HistoryExtra podcast

The HistoryExtra podcast brings you gripping stories from the past and fascinating historical conversations with the world's leading historical experts.


HistoryExtra is a free history podcast, with episodes released six times a week. Subscribe now for the real stories behind your favourite films, TV shows and period dramas, as well as compelling insights into lesser-known aspects of the past. 

 

We delve into global history stories spanning the ancient world right up to the modern day. You’ll hear deep dives into the lives of famous historical figures like Cleopatra, Anne Boleyn and Winston Churchill, and explorations of intriguing events from the past, such as the Salem witch trials, the battle of Waterloo and D-Day. 

 

Expect fresh takes on history, helping you get to grips with the latest research, as we explore everything from ancient Roman archaeology and Viking mythology to Renaissance royals and Tudor kings and queens. 

 

Our episodes touch on a wide range of historical eras – from the Normans and Saxons to the Stuarts, Victorians and the Regency period. We cover the most popular historical subjects, from the medieval world to the Second World War, but you’ll also hear conversations on lesser-known parts of our past, including black history and women’s history. 

 

Looking at the history behind today’s headlines, we consider the forces that have shaped today’s world, from the imposing empires that dominated continents, to the revolutions that brought them crashing down. We also examine the impact of conflict across the centuries, from the crusades of the Middle Ages and the battles of the ancient Egyptians to World War One, World War Two and the Cold War.  

 

Plus, we uncover the real history behind myths, legends and conspiracy theories, from the medieval murder mystery of the Princes in the Tower, to the assassination of JFK.  

 

Featuring interviews with notable historians including Mary Beard, Tracy Borman, James Holland and Dan Jones, we cover a range of social, political and military history, with the aim to start conversations about some of the most fascinating areas of the past. 

Unlock full access to HistoryExtra.com for 6 months for just 99p https://www.historyextra.com/join/

History
1
Pocahontas: life of the week
38 min
2
The ruthless revolution that made Britain great
33 min
3
The Magna Carta myth
39 min
4
Terrible puns and filthy limericks: the Victori...
40 min
5
What your hands say about you – according to hi...
41 min
6
Thomas More: life of the week
50 min
7
Going on strike in ancient Rome
38 min
8
Magna Carta: king v barons
40 min
9
Untold LGBTQ stories of the National Trust
29 min
10
Why Greenwich is the home of time
31 min
11
James Gillray: life of the week
29 min
12
Churchill and de Gaulle: a strange relationship
30 min
13
Why Pompeii's tragedy still captivates us today
42 min
14
The United States and Latin America: a turbulen...
34 min
15
History's most mysterious manuscripts
43 min
16
Francisco Franco: life of the week
42 min
17
How grim was life on Hitler's U-boats?
33 min
18
How ancient Pompeii was rediscovered
34 min
19
Why Belgian agents risked their lives spying fo...
25 min
20
How tanks redefined warfare
39 min
21
Robert McNamara: life of the week
37 min
22
The road to the Holocaust
28 min
23
The final days of Pompeii
41 min
24
Life in the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain
46 min
25
The hidden history of US immigration detention
44 min