Oh What A Time...
A comedy history podcast hosted by comedians Elis James, Tom Craine, and Chris Scull. Each week, they explore a new topic, diving into the weirdest and worst moments from history to answer whether the past was as awful as it sounds.
Episodes
#186 Recycled Berlin Buildings & The Invention of Vaseline (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re taking a look at buildings which have had an interesting second life in Germany’s capital; East Germany’s Palast der Republik, what became of Albert Speer’s New Reich Chancellery and lastly the Museumsinsel or Museum Island.Elsewhere, there’s lots of chat about chapped lips and final poses (Oh What A Pose?) for archaeologists this week. If
#186 Recycled Berlin Buildings & The Invention of Vaseline (Part 1)
This week we’re taking a look at buildings which have had an interesting second life in Germany’s capital; East Germany’s Palast der Republik, what became of Albert Speer’s New Reich Chancellery and lastly the Museumsinsel or Museum Island.Elsewhere, there’s lots of chat about chapped lips and final poses (Oh What A Pose?) for archaeologists this week. If you want to add to the conversation: hello
#185 Abandoned Theme Parks (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re looking at theme parks which simply no longer exist! We’ve got London’s glamorous and failed Segaworld, the slightly less glamorous Mr Blobby inspired Blobbyland and Wales’ own Penscynor Wild Life Park.Elsewhere, who was the last person to have read every book? How good was Kim Il Sung at golf? And can Jimmy Carter read 2,000 words a minut
#185 Abandoned Theme Parks (Part 1)
This week we’re looking at theme parks which simply no longer exist! We’ve got London’s glamorous and failed Segaworld, the slightly less glamorous Mr Blobby inspired Blobbyland and Wales’ own Penscynor Wild Life Park.Elsewhere, who was the last person to have read every book? How good was Kim Il Sung at golf? And can Jimmy Carter read 2,000 words a minute?! If you have anything on this, please em
#184 Tough Gigs featuring Elis ‘3x microphones’ James (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!We’ve got a brilliant episode this week: we’ve turned to history to find the worst jobs we can. We’ve got tanning (leather, not the sun beds), bridge painting, and the Victorian workhouse.. and take our word for it, they are all absolutely awful.Elsewhere, Elis’ grandad had tools for a career down the mine whilst Elis has 3x microphones for his career dow
#184 Tough Gigs featuring Elis ‘3x microphones’ James (Part 1)
We’ve got a brilliant episode this week: we’ve turned to history to find the worst jobs we can. We’ve got tanning (leather, not the sun beds), bridge painting, and the Victorian workhouse.. and take our word for it, they are all absolutely awful.Elsewhere, Elis’ grandad had tools for a career down the mine whilst Elis has 3x microphones for his career down the audio mine. If you’ve got anything to
#117 Your Letters (May 2025) [Bonus Episode]
** We're 'off' this week due to half term, so please enjoy these old subscriber episodes in the mean time! And for more bonus episodes (and next week's episode) head to: patreon.com/ohwhatatime **Once again, you’ve been hitting up our inbox with all your fantastic correspondence; so here we are, another special to clear up and correct as much as we can.If you want to send us a letter you can do so
#107 Hitler by Ian Kershaw [Bonus Episode]
** We're 'off' this week due to half term, so please enjoy these old subscriber episodes in the mean time! And for more bonus episodes (and next week's episode) head to: patreon.com/ohwhatatime **For one of this month’s subscriber specials, we’re looking at Ian Kershaw’s biography of Adolf Hitler; a man Ian describes as “the embodiment of modern political evil”.We’ll trace the book through Adolf’s
#183 BIG Companies and ELIS RAN THE HACKNEY HALF (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re looking at commercial entities that went bigger than their wildest dreams. We’ve got for you: Japanese consumer electronics firm Casio, how did Cadbury make that chocolate money and lastly, how Andrew Carnegie acquired insane wealth and then, incredibly, went about giving it away!And isn’t the world a better place for mass sporting events?
