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PODCAST

HistoryExtra podcast

The HistoryExtra podcast brings you gripping stories from the past and fascinating historical conversations with the world"s leading historical experts. HistoryExtra is a free history podcast, with episodes released six times a week. Subscribe now for the real stories behind your favourite films, TV shows and period dramas, as well as compelling insights into lesser-known aspects of the past. We delve into global history stories spanning the ancient world right up to the modern day. You’ll

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All Episodes

44:22

The rise of Alfred the Great

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/04/11

As the Viking Great Heathen Army refused to leave Anglo-Saxon England, the pressure mounted on the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms to respond, placing the future of the land in the hands of Alfred the Great. In this second episode of our four-part Sunday Series on the Viking invasion of ninth-century England, James Osborne and historian Dr Eleanor Barraclough explore the regions overrun by Viking forces and the rise of Alfred the Great amid the collapse of Anglo-Saxon resistance.––––– GO BEYOND THE

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38:18

Stalin's murderous vendetta against Trotsky

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/04/09

Mexico City, August 1940: a study door closes, an ice axe is raised and the Bolshevik Revolution’s greatest exile meets his grisly end. But what led to this dramatic moment? Danny Bird speaks to Josh Ireland about Josef Stalin’s mortal enemy and the story behind their deadly rivalry. From his affair with artist Frida Kahlo to the pitiless destruction of his family, Josh explains how this is a story of exile, obsession and the long reach of totalitarian power.----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Trotsky’s

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33:01

A new take on the battle of Hastings

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/04/07

It's long been assumed that King Harold's English army arrived tired and in disarray at the battle of Hastings, having had to march over 200 miles from fighting the battle of Stamford Bridge. Tom Licence's new analysis disputes this idea. In this conversation with David Musgrove, he explains why he thinks Harold is equally likely to have sailed down the east coast of England.----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Check out our four-part video podcast series, 1066: The Battle for England, with Marc Morris:

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37:26

Mrs Beeton: life of the week

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/04/06

Mrs Beeton is a name synonymous with 19th-century domesticity – most notably in connection with the iconic Book of Household Management. But who was the real woman behind the name? Emily Briffett is joined by author, historian and biographer Kathryn Hughes to uncover the life of Isabella Beeton, an industrious editorial innovator whose influence is still felt today. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST HistoryExtra's new podcast series History's Greatest Dishes serves up a feast of facts about some of the

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37:34

The battle of the Arctic: the overlooked crucible of WW2

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/04/05

The US and UK supplied the USSR with vast amounts of military materiel during the Second World War via the Arctic convoys. In this episode, Hugh Sebag-Montefiore speaks to David Musgrove about the importance of this campaign in shaping the outcome of the war – and details the many horrors faced by the merchant sailors who made the difficult and dangerous journey from Iceland to Russia. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Read an article by historian Dr Harry Bennett on his take on the importance of the

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38:40

How the Vikings pushed Anglo-Saxon England to the brink

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/04/04

During the latter decades of the ninth century, the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms faced an existential threat as Viking forces launched an assault on a scale never seen before. In this first episode of our four-part Sunday Series on how the Viking Great Heathen Army pushed Anglo-Saxon England to the brink, James Osborne is joined by Dr Eleanor Barraclough to discuss the coming of the army, and the everyday lives and motivations of the people who would soon lay waste to much of Anglo-Saxon

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36:05

How to stay healthy in the Middle Ages

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/04/02

In reality, were medieval people dirty and covered in mud? What did they think were the healthiest things to eat? And how often did they think they should be having sex? Speaking to Charlotte Vosper, Katherine Harvey reveals the practical, and somewhat surprising, ways in which individuals in the Middle Ages cared for body and mind – from food and sex to hygiene and even going to the toilet.----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to find out more about what people in the past ate, then

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41:54

Europe's Muslim history

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/03/31

From the magnificence of the Alhambra to the forgotten resting places of the Prophet Muhammad’s own relatives, Islam has long been a part of Europe’s history. Danny Bird speaks to Tharik Hussain about this continent-spanning saga, exploring Islam’s rich legacy within Europe and the reasons it is often overlooked today.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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35:38

Attila the Hun: life of the week

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/03/30

Few historical figures have reputations quite as diabolical as that of Attila the Hun. This nomadic leader pitched up on the edge of the Roman empire in the fifth century AD, and spread terror and chaos so effectively that he came to be dubbed the ‘Scourge of God’. But was he really all that bad? Miles Russell talks to Spencer Mizen about Attila's astonishing life and legacy. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to learn about the exploits of another famous nomadic leader who spread fear

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33:22

Captured by Barbary corsairs: an Englishwoman's...

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/03/29

In 1756, Elizabeth Marsh set sail from Gibraltar to Britain with the intention of meeting her fiancé. Instead, she was captured by Barbary corsairs – effectively pirates operating from north Africa, carrying off their victims into slavery – and taken to a Moroccan prince. But could she win her freedom? Here, talking to Spencer Mizen, Adam Nichols tells a story of lust, trickery, a fake marriage and the delicate relationship between Britain and the power brokers of north Africa.Learn more about your

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28:57

Was Elizabeth I's reign really a 'golden age'?

