Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchPeaks, perils, and pioneers: the deadly history of mountaineering
Episode 2279
What has prompted humans throughout history to risk life and limb to conquer some of the world's highest mountains? Author and climber Daniel Light t…
10 months, 1 week ago
Josephine Baker: life of the week
Episode 2278
Showbusiness, spying and civil rights - the extraordinary life of Josephine Baker had it all. From difficult beginnings, Baker transformed herself in…
10 months, 2 weeks ago
Women who ruled over Africa
Episode 2277
From rainmaking queens to dogged isolationists, the lives and reigns of Africa’s female rulers have long been shrouded in mystery, misunderstanding a…
10 months, 2 weeks ago
The Taiping Rebellion: everything you wanted to know
Episode 2276
It's considered to be the bloodiest civil war in history, but there's a fair chance you've never heard of it. The Taiping Rebellion convulsed China f…
10 months, 2 weeks ago
How to choose a pope
Episode 2275
All eyes have been on the Vatican in recent days, as the conclave have decided who will be the next pope. But how does the process today compare to t…
10 months, 2 weeks ago
VE Day: a people's history
Episode 2274
Nazi Germany had finally been defeated. And, for 24 hours, Britons could let their hair down and celebrate. But not everyone was in the mood to party…
10 months, 2 weeks ago
Nikola Tesla: life of the week
Episode 2273
Nikola Tesla is remembered as an enigmatic, eccentric genius who harnessed the power of electricity. But if we strip away some of this myth, what can…
10 months, 3 weeks ago
What caused the Irish Famine?
Episode 2272
In the 1840s, famine hit Ireland with devastating consequences. But what were the circumstances that turned a potato blight into a catastrophe that s…
10 months, 3 weeks ago
The unification of Italy: everything you wanted to know
Episode 2271
In 1861, the kingdom of Italy was proclaimed, unifying the various Italian states under one national banner. But what did it mean to be 'Italian' in …
10 months, 3 weeks ago
Public vs private: history behind closed doors
Episode 2270
What's the difference between private and public life – and where should we draw the line between the two? Over the centuries, these boundaries have …
10 months, 3 weeks ago