#183 BIG Companies and ELIS RAN THE HACKNEY HALF (Part 1)
This week we’re looking at commercial entities that went bigger than their wildest dreams. We’ve got for you: Japanese consumer electronics firm Casio, how did Cadbury make that chocolate money and lastly, how Andrew Carnegie acquired insane wealth and then, incredibly, went about giving it away!And isn’t the world a better place for mass sporting events? AND IS THE WORLD TALKING ENOUGH ABOUT ELIS
#182 The Grand Tour and are The Killers better than The Beatles? (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!For the eighteenth-century gentleman few things marked a rite of passage more than the grand tour - so this week we’re seeing what exploring Europe, the UK and North America was like in the 18th and 19th Centuries.Elsewhere, Elis has been dreaming about Chris’ fictional children being good at football. If you’ve got any dreams to share, you know what to d
#182 The Grand Tour and are The Killers better than The Beatles? (Part 1)
For the eighteenth-century gentleman few things marked a rite of passage more than the grand tour - so this week we’re seeing what exploring Europe, the UK and North America was like in the 18th and 19th Centuries.Elsewhere, Elis has been dreaming about Chris’ fictional children being good at football. If you’ve got any dreams to share, you know what to do: hello@ohwhatatime.comAnd from now on Par
#180 A History of Female Pleasure with Dr Kate Lister (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!**THIS EPISODE CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE AND THEMES OF AN ADULT NATURE**Our guest this week is British historian and author Dr Kate Lister who is here to discuss her new book ‘Flick’ which explores female pleasure throughout history; from Ancient Mesopotamian sex goddesses to the contraceptive pill.The book itself is fascinating and you can get it here: ht
#180 A History of Female Pleasure with Dr Kate Lister (Part 1)
**THIS EPISODE CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE AND THEMES OF AN ADULT NATURE**Our guest this week is British historian and author Dr Kate Lister who is here to discuss her new book ‘Flick’ which explores female pleasure throughout history; from Ancient Mesopotamian sex goddesses to the contraceptive pill.The book itself is fascinating and you can get it here: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/463104/flick-
#178 Education! Education! Education! (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re chatting education: what did schooling look like in Ancient Greece and Rome? What has corporal punishment looked like in schools through history? And how has the concept of the ‘school meal’ evolved over time?Elsewhere, why did pirates pick hooks for hands above all other options?! We think we have the answer, but if you’ve got anything to
#178 Education! Education! Education! (Part 1)
This week we’re chatting education: what did schooling look like in Ancient Greece and Rome? What has corporal punishment looked like in schools through history? And how has the concept of the ‘school meal’ evolved over time?Elsewhere, why did pirates pick hooks for hands above all other options?! We think we have the answer, but if you’ve got anything to add, you know what to do: hello@ohwhatatim
#177 Katja Hoyer on the Weimar Republic and ‘have you heard of Samuel Pepys?’ (Part 1)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!We are truly honoured this week to be joined by one of our favourite historians in the world; it’s German-British author, who penned of one of Elis’ favourite ever books (Beyond the Wall: East Germany, 1949–1990), it’s Katja Hoyer!Katja is here to discuss her brand new book ‘Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe’ which details the collapse of German dem
#177 Katja Hoyer on the Weimar Republic and ‘have you heard of Samuel Pepys?’ (Part 1)
We are truly honoured this week to be joined by one of our favourite historians in the world; it’s German-British author, who penned of one of Elis’ favourite ever books (Beyond the Wall: East Germany, 1949–1990), it’s Katja Hoyer!Katja is here to discuss her brand new book ‘Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe’ which details the collapse of German democracy as the Nazi’s tighten their grip on
#176 Sporting Revolutionaries And Tom Gets Stuck On A Rollercoaster (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week on the show we’re talking about the sporting prowess of history’s most well-known revolutionaries; we have baseball-loving Fidel Castro, Chairman Mao’s love of ping pong and we’ve got Vladimir Lenin and his love of the bicycle.Elsewhere, Tom Craine got stuck up a rollercoaster. Has this ever happened to you? Why does this sort of thing keep happ
