Revolutions

12,477

Season 12 premiered October 20, 2024 – a nonfictional account of The Martian Revolution of 2247.Mike Duncan is taking everything he's learned from 12 seasons of historical revolutions - the repeating arcs, characters, ideas, events, and patterns which all revolutions seem to follow - and created a fictional history of the Martian Revolution of 2247. The series is written from the point of view of a historian working hundreds of years after the Martian Revolution and will be presented in the style and format of previous seasons of Revolutions. It will look, sound, and feel like a Mike Duncan history podcast…but will instead be a fictional narrative of a gripping science-fiction epic.Revolutions is a podcast that covers the great political revolutions that have defined the modern world. Each season is a long-form narrative covering a different defining revolutionary epoch across three hundred years of history. It explores in great detail the people, ideas, and events that challenged and toppled outdated regimes and replaced them with new governments. After more than 350 episodes over ten seasons of narrative nonfiction, the 12th season is a fictional account of the Martian Revolution of 2247.*BREAKING NEWS*In the fall of 2025, the Revolutions podcast will return to its roots by diving into the great revolutions of the 20th century. The new run of episodes begins with the story of Irish Independence, a dramatic upheaval in the wake of WWI that saw Ireland free itself from centuries of English rule. Full of inspiring personalities, tragic events, and thrilling triumphs, Irish Independence is one of the most gripping events in revolutionary history. Future seasons will plunge ahead through the turbulent 20th century, and include the Spanish Civil War, the Cuban Revolution, and the Algerian War of Independence.

Recent Episodes

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Recent Reviews

My view today

Future history- epic storytelling

The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress was the first sci fi book that captured my imagination. This series is an excellent alternative style for a similar story. “History” is always just a collection of stories and this history of something that hasnt happened is a very fine collection of stories. In particular it does a great job of examining human motives and behaviors and weaving them together in a complex story that progresses logically and with many satisfying developments. Very highly recommended by me as it suits my tastes and interests almost perfectly.
Antidespot

Mars is a fertile ground

I am thoroughly enjoying your Prospective history of our potential descendants. Your well developed scenarios, characters and archetypal factions have me waiting for the next installment. Ignore the detractors- I am with you!
Crhistfucker

start a new show

mike you have real book deals with real publishers get your repressed desire for fiction writing out somewhere else instead of clogging my feed with this unwanted off topic wank
BMW337

Two Great Tastes!

Science Fiction, at its best, has always been a powerful tool for investigating the human condition. I love history and I love SciFi. What could be better than to have one of the great historical podcasters combine the two. And, to all of you nay-bobs out there, lighten up and let the guy have some fun. After so many years of filling our brains with wonderfully narrated non-fiction, the least you can do is let him play around for a while. Enjoy this Reese’s Peanut-butter Cup moment! Tastes great!
daddyohstargazer

What Happened to Historical Topcis

Mr. Duncan, I have been with you since the beginning, loving your narative style, looking forward to the next episode, and the next after that, through 2 podcast feeds, purchasing appendixes, reading books, etc., until this Martian thing. I will try to listen again, but I would so much rather have more actual history in the great Mike Duncan tradition
consumer1156

Amazing

A great, thorough podcast. I’m always interested in what season will come next. I really respect you creating an entire fictional plot to cover, and think it’s been done wonderfully… but I hope we can get back to business soon…please…it’s been a while
Alicat389

Texas

Please please PLEASE do a series on the Texas revolution! It is absolutely worth it and so much more complicated than most people (non-Texans) probably know. Love the show! Humor is 👌
Master of Abyss

Can’t stand the historical fiction

I love the podcast up until the Sci Fi turn. I have ZERO interest in that. Could have started a new podcast for his new interest instead of tarnishing this one.
sweinber

A Revolution in the Revolutions Regime

Fabled history podcaster Mike Duncan returns after a loooong hiatus with a season of Revolutions that is itself a revolution against his own podcast, tossing out the ancien regime of actual history for an interlude of science fiction. Like perhaps all good science fiction, the series holds up a mirror to our own world, as he gets to develop his own synthesis of the core elements of the revolutions in his series. Some of them are incredibly obvious, but the parallels to historical revolutions are rampant enough to make me hope for a postscript where Duncan explicitly states which points influenced each episode. Or maybe that would kill the concept? No, I think I want to see that….
ATN Fan 1000

Interesting pivot

I have listened to all of history of Rome and prior seasons of Revolutions. I’m impressed by the pivot to sci-fi faux history which has really had me enraptured. If you ever thought the boardgame terraforming mars would make a great story then you’ll love the most recent season of this podcast.
Sig102408

Dumb Mars show

This Mars thing is utterly ridiculous. It’s boring, makes no sense, and is a waste of time. You should really go back to actual history where your show was good.
mjk1975

Past

Wish we could review past episodes. Dealing with Bishop wars. Trying to teach home schooling 😁.
Jinx Dinkum

All things Duncan!

