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
The Soviet spy who couldn't love
38 min
2
The slave ship that changed history
44 min
3
Have we overlooked England’s local histories?
37 min
4
The making of the modern Middle East
43 min
5
Joan of Arc: inspirational leader or flawed fai...
39 min
6
The forgotten slave traders who shaped Britain
32 min
7
What is ‘Europe’, anyway?
33 min
8
Christianity, conflict and catastrophe: the lif...
36 min
9
Was Napoleon III the world's first populist lea...
51 min
10
The Bayeux Tapestry blockbuster at the British ...
41 min
11
The secrets of our DNA
34 min
12
What's it like to live in a royal palace?
32 min
13
Roman kings: myth, memory and the making of power
37 min
14
Philip Augustus: the Plantagenets’ greatest rival
46 min
15
Laura Ingalls Wilder: life of the week
42 min
16
How bullies shaped 19th-century America
39 min
17
Is there a royal sex scandal hidden in plain si...
40 min
18
Did Britain really 'keep calm and carry on' in ...
42 min
19
Did the Catholic Church support Hitler?
49 min
20
Frida Kahlo: life of the week
49 min
21
How the Americas transformed Tudor England
31 min
22
Preview: Master the medieval art of knowing you...
11 min
23
Have we got ancient women's sexuality all wrong?
31 min
24
Adultery, assassination and Agatha Christie: th...
31 min
25
Hedy Lamarr: life of the week
46 min