HistoryExtra podcast
Immediate
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 hear deep dives into the lives of famous historical figures like Cleopatra, Anne Boleyn and Winston Churchill, and explorations of intriguing events from the past, such as the Salem witch trials, the battle of Waterloo and D-Day.
Expect fresh takes on history, helping you get to grips with the latest research, as we explore everything from ancient Roman archaeology and Viking mythology to Renaissance royals and Tudor kings and queens.
Our episodes touch on a wide range of historical eras – from the Normans and Saxons to the Stuarts, Victorians and the Regency period. We cover the most popular historical subjects, from the medieval world to the Second World War, but you’ll also hear conversations on lesser-known parts of our past, including black history and women’s history.
Looking at the history behind today’s headlines, we consider the forces that have shaped today’s world, from the imposing empires that dominated continents, to the revolutions that brought them crashing down. We also examine the impact of conflict across the centuries, from the crusades of the Middle Ages and the battles of the ancient Egyptians to World War One, World War Two and the Cold War.
Plus, we uncover the real history behind myths, legends and conspiracy theories, from the medieval murder mystery of the Princes in the Tower, to the assassination of JFK.
Featuring interviews with notable historians including Mary Beard, Tracy Borman, James Holland and Dan Jones, we cover a range of social, political and military history, with the aim to start conversations about some of the most fascinating areas of the past.
Unlock full access to HistoryExtra.com for 6 months for just 99p https://www.historyextra.com/join/
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 hear deep dives into the lives of famous historical figures like Cleopatra, Anne Boleyn and Winston Churchill, and explorations of intriguing events from the past, such as the Salem witch trials, the battle of Waterloo and D-Day.
Expect fresh takes on history, helping you get to grips with the latest research, as we explore everything from ancient Roman archaeology and Viking mythology to Renaissance royals and Tudor kings and queens.
Our episodes touch on a wide range of historical eras – from the Normans and Saxons to the Stuarts, Victorians and the Regency period. We cover the most popular historical subjects, from the medieval world to the Second World War, but you’ll also hear conversations on lesser-known parts of our past, including black history and women’s history.
Looking at the history behind today’s headlines, we consider the forces that have shaped today’s world, from the imposing empires that dominated continents, to the revolutions that brought them crashing down. We also examine the impact of conflict across the centuries, from the crusades of the Middle Ages and the battles of the ancient Egyptians to World War One, World War Two and the Cold War.
Plus, we uncover the real history behind myths, legends and conspiracy theories, from the medieval murder mystery of the Princes in the Tower, to the assassination of JFK.
Featuring interviews with notable historians including Mary Beard, Tracy Borman, James Holland and Dan Jones, we cover a range of social, political and military history, with the aim to start conversations about some of the most fascinating areas of the past.
Unlock full access to HistoryExtra.com for 6 months for just 99p https://www.historyextra.com/join/
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 8, 2026 • 35min
Young Elizabeth I: the making of a queen
Dr Nicola Tallis, historian and author of 16th-century English history, explores Elizabeth I’s turbulent childhood and family politics. Short scenes cover her fall from succession after Anne Boleyn’s execution, the influence of Catherine Parr, her education and talents, tense ties with siblings, imprisonment and near-execution, and the fraught road that led her to the throne.
13 snips
Mar 6, 2026 • 40min
A poetic history of England
Catherine Clarke, cultural historian and author of A History of England in 25 Poems, uses verse as a portal into 1,300 years of English life. She discusses why poetry can connect emotions across time. Short segments explore medieval grief in Pearl, satirical broadsides like Bumfodder, Barrett Browning’s reforming voice, Auden’s Funeral Blues, and how poems are repurposed through history.
11 snips
Mar 4, 2026 • 40min
The hidden history behind Mount Rushmore
Matthew Davis, historian and author of A Biography of a Mountain, explores Mount Rushmore's complex past and contested meanings. He traces the Black Hills' sacred importance to the Lakota, the seizure of the land, and sculptor Gutzon Borglum's controversial motivations. The conversation covers the monument's creation, shifting symbolism, and current debates over memory and stewardship.
Mar 3, 2026 • 31min
Juana Inés de la Cruz: life of the week
Paul Gillingham, historian of Mexican history and Sor Juana specialist, guides us through the life of a 17th-century nun and prodigious writer. He covers her early education and bold choice to join a convent to pursue learning. He examines her courtly fame, provocative poetry and proto-feminist writings. He also traces the church backlash, her enforced silence and lasting legacy in Mexican letters.
21 snips
Mar 2, 2026 • 42min
The forgotten wars that redefined Europe
Alex Plaskowski, professor of archaeology and author studying medieval Northern and Eastern Europe. He traces the Baltic Crusades' timeline, the rise of the Teutonic Order, and how conversion, land grabs and trade shaped the region. Short, vivid snapshots cover key campaigns, sources and lasting political and cultural changes.
20 snips
Mar 1, 2026 • 38min
Does Magna Carta matter today?
Nicholas Vincent, Professor of Medieval History at the University of East Anglia and Magna Carta specialist, explores how a narrow 1215 settlement became a powerful symbol. He traces its political afterlife, shifting legal force, influence on early modern and American ideas, and why myths about it persist. He warns against simplistic political uses and highlights surprising archival curiosities.
22 snips
Feb 27, 2026 • 50min
Slavery in the Islamic world
Justin Marozzi, historian and journalist and author of Captives and Companions, maps slavery across the Islamic world from the 7th century to modern day. He traces routes from sub-Saharan Africa to Central Asia. He explores legal frameworks, diverse roles like soldiers and concubines, shifting hierarchies and modern legacies in places such as Mali and Mauritania.
9 snips
Feb 25, 2026 • 36min
The real women behind Europe's greatest legends
Janina Ramirez, an Oxford art history researcher, author and broadcaster specializing in medieval legends. She explores how women like Joan of Arc and Isabella of Castile were reshaped into national symbols. Short takes cover nation-building, feminine personifications like Britannia, surprising material evidence of female power, and the modern political reuse of historical imagery.
16 snips
Feb 24, 2026 • 34min
Thomas Edison: life of the week
Iwan Morus, historian of Victorian science and technology, unpacks Thomas Edison’s rise as a commercial inventor and celebrity. He explores Menlo Park’s workshop culture, Edison's use of patents and teams, the AC versus DC battles with Tesla and Westinghouse, and how press and publicity shaped Edison’s lasting myth.
8 snips
Feb 23, 2026 • 44min
Following the footsteps of a WW2 prisoner of war
Malcolm Gaskill, historian and author of The Glass Mountain, traces his great-uncle Ralph’s WWII odyssey from capture in Libya to daring escapes in Italy. He recounts finding memoirs and archives, walking Camp 65, a hair-raising plan to steal a plane, narrow near-captures, and the surprising bravery of Italians who sheltered escapees. The narrative blends detective-style research with personal family memory.
