Histories of Unknowing is a nine-part podcast series that explores the history of ignorance–what historians of science call “agnotology.” It was created and recorded by the students of the winter 2026 HIST 3991 Histories of Ignorance. Topics draw on the work of historians of science and include “The Tobacco Strategy”–tactics devised to keep publics ignorant about the ill-health effects of tobacco products–climate change denialism, AI and ignorance, and the history of brainwashing. Technical assistance was provided by Sailee Shringarpure at CHMA, and music was created by Drew Inkpen.
01 Episode: Intro – History of Unknowing
Histories of Unknowing explores episodes in the history of ignorance, delving into the ways that ignorance is made, manipulated, and maintained in the modern world.