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
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History & science: the big questions
Dr Lindsey Fitzharris, Professor Sasha Hadley, Professor Sanjoy Bhattacharya and Professor Alice Roberts discuss the often surprising connections between history and science
26 min
852
How the Allies plucked victory from the jaws of...
Comedian and history buff Al Murray introduces the military commanders behind the Allies’ extraordinary change of fortunes in the Second World War
41 min
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Halloween monsters: everything you wanted to know
In part two of our spooky Halloween special, Professor Owen Davies tackles listener questions on the evolving mythology of our most popular Halloween monsters
32 min
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Halloween traditions: everything you wanted to ...
In part one of our Halloween special, Professor Owen Davies tackles listener questions on the haunted historical festivities surrounding 31 October
29 min
855
Christianity: a success story from the start?
Christianity has been one of the dominant forces in European history, but according to historian Peter Heather, its rise was not inevitable
37 min
856
The Mary Rose | 2. the Tudor heyday of Henry VI...
In episode two of our new series on the Mary Rose, we revisit Henry’s VIII’s warship in its Tudor heyday – from the first shots fired to the vessel’s downfall
36 min
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A family history of the world
Simon Sebag Montefiore discusses his brand new book, exploring the entire history of the world through the prism of families
35 min
858
Cuba & the USA: an intertwined history
Ada Ferrer covers five centuries of Cuba’s history, and its complex relationship with the United States – from colonisation by Europeans to the Castro dynasty
58 min
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Chaos, ruin & renewal: Germany in 1945
Harald Jähner charts the decisive decade after the Second World War, during which Germany underwent monumental change as it began to rebuild itself following the chaos of the conflict
18 min
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Sci-fi history: everything you wanted to know
Roger Luckhurst answers listener questions about how sci-fi has imagined the future by reflecting the concerns of the past
57 min
861
The Cuban Missile Crisis Series Trailer
This new HistoryExtra podcast series marks the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis, exploring the long roots of the nuclear standoff, and the perspectives of the nations and figures at its centre.
2 min
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Chaucer’s disputed legacy: new discoveries
Euan Roger shares new findings that could influence our perspective on the famous medieval author’s questionable legacy
33 min
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The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan: war without...
Elisabeth Leake charts the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, revealing how the ensuing occupation and internal conflict shaped the modern nation
49 min
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The Mary Rose | 1. raising the wreck
In the first episode in our new series on the Mary Rose, we follow the extraordinary search for Henry VIII’s long-lost warship, which uncovered the wreck after almost 450 years
36 min
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Spectacles of death: public executions in London
Beverley Cook discusses a new Museum of London Docklands exhibition on the long history of public executions in the capital
27 min
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Berlin’s turbulent 20th century
From the wild hedonism of the Weimar years to living in the shadow of the Berlin Wall, Sinclair McKay traces the history of the German city through the lives of its inhabitants
47 min
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A mutineer in the family
Harrison Christian explores the extraordinary life of his direct ancestor Fletcher Christian, who led the dramatic mutiny on HMS Bounty in 1789
32 min
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The Bank of England: everything you wanted to know
As the Bank of England continues to hit the headlines in the UK, Professor Anne Murphy guides us through the 300-year history of one of Britain’s most important institutions
48 min
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Empire: the big historical questions
Professor Toby Green, Dr Sudhir Hazareesingh and Professor Olivette Otele explore how our understanding of imperial history has been transformed in recent years
48 min
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1066: the pope and the conqueror
On the anniversary of the battle of Hastings, Daniel Armstrong questions whether the pope really backed William of Normandy’s invasion of England in 1066
25 min
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Why Bond and the Beatles ruled the sixties
John Higgs reveals how two cultural giants – a gentlemanly spy and a gang of guitar-wielding young men – transformed modern British history
35 min
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Ian McEwan on writing historical novels
Ian McEwan considers the responsibility of historical novelists and explores how we collectively reflect on our past
34 min
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The Congo-Océan railroad’s deadly history
JP Daughton shares the brutal story of the building of the Congo-Océan railroad – one of the deadliest construction projects in history
48 min
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15 minutes of fame: rediscovering forgotten fig...
To wrap up our ‘15 minutes of fame’ series, a panel of experts discuss who gets remembered from the past and how we can highlight forgotten stories today
44 min
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Black British history: everything you wanted to...
Hannah Cusworth answers listener questions on black British history – from Cheddar Man, to the 1963 Bristol Bus Boycott
41 min