
Rounding out this list by sneaking in one last history show, because it’s MY list and I can do what I want! If the wonderful hosts aren’t enough for you, this podcast proves that there’s no such thing as an ordinary day when it comes to history. Each episode offers a bit of bite-sized storytelling that ties the present to the past, and I love checking in daily to learn something new.
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