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PODCAST

History Extra podcast

Immediate Media

The History Extra podcast brings you gripping stories from the past and fascinating historical conversations with the world"s leading historical experts. Produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine, History Extra 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

history

All Episodes

41:34

What should we do with the Nazis? The road to the...

History Extra podcast ·

2025/11/16

At the end of the Second World War, the victorious Allies had to decide the fates of the surviving leaders of a regime that had initiated the bloodiest conflict in history, and perpetuated the Holocaust. The answer, beginning just a few months after VE Day, was the world’s first ever international criminal trial, held in the German city of Nuremberg. As we reach the 80th anniversary of these events, David Musgrove is joined by the lawyer and author Philippe Sands to explore how this groundbreaking

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33:47

Who stole the Tudor crown?

History Extra podcast ·

2025/11/14

On her deathbed Elizabeth I named the Scottish James VI as her successor, ensuring a smooth transition from the Tudor to Stuart monarchies. That, at least, is what we've long believed. But an explosive new discovery casts doubt on this version of events, suggesting that the Stuart succession was far less secure than we may have thought. In her new book, //The Stolen Crown//, historian Tracy Borman draws on this research to paint a vivid new picture of these turbulent years, which she explores in

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32:07

The librarian who stole KGB secrets

History Extra podcast ·

2025/11/12

When an elderly man with a battered suitcase walked into the British embassy in Vilnius in 1992, few could have guessed what he was about to hand over. Gordon Corera tells the story of Vasili Mitrokhin, an under-the-radar Soviet archivist who copied thousands of classified KGB documents over 12 years. Speaking to Elinor Evans, he reveals how a project that began as a private rebellion against the agency he once served evolved into one of the greatest intelligence coups of the 20th century.(Ad)

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48:22

Nellie Bly: life of the week

History Extra podcast ·

2025/11/11

In the late 19th century, when female reporters were largely confined to newspapers' society pages, Nellie Bly's daring investigations and headline-grabbing exploits made her a household name. From her audacious exposé from inside a New York asylum – after convincing doctors she was insane – to becoming the 'real Phileas Fogg' by racing around the globe, Bly’s adventures captivated the world. Historian Bob Nicholson tells Kev Lochun more about her audacious brand of stunt journalism. The

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39:36

The improbable alliance that defeated Hitler

History Extra podcast ·

2025/11/10

To what extent does the course of history turn on the force of individual personalities? It’s a question that looms large when examining the unlikely alliance forged between Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union that ultimately triumphed over the Axis powers in the Second World War. Danny Bird speaks with author Tim Bouverie to explore the complex, often uneasy rapport between Winston Churchill, Franklin D Roosevelt and Josef Stalin. Tim delves into the secrets, suspicions and towering

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37:16

Remember, remember: The legacy of the Gunpowder Plot

History Extra podcast ·

2025/11/09

'Remember, remember the fifth of November…'. For more than 400 years, the Gunpowder Plot has been etched into Britain’s memory. In the final episode of our series on the plot, Danny Bird speaks to John Cooper to trace how the failed conspiracy has been commemorated with sermons, bonfires and fireworks. They discuss how Guy Fawkes evolved from a doomed plotter and smouldering effigy into a global icon of rebellion. From the 1606 Act of Thanksgiving to raucous 17th- and 18th-century celebrations and

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36:11

Five partitions that shaped South Asia

History Extra podcast ·

2025/11/07

If you were to look down at South Asia from space at night, you would see a bright scar stretching more than 2,000 miles. This is the border between India and Pakistan – a division established within living memory. Speaking with Danny Bird, Sam Dalrymple explains how, in just a few decades, the British Raj shattered along five partitions, from Burma’s separation in 1937 to the birth of Bangladesh in 1971, and uncovers stories of migration, memory and resilience that continue to echo through South

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31:41

Crystal balls & contacting angels: predicting the...

History Extra podcast ·

2025/11/05

Eating the palpitating heart of a mole. Sleeping with a wolf's tooth under your pillow. Communicating with angels through a crystal ball. In the 16th and 17th centuries, people had many cunning methods for predicting the future. Historian Martha McGill shares some extraordinary stories of early modern divination with Ellie Cawthorne, from fraudulent money-spinning scams to astrologers and palmreaders who offered supernatural insights.The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC

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40:41

Giuseppe Garibaldi: life of the week

History Extra podcast ·

2025/11/04

He led one of history's most celebrated guerrilla campaigns, showed remarkable political acumen, and drove aristocratic English women wild. Is it any wonder that Giuseppe Garibaldi is one of the towering figures of Europe's 19th century? Here, in conversation with Spencer Mizen, David Laven relays the thrills and spills of the great romantic hero of the campaign for Italian unification. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices

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33:31

A day in the life of a gladiator

History Extra podcast ·

2025/11/03

If we were to step back in time on to the blood-soaked sand of the Roman gladiatorial arena, what would we uncover about society, power and entertainment in the ancient civilisation? Speaking to Rachel Dinning, historian Harry Sidebottom guides us through 24 hours in the arena, revealing what life was really like for the gladiators that fought there – and for the crowds who came to spectate. (Ad) Harry Sidebottom is the author of Those Who Are About To Die: Gladiators and the Roman Mind

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27:32

What if the Gunpowder Plot had succeeded?

