Podcast Episodes

Is James I an Underrated King?

Episode 1668

We dive into the reign of the first Stuart monarch of England, his political savvy, and the controversies that shaped his rule. From the Gunpowder Plot to the King James Bible, we ask whether history…

Published on 5 months, 1 week ago

War of the Worlds: Orson Welles' Alien Invasion Hoax

Episode 1667

In 1938, Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds radio broadcast stunned America. It was a defining moment in broadcast history - reports claimed it caused mass panic, with listeners believing Martians had t…

Published on 5 months, 1 week ago

Pirates: The Pirate Hunts

Episode 1666

As the Golden Age of Piracy drew to a close, the oceans turned into hunting grounds where pirates became prey. Dan tells the dramatic tale of the rise and fall of Bartholomew Roberts, or Black Bart, …

Published on 5 months, 1 week ago

How did the Colonies win the American War of Independence?

Episode 1664

In 1775, American revolutionaries went to war with the British. Seeking independence from colonial ties, they fought more than 150 battles over eight years.

How did a relatively new nation of just 2.5…

Published on 5 months, 2 weeks ago

Christopher Wren

Episode 1663

Architect, astronomer, anatomist, and genius who rebuilt London after the Great Fire —Christopher Wren. His life is nothing short of extraordinary. In this episode, Dan is joined by historian and con…

Published on 5 months, 2 weeks ago

Pirates: Barbary Corsairs & The Bombardment of Algiers

Episode 1662

For centuries, the Barbary Corsairs captured ships and enslaved European Christians, turning the Mediterranean into a sea of fear and ransom. Backed by the rulers of Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, the …

Published on 5 months, 2 weeks ago

Boudicca: Myths vs Reality

Episode 1661

Boudicca, the warrior queen of the Iceni tribe, has become a symbol of resistance and British defiance. But what do we really know about her, and her bloody revolt against Roman rule? Dr Shushma Mali…

Published on 5 months, 3 weeks ago

Why Do Empires Fall?

Episode 1660

For centuries, the Roman Empire commanded unparalleled control over the world around it. It expanded its borders through trade and conquest, sucking resources from the periphery into its thriving cen…

Published on 5 months, 3 weeks ago

Pirates: Piracy in the South China Seas

Episode 1659

Zheng Yi Sao was a pirate leader so formidable that she made Blackbeard and Captain Morgan look like amateurs. From humble beginnings as a sex worker in Canton, she rose to command a vast pirate flee…

Published on 5 months, 3 weeks ago

The Rise & Fall of Sparta

Episode 1657

Today, we trace the rise and fall of ancient Greece’s most formidable warrior society - Sparta. This society's militaristic culture and battlefield feats are the stuff of legend - but how much of its…

Published on 5 months, 4 weeks ago