HistoryExtra podcast

What comes to mind when you think D-Day? Perhaps it’s the tactical brilliance of the commanders, or the brutal combat fought by the troops. But, what about meteorologist James Stagg? He’s the subject of the new Second World War thriller Pressure, and to find out more about his contribution to the War – and how you go about turning a Second World War story into a blockbuster – in this episode, Charlotte Vosper spoke to the writer of the film, David Haig, and Catherine Ross, the Met Office’s archive and library manager, who helped advise on the film. This episode was recorded live at the Royal Society of Arts, in partnership STUDIOCANAL. Pressure is now available to buy and rent from digital platforms, and will be available to own on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD from 30 November. GET MORE WITH MEMBERSHIP  Become a HistoryExtra podcast member and unlock access to The Full Story podcast, plus enjoy ad-free listening, early access to other podcast episodes, and a member-exclusive newsletter.  Find out more and sign up here: https://historyextra.supportingcast.fm EXPLORE MORE For more fascinating stories from the past, head to HistoryExtra, the home of ‘History’s Greatest’ podcasts. Find out more at ⁠⁠historyextra.com/podcast⁠⁠. GET IN TOUCH We'd love to know what you think about the podcast, so leave us a review and let us know the topics you think we should be covering. Or, follow us on ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠X⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠YouTube⁠ to keep in touch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ghosts, witches, flying nuns, and spirits summoned from beyond the grave might seem to belong to a less rational age. But were our ancestors really so different from us in their beliefs? In this episode, historian Malcolm Gaskill joins Elinor Evans to discuss his new book, Worlds of Fear and Wonder, and reveals how emotions like grief and uncertainty have shaped our relationship with the supernatural for centuries. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST You can hear more from Malcolm Gaskill, talking about Helen Duncan, also known as 'Hellish Nell', the last woman to be convicted and imprisoned under the 1735 Witchcraft Act, in this episode: https://bit.ly/4z11DRV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you had to survive a siege, which medieval fortress would you choose to be holed up inside? In today's episode, Dan Jones surveys the world's historic fortifications to cherry-pick the fashionable and functional features which he thinks would make the ultimate castle. Speaking to Charlotte Vosper, Dan guides us through the creation of his dream fortification, and reveals the most important principle for making a castle truly impregnable. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to find out more about how castles have changed the shape of warfare over time – from ancient Troy to 19th-century America – then check out this article from Dan Jones: https://bit.ly/4if4znp Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Richard III is one of the most divisive kings in all of English history – a man whose seizure of the throne in 1483 has provoked fierce debate for more than five centuries. But to what extent was his rise to power the product of his turbulent childhood? Chris Skidmore tells Spencer Mizen how a traumatic youth – witnessing war, rebellion and the brutal death of his father – shaped his reign. --- THE FULL STORY Today’s episode is a special preview of our new series, The Full Story, which offers in-depth, expert guides to some of history’s most compelling moments. To hear the rest of the series – and unlock access to the brand new channel, enjoy ad-free listening, and receive our exclusive membership newsletter – become a HistoryExtra podcast member today. Find out more and sign up here: https://historyextra.supportingcast.fm/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do you make history hilarious without mangling the facts? As Ghosts: The Possession of Button House arrives on the big screen, co-creator, writer and actor Laurence Rickard (AKA Robin and Sir Humphrey Bone) reveals how the team brought the much-loved sitcom characters back to life for the feature film. Talking to Elinor Evans, he shares the team’s approach to historical accuracy, discusses why our understanding of the past is always changing, and explains how Ghosts has become an unexpected source of comfort for many. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Find out more about the real history behind the stories on the big screen, with our guides to the latest movie releases – from Sense and Sensibility and Pressure to The Uprising: https://bit.ly/4hDcR85 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From the middle of the 19th century, Chinese people in the United States found themselves increasingly policed, as legislation was introduced that contained and controlled their economic and cultural lives. Historian Beth Lew-Williams tells Elinor Evans about her work uncovering this wide-reaching set of laws for her book John Doe Chinaman, and reveals how Chinese people resisted and avoided discrimination. Beth’s book is a finalist for the 2026 Cundill History Prize – you can find more details at cundillprize.com. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about the Chinese Exclusion Act, read this article: https://bit.ly/4ik36NB ----- PRESSURE LIVE PODCAST Join us tomorrow, Thursday, 22 October, for a live episode of the HistoryExtra podcast exploring the history behind recent WWII drama PRESSURE – the gripping untold story behind D-Day. We’ve teamed up with STUDIOCANAL for a special event at the Royal Society of Arts in London, to celebrate the film’s upcoming Home Premiere. The event features David Haig, the film's co-writer, in conversation with Catherine Ross, library and archive manager at the Met Office. Doors open at 6pm with the event starting at 7pm, and tickets are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Find out more and book your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/historyextra-live-uncovering-pressure-tickets-2003304436497?aff=oddtdtcreator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He was barely a toddler when he was paraded as a captive in a Roman triumph in 46 BC, but young North African prince Juba went on to marry a daughter of Antony and Cleopatra, and rule an African kingdom. Andrew Kenrick, author of Rex Juba: 15 Glimpses of an African King, unravels his amazing life, in conversation with David Musgrove. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST For more on Rome's history with Africa, check out the podcast with Philip Freeman on Rome and Carthage: https://bit.ly/3ROcNts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1665 the Portuguese Inquisition arrested Crispina Peres, a powerful slave trader in the west African port of Cacheu. The records of her case provide a remarkable window into everyday life in 17th-century west Africa, and form the basis of Toby Green's latest book, The Heretic of Cacheu. In this episode he is joined by Rob Attar to explore the story of Crispina and the lost world she inhabited. Go to ⁠https://surfshark.com/historyextra⁠ or use code HISTORYEXTRA at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What was 'nidgeting'? How did women know they were pregnant before modern tests? And what did people in the past believe a mother’s imagination could do to her unborn child? In this episode, Lauren Good speaks to historian Erin Maglaque about her book Presence, which explores the history of the female body – and society's longstanding beliefs about it. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about the history of women's bodies, why not listen to another of Lauren's interviews on the HistoryExtra podcast with Helen King, in which they explore how ideas surrounding female anatomy have long caused contention: https://bit.ly/4bpHjQX ––––– PRESSURE LIVE PODCAST Join us next Thursday, 22 October, for a live episode of the HistoryExtra podcast exploring the history behind recent WWII drama PRESSURE – the gripping untold story behind D-Day. We’ve teamed up with STUDIOCANAL for a special event at the Royal Society of Arts in London, to celebrate the film’s upcoming Home Premiere. The event features David Haig, the film's co-writer, in conversation with Catherine Ross, library and archive manager at the Met Office. Doors open at 6pm with the event starting at 7pm, and tickets are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Find out more and book your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/historyextra-live-uncovering-pressure-tickets-2003304436497?aff=oddtdtcreator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It might be assumed that the owners of Britain's country houses weren't hugely affected by the Second World War, and that they continued to live in luxury in their vast estates. However, as Judith S Lewis explains to Lauren Good, that wasn't the case. From the conscription of upper-class women to stories of great loss, she charts the roles that country houses and their occupants really played in the war effort. ----- PRESSURE LIVE PODCAST Join us next Thursday, 22 October, for a live episode of the HistoryExtra podcast exploring the history behind recent WWII drama PRESSURE – the gripping untold story behind D-Day. We’ve teamed up with STUDIOCANAL for a special event at the Royal Society of Arts in London, to celebrate the film’s upcoming Home Premiere. The event features David Haig, the film's co-writer, in conversation with Catherine Ross, library and archive manager at the Met Office. Doors open at 6pm with the event starting at 7pm, and tickets are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Find out more and book your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/historyextra-live-uncovering-pressure-tickets-2003304436497?aff=oddtdtcreator ----- Go to⁠ ⁠https://surfshark.com/historyextra⁠⁠ or use code HISTORYEXTRA at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

