How It Began: A History Of The Modern World with Brad Harris

Celebrating progress, one episode at a time.

Welcome to How It Began, a thrilling podcast about the History of the Modern World. Humanity has been hard at work for centuries to empower itself with better tools and insights, from science and surgery to electricity and the Internet, and this series celebrates the history of those triumphs. Compared to our ancestors, we live like superheroes and sorcerers, endowed with powers they could never have imagined. But how did we achieve all this? This show tackles that question head on, revealing how the most important scientific, technological, and cultural advancements in history began, and inspiring us to keep reaching for new historical triumphs along the way.

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History At Its Best

Let your mind travel with me as I plunge us into history through a narrative rich in music and sound. In each episode, we will fly through the centuries to follow the seeds of an innovation or discovery as it blossoms into one of the many fruits of modernity. From technological advancements like the development of electricity, to medical advancements like safe and painless surgery, to cultural advancements like dog domestication, we will come to revere the dramatic history behind what we take for granted in the 21st century.
Prepare yourself. This is the new history podcast.

Who Am I?

After earning my PhD in the history of science and technology at Stanford University, I left academia for a couple of years to work in the tech industry, but that sojourn only increased my passion for history. Instead of re-entering academia to pursue a professorship, though, I felt podcasting was a better way for me way to reach people with history that can inspire the best in us. So here I am! And I'm only just getting started. Season One's episodes were released every two weeks, but I will soon begin releasing new episodes whenever they're ready, usually once or twice a month. Enjoy!

To Make A Show

Every single podcast is the product of scholarly due diligence, including weeks of extensive research, writing, and producing. I strive to make sure my content is both enlightening and engaging, appealing to subject experts and laypeople alike. I am devoted to distilling the massive complexity of history into the meaningful coherence of stories that stay with us. And while there may be much in the modern world to inspire our condemnation and even cynicism, my style is to focus on highlighting the good and the true in humanity’s efforts through the ages.

How It Began: A History Of The Modern World.

Available On:

on Apple Podcasts

“I don’t normally write reviews, but I have derived so much value from this podcast that I had no choice. … Each and every episode has been absolutely fantastic and I could not recommend this more highly. … Ultimately, this is the main reason I open the app at all. Brad, keep it up!”

“Brad Harris taught one of my favorite courses at Stanford. And wow! This podcast does not disappoint. … Brad approaches this podcast with the same academic vigor you would expect of a Stanford historian. … Add this to your list, folks. You will enjoy.”

“It’s almost unfair how well produced and interesting this podcast is. … Brad Harris might have one of the best voices I’ve ever heard. … The topics are incredibly interesting and offer insights I hadn’t thought of.”

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If you haven't yet, please subscribe to How It Began on Apple Podcasts. Subscribing on Apple Podcasts is so important because that's where the majority of new people will find the show, and the more subscribers I have there, the more visible How It Began will be!

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