This is History: History’s Greatest Fails
Sony Music Entertainment
History’s Greatest Fails is a miniseries from Dan Jones and Elizabeth Day that aims to answer the simple, but complex, question: Why do losers make history?
From Richard III, to Vincent Van Gough, to the purposefully forgotten female Pharaoh Hatshepsut, this series is going to help you better understand how the idea of failure changes over time, and what lessons failure has for all of us.
Dan and Elizabeth are old friends, fellow history graduates, and fellow authors and podcasters.
Dan Jones is host of This Is History — A Dynasty to Die For, a narrative podcast that charts the bloody and complex drama of England’s Plantagenet dynasty, now up to its 10th season.
Elizabeth is host of How To Fail, a podcast that has brought together hundreds of luminaries and thinkers including Kate Winslet, Yuval Noah Hariri, and Malala Yousafzai, to reflect on failure in the present.
Over six episodes, History’s Greatest Fails will dissect failure of all kinds, from troubled historical rulers, to the failures of remembrance, to the failures that have created the happy accidents that last for generations.
As always, Dan’s royal favourites can chime in anytime on the royal court on Patreon at patreon.com/thisishistory. And for the bonus episodes of this miniseries, Dan and Producer Al are hearing from the favourites directly via voice notes! Following along as they discuss the failures the royal favourites’ have deemed historic!
A Sony Music Entertainment production.
To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com
From Richard III, to Vincent Van Gough, to the purposefully forgotten female Pharaoh Hatshepsut, this series is going to help you better understand how the idea of failure changes over time, and what lessons failure has for all of us.
Dan and Elizabeth are old friends, fellow history graduates, and fellow authors and podcasters.
Dan Jones is host of This Is History — A Dynasty to Die For, a narrative podcast that charts the bloody and complex drama of England’s Plantagenet dynasty, now up to its 10th season.
Elizabeth is host of How To Fail, a podcast that has brought together hundreds of luminaries and thinkers including Kate Winslet, Yuval Noah Hariri, and Malala Yousafzai, to reflect on failure in the present.
Over six episodes, History’s Greatest Fails will dissect failure of all kinds, from troubled historical rulers, to the failures of remembrance, to the failures that have created the happy accidents that last for generations.
As always, Dan’s royal favourites can chime in anytime on the royal court on Patreon at patreon.com/thisishistory. And for the bonus episodes of this miniseries, Dan and Producer Al are hearing from the favourites directly via voice notes! Following along as they discuss the failures the royal favourites’ have deemed historic!
A Sony Music Entertainment production.
To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 17, 2023 • 24min
Season 3. | 7. The Switch
King John puts his grand plans of reclaiming his French lands on hold, so that he can spend some time fighting his neighbours in Wales. He is close to finally conquering the country once and for all, when he hears a rumour that makes his blood run cold. If he’s going to survive, John desperately needs an ally.
This is History is a Sony Music Entertainment production.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com
Written and presented by Dan Jones
Producer and Story Editor - Georgia Mills
Executive Producer - Louisa Field
Production Manager - Poppy Thompson
Composer - Matt Acheson
Engineer - Matias Torres Sole
Marketing Manager - Emily Webb
Sound Design and Mixing - Chris O'Shaughnessy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 10, 2023 • 25min
Season 3 | 6. The Vendetta
This episode contains scenes that some listeners may find upsetting.
One of King John’s closest allies, William de Briouze, knows exactly who murdered Arthur of Brittany. When his wife, Matilda, makes a public accusation, the King does everything in his power to take revenge. John may already have a reputation for cruelty, and a vicious streak, but what happens next shakes the people of England to their core.
This is History is a Sony Music Entertainment production.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com
Written and presented by Dan Jones
Producer and Story Editor - Georgia Mills
Executive Producers - Dave Anderson and Louisa Field
Production Manager - Poppy Thompson
Composer - Matt Acheson
Engineer - Matias Torres Sole
Marketing Manager - Emily Webb
Sound Design and Mixing - Chris O'Shaughnessy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 3, 2023 • 25min
Season 3 | 5. The Road to Hell
King John makes a brand new enemy: Pope Innocent III, after they fall out over an archbishop. The Pope takes extreme measures and puts England under an interdict. This means the church is closed for business to everyone in England. He expects John to beg for mercy, but instead, the diabolical king has eyed a golden opportunity.
