I hope this show is not canceled!

These brief, crisp, daily visits to historical events are the perfect way to start my day. I grab the dog, start our walk, and tune in to the great Jon Meacham. And most days, I’ll do additional research on the days subject when I return home. Please come back! This hiatus has gone on too long!

The podcast started out well-intentioned, even though the hosts arrogance always shined through the constant mentions of his own name. Nowadays, it’s mostly advertisements with bits of history. Lately, you can also see a departure from unbiased history towards leftist talking points. Sad.

I used to love this little gem in the morning. Now it’s full of ads and just John reading a speech. Has this turned in to “It Was Said”? Bummer. More context, more backstory, and less reading speeches.

Jon is a brilliant historian and these episodes are enjoyable, but when a podcast is literally 50% ads something is wrong.

I really used to love this podcast, but there’s way too much ad content now and no option to pay for an ad-free version. I sucked it up for a while, but it’s getting worse and I’ve lost patience, so I’m going to unsubscribe. Too bad, really, because the content-what little of it there is relative to the ads-is excellent.

I enjoy the actual content, but be prepared to hammer the skip button. With two long ads at the beginning and one at the end, along with excessive self-promotion, the real content is less than half of the run time of each episode.

Great bits of history - ridiculous that it’s wrapped up with three ads in a 7-minute podcast.

Great show. Annoying how much mentions his names. Comes off as extremely arrogant. Otherwise, well done!

Enjoy and appreciate the historic event but it comes at too high a cost with ads and credits. Why do most podcasts do credits anyway? I’m unsubscribing.

Let’s start with the good. Make that extremely good. Jon Meacham is providing a valuable service with history lessons that few of us probably know. The content is concise, interesting and informative. As a journalist, commentator and podcaster, Mr. Meacham is a wonderful teacher. But in an 8 minute podcast, one that opens with 3 minutes of ad messages and closes with 1 minute of ads, this is out of balance. This is not the old days of Newsweek where 50% of the content can be advertising. You might say I could simply skip ahead like turning the page of a magazine. But that is not a great option when driving. Or when my hands are carrying other things.

The podcast content is interesting, but the ads you must wade through to get it are ridiculous. Time spent on ads = time spent on content! Very disappointing!

These clips are interesting when you’re actually listening to content, but you’re just as often listening to advertising. I realize bills have to be paid but 6-10 mins of production (it may even be less) cannot cost what is obtained from the advertising. It’s so disproportionate that I tend to skip more episodes than I actually listen to.

A 2 minute pod with 5 minutes of commercials and credits . Oh but I still listen and “skip” everyday

The actual content is great, and I am a big fan of keeping podcasts short. But I agree with the other comments that the ads have gotten out of control. An 8 minute podcast should not be 4-5 minutes of ads.

Seems like they just keep adding more !

The number of ads is excessive. Today was over three minutes of ads at the start, and another minute at the end — more time than the content!!! And Meacham uses the show to preach is ultra left views, instead of just teaching us the facts.

The ads and credits are the bulk of this brief podcast.

I look forward to listening to this podcast every morning! I learn something new every day. My only feedback is the ratio between ads/content seems a little off. Sometimes you only get 4 mins of content and 2-3 mins of ads/credits.

…there are hidden moments in history I wish they would highlight, such as those on peacebuttons.org.

Were it possible to write a review of just the content, I’d give this a much better score. But sadly, after listening to this failthfully each morning for months, I have to write about the experience of that daily practice. I realize ads are the most common method of monetizing content. I don’t expect anyone to work for nothing. So, I tolerate some ads. But there is an ad-to-Jon Meacham ratio which this podcast completely misses. I really wish they could sell one ad/sponsorship per 5 minute podcast, not stick an ad on at the beginning, then announce a different sponsor, then talk about history for a couple minutes then slap listeners with a yet another ad. I like Jon Meacham, but… no thanks. I unsubscribed.

Jon ‘s knowledge is key to his insight on these great moments in our past which we know will be reflected in our future.

A wonderful tribute to Representative Pelosi and prayer for our country. Thank you for this.

Digestible bytes of history well prepared and litky seasoned!! Top qualty content with top quality production values. Skim the episode titles and this will be irresistible!!

I have always enjoyed listening to Mr. Meacham. Part brilliant historian, part episcopal preacher, his message of history and hope can be both inspiring and soothing in these “interesting times.” Now that David McCullough is gone Mr.Meacham serves as the voice of reason in an era of chaos. Thank you very much sir.

