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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

35:46

Ancient explosives and the philosopher's stone: a...

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/10/05

Think of alchemy, and you likely imagine bubbling vials of strange potions and molten metals. But how close is this popular perception to the truth? That’s the question behind historian and adventurer Kit Chapman’s latest book, The Age of Alchemy, which was recently announced as winner of the 2026 Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize. In this episode, Kit guides Emily Briffett through a remarkable story of discovery that blurred the boundaries between science and mysticism – and explains how

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45:55

North Korea's religious dictators

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/10/04

More than three decades after the end of the Cold War and the fall of the USSR, the North Korean regime remains steadfastly in place, defiantly ploughing its own path some eight decades after its founding. What might explain this remarkable longevity?In Jonathan Cheng’s new book, Korean Messiah, the Wall Street Journal correspondent argues that it owes much to the enduring cult of personality around its founder, Kim Il-Sung, who took inspiration from his own Christian roots to create a modern

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46:49

Inside Venice’s Jewish ghetto

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/10/01

In the early 16th century, Venice confined its Jewish population to a restricted quarter on an island in the city. It was the first settlement to bear the name 'ghetto' – a word that would go on to shape the history of Jewish persecution and segregation.Alexander Lee explores this history in his book The First Ghetto, which is a finalist for the 2026 Cundill History Prize, and in this episode he talks to Emily Briffett about what life was like within its walls – from its vibrant culture to fragile

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37:43

WW2's bloody battle for Arakan

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/09/29

In 1944, the Allies unleashed an offensive in Burma – a brutal campaign spearheaded by 3 Commando Brigade alongside the Indian and West African troops of XV Corps. Against a ruthless enemy and in one of the world’s most unforgiving environments, these men launched daring amphibious assaults deep into Japanese-held territory, turning the tide of the Burma campaign and delivering a devastating blow to the Imperial Japanese Army. Military historian Lucy Betteridge-Dyson has written a book on the

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32:15

The Bayeux Tapestry: secrets of the stitchers

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/09/28

Mia Hansson has spent 10 years making an exact replica of the Bayeux Tapestry. In conversation with Dave Musgrove, she explains what her modern remake experience can teach us about the women who made the original artefact in the 11th century, and the secrets she has spotted in her decade of close attention to the embroideryLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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48:50

How Henry VII seized – and kept – the crown

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/09/27

Henry VII is often remembered as a cold, calculating and penny-pinching monarch whose relentless pursuit of an ever-tightening grip on the throne overshadowed his achievements. But how fair is that reputation? And what can the real history behind this popular perception tell us about the challenges, anxieties and realities of Henry's kingship? Speaking to Emily Briffett, Sean Cunningham reassesses the first Tudor king's critical reputation, exploring the delicate balancing act that defined his reign

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42:44

The Soviet spy who couldn't love

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/09/24

In 1981, a Soviet spy walked into MI6 HQ in Tehran and offered to defect to Britain – if, in return, Britain could help him improve his performance in bed. In this episode, Ben Macintyre introduces Spencer Mizen to an extraordinary agent with a sexual secret – a secret that changed the course of Iranian history and may, just may, have averted nuclear war. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you’d like to hear more from Ben Macintyre on the HistoryExtra podcast, why not listen to the episode in which

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47:47

The slave ship that changed history

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/09/22

In 1781, more than 130 enslaved Africans were deliberately thrown from a ship called the Zorg into the Atlantic. The horrifying story of this slave ship – long mistakenly known as the Zong – was to have consequences far beyond its murderous voyage. In this episode, historian and author Siddharth Kara speaks to Elinor Evans about the brutal economics of the Atlantic slave trade, the extraordinary court case that followed the massacre, and how the Zorg helped galvanise the abolitionist

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40:49

Have we overlooked England’s local histories?

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/09/21

What happens to English history when you view it through a local lens, rather than a national one? Did people even notice when the Romans left Britain? Was 1066 really that important outside of London? And did the Black Death affect the English population equally? In this episode, Ian Mortimer guides Charlotte Vosper through the past 1,500 years of English history, viewed from the perspective of his own medieval home in Devon...------ GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to hear more from Ian

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46:56

The making of the modern Middle East

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/09/20

The Middle East has, for decades, been riven by violent conflict. But what are the roots and ongoing causes of this violence? In this episode, Simon Sebag Montefiore discusses The Cauldron, his new book exploring the forces and figures that forged the region. Speaking to Charlotte Vosper, Simon takes us from the creation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through the decline of the imperial powers and the rise of Pan-Arabism, to 9/11 and the ongoing conflict between Israel and the

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43:09

Joan of Arc: inspirational leader or flawed failure?