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/03/29

As Elizabeth I entered the final chapter of her reign, questions of ageing, succession, and legacy loomed large. In this final episode of our four-part Sunday Series on the Tudor monarch, Rachel Dinning is joined by historian Nicola Tallis to explore the queen’s later years, her reluctance to name an heir, and the political uncertainty that followed her death. They also examine how Elizabeth’s image was carefully crafted in her lifetime and beyond, helping to transform her into the enduring symbol

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40:40

Spy, hero, rebel, traitor: the story of Roger Casement

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/03/27

Rory Carroll unpacks the dramatic final years of Roger Casement – an Irish diplomat and nationalist whose tangled legacy includes heroism, betrayal, and personal scandal. Carroll tells Elinor Evans about how Casement's support of Irish Home Rule in the early 20th century morphed into a bold plan. As the First World War raged on, and Britain's attentions were engaged elsewhere, Casement chose a fateful path: to ally with Germany, seeking arms and support for the nationalist cause. ----- GO BEYOND

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43:10

The relentless rise of the mafia

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/03/25

The 20th century saw the mafia go global. Crime groups, from Japan's Yakuza to southern Italy's Camorra, capitalised on political chaos and mass migration to spread their influence around the world. In this episode, Spencer Mizen and Ryan Gingeras trace the relentless rise of the mafia, a tale that takes in Al Capone, Pablo Escobar and Don Corleone.----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to learn more about this subject, then why not check out Ryan's article on the relentless rise of the

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40:04

Harriet Martineau: life of the week

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/03/24

Thinker, feminist, sociologist, campaigner: 19th-century writer Harriet Martineau was a pioneer and a radical across a huge range of areas, but it's very likely you've never heard of her. Stuart Hobday tells Matt Elton about a figure who played a key role in shaping the modern world – and wasn't afraid to ruffle some feathers along the way. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Read more about radical women who shaped the modern world in HistoryExtra's extensive collection of articles and podcasts:

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39:24

Sores, sweat and secretions: the pox in early modern...

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/03/23

With sinful associations and incredibly painful symptoms, the pox could be a damning diagnosis in the early modern period. In this episode, Olivia Weisser speaks to Charlotte Vosper about the pox-ridden world of London in the era. She takes us behind the doors of medical practitioners, on to the streets in search of cures, and into the city's courtrooms.----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to find out more about historical diseases and their (rather tortuous) treatments, then check out

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31:57

Elizabeth’s enemies: plots, rivals and the Spanish...

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/03/22

Elizabeth I’s reign was defined by constant threat, both at home and abroad. In this third episode of our four-part Sunday Series on the Tudor monarch, Rachel Dinning is joined by historian Nicola Tallis to examine the rivals and conspiracies that endangered the queen's security on the throne. From the long and fraught conflict with her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots to the intricate spy networks that uncovered treasonous plots, they chart the mounting tensions that culminated in one of the most famous

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39:38

Britain and the looted African gold

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/03/20

In the 1870s, British troops invaded the African kingdom of Asante, razed its capital, prowled its palace and plundered its exquisite golden treasures. In this episode, Barnaby Phillips tells Spencer Mizen about the fate of the Asante gold – and explores the decades-long campaign to return the treasures to west Africa.----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST You can find find plenty more on the history of Africa, including Zeinab Badawi discussing the challenges of writing the entire continent's history, on

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47:37

The devastating Jewish revolt against the Roman empire

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/03/18

It was under the rule of the infamous emperor Nero that the Great Revolt, the first of the Jewish-Roman wars, began, sparking many decades of continuous conflict. Speaking to James Osborne, historian and author Barry Strauss traces the story, following the the fate of the Jewish rebels and the legacy of the conflict.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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66:07

Culture and conflict: a historical tour of Dublin

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/03/17

Ireland's capital may be famous today for its nightlife and literature, but it has experienced more than its fair share of conflict and oppression alongside periods of great cultural and religious flourishing. To mark St Patrick's Day, we're revisiting an episode of our History’s Greatest Cities series, in which journalist and travel writer Paul Bloomfield is joined by historian Gillian O'Brien to chart Dublin’s remarkable story. ----- HISTORY'S GREATEST CITIES The new series of History's

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44:03

How Rasputin helped doom the Romanovs

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/03/16

The life of Grigori Rasputin, the Siberian peasant healer who wielded influence over the family of Russia’s last tsar, has fascinated the world for more than a century. Historian Antony Beevor speaks to Danny Bird about the man behind the myth and rumour, charting Rasputin’s humble origins in Siberia, his hold over Nicholas II and Alexandra, and his dramatic assassination at the hands of the imperial couple’s own relatives.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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2,553 results

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