Clearly the writer of this podcast takes issue with a certain former President. Every historical event doesn’t need to be related to/associated with that term in office. I subscribed to a podcast about history to hear about the past not the current political climate. The topics are interesting, the ads are longer than the content and the political opining should be left at home.

I do enjoy this podcast for its historical content. But it could be so much better, in my opinion, if it used the actual tape of the people speaking, when available, and a voice actor reading the lines when they are not. Having Mr. Meacham be both narrator and the person being quoted can get confusing.

This podcast has become my daily dose of historical reflection. So well done and love John Meachem - the inclusion of actual speeches and references of the period is amazing. Love it and keep those daily reflections coming!!

So much potential here, yet there’s a trade off between generating revenue with ads vs. with more subscribers. I just can’t listen anymore with so much interruption. Unsubscribe

Seriously, John’s content is great and worth 5 stars but to give an example at the start of one episode, 1m34s of ads, then 2m28s of story, and then 1m15s of end credits and more ads.

John Meacham brings history to life in small, bite-sized pieces. His vast knowledge is made accessible via his wonderful writing and beautiful voice. This podcast is a gift to all. Thank you.

A pithy entry into history podcasts. Not much meat on these bones. Unsubscribe.

I hope no one is sleeping on this podcast. These are a daily reminder of things we have done and things we shouldn’t do again. Short but still packed with so much in each episode!

This would be a solid four stars if a full one-third of the runtime weren’t given over to ads. It’s also really jarring when an ad with Dak Prescott pitching some product is put right in the middle of the narrative. Solid material, poor production value. Expected more.

Our country needs spunk and the focus of a road map offer to course correct quicker than your story told…. Break out of the dull-drums. And tell a story with more purpose. Honor need not be so dried up. Be alive with courage, it’s timeless Your needed now, in our time’s now. What’s holding you back? Eat your veggies and get a move on man. What’s with this minute program? Give it your all or give it to someone who can be more effective. I’m older than you, and disgusted with what is going on in the USA. Come up to the times! The country is going to dust and your talk talk talking of history. American Home Front needs attention NOW.

These almost always bringing a tear to my eye, spurring me to be a better American. Thank you

When each episode is only 5 minutes, there shouldn’t be 2 minutes of intro, ads, and credits with each episode.

Have always appreciated your perspective on the news channels so was pleased to hear of your Blog and can say I have been equally pleased. My only beef is I wish they were longer.

To say that Meachem’s commentary is stimulating is an understatement.. He makes history come alive and relevant like few other historians are able to do. Particularly interesting to me,Was the voice of Mario Cuomo the late governor of New York speaking at Notre Dame on the abortion issue. Rarely have I heard anything as reasonable on that issue as he said then. Congratulations Mr. Meachem for a job well done.

Love this podcast. Thanks for creating it.

That voice❤️❤️❤️ I love learning everyday- He always has interesting obscure facts - a great way to start the day❤️

I look forward to listening each week day. Each day is a reminder of a person or event in history that helps one when addressing the times we live in now.

An excellent podcast, always very interesting.

These vignettes about history brought to you by Mr. Meacham are fabulous. Some, you will have a bit of knowledge of. Others, will be completely new and expand your historical horizons. I like the format of being short, and to the point. I’ve learned the background on many historical events but I previously did not know. I highly recommend this podcast to anyone who is interested in history, or the direction of our country.

Would be nice for just a tad bit more information on the daily topics Thanks Heather Davis

The historical content is outstanding... Trying to listen to multiple episodes in a row is painful due to the amount of ads, the intro and ending of each show.

I was a big fan of Meacham until now. All of the emphasis seems to be on self-branding with the “this company, a subsidiary of this other company, and a production of this other really important company, etc.” Folled by the “produced by, executive produced by, written and directed by, etc” is so absurd compared to the amount and quality of the content… which cannot hold my attention. Clumsy writing, too self important, and just … ick.

A wonderful, very accessible and digestible daily bite of history. We would all do well to revisit these lessons, and learn again from all of our past accomplishments, but, most importantly, our failures, so we can do better this time! THANK YOU, JON MEACHAM! Well done!

What a treat! Short 5-minute golden nuggets of precious American history told by the best of the best — Jon Meacham.

Great idea - short & thought provoking both