Podcast Episodes

The Panama Canal

Episode 1577

What is the history of the Panama Canal and why does Trump think he can 'take it back'? Dan is joined by Professor Julie Greene to delve into the long backstory of this 50-mile waterway that changed …

Published on 11 months, 1 week ago

How WW1 Inspired The Lord of The Rings

Episode 1578

J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth is perhaps the most captivating fantasy world ever created. His mythology and folklore continue to influence the work of writers, filmmakers, musicians and artists to th…

Published on 11 months, 1 week ago

Charlemagne

Episode 1575

Charlemagne was king of the Franks and Emperor of the mighty Carolingian Empire. His unusually long reign saw him conquer vast swathes of Europe, and shape them into an empire that would inspire rule…

Published on 11 months, 1 week ago

The Rise of Napoleon

Napoleon Bonaparte is a household name; a rare example of someone who is as well remembered by his supporters as by his enemies. His life is rich with dramatic irony. He was a key figure in the creat…

Published on 11 months, 2 weeks ago

Who Owns Greenland?

Episode 1572

It sounds outlandish that President-Elect Donald Trump has said he wants to buy Greenland but this isn't the first or even second time the United States has tried to acquire this arctic territory. Da…

Published on 11 months, 2 weeks ago

Roald Amundsen

Episode 1571

Roald Amundsen was surely one of history's greatest explorers. He beat Scott to the South Pole, and was the first person to reach the North Pole and to traverse the perilous Northwest Passage. His ad…

Published on 11 months, 2 weeks ago

Vasco da Gama and The Rise of the Portuguese Empire

Episode 1570

Dan tells the epic story of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, whose daring voyages at the turn of the 16th century laid the foundations for the Portuguese Empire. From navigating treacherous waters …

Published on 11 months, 3 weeks ago

How to Survive a Medieval Crusade

Episode 1569

What would it have been like to go on a medieval crusade? What dangers would you have faced on the gruelling journey to the Holy Land, and what would it have been like once you arrived?

Dan and Matt L…

Published on 11 months, 3 weeks ago

Rome's Greatest Humiliation: Roman Empire vs Germanic Tribes

Episode 1568

In 9 AD, the rebel chieftain Arminius and his confederation of Germanic tribes ambushed three Roman legions in the Teutoburg Forest. For days the Romans were relentlessly stalked through the woods an…

Published on 11 months, 3 weeks ago

The Battle of the Bulge

Episode 1566

In the dead of winter, 1944, the frozen forest of Ardennes erupted in chaos. In a desperate, last-ditch attempt to turn the tide of the war, Hitler threw his armoured divisions at the thinly spread A…

Published on 11 months, 4 weeks ago