She pioneered lifesaving battlefield surgery, challenged the medical establishment, stood up to Rasputin, and became the world's first female professor of surgery – yet today, few people have heard of Vera Gedroits. In today's episode, acclaimed biographer Miranda Seymour tells Elinor Evans about Vera's remarkable life and accomplishments – and why her story was erased. Go to⁠ ⁠https://surfshark.com/historyextra⁠⁠ or use code HISTORYEXTRA at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Between 1492 and 1880, as many as 600,000 Native Americas were enslaved in the area that would become the United States. That’s the figure estimated by historian Linford D Fisher in his book Stealing America: The Hidden Story of Indigenous Slavery in US History – one of the books shortlisted for the 2026 Cundill History Prize. In today’s episode, he speaks to Matt Elton about the extent of this slavery, the impact that it had on tribal communities, and its legacy today. Go to⁠ ⁠https://surfshark.com/historyextra⁠⁠ or use code HISTORYEXTRA at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Prosthetic legs, wheelbarrow wheelchairs and guide… children? Those were just some of the assistive technologies and body augmentations available to our medieval and early modern ancestors. In this episode, Rae Gillibrand highlights how bodily difference was understood in this pre-modern era, and explores the medical marketplace and community support that was available. Speaking to Emily Briffett, Rae reveals a world of ingenuity, adaptation and care. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about Tudor attitudes to disability – and why they may have been more compassionate than you might think – don’t miss this HistoryExtra article written by Phillipa Vincent-Connolly: https://bit.ly/4rZgN7y ----- Go to⁠ ⁠https://surfshark.com/historyextra⁠⁠ or use code HISTORYEXTRA at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's now often used as an adjective for anything standard, plain, and borderline boring – but the history of vanilla is anything but. Eric T Jennings – whose book Vanilla: The History of an Extraordinary Bean is among the titles shortlisted for the 2026 Cundill History Prize – tells Matt Elton about the ways in which piracy, espionage and cut-throat capitalism have shaped its story. ------ GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Delve further into food history with our podcast series History's Greatest Dishes, in which Annie Gray and Emily Briffett discuss the stories behind pizza, blancmange and more. Like and subscribe now to catch up and get ready for season two: https://www.historyextra.com/podcast-series/historys-greatest-dishes/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Think of alchemy, and you likely imagine bubbling vials of strange potions and molten metals. But how close is this popular perception to the truth? That’s the question behind historian and adventurer Kit Chapman’s latest book, The Age of Alchemy, which was recently announced as winner of the 2026 Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize. In this episode, Kit guides Emily Briffett through a remarkable story of discovery that blurred the boundaries between science and mysticism – and explains how alchemists pursued dreams of fortune and immortality that laid the foundations for modern science. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST An unlikely mix of scientist, scholar, engineer and magician, the 'magus' was a figure that sat at the heart of the transformative Renaissance period. Don’t miss this episode of the HistoryExtra podcast charting the careers of these men, seen as genius scholars by some and charlatans by others: https://bit.ly/47A7pyN ----- Go to⁠ ⁠https://surfshark.com/historyextra⁠⁠ or use code HISTORYEXTRA at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More than three decades after the end of the Cold War and the fall of the USSR, the North Korean regime remains steadfastly in place, defiantly ploughing its own path some eight decades after its founding. What might explain this remarkable longevity? In Jonathan Cheng’s new book, Korean Messiah, the Wall Street Journal correspondent argues that it owes much to the enduring cult of personality around its founder, Kim Il-Sung, who took inspiration from his own Christian roots to create a modern religion that endures to this day. Jonathan’s book is a finalist for the 2026 Cundill History Prize, and in today’s episode he explores these ideas with Rob Attar. ----- Go to⁠ ⁠https://surfshark.com/historyextra⁠⁠ or use code HISTORYEXTRA at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the early 16th century, Venice confined its Jewish population to a restricted quarter on an island in the city. It was the first settlement to bear the name 'ghetto' – a word that would go on to shape the history of Jewish persecution and segregation. Alexander Lee explores this history in his book The First Ghetto, which is a finalist for the 2026 Cundill History Prize, and in this episode he talks to Emily Briffett about what life was like within its walls – from its vibrant culture to fragile relationship with the Venetian authorities. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST With the Inquisition active throughout much of Europe, the first half of the 16th century was a perilous time for Jewish people. Andreé Aelion Brooks explores how the fabulously wealthy Doña Gracia worked tirelessly to protect her community: https://bit.ly/4xMFmq5 ----- Go to ⁠https://surfshark.com/historyextra⁠ or use code HISTORYEXTRA at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1944, the Allies unleashed an offensive in Burma – a brutal campaign spearheaded by 3 Commando Brigade alongside the Indian and West African troops of XV Corps. Against a ruthless enemy and in one of the world’s most unforgiving environments, these men launched daring amphibious assaults deep into Japanese-held territory, turning the tide of the Burma campaign and delivering a devastating blow to the Imperial Japanese Army. Military historian Lucy Betteridge-Dyson has written a book on the subject, Jungle Commandoes, and Emily Briffett spoke to her to find out more. Go to ⁠⁠⁠https://surfshark.com/historyextra⁠⁠⁠ or use code HISTORYEXTRA at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mia Hansson has spent 10 years making an exact replica of the Bayeux Tapestry. In conversation with Dave Musgrove, she explains what her modern remake experience can teach us about the women who made the original artefact in the 11th century, and the secrets she has spotted in her decade of close attention to the embroidery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Henry VII is often remembered as a cold, calculating and penny-pinching monarch whose relentless pursuit of an ever-tightening grip on the throne overshadowed his achievements. But how fair is that reputation? And what can the real history behind this popular perception tell us about the challenges, anxieties and realities of Henry's kingship? Speaking to Emily Briffett, Sean Cunningham reassesses the first Tudor king's critical reputation, exploring the delicate balancing act that defined his reign as he sought to reward loyalty, root out treason and secure a fragile new dynasty. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Curious to find out more about the battle that gave rise to Henry VII? Check out this series of History's Greatest Battles, where Lauren Johnson explores the most momentous clashes of the Wars of the Roses, the 15th-century struggle for the English throne that ushered in the Tudor dynasty: https://bit.ly/4gUGQcR Go to ⁠⁠⁠https://surfshark.com/historyextra⁠⁠⁠ or use code HISTORYEXTRA at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1981, a Soviet spy walked into MI6 HQ in Tehran and offered to defect to Britain – if, in return, Britain could help him improve his performance in bed. In this episode, Ben Macintyre introduces Spencer Mizen to an extraordinary agent with a sexual secret – a secret that changed the course of Iranian history and may, just may, have averted nuclear war. