Five Authors Unbound authors are joining forces to bring the stories behind history to life in a brand-new way.
Launching September 29, The History Hive Five is a lively biweekly video podcast hosted by New York Times bestselling historical authors Kate Quinn, Kristina McMorris, Stephanie Dray, Allison Pataki, and Madeline Martin. The five longtime friends share a passion for history, research, and storytelling, and their new show grew out of the questions they are often asked about the real people, events, and research behind their books.
Co-hosting in rotating pairs, the authors will welcome renowned historians, researchers, and bestselling literary guests for conversations that explore the fascinating stories tucked away in the past. Topics range from daring heists and prison escapes to WWII codebreakers and the Soviet Night Witches, with each episode offering a mix of historical insight, humor, curiosity, and plenty of surprises.
The guest list promises plenty to discover. Among the experts joining the hosts are Max Miller, creator and host of the popular Tasting History series, Alcatraz historian Michael Esslinger, former Rockette Rhonda Malkin, and Anthony Amore, Director of Security and Chief Investigator at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Literary guests include Chris Bohjalian, Fiona Davis, Jo Piazza, Beatriz Williams, Marie Benedict, and many more.
The first episode takes viewers to Paris, where co-hosts Kristina McMorris and Allison Pataki welcome New York Times bestselling author Kristin Harmel, author of Meet Me in Paris, and Ferit Onger, co-founder of Paris & Beyond Tours. Together, they dig into the city’s fascinating past, uncovering surprising stories about why the French initially despised the Eiffel Tower, Napoleon’s plans for a dramatic makeover of Notre Dame, illegal adventures through the catacombs and hidden rendezvous passageways, and an unexpected, slightly rocky marriage proposal that became a spontaneous community event.
While the rotating conversations will spotlight a different corner of history in each episode, the show will also bring all five authors together for special roundtable episodes. These conversations will turn the focus toward the authors themselves, from wild book-tour stories and jobs they have been fired from to the pivotal moments and inspirations that shaped their literary careers.
And the fun won’t stop with the full episodes. The History Hive Five will also share highlight clips, historical fast facts, behind-the-scenes moments, and reading recommendations across its social channels, giving history lovers plenty of ways to join the hive.
With five bestselling historical authors at the helm and a community of experts, writers, and curious minds joining them along the way, The History Hive Five promises to uncover remarkable and often-forgotten stories while celebrating the people who keep history alive.
The show officially launches TODAY September 29, 2026. Follow and subscribe to The History Hive Five to join Kate Quinn, Kristina McMorris, Stephanie Dray, Allison Pataki, and Madeline Martin as they dig into the past, share the stories behind the stories, and have a little fun along the way.
visit HistoryHiveFive.com to learn even more about the show and its smart ‘n’ sassy co-hosts.
