Podcast Episodes

The Einstein Murders

Episode 1623

Warning: this episode contains discussion of suicide.

In August 1944, German soldiers burst into the Florentine villa of Robert Einstein, cousin of the renowned physicist, Albert Einstein. As both a J…

Published on 8 months, 1 week ago

A History of Popes

Episode 1622

Popes have shaped the history of the world. The Catholic Church has had a Pope for two thousand years, the first- tradition dictates- was St Peter, the fisherman turned disciple of Jesus. Pope 'Leo t…

Published on 8 months, 1 week ago

How Did the American Revolution Start?

Episode 1620

On 19th April, 1775, just over 250 years ago, the opening salvos of the American Revolutionary War were fired at the battles of Lexington and Concord. Elite British Redcoats went head-to-head with th…

Published on 8 months, 1 week ago

The Battle of Berlin with Sir Antony Beevor

Episode 1619

Warning: this episode includes discussion of subjects like suicide and sexual assault that some listeners may find disturbing.

80 years ago, the Soviets launched their final assault on the German capi…

Published on 8 months, 2 weeks ago

The Liberation of Bergen-Belsen

Episode 1618

Warning: This episode contains detailed discussion of the Holocaust and genocide, which some listeners may find upsetting.

80 years ago, British troops liberated the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. …

Published on 8 months, 2 weeks ago

The Sinking of the Titanic

Episode 1617

How could the unsinkable ship… sink? In this dramatic moment-by-moment account, Dan tells the dramatic tale of the Titanic from the moment of impact with the iceberg to the first steps of survivors i…

Published on 8 months, 2 weeks ago

The Red Army Surrounds Berlin

Episode 1615

By April 1945, Soviet forces stood at the gates of Berlin. From the summer of 1944, Hitler's armies had suffered a series of cataclysmic defeats that had left them shattered and desperately trying to…

Published on 8 months, 3 weeks ago

The Great Tariff Battle

Episode 1614

Have trade tariffs ever worked? Dan explores a cautionary tale from the turn of the 20th century when Britain's Conservatives' flirtation with tariffs led to huge political upheaval and a truly disas…

Published on 8 months, 3 weeks ago

Saint Petersburg: Putin's Hometown

Episode 1613

Founded by Peter the Great, the city of Saint Petersburg was built to rival the majesty of any capital in Europe. Its splendour made it a hub of Russian culture, and its geography made it a focal poi…

Published on 8 months, 3 weeks ago

The Samurai

Episode 1612

This is the story of the legendary Samurai - how did they go from provincial bodyguards to revered warriors? Why did they transform from ancestral soldiers to office workers? And will we ever see the…

Published on 8 months, 4 weeks ago