Les meilleurs podcasts History Extra (2025)

1
The Philadelphia gun-runners who supplied the IRA 31:14

2d ago31:14

31:14

In the 1970s, as the Troubles divided Northern Ireland, hundreds of armalite guns were sent to the IRA from across the Atlantic. Reporter Ali Watkins follows the smuggling operations of a ragtag group of Irish American gunrunners from Philadelphia in her new book The Next One is for You. She spoke to Ellie Cawthorne about their impact on the confli…

1
Thomas Becket: life of week 54:35

3d ago54:35

54:35

Thomas Becket is probably medieval England's most famous martyr and saint – yet the circumstances of his life are overshadowed by his infamous feud with King Henry II, and his shocking murder in Canterbury Cathedral one winter's evening in 1170. Emily Briffett speaks to historian and author Michael Staunton to chart how Becket rocketed to power fro…

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Why Africa's history is more than just the slave trade 41:49

4d ago41:49

41:49

Has our focus on the impact of the transatlantic slave trade blinded us to the diversity and complexity of Africa's past? That's one of the arguments at the heart of Luke Pepera's new book Motherland, which spans 500,000 years of the continent's history. Luke speaks to Matt Elton about some of the stories that shine the spotlight back on African pe…

1
The Great Stink: everything you wanted to know 43:14

5d ago43:14

43:14

Why, in the 1850s, was the excrement of thousands of people being deposited straight into the Thames? How lethal were Victorian London's cholera outbreaks? And why is Joseph Bazalgette one of the most heroic figures in London's history? Here, in conversation with Spencer Mizen, Rosemary Ashton answers the most pressing questions on an infamous poll…

1
Handel's Messiah: the scandalous birth of a classical masterpiece 42:14

7d ago42:14

42:14

Even if you're not a fan of classical music, chances are you will have heard Handel's Messiah. Going behind the scenes of its creation, Charles King delves into the shifting politics of the Hanoverian court, the sex scandals of London’s West End, and the surprising role of the transatlantic slave trade in financing the arts. Speaking to Elinor Evan…

1
Women killers of the early modern era 37:56

9d ago37:56

37:56

From true crime pamphlets to reports from the scaffold, early modern Britain was gripped by tales of women who killed. But were these cases as common as they seemed, or was something else at play? Speaking to Lauren Good, historian Blessin Adams explores the obsession with female murderers in this period, and what this tells us about historical att…

1
Rosa Luxemburg: life of the week 52:09

10d ago52:09

52:09

While the Suffragettes were fighting to win the vote, over in Germany, Rosa Luxemburg was focused on overthrowing the entire system. A committed Marxist revolutionary and a fervent advocate of internationalism, Luxemburg believed that true freedom lay beyond ‘bourgeois democracy’. Her sharp intellect and uncompromising stance made her a formidable …

1
Women's hidden role in religious reformation 46:53

11d ago46:53

46:53

The histories of religious reformations across the globe have largely focused on men. But women were also integral to these major transformations. Speaking with Emily Briffett, historian Merry Wiesner-Hanks explains how early modern women strove to shape the world around them – as wives, mothers, missionaries, mystics and migrants. (Ad) Merry Wiesn…

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The history of British homes: everything you wanted to know 51:21

12d ago51:21

51:21

What was history's worst furnishing trend? Why, in 1953, were you more likely to own a television than a fridge? And how can you learn more about the history of your own house? Deborah Sugg Ryan joins Ellie Cawthorne to talk about the history of British homes, taking listeners on a whistle-stop tour through garden gnomes, deadly gas irons, dodgy DI…

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Wolfmen and amazons: why did the Greeks and Romans demonise their neighbours? 38:00

14d ago38:00

38:00

Fearsome Amazons. Men who turned into wolves. Tribes who never grew old. Ancient Greek and Roman sources are packed with extraordinary descriptions of the peoples living beyond their borders. Speaking to Spencer Mizen, Dr Owen Rees explores these classical superpowers' sense of cultural superiority and reveals what we can learn about the ancient wo…

1
Reform and rebellion in the reign of Henry III 46:20

16d ago46:20

46:20

With accusations of favouritism, poor spending and unrealistic international plans, resentment against Henry III simmered among his barons throughout the 1250s. This frustration came to a head in a coup at the Oxford Parliament of 1258 – where some rebel barons saw the opportunity not just to get what they wanted from their king, but to completely …

1
Emily Hobhouse: life of the week 43:13

17d ago43:13

43:13

Pacifist. Humanitarian. Whistleblower. From humble roots growing up in Cornwall, Emily Hobhouse went on to challenge the societal issues of her day and expose the horrors of British concentration camps during the Second Anglo-Boer War. Speaking to Emily Briffett, biographer Elsabé Brits uncovers the story of a woman who was branded a 'traitor' for …

1
Cheese-rolling, horse skulls & morris dancers: Britain's strange folk customs 35:45

18d ago35:45

35:45

From green men and jolly horse skulls, to chasing cheese down hills and morris dancing, Britain has a rich tradition of folk customs. Some are strange, some downright silly. But, as Liz Williams tells Ellie Cawthorne, some of these traditions can also have a darker aspect, based on shame, judgement and social conformity. (Ad) Liz Williams is the au…

1
Roman medicine: everything you wanted to know 51:54

19d ago51:54

51:54

What were your chances of surviving illness in ancient Rome? How did the Roman army deal with ailments and injuries on the go? And in what way were the medical practitioners of this ancient civilisation similar to the snake-oil peddlers of the American Wild West? Emily Briffett speaks to Dr Patty Baker to get the answers to your questions about the…

