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
301
How the Plantagenets forged the English state
Caroline Burt and Richard Partington consider how the reigns of six Plantagenet kings altered the face of English governance
44 min
302
Justinian: life of the week
Peter Sarris explores the long-lasting legacy of a man who ripped up the law books and remade the eastern Roman empire – and had a plague named after him
53 min
303
The woman who saved the children
Clare Mulley discusses the life and work of Eglantyne Jebb, a pioneering campaigner for the rights of children who was spurred on by the horrors of the First World War
33 min
304
Victorian crime and punishment: everything you ...
Drew Gray tackles listener question on crime, courts, policing, punishments and prisons in 19th-century Britain
47 min
305
How the Dreyfus Affair tore France apart
Maurice Samuels explains how the French Army conspired to frame a Jewish officer at the turn of the 20th century, sparking a scandal that threatened the very foundations of the French Republic
41 min
306
Deeds not words | 4. Cat and mouse
We explore the suffragettes’ fractious relationship with the British establishment, revealing how they fought back against brutal treatment on the street and in prison
33 min
307
The surprising lives of ancient women
Daisy Dunn challenges common assumptions about women in antiquity, and explains why they were doing far more than sitting (and weaving) on the sidelines
39 min
308
Boudica: life of the week
Duncan Mackay discusses what we know about the Iceni warrior leader who rose up against the Roman empire
42 min
309
How Stalin ran rings round the west
Giles Milton explores the fractious relationship between the 'Big Three' – Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill – during the Second World War
27 min
310
British general elections: everything you wante...
Professor Richard Toye guides us through the history of general elections in the UK
31 min
311
Medieval keep fit
Keep fit was a surprisingly big deal in the Middle Ages. Professor Carole Rawcliffe explains who was exercising, and why
27 min
312
Deeds not words | 3. Making a statement
From eye-catching merchandise to trouble-making stunts, we explore how the suffragettes mastered the art of making a statement
28 min
313
A 21st-century Holocaust trial
Tobias Buck reflects on one of the last ever legal cases involving the crimes of the Third Reich
29 min
314
Catherine Parr: life of the week
Elizabeth Norton considers the life and legacy of Catherine Parr, the Tudor queen who 'survived' Henry VIII – and why she deserves to be known for so much more
43 min
315
Invisible ink & toad poison: tools of Elizabeth...
Nadine Akkerman and Pete Langman discuss the tricks and tools of spies in the early modern period
30 min
316
Chocolate history: everything you wanted to know
Food historian Emma Kay ranges across the centuries and the globe to explore the backstory of one of the world's favourite treats
30 min
317
Work-life balance: how our ancestors fought for...
Gary S Cross discusses how access to free time has changed through history, and delves into what our ancestors did with their leisure time
26 min
318
Deeds not words | 2. Pankhurst family portrait
We explore the Pankhurst family’s pivotal role in the suffragette movement, uncovering a story of inspirational leadership, self-sacrifice and sibling rivalry
25 min
319
Anne Boleyn: a modern woman?
Estelle Paranque charts the biography – and betrayal – of Anne Boleyn, to offer a new perspective on the Tudor queen
28 min
320
Historical apologies & female leaders: History ...
Rana Mitter and Hannah Skoda explore the historical undercurrents to recent news stories
49 min
321
Has WW2 become a national religion?
Following the recent D-Day commemorations, Professor Alec Ryrie considers why the 20th-century conflict continues to hold such weight in the national psyche
31 min
322
Beowulf: everything you wanted to know
Heather O'Donoghue answers the key questions about the most famous Old English epic poem and the world it depicts
35 min
323
Inside Bridgerton's ballrooms
Bridgerton choreographer Jack Murphy shares the secrets of Regency dancing – and reveals how it was recreated for the hit period drama
23 min
324
Deeds not words | 1. Battlelines are drawn
We explore how calls for women’s suffrage reached boiling point in Edwardian Britain – and a dynamic new movement emerged to fight for the cause
27 min
325
Deeds not words | Trailer
1 min