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you’d like to hear more from Ben Macintyre on the HistoryExtra podcast, why not listen to the episode in which he tells the incredible story of Oleg Gordievsky, the double agent who was sensationally exfiltrated from the Soviet Union in 1985: https://bit.ly/4i3FsW7 Go to ⁠⁠https://surfshark.com/historyextra⁠⁠ or use code HISTORYEXTRA at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1781, more than 130 enslaved Africans were deliberately thrown from a ship called the Zorg into the Atlantic. The horrifying story of this slave ship – long mistakenly known as the Zong – was to have consequences far beyond its murderous voyage. In this episode, historian and author Siddharth Kara speaks to Elinor Evans about the brutal economics of the Atlantic slave trade, the extraordinary court case that followed the massacre, and how the Zorg helped galvanise the abolitionist cause. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Find out more about the massacre and its place in the fight for abolition, from Professor Hannah Greig and Professor James Walvin: https://bit.ly/4x8ks5b Go to ⁠https://surfshark.com/historyextra⁠ or use code HISTORYEXTRA at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What happens to English history when you view it through a local lens, rather than a national one? Did people even notice when the Romans left Britain? Was 1066 really that important outside of London? And did the Black Death affect the English population equally? In this episode, Ian Mortimer guides Charlotte Vosper through the past 1,500 years of English history, viewed from the perspective of his own medieval home in Devon... ------ GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to hear more from Ian about what ordinary life was like in the past, then check out his HistoryExtra Academy series. Across six videos, Ian guides us through a fascinating A to Z of medieval life. You can find those videos here: https://bit.ly/4x76tMh Go to ⁠https://surfshark.com/historyextra⁠ or use code HISTORYEXTRA at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Middle East has, for decades, been riven by violent conflict. But what are the roots and ongoing causes of this violence? In this episode, Simon Sebag Montefiore discusses The Cauldron, his new book exploring the forces and figures that forged the region. Speaking to Charlotte Vosper, Simon takes us from the creation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through the decline of the imperial powers and the rise of Pan-Arabism, to 9/11 and the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST For more on how the past shapes today’s world, don’t miss our fortnightly podcast series History Behind the Headlines: https://bit.ly/3SSjdbq Go to ⁠https://surfshark.com/historyextra⁠ or use code HISTORYEXTRA at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joan of Arc's story is one of the most remarkable chapters in medieval history: that of a rebellious teenage peasant girl rising to become a military leader, before suffering an equally precipitous fall from favour. But what leadership qualities contributed to her success? In today's episode, which originally featured in our History's Greatest Leaders series, entrepreneur and author of Next-Gen CEO Mike Soutar talks to historian Janina Ramirez about Joan's story, and the lessons it could offer for today's leaders. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Don't miss more of Mike Soutar's conversations about some of the past's most powerful people – just search for History's Greatest Leaders or follow the feed here: https://play.megaphone.fm/xim3wnhes9qxso8n8kjlaa Go to ⁠https://surfshark.com/historyextra⁠ or use code HISTORYEXTRA at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who were the people who financed Britain’s transatlantic slave trade – and how did their money transform the nation? Elinor Evans speaks to historian William A Pettigrew, who has led a landmark project identifying some 13,000 investors connected to the trafficking of 3.2 million enslaved African people. William reveals how profits and networks associated with the trade influenced Britain’s politics, industry, culture and institutions, from the Royal Navy and canal building to theatres and charities. He also reveals the work behind a new register of the traders and how our ancestors' involvements can be tracked in more detail than ever before. Don't miss a new BBC television series, Finding Britain’s Slave Traders with David Olusoga, which explores these stories. The first episode airs at 9pm on Monday 21 September on BBC Two, with all episodes also available on BBC iPlayer. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To hear more about how the ruthless exploitation of people and resources supercharged the Industrial Revolution in Britain, listen to our interview with Edmond Smith, who was also one of the historians who worked on the project to surface the wider roles of Britain's slave traders: https://bit.ly/4gAfNlh Go to ⁠https://surfshark.com/historyextra⁠ or use code HISTORYEXTRA at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What defines Europe – is it geography, politics, a shared culture, or perhaps a mix of all three? In this episode, historian Roderick Beaton tells Emily Briffett about the ways in which it has been defined, and redefined, as an idea by its people over the centuries. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST National icons aren’t born – they’re engineered. But how were historical figures such as Joan of Arc and Isabella of Castile transformed into political symbols, their real lives lost beneath centuries of myth-making? Find out in this episode of the HistoryExtra podcast with Janina Ramirez: https://bit.ly/4tZbwgL Go to ⁠https://surfshark.com/historyextra⁠ or use code HISTORYEXTRA at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He's well-known for creating children's classic The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, but what else can history teach us about CS Lewis? Michael Ward explores the life of the author with Isabel King – from a tragic childhood to his turbulent relationship with faith. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If CS Lewis's experience of combat has piqued your interest and you'd like to learn more about the First World War, don't miss our six-episode HistoryExtra Academy course WW1: Myths and Misconceptions, in which Alex Churchill challenges the most significant misunderstandings about the global conflict: https://bit.ly/4ezpcbT Go to https://surfshark.com/historyextra or use code HISTORYEXTRA at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Napoleon III's family was, in the words of historian Edward Shawcross, “the most cutthroat mafioso soap opera in the world”. Exiled to Switzerland as a boy and disowned by his own father, he spent years as a laughing stock of French politics, twice arrested trying to seize power. Here, in conversation with Danny Bird, Edward traces Louis-Napoleon's strange path from mocked pretender in exile to Emperor of the French, and explores whether Napoleon III can really be regarded as an early populist dictator. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about Napoleon III's long-suffering consort, Eugénie de Montijo, don't miss our podcast episode on her relationship with Empress Sisi of Austria, in conversation with author Nancy Goldstone: https://bit.ly/3SfJfVR Go to ⁠https://surfshark.com/historyextra⁠ or use code HISTORYEXTRA at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Bayeux Tapestry exhibition at the British Museum is set to be the biggest historical event in decades. In conversation with David Musgrove, its curator Michael Lewis gives the lowdown on what the exhibition is all about, and how you should make the most of your trip if you do get a ticket to the show. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Check out David Musgrove's 6-part Academy series on the Bayeux Tapestry for HistoryExtra: https://bit.ly/3SWpfYC Go to ⁠https://surfshark.com/historyextra⁠ or use code HISTORYEXTRA at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What can DNA tell us about who we are and where we came from? Professor Turi King – who previously appeared on the podcast to discuss her research into Adolf Hitler’s DNA – returns to explore modern genetics and its role in solving some of history’s biggest mysteries. Speaking to Jon Bauckham, Turi discusses the surprising origins of DNA fingerprinting, common misconceptions surrounding testing, and her role in the groundbreaking discovery of King Richard III. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Listen to Turi King discussing her research into Hitler's DNA in an episode of the HistoryExtra podcast from November 2025: https://bit.ly/4gaHcKt Go to ⁠https://surfshark.com/historyextra⁠ or use code HISTORYEXTRA at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did Lucy Worsley have 'the best job in history'? And what did she do when she worked in it? In this episode, Lucy reflects on her career so far, her time as Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces and how the job has changed her perspective on some of our favourite monarchs from royal history... ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about Lucy Worsley's role in changing our understanding of royal history, then check out this feature which she wrote for HistoryExtra: https://bit.ly/4hNBgtr Go to ⁠https://surfshark.com/historyextra⁠ or use code HISTORYEXTRA at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Before Rome's republic and the age of emperors, there were kings… or so the story goes. Beginning with Romulus, and ending with Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, these rulers loomed large in the Roman imagination – but is their narrative fact or fiction? In this episode, Emily Briffett is joined by ancient historian Christopher Smith, as they sift myth from memory, and uncover how seven legendary figures shaped Rome’s ideas of power and identity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