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/09/17

Joan of Arc's story is one of the most remarkable chapters in medieval history: that of a rebellious teenage peasant girl rising to become a military leader, before suffering an equally precipitous fall from favour.But what leadership qualities contributed to her success? In today's episode, which originally featured in our History's Greatest Leaders series, entrepreneur and author of Next-Gen CEO Mike Soutar talks to historian Janina Ramirez about Joan's story, and the lessons it could offer for

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36:02

The forgotten slave traders who shaped Britain

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/09/15

Who were the people who financed Britain’s transatlantic slave trade – and how did their money transform the nation? Elinor Evans speaks to historian William A Pettigrew, who has led a landmark project identifying some 13,000 investors connected to the trafficking of 3.2 million enslaved African people.William reveals how profits and networks associated with the trade influenced Britain’s politics, industry, culture and institutions, from the Royal Navy and canal building to theatres and

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36:59

What is ‘Europe’, anyway?

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/09/14

What defines Europe – is it geography, politics, a shared culture, or perhaps a mix of all three? In this episode, historian Roderick Beaton tells Emily Briffett about the ways in which it has been defined, and redefined, as an idea by its people over the centuries.----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST National icons aren’t born – they’re engineered. But how were historical figures such as Joan of Arc and Isabella of Castile transformed into political symbols, their real lives lost beneath centuries of

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40:38

Christianity, conflict and catastrophe: the life of...

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/09/13

He's well-known for creating children's classic The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, but what else can history teach us about CS Lewis? Michael Ward explores the life of the author with Isabel King – from a tragic childhood to his turbulent relationship with faith.----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If CS Lewis's experience of combat has piqued your interest and you'd like to learn more about the First World War, don't miss our six-episode HistoryExtra Academy course WW1: Myths and Misconceptions, in

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55:35

Was Napoleon III the world's first populist leader?

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/09/10

Napoleon III's family was, in the words of historian Edward Shawcross, “the most cutthroat mafioso soap opera in the world”. Exiled to Switzerland as a boy and disowned by his own father, he spent years as a laughing stock of French politics, twice arrested trying to seize power. Here, in conversation with Danny Bird, Edward traces Louis-Napoleon's strange path from mocked pretender in exile to Emperor of the French, and explores whether Napoleon III can really be regarded as an early populist

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45:42

The Bayeux Tapestry blockbuster at the British Museum

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/09/08

The Bayeux Tapestry exhibition at the British Museum is set to be the biggest historical event in decades. In conversation with David Musgrove, its curator Michael Lewis gives the lowdown on what the exhibition is all about, and how you should make the most of your trip if you do get a ticket to the show.----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Check out David Musgrove's 6-part Academy series on the Bayeux Tapestry for HistoryExtra: https://bit.ly/3SWpfYC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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38:20

The secrets of our DNA

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/09/07

What can DNA tell us about who we are and where we came from? Professor Turi King – who previously appeared on the podcast to discuss her research into Adolf Hitler’s DNA – returns to explore modern genetics and its role in solving some of history’s biggest mysteries. Speaking to Jon Bauckham, Turi discusses the surprising origins of DNA fingerprinting, common misconceptions surrounding testing, and her role in the groundbreaking discovery of King Richard III. ----- GO BEYOND THE

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36:02

What's it like to live in a royal palace?

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/09/06

Did Lucy Worsley have 'the best job in history'? And what did she do when she worked in it? In this episode, Lucy reflects on her career so far, her time as Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces and how the job has changed her perspective on some of our favourite monarchs from royal history...----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about Lucy Worsley's role in changing our understanding of royal history, then check out this feature which she wrote for HistoryExtra:

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41:28

Roman kings: myth, memory and the making of power

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/09/03

Before Rome's republic and the age of emperors, there were kings… or so the story goes. Beginning with Romulus, and ending with Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, these rulers loomed large in the Roman imagination – but is their narrative fact or fiction? In this episode, Emily Briffett is joined by ancient historian Christopher Smith, as they sift myth from memory, and uncover how seven legendary figures shaped Rome’s ideas of power and identity.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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50:42

Philip Augustus: the Plantagenets’ greatest rival

HistoryExtra podcast ·

2026/09/01

King Philip Augustus of France was the Plantagenets’ ultimate enemy. A ruler with an iron fist and sharp political instincts, he consistently exploited the squabbles of the English dynasty, all while transforming France into a dominant power in Western Europe. Speaking to Emily Briffett, historian and author Catherine Hanley reveals the cunning and ruthless tactics he employed against the English kings to become medieval England’s most formidable foe.----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST 1217 is not one

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