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HistoryExtra podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Immediate
The HistoryExtra podcast brings you gripping stories from the past and fascinating historical conversations with the world's leading historical experts.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- Yesterday41 min
King Harold: tragic hero of the English
King Harold II of England – otherwise known as Harold Godwinson – famously died at the battle of Hastings, with his demise at the hands of Duke William of Normandy ushering in a new Norman era. Speaking to David Musgrove, historian Tom Licence draws on his new biography of the Anglo-Saxon king to explore Harold’s military experience, and investigate his complicated family and political ties. He also revisits the rival invasions of 1066, asks whether Harold could have won at Hastings, and examines what the Bayeux Tapestry and later legends tell us about his death – and his place in England’s national memory. GO BEYOND THE PODCAST You can hear Tom Licence reconsider King Harold's role in the battle of Stamford bridge here: https://bit.ly/4rFtFQy GET MORE WITH MEMBERSHIP Become a HistoryExtra podcast member and unlock access to The Full Story podcast, plus enjoy ad-free listening, early access to other podcast episodes, and a member-exclusive newsletter. Find out more and sign up here: https://historyextra.supportingcast.fm EXPLORE MORE For more fascinating stories from the past, head to HistoryExtra, the home of ‘History’s Greatest’ podcasts. Find out more at historyextra.com/podcast. GET IN TOUCH We'd love to know what you think about the podcast, so leave us a review and let us know the topics you think we should be covering. Or, follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram or YouTube to keep in touch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- 2 days ago29 min
Ancient goddesses: love, violence and ecstatic experiences
What do goddesses of love have in common with goddesses of war? Historian Ronald Hutton argues that some of the ancient world’s most powerful female deities were united by a potent combination of sex, violence and ecstatic experience. Speaking to Danny Bird, Hutton traces a lineage from the Sumerian goddess Inanna through Ishtar, Aphrodite and Venus, all the way to the Norse Freyja and the Irish Morrigan. Along the way, they discuss why the Greeks were terrified of love, how Christianity tried to erase pagan goddesses, and why these extraordinary figures are enjoying a revival in the modern world. GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about the goddesses of antiquity, be sure to read our profile on Artemis, the ancient Greek deity with 30 breasts: https://bit.ly/4yb4lUd GET MORE WITH MEMBERSHIP Become a HistoryExtra podcast member and unlock access to The Full Story podcast, plus enjoy ad-free listening, early access to other podcast episodes, and a member-exclusive newsletter. Find out more and sign up here: https://historyextra.supportingcast.fm EXPLORE MORE For more fascinating stories from the past, head to HistoryExtra, the home of ‘History’s Greatest’ podcasts. Find out more at historyextra.com/podcast. GET IN TOUCH We'd love to know what you think about the podcast, so leave us a review and let us know the topics you think we should be covering. Or, follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram or YouTube to keep in touch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- 3 days ago38 min
Life and death in the Viking age
Who was the first Viking? Why did Norse people believe they could turn into animals? And what does all of this have to do with the fall of the western Roman empire? In this episode, Neil Price speaks to James Osborne about facets of the Viking age that go beyond boats and battles and asks: what do we really know about life and death in the Viking Age? GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about life in the Viking Age, you can listen to our four-part podcast series on the Viking invasion of Anglo-Saxon England in the second half of the ninth century, with historian Eleanor Barraclough: https://bit.ly/4AuA1q6 GET MORE WITH MEMBERSHIP Become a HistoryExtra podcast member and unlock access to The Full Story podcast, plus enjoy ad-free listening, early access to other podcast episodes, and a member-exclusive newsletter. Find out more and sign up here: https://historyextra.supportingcast.fm EXPLORE MORE For more fascinating stories from the past, head to HistoryExtra, the home of ‘History’s Greatest’ podcasts. Find out more at historyextra.com/podcast. GET IN TOUCH We'd love to know what you think about the podcast, so leave us a review and let us know the topics you think we should be covering. Or, follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram or YouTube to keep in touch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- 6 days ago43 min
D-Day’s secret hero: the true story behind Pressure (In paid partnership with StudioCanal)