#122 Your Letters - June 2025 (Bonus episode)
It's a special bonus episode! This one from June 2025, never heard before on the main feed!If you want more Oh What A Time and both parts at once, you should sign up for our Patreon! On there you’ll now find:•The full archive of bonus episodes•Brand new bonus episodes each month•OWAT subscriber group chats•Loads of extra perks for supporters of the show•PLUS ad-free episodes earlier than everyone
#176 Sporting Revolutionaries And Tom Gets Stuck On A Rollercoaster (Part 1)
This week on the show we’re talking about the sporting prowess of history’s most well-known revolutionaries; we have baseball-loving Fidel Castro, Chairman Mao’s love of ping pong and we’ve got Vladimir Lenin and his love of the bicycle.Elsewhere, Tom Craine got stuck up a rollercoaster. Has this ever happened to you? Why does this sort of thing keep happening to Tom? If you know, please do inform
#174 Mass Observation and how did Ultimate Warrior eat cookies? (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re looking at attempts through history at mass observation; we have Britain in the late 1930s, American culture after the Great Depression and the Soviet diaspora in Europe in the 1950s.Elsewhere, is looking at a picture of a coffee every bit as good as actually drinking one? If you’ve got anything to add on this or anything else please send
#174 Mass Observation and how did Ultimate Warrior eat cookies? (Part 1)
This week we’re looking at attempts through history at mass observation; we have Britain in the late 1930s, American culture after the Great Depression and the Soviet diaspora in Europe in the 1950s.Elsewhere, is looking at a picture of a coffee every bit as good as actually drinking one? If you’ve got anything to add on this or anything else please send us an email: hello@ohwhatatime.comAnd from
#173 Australia and crucially, who discovered it?! (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re discussing that wonderful land of Australia! We’ll be finding out what was suspected about a land down under in Antiquity, south-east Asia’s Australian mythology and we’ll answer the age-old and quite complex question: who discovered Australia?!Elsewhere, Chris has barely survived a bout with Norovirus and Tom finally admits what he’s thin
#173 Australia and crucially, who discovered it?! (Part 1)
This week we’re discussing that wonderful land of Australia! We’ll be finding out what was suspected about a land down under in Antiquity, south-east Asia’s Australian mythology and we’ll answer the age-old and quite complex question: who discovered Australia?!Elsewhere, Chris has barely survived a bout with Norovirus and Tom finally admits what he’s thinking when listening to electronic dance mus
#171 First Ladies of the United States and has there already been a female US President? (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re looking at 3x US First Ladies and their extraordinary lives: we have Louisa Adams (1775-1852), the extensively travelled Lou Hoover (1874-1944) and the powerful Edith Wilson (1872-1961).And this week we’re asking: has there ever been an easier job than the policeman with a clipboard ensuring people cross a job properly? If you’ve got anyth
#171 First Ladies of the United States and has there already been a female US President? (Part 1)
This week we’re looking at 3x US First Ladies and their extraordinary lives: we have Louisa Adams (1775-1852), the extensively travelled Lou Hoover (1874-1944) and the powerful Edith Wilson (1872-1961).And this week we’re asking: has there ever been an easier job than the policeman with a clipboard ensuring people cross a job properly? If you’ve got anything for us, do send it in: hello@ohwhatatim
#170 Female Leaders and how Boudica Torched London! (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we have three stories of incredible female leaders from throughout history: Queen Boudica and how she took on the Romans, trailblazer author Christine de Pizan and lastly, the terrifying story of 1700s pirate Shi Yang!Plus, Chris’ milkman has become the first milkman to be a freeman of the city of London. Has your milkman done anything as impres
[BONUS EP] #80 Beyond the Wall: East Germany, 1949-1990 by Katja Hoyer