I’ve listened to The History of Rome three times. All of Revolutions twice. And now to Mars! I love all of it. If I’m to criticize anything, it would be an ignorance of physics only too evident in the Mars story - but no worries, Mike. Though I wince at “neutron guns”, I’m all in. Indeed, I admire your willingness to use your usual format in the service of speculative fiction. Pretty freakin’ cool.
Reid van Swelm

Love it

Awesome!! love history. Hate having to wait a week but it takes time for this. Also books and history of Rome are super good.
Pacanou

Magnificent

The Martian Revolution is my Roman Empire… I think about it constantly, no really… all the time, and I can’t wait for each new episode to drop. This would make an incredible TV series. Streaming services pay attention! Just an excellent story, well done!!!
_gavrilo_princip_123

Love the fictional detour

Been listening since season 1. The Martian story isn’t a complete departure, it’s interesting to hear the common revolutionary themes (hubris, denial, escalation) that become clear when the story is abstracted.
Wtfsteve

Never gets old

Podcast-Reference.com suggests that Revolutions has the highest average WAR per season since 2013 even after missing 2023 and most of 2024. Middle-of-the-order thumper.
AL_5785224

Pass on the Martians, but I'll be here for the next history adventure

Not into the Martians, but I'm a loyal Duncan fan and will stay subscribed in hopeful anticipation of his next great season. I'm just kinda bummed he made up an entire civilization before tackling the Texas Revolution...
SweetTraci

New Book

I See a science fiction novel in your future.
Lil Phez

Good

Good
Nancy at the Piano

Great podcast!

I really liked the “Rome” and “Revolutions” series, and now this new sci-fi mock history - fantastic!
Ike the Marshal

“Let them hear Duncan!”

Revolutions was my introduction to Mike Duncan and after binging my way up to the later seasons I eagerly await each new episode. I will confess the Bolivarian Revolutions were a slog, but boy was it worth it to come out the other side into the Mexican Revolution. (I see why it was what inspired the project!). Working through chronologically, patterns emerge and your fictional Martian revolution is the perfect, playful way to discuss those patterns without leaving behind your delightful narrative style. I understood your decision to call it quits at 10, but am absolutely thrilled that you reconsidered and that we will have the opportunity to join you for an exploration of more recent revolutionary history.
themediocrebrit

Look folks, he’s one of the greats

There’s a reason why Mike’s History of Rome and Revolutions podcasts are correctly recognized as groundbreaking in the now-enormous field of history podcasting. I will be consuming anything and everything that Mike puts out, because frankly he don’t miss. Constantly recognizing new things Mr. Duncan has convinced me of, like the Great Idiot theory of history, in my daily life
Beyad

Welp. I guess.

I really like Mike and I have bought all his books. I enjoyed this series, but bro, how disappointing to be told there are new episodes of Revolutions but have it be a fictional narrative. Like don’t get me wrong, I listen to it and I’m sure I’ll enjoy it, but it should have been a different feed. There are so many actual revolutions I was hoping Mike would cover, especially the Irish revolution, so I hope maybe he’ll start covering actual history again in season 13 Edit: As expected, I am loving the Martian Revolution story and I hope Mike will put it out as a physical book so I can add it to my collection!
kyle11100001110

Martian Revolution

Im loving this new sci fi season! Great job so far!
Italian Nationalist

A review

Can get boring but it’s good
Reynard Burdon

I’m sorry I Never Wrote Before

Dearest Mike, Thank you for this program. It is a terrific public educational resource and such an immense undertaking. It paid off. The Mars stuff is super fun so far!
Lebanesechef

Could not have come at a better time

Great storytelling and wonderful callbacks to all the great parts of the real revolutions - bravo!
El Duggo

Best podcast

Very engaging, great content, and occasionally some wry humor that warrants an apology for being delivered in such a dry fashion that the wild comment is taken as fact. Brilliant!
Glenn-the old one

I would buy this book/watch this series

The world building is spectacular, the common revolutionary threads are all right there. Not many can effectively cross the history/fiction divide but Duncan is batting 1.000
pug lover andi

AMAZING!!!

