History is fascinating, but it can also be quite complicated. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of books, podcasts, and even social media accounts dedicated to providing historical content, but they are not all of the same quality. Here at The Alexicon, I do my research from primary sources, academic journals, and university-published books, but these sorts of materials can feel intimidating to someone who is merely curious about history. Sitting down to read hundreds of pages of foreign-language literature or jargon-filled academic reports is certainly worth your while, but it takes patience and a fair bit of training. I recognize that not everybody currently has the ability or desire to dive quite this deeply into academia, but they may still want to do some learning. It can be difficult to know where to start with this, so I’ve compiled a collection of our favorite podcasts and YouTube channels which give content related to the 18th century which is high quality yet unintimidating for the general listener. I hope they are helpful. If readers know of any other interesting materials, feel free to put them in the comments below.

Best for French History: “La Fayette, We Are Here!”

This podcast was first introduced by its founder, Emmanuel Dubois, as a “French history podcast, by a Frenchman.” It gets its name from the famous phrase which Colonel Charles Stanton of the United States Army declared when, during World War I, American troops arrived at the Marquis de La Fayette’s grave in Paris. La Fayette became famous for defying his king’s orders to help the American colonists fight against England during the American Revolution, and he later played a pivotal role in securing the French military aid which helped the colonists to win the war. Dubois chose to name his podcast after this expression of mutual trust and aid as a way to introduce his project as a French history source intended for an American, English-speaking public.

Though the podcast covers over 1,000 years of French history across over 40 episodes, it includes fascinating 18th-century content which includes Antoine Lavoisier, The French Revolution, The American Revolution, The Seven Years’ War, and, of course, the Marquis de La Fayette himself. The episodes are a university-style lecture given by Dubois himself, lasting for approximately 45 minutes and complete with primary source excerpts, sound effects, and music. There have also been a few episodes where he interviews writers, professors, and other members of the historical community, but it is all done in a way which is engaging and understandable.

“La Fayette, We Are Here” is most suitable for learners who have a relatively minimal knowledge of French history, but would like to learn more until they have a strong understanding of the nation’s history and influential figures, similar to what they might get from taking a formal class on French history. There isn’t anything to worry about in terms of explicit content, other than the fact that historical events related to war may be inherently violent or disturbing. The podcast never makes anything sound too gruesome, so it is still be suitable for any listener who is a preteen or older.

I thoroughly enjoy this podcast because it gives clear, well-researched content in a form which requires no prior knowledge. I feel that a listener can begin an episode without knowing anything about the topic but still finish it feeling like they could teach somebody else an overview of the information. Many other podcasts I’ve listened to tend to assume the listener has an existing level of historical knowledge and proceed without discussing context. This isn’t a bad thing, but may not be what the average listener is looking for. However, two minor limitations of the podcast do exist. Firstly, Dubois has a distinctive French accent, so if any listener has trouble understanding accents, they could have a difficult time with the material. Secondly, most episodes focus on the content of history, not nuanced historical analysis. Therefore, the podcast isn’t ideal for anyone looking to hear a new argument related to a topic. This is more the kind of source that equips someone to begin formulating their own argument. As a whole, I would give it a 9.5/10 recommendation, because it certainly accomplishes its intended purpose.

Best for Frederick the Great/Prussia/The Seven Years’ War: “The Life and Times of Frederick the Great”

This podcast, hosted by public historian Alec Avdakov, claims that it goes deeper into the history surrounding Frederick the Great than any other podcast, and I’d honestly agree with this statement. It operates chronologically, starting with an episode giving background information about Prussia and Frederick’s ancestors, then continuing on through the king’s life. Episodes cover everything from specific battles to state policies under Frederick the Great, usually lasting about 30 minutes, and there are multiple interviews and collaborations featured with academics of various backgrounds.

“The Life and Times of Frederick the Great” distinguishes itself for its variety and nuance concerning the king’s life. The research is sound, and leaves listeners with an excellent understanding of an episode’s given topic. Like “La Fayette, We Are Here,” this podcast presents content in a way which does not require the listener to have any prior knowledge of a subject, but episodes do often reference one another, so I recommend listening in chronological order to get a full picture of Frederick’s life and impact. One thing that I especially enjoy is how some episodes present content related to seemingly disconnected aspects of the 18th century, such as Scotland’s Jacobite Rebellion, but connect them effectively back to Frederick and Prussia. This allows a listener to begin viewing the 18th century as a series of deeply connected people and events, instead of mentally putting concepts into their own unrelated boxes. Most other podcasts do not accomplish such a thing unless they are intended for a more advanced academic audience. We recommend this podcast for listeners who would like to dive deep into Frederick the Great as a historical figure and gain a complex understanding of his impact on the world around him. It is a great way to gain a new hyper fixation, if any readers are as neurodivergent as I am. Though the specific nature of the podcast’s focus means that it doesn’t provide as broad of a picture of the 18th century as some other sources, it is still an excellent piece of content for anyone who wants to do deep learning but feels intimidated by more traditional academic materials. Also, please note that childhood abuse is discussed extensively, as Frederick had a horrific upbringing. I understand that some listeners may be uncomfortable with this topic.

The only major weak point of “The Life and Times of Frederick the Great” is that in terms of presenting and editing, it isn’t as polished as “La Fayette, We Are Here.” Avdakov’s voice can sometimes be rather monotonous, and the earlier episodes don’t feature much sound engineering. However, I believe that the quality of the information presented still makes this source worth the attention of readers, and would rate it 8.5/10. In fact, this podcast was one of the first things that got me interested in Frederick the Great.

Best for Variety and Niche Topics: The ASMR Historian

This YouTube channel covers countless areas of world history, and I honestly recommend all of their videos, but for the purpose of this article, some of the most intriguing 18th-century topics include Early Insane Asylums, The Voyages of James Cook, The French Revolution, Marie Antoinette, Giacomo Casanova, and the Haitian Slave Revolt. Within just two years, a multinational team of three historians from the UK, Germany, and Australia has put together hundreds of historical videos which total to thousands of hours of content. I love this channel because they create long-form videos which, unlike many YouTube channels, maintain clarity and sophistication even in multi-hour presentations. Each topic is treated with nuance and the direct inclusion of multiple primary sources and historical works, with everything from context to misconceptions being addressed in a way which leaves nothing unknown. Furthermore, the channel owners have chosen to keep everything completely ad-free, allowing for a more pleasant and concentrated listening experience, and the comment section forms an excellent community for any listeners desiring deeper discussion about a topic.

Though this channel doesn’t presume that its listeners will have any background knowledge, I still wouldn’t recommend it for people who only want casual history, simply because it is the longest-form content mentioned in this article. There really isn’t any way to get an abridged version of the video’s content, but that’s the point; “The ASMR Historian” is for people who are uninformed but ready for an exceptionally deep dive in auditory form. I personally tend to listen to this channel quite often in the background of my daily life, here at the Alexicon. Please note that mild language is occasionally present, and some topics, such as asylums, include rather disturbing details, so listener digression is advised. There really aren’t any weak points in the content, though. It’s nuanced, even if it isn’t intending to introduce a complex historical argument, and showcases an incredible depth and variety of knowledge, all explained in simple yet uncompromising terms. We rate “The ASMR Historian” as a perfect 10/10.

Though there are more enjoyable sources for anyone curious about history, I can’t cover them all in one article. The three mentioned sources are some of my absolute favorites, though, and I truly believe that they do an excellent job of making history more accessible and less intimidating for the general public.