History That Doesn't Suck
A solo-narrated American history podcast that uses sound design and storytelling to make complex historical events engaging and accessible.
This is a solo-narrated, chronological survey of American history, told as a collection of distinct stories. Each episode is deeply researched and presented with a narrative flair, complete with sound design and occasional musical elements to create an immersive experience. The host, a university professor, explicitly aims to bridge the gap between academic history and public entertainment, often connecting past events to modern-day issues and anxieties.
“The podcast's key distinction is its blend of academic rigor with an accessible, entertaining storytelling format, embodied by its 'Professor' host. Unlike conversational or interview-based history shows, HTDS is a tightly scripted and produced narrative experience, using sound to bring the stories to life.”
Who hosts this show
History That Doesn't Suck (HTDS) is a bi-weekly narrative podcast hosted by Professor Greg Jackson that delivers a seriously researched survey of American history. Dr. Jackson holds a PhD in history from the University of Utah and is an Associate Professor at Utah Valley University. The show's promise is in its title, aiming to make history educational and entertaining by presenting it through compelling stories.
Credentials & credits
- PhD in History, University of Utah
- Associate Professor, Utah Valley University
- America 250 Professor, Center for Constitutional Studies at UVU
- Senior Fellow, Center for National Security Studies at UVU
- M.A. in French Studies, Brigham Young University
- B.A. in History, Brigham Young University
Other ventures
- Author of "Been There, Done That: How Our History Shows What We Can Overcome"
- Co-host of "Government That Doesn't Suck" podcast
- Live stage show "HTDS: The Unlikely Union"
- Commentator on HISTORY Channel documentaries
- Historical consultant for "American Elections: Wicked Game"
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01
- 02Bonus: Prof. Greg Jackson interview on The Road to Now with Dr. Ben SawyerJun 15, 2026 · 1h 09m
- 03207: Japanese Internment: Removal, Relocation, & ReckoningJun 8, 2026 · 1h 19m
- 04206: American Propaganda: Cap’s Debut, Frank Capra’s War Docs, and CasablancaMay 22, 2026 · 1h 16m
- 05Introducing Family LoreMay 18, 2026 · 41 min
- 06205: Total War on the Home Front: Victory Gardens, Volunteering, and the Double VMay 11, 2026 · 1h 11m
- 07Bonus: “Messy Tales,” an Excerpt from the Prof’s book, Been There, Done ThatMay 4, 2026 · 35 min
- 08204: The Holocaust: Anne Frank, the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, & AuschwitzApr 27, 2026 · 1h 14m
Notable episodes
- 01207: Japanese Internment: Removal, Relocation, & Reckoning
Connects the little-known Niʻihau incident directly to the political climate that led to Executive Order 9066, providing deep context on a difficult chapter of US history.
- 02Bonus: Prof. Greg Jackson interview on The Road to Now with Dr. Ben Sawyer
A meta-episode where the host is interviewed about his own book and historical philosophy, revealing his perspective on American resilience and how history informs the present.
- 03America250 Episode 8 Rerelease: Declaring Independence...
A core episode on a foundational American topic, showcasing the show's narrative style by detailing the political debates and key figures behind the Declaration of Independence.
What you'll be asked on this show
This is a solo-narrative podcast; it does not feature guest interviews. Each episode typically begins with the host, Professor Greg Jackson, saying, "I'd like to tell you a story." The narrative is highly structured, often using sound effects like a 'rewind' to transition into historical backstory and build a rich audio environment.
Signature segments
- · Opening line: "I'd like to tell you a story."
- · Use of a 'rewind' sound effect for historical transitions
- · Immersive sound design to accompany narratives
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
- Ben Sawyeron Bonus: Prof. Greg Jackson interview on The Road to Now with Dr. Ben Sawyer
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
Sponsors are mainstream direct-to-consumer brands (Quince) and business services (Indeed, Spectrum Business), typical for podcasts with a broad, educated audience. The advertising is integrated as standard host-read ad breaks.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- What is the host's name and background?
- The host is Dr. Greg Jackson, an Associate Professor of History at Utah Valley University with a PhD in history from the University of Utah.
- What is the format of the show?
- It is a solo-narrated podcast. Professor Jackson tells a researched story from American history in each episode, enhanced with sound design. It is not an interview show.
- Is the podcast still active?
- Yes, it is a bi-weekly podcast with new episodes released regularly.
- Does the host have a book or other projects?
- Yes, Greg Jackson authored "Been There, Done That: How Our History Shows What We Can Overcome" and co-hosts another podcast called "Government That Doesn't Suck".
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on its official website (htdspodcast.com), YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major podcast platforms.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]About — History That Doesn't Suck Podcasthtdspodcast.com
- [02]Greg Jackson - Profile | Utah Valley Universityuvu.edu
- [03]Greg Jackson Keynote Speaker | Harry Walker Agencyharrywalker.com
- [04]History Alumnus Takes Future Into His Own Hands | BYU College of Social Sciencesfhss.byu.edu
- [05]Government That Doesn't Suckpavestudios.com
- [06]UVU Professor Greg Jackson To Appear in the History Channel's 'Engineering That Built the World' Seriesnews.uvu.edu
- [07]History That Doesn't Suck | Airwave Mediaairwavemedia.com
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