if I wanted to listen to a political opinion podcast, I would find a political opinion podcast.

Some seasons are quite good. However, as it goes on Afua (host) spends way too much time going on political rants while the other host tries to keep the show going. The other wonders make/female duos are much better.

This show has great potential but instead turned into nothing but political judgements based on extreme views and statements of the host. Listened to 3 seasons and couldn’t listen to anymore. So disappointed about could have been.

I love history podcasts and enjoy this one at times but their views most definitely lean to the left This is not something I am “upset” about but prefer for podcasters about history to keep their own political views out. As a point of reference I am a lifetime third party/ independent voter and while I support all views and think everyone should be heard, I think that this podcast does not represent both sides equally and tends to demonize the right in the current political atmosphere

My new favorite podcast! Every episode is so well researched and really entertaining. The hosts are engaging as well. It’s like they took the time to watch all of the stuffy documentaries for me and turn it into something much more fun to digest.

Both hosts articulate the depth of their knowledge of Churchill & British history. Unfortunately whether it is plain bias or ignorance, the claim by co-host Prof Hirsch in Episode 1 that other empires lacked the racialized superiority of the British is plainly wrong. Whether it’s the Muslim empires - Ottoman, Abbasid and Umayyad - or the Persians or the Greeks they viewed the people who they conquered, killed and ruled as lesser. To make the broad claims here is poor history and Prof Frankopan is a disappointment for allowing it to go unchallenged.

I think I’m listening to the wrong podcast. I searched for HISTORY podcasts, not Afua’s liberal opinions podcast. Oh well, it’s your show. Do what you like. I’ll hit delete.

I really kinda like listening to the dude. But Afua (the gal) is…. Annoying. She is really really judgy. She wants every single thing to have some super deep meaning…. And she gets to decide what that is. She’s an expert on all things. On every single thing. Ever. She says things like she really doesn’t like it when you listen to music but disregard lyrics. She makes it very clear that she does not stand for that. You’re doing it wrong. You need to listen to that music HER WAY. You are missing the whole point if you just want to listen and enjoy it. And you’re completely stupid if you have your own ideas about anything. That’s just one example, but honestly, you’re probably doing everything on earth wrong. Her experience as a human being is really the only one that counts. She is not very warm or welcoming. Her way of explaining makes me cringe. Also, Afua loves to talk about her own self importance. She loves to discuss how great she is, all the people she knows, and all the experiences she has had. Ugh. I hate her. Lastly, Afua is not American. She was born in Sweden to a British father and an African mother. Cool. She definitely has a unique background. She can speak to a lot of issues in various cultures. But she is not American or African American. And her perspective on American things is very illustrative makes it very clear that she doesn’t understand America or Americans. She has a lot of personal connections to all these other cultures…. Maybe her take on those is better, but every time she talks about the US, her ignorance and insensitivity shows.

I enjoy history, but this is just “oh here are my personal politics” with a little history mixed in. I tried multiple seasons and it’s outrageous throughout. If that’s the type of show a host wants, by all means, go ahead. My issue here is that this show is presented very differently from what the listening experience actually is.

I struggle to find these hosts credible because their arguments seem biased and reductive. They make sweeping generalizations that oversimplify complex issues, which undermines the validity of their perspectives. Suggesting Marilyn Monroe dyed her hair blonde due to an aryan fixation in America and that Taylor Swift’s popularity is based on the fact that she “resembles the American flag” diminishes these women’s achievements and comes off as sexist. I started listening to the Hoover one but couldn’t get through it, these hosts seem so untrustworthy, especially when you hear them talk glowingly about Thatcher. It seems to be a reoccurring theme in British podcasting that they tend to avoid any self reflection instead often pushing strange, hateful claims on the US and its citizens without citing any sources.

This could be such a great podcast if the hosts, mainly the female, would leave personal politics and views out. Making extreme statements about traditional wives, misogyny, and saying that currently women have no rights to their health, is misleading if not false. Making statements about the hopefulness of a person being a certain race, very weird. Why. We just want to learn about historic figures. Not get your personal agenda thrown at us.

