The Rest Is History

The Rest Is History is a history podcast hosted by British historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook that began in 2020.

Goalhanger Podcasts introduced the series in November 2020 during global pandemic lockdowns to provide narrative history discussions. Distribution operates through Megaphone across major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts and Spotify without a paywall on regular episodes. In 2021, the producers introduced a paid membership tier called The Rest Is History Club to offer early releases and bonus episodes. Commercial growth led to a minority equity investment in Goalhanger by The Chernin Group in January 2026. By June 2026, the show had released 762 episodes and completed multiple international live tours across Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

Episodes typically run for 50 to 60 minutes and examine ancient civilizations, political crises, and military conflicts through conversational analysis. Holland focuses on classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, while Sandbrook concentrates on modern political history and twentieth-century culture. Recurring multipart series have explored the fall of the Roman Republic, the French Revolution, the First World War, and the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Episodes often begin with a dramatic reading of primary historical sources before the hosts debate competing academic interpretations.

In December 2023, the British Academy awarded the podcast its President's Medal, marking the first time the humanities body honored an audio series. Apple Podcasts named the program its Global Show of the Year for 2025, making it the first non-American production to win the award. The series also won a People's Voice honor at the Webby Awards. Bloomsbury published an official companion book titled The Rest Is History in 2023. In July 2026, the hosts staged a two-day festival featuring live performances and historical reenactments at Hampton Court Palace.