King Philip Augustus of France was the Plantagenets’ ultimate enemy. A ruler with an iron fist and sharp political instincts, he consistently exploited the squabbles of the English dynasty, all while transforming France into a dominant power in Western Europe. Speaking to Emily Briffett, historian and author Catherine Hanley reveals the cunning and ruthless tactics he employed against the English kings to become medieval England’s most formidable foe. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST 1217 is not one of the most famous years in English history. But with a major French invasion looming and a brutal war that wracked both towns and the countryside, this was a year that could have altered the nation's history beyond recognition. Hear from Catherine Hanley as she discusses Prince of Louis of France's invasion of England: https://bit.ly/4bQ8Yuk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s 'Little House' books have captivated generations with tales of family, hardship and survival on the American frontier. But how closely did Wilder’s fiction reflect her real childhood – and what should we make of its more controversial portrayals? In this episode, Elinor Evans speaks to author and biographer Pamela Smith Hill about the tragedies that Wilder omitted from her stories, her complex collaboration with daughter Rose Wilder Lane, and the groundbreaking realism that helped to make her work a sensation. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about the real history in Little House on the Prairie, don't miss our explainer to the series, available at https://bit.ly/3TYZ6bN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

America's Gilded Age is often remembered for rapid expansion and opportunity, but beneath the surface lay a brutal society in which it paid to be a bully. In this episode, Elinor Evans speaks to historian Andrew Wender Cohen about his new book Gangster of New York: A Violent Life in Nineteenth-Century America. Following the remarkable career of Louis Bieral – a boxer, gambler, political enforcer and American Civil War veteran – Cohen uncovers how one man's life illuminates the brutal realities of the 19th-century US, from slavery and organised crime to political corruption and the struggle to establish the rule of law. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about the craze for pedestrianism mentioned in this episode, listen to our podcast series The Tiger Tamer Who Went To Sea', which chronicles the remarkable life of Bob Carlisle, a Victorian-era showman, sailor, and early endurance athlete: https://bit.ly/4wNcMEw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Bayeux Tapestry is making headlines as it is loaned to the British Museum to be shown in England for the first time in almost a thousand years. It holds many mysteries, including the famous Aelfgyva scene, where an enigmatic woman is portrayed alongside a curious priest. David Musgrove is joined by Michael Lewis and Emily Winkler to investigate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

'Keep calm and carry on' has long been held up as the defining spirit of wartime Britain. But was the nation really as united, stoic and unquestioning as popular memory suggests? In this episode, Steven Casey takes Isabel King through the often surprising reality of Britain's wartime morale. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about the experience of evacuees during the Second World War, check out our 2025 'everything you wanted to know' episode with Joshua Levine: https://bit.ly/4bF3gvB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How did the politically neutral Catholic church come to have dealings with the fascist regimes of Mussolini and Hitler? In this episode, Ambrogio Caiani tells Charlotte Vosper why the Curia was enticed by authoritarianism, and what these deals with dictators meant for ordinary Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The arresting gaze, the stark monobrow, the intricate ribbons woven through the dark hair – Frida Kahlo's unmistakable image is recognised around the world today. Yet the woman behind the vivid self-portraits was far more complex than the icon she became. In conversation with Danny Bird, historian Patience Schell explores how trauma, politics and extraordinary artistic vision transformed Kahlo into one of the most influential cultural figures of the modern age. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What did Tudor England really gain from its early encounters with the Americas? In this episode, Elinor Evans speaks to historian Dr Lauren Working about her new book A Golden World, exploring the overlooked exchange of ideas, materials and knowledge between Indigenous peoples and Renaissance England. From brilliant red dyes made from insects, to tobacco, pearls and exotic animals, Working reveals how English society was profoundly shaped by American influences, challenging long-held assumptions about colonial history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How can the past help us live better, happier, healthier and more productive lives today? That's the question at the heart of our series Life Lessons from History, which is back for a new run – and today on the HistoryExtra podcast, we're bringing you a taste of what's on offer. In this episode, historian Peter Jones tells David Musgrove about why the seven deadly sins were more a guide to practical self-knowledge than a list of religious prohibitions – and how medieval thinkers anticipated many modern ideas about wellbeing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You might assume that women were prevented from pursuing sexual pleasure in the classical world. However, as Dr Jean Menzies discusses with Lauren Good, this is not the case. They explore how women were active in pursuing and expressing sexual fulfilment, from erotic magic to some particularly graphic graffiti in Pompeii. Please note that this episode features discussion of some adult topics. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Lauren has also spoken to Daisy Dunn on the HistoryExtra podcast in an episode that challenges common assumptions about women in antiquity. You can listen to that episode ad-free here: https://bit.ly/4fram9I Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hotels, have perhaps surprisingly, played a large role in our history. They have found themselves in divorce papers, inspired a new genre of fiction – and even facilitated murder. Speaking to Lauren Good, Professor Eloise Moss explores some of the complex stories that have played out in the world’s lodges and guesthouses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hedy Lamarr starred in dozens of movies, but her life may have been more dramatic than any of them. She was the teenage actor who portrayed the first character to have an on-screen orgasm. The Austrian Jew whose husband sold arms to the fascists. The refugee from Nazism who became a Hollywood megastar. And the pioneering inventor whose work anticipated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. In today's episode Professor Ruth Barton, Fellow Emeritus in Film Studies at Trinity College shares Hedy's remarkable story with Rob Attar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For decades, the history of the Second World War has been told through predominately western eyes. That, writes historian Hans van de Ven, simply has to change. Hans's new book, Blood Dawn, sets out to reset the focus, exploring the conflict's story from an Asian perspective. In this episode, Hans tells Spencer Mizen how WW2 supercharged the fight for independence from European domination across India, China and Indonesia – and, in doing so, transformed a continent ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to delve further into why the Second World War in Asia is often overlooked, then check out a podcast we ran with the broadcaster Kavita Puri in 2025: https://bit.ly/4nRYOOS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As recent years attest, royal scandals have a habit of coming to light. But what if the mother of all royal scandals is still waiting to be revealed? Could it be that an heir to the British throne, Prince Albert Victor, lived a double life as a serial killer? Today on the HistoryExtra podcast, we’re bringing you a taste of the first episode of our new series, History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories, in which crime historian Dr Drew Gray tells Rob Attar about the explosive suggestion that a British prince got away with multiple murders in the 19th century. To listen on, search for History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories or find the full episodes and follow the feed here: https://play.megaphone.fm/4xo_fufltzut49cj60jcla Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Opium has been a painkiller, a vice and the fuel for at least two wars. But what makes it such a powerful global commodity? Benjamin Robert Siegel takes Isabel King through this complex history, exploring how opium shaped capitalism, medicine and global power from ancient poppy fields to the modern opioid crisis. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Want to know why Britain went to war with China in the 19th century to protect the interests of drug dealers? To find out more, check out our 'Everything you wanted to know' episode on the Opium Wars: https://bit.ly/4wPh4eM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For hundreds of years, people have gathered after dark to drink, dance and escape the pressures of everyday life. But how did 'going out' become a habit across the world? Jon Bauckham chats to Imogen Willetts about the hedonistic history of partying, journeying from 17th-century Japan to Weimar Germany, Cold War Las Vegas and beyond. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To learn more Berlin, including its role in shaping nightlife, don't miss this episode of our History's Greatest Cities series: https://bit.ly/4hb5Gp1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yuri Gagarin’s journey from a Nazi-occupied Soviet village into outer space make him one of the most famous people on Earth. In this episode, historian Asif Siddiqi tells Danny Bird about the life behind the legend, revealing how Gagarin came to embody the USSR’s postwar ambitions and why his winning smile still evokes the optimism of humanity’s first steps into the cosmos. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Two television shows – For All Mankind and Star City – imagine an alternative universe in which Soviet cosmonauts completed the first moon landing in 1969 ahead of US astronauts. But how might global history have unfolded if the space race had taken a different course? This article by Matthew Trask explores that question: https://bit.ly/4vBKywv Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Roman empire was home to a multitude of religious cults in the first century AD. However, only one – Christianity – rose to global domination. But why? That's a question that Tim Whitmarsh sets out to answer in his latest book, Rome's Age of Revolution. In this episode, Tim talks Spencer Mizen through a story that encompasses Christian entrepreneurs, Greek intellectuals and the surprising parallels between Jesus and the Emperor Augustus. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you’d like to hear more about the Roman empire in the first century AD, why not check out Spencer Mizen's Life of the Week interview with Edward Watts about one of the most remarkable characters in all of ancient history: the first emperor, Augustus. You'll find that here: https://bit.ly/4uOcNqR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why did Alexander the Great sleep with a copy of the Odyssey under his pillow? In this final episode of HistoryExtra's four-part series, Kev Lochun and classicist Daisy Dunn explore the astonishing cultural legacy of a poem that has been shaping how we think about home, heroism and hospitality for nearly 3,000 years. Plus, they consider what its portrayal of women reveals about power in the ancient world. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Want to know more about ancient Greece? HistoryExtra's Kev Lochun has curated a selection of essential reading from the HistoryExtra archives to help you explore life in ancient Greece and the myths that shaped Greek religion: https://bit.ly/4pkQiZe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who were the people that were accused of witchcraft in the 1640s British witch trials? And why did they confess to being in league with the devil? In this episode, Marion Gibson breaks down the trial and interrogation records left behind by the witch hunters, to reveal the real stories of the individuals who were accused. Speaking to Charlotte Vosper, Marion explains why so many of these seemingly ordinary individuals actually agreed to the witchcraft accusations... ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to find out more about the Salem witch trials, we've got a brilliant podcast series about this called 'Salem: Investigating the Witch Trials'. You can listen here: https://bit.ly/4puBuYf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Maya have a rich and varied storyworld shaped by diverse traditions and communities. In this episode, Mallory E Matsumoto tells Emily Briffett about her recent book, The Maya Myths, which explores tales of destruction and rebirth, people made of maize dough, and journeys into the underworld – revealing a living tradition that blurs the line between history and storytelling. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Curious to hear more about the mythology of Mesoamerica? Don’t miss our conversation with Camilla Townsend, in which she delves into Aztec legends and folklore to reveal a society bursting with life and colour: https://bit.ly/4s247vj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Few pirates in history wielded as much power as Zheng Yi Sao, the woman who rose from obscurity to command one of the largest pirate fleets the world has ever seen, challenging the Qing empire's control of the South China Sea. Yet despite her extraordinary achievements, surprisingly little is known for certain about her life, and many of the stories told about her blur the line between history and legend. In this episode, Dian Murray – author of Pirates of the South China Coast, 1790-1810 – joins Emily Briffett to trace Zheng Yi Sao’s remarkable rise to power, her carefully negotiated surrender, and the enduring legacy of history's most formidable pirate queen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1217, crusaders launched an ambitious campaign to conquer Egypt, believing it held the key to reclaiming Jerusalem and securing the Holy Land. Historian and author Thomas Smith tells Emily Briffett why the crusaders targeted Egypt, charts the dramatic naval assault that preceded the siege of Damietta, and explores how a promising campaign turned into one of the greatest missed opportunities in crusading history. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST William Purkis reveals the wide and complex reality of crusading fervour in the Middle Ages – and considers how, if we look at it from a different perspective, we might gain a truer insight into the medieval mindset: https://bit.ly/4b7qQk0 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Odyssey is a tale of impossible monsters, angsty gods and the unquiet dead – but does that mean it holds no truth? In this third episode of HistoryExtra's four-part series, Kev Lochun and classicist Daisy Dunn turn archaeologist, tracing the real Bronze Age world of feasting kings and heroic warriors that inspired Homer's epic poem. What secrets can we glean from the layers of ancient Troy? What happened to the grand palace complexes of ancient Mycenae that caused them to vanish almost overnight? And why is a 3,000-year-old bathtub so exciting? ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Want to know more about ancient Greece? HistoryExtra's Kev Lochun has curated a selection of essential reading from the HistoryExtra archives to help you explore life in ancient Greece and the myths that shaped Greek religion: https://bit.ly/4pkQiZe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Long before the modern debates over gun control, Renaissance Italy was grappling with many of the same questions. As firearms became smaller and easier to conceal, guns spread rapidly through society: moving from battlefields to appearances at court, and the streets of the Italian city states. Speaking to Emily Briffett, historian Catherine Fletcher reveals how they were weapons of war, tools of personal protection, and sources of deep social anxiety. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Want to know how the US got so many guns? Check out this podcast episode with Andrew C McKevitt as he charts the forces behind the postwar weaponry boom which has seen US civilian gun ownership skyrocket: https://bit.ly/3R7YvTG Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How did the sign of the Red Vampire help British surgeons during the Second World War? Roderick Bailey, author of 'The Life Savers', explains to David Musgrove how Britain led the way in blood banks during the war, and how such prowess saved lives, strengthened the war effort, and boosted morale. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ancient Athenian statesman Pericles was a remarkable figure, renowned for promoting democracy, championing the arts, and shaping the fate of the Athenian empire. Yet his legacy of military mistakes and eccentricity has landed him with a somewhat mixed reputation. Historian Paul Cartledge has written a new book on Pericles – subtitled Pericles: Statesman, Demagogue, Eccentric – and here, speaking to Emily Briffett, he explores his political career, personal life and enduring legacy. