Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchScience & religion: a story of war or harmony?
Episode 1613
Although 19th-century thinkers promoted the narrative that Christianity and science have always been at each other’s throats, in reality, argues Nich…
3 years ago
The North: from Bede to Lowry
Episode 1612
From the glories of early medieval Northumbria to the urban powerhouses of the industrial revolution, northern England has long had an identity of it…
3 years ago
Paganism: everything you wanted to know
Episode 1611
What did ancient pagans actually believe? Why were they fascinated by the divinity of nature? And why did paganism capture the imagination of the Rom…
3 years ago
Eat for victory: WW2’s “British Restaurants”
Episode 1610
Canteen dining conjures up visions of plastic trays, hard benches and bowls of beige slop. But as the hardships of the Second World War began to bite…
3 years ago
Madame Restell: the abortionist who shocked and fascinated 19th-century New York
Episode 1609
In the 19th century, one businesswoman shocked, horrified and fascinated New York society more than any other. Madame Restell was a celebrity and sel…
3 years ago
Medieval manuscripts: an enduring obsession
Episode 1608
For centuries, people have been dazzled by the illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages. But how much do we know about the countless makers, collec…
3 years ago
Njinga: queen, warrior, diplomat
Episode 1607
Queen Njinga, the 17th-century ruler of Ndongo and Matamba, in modern-day Angola, established an impressive reputation for her skills as a warrior an…
3 years ago
Sirens, succubi & sex symbols: a history of female monsters
Episode 1606
From the dangers of childbirth to female sexuality, myths and legends about female monsters like mermaids and sirens can tell us a lot about differen…
3 years ago
Britain’s WW2 home front: everything you wanted to know
Episode 1605
As the Second World War raged across the world, what was life like for those back home in Britain? How did families make it through the terror of bom…
3 years ago
Treasure, heritage & returning artefacts
Episode 1604
Headlines have been made recently by proposed changes to the Treasure Act in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The changes would see more historic…
3 years ago