We have a special bonus ep for you from our bonus ep archive! This one was first made available for subscribers in December 2024.On our Patreon you’ll now find:•The full archive of bonus episodes•Brand new bonus episodes each month•OWAT subscriber group chats•Loads of extra perks for supporters of the show•PLUS ad-free episodes earlier than everyone elseJoin us at 👉 patreon.com/ohwhatatimeOnto thi
#170 Female Leaders and how Boudica Torched London! (Part 1)
This week we have three stories of incredible female leaders from throughout history: Queen Boudica and how she took on the Romans, trailblazer author Christine de Pizan and lastly, the terrifying story of 1700s pirate Shi Yang!Plus, Chris’ milkman has become the first milkman to be a freeman of the city of London. Has your milkman done anything as impressive? Please let us know: hello@ohwhatatime
#168 Invasions & Why The British Invaded Iceland (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re looking at various invasions and subsequent occupations through history; we’ve got Nordic allied invasions in WW2 (including Iceland!), the Norman occupation of Sicily and the story of how Gibraltar became British!Elsewhere, we’re marvelling at how turning things off and on again really seems to work. And are you a Safari guy or girl? Who
#168 Invasions & Why The British Invaded Iceland (Part 1)
This week we’re looking at various invasions and subsequent occupations through history; we’ve got Nordic allied invasions in WW2 (including Iceland!), the Norman occupation of Sicily and the story of how Gibraltar became British!Elsewhere, we’re marvelling at how turning things off and on again really seems to work. And are you a Safari guy or girl? Who likes Internet Explorer? Anyone for Chrome?
#167 Utopias (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re discussing the various attempts through history to create a Utopia right here on earth. We have for you The Diggers of the 1600s, Brook Farm in 1850s America and the story of John Hughes; the man who attempted to make utopia in Yuzovka, Ukraine.Elsewhere, what on earth did people do before the creation of to-do lists? Just wander around ai
#167 Utopias (Part 1)
This week we’re discussing the various attempts through history to create a Utopia right here on earth. We have for you The Diggers of the 1600s, Brook Farm in 1850s America and the story of John Hughes; the man who attempted to make utopia in Yuzovka, Ukraine.Elsewhere, what on earth did people do before the creation of to-do lists? Just wander around aimlessly?! If you know please loop us in: he
#166 Small Countries (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!Get the atlas out because this week we’re analysing some of the world’s smallest countries! We’ve got for you Brunei, the Vatican City and how about we take a trip to Andorra?Elsewhere, Chris can now talk to his house to turn off a lightbulb: so is humanity getting lazier and lazier? If you know the answer to that or anything else, do get in touch: hello@
#166 Small Countries (Part 1)
Get the atlas out because this week we’re analysing some of the world’s smallest countries! We’ve got for you Brunei, the Vatican City and how about we take a trip to Andorra?Elsewhere, Chris can now talk to his house to turn off a lightbulb: so is humanity getting lazier and lazier? If you know the answer to that or anything else, do get in touch: hello@ohwhatatime.comAnd from now on Part 1 is re
#164 The Great Train Robbery - Oh What A Crime (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re working through a bit more of your correspondence before dealing with our first ever ‘Oh What A Crime’ episode which today focuses on: The Great Train Robbery of 1963. The planning, Bruce Reynolds, Buster Edwards, Ronnie Biggs et al, the heist itself, the loot and life on the run.Elsewhere, how did anyone in 1160 survive without caffeine?
#164 The Great Train Robbery - Oh What A Crime (Part 1)
This week we’re working through a bit more of your correspondence before dealing with our first ever ‘Oh What A Crime’ episode which today focuses on: The Great Train Robbery of 1963. The planning, Bruce Reynolds, Buster Edwards, Ronnie Biggs et al, the heist itself, the loot and life on the run.Elsewhere, how did anyone in 1160 survive without caffeine? And is there a worse person to meet than a
#163 Dynasties (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re looking at some of the most famous families that history has to offer. We’ve got the House of Cromwell for you, plus the Astors and the incredible story of the Spencer family and their slow centuries-long rise to power.Elsewhere, we’re talking about the demise of Antiques Roadshow now Hugh Scully has effectively been replaced by Chat GPT.
