This podcast blends together history, literature, and linguistics in a seamless and entertaining manner it’s good for active listening or just to listen to half asleep. It’s really entertaining and informative and I would definitely recommend it.

I’ve been interested in the origins of words for as long as I can remember and this podcast ties things together with history which makes it all so fascinating. Thanks, Kevin, for all your hard work in producing this podcast. Episode 114 The Craft of Numbering is exceptionally cool.

This has been one of my favorite podcasts. I have listened to the entire series twice and am on my third. ❤️❤️

I really enjoy this podcast. It’s so fun to learn about the different ways the English language has been shaped and changed over the years. And it’s cool to see all the interesting connections between different words.

Just found this podcast and, wow, it’s exactly what I hoped it would be!! Thank you to the host for how much work is put into not only the podcast but also the website! Such an informative and fun listen, would highly recommend!

中文

If you are interested in the quirks of the English language and want a scholarly discussion of it. This is the podcast for you.

One of the best podcasts out there!

I can’t believe I am just now hearing about this podcast. I am fascinated by how languages absorb the history of their peoples. I look forward to more episodes!

I have learned so much from this podcast I have become insufferable to those around me, always casting off mind blowing facts about linguistic history and it’s all thanks to the podmastery of Mr Kevin. I truly love this podcast the final episode on the history of English should literally be about this podcast because it IS PART of the history of English itself.

The amount of depth in this podcast is impressive. I am gaining so much knowledge and finding new interests!

I’ve been following this podcast for years. Stroud is among the best.

I think that the product, and the research that goes into these episodes is impressive. Especially considering the host isn't really a linguist. I also appreciate the corrections made when he says something wrong. (within reason) Considering this podcast is targeted towards non-linguists and linguists alike, I can appreciate the attempts to make everything easily understandable. Rather than over explaining or going into tangents that draw from the point for super accuracy in phonetics or culture. I think this show presents a perfect middleground. I highly recommend.

I hang on every word of this podcast and listen to some again and again. As a fabric collector and seamstress I love the episodes on the origins of words related to those topics. As a passionate reader of Shakespeare I love the episodes on that subject. In fact every episode is chock full of interesting amazing discoveries. My only issue is i wish he would have used the superb movie version of Henry The Fifth with Kenneth Branagh.

As a European medieval history major, and language nerd myself, I love this podcast! Very in-depth, and detail, and he clearly connects The historical and linguistic evidence back to modern English, and other languages. If language even slightly interests you, you need to give it a listen! Honestly, listen, even if language does not interest you. It’s that good.

Thank you, Kevin, for packing each episode with so much interesting information. The depth is incredible. I love each episode.

One of my favorite podcasts for several years. Excellent history of English language in the context of England’s political and literary history.

Simply the best Historical podcast to which I have listened. Good enough that I have gone thru it, from beginning to current episode, twice .

A comprehensive guide to understanding where the English language comes from.

My wife and I both love this podcast. Kevin Stroud is brilliant, diligent, kind, and—most important of all—has a pleasant, mellifluous voice. Perfect for bedtime or if you wake up thinking too much aboit present problems. There’s something soothing and fascinating about the past, and the merging of etymology and history is masterfully done. Sometimes I have to listen several times to finish each episode, but Mr. Stroud is an old, familiar friend. Easy on the ears.

It helped me get to sleep

I am 6 episodes in and riveted. So comprehensive and engaging. The organization is wonderful.

I love this podcast. It is very informative. My only complaint is the long periods between episodes. I wish they could be published on a more frequent schedule.

I never thought I would find a podcast about the history of the English language engrossing and fascinating. I am impatient for the new podcasts to start up again. I recommend this podcast to anyone who wonders why English has so many variations of spellings of words that sound the same. Also to anyone who is interested in history in general.

This podcast is so amazing - Kevin presents the information so clearly and at a pace that allows you to absorb the details without getting lost or overwhelmed. Each episode seems to have a narrative that links political and cultural history to changes in the English language, influences from Celts to Angles, Saxons, Vikings and of course the Norman French. I’m so grateful to have found this podcast and for all of the work that Kevin has put into this endeavor!

I owe so much to this podcast. For nearly a decade it has been a reliable source of inspiration and curiosity to me. Exquisitely researched, every episode is well-paced and presented with a clear focus that deftly weaves through historical narrative and linguistic history- often unearthing surprising connections and delightful anecdotes. One episode alone will radically expand your understanding and appreciation of English as a complex and mutable subject that both preserves and adjusts to the endless human drama involving its speakers. At risk of sounding a bit weepy and melodramatic, I am profoundly grateful to Kevin and all of the work that has gone into making this series. Thank you so much.

I enjoyed this episode for many reasons. Especially clear and valuable is the step by step explanation of this traditional meter. I learned a great deal. Thank you for such clarity in presenting this information.

I love this podcast because it combines history and language in an easy to understand and informative way. I’ve read several books on the history of English, yet I’ve probably learned more from this podcast about the connections to the other languages such as Old Norse and Norman French.

