Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchMedieval popes: everything you wanted to know
Episode 1870
Who were some of the most influential popes of the Middle Ages? What did you have to do to earn the title of 'anti-pope'? And which pope was believed…
2 years, 2 months ago
A history of song: from Schumann to Sting
Episode 1869
Songs can trigger a range of emotions in their listeners: intense joy, sadness or even disgust. But how did this type of musical composition develop …
2 years, 2 months ago
Boston Tea Party | 4. The crackdown
Episode 1868
The consequences of the protest are vital in understanding the role of the Boston Tea Party in the revolution that was to come. In episode four, we h…
2 years, 2 months ago
Aztec warfare
Episode 1867
Why did warfare play such a pivotal role in Aztec society? How could claiming captives benefit a warrior in life and death? And what was 'Flower War'…
2 years, 2 months ago
History Behind the Headlines: Elections, ‘panda diplomacy’ and the word of the year
Episode 1866
The latest instalment of our monthly sees Hannah Skoda and Rana Mitter look back at the history behind the big stories of 2023 – and what they might …
2 years, 2 months ago
How spies shaped the modern world
Episode 1865
How did British agents bug German PoWs during the Second World War? What qualities do you need to be a successful spy? And how are deepfakes changing…
2 years, 2 months ago
The Habsburgs: everything you wanted to know
Episode 1864
The Habsburgs were one of Europe's most formidable – and durable – dynasties, ruling over swathes of the continent for centuries. Speaking to Spencer…
2 years, 2 months ago
The medieval Welsh Marches: identity on the frontier
Episode 1863
The medieval Welsh Marches are often seen as a hotly contested border territory between Wales and England that frequently boiled over into violence. …
2 years, 2 months ago
Boston Tea Party | 3. The destruction of the tea
Episode 1862
The destruction of more than 46 tonnes of tea on the evening of 16 December 1773 is an event that holds huge importance in the popular story of the U…
2 years, 3 months ago
Sherlock Holmes: the real history that inspired the detective stories
Episode 1861
Sherlock Holmes is arguably the most famous fictional detective of all time. The resident of 221B Baker Street has been the subject of countless film…
2 years, 3 months ago