Podcast Episodes

Music and Marxism - understanding pop from a materialist and class analysis

In this week's episode we hear from writer Toby Manning whose new book, Mixing Pop and Politics explores a Marxist history of popular music and examines the economic and social forces that make the p…

Published on 1 year, 6 months ago

South Africa's Democracy: 30 Years On

Peter Hain was, along with his family, forced to flee South Africa in the late 1960s, at the height of the Apartheid regime's war against its opponents. From exile in London Peter was a pivotal membe…

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

Understanding Nostalgia

Open up your Twitter feed or Facebook page and you're one or two clicks away from a nostalgia meme, they grow like historically illiterate fungi, but nostalgia itself is a more complex and even some…

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

Understanding David Lloyd George

In today's podcast we're joined by Damian Collins MP, whose new book - Rivals in the Storm -, charts the political career of David Lloyd George, the man credited popularly with winning the First Worl…

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

The British Working Class - 1945-2024

In this wide ranging interview with Ewan Gibbs, lecturer in social and economic history at the University of Glasgow, we explore the themes in his forthcoming book, The Unmaking of the British Workin…

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

The Royal Navy 1918-41

A family history project into the war record of Jim Carter's great grandfather became an exploration of the history of the Royal Navy in peacetime and war.

In July 1918 Herbert Leeder joined the Roya…

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

Black Britain 1948-89: Economic drivers of migration

During the post war decades, migration from Britain's colonies in the Caribbean to the UK grew considerably. There are well documented 'pull' factors that led to this, including a deep sense of ident…

Published on 1 year, 8 months ago

Infiltrating the IRA: Terror and Espionage in Northern Ireland

In this gripping episode of *Explaining History*, we delve into the shadowy world of espionage, conflict, and moral ambiguity with intelligence writer Henry Hemming, author of the explosive new book …

Published on 1 year, 8 months ago

IRA double agents - Terror and espionage with Henry Hemming

In this gripping episode of *Explaining History*, we delve into the shadowy world of espionage, conflict, and moral ambiguity with intelligence writer Henry Hemming, author of the explosive new book …

Published on 1 year, 8 months ago

A timeline of everything - In conversation with Bruce Tapping

In this episode of Explaining History, we sit down with the acclaimed writer Bruce Tapping, author of, "Bruce's Complete Timeline of the World." Join us as we embark on a fascinating journey through …

Published on 1 year, 8 months ago