The Historical Present

Episode 1: Interview with Dan Carlin

The Historical Present, hosted by James Cetkovski and Ben Rhode, explores the challenges and possibilities of historical thinking in the twenty-first century. Created with support of The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities, it aims to think across the various disciplines of the humanities in its effort to see how our perspectives change when we think about the present as a part of the past. Dan Carlin is the host of two podcast series that are among the most popular in the world. His podcast Common Sense takes a historical perspective on contemporary politics and international affairs, while his series Hardcore History engages with key historical episodes in way that’s simultaneously broad ranging and granular. He has earned wide acclaim for his ability to present history in a way that manages to engage with extraordinary power without sacrificing depth, rigour, and analytical precision.