You can’t have informed opinions about something without understanding its historical context. Whether you’re studying history in college or just looking to broaden your worldview, here’s a list of the best history podcasts for anyone looking to add historical nonfiction to their media diet.

For fans of truly chilling nonfiction, this podcast is a must-listen. Urban legends, unsolved murders, and mysterious locations are common themes on Lore. It’s free to listen to, and Amazon Prime members can watch the show based on the podcast.

Major societal changes rarely occur without bloodshed. Mike Duncan recounts the dramatic events that led to the English Civil War, the French Revolution, and other major societal upheavals. Fans of Revolutions will also enjoy Duncan’s History of Rome podcast, both available for free on iTunes.

Each 10-minute episode of this BBC series presents listeners with personal accounts of historical events through the words of those who lived through them. Topics covered range from life under Gaddafi to the invention of Instant Noodles. Over 3,000 episodes are available for free on the BBC website.