Do you ever think your phone is listening to you? I was skeptical until now. I was talking with my mom wondering why Zimbabwe was once called Rhodesia and the next day this podcast discussing Cecil Rhodes popped up on my feed. I’m so glad it did. I enjoy the banter between to two hosts, their research, and their perspective. Keep up the good work.

Every season is fantastic on its own way. If you don’t like this podcast, you’re probably racist

I was excited to learn about Edgar J. Hoover. My thoughts in the first episode were that I wasn’t sure how I felt about the British take on certain aspects of American history. I thought “I can be open minded to some different interpretations.” They approached American history with much snobbery. By episode two it was clear that what was being presented regarding certain recent American politics was extremely slanted, misguided and oversimplified. I couldn’t stand it anymore and vowed to give up listening to the rest of the segments.

If you’re looking for a podcast to reexamine history through ideologically flawed spectacles, congratulations, you’ve found it. I don’t know who deserves my contempt more; the presenters, or the sad bumpkins praising it in these reviews.

I found this podcast through the Wondery+ subscription and I am floored by this podcast! I’ve always had an aversion to history (yawn) but the hosts bring such humanity and perspective to these historical figures! The hosts add parables, historical facts and their own thoughts and opinions in a fair and even keeled way. I am finding myself utterly glued to this pod and learning about people I never cared to learn about previously merely because I enjoy listening to these hosts. Much appreciation to Afua Hirsch and Peter Frankopan for bringing life to history and giving this listener a new appreciation to the people who came before her :)

Unfortunately this show is colored with many ‘modern’ overlays that are predictable and bring the presentation into the culture war frey. I’ll pass.

I’m going to start by saying - Afua, I love you. You are the voice missing in so many history podcasts!! I was hooked from Season 1 Episode 1. Afua is such a great voice of BIPOC peoples perspectives - thank you, as a fellow POC. The way Peter and Afua converse feels like you are at some intimate dinner amongst academics and they begin to discuss a favorite figure and go down the rabbit hole offering multiple perspectives. Just listen - believe me - even Gorbachev! - immediately hooked. Day 2 of listening and I’m starting Nina Simone - Episode 2 - and she is so relevant to today, I had no idea, I am ashamed to say! Keep this up! 👍

Having been a fan of Nina Simone, for many years, I was interested in finding out more about her life and career. However, the hosts were difficult to understand., not only because of their accents but the gentleman spoke very fast. This was my first time listening to Legacy and there are others that I’m interested in hearing. I hope there will be different narrators for future episodes.

Refreshing look at historical figures you may have heard only one side of in the past.

Content is good, but the number of times the presenters mentioned they went to Oxford **eye roll… a form of imperialism in its own right

As a physician who did not get time to take nearly enough history classes in college, I love podcasts for learning about how fascinating the characters of our past really are. There are many great podcasts for that purpose (1865 is amazing), and this one is an interesting take on the genre. I do think the content focused on one person is of value, as most history is taught as a story with many characters. This is worth a listen for that unique perspective. One pet peeve is the host’s pronunciation of “nuclear” as if it is spelled “nucular”. I asked a few Brit friends and they report this is not a dialectical variation (aluminum vs aluminium being an example), rather just a person making a lexical error—repeatedly. Unfortunately some seasons (Gorbachev) have the host saying it often. Not a deal breaker but would love a producer to help correct that, which can damage credibility.

I really enjoy it

I really enjoyed the episodes! There are events that should be discussed and I think that some history people don’t want to discuss because it is uncomfortable and I think that by discussing it we can make sure that it doesn’t happen again.

Peter is excellent and of course is an expert. Afua seems to be here only to present her commentary with a barely stifled anger.

Great premise and content delivered by two knowledgeable and charming hosts. It’s the total package. There were a few instances during the first episode where Afua offered some incisive comments that were met with either a flippant response (“well, that’s all of empiricism”) or no response, and it was a little concerning. I’m glad I stuck with it and I’m going to chalk it up to first-episode nerves, as the hosts’ chemistry greatly improved and they seemed to admired each others’ vast knowledge banks. Can’t wait for future seasons!

I enjoyed the first episode of this podcast and look forward to listening as they’re released. Two eel-informed individuals giving us a nuanced perspective of history. You have a new listener!