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
Vladimir Lenin: life of the week
57 min
2
Why Britons rejected fascism in the 1930s
27 min
3
Young Elizabeth I: the making of a queen
31 min
4
A poetic history of England
36 min
5
The hidden history behind Mount Rushmore
36 min
6
Juana Inés de la Cruz: life of the week
26 min
7
The forgotten wars that redefined Europe
38 min
8
Does Magna Carta matter today?
34 min
9
Slavery in the Islamic world
46 min
10
The real women behind Europe's greatest legends
32 min
11
Thomas Edison: life of the week
30 min
12
Following the footsteps of a WW2 prisoner of war
40 min
13
Magna Carta: why didn't King John keep his word?
32 min
14
How to be a Victorian
31 min
15
"The streets will run with blood!": the uprisin...
28 min
16
Pocahontas: life of the week
38 min
17
The ruthless revolution that made Britain great
33 min
18
The Magna Carta myth
39 min
19
Terrible puns and filthy limericks: the Victori...
40 min
20
What your hands say about you – according to hi...
41 min
21
Thomas More: life of the week
50 min
22
Going on strike in ancient Rome
38 min
23
Magna Carta: king v barons
40 min
24
Untold LGBTQ stories of the National Trust
29 min
25
Why Greenwich is the home of time
31 min