HistoryExtra podcast
The HistoryExtra podcast brings you gripping stories from the past and fascinating historical conversations with the world's leading historical experts.
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For more fascinating stories from the past, head to HistoryExtra, the home of ‘History’s Greatest’ podcasts. Find out more at historyextra.com/podcast.
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2051
A curious history of Christmas
Historians Sam Willis and James Daybell, creators of the Histories of the Unexpected podcast and books, offer a distinctive take on festive traditions, which takes in violent Christmas cards and obscene snowmen. Historyextra.com/podcast
24 min
2052
2019 Christmas history quiz
Join the BBC History Magazine team for the return of our annual Christmas history quiz with questions set by QI writer Justin Pollard. Historyextra.com/podcast
20 min
2053
The birth of the modern world
Charles Emmerson reflects on 1917-24, which witnessed the conclusion of the First World War, the collapse of empires, and new ideologies and conflicts emerging. Historyextra.com/podcast
33 min
2054
Politics, Roman style
Asa Bennett explores the lessons that 21st-century politicians could learn from their Roman forebears. Historyextra.com/podcast
35 min
2055
Eleanor of Aquitaine: myth and reality
Sara Cockerill and Dan Jones explore the life story of the remarkable medieval queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. Historyextra.com/podcast
62 min
2056
World War Two’s secret heroes
Simon Parkin tells the incredible story of a real life game of battleships that transformed British fortunes in the battle of the Atlantic. Historyextra.com/podcast
22 min
2057
Asians in 1980s Britain
Kavita Puri, presenter of Radio 4 series Three Pounds in My Pocket, discusses how Asian communities were adjusting to life in Britain during the 1980s. Historyextra.com/podcast
22 min
2058
Secrets of the river
Lara Maiklem, author of Mudlarking, describes some of the fascinating historical objects she has discovered while scouring the banks of the Thames. Historyextra.com/podcast
26 min
2059
The Mountbattens: success and scandal
Andrew Lownie discusses the colourful and controversial lives of Louis and Edwina Mountbatten. It’s a story that incorporates Indian independence, royal connections and scandalous love affairs. Historyextra.com/podcast
41 min
2060
The teashop empire
Thomas Harding describes how a family of Jewish immigrants to Britain in the 19th century created one of the country’s best-known food companies. Historyextra.com/podcast
49 min
2061
Margaret Beaufort: Mother of the Tudors
Nicola Tallis discusses Margaret Beaufort who played a key role in the Wars of the Roses and whose son, Henry VII, began the Tudor dynasty. Historyextra.com/podcast
33 min
2062
Maoism
Professor Julia Lovell discusses her recent book Maoism: A Global History, which has just won the prestigious Cundill History Prize. Historyextra.com/podcast
27 min
2063
A history of the United States
Jill Lepore discusses her acclaimed recent book These Truths, which charts the highs and lows of American history since 1492. Historyextra.com/podcast
36 min
2064
The King: Henry V on film
Historian and author Lauren Johnson discusses the history behind the new Netflix film The King, considering how closely it follows Shakespeare’s plays and the real events of Henry V’s life and reign. Historyextra.com/podcast
35 min
2065
The Pacific War on screen
Director Roland Emmerich tells us about the process of bringing a major World War Two battle to the big screen. Historyextra.com/podcast
24 min
2066
The rise and fall of the Berlin Wall
Iain MacGregor revisits some of the most dramatic events associated with the history of the Cold War barrier. Historyextra.com/podcast
48 min
2067
Treasures of Tutankhamun
As a major new exhibition arrives in London, we speak to Tarek El Awady about the remarkable artefacts buried with Egypt’s boy king. Historyextra.com/podcast
22 min
2068
The Fortress: An epic battle of World War I
Alexander Watson describes the dramatic 1914 battle for the fortress city of Przemysl, which pitted a multi-ethnic Habsburg force against the might of the Russian. Historyextra.com/podcast
38 min
2069
The death of Kitchener: a World War One mystery
David Laws examines the life and dramatic death, in 1916, of Britain’s Secretary of State for War. Historyextra.com/podcast
36 min
2070
Britain in the early 80s
Dominic Sandbrook explores the pivotal early years of Margaret Thatcher’s premiership in Britain: 1979-1982. Historyextra.com/podcast
68 min
2071
The House of York
Thomas Penn discusses the Wars of the Roses, the princes in the Tower and the start of the Tudor era as he reflects on the Yorkist dynasty. Historyextra.com/podcast
42 min
2072
Bonus Episode: Sequences with consequences
In this special edition, produced by our friends from the Science Focus podcast, Dr Robert Elliott Smith examines the dark history of algorithms and considers how they affect all of our lives today.
37 min
2073
Slave revolt
James Walvin describes how enslaved people fought for their freedom. Historyextra.com/podcast
29 min
2074
Peter Hennessy on Britain in transition
Peter Hennessy discusses Britain in the early 1960s, exploring subjects such as the Cold War, decolonisation, the Profumo affair and the country’s failed attempt to join the EEC. Historyextra.com/podcast
39 min
2075
Secret listeners
Helen Fry talks about an ingenious British intelligence operation to bug German prisoners during the Second World War. Historyextra.com/podcast
29 min