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HistoryExtra podcast

HistoryExtra podcast

Immediate 2590 Episodes Jul 25, 2026

The HistoryExtra podcast features gripping stories from the past and fascinating historical conversations with leading experts. It covers global history from ancient times to the modern day, including deep dives into famous figures like Cleopatra and Winston Churchill, and events such as the Salem witch trials and D-Day. Episodes are released six times a week, offering fresh takes on history and the latest research.

Episodes

Gods and monsters: the hidden stories of the Odyssey
Gods and monsters: the hidden stories of the Odyssey Jul 25, 2026 2793 Twenty years away from home: 10 of them spent fighting a war, and 10 more spent battling monsters, gods and his own worst instincts. In the second episode of HistoryExtra's four-part series on the Odyssey, Kev Lochun and classicist Daisy Dunn explore Odysseus's greatest adventures – from encounters with the one-eyed Cyclops to brushes with the so-called witch Circe – and consider what they say abo
Preview: Was Elizabeth I one of history’s greatest leaders?
Preview: Was Elizabeth I one of history’s greatest leaders? Jul 24, 2026 775 From her defeat of the Spanish Armada to her iconic portraiture and status as the ‘Virgin Queen’, Elizabeth I is one of the past’s most famous figures – but what made her such an effective leader? Today on the HistoryExtra podcast, we’re bringing you a taste of our new series, History’s Greatest Leaders, as author and historian Tracy Borman tells entrepreneur Mike Soutar about why Elizabeth I’s in
The Bayeux Tapestry's secret code of tyranny and injustice
The Bayeux Tapestry's secret code of tyranny and injustice Jul 23, 2026 2168 The Bayeux Tapestry is coming home to England for an exhibition at the British Museum. In discussion with Dave Musgrove, Gale Owen-Crocker explains how the Tapestry was made, and why she thinks it contains a hidden story of injustice and tyranny – subverting the obvious celebratory narrative of victory for Duke William's Norman Conquest. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Don't miss our six-episode Hi
How to survive a day in the 14th century
How to survive a day in the 14th century Jul 21, 2026 2225 What threats might you have faced on a daily basis in England in the 1300s? In this episode, Ian Mortimer guides Charlotte Vosper through a day in the 14th century and argues that it would have been surprisingly difficult to stay alive... From struggling to put food on the table to breathing in the scent of your neighbour's cesspit, Ian discusses the perils that came with everyday medieval life.
Bess of Hardwick: life of the week
Bess of Hardwick: life of the week Jul 20, 2026 2085 Bess of Hardwick fell out spectacularly with Mary, Queen of Scots and was dumped in the Tower of London by Elizabeth I. Yet nothing could get in the way of this extraordinary social climber. In this episode, Tracy Borman tells Spencer Mizen about a woman who accrued vast wealth, repeatedly rattled the Tudor court and ultimately earned the grudging respect of the Virgin Queen. ----- GO BEYOND THE
Alliance and acrimony: a history of Jewish-Muslim relations
Alliance and acrimony: a history of Jewish-Muslim relations Jul 19, 2026 2595 From Islam’s emergence in the early medieval period, Muslims have been deeply connected with the followers of another faith: Judaism. In conversation with James Osborne, historian Marc David Baer examines the long relationship between these two religions and their communities, tracing episodes of both conflict and coexistence. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Check out this podcast episode with Barr
Who wrote the Odyssey?
Who wrote the Odyssey? Jul 18, 2026 2484 The Odyssey is one of the most celebrated stories ever told, recounting the tale of Greek hero Odysseus’s 10-year journey home from the Trojan War. It is one of just two ancient Greek epic poems said to be the work of ‘Homer’. But who was Homer? And why, today, do we ask ourselves: ‘Did Homer even exist?’ In this first episode of HistoryExtra's four-part series on the Odyssey, Kev Lochun sits down
1966: The World Cup that changed a nation
1966: The World Cup that changed a nation Jul 16, 2026 2026 The England men’s football team has missed out on the opportunity to replicate the nation’s much-heralded victory back in the 1966 World Cup, still one of the most celebrated moments in its sporting history. But what did the football tournament reveal about the state of the country that staged it back in the 1960s? Jon Bauckham talks to Michael Calvin about the forgotten stories of that remarkable
How Rome really conquered Britain
How Rome really conquered Britain Jul 14, 2026 2723 What if the Roman invasion and occupation of Britain was more complicated than we might think? Ferdinand Addis reveals how it really happened. Speaking to Charlotte Vosper, Ferdinand guides us through the complex process of conquest – from Caesar's arrival in 55 BC and the construction of Hadrian's Wall in 122 AD, to the decline of Roman occupation by 410 AD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visi
Edward Colston: life of the week
Edward Colston: life of the week Jul 13, 2026 2387 Edward Colston was a philanthropist and slave trader in the 17th and 18th centuries. He is infamous today for the fact that a statue of him was pulled down by a crowd of protestors in central Bristol in 2020 and dumped in the river. Richard Stone explores his life, in conversation with David Musgrove, and considers how we should understand his complex legacy today. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST I
Was Elizabeth Báthory really a serial killer?
Was Elizabeth Báthory really a serial killer? Jul 12, 2026 2413 Elizabeth Báthory is history's most prolific female serial killer and took pleasure in bathing in the blood of virgins... or so the story goes. In this episode, Shelley Puhak challenges that idea. Speaking to Isabel King, Shelley describes the complex campaign of disinformation that Elizabeth faced, and reveals the truth behind the legend. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about accu
What did the American Revolution really achieve?
What did the American Revolution really achieve? Jul 11, 2026 2114 How revolutionary was the American Revolution, and how far do 18th-century arguments about liberty and property still shape US politics today? In the final episode of HistoryExtra’s four-part series, Elinor Evans is joined by Adam IP Smith to explore the end of the American Revolutionary War and the complicated legacy that followed. Beginning with Cornwallis’s surrender at Yorktown, they discuss B

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