HistoryExtra podcast

The HistoryExtra podcast brings you gripping stories from the past and fascinating historical conversations with the world's leading historical experts.


HistoryExtra 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
201
Jane Austen’s final chapter – and lasting legacy
29 min
202
Prophetesses & she-preachers of the 17th century
Naomi Baker reveals how religious conviction drove women to take on influential public roles in the 17th century
30 min
203
New Year's Eve, newts and Nessie: a history of ...
37 min
204
Augustus: life of the week
40 min
205
Inside the Viking battle of the genders
35 min
206
A house of one’s own: Jane Austen’s ‘golden years’
29 min
207
Æthelstan: the king who made England
29 min
208
Did the WW1 Christmas truce really happen?
31 min
209
Father Christmas: life of the week
38 min
210
When was the best time in English history to be...
25 min
211
“I am to flirt my last”: Jane Austen’s twenties
30 min
212
The secret propaganda war against the Nazis
28 min
213
The many faces of James VI & I
37 min
214
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: life of the week
34 min
215
A short history of ghost hunting
37 min
216
Becoming Jane Austen
25 min
217
Ghosts, gods & sea monsters: a supernatural his...
Karl Bell dives into the eerie and enchanting folklore of the Atlantic Ocean, revealing how supernatural stories helped sailors navigate a perilous world
30 min
218
The summer that changed everything for the Kenn...
Leigh Straw takes listeners into the pivotal summer of 1944 at the Kennedys' Cape Cod summer home, where scandal and personal loss collided to reshape the destiny of America’s most famous political family
34 min
219
Margaret Beaufort: life of the week
Lauren Johnson charts how Margaret Beaufort skilfully navigated the chaos of the 15th century – and ultimately gave us the Tudor dynasty
43 min
220
Idi Amin's willing helpers
37 min
221
“You can’t kill and maim with impunity”: the po...
33 min
222
Assassins vs Templars
46 min
223
WW2's Tunisian campaign: the Stalingrad of Africa
Saul David explains why the 1942-3 Tunisian campaign should be viewed as one of the decisive moments of the Second World War
42 min
224
Empress Matilda: life of the week
Catherine Hanley reassesses the legacy of Empress Matilda, revealing a story that shines a spotlight on how gender and power collided in the 12th century
38 min
225
How warhorses transformed medieval England
From Hastings to Bosworth, Robert Liddiard and Oliver H Creighton reveal how cavalry shaped a nation's history
32 min