I am totally enjoying both the clear explanations and thorough depth of these podcasts. I particularly appreciate how they go back into the Indo-European origins of the language. I just hope they will consider the international uses of English in the 21st century and the many pidgin-creole languages that developed during colonialism. I am learning far more from this podcast than I did from my History of the English classes at university. A university course built around this podcast would be amazing.

I didn’t think the history of the English language was a subject that would catch my attention for more than fifteen minutes, but this became my favorite podcast. For anyone that’s ever felt like English is just three languages in a trenchcoat trying to sneak into an R rated movie: you don’t even know the half of it yet.

I’ve listened to almost all the episodes. Some were jaw dropping like the indo European language theories and the great vowel shift. I’ve learned so much about English and history here! Really great host and I’m enormously thankful this podcast is not interrupted by commercials (I also support on patreon).

This is my favorite podcast and I am constantly recommending it to others. I am so grateful to Kevin for the diligent work he puts in. I listen to old episodes most nights to fall asleep; it’s calming to me not because it’s boring, but because the details are so intricate that I can focus on the rich lives of those in the past, and I can forget my troubles in the present. Thank you, Kevin.

I’ve really enjoyed listening to this podcast. Great episodes that I always enjoy!

History of English sometimes has been wandering off topic in recent episodes. E.g., who needs another rehash of Shakespeare's life: stick to his distinctive and innovative use of the language. This podcast is excellent on the Old English and Middle English periods as well as such topics as the great vowel shift, the alphabet and foreign borrowings. Many thanks to the author for this series

I really have enjoyed learning about the history of English and “why English is the way it is.”

Thank you for the work that you put into this podcast 🙏

I so admire the incredible amount of hard work and effort put into this podcast. As a person who works with words all day long, this show is right up my alley, and I have thoroughly enjoyed binging it, learning so many new connections along the way. Thank you, Kevin, for all you do, and keep it up! Everyone who speaks English should listen to this valuable piece of educational work.

I’ve been listening to this podcast for years. I’m approaching the Norman conquest in 1066. It’s very well written, and the presenter is great. He does a great job explaining complexity by going slow, with loads of detail, and telling the history alongside the language changes.

As a first grade teacher, a large part of instruction centers around phonemic and alphabetic knowledge. What a gift is has been to not just present to the children the different sounds associated with a written letter, but to be able to explain WHY there are various sounds. The History of English Podcast has also let to our class more deeply understanding how the different languages we are able to speak are actually connected, as are we. They look forward to stories about the history of English. The children are fascinated as I relay various facts. Each occasion has been met with applause. This podcast will grow your own knowledge as well as your ability to share that knowledge with people of all ages.

I started listening to this when he was on episode 112. I binged until I caught up and have been excited for the new ones ever since! This show has opened my mind. The concept of language families was brand new to me but now I have read more books on linguistics and listened to many history podcasts. I can’t get enough. I also started learning Spanish and have dabbled in French and Portugués because of what I have learned here. Thank you Kevin for creating something so accessible and inspiring!

I grew up listening to rap music and skateboarding in Florida. I've been fortunate to have a lot of rad experiences in life and learn a lot. But at some point I started having a real hard time finding interesting sources of useful information that could also excite me. The more you learn the harder it gets to find good stuff. This podcast always excites me and teaches me. I don't think I'm necessarily the obvious audience for this podcast because I never studied language, but this is the podcast I listen to most. And every time I listen I am rewarded with precious information that relates to my unique life.

I have had this on my “To Listen” list for a while but didn’t get around to it until now and I regret not starting sooner. At least a have a zillion eps to binge now.

If you speak English, you need to hear this podcast.

I was lucky enough to binge tons of episodes and did not have to wait for new ones for months. That time has passed and i look forward to every new episode. Thank you.

I’ve always been impressed with this podcast. The host is very knowledgeable, bringing together lines of evidence across linguistics, history, and anthropology to weave a coherent story about language. I’m interested in PIE linguistics and always learn something new. Thanks!

I have listened to all the episodes at least twice and am now on my third re-listening! I learn something new each time I listen, and have enjoyed listening to some of the books Kevin has suggested as well. As a Latin teacher, I use episodes of the podcast in my classroom as well. So thankful to Kevin for sharing his research with all of us!

If you’re at all interested in the long, winding path that the English language took from its humble beginnings 4,500 years ago to today, you’ll be mesmerized by the authors meticulous storytelling. Simply and cleanly told, Stroud does a brilliant job in his effort here. One word of warning: I’m about 6% in and it’s a bit overwhelming the length of the work created here (and still going) for 10+ years. For some this may simply be too daunting, for others (like myself), a godsend.

Once I get to the very last podcast, I’ll just start again.💕💕

For over a decade The History of English has been explaining the English language I thought I knew. I’m a better, speller, writer and speaker because of the podcast!

This podcast is an education in linguistics and history all rolled into one. He starts the story thousands of years ago with the proto Indo-Europeans and (as I write this in March 2023) he has made it all the way to the Spanish Armada, with each episode giving you a history of the language and a few of the words which first appeared at that time. This is a real educational gem.