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
426
Christopher Columbus: life of the week
Julia McClure explores the controversial life and legacy of the explorer Christopher Columbus
39 min
427
Slavic Myths: vampires werewolves – and cabbages
Noah Charney and Svetlana Slapšak introduce us to the myths and monsters of the Slavic peoples – and reveal how they might be more familiar than you think
33 min
428
The Roman army: everything you wanted to know
Adrian Goldsworthy answers listener questions on what life was like in the armies of ancient Rome – from revolting rations and brutal discipline, to promotion prospects and the chances of settling down
62 min
429
Chanel: glamour and controversy on the Riviera
As The New Look hits TV screens, Anne de Courcy revisits Coco Chanel's time living on the French Riviera
39 min
430
Victorian death rituals
Judith Flanders explores the fascinating and sometimes bizarre rites and rituals around dying and mourning in the 19th century
38 min
431
Conspiracy | 5. Legends of the Knights Templar
35 min
432
Happily ever after? Love and marriage in Austen...
Rory Muir takes us on a journey through Regency marriage, from engagements and elopements to going on honeymoon with your mother-in-law
27 min
433
History Behind the Headlines: the Post Office, ...
33 min
434
Drag: a British history
Jacob Bloomfield explores the long-lasting popularity of British drag, from Victorian music hall to Second World War revue shows
34 min
435
Medieval Ireland: everything you wanted to know
Seán Duffy answers listener questions on Irish life, language and culture during the Middle Ages
55 min
436
Peking to Paris: the world’s first great motor ...
Kassia St Clair shares the story behind the 1907 Peking to Paris automobile race: a test of endurance that stretched its competitors to their very limits
28 min
437
Conspiracy | 4. The Protocols of the Elders of ...
26 min
438
Love: a weird & wonderful history
Edward Brooke-Hitching traces the story of love down the centuries, through a host of fascinating and often bizarre objects and stories
22 min
439
Life of the week: the Duke of Wellington
Zack White charts the life story of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, from his military victories and mixed political record to the controversies of his personal life
52 min
440
Ploughman's for the people: a culinary history ...
Pen Vogler takes us on a culinary journey through Britain's history – from Ploughman's lunches to the aphrodisiac properties of turnips
23 min
441
Chivalry: everything you wanted to know
Lydia Zeldenrust answers listener questions on the idealised code of knightly conduct that arose during the medieval era
35 min
442
Alexandria: the first modern city
Islam Issa tells the colourful story of ancient Alexandria, a multicultural city dreamt up by Alexander the Great
26 min
443
Conspiracy | 3. Who killed JFK?
66 min
444
Masters of the Air: the real history behind the...
41 min
445
Life of the week: Spartacus
Alison Futrell shares the story of the Roman rebel – from his early enslavement and brutal gladiatorial career to his extraordinary uprising
47 min
446
The West's enduring fascination with Asia
Christopher Harding journeys through centuries of history to understand the West's long-lasting interest in China, Japan and India
46 min
447
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: everything ...
From the hanging gardens of Babylon to the lighthouse of Alexandria, Bettany Hughes answers listener questions on the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
39 min
448
Nicholas Winton: the 'British Schindler'
Edward Abel Smith discusses the story of Nicholas Winton, who helped save hundreds of Jewish children from the Nazis by transporting them to safety in Britain
29 min
449
Conspiracy | 2. Was Pearl Harbor an inside job?
32 min
450
Ireland's tangled relationship with empire
Historian Jane Ohlmeyer reflects on Ireland's difficult relationship with imperialism in the early modern period
31 min