This is History is a Sony Music Entertainment production.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com
Written and presented by Dan Jones
Producer and Story Editor - Georgia Mills
Executive Producers - Dave Anderson and Louisa Field
Production Manager - Poppy Thompson
Composer - Matt Acheson
Engineer - Matias Torres Sole
Sound Design and Mixing - Chris O'Shaughnessy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 26, 2023 • 29min
Season 3 | 4. Return of the King
John has been chased from his lands in Normandy, and is forced into permanent residence in England. The problem is, the people of England have got quite used to absentee kings, and aren’t taking too kindly to John’s meddling. But John’s meddling has a serious purpose; he needs England’s wealth in order to raise an army and return to France to win back his lost lands.
This is History is a Sony Music Entertainment production.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com
Written and presented by Dan Jones
Producer and Story Editor - Georgia Mills
Executive Producers - Dave Anderson and Louisa Field
Production Manager - Poppy Thompson
Composer - Matt Acheson
Engineer - Matias Torres Sole
Sound Design and Mixing - Chris O'Shaughnessy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 19, 2023 • 25min
Season 3 | 3. Lost Cause
The finest castle in the Plantagenet Empire, Château Gaillard, is under siege. French King Philip Augustus has it surrounded, and is willing to play dirty, literally, to claim it. If John doesn’t act fast, he could lose everything his father and brother fought to build.
This is History is a Sony Music Entertainment production.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com
Written and presented by Dan Jones
Producer and Story Editor - Georgia Mills
Executive Producers - Dave Anderson and Louisa Field
Production Manager - Poppy Thompson
Composer - Matt Acheson
Engineer - Matias Torres Sole
Sound Design and Mixing - Chris O'Shaughnessy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 12, 2023 • 27min
Season 3 | 2. Save the Queen
John decides to get married, but his controversial choice of bride causes his French lands to erupt in rebellion. John’s enemies ride for the castle of Mirebeau, where they aim to capture the ultimate prize: the King’s mother, Eleanor of Aquitane.
This is History is a Sony Music Entertainment production.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com
Written and presented by Dan Jones
Producer and Story Editor - Georgia Mills
Executive Producers - Dave Anderson and Louisa Field
Production Manager - Poppy Thompson
Composer - Matt Acheson
Engineer - Matias Torres Sole
Sound Design and Mixing - Chris O'Shaughnessy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 5, 2023 • 26min
Season 3 | 1. Softsword
King John’s first real test of leadership arrives, in the form of a treaty with Philip Augustus, the wily King of France. Will John spot the French King’s trap, or blunder straight into it? Meanwhile, a grim discovery in the river Seine sets the tone for the reign of England’s most diabolical ruler.
This is History is a Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com
Written and presented by Dan Jones
Producer and Story Editor - Georgia Mills
Executive Producer - Dave Anderson and Louisa Field
Production Manager - Jen Mistri and Poppy Thompson
Composer - Matt Acheson
Sound Design and Mixing - Chris O'Shaughnessy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aug 29, 2023 • 2min
The Hunt is On & Britain's Most Infamous King Takes the Throne... Season 3 of This is History: A Dynasty to Die For
Power, greed, religion and sex: historian Dan Jones brings the drama of mediaeval history alivethrough compelling stories, larger-than-life characters and vivid scenes. The third season tells the incredible story of England’s most diabolical ruler. King John makes enemies wherever he goes: from the king of France, to his own barons, and even god himself. But what happens when one of the most powerful people in the world goes totally off the rails?
Plus, to celebrate the new season, we are launching This is History: The Hunt — a treasure hunt through prior episodes. Winners will receive a signed copy of Dan's new novel Wolves of Winter and a free year's subscription to his History, Etc. Substack. Visit ThisIsHistoryHunt.com to enter before September 11th.
A Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jul 11, 2023 • 3min
Unearthing Untold Narratives: Draptomaniax Explores Hidden Pages of History
From Dean of Black Twitter, Michael Harriot comes a Black history podcast like you've never heard before. Using a recipe that includes detailed research, barbershop humor and a little seasoned salt, a parade of cookout-certified celebrity guests helps Michael Harriot serve up a compelling, hilarious, and more accurate version of Black history that was conveniently whitewashed from your social studies book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 13, 2023 • 28min
Season 2 | 12. Richard Interrupted
Richard has worn down French King Philip into agreeing a truce, but still has plenty of enemies to take care of. He heads to a castle in Aquitaine to teach the rebellious lord there a lesson. The Lionheart has won countless sieges and these defenders don’t look well prepared, so he jumps into the action himself. But fate is about to intervene, changing the Plantagenet world forever.
This is History is a Sony Music Entertainment production.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com
Written and presented by Dan Jones
Producer - Clem Hitchcock
Series Producer and Story Editor - Georgia Mills
Executive Producer - Dave Anderson
Production Manager - Jen Mistri
Composer - Matt Acheson
Sound Design and Mixing - Chris O'Shaughnessy
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