#163 Dynasties (Part 1)
This week we’re looking at some of the most famous families that history has to offer. We’ve got the House of Cromwell for you, plus the Astors and the incredible story of the Spencer family and their slow centuries-long rise to power.Elsewhere, we’re talking about the demise of Antiques Roadshow now Hugh Scully has effectively been replaced by Chat GPT. If you’ve got anything to add on this or an
#162 The Youth (Part 1)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re looking at those who achieved the extraordinary and at incredibly youthful age! We have the Tudor boy King, Edward VI, to discuss. Britain’s youngest ever Prime Minister (just 24 years old!!), it’s Pitt the Younger. And from France, we’ll hear a bit of the life of Joan of Arc.And this week we’re discussing: what was life like before the ad
#162 The Youth (Part 1)
This week we’re looking at those who achieved the extraordinary and at incredibly youthful age! We have the Tudor boy King, Edward VI, to discuss. Britain’s youngest ever Prime Minister (just 24 years old!!), it’s Pitt the Younger. And from France, we’ll hear a bit of the life of Joan of Arc.And this week we’re discussing: what was life like before the advent of reviews? Have you ever seen the sec
#160 Comebacks (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re looking at some of the greatest comebacks history has to offer. Where else to begin than the epic comeback that is Skoda cars! And what about the comeback of the West German economy after world war 2?! And finally, a literal comeback, Apollo 13’s incredible return from the moon after disaster struck.Elsewhere, how good is the tip as a day
#160 Comebacks (Part 1)
This week we’re looking at some of the greatest comebacks history has to offer. Where else to begin than the epic comeback that is Skoda cars! And what about the comeback of the West German economy after world war 2?! And finally, a literal comeback, Apollo 13’s incredible return from the moon after disaster struck.Elsewhere, how good is the tip as a day out? Has history anything better to offer i
#159 Julius Caesar (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re tracing the life of one of the most famous people to have ever lived: Caesar! We’ll see his relatively humble origins, we’ll travel with him to Gaul and Britain and finally, we’ll see Cleopatra enter the stage.And this week we’re discussing locksmiths, beers in the bath to calm down and so much more. If you’d like to add to our postbag, yo
#159 Julius Caesar (Part 1)
This week we’re tracing the life of one of the most famous people to have ever lived: Caesar! We’ll see his relatively humble origins, we’ll travel with him to Gaul and Britain and finally, we’ll see Cleopatra enter the stage.And this week we’re discussing locksmiths, beers in the bath to calm down and so much more. If you’d like to add to our postbag, you can do so by emailing: hello@ohwhatatime.