History Extra podcast ·

2025/11/02

We know the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 failed – but what if it hadn’t? What if Guy Fawkes had ignited the gunpowder under parliament, killing the king, nobles and bishops, and reducing Westminster to rubble? In the penultimate episode of our series on the plot, Danny Bird speaks to historian John Cooper to consider an alternative course in Britain’s history. Could a child queen have become a puppet for a restored Catholic kingdom? Might foreign powers have intervened, and could Britain and Ireland have

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32:06

Bodies, bones & overflowing churchyards: a history of...

History Extra podcast ·

2025/10/31

Burying the dead has never been a simple matter. Whether due to elaborate grave goods, unique burial rituals, or public health concerns, burial places through history have taken on a variety of unusual and intriguing forms. Roger Luckhurst tells Ellie Cawthorne more – from the ancient tombs of the pharaohs and the sky burials of Tibet, to the overflowing churchyards of 18th-century Paris and preserved bodies of 20th-century communist leaders. (Ad) Roger Luckhurst is the author of Graveyards: A

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43:54

Myspace and MTV: how will future historians study the...

History Extra podcast ·

2025/10/29

From social-media accounts to TV shows and video games, recent decades offer an enormous wealth of material for future historians to explore. But what are the challenges presented by this vast amount of data? And how will historical researchers a hundred years from now make sense of 2025? Matt Elton spoke to historians Jane Winters and John Wills to answer these questions – and find out how the ephemeral digital archives of our current era might differ from the historical sources of previous

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44:05

Malcolm X: life of the week

History Extra podcast ·

2025/10/28

Malcolm X was one of the most influential – and, sometimes, divisive – figures of the civil rights movement in the United States, a political activist whose approach proved both powerful and controversial. Speaking to Matt Elton, Ashley D Farmer discusses his life, times and legacy, and highlights some of the figures who shaped his worldview.The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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39:53

Ghosts, grief and the paranormal

History Extra podcast ·

2025/10/27

Why are we so spooked – and yet so fascinated – by things that go bump in the night? And can science really prove that ghouls exist? Alice Vernon talks to Jon Bauckham about the evolution of ghost-hunting over the past 200 years, and how tales of pesky poltergeists and ectoplasm-filled séances have turned even some of the hardest sceptics into true believers. (Ad) Alice Vernon is the author of Ghosted: A History of Ghost Hunting and Why We Keep Looking (Bloomsbury, 2025). Buy it now from

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31:16

How the Gunpowder Plot unravelled

History Extra podcast ·

2025/10/25

In the autumn of 1605, Catholic conspirators believed they were about to strike a blow to the heart of the English state – but then a mysterious letter exposed their plan. In this second episode of our four-part series on the plot, Danny Bird speaks to historian John Cooper about the Gunpowder Plot’s dramatic collapse. They examine Fawkes’s arrest and forced confession, the grisly public trials and executions that followed, and how James VI & I turned the plot's failure into political dynamite –

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44:02

Sex and sensationalism: a history of the tabloids

History Extra podcast ·

2025/10/23

Tabloid journalists often get a bad press. From publishing libellous headlines to hacking celebrities’ phones, recent years have not exactly done much to enhance Fleet Street’s reputation. But where did tabloid journalism originally come from? And have media barons always had such a profound influence on current affairs? Journalism lecturer Terry Kirby talks to Jon Bauckham about the evolution of the popular press, covering everything from Georgian gossip sheets to the rise of Rupert Murdoch’s media

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36:04

11th-century Europe: not just the Norman Conquest

History Extra podcast ·

2025/10/21

When we think of Europe in the 11th century, one date stands out: 1066. However, as Professor Charles West explains, this was a century of great change, and great events, across all of Europe. In conversation with David Musgrove, Charles talks about why we should perhaps be more concerned with the battle of Manzikert than the battle of Hastings, and why the 11th century is a story of cities and popes as much as it is of conquest and the Normans.(Ad) Charles West is the author of Europe in the

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44:57

William Shakespeare: life of the week

History Extra podcast ·

2025/10/20

William Shakespeare is one of history’s most famous names – but how much do we really know about the man himself? And how did his family, education and marriage shape his works and influence his worldview? Speaking to Emily Briffett, Dr Paul Edmondson charts Shakespeare’s story, from humble beginnings to global cultural afterlife.The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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27:55

Tudor life with Ruth Goodman

History Extra podcast ·

2025/10/19

What did ordinary Tudors eat and drink on a daily basis? How did they keep themselves clean without baths and showers? And what surprising beliefs did they hold about sex, religion and childhood? Social historian Ruth Goodman – presenter of a new HistoryExtra Academy on Tudor life – reveals the often surprising realities of everyday existence in the era in conversation with Rachel Dinning. Don’t miss Ruth’s new HistoryExtra Academy video series on Tudor Life. The seven episodes, filmed on

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2,447 results

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