History Ignited
Winner of the 2025 Webby People’s Voice Award for Best Kids and Family Podcast, History Ignited has one mission: teach kids history, prevent repeats. Hosted by 9-year-old Caroline, 11-year-old Andrew, and their parents Amy and Dave, each 5–8 minute episode brings an event from Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire to life with fun, accurate storytelling and a quick joke at the end. Perfect for curious kids, parents, and classrooms.
Episodes
72 episodes
The Children of Thalidomide: A Medical Tragedy
Here is a podcast episode description for your episode, "The Children of Thalidomide: A Medical Tragedy," tailored for your History Ignited podcast:Episode Description:"Children of thalidomide." It’s one of th...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 68
•
5:10
Starkweather Homicide: The Real Story of Charles Starkweather | History Ignited
Why does a name like 'Starkweather' still ring out in a pop song thirty years later? Today, we’re unpacking one of the darkest references in Billy Joel’s We Didn't Start the Fire. Join us as we trace how a real-life homicide spree in 1...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 68
•
4:49
"California Baseball": When Brooklyn and Manhattan Moved to the Coast | History Ignited
In 1957, the heart of the baseball world was centered firmly in New York City. By 1958, that heart had been ripped out and transplanted 3,000 miles away.In this episode, we break down the meaning behind the two-word lyric from Billy Joel...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 67
•
5:53
The Man Who Was France: The Defiant Rise of Charles de Gaulle | History Ignited
The list continues, and today we’re stopping at the man who essentially willed the French Resistance into existence. In this episode, we break down the name Charles de Gaulle—a figure so central to the 20th century that Billy Joel couldn...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 66
•
5:10
From Paris of the Middle East to Civil War | History Ignited
From "Paris of the Middle East" to devastating civil war. Lebanon wasn't one headline—it was 15 years of militias, invasions, and heartbreak that pulled in the world during the Cold War. This *History Ignited* episode exp...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 65
•
7:19
"Bridge on the River Kwai": Hollywood’s Heroics vs. History’s Horrors | History Ignited
In this installment of our We Didn’t Start the Fire series, we’re digging into one of the most cinematic lines in Billy Joel’s anthem: "Bridge over the River Kwai." Most of us know the iconic whistling tune and the 1957 Best Pic...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 64
•
7:30
"Mickey Mantle": The Face of 1950s Americana
In this installment of our We Didn't Start the Fire series, we turn our attention to: Mickey Mantle. We discuss Mantle not just as a baseball player, but as a cultural icon who represented the post-war American dream—power,...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 60
•
5:08
The Man Who Saved Millions & Welcomed Nixon | History Ignited
He survived Mao’s worst disasters… and secretly saved millions. Then he invited Richard Nixon to China and changed the world. This is **Zhou Enlai** — China’s quiet premier for 27 years. From famine to Cultur...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 63
•
8:27
Beep That Shocked the World: Sputnik's True Story | History Ignited
*BEEP BEEP* – The sound that shocked America and launched the Space Race. On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union sent **Sputnik** into orbit — the **first artificial satellite**. No astronauts. Just a metal ball… and a mes...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 62
•
6:09
120ft Scroll in 3 Weeks: Kerouac's Wild Story | History Ignited
120 feet of paper. 3 weeks. No sleep.This is how Jack Kerouac wrote On the Road—the book that launched the Beat Generation and changed America forever.From hitchhiking with jazz poets to typing in a frenzy, this
•
Season 1
•
Episode 61
•
6:06
Boris Pasternak and Doctor Zhivago: The Banned Book That Shook the Cold War | History Ignited
Dive into the dramatic world of Boris Pasternak and his epic novel Doctor Zhivago in this episode of History Ignited! 🎙️ Explore how a story of love, war, and truth clashed with Soviet censorship, leading to international intrigue and ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 59
•
4:16
History Ignited — Little Rock
Nine students. One school. A moment that changed America forever. ✊🏫In 1957, the Little Rock Nine walked into Central High School—facing mobs, hate, and fear—but never backing down. 💪 Their courage helped spark the civil right...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 58
•
6:18
History Ignited — Trouble in the Suez
In this episode of History Ignited, we dive into Billy Joel’s lyric “Trouble in the Suez” — a story of power, pride, and politics that shaped the modern world.When Egypt’s President Nasser took control of the Suez Canal i...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 57
•
5:57
Nikita Khrushchev: The Soviet Leader Who Rocked the Cold War | History Ignited Podcast
From banging his shoe at the UN to launching Sputnik into space, Nikita Khrushchev was bold, unpredictable, and unforgettable. 🚀 In this episode of History Ignited, we explore:✅ Khrushchev’s rise after Stalin✅ The shocki...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 54
•
7:10
Peyton Place: The Book, Movie & TV Show That Shocked America | History Ignited Podcast
✨ New Episode of History Ignited ✨Today, we dive into the story of Peyton Place—the scandalous book, blockbuster movie, and groundbreaking TV series that pulled back the curtain on small-town secrets in the 1950s and 60s.
