This is In Conversation from Apple News.

I'm Shmita Basu.

Today, two top historians share their favorite surprising chapters from American history.

Think back to history class. Did you ever have a teacher or professor who really made the past come to life?

At a time when historical content is booming in popularity, historians Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland have become those teachers for millions of people

through their podcast, The Rest is History. In each episode, Dominic and Tom rave, banter, and take listeners

deep into the past with surprising details, compelling characters, and engaging storytelling.

We are motivated by enormous kind of enthusiasm for history.

That's Dominic.

What happened to the people who were in this place before us?

And secondly, what happened next?

You know, the thrill of the story, you want to know what's going to happen to these characters.

The rest is history has just been chosen as Apple Podcasts, Podcasts, Podcast of the Year.

So I wanted to sit down with Dominic and Tom to talk about the thing they know best, history,

and specifically their favorite moments from American history.

We talk about the dramatic moment when indigenous people first clashed with colonizers,

the huge social and political swings of the 1960s,

and why Tom will always defend Mary Todd Lincoln, no matter how many historians call her a nightmare.

You're just racking up reasons why actually she's tremendous and probably the best woman in American history.

Tom will not change his position on this.

No, no, no, no. He's unchanging on this.

No, I've pledged my sword to her.

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