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Join Paul Cartledge and travel writer Paul Bloomfield in our History's Greatest Cities podcast series as they delve back through thousands of years to unearth the glories and trials of Athens: https://bit.ly/3RQNZ3q Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Winston Churchill was a passionate defender of Britain’s monarchy – but that didn’t mean he always saw eye to eye with the royals themselves. Jon Bauckham talks to Ted Powell about Churchill’s complex relationship with the Crown – from his clashes with George V and controversial support for Edward VIII, to his role in guiding the young Elizabeth II through the early years of her reign. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Learn more about the highs and lows of Churchill’s leadership in the latest episode of our new series, History’s Greatest Leaders: https://bit.ly/4bWCf6C Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Twenty years away from home: 10 of them spent fighting a war, and 10 more spent battling monsters, gods and his own worst instincts. In the second episode of HistoryExtra's four-part series on the Odyssey, Kev Lochun and classicist Daisy Dunn explore Odysseus's greatest adventures – from encounters with the one-eyed Cyclops to brushes with the so-called witch Circe – and consider what they say about Greek views of civilisation, gender and divine power. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Want to know more about ancient Greece? HistoryExtra's Kev Lochun has curated a selection of essential reading from the HistoryExtra archives to help you explore life in ancient Greece and the myths that shaped Greek religion: https://bit.ly/4pkQiZe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From her defeat of the Spanish Armada to her iconic portraiture and status as the ‘Virgin Queen’, Elizabeth I is one of the past’s most famous figures – but what made her such an effective leader? Today on the HistoryExtra podcast, we’re bringing you a taste of our new series, History’s Greatest Leaders, as author and historian Tracy Borman tells entrepreneur Mike Soutar about why Elizabeth I’s indecision should be celebrated just as much as her strength and dynamism. To listen on, search for History’s Greatest Leaders or find the full episodes and follow the feed here: https://play.megaphone.fm/xim3wnhes9qxso8n8kjlaa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Bayeux Tapestry is coming home to England for an exhibition at the British Museum. In discussion with Dave Musgrove, Gale Owen-Crocker explains how the Tapestry was made, and why she thinks it contains a hidden story of injustice and tyranny – subverting the obvious celebratory narrative of victory for Duke William's Norman Conquest. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Don't miss our six-episode HistoryExtra Academy course, The Story of the Bayeux Tapestry, in which Dave Musgrove considers what the Tapestry is all about, how it was made, the story it presents, and its fascinating afterlife as a propaganda tool for Napoleon and the Nazis. Sign up for our newsletter for the latest updates: https://bit.ly/4hrsssP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What threats might you have faced on a daily basis in England in the 1300s? In this episode, Ian Mortimer guides Charlotte Vosper through a day in the 14th century and argues that it would have been surprisingly difficult to stay alive... From struggling to put food on the table to breathing in the scent of your neighbour's cesspit, Ian discusses the perils that came with everyday medieval life. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to find out more about what medieval life was really like, then check out Ian's new Academy series. Across six videos, he’ll be guiding us through a fascinating ‘A to Z of medieval life’ – you can find them here: https://bit.ly/4wIhzaE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bess of Hardwick fell out spectacularly with Mary, Queen of Scots and was dumped in the Tower of London by Elizabeth I. Yet nothing could get in the way of this extraordinary social climber. In this episode, Tracy Borman tells Spencer Mizen about a woman who accrued vast wealth, repeatedly rattled the Tudor court and ultimately earned the grudging respect of the Virgin Queen. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you’d like to hear more about Elizabeth I on the HistoryExtra podcast, then why not check out our four-part series on the monarch with historian Nicola Tallis: https://bit.ly/3TqXC9K Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Islam’s emergence in the early medieval period, Muslims have been deeply connected with the followers of another faith: Judaism. In conversation with James Osborne, historian Marc David Baer examines the long relationship between these two religions and their communities, tracing episodes of both conflict and coexistence. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Check out this podcast episode with Barry Strauss, in which he discussed the conflict between Jews and the Roman empire – and its lasting legacy: https://bit.ly/4xFxc3V Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Odyssey is one of the most celebrated stories ever told, recounting the tale of Greek hero Odysseus’s 10-year journey home from the Trojan War. It is one of just two ancient Greek epic poems said to be the work of ‘Homer’. But who was Homer? And why, today, do we ask ourselves: ‘Did Homer even exist?’ In this first episode of HistoryExtra's four-part series on the Odyssey, Kev Lochun sits down with classicist Daisy Dunn to unpack the origins of the epic poem – and the enduring mystery around the identity of the man who ‘wrote’ it. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Want to know more about ancient Greece? HistoryExtra's Kev Lochun has curated a selection of essential reading from the HistoryExtra archives to help you explore life in ancient Greece and the myths that shaped Greek religion: https://bit.ly/4pkQiZe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The England men’s football team has missed out on the opportunity to replicate the nation’s much-heralded victory back in the 1966 World Cup, still one of the most celebrated moments in its sporting history. But what did the football tournament reveal about the state of the country that staged it back in the 1960s? Jon Bauckham talks to Michael Calvin about the forgotten stories of that remarkable summer – from diplomatic tensions and class divisions, to Middlesbrough's unexpected love affair with North Korea. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To learn more about the history of football during the Cold War, don't miss this article by Tony Shaw and Alan McDougall: https://bit.ly/4hdX3tR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What if the Roman invasion and occupation of Britain was more complicated than we might think? Ferdinand Addis reveals how it really happened. Speaking to Charlotte Vosper, Ferdinand guides us through the complex process of conquest – from Caesar's arrival in 55 BC and the construction of Hadrian's Wall in 122 AD, to the decline of Roman occupation by 410 AD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Edward Colston was a philanthropist and slave trader in the 17th and 18th centuries. He is infamous today for the fact that a statue of him was pulled down by a crowd of protestors in central Bristol in 2020 and dumped in the river. Richard Stone explores his life, in conversation with David Musgrove, and considers how we should understand his complex legacy today. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to know more about the impact of the Barbary pirates on British society, check out this fascinating article by Adam Nichols detailing a personal story of an Englishwoman who was captured by them: https://bit.ly/3PXXrlf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Elizabeth Báthory is history's most prolific female serial killer and took pleasure in bathing in the blood of virgins... or so the story goes. In this episode, Shelley Puhak challenges that idea. Speaking to Isabel King, Shelley describes the complex campaign of disinformation that Elizabeth faced, and reveals the truth behind the legend. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about accusations of 'witchcraft' throughout history, don't miss our HistoryExtra Academy course: https://bit.ly/4sH8VaM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How revolutionary was the American Revolution, and how far do 18th-century arguments about liberty and property still shape US politics today? In the final episode of HistoryExtra’s four-part series, Elinor Evans is joined by Adam IP Smith to explore the end of the American Revolutionary War and the complicated legacy that followed. Beginning with Cornwallis’s surrender at Yorktown, they discuss Britain’s decision to cut its losses, the 1783 Treaty of Paris, the global consequences of the conflict, and the winners and losers of independence. