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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2051
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
2052
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
2053
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
2054
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
2055
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
2056
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
2057
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
2058
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
2059
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
2060
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
2061
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
2062
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
2063
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
2064
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
2065
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
2066
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
2067
Slave revolt
James Walvin describes how enslaved people fought for their freedom. Historyextra.com/podcast
29 min
2068
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
2069
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
2070
William Dalrymple on the East India Company
Historian and author William Dalrymple discusses his new book, The Anarchy, which reveals how a single London corporation took over the Mughal empire and became a major imperial power. Historyextra.com/podcast
33 min
2071
Catherine the Great: fact and fiction
Ahead of a major new TV drama, Janet Hartley explores Catherine’s life and considers whether there is any truth behind the scandals associated with her. Historyextra.com/podcast
27 min
2072
Orlando Figes on the transformation of Europe
Historian and author Orlando Figes talks about his latest book, The Europeans, which explores the cultural transformations of the 19th century through the lives of a remarkable menage a trois. Historyextra.com/podcast
46 min
2073
Fake news in World War Two
Henry Hemming describes the adventures of a British spymaster who plotted to bring the United States into World War Two. Historyextra.com/podcast
38 min
2074
The destruction of Pompeii
Historian and author Daisy Dunn revisits the AD 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius and considers the Roman history that was preserved at Pompeii and Herculaneum. Historyextra.com/podcast
33 min
2075
Max Hastings on the Dambusters
Bestselling military historian Sir Max Hastings discusses his new book on the iconic World War Two Dambusters raid, describing the ingenuity and courage of the operation, as well as the terrible human cost. Historyextra.com/podcast
37 min