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
Francisco Franco: life of the week
42 min
2
How grim was life on Hitler's U-boats?
33 min
3
How ancient Pompeii was rediscovered
34 min
4
Why Belgian agents risked their lives spying fo...
25 min
5
How tanks redefined warfare
39 min
6
Robert McNamara: life of the week
37 min
7
The road to the Holocaust
28 min
8
The final days of Pompeii
41 min
9
Life in the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain
46 min
10
The hidden history of US immigration detention
44 min
11
Emperor Hirohito: life of the week
Christopher Harding explores the life story of the emperor who reigned over Japan during World War Two and the decades of postwar transition that followed
38 min
12
Secrets of the Romans' spectacular success
35 min
13
Before the volcano: life in ancient Pompeii
37 min
14
How do you solve a problem like Napoleon?
40 min
15
What does history teach us about protest?
34 min
16
Hatshepsut: life of the week
38 min
17
Tragedy and triumph: a 500-year history of Mexico
31 min
18
Jane Austen’s final chapter – and lasting legacy
29 min
19
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
20
New Year's Eve, newts and Nessie: a history of ...
37 min
21
Augustus: life of the week
40 min
22
Inside the Viking battle of the genders
35 min
23
A house of one’s own: Jane Austen’s ‘golden years’
29 min
24
Æthelstan: the king who made England
29 min
25
Did the WW1 Christmas truce really happen?
31 min