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
1376
The Clifford’s Tower massacre & medieval anti-S...
Dean Irwin explains the story of the 1190 anti-Semitic massacre at Clifford’s Tower in York, and how it fits into the wider story of England’s medieval Jewish population
38 min
1377
The Thirty Years’ War: everything you wanted to...
Peter Wilson responds to your questions on the brutal conflict that convulsed central Europe in the 17th century.
42 min
1378
Rebels, hostages and diplomats: royal women of ...
Katherine Pangonis chronicles the formidable line of female rulers that shaped the crusader states of the Holy Land in the 12th century
49 min
1379
To beard or not to beard? Facial hair through h...
Dr Alun Withey, expert on the history of facial hair, takes us on a journey through shaving and grooming trends from 1650-1900
44 min
1380
The western front: a cauldron of innovation
Nick Lloyd reveals how the First World War’s western front was shaped by transformative military and technological advancements.
30 min
1381
Assassinations: from the ancient world to JFK
John Withington discusses history’s most notorious political killings – from the first known assassination to the plots to kill Franz Ferdinand and JFK.
45 min
1382
The big questions of women’s history
We mark International Women’s Day with a panel discussion tackling the central issues of women’s history
54 min
1383
The Cold War: everything you wanted to know
Michael Goodman responds to your questions on the decades of geopolitical tension that shaped relations between east and west in the second half of the 20th century.
51 min
1384
Voices of China
In this lecture, Michael Wood uses the stories of five individuals from across the centuries to cast light on China’s rich and varied history.
38 min
1385
BONUS EPISODE: Game of Thrones’ medieval roots
Carolyne Larrington explores the medieval world that inspired the fantasy epic in a special HistoryExtra bonus episode, available now for free at https://www.historyextra.com/game-of-thrones-podcast
1 min
1386
Why treason was so unforgivable in the Middle Ages
Dr Amanda McVitty explains what treason meant in the medieval era, and why its consequences were particularly brutal
57 min
1387
Formidable dynasties of the Italian Renaissance
Mary Hollingsworth discusses her new book, Princes of the Renaissance, which charts the wars and alliances between the powerful Italian families of the 15th and 16th centuries
31 min
1388
Vikings in North America
Gordon Campbell reveals how the Vikings made epic voyages of discovery across the Atlantic a millennium ago
37 min
1389
Shipwrecked in the Arctic: a 16th-century survi...
Journalist Andrea Pitzer discusses her latest book, Icebound: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World, a compelling story of survival in the Arctic during the 16th century…
53 min
1390
The Roman emperors: everything you wanted to know
Shushma Malik discusses some of the most admired and reviled Roman emperors, and considers whether the legends surrounding them stand up to scrutiny
65 min
1391
Adventure and archaeology in the golden age of ...
Toby Wilkinson gives a lecture on the archaeologists and adventurers whose discoveries helped transform our understanding of the ancient Egyptians.
46 min
1392
Crafting historical weapons for Wolf Hall and T...
Historical weapon-maker Tod of Tod’s Workshop gives a behind-the-scenes peek into the fascinating world of making replica weapons for TV and film.
40 min
1393
Nefertiti: wife, mother, pharaoh
Egyptologist Aidan Dodson explores the life, death and afterlife of ancient Egypt’s sun queen
53 min
1394
The women who fought back against Hollywood
Helen O’Hara highlights female pioneers of film, and reveals some of the challenges faced by women working in Hollywood over the past century.
36 min
1395
Rivalries and romances: couples that shook up h...
Broadcaster and author Cathy Newman shares stories of duos that changed the course of history.
42 min
1396
The Vikings’ global connections
Dr Cat Jarman explores the far-reaching trading networks of the Vikings, from the Baltic sea to Asia
40 min
1397
The space race: everything you wanted to know
Tom Ellis responds to listener questions on the great Cold War rivalry that saw the US and the Soviet Union battle for dominance in space
52 min
1398
Sathnam Sanghera on how modern Britain is shape...
Sathnam Sanghera discusses where we can see the legacy of imperialism in Britain today –from politics and education to museums and multiculturalism
32 min
1399
The big questions of LGBTQ history
We mark LGBT+ History Month with a panel discussion tackling some of the biggest themes in LGBTQ history
50 min
1400
Chaos & communism: China’s 1949 revolution
Graham Hutchings discusses how China was convulsed by the communist revolution of 1949.
38 min