What comes to mind when you think D-Day? Perhaps it’s the tactical brilliance of the commanders, or the brutal combat fought by the troops. But, what about meteorologist James Stagg? He’s the subject of the new Second World War thriller Pressure, and to find out more about his contribution to the War – and how you go about turning a Second World War story into a blockbuster – in this episode, Charlotte Vosper spoke to the writer of the film, David Haig, and Catherine Ross, the Met Office’s archive and library manager, who helped advise on the film. This episode was recorded live at the Royal Society of Arts, in partnership STUDIOCANAL. Pressure is now available to buy and rent from digital platforms, and will be available to own on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD from 30 November. GET MORE WITH MEMBERSHIP Become a HistoryExtra podcast member and unlock access to The Full Story podcast, plus enjoy ad-free listening, early access to other podcast episodes, and a member-exclusive newsletter. Find out more and sign up here: https://historyextra.supportingcast.fm EXPLORE MORE For more fascinating stories from the past, head to HistoryExtra, the home of ‘History’s Greatest’ podcasts. Find out more at historyextra.com/podcast. GET IN TOUCH We'd love to know what you think about the podcast, so leave us a review and let us know the topics you think we should be covering. Or, follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram or YouTube to keep in touch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- 1 weeks ago31 min
Why we believe in the supernatural
Ghosts, witches, flying nuns, and spirits summoned from beyond the grave might seem to belong to a less rational age. But were our ancestors really so different from us in their beliefs? In this episode, historian Malcolm Gaskill joins Elinor Evans to discuss his new book, Worlds of Fear and Wonder, and reveals how emotions like grief and uncertainty have shaped our relationship with the supernatural for centuries. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST You can hear more from Malcolm Gaskill, talking about Helen Duncan, also known as 'Hellish Nell', the last woman to be convicted and imprisoned under the 1735 Witchcraft Act, in this episode: https://bit.ly/4z11DRV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- 1 weeks ago40 min
How to build the ultimate medieval castle
If you had to survive a siege, which medieval fortress would you choose to be holed up inside? In today's episode, Dan Jones surveys the world's historic fortifications to cherry-pick the fashionable and functional features which he thinks would make the ultimate castle. Speaking to Charlotte Vosper, Dan guides us through the creation of his dream fortification, and reveals the most important principle for making a castle truly impregnable. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to find out more about how castles have changed the shape of warfare over time – from ancient Troy to 19th-century America – then check out this article from Dan Jones: https://bit.ly/4if4znp Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- 1 weeks ago32 min
Richard III's traumatic childhood
Richard III is one of the most divisive kings in all of English history – a man whose seizure of the throne in 1483 has provoked fierce debate for more than five centuries. But to what extent was his rise to power the product of his turbulent childhood? Chris Skidmore tells Spencer Mizen how a traumatic youth – witnessing war, rebellion and the brutal death of his father – shaped his reign. --- THE FULL STORY Today’s episode is a special preview of our new series, The Full Story, which offers in-depth, expert guides to some of history’s most compelling moments. To hear the rest of the series – and unlock access to the brand new channel, enjoy ad-free listening, and receive our exclusive membership newsletter – become a HistoryExtra podcast member today. Find out more and sign up here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- 1 weeks ago26 min
How Ghosts makes history funny – without getting it wrong
How do you make history hilarious without mangling the facts? As Ghosts: The Possession of Button House arrives on the big screen, co-creator, writer and actor Laurence Rickard (AKA Robin and Sir Humphrey Bone) reveals how the team brought the much-loved sitcom characters back to life for the feature film. Talking to Elinor Evans, he shares the team’s approach to historical accuracy, discusses why our understanding of the past is always changing, and explains how Ghosts has become an unexpected source of comfort for many. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Find out more about the real history behind the stories on the big screen, with our guides to the latest movie releases – from Sense and Sensibility and Pressure to The Uprising: https://bit.ly/4hDcR85 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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