Hello, I’m Ben Tumin, and welcome to Skipped History!
I bring challenging parts of the past to life in new and fun ways. My mantra: it’s possible to insert levity without taking things lightly. Luckily, most people I make fun of are too far underground or floating too deep in the cosmos to punch back.
Here, on Substack, I interview leading historians about their latest research. We examine conveniently overlooked ideas, events, and people that shape the U.S. today. New interviews are released every Friday and periodically republished in Teen Vogue.
On land, I perform. Picture my shtick like John Oliver, just quirkier and focused on how history shapes the present. I share updates about the shows thru Substack, too. I’m developing a three-part performance about The Power Broker, by Robert Caro. The first show is on June 7th in NYC (where I’m from). I’d love to see you there!
All of my work is subscriber-supported. I keep prices at the lowest rates Substack allows to make history as easy to access as possible. In our age of fascist politics, when the far right is more committed than ever to rewriting and burying the past, I hope you’ll consider supporting me:
During the pandemic, I made videos. They were profiled in The New York Times. Below are some very flattering remarks from historians who enjoyed the vids:
If you’re a publisher looking to share new books, please email me at skippedhistory at substack dot com. I love new books! Given the volume I receive, I can’t respond to every inquiry, but I check them all out.
For outside interviews or shows, likewise, email me to talk!
Thanks for checking things out!
