Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchBlack women and the fight for human rights
Episode 2365
Despite facing significant obstacles in their own lives, black women in the United States were at the forefront of campaigns for human rights at home and abroad. Historian Keisha N Blain tells the st…
Published on 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Soviet dissidents who challenged the Kremlin
Episode 2364
In the years following Stalin’s death in 1953, a new phenomenon emerged within the Soviet Union: so-called 'dissidents'. Preferring to think of themselves as 'rights defenders', these individuals adv…
Published on 3 months, 2 weeks ago
El Cid: life of the week
Episode 2363
The life of El Cid, the famed 11th-century Castilian warrior otherwise known as Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, is steeped in legend. Historian Nora Berend joins Danny Bird to examine his real-life exploits d…
Published on 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Burying the enemy: commemorating the world wars' fallen foes
Episode 2362
For Britain and Germany, both world wars saw hundreds of thousands of casualties – but what happened to the bodies of those who died on enemy territory? And what impact did this have upon their berea…
Published on 3 months, 3 weeks ago
The Mughal empire: everything you wanted to know
Episode 2361
The Mughal empire was one of the most powerful and influential dynasties in South Asian history, blending together a mix of cultural traditions to create a legacy of dazzling architecture, innovative…
Published on 3 months, 3 weeks ago
The Amazons: wonder-women of the ancient world
Episode 2360
If you know anything about the Amazons of ancient legend, it's probably that they were fearsome female fighters, who bravely battled against male heroes of Greek legend. But, according to Professor D…
Published on 3 months, 3 weeks ago
How did the Vikings shape Russia and Ukraine?
Episode 2359
The story of the Vikings who travelled to eastern Europe is just as thrilling as the story of those who headed west. It's also just as important – still being relevant today through deep rooted conne…
Published on 3 months, 3 weeks ago
William the Conqueror: life of the week
Episode 2358
In 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, crossed the Channel and changed English history forever. Known to some as a ruthless and ambitious conqueror and to others as a astute and innovative state-builder…
Published on 3 months, 4 weeks ago
Why the Maginot Line couldn't save France in WW2
Episode 2357
As the threat of war began to loom in the 1930s, an elaborate system of fortifications sprung up in northeastern France. Known as the Maginot line, this string of defences was designed to protect the…
Published on 3 months, 4 weeks ago
Crime fiction history: everything you wanted to know
Episode 2356
From Hercule Poirot to Sherlock Holmes, crime fiction has long been a popular genre. But what was the first crime novel? How has crime writing affected real-life cases? And what was the 'Detection Cl…
Published on 3 months, 4 weeks ago