1
What's the state of women's history in 2025? 40:57

21d ago40:57

40:57

What is new research revealing about women's lives in the past? Does all women's history have to be feminist? And why do we need to be cautious about the 'girlbossification' of historical figures? To mark International Women's Day, Ellie Cawthorne speaks to three expert historians – Sarah Richardson, Hannah Skoda and Hannah Cusworth – to get their …

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Medieval murder mystery: who killed King James III? 34:18

23d ago34:18

34:18

On 11 June 1488, King James III of Scotland was hunted down and slain as he fled the field of battle. And more than 500 years later, the identity of his killer remains shrouded in uncertainty. Here, in conversation with Spencer Mizen, historian Gordon McKelvie explores this most enduring of royal murder mysteries. How, he asks, had James made so ma…

1
Virginia Woolf: life of the week 40:05

24d ago40:05

40:05

From To The Lighthouse to Mrs Dalloway, the writing of Virginia Woolf shook up literary norms and challenged societal ideas about what it meant to be a woman. In this 'life of the week' episode, Francesca Wade discusses the impact of Woolf's work, and the key moments of her life – from her late-night soirées with the Bloomsbury Group and love affai…

1
Medieval murders most foul 47:30

25d ago47:30

47:30

How violent were towns and cities in the Middle Ages? And how did medieval citizens deal with cases of murder? Drawing on detailed coroner's reports, Professor Manuel Eisner has mapped out cases of murder across three English cities – London, Oxford and York. In this episode, he revisits some notable crimes with David Musgrove, offering up some fas…

1
The Assyrians: everything you wanted to know 41:44

26d ago41:44

41:44

Why were Assyrian armies so powerful? Did the Assyrians produce the ancient world's greatest cultural treasure? And what should we make of claims that they forged the world's first empire? In conversation with Spencer Mizen, Paul Collins, curator at the British Museum, answers listener questions on this ancient civilisation. (Ad) Paul Collins is th…

1
King Leopold's elephant expedition: a story of colonialism in Congo 34:52

28d ago34:52

34:52

In 1879, King Leopold of Belgium commissioned an expedition to transport Asian elephants from India to the African interior, with a vision of using them as working animals to unlock the continent's resources. Ellie Cawthorne speaks to journalist Sophy Roberts, who has retraced the route of this mammoth and ill-conceived voyage for her book A Traini…

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Introducing History's Greatest Battles | New Podcast 1:15

29d ago1:15

1:15

Vicious civil wars. Gruelling sieges. Rebellious provinces, galling betrayals and tribes seeking revenge… Join us for the first series of History’s Greatest Battles, where we’re heading back to the Roman empire. Emily Briffett is joined by historian Dr Adrian Goldsworthy to look back at five of the most fascinating clashes of this ancient civilisat…

1
What did the Romans wear? 45:36

30d ago45:36

45:36

What did a Roman wear under their tunic? What was the best occasion to wear socks with sandals? And what might land you in trouble with the ancient Roman fashion police? Speaking to Emily Briffett, historian Ursula Rothe heads back to the ancient world to uncover what the Romans wore, and why they were so obsessed with what everybody else did. The …

1
Frederick Barbarossa: life of the week 50:47

1M ago50:47

50:47

Frederick Barbarossa has gone down in history as one of medieval Europe's most formidable rulers. He waged ruthless wars in Italy, clashed with the papacy, and came to an ignominious end on crusade. Speaking to Emily Briffett, historian Graham Loud explores the life and many afterlives of the legendary red-bearded emperor. (Ad) Graham Loud is the a…

1
Sexuality on trial in colonial America 33:19

1M ago33:19

33:19

In 1774, as Britain’s colonies in America teetered on the brink of revolution, one regiment was torn apart by the trials of a British army chaplain – Robert Newburgh – who was accused of having sex with another man. In this episode, John Gilbert McCurdy examines evolving attitudes to sexuality and liberty in the colonies on the eve of revolutionary…

1
Mining history: everything you wanted to know 37:49

1M ago37:49

37:49

Historically, how much would a British miner have earned for a hard day's work? Did women and children also work underground? And why were canaries taken down the pits? In conversation with Lauren Good, Professor Robert Colls explores the history of mining in Britain – and explains that, despite the work being 'brutal hard', there was also beauty t…

Podcasts qui valent la peine d'être écoutés

History Extra Podcasts

Podcasts qui valent la peine d'être écoutés

1
History Extra podcast

Immediate Media

1
The Philadelphia gun-runners who supplied the IRA 31:14

1
Thomas Becket: life of week 54:35

1
Why Africa's history is more than just the slave trade 41:49

1
The Great Stink: everything you wanted to know 43:14

1
Handel's Messiah: the scandalous birth of a classical masterpiece 42:14

1
Women killers of the early modern era 37:56

1
Rosa Luxemburg: life of the week 52:09

1
Women's hidden role in religious reformation 46:53

1
The history of British homes: everything you wanted to know 51:21

1
Wolfmen and amazons: why did the Greeks and Romans demonise their neighbours? 38:00

1
Reform and rebellion in the reign of Henry III 46:20

1
Emily Hobhouse: life of the week 43:13

1
Cheese-rolling, horse skulls & morris dancers: Britain's strange folk customs 35:45

1
Roman medicine: everything you wanted to know 51:54

1
What's the state of women's history in 2025? 40:57

1
Medieval murder mystery: who killed King James III? 34:18

1
Virginia Woolf: life of the week 40:05

1
Medieval murders most foul 47:30

1
The Assyrians: everything you wanted to know 41:44

1
King Leopold's elephant expedition: a story of colonialism in Congo 34:52

1
Introducing History's Greatest Battles | New Podcast 1:15

1
What did the Romans wear? 45:36

1
Frederick Barbarossa: life of the week 50:47

1
Sexuality on trial in colonial America 33:19

1
Mining history: everything you wanted to know 37:49

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