Throughline

Rund Abdelfatah

Booking Overview

This is a narrative history show that explains current conditions through deeply reported historical stories, typically featuring authors, university professors, historians, and other subject-matter experts. Credible pitches include academics, authors, researchers, and experts with original scholarship or authoritative books on overlooked historical events, institutions, social movements, and economic or political forces; booking is likely high-difficulty because of NPR’s editorial standards and the caliber of guests already featured.

Metrics

Episodes: 463

Frequency: Weekly

Rating: 4.6/5.0

Estimated listeners: >100k

Gender skew: Neutral

Location: USA

Instagram: 8.0M followers

Contact Information

Publicly listed emails

podcasts@npr.org

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Host

Rund Abdelfatah - Peabody Award-winning journalist.

Booking Intelligence

Booking Requirements

high

Typical Credentials:

Authors of authoritative history and nonfiction books, university professors, historians, researchers, curators, and former public officials with specialized expertise and a compelling evidence-based historical narrative.

Required Achievements:

Published authoritative books, University professorships, Specialized historical research, Curatorial or public-service experience

Recent Guest Discussions

Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja - African History, Global Politics, And The Democratic Republic Of Congo.

Ramona Austin - Art History And The Cultural History Surrounding The Democratic Republic Of Congo.

Adam Hochschild - Colonial Exploitation And The History Of The Democratic Republic Of Congo.

Siddharth Kara - Cobalt Mining, Exploitation, And The Democratic Republic Of Congo’s Resources.

Heijin Lee - Gender, Korean Culture, And South Korea’s Global Cultural Influence.

Recent Topics

History, Politics, Economics, Social Justice

Episodes

Here's the recent few episodes on

Throughline

How two swing states changed American voting

September 17, 2026

Today on the show, the balance of Congressional power is up for grabs in this midterm election. It could be determined by a small number of voters in a few battleground states. Blueprints from the past could be the guide for big wins. The GOP has embraced a block-the-vote strategy set in motion in Arizona in the 1960s. And the Democrats are embracing a grassroots power base set up in Michigan in the 1970s.Guests:John A. Jenkins, author of The Partisan: The Life of William RehnquistTova Wang,...

How baseball got its beat

September 10, 2026

Major League Baseball’s postseason is just a few weeks away, and here on Throughline we know the power of a good walk-up song. But how did baseball become such a musical sport? And where did the idea for walk up-music come from? Guests:John Thorn, author and Official Baseball Historian for Major League BaseballNancy Faust, former organist for the Chicago White SoxSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening...

Is it time for a Luddite Renaissance?

September 08, 2026

Calling someone a "Luddite" is usually an insult – shorthand for someone who is behind the times. But the real Luddites weren't just afraid of change; they were a labor movement fighting to save their jobs from being replaced by machines. Today, with the rise of AI, many feel the same kind of existential threat and some are even pushing for a Luddite Renaissance. In this episode, Throughline takes on a listener's question to explore what the 19th-century Luddite rebellion can teach us about t...

Publicly listed emails

podcasts@npr.org

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