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find all the further reading mentioned in this series, head to our curated list, which includes archive podcast episodes and video clips on battles, key figures and more, all available in the HistoryExtra app: https://bit.ly/42OYGpt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the middle of the 19th century, the world's fastest ships raced across oceans carrying cargo, and the fortunes of ambitious young sea captains. In this episode, author Tilar J Mazzeo explores one voyage that produced an unlikely maritime legend. Speaking to Elinor Evans, Mazzeo shares the remarkable life of Mary Ann Patten, who found herself commanding a clipper ship after her husband fell gravely ill during a perilous passage around Cape Horn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Much of what was eaten by inhabitants of Georgian London is, perhaps surprisingly, familiar to us today. In this episode, Peter Ross takes Lauren Good on a culinary journey through the city – from people pocketing baked potatoes on their way home in the small hours to explaining why jelly was considered an aphrodisiac. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about what was eaten in the Georgian period, listen to another of Lauren's interviews on the podcast, with Amy Boyington, where they explore the weird and wonderful dishes in the dining rooms of the wealthy: https://bit.ly/3QFSZI1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From his birth in 1881 to his death in 1973, Pablo Picasso lived a life as revolutionary as his art. A child prodigy who transformed modern art, his story is one of genius, reinvention, scandal and relentless creativity. In this episode, Danny Bird speaks to Sue Roe about the passions and upheavals that shaped the pioneer behind Cubism and masterpieces such as Guernica. They explore Picasso’s rise from the bohemian streets of Paris to global fame, his turbulent relationships with the women who inspired his work, and the restless imagination that defined him until the very end. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about Picasso’s masterpiece Guernica, the Spanish Civil War and the history behind the atrocity that inspired him to paint it, head over to the HistoryExtra website where you can read a feature written by historian, Paul Preston: https://bit.ly/4xeYOwB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Cold War cast a shadow over all aspects of life – including the world's favourite sport. All sides of the ideological divide used football to score political goals. Tony Shaw and Alan McDougall talk Spencer Mizen through some of the most explosive Cold War footballing clashes in a story that takes in Pele, Eusebio, North Korean upsets and a galloping major. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To listen to our podcast with journalist David Horspool about Britain’s long love affair with sport – from medieval jousts to the mega-bucks premier league – go to: https://bit.ly/44faORD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After declaring independence, the United States still had to survive a brutal conflict. In the third episode of HistoryExtra's four-part series on the American Revolutionary War, Elinor Evans and Adam IP Smith explore the military realities of the American Revolution: George Washington’s leadership, the importance of France, and the turning points that changed the conflict. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find all the further reading mentioned in this series, head to our curated list, which includes archive podcast episodes and video clips on battles, key figures and more, all available in the HistoryExtra app: https://bit.ly/42OYGpt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Americans are taking a fresh look at their nation's past. But what if the story of the US isn't best told through presidents, wars and famous speeches? In this episode, Roman Mars – host of new series The History of the United States in 100 Objects – tells Emily Briffett about what some of those items tell us about the nation's extraordinary past. The History of the United States in 100 Objects is a BBC Studios and 99% Invisible co-production for SiriusXM and is available to listen to weekly on BBC Sounds and wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Which letter of the English alphabet did Benjamin Franklin think we'd be better off without? Why must the letter U (almost) always follow the letter Q? And what is the point of silent letters? From the first scratches carved into stone to the maddening mysteries of modern English spelling, the alphabet has had a long and extraordinary journey. In this episode, Emily Briffett is joined by linguist, writer and broadcaster Danny Bate to explore the history of the English alphabet, and the strange story behind the letters we use every day. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Curious to find out more about the ancient civilisations who greatly influenced the alphabet's trajectory? Leanr more about the Phoenicians with Josephine Quinn here: https://bit.ly/42nZ5iC And check out this episode on the Etruscans with Lucy Shipley here: https://bit.ly/48O2T0g Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the wife of a founding figure in early American history, Abigail Adams was able to push beyond the restrictions of many of her sex in the 18th century, influencing policy and advocating for those in society who often didn't have a voice. These actions have sometimes seen her remembered as a proto-feminist in the story of the US. But how true is this reputation? And what other strides was she able to make? Historian and writer Laura Kamoie speaks to Elinor Evans about Adams's life – the subject of Laura's new historical novel co-authored with Stephanie Dray, A Founding Mother. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about the American Revolution, including key figures, the experiences of women, and the people who forged the early United States, head to our curated list, which includes archive podcast episodes and videos, all available in the HistoryExtra app: https://bit.ly/42OYGpt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From divorce settlements and cattle disputes to surprisingly modern ideas about gender and compensation, the laws of Hywel Dda shed unique light on how society functioned, in a turbulent age of rival princes and conquest. Speaking to Elinor Evans, legal historian Sara Elin Roberts explains the laws often attributed to a tenth-century king, and what they tell us about Wales in the Middle Ages. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST You can find more about the laws of medieval Wales at https://www.cyfraith-hywel.org.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s 250 years since the Declaration of Independence brought a new nation into formal existence. But what did it actually say – and who did it leave out? In the second episode of HistoryExtra’s series on the American Revolutionary War, Elinor Evans and Professor Adam IP Smith explore the drafting of the Declaration, the grievances against George III, and the document’s immediate and long-term impact – and examine the contradictions at the heart of America’s founding ideals. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find all the further reading mentioned in this series, head to our curated list, which includes archive podcast episodes and video clips on battles, key figures and more, all available in the HistoryExtra app: https://bit.ly/42OYGpt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He sailed to Antarctica with Captain Cook, rubbed shoulders with Benjamin Franklin and helped found a revolutionary republic. It’s little wonder, then, that Andrea Wulf describes George Forster – the 18th-century traveller, botanist and champion of human rights – as “one of the most fascinating figures you've never heard of”. In conversation with Spencer Mizen, Andrea explores a life that reads like an adventure story. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to hear Andrea Wulf discuss the life of another German polymath, then check out our podcast interview with her about Alexander von Humboldt, who influenced generations of scientists, including Charles Darwin: https://bit.ly/3PVrppU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We might picture Charlotte Brontë's life as an isolated one, separated from much of the world and its fashions as she whiled away the hours in her father's Haworth parsonage. But the truth, as Eleanor Houghton tells Lauren Good, is very different. By exploring the clothes Charlotte wore, we discover new sides to a woman who, despite battling insecurity throughout her life, owned clothes much more worldly and colourful than we’ve previously thought. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST For more on what a writer’s wardrobe can reveal about their life, don’t miss Lauren Good talking to historian Hilary Davidson about what we can learn from Jane Austen's clothes: https://bit.ly/48MmRIF Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anarchist, feminist, revolutionary: 19th-century activist and writer Emma Goldman emigrated from the Russian empire to the United States as a teenager, and spent decades challenging power and convention. In this episode, Ruth Kinna tells Danny Bird about Goldman's extraordinary story – which intersects with American labour disputes, the Russian Revolution, and the Spanish Civil War – and her contributions to the causes of freedom and social change that still resonate today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1944, as Allied troops pushed across Europe after D-Day, the Allies faced a terrifying new threat: Hitler’s V2 weapons, striking without warning at supersonic speed. In this episode, Emily Briffett speaks to author, historian and journalist Guy Walters about his new book, Stealing Hitler's Rocket, which uncovers the extraordinary secret mission to smuggle parts of the Nazi 'vengeance weapon' out of occupied Europe and into British hands. