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/
Categories: Education
Listen to the last episode:
What can Charlie Chaplin's life tell us about the experiences of poor working-class people in 19th- and early 20th-century London? Quite a lot, it turns out. Speaking to Charlotte Vosper, author and historian Jacqueline Riding reveals the world of poverty, tragedy and joy that played out in the streets of Lambeth and Walworth – and how Chaplin can help us uncover other, less-well known stories. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To learn more about the life and times of Charlie Chaplin, don't miss Rob Baker's HistoryExtra article exploring Chaplin's return to London as a famous film star after the First World War: https://bit.ly/4jyvQRJ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Previous episodes
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2546 - Life on the mean streets of 19th-century London Fri, 13 Mar 2026
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2545 - Trailblazers and troublemakers: women who made French history Wed, 11 Mar 2026
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2544 - Vladimir Lenin: life of the week Tue, 10 Mar 2026
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2543 - Why Britons rejected fascism in the 1930s Mon, 09 Mar 2026
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2542 - Young Elizabeth I: the making of a queen Sun, 08 Mar 2026
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2541 - A poetic history of England Fri, 06 Mar 2026
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2540 - The hidden history behind Mount Rushmore Wed, 04 Mar 2026
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2539 - Juana Inés de la Cruz: life of the week Tue, 03 Mar 2026
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2538 - The forgotten wars that redefined Europe Mon, 02 Mar 2026
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2537 - Does Magna Carta matter today? Sun, 01 Mar 2026
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2536 - Slavery in the Islamic world Fri, 27 Feb 2026
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2535 - The real women behind Europe's greatest legends Wed, 25 Feb 2026
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2534 - Thomas Edison: life of the week Tue, 24 Feb 2026
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2533 - Following the footsteps of a WW2 prisoner of war Mon, 23 Feb 2026
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2532 - Magna Carta: why didn't King John keep his word? Sun, 22 Feb 2026
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2531 - How to be a Victorian Fri, 20 Feb 2026
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2530 - "The streets will run with blood!": the uprising that shook Victorian Britain Wed, 18 Feb 2026
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2529 - Pocahontas: life of the week Tue, 17 Feb 2026
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2528 - The ruthless revolution that made Britain great Mon, 16 Feb 2026
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2527 - The Magna Carta myth Sun, 15 Feb 2026
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2526 - Terrible puns and filthy limericks: the Victorian sense of humour Fri, 13 Feb 2026
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2525 - What your hands say about you – according to history Wed, 11 Feb 2026
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2524 - Thomas More: life of the week Tue, 10 Feb 2026
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2523 - Going on strike in ancient Rome Mon, 09 Feb 2026
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2522 - Magna Carta: king v barons Sun, 08 Feb 2026
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2521 - Untold LGBTQ stories of the National Trust Fri, 06 Feb 2026
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2520 - Why Greenwich is the home of time Wed, 04 Feb 2026
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2519 - James Gillray: life of the week Tue, 03 Feb 2026
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2518 - Churchill and de Gaulle: a strange relationship Mon, 02 Feb 2026
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2517 - Why Pompeii's tragedy still captivates us today Sun, 01 Feb 2026
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2516 - The United States and Latin America: a turbulent history Fri, 30 Jan 2026
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2515 - History's most mysterious manuscripts Wed, 28 Jan 2026
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2514 - Francisco Franco: life of the week Tue, 27 Jan 2026
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2513 - How grim was life on Hitler's U-boats? Mon, 26 Jan 2026
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2512 - How ancient Pompeii was rediscovered Sun, 25 Jan 2026
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2511 - Why Belgian agents risked their lives spying for Britain Fri, 23 Jan 2026
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2510 - How tanks redefined warfare Wed, 21 Jan 2026
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2509 - Robert McNamara: life of the week Tue, 20 Jan 2026
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2508 - The road to the Holocaust Mon, 19 Jan 2026
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2507 - The final days of Pompeii Sun, 18 Jan 2026
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2506 - Life in the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain Fri, 16 Jan 2026
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2505 - The hidden history of US immigration detention Wed, 14 Jan 2026
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2504 - Emperor Hirohito: life of the week Tue, 13 Jan 2026
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2503 - Secrets of the Romans' spectacular success Mon, 12 Jan 2026
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2502 - Before the volcano: life in ancient Pompeii Sun, 11 Jan 2026
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2501 - How do you solve a problem like Napoleon? Fri, 09 Jan 2026
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2500 - What does history teach us about protest? Wed, 07 Jan 2026
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2499 - Hatshepsut: life of the week Tue, 06 Jan 2026
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2498 - Tragedy and triumph: a 500-year history of Mexico Mon, 05 Jan 2026
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2497 - Jane Austen’s final chapter – and lasting legacy Sun, 04 Jan 2026