#100 Devon with Josh Widdicombe (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!Yes, despite the fact we’re closer to episode 200 than 100, this really is episode 100! (We’d planned this ep a long time ago but only just got round to recording).For the first time ever we’re joined by a guest and it’s Devon native and friend of the show, Josh Widdicombe.In this episode we’ll discuss everything Devon related: Devon’s own Sir Francis Dra
#100 Devon with Josh Widdicombe (Part 1)
Yes, despite the fact we’re closer to episode 200 than 100, this really is episode 100! (We’d planned this ep a long time ago but only just got round to recording).For the first time ever we’re joined by a guest and it’s Devon native and friend of the show, Josh Widdicombe.In this episode we’ll discuss everything Devon related: Devon’s own Sir Francis Drake, the educational experiment that was Dar
#157 Pubs (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re popping into history’s local - it’s a whole episode dedicated to pubs! We’ve got a brief history of the British pub, this history of the pub landlord and how some pubs were designed to pull in punters from the tourist trail!And this week we’re discussing trousers, sex education at school, airports and much more; so if you’ve got something
#157 Pubs (Part 1)
This week we’re popping into history’s local - it’s a whole episode dedicated to pubs! We’ve got a brief history of the British pub, this history of the pub landlord and how some pubs were designed to pull in punters from the tourist trail!And this week we’re discussing trousers, sex education at school, airports and much more; so if you’ve got something to contribute, you know what to do: hello@o
#156 Gwyn ‘Alf’ Williams (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!We’re back for 2026! And our first subject is the life story of one of the most prominent Welsh historians of the 20th century; Gwyn “Alf” Williams. We’ll trace his life from beginnings in South Wales to the beaches of Normandy in WWII, right through to his time at York University and rise to national prominence on TV.Elsewhere, what are your great sleep
#156 Gwyn ‘Alf’ Williams (Part 1)
We’re back for 2026! And our first subject is the life story of one of the most prominent Welsh historians of the 20th century; Gwyn “Alf” Williams. We’ll trace his life from beginnings in South Wales to the beaches of Normandy in WWII, right through to his time at York University and rise to national prominence on TV.Elsewhere, what are your great sleep walking or talking escapades? Can you beat
#86 In the Navy (BONUS EPISODE)
We'll be back next week but until then, we have one final bonus subscriber episode for you to enjoy: this time, on the subject of the navy.BUT CRUCIALLY, DON'T FORGET! The comedy history podcast that has spent as much time talking about the invention of custard as it has the industrial revolution is here with its first ever live show! Thursday 15th January at the Underbelly Boulevard in London’s S
#80 Beyond the Wall: East Germany, 1949-1990 by Katja Hoyer (BONUS EPISODE)
We're back next week but until then, we have ANOTHER bonus subscriber episode for you to enjoy.BUT CRUCIALLY, DON'T FORGET! The comedy history podcast that has spent as much time talking about the invention of custard as it has the industrial revolution is here with its first ever live show! Thursday 15th January at the Underbelly Boulevard in London’s Soho. 🎟 Tickets are on sale now: https:/
#90 Spycatcher: The Candid Autobiography of a Senior Intelligence Officer (1987) by Peter Wright (BONUS EPISODE)
Yes we're still off on our Christmas/New Year holidays but never fear! We have ANOTHER bonus subscriber episode for you to enjoy.BUT CRUCIALLY, DON'T FORGET! The comedy history podcast that has spent as much time talking about the invention of custard as it has the industrial revolution is here with its first ever live show! Thursday 15th January at the Underbelly Boulevard in London’s Soho.
#103 Your Letters - March 2025 (BONUS EPISODE)
While we're off on our Christmas holidays, please enjoy ANOTHER bonus episode!AND DON'T FORGET! The comedy history podcast that has spent as much time talking about the invention of custard as it has the industrial revolution is here with its first ever live show! Thursday 15th January at the Underbelly Boulevard in London’s Soho. 🎟 Tickets are on sale now: https://underbellyboulevard.com/tic
#116 The Nation’s Favourite: The True Adventures of Radio 1 by Simon Garfield (BONUS EPISODE)
While we're off on our Christmas holidays, please enjoy this bonus episode!AND DON'T FORGET! The comedy history podcast that has spent as much time talking about the invention of custard as it has the industrial revolution is here with its first ever live show! Thursday 15th January at the Underbelly Boulevard in London’s Soho. 🎟 Tickets are on sale now: https://underbellyboulevard.com/ticket
