Podcast Episodes

The Japanese invasion of Malaya

On 8 December 1941, Japanese troops landed in northern Malaya marking the start of the second world war in the Pacific.

Invasion forces moved quickly …

4 months ago

The Aga Khan meets Florence Nightingale

In 1898, the British founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale, invited the Muslim leader Aga Khan III around to her London home for tea.

They …

4 months ago

The storming of Spain's parliament

In February 1981, armed Civil Guards tried to take control of the Spanish parliament.

A total of 350 politicians were held hostage for 18 hours in the…

4 months ago

The playboy spy who inspired James Bond

During the 1940s, a playboy spy became one of wartime’s most successful double agents, as well as the reported inspiration behind James Bond.

A gambl…

4 months, 1 week ago

'I taught the Dalai Lama'

In 1944, two Austrian mountaineers fled into the forbidden land of Tibet to escape from a prisoner-of-war camp in India.

Heinrich Harrer and his frien…

4 months, 1 week ago

The photo which symbolised Argentina’s resistance

Adriana Lestido, an Argentinian newspaper photographer, captured a mother and her young daughter raising their arms in protest in 1982.

With clenched…

4 months, 1 week ago

Toxic shock syndrome and tampon safety

In 1980, toxic shock syndrome (TSS) emerged as a public health crisis among women who used tampons.

There were hundreds of cases, and The Centers for…

4 months, 1 week ago

World War Two’s Shetland Bus

During World War Two, whilst Norway was occupied by Nazi Germany, a group of Norwegian sailors set up a base on the Shetland Islands and began aiding…

4 months, 1 week ago

The flooding of Florence

In November, 1966, Florence suffered one of the worst floods in its history after heavy rainfall caused the River Arno to burst.

The Italian city was …

4 months, 2 weeks ago

The Mont Blanc Tunnel

In July 1965, a 12km tunnel dug deep beneath the Alps was opened to traffic, making it the longest vehicular tunnel in the world. Linking France and …

4 months, 2 weeks ago