The American History Tellers Podcast focuses on giving voice to lesser-known people. They are not the Franklins or Lincolns. Rather, they are the ordinary people who became part of the essential events. The real beauty of this series is the focus on everyday people who have impacted history. Many history podcasts are so focused on famous individuals that they lose sight of humanity and how these everyday people are part of the story, too. What comes to your mind when you think about famous people in American history?
I am sure that the names of Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin, Martin Luther King Jr., and other people you are most familiar with will cross your mind. Everyone loves them, and we all have huge respect for these people. What if the history of America is retold from the perspective of common people during these most important events? This is how the great American History Tellers Podcast tells its story.
Lindsay Graham narrates as if you are the main character in the story. The protagonist is a regular citizen who is usually unnamed. Then, the actions and feelings made by this protagonist, are the thoughts, actions, and feelings. His perspective is further explored in the episode. The storytelling of this history podcast will make you feel like you are in the exact situation and event on the subject in question.
The Positive Sides Of The American History Tellers Podcast
When you are listening to a podcast, you often find yourself on a long ride or doing something tedious like laundry or cleaning your house. Regarding this podcast, I would say that we are not only listening. We are “imagining.”
The imagery that Lindsay can give based on his well-detailed narration and dialogues are superb. When he says “imagine,” it feels like you are transported back to that particular place and time. It is as if you are traveling back in time and being able to witness the scenarios. The tone of his voice, the sound effects, and the meticulous way he delivers the story would make you feel like you are in the story yourself. Not all can make it work as he does. The storytelling and the dialogues involved are small details that made the podcast impeccable in its own right.
As it is detailed, it is still well-researched. As mentioned above, we have talked about how the podcast gives light to the perspective of ordinary citizens. The main characters feel more “real” and relatable this way. At the same time, you would undoubtedly appreciate how thoughtful and particular the people behind the podcast are with the details to make it work.
The Podcast’s Negative Sides
When it comes to history podcasts, you can never stray away from politics, a controversial topic. Some had accused the podcast of being one-sided and biased due to political agenda. I believe that in the form of history podcasts such as American History Tellers, we will be exposed to different perspectives on history than what is being presented in textbooks these days. The podcast challenges our views this way.
After all, history is taught so we can learn from it. I appreciate how much work went into ensuring these perspectives were represented through detailed research. Another negative side is the narration. We have mentioned earlier how some parts of the podcast have narrations to create specific imagery of the events. The dialogues may seem unnecessary to some. This kind of storybook telling may be different from everyone’s cup of tea, and they may prefer a more direct approach. This is a matter of opinion and would certainly differ based on their preference on podcasts.
Final Thoughts
American History Tellers Podcast is undoubtedly one of the best history podcasts out there that will surely give you different perspectives of the past to ponder. At the same time, they gave a voice to the ordinary citizens during the events being tackled so we could further understand it. The podcast is filled with well-detailed researched information but storybook-kind of narration. This makes it more interesting and informative at the same time.
I am a person who loves to imagine myself in the shoes of the main character to grasp and understand the situation fully. If you are interested in feeling like you have been transported back in time, check out the American History Tellers Podcast.