This is my favorite podcast.I love it because he puts in so much amazing facts that makes it simple enough that I can understand what he is talking about. This is really a amazing podcast!
TCJX

Bring on the Real Red Revolution!

The inclusion of the Martian Revolution has been the October surprise I never expected, but I am here for the ride. The world building has been amazing so far and I desperately want to know more of the full history of Mars, from its cultural developments to their social structures and whatnot. I hope this ends up with Mike getting a lovely advance on the rights to some kind of miniseries produced by HBO (maybe not with Zazlov at the helm, maybe somewhere with deep pockets and a budget worthy of the scope of this story). I hope this show clogs my feed for the next four years!
cdgrady21

A+

I didn’t think I was going to like The Martian Revolution — I come here for history not fiction — but two episodes in I love it and cannot wait to learn what happens!
Rossssssssseriously

Genius

Following a pattern of a few other revolutions I’ve listened to, Mike fueled by some legit creative inspiration spins a story of a future revolution. Perfect anecdote to miserable real life politics. Can’t recommend highly enough. Bummed I can’t binge this! Will be looking forward to future episodes weekly!!
CLR7880

Climate Destruction mid 21st Century?? lol

Settle down Al Gore
nomadiceye

Love the history seasons!

Five stars up through the Russian Revolution and bridging analysis! Not so thrilled about the new speculative season. Is there a way to keep tapped into your historical work, Mike, without subscribing to this feed?
nhkarin

Martian Revolution

I absolutely love this season! Mike is telling the story in exactly the same way he has always shared the history of every other revolution - complete with references to historical texts and commonly known historical events. It’s so good!
Iphone6plususer123456789

Mike rather imagine revolutions in mars than tell us about the Cuban revolutions 😂

I love mike’ s version of the future we are forging…. really fun… love everything he does and will listen…
stone.laura

Wow

New season is so creative and insightful. I love that Mike has drawn together history and sci fi to talk about where we are and may be heading.
Odkdidjfncjfnfj

SO GOOD

Greatest thing ever personally I like history of Rome better but it is still VERY GOOD
ChicagoHayes8

Best podcast ever

This is the greatest podcast of all time. I listen to it immediately every week and get excited for it.
Rufus1234

This is now a science fiction podcast

The jury is out on this new story but it is science fiction, not history. I think it should have had a new show just as Revolutions was different than History of Rome. Give it a shot if you want to try a science fiction podcast. Personally, I am sad as Mike Duncan was one of my favorite history podcasters and I am not a fan of science fiction podcasts.
LA train commuter

Still the Best

I’ve listened to the History of Rome all the way through three times now and to each of the Revolutions seasons at least that many - though some more than others. This is a fantastic idea, I can’t wait to hear how it plays out. Unlike the other revolutions, only Mike knows anything about this story. I can’t wait for the setup episodes to provide historical context and then the blow by blow description of how it all unfolds. It’s a great start to a very different season.
ChinamanAC

More Please

Mike, I can’t tell you how much I miss listening to you tell such wonderful stories. The tease was wonderful, but maybe it’s time for a proper new season, eh?
Jeffrva

Just brilliant

Just brilliant!
L Dorothy

Just when you think I can’t get better…

I have a hard time listening to histories from a mainstream perspective as they so often ignore or misrepresent the majority of people. Mike Duncan manages to give digestible history that reminds us of all the humans involved. And just when I thought it couldn’t get better, he came out with a fiction based on all he learned, sending up not only revolutionaries past but also himself and other historians. Thank you, Mike!!!
Beth3733

Welcome back!

So great to hear your voice again and love the deadpan humor of a mock historical.
Muckles45

Martian Revolution

I particularly liked how Mike maintained his previous style while embarking on something new. It must be quite liberating to write a story without characters like Robespierre affecting the arc of the story
A friend from afar_

Masterpiece

Mike has made this incredible podcast a masterpiece. He should make a book on the Martian Revolution (just a script). Listen to this all the time.
Not Enough Time for Alex

Many happy returns

I’m about to finish my third re-listen of the series. Revolutions hits the sweet spot of accessibility and depth. Mike is great. Revolutions is great. Storm Before the Storm and Hero of two Worlds are great.