Apple Podcasts awarded its prestigious Show of the Year honor to The Rest Is History Thursday, marking the first time a UK-based podcast has received the recognition. With the award, the streamer celebrates the show’s exceptional quality and cultural impact in the podcasting landscape. And the hosts obliged with insights into how they do what they do.
Apple Podcasts crowns The Rest Is History 2025 Show of the Year
Hosted by historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, The Rest Is History has captured a global audience with its engaging approach to historical storytelling, Apple Podcasts said. The Goalhanger-produced series consistently topped charts worldwide by bringing pivotal moments from the past to life. It covers everything from the Roman Empire’s rise and fall to the Titanic’s tragic sinking.
A winning formula of expertise and entertainment
As Apple notes, the podcast’s success lies in its unique blend of deep historical knowledge, compelling narratives and unexpected humor. Holland and Sandbrook mastered the art of making complex historical subjects accessible and entertaining for millions of listeners. They created what many consider essential listening for history enthusiasts and casual fans alike.
“This is an incredible moment for Goalhanger and a richly deserved recognition for Tom and Dominic,” said Tony Pastor, Goalhanger’s co-founder. He described the show as “a master class in intelligent, witty and deeply engaging storytelling” that successfully makes history accessible to a massive audience.
Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Podcasts, Music, Sports, and Beats, praised the hosts’ achievement in taking “a subject as vast as human history” and captivating listeners worldwide. He emphasized that the show represents “the very best of what’s possible with podcasting,” combining education, humor and community building in a way few others have managed.
The hosts’ perspective on their success
Photo: Apple
In a special conversation available on Apple Podcasts for Creators, Holland and Sandbrook reflected on what makes their show resonate with so many people.
Sandbrook explained their approach: “We don’t moralize, we don’t judge the past, and we approach it in a spirit of real enthusiasm. We don’t look down on people in the past. We just try to enjoy it, to relish the madness, the bonkers-ness of people.”
Holland added that their willingness to embrace humor sets them apart.
“People are very funny. And we’re not afraid of that,” he said. “When it emerges, we enjoy it, and I think that people who listen to the podcast enjoy it as well.”
The recognition clearly means a great deal to the hosts. Holland expressed his excitement about being the first British podcast to win the award, calling it “a cause for patriotic pride” and noting his particular delight that Apple specifically chose to honor their work.
Expanded content for fans
To celebrate the award, Apple is offering fans additional content across its ecosystem.
Listeners can explore a curated collection of Holland and Sandbrook’s favorite history books in Apple Books, discover their preferred classical music selections on Apple Music Classical, and read an interview with the hosts on Apple News In Conversation.
The Rest Is History joins previous Show of the Year winners and favorite shows in representing the pinnacle of podcast achievement, demonstrating how thoughtful, well-produced content can build meaningful connections with audiences across the globe.
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