#154 Christmas Special (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we have a Christmas special for you in which we’ll take a good look at a whole array of festive traditions. This history of the Christmas annual, the history of the Christmas film and how about the history of our favourite Christmas stories.This week we’re still obsessed with keys, scams and grand pianos. If you’d like to get involved with the c
#154 Christmas Special (Part 1)
This week we have a Christmas special for you in which we’ll take a good look at a whole array of festive traditions. This history of the Christmas annual, the history of the Christmas film and how about the history of our favourite Christmas stories.This week we’re still obsessed with keys, scams and grand pianos. If you’d like to get involved with the conversation you can reach us here: hello@oh
#152 Maps 1 (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re here with the first of two episodes on the history of maps! We’ve got 27,000 year old maps carved onto tusks, maps in ancient Egypt and, the big one, the Mappa Mundi.Elsewhere this week, we’re discussing that great underrated invention: the coat. Get ready for a potted history of the humble coat. If you’ve got anything on coats that we’ve
#152 Maps 1 (Part 1)
This week we’re here with the first of two episodes on the history of maps! We’ve got 27,000 year old maps carved onto tusks, maps in ancient Egypt and, the big one, the Mappa Mundi.Elsewhere this week, we’re discussing that great underrated invention: the coat. Get ready for a potted history of the humble coat. If you’ve got anything on coats that we’ve missed, you know what to do: hello@ohwhatat
#151 Mega Corps (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re taking a good look at some of the biggest companies ever to grace the planet; expect to hear from The Hudson’s Bay Company, the greatest (and most pungent) fish sauce company you never heard of and how about we discover the golden age of the American Motors Corporation?And have you ever been uninvited from a Christmas party? Ever been bann
#151 Mega Corps (Part 1)
This week we’re taking a good look at some of the biggest companies ever to grace the planet; expect to hear from The Hudson’s Bay Company, the greatest (and most pungent) fish sauce company you never heard of and how about we discover the golden age of the American Motors Corporation?And have you ever been uninvited from a Christmas party? Ever been banned from one? Ever put your festive foot in
#150 Short lived Presidents (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re discussing US Presidents who, through various interventions of fate, weren’t actually President for any great length of time. We’ve got poor old Zachary Taylor (1784-1850), unlucky James Garfield (1831-1881) and let’s not forget Warren G. Harding (1865-1923).Plus, what on earth did we do before the advent of eBay? Did you basically have to
#150 Short lived Presidents (Part 1)
This week we’re discussing US Presidents who, through various interventions of fate, weren’t actually President for any great length of time. We’ve got poor old Zachary Taylor (1784-1850), unlucky James Garfield (1831-1881) and let’s not forget Warren G. Harding (1865-1923).Plus, what on earth did we do before the advent of eBay? Did you basically have to just be very fortunate if you wanted somet
#148 Audiobooks & Podcasts (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!In our most meta episode ever, this week we’re discussing the history of audiobooks and podcasts! Firstly, what was the equivalent of podcasts in Ancient Rome? How Thomas Edison pioneered the podcast. And lastly.. what was the first podcast, proper?Plus also, is Center Parcs the greatest place in earth? Will the marketing directors at Center Parcs reach o
#148 Audiobooks & Podcasts (Part 1)
In our most meta episode ever, this week we’re discussing the history of audiobooks and podcasts! Firstly, what was the equivalent of podcasts in Ancient Rome? How Thomas Edison pioneered the podcast. And lastly.. what was the first podcast, proper?Plus also, is Center Parcs the greatest place in earth? Will the marketing directors at Center Parcs reach out to us? And is everything better now? Do
#147 Traitors (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!Everyone is talking about Traitors (the TV show) but this week we’re talking traitors (of the disloyal kind). We have a range of World War 2 turncoats to discuss for you: Lord Haw Haw, Axis Sally and how about.. accidental traitor, P G Wodehouse?And this episode we’re discussing how a single google of ‘sheds’ can result in you being shown sheds for the re
#147 Traitors (Part 1)
Everyone is talking about Traitors (the TV show) but this week we’re talking traitors (of the disloyal kind). We have a range of World War 2 turncoats to discuss for you: Lord Haw Haw, Axis Sally and how about.. accidental traitor, P G Wodehouse?And this episode we’re discussing how a single google of ‘sheds’ can result in you being shown sheds for the rest of your life. If you’ve got anything to
