History Extra podcast
By Immediate Media
The History Extra podcast brings you gripping stories from the past and fascinating historical conversations with the world's leading historical experts.
Produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine, History Extra 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/
Produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine, History Extra 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/
Latest episode
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Women killers of the early modern era
Blessin Adams explores how female murderers were portrayed in early modern Britain – and what their stories reveal about attitudes to gender and crime -
Rosa Luxemburg: life of the week
Mark Jones discusses the revolutionary life of Rosa Luxemburg – the socialist firebrand whose convictions put her on a collision course with the jingoism of her age -
Women's hidden role in religious reformation
Merry Wiesner-Hanks considers how early modern women transformed religious lives around the world -
The history of British homes: everything you wanted to know
From the window tax and deadly gas irons to history's worst furnishing trends, Deborah Sugg Ryan delves into the history of British homes -
Wolfmen and amazons: why did the Greeks and Romans demonise their neighbours?
Dr Owen Rees reveals why classical Greeks and Romans were so fascinated by the 'barbarians' beyond their borders -
Reform and rebellion in the reign of Henry III
Luke Foddy examines the impact of political turbulence on the ordinary people of 13th-century England -
Emily Hobhouse: life of the week
Elsabé Brits charts the life of the activist who exposed the appalling conditions in British concentration camps during the Second Anglo-Boer War -
Cheese-rolling, horse skulls & morris dancers: Britain's strange folk customs
Liz Williams runs through some of Britain's most bizarre and intriguing folk traditions -
Roman medicine: everything you wanted to know
Dr Patty Baker answers your questions about the gruesome – but surprisingly sophisticated – world of Roman medicine -
What's the state of women's history in 2025?
To mark International Women's Day, a panel of experts join Ellie Cawthorne to discuss the biggest trends in women's history at the moment