•
Season 1
•
Episode 56
•
4:47
Princess Grace 👑 From Hollywood to Monaco | History Ignited Podcast
What happens when a Hollywood icon trades movie sets for a palace? ✨ In this episode of History Ignited, we uncover the story of Grace Kelly — Oscar-winning actress, Hitchcock muse, and the woman who shocked the world b...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 55
•
6:49
Alabama & the Civil Rights Movement | History Ignited Podcast for Kids
“Alabama” isn’t just a place in Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire — it’s a story of courage, kids, and the fight for equality.In this episode of History Ignited, we dive into the Children’s Crusade in Birmingham, th...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 53
•
7:02
Budapest 1956: The Student Uprising That Shook the World | History Ignited
In 1956, the people of Hungary—led by brave students—rose up against the Soviet Union in a fight for freedom. It was bold, it was heartbreaking, and it sent a powerful message across the Cold War world.In this episode of History Igni...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 52
•
4:58
Brigitte Bardot: Fame, Fashion & Animal Rescue | History Ignited 🎙️
Brigitte Bardot: Fame, Fashion & Animal Rescue | History Ignited 🎙️In this episode of History Ignited, we dive into the life of Brigitte Bardot — French film star, fashion icon, and later, fierce animal rights ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 51
•
6:42
Disneyland Magic: How a Dream Became a Theme Park Icon | History Ignited Podcast
Disneyland | The Happiest Place in History | History Ignited 🎙️In this magical episode of History Ignited, we’re heading to Anaheim, California to uncover how Walt Disney turned a carousel daydream in...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 50
•
6:58
Elvis Has Entered the Podcast | History Ignited 🎙️
This week on History Ignited, we’re taking you all the way to Graceland and back as we dive into the story of the one and only Elvis Presley — the King of Rock 'n' Roll.From his humble beginnings in Mississippi to ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 49
•
9:11
BONUS: We Won a Webby! | Behind the Scenes of History Ignited's Big Win
This special bonus episode of History Ignited is all about the win heard around the podcast world—our Webby People’s Voice Award for Best Kids & Family Podcast!🎙️ Hear from the whole crew (Amy, Andrew, Caroline...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 47
•
11:11
Peter Pan (1953): Disney’s Flight into Cold War Escapism | History Ignited
This week on History Ignited (Webby-winning!), we soar into the history of Disney’s 1953 Peter Pan—the film that took us to Neverland, lit up toy stores, and inspired a ride at Disneyland. 🎥✈️Join Andrew, Amy, Caroline &a...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 48
•
3:55
Davy Crockett: The Real Story Behind TV’s First Pop Icon | History Ignited Podcast
🔥 “Davy! Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier!” 🔥 You’ve heard the song, seen the hat… but do you know the REAL story behind the man in the coonskin cap? In this episode of History Ignited, we explore h...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 46
•
5:04
Brooklyn’s Big Win: How the Dodgers Made History in 1955 | History Ignited Podcast
🎙 NEW EPISODE ALERT! Brooklyn’s Got a Winning Team ⚾💙We’re heading back to 1955—when the Brooklyn Dodgers finally beat the Yankees and brought home their first World Series championship! 🏆It’s a story of...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 44
•
4:03