#146 Jesters (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re going back in time to look at that most curious of careers: jesters! We’ve got the earliest professional farters, we’ve got Harlequins and we’ll see what jesters were up to in Ancient Rome.Plus we have a quick bit on the history of the mattress. And if you’ve got anything else to contribute, you know what to do: hello@ohwhatatime.comAnd in
#146 Jesters (Part 1)
This week we’re going back in time to look at that most curious of careers: jesters! We’ve got the earliest professional farters, we’ve got Harlequins and we’ll see what jesters were up to in Ancient Rome.Plus we have a quick bit on the history of the mattress. And if you’ve got anything else to contribute, you know what to do: hello@ohwhatatime.comAnd in huge news, Oh What A Time is now on Patreo
#143 Memorials (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re taking a look at interesting memorials. We’ve got a brief history of statues in Britain, the history of the blue plaque and we’ve got a little on the history of naming things.Now sadly, there is no permanent memorial to West Ham winning the UEFA Conference League (at time of writing), but if you’ve got any interesting memorials you’d like
#143 Memorials (Part 1)
This week we’re taking a look at interesting memorials. We’ve got a brief history of statues in Britain, the history of the blue plaque and we’ve got a little on the history of naming things.Now sadly, there is no permanent memorial to West Ham winning the UEFA Conference League (at time of writing), but if you’ve got any interesting memorials you’d like to send our way or have any ideas for some,
#142 Technophobia (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!It’s a new series of Oh What A Time and this week we have for you: Luddites! Swing riots! Rebecca riots! Yes, this week we’re talking: Technophobia.Plus: how on earth did anyone get about internationally before the dawn of the internet? It’s absolutely bewildering. If you’ve got something to share, you can do that right here: hello@ohwhatatime.comYou can
#142 Technophobia (Part 1)
It’s a new series of Oh What A Time (brought to you by Acast!) and this week we have for you: Luddites! Swing riots! Rebecca riots! Yes, this week we’re talking: Technophobia.Plus: how on earth did anyone get about internationally before the dawn of the internet? It’s absolutely bewildering. If you’ve got something to share, you can do that right here: hello@ohwhatatime.comYou can also follow us o
🚨 IT'S ANOTHER EMERGENCY PODCAST 🚨
Hey listeners, here's an update!We're so sorry but we haven't been able to find a new home for Oh What A Time in time to bring you our new series here on the main feed today. But fear not! As we mention, we are very close.But don't forget, if you want to hear the start of the new series now plus new bonus episodes too, you can do so over on — Patreon! 🎉On our Patreon you’ll now find:The full archi
🚨 EMERGENCY PODCAST 🚨
Hey listeners,As you may have seen, our podcasting host Wondery has closed its UK operations — which has left Oh What A Time a little homeless for the moment.Wondery+ has been the home of our bonus content for the past year, so with those doors closing, our paid subscriber episodes also needed somewhere new to live.The good news: as of today, we’ve found that new home — Patreon! 🎉On our Patreon yo
#69 Your Letters - September 2024 (Bonus Episode!)
OWAT returns properly on Monday 29th September 2025, so to fill the gap over the next couple of weeks we're dropping a few old subscriber episodes onto the feed.And today we have a Your Letters episode from September 2024. In this, we’ll hear from listeners with astounding relatives, we’ll ponder how awful a stag-do in Sparta may have been, plus we hear of the most practical one day time machines,
#55 Your Letters - June 2024 (Bonus Episode!)
OWAT returns properly on Monday 29th September 2025, so to fill the gap over the next couple of weeks we're dropping a few old subscriber episodes onto the feed.Today we've got a Your Letters episode back from June 2024.There will be hilarious emails, there will be things we never knew and YES there will be a healthy dose of corrections. Don’t forget if you’ve got anything to send in, you can send
#51 Selection Box (Bonus episode!)
OWAT returns properly on Monday 29th September 2025, so to fill the gap over the next couple of weeks we're dropping a few old subscriber episodes onto the feed.And today with have a special little selection box of a few things we desperately wanted to talk about; there’s a bit more on gangs, a bit more on weather and (quite possibly the main event) a bear that joined the military.Now would the Ro
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