History Extra podcast

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


Produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine, History Extra 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
The real Miss Moneypennys: the secret history o...
Author Claire Hubbard-Hall explores the untold stories of women in British intelligence, from early MI6 agents to the real-life Miss Moneypenny
43 min
2
Andrew Carnegie: life of the week
David Nasaw introduces Andrew Carnegie, who built a sprawling 19th-century empire from humble beginnings – and explains why his name still looms large in libraries, museums, and debates on wealth
43 min
3
Wages for housework: the daring 1970s campaign ...
Emily Callaci discusses a bold – and controversial – feminist movement that campaigned for women to be paid for household labour in the 1970s
24 min
4
Ancient Roman theatre: everything you wanted to...
From Plautus and Terence to the bawdy world of mime, Jessica Clarke introduces the theatrical world of the ancient superpower – and considers how its legacy continues to shape drama and performance today
37 min
5
Haiti's first and only king
Marlene L Daut charts the extraordinary life of the Haitian revolutionary leader – who went on to become a traitor, ruler, and then monarch
48 min
6
How the Cold War made the modern world
Vladislav Zubok debunks many of the popular beliefs about the Cold War, instead presenting an era of relentless change
44 min
7
Alva Vanderbilt: life of the week
Nancy Unger introduces Alva Vanderbilt, the woman most often regarded as the inspiration for the character of Bertha Russell in Julian Fellowes's drama The Gilded Age
37 min
8
How women were erased from economic history
Victoria Bateman explains how marginalising women's contributions to economic prosperity has always heralded the decline of history's greatest civilisations
42 min
9
The Phoenicians: everything you wanted to know
Josephine Quinn shines a light on the peoples of the ancient Mediterranean, who – despite leaving an extraordinary legacy – have been relatively overlooked in history
45 min
10
Black women and the fight for human rights
Keisha N Blain explores how black women in the United States overcame obstacles in their own lives to campaign for freedom across the globe
34 min
11
Soviet dissidents who challenged the Kremlin
Benjamin Nathans discusses how dissidents within the Soviet Union mounted a sustained campaign of 'civil obedience' after Stalin's death, compelling the Kremlin to live up to its own laws
47 min
12
El Cid: life of the week
Professor Nora Berend traces the life and times of El Cid, the medieval warlord who fought for both the Christian and Muslim rulers of the Iberian Peninsula
27 min
13
Burying the enemy: commemorating the world wars...
Tim Grady explores the story of the British and German war dead buried on enemy soil – and those who cared for them – during the two world wars
36 min
14
The Mughal empire: everything you wanted to know
Nandini Chatterjee steps inside the Mughal world to uncover a rich cultural history
46 min
15
The Amazons: wonder-women of the ancient world
David Braund explains why the Amazons of ancient legend were much more than just women who could fight
39 min
16
How did the Vikings shape Russia and Ukraine?
Vikings didn't just sail west: they also went east, playing a crucial role in the emergence of what would become eastern Europe – Martyn Whittock explores this overlooked story
41 min
17
William the Conqueror: life of the week
David Bates explores the life of the formidable medieval warrior and ruler, who inspired both fear and respect
45 min
18
Why the Maginot Line couldn't save France in WW2
Kevin Passmore tells the story of the fortifications that have become synonymous with France's fall to the Nazis in 1940
36 min
19
Crime fiction history: everything you wanted to...
From Hercule Poirot to Sherlock Holmes, Martin Edwards answers key questions on the history of the crime fiction genre
40 min
20
How Christianity came to dominate the Roman world
Alice Roberts explains how Christianity took over all aspects of Roman life – and helped perpetuate the empire
40 min
21
The spy next door: Moscow's century-long plot t...
Shaun Walker casts light on Moscow's shocking 'illegals' programme - a daring feat of espionage that saw Russian spies going deep undercover
42 min
22
Edward the Confessor: life of the week
Tom Licence leads us through the legacy of the medieval monarch whose death led to England's Norman takeover – but whose life also left a significant mark on history
45 min
23
Britain and the Caribbean: from slavery to Blac...
Imaobong Umoren argues that we need to take a longer view of British involvement in the Caribbean 
26 min
24
Nationalism: everything you wanted to know
41 min
25
Preview: The forgers who faked a fortune
6 min