Hardcore, you know the score
Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History review
Rating – 
There are some podcasts that are legendary. Some, because they have influenced other shows. Some, because they have been around seemingly forever. Because I am a contrarian, I usually avoid these shows. They tend to be overhyped, and appeal to the lowest common denominator, like the JRE (post 2020).
I had heard about this particular show mentioned so many times on various subreddits, and if I’m being honest, it really didn’t appeal to me. As I said, I’m a contrarian. I did hear it mentioned on another podcast though, and after they had done an episode on the eastern front in WWII, they said that their show wasn’t as good as the Hardcore History counterpart, and that you really should check it out. So I did.
So what’s it about?
Hardcore History is a show that inhabits a strange grey area in what I consider to be a podcast. In fact, I’m not sure that it would even qualify were it not available on my podcatcher. Not all the episodes are available. I have also found two versions, which I will lump together for ease of reference, and to help you find them.
One is called “Hardcore History WANT IT All compilation”. This dates back 20 years, and is more of a traditional podcast. The episodes average between 20 and 40 minutes each for the most part, and (full disclosure) I haven’t listened to these yet, so caveat emptor and all that.
The other is called Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History. Now, on my podcatcher, this show dates back 6 years, and starts on episode 62. This is where it wanders into that aforementioned grey area. These episodes are also available to buy on his website, and each one clocks in at around 4 hours! I guess this could put it into the more audiobook realm, but I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt.
Carlin focuses on historical wars, dating from WWII, all the way back to Alexander The Great, and Ancient Egypt. One of the interesting things he does here is compare how modern military leaders don’t really differ too much from those in antiquity. I guess the penchant for subjugating enemies using any means necessary is one thing that never changes.
Is it any good?
I cannot overstate how good this show is. The first series on here is entitled Supernova In The East, and follows the rise of Japan’s military might from the age of the samurai through WWII. This six part series clocks in at an incredible 25 hours! The episodes are compelling though, and you really don’t feel like they are as long as they are. Who knows, maybe the short episodes just get edited all together to make the epic tales of the HH podcast.
You may remember back in the distant past (I’m not going to dig up the particular review), but I had wished that certain podcast hosts would have taught me in school. They have a way that keeps you engaged, even if you’re multitasking (like working a day job, for example). Carlin certainly falls into that category. You can tell that he used to be a radio host, because there is a certain way he has of speaking that stops you zoning out, even three hours into a four hour story about the battles in the Pacific.
Using first-hand sources where necessary, Carlin gives these events a new depth that seems to be missing from other history shows that just focus on the grand scale. In fact, going “granular” is something he references a great deal in these series.
You get the feeling that you are playing some wargame, where you can view the whole globe before zooming in on a single warship or squad of troops, before zooming off to another area of the planet.
The only downside to this show is that all the other podcasts I love and listen to on a daily basis have taken a back seat as I devour this show in huge meaty chunks.
Final thoughts
This is one of those podcasts that make me wish I could rate higher than a five. What can I say? I’m man enough to admit when I’m wrong, and the hive mind of Reddit was certainly right in recommending this show.
I can’t wait to explore the shorter episodes from the Want It All compilation. That is where the Ghosts Of The Ostfront series can be found that was the impetus to dig out this podcast in the first place.
I could easily have written an entire post about each of these series, due to their epic nature. But in some kind of homage to lengthy podcast episodes, here is a longer than usual blog post!
You can get Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History here:
https://www.greatpods.co/podcasts/dan-carlins-hardcore-history-767934
For more great reviews, I recommend GreatPods