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.


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
What does history teach us about protest?
34 min
2
Hatshepsut: life of the week
38 min
3
Tragedy and triumph: a 500-year history of Mexico
31 min
4
Jane Austen’s final chapter – and lasting legacy
29 min
5
Prophetesses & she-preachers of the 17th century
Naomi Baker reveals how religious conviction drove women to take on influential public roles in the 17th century
30 min
6
New Year's Eve, newts and Nessie: a history of ...
37 min
7
Augustus: life of the week
40 min
8
Inside the Viking battle of the genders
35 min
9
A house of one’s own: Jane Austen’s ‘golden years’
29 min
10
Æthelstan: the king who made England
29 min
11
Did the WW1 Christmas truce really happen?
31 min
12
Father Christmas: life of the week
38 min
13
When was the best time in English history to be...
25 min
14
“I am to flirt my last”: Jane Austen’s twenties
30 min
15
The secret propaganda war against the Nazis
28 min
16
The many faces of James VI & I
37 min
17
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: life of the week
34 min
18
A short history of ghost hunting
37 min
19
Becoming Jane Austen
25 min
20
Ghosts, gods & sea monsters: a supernatural his...
Karl Bell dives into the eerie and enchanting folklore of the Atlantic Ocean, revealing how supernatural stories helped sailors navigate a perilous world
30 min
21
The summer that changed everything for the Kenn...
Leigh Straw takes listeners into the pivotal summer of 1944 at the Kennedys' Cape Cod summer home, where scandal and personal loss collided to reshape the destiny of America’s most famous political family
34 min
22
Margaret Beaufort: life of the week
Lauren Johnson charts how Margaret Beaufort skilfully navigated the chaos of the 15th century – and ultimately gave us the Tudor dynasty
43 min
23
Idi Amin's willing helpers
37 min
24
“You can’t kill and maim with impunity”: the po...
33 min
25
Assassins vs Templars
46 min