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST How do you go about uncovering a secret Nazi cache of stolen treasure? Read the HistoryExtra article Guy mentions in the episode here: https://bit.ly/4dFfCUH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The United States often presents its birth as a straightforward struggle for liberty – but reality was far more messy. In this first episode of HistoryExtra's four-part series on the American Revolutionary War, Elinor Evans is joined by Adam IP Smith to explore the colonies before independence, the fallout of the Seven Years’ War, the Stamp Act crisis, and the road to the ‘shot heard around the world’ at Lexington and Concord in 1775. Together, they unpack the constitutional disagreements, competing ideas of liberty, and the growing mistrust that transformed protest into conflict. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find all the further reading mentioned in this series, head to our curated list, which includes archive podcast episodes and video clips on battles, key figures and more, all available in the HistoryExtra app: https://bit.ly/42OYGpt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why did Protestant missionaries travel the globe across the course of centuries, only to convert remarkably few people? Alec Ryrie – author of new book The World’s Reformation – tells Elinor Evans about the neglected global history of early Protestant missions, how preachers travelled across Asia, Africa and the Americas centuries earlier than many assume, and why so many of their ambitious efforts ended in confusion, contradiction and failure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Many histories of the 16th century tell stories of monarchs and courtiers – but there is, of course, much more to the century than that. Speaking to Charlotte Vosper, Nandini Das charts the ways in which migration and movement shaped the Tudor and Stuart periods, and traces the lives of the early modern individuals who embarked on new lives in other lands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stretching from Greece to India, Alexander the Great’s empire was one of the largest in human history, and he’d conquered it all by the time he was 30 years old. So how did this young king of a small Greek kingdom defeat the mighty Persian empire and become a godlike figure in the process? Alexander’s astonishing story is explored by Edmund Richardson in a new biography and, in this HistoryExtra podcast episode, Edmund is joined by Rob Attar to explore Alexander's remarkable life and mysterious death. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Want to hear more from Edmund Richardson? Check out this episode where Edmund traces the hunt for one of Alexander the Great's lost cities: https://bit.ly/4neFMSi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have royal women's stories been misconstrued? Speaking to Charlotte Vosper, Kate Williams argues that many of them have been, tracing the lives of a whole host of queens – from Hatshepsut to Queen Victoria – to explore how and why these women have so often been viewed through a particular lens. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you’d like to hear more from Kate Williams about the real lives of royal women, check out her HistoryExtra Academy series, in which she takes us on a tour of queens through time across six videos: https://bit.ly/4wL7gU8 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The final chapter of Cleopatra’s life is shrouded in mystery. Did she really take her own life? Was an asp involved? And why don’t we know where her tomb is? In this final episode of our four-part Sunday Series on the ancient queen’s life and times, Islam Issa – professor of public humanities at Birmingham City University – tackles these questions, and explores just why Cleopatra continues to fascinate us, thousands of years later. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Captivated by Cleopatra? Matt Elton has curated a collection of essential reading, listening and viewing from the HistoryExtra vaults to help bring the ancient queen to life: https://bit.ly/3Pgs3hv And don’t miss our HistoryExtra Academy, Royal Women with Professor Kate Williams, for more on some of the past’s most powerful female leaders – from Cleopatra to Elizabeth II: https://bit.ly/3PRpwue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

They 'haunted' an Indonesian general with a talking ghost and planted fake hippies in a Bulgarian youth festival. But did they change the course of the Cold War? Rory Cormac introduces Spencer Mizen to the comically absurd – and dangerously controversial – tactics deployed by a group of misfits and mavericks charged with raining down confusion on Britain's adversaries in the 1950s and 60s. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To hear more from Rory Cormac on the HistoryExtra podcast, listen to him discussing Queen Victoria's spy network here: https://bit.ly/4sHYQKJ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the summer of 1940, the Royal Navy attacked a French fleet moored off the coast of north Africa, killing almost 1,300 sailors. Winston Churchill described his decision to greenlight the operation as the toughest he ever had to take. But was it the right decision? Edward Abel Smith talks to Spencer Mizen about an incident that would shake Britain's wartime relations with France. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To hear more from Edward Abel Smith, don't miss our podcast episode on the remarkable life of Nicholas Winton, the British Schindler, who helped hundreds of Jewish children escape Czechoslovakia on the eve of the Second World War: https://bit.ly/4e80MrF Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Henry Paget, 5th Marquess of Anglesey, lived a life of extravagance, luxury and theatre – and for this, he was the subject of much intrigue in the late 19th century. In this episode, Michael Hall speaks to Charlotte Vosper about the man dubbed the 'Dancing Marquess' – and whose story has now been dramatised for the big screen in new film Madfabulous. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCASTIf you'd like to hear more from Michael about queer lives connected to the National Trust and its properties, check out our discussion of his latest book A Queer Inheritance: https://bit.ly/3RzQszl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How did women in the past experience sex and pleasure? Kate Lister reveals that this is a rather complicated question. Instead of simply lying back and thinking of England, women have long fought for their right to pleasure. But at the same time, women's sexual experiences have also been bound up in cultures of shame and control since antiquity. Speaking to Charlotte Vosper, Kate introduces us to these histories. Please note that this episode contains a very frank and open discussion of sex and sexuality, and strong language throughout. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to learn even more about sex toys from the past, check out this eye-opening article about history's 12 strangest examples: https://bit.ly/4eFxPn6 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We often think of Cleopatra as using her feminine wiles to secure, and maintain, power. But was that really the case? And what other skills and qualities did she have? In this third episode of our four-part Sunday Series charting the ancient queen and her world, Matt Elton is joined by Islam Issa – professor of public humanities at Birmingham City University – to discover more about Cleopatra the leader. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Captivated by Cleopatra? Matt Elton has curated a collection of essential reading, listening and viewing from the HistoryExtra vaults to help bring the ancient queen to life: https://bit.ly/3Pgs3hv And don’t miss our HistoryExtra Academy, Royal Women with Professor Kate Williams, for more on some of the past’s most powerful female leaders – from Cleopatra to Elizabeth II: https://bit.ly/3PRpwue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is there a real historical phenomenon behind Bridgerton’s masked ball? And what would it really have been like? In this episode, Meghan Kobza takes us behind the doors of the glittering Georgian masquerades. Speaking to Charlotte Vosper, she discusses the history of the masquerade – from outrageous outfits to serious scandals. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to find out more about the real history behind Netflix's 'Bridgerton', check out Felicity Day's article about the historical likelihood of Benedict and Sophie's cross-class relationship in Season 4 here: https://bit.ly/4n1oCaD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices