Biography
History is shaped by extraordinary people. Visionary writers like Agatha Christie, fearless pioneers such as Amelia Earhart, and ruthless rulers including Henry VIII and Cleopatra. Groundbreaking musicians, inventors, revolutionaries, explorers, and leaders whose ambition, talent, and influence transformed the course of history. Welcome to Noiser’s Biography series, where immersive storytelling, powerful narration, and richly crafted sound transport you into the lives, rivalries, triumphs, and downfalls of the figures who shaped our world, one story at a time. A Noiser production, narrated by Paul McGann and John Hopkins.
Episodes
Cleopatra
The last of the Ptolemaic Pharoahs, Cleopatra has captivated our imaginations for centuries.Though some write her off as a manipulative femme fatale, her competence as a ruler restored her country to superpower status.But what were the early experiences that shaped her? How did she form both political and personal alliances with two great Roman generals?And what is the true story of her dramatic d
Amelia Earhart
As one of the great pioneers of air travel, Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.She pushed aviation technology to its limits, broke countless records, and became famous throughout the world for her skill, bravery and determination.But what prompted her to take to the skies, despite the overwhelming risks?And what really happened on her mysteriuos final flight—an endu
Queen Elizabeth the Second, Part 2 of 2
As the Queen’s family life grew more complex, the relationship between palace and press intensified.But balancing the need for security and privacy against her very public responsibilities was never simple.So who was the real woman beneath the crown? How did she deal with the darkest years of her reign, and the grief of losing her beloved husband?And how will history remember her extraordinary sev
Queen Elizabeth the Second, Part 1 of 2
Spanning seventy years, Queen Elizabeth II’s reign saw the world change beyond recognition.From her earliest public appearances, representing her father King George VI, to her roles as sister, wife, mother, and mother-in-law, she was never far from the headlines.But what was life like for the young princess, who dreamed of a baby brother who might take the throne instead?How did she modernize an a
Henry VIII
In 1509, at just seventeen years old, Henry VIII was crowned King of England. Over the next four decades, he would burn through six marriages, bankrupt the nation, and vandalise his country’s cultural heritage in his quest for supreme power.But how did England’s most eligible bachelor degenerate into a bloated despot, and one of the worst husbands in history?Was Henry simply a psychopath, or a com
Bonnie and Clyde
Forged by the Great Depression, Bonnie and Clyde became icons of lawlessness, thrilling and shocking America with their crime sprees and doomed romance.But what drove them to lives of such violence? How did they evade the full might of the police for so long? And what finally brought their adventure to an end?This is a biography of Bonnie and Clyde.A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by Paul McGan
William Wallace
Despised by the English, mistrusted by the Scottish nobles, and revered by his countrymen, William Wallace is synonymous with the battle for Scottish freedom.But scratch away at the legend, and even the most basic details are disputed. Where he was born, who he married, and what he did after his famous battle at Stirling Bridge. Thanks to the brutal nature of his death, he doesn’t even have a grav
Rosa Parks
By the time she died in 2005, Rosa Parks was known around the world as an icon of activism. Her act of defiance one ordinary Thursday afternoon in Montgomery, Alabama catapulted her to the forefront of the battle for racial equality in America.But what was her story before that fateful moment in 1955? And what course did her life take afterward?This is a biography of Rosa Parks.A Noiser podcast pr
Blackbeard
In the early eighteenth century, one man made his name as the most notorious pirate of all time.The legend of Edward Thatch, aka "Blackbeard", has spawned television shows, novels, and major motion pictures. Stories abound of his wild eyes striking fear into enemy hearts, of the six pistols strapped to his chest, and of his arrival in battle with his jet-black beard set ablaze.But how much is fact
Agatha Christie
The so-called “Queen of Crime”, Agatha Christie remains the best-selling novelist of all time, as well as one of the most prolific. Across 66 novels, 14 short-story collections, and 20 stage plays, she depicted the evil lurking in the hearts of ordinary people with forensic precision.But how did this homeschooled daughter of a privileged English family learn so much about poisons, psychopaths and
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