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.


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
126
Bayeux Tapestry politics & natural disasters: h...
48 min
127
Deadly bellringing and fatal bacon: grisly acci...
Steven Gunn reveals what accidental deaths in Tudor England can reveal about everyday life in the era
31 min
128
Beer history: everything you wanted to know
Phil Withington answers questions about the evolution of the ancient drink still enjoyed by millions around the world
37 min
129
Mein Kampf: Hitler's dark vision for the future
In the centenary year of its publication, Lisa Pine explores the origins, content and legacy of Adolf Hitler's notorious political manifesto
21 min
130
King vs parliament: the moment that sparked civ...
Jonathan Healey reveals how the relationship between king and parliament broke down over the winter of 1641-2, leading England towards civil war
37 min
131
The Mitford sisters | 2 : life of the week
In the second of two episodes, Mary S Lovell unpacks the extraordinary and outrageous lives of the six aristocratic sisters in the decades that followed the Second World War
27 min
132
Slavery on the medieval Silk Road
Claire Taylor explores the realities of slavery along the Silk Road during the Middle Ages, revealing its scale, diversity and cultural significance
40 min
133
The history of women's football: everything you...
From 17th-century invasion games to the Euros-winning Lionesses, Jean Williams traces female footballers' long battle for recognition
40 min
134
Live Aid: pop's Big Bang moment
David Hepworth reveals what it was like to present the BBC's coverage of a music extravaganza that ushered in a new age of entertainment
28 min
135
Exploring the medieval world with Marco Polo
Sharon Kinoshita explores the the remarkable journeys of the medieval merchant who travelled to the court of Kublai Khan and beyond
39 min
136
The Mitford Sisters | 1 : life of the week
In the first of two episodes, Mary S Lovell unpacks the extraordinary and outrageous lives of the six aristocratic sisters who scandalised society and reflected the extremes of the 20th century
43 min
137
Beyond the trenches: a new take on WW1
Historian Alex Churchill explores lesser-known dimensions of the opening weeks of the First World War, from untold global stories to the myths and misconceptions we have about the conflict
38 min
138
Roman warfare: everything you wanted to know
Adrian Goldsworthy explores why the ancient civilisation was so extraordinary when it came to waging war
48 min
139
Preview: Was Pearl Harbor an inside job?
8 min
140
The People's Princess: why Diana captivated the...
The life of Diana, Princess of Wales captivated people around the world – and, argues Edward White, reflected the changes and concerns of the late 20th century
39 min
141
Secrets of medieval manuscripts
Michelle P Brown explores centuries of medieval British history through the illuminated manuscripts the era produced
46 min
142
Owain Glyndŵr: life of the week
Gideon Brough chronicles the rise of the Welsh national hero, famed for rebelling against the English crown in the late Middle Ages
50 min
143
Magic beakers & Roman helmets: artefacts that s...
Michael Lewis and Ian Richardson explore some of the everyday artefacts and discoveries that have reshaped our understanding of history
34 min
144
SOE: everything you wanted to know
Dr Kate Vigurs answers listener questions on the clandestine missions of Special Operations Executive (SOE)
46 min
145
Sisi & Eugénie: the empresses who redefined roy...
Nancy Goldstone discusses the lives of the empresses of France and Austria and reveals how their experiences redefined the role of royal women in the 19th century
40 min
146
Ghosts, vampires & Abba holograms: an uncanny h...
From haunted council houses to hidden Roman temples, Clive Bloom takes us on a tour of the capital’s strangest spots
23 min
147
International security & rough sleeping: histor...
Hannah Skoda and Rana Mitter discuss the historical context behind recent news stories
34 min
148
Make Mercia Great Again
Max Adams explains why he wants us to rediscover the glory of the early Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia
37 min
149
The Merovingians: everything you wanted to know
Professor James Palmer answers listener questions on the long-haired kings who ruled a proto-France in the wake of the western Roman empire's collapse
33 min
150
How the Allies won WW2
James Holland explores the final months of the greatest conflict in human history through the Axis surrenders that brought it to an end
30 min