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
1676
How the world made us
Lewis Dartnell discusses how Earth’s physical features have had a profound effect on human civilisations throughout history. Historyextra.com/podcast
40 min
1677
The unexpected Vikings
Sam Willis and James Daybell take a sideways look at the Viking era, exploring how things like keys, butter and haircuts fit into their story. Historyextra.com/podcast
34 min
1678
Everything you ever wanted to know about Britis...
Archaeologist David Miles responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about Britain’s distant past. Historyextra.com/podcast
57 min
1679
A Nazi mystery
Philippe Sands talks to us about his new book, The Ratline, which explores the dramatic life and mysterious death of the senior Nazi Otto von Wächter. Historyextra.com/podcast
57 min
1680
A new view of Africa’s past
Toby Green explores the history of West Africa and its relations with the wider world, from the era of the slave trade to more recent times. Historyextra.com/podcast
43 min
1681
Chanel and the Riviera
Biographer Anne de Courcy discusses the experiences of fashion designer Coco Chanel, as well as some of the other famous faces who graced the French Riviera, during the interwar years and the era of Nazi occupation. Historyextra.com/podcast
46 min
1682
Everything you ever wanted to know about D-Day,...
Military historian Peter Caddick-Adams responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about one of the defining episodes of World War Two. Historyextra.com/podcast
53 min
1683
The scandalous Byrons
Emily Brand explores the dramatic lives of the Georgian aristocratic family whose lives were blighted by scandal long before the arrival of the renowned poet. Historyextra.com/podcast
35 min
1684
The mistresses of Charles II
Historian and author Linda Porter explores the lives of the many women who shared Charles II’s bed. Historyextra.com/podcast
27 min
1685
The spies who inspired Bond
Henry Hemming on the real historical personalities who Ian Fleming drew on to create 007 and other characters in the Bond novels. Historyextra.com/podcast
23 min
1686
Everything you ever wanted to know about Roman ...
Miles Russell responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about the four centuries of Roman rule in Britain. Historyextra.com/podcast
41 min
1687
Apollo 13
Fifty years on from the NASA mission that almost ended in disaster, historian Tom Ellis revisits the dramatic story of the astronauts’ incredible battle to survive. Historyextra.com/podcast
46 min
1688
The Black Death and social change
Jane Whittle looks at how the devastating medieval plague reshaped the economy and society of England. Historyextra.com/podcast
36 min
1689
The genius of Artemisia
Catherine Fletcher explores the remarkable life and art of the acclaimed 17th-century Italian painter Artemisia Gentileschi. Historyextra.com/podcast
26 min
1690
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Tu...
In the second of our new series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, historian and author Tracy Borman responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about the 16th-century English royal dynasty. Historyextra.com/podcast
36 min
1691
Viking women
Johanna Katrin Fridriksdottir, author of Valkyrie: The Women of the Viking World, explores what everyday life was like for women in Norse society and explains the opportunities available to them and the challenges they faced. Historyextra.com/podcast
46 min
1692
Okinawa: the battle and the bomb
Saul David revisits one of the bloodiest clashes of the Pacific War and explains how it played a crucial part in the US decision to use atomic weapons against Japan. Historyextra.com/podcast
34 min
1693
Women at war
Julie Wheelwright explains the roles of female warriors from ancient times until the present day. Historyextra.com/podcast
33 min
1694
Everything you ever wanted to know about the No...
Marc Morris tackles some of the big questions about William the Conqueror and his followers. Historyextra.com/podcast
56 min
1695
A history of celebrity
Popular historian Greg Jenner chats about his new book Dead Famous, which explores the changing nature of fame over the centuries and describes how celebrities have fared in the public glare. Historyextra.com/podcast
37 min
1696
Russia’s musical journeys
Sophy Roberts explains how pianos can illuminate the history of Russia, from the tsarist era to Soviet rule. Historyextra.com/podcast
25 min
1697
Blitz spirit
Jonathan Boff explains how ordinary people coped with the privations of World War II and considers what parallels can be drawn with the current Coronavirus crisis. Historyextra.com/podcast
44 min
1698
Shakespeare and America
James Shapiro considers why England’s foremost playwright has had such a profound impact on the United States. Historyextra.con/podcast
26 min
1699
News in the Middle Ages
Helen Birkett explores the spread of news in the medieval era. Historyextra.com/podcast
46 min
1700
Coronavirus: a historical perspective
As COVID-19 dominates the news, Laura Spinney asks what we might learn from pandemics in the past. Historyextra.com/podcast
28 min