Episodes

  • How to stay healthy in the Middle Ages

    How to stay healthy in the Middle Ages
    Apr 2 2026
    In reality, were medieval people dirty and covered in mud? What did they think were the healthiest things to eat? And how often did they think they should be having sex? Speaking to Charlotte Vosper, Katherine Harvey reveals the practical, and somewhat surprising, ways in which individuals in the Middle Ages cared for body and mind – from food and sex to hygiene and even going to the toilet. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to find out more about what people in the past ate, then don't miss HistoryExtra's brand new series, History's Greatest Dishes. You can listen wherever you get your podcasts, or by clicking here: https://play.megaphone.fm/xrulxjiptaaaixz72wmtdw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    36 mins
  • Europe's Muslim history

    Europe's Muslim history
    Mar 31 2026
    From the magnificence of the Alhambra to the forgotten resting places of the Prophet Muhammad’s own relatives, Islam has long been a part of Europe’s history. Danny Bird speaks to Tharik Hussain about this continent-spanning saga, exploring Islam’s rich legacy within Europe and the reasons it is often overlooked today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    42 mins
  • Attila the Hun: life of the week

    Attila the Hun: life of the week
    Mar 30 2026
    Few historical figures have reputations quite as diabolical as that of Attila the Hun. This nomadic leader pitched up on the edge of the Roman empire in the fifth century AD, and spread terror and chaos so effectively that he came to be dubbed the ‘Scourge of God’. But was he really all that bad? Miles Russell talks to Spencer Mizen about Attila's astonishing life and legacy. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to learn about the exploits of another famous nomadic leader who spread fear across Asia and Europe, check out our Life of the Week podcast on Genghis Khan: https://bit.ly/4rzJIh3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    36 mins
  • Captured by Barbary corsairs: an Englishwoman's extraordinary tale

    Captured by Barbary corsairs: an Englishwoman's extraordinary tale
    Mar 29 2026
    In 1756, Elizabeth Marsh set sail from Gibraltar to Britain with the intention of meeting her fiancé. Instead, she was captured by Barbary corsairs – effectively pirates operating from north Africa, carrying off their victims into slavery – and taken to a Moroccan prince. But could she win her freedom? Here, talking to Spencer Mizen, Adam Nichols tells a story of lust, trickery, a fake marriage and the delicate relationship between Britain and the power brokers of north Africa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    33 mins
  • Was Elizabeth I's reign really a 'golden age'?

    Was Elizabeth I's reign really a 'golden age'?
    Mar 29 2026
    As Elizabeth I entered the final chapter of her reign, questions of ageing, succession, and legacy loomed large. In this final episode of our four-part Sunday Series on the Tudor monarch, Rachel Dinning is joined by historian Nicola Tallis to explore the queen’s later years, her reluctance to name an heir, and the political uncertainty that followed her death. They also examine how Elizabeth’s image was carefully crafted in her lifetime and beyond, helping to transform her into the enduring symbol of the ‘Golden Age’ that still captivates popular imagination today. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Want to know more about Elizabeth I and her remarkable reign? Rachel Dinning rounds up essential reading from the HistoryExtra archive that explores Elizabeth's early life, rise to power, court intrigues, and the legacy that made her one of history's most iconic monarchs: https://bit.ly/4qfjCiO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    29 mins
  • Spy, hero, rebel, traitor: the story of Roger Casement

    Spy, hero, rebel, traitor: the story of Roger Casement
    Mar 27 2026
    Rory Carroll unpacks the dramatic final years of Roger Casement – an Irish diplomat and nationalist whose tangled legacy includes heroism, betrayal, and personal scandal. Carroll tells Elinor Evans about how Casement's support of Irish Home Rule in the early 20th century morphed into a bold plan. As the First World War raged on, and Britain's attentions were engaged elsewhere, Casement chose a fateful path: to ally with Germany, seeking arms and support for the nationalist cause. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Find out more about the cause of Home Rule, Irish Nationalism, and the 1916 Easter Rising: https://bit.ly/4rMI6kz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    41 mins
  • The relentless rise of the mafia

    The relentless rise of the mafia
    Mar 25 2026
    The 20th century saw the mafia go global. Crime groups, from Japan's Yakuza to southern Italy's Camorra, capitalised on political chaos and mass migration to spread their influence around the world. In this episode, Spencer Mizen and Ryan Gingeras trace the relentless rise of the mafia, a tale that takes in Al Capone, Pablo Escobar and Don Corleone. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST  If you'd like to learn more about this subject, then why not check out Ryan's article on the relentless rise of the Mafia in the March issue of HistoryExtra Magazine. You can find that in the HistoryExtra app: https://bit.ly/4s2ZYYX Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    43 mins
  • Harriet Martineau: life of the week

    Harriet Martineau: life of the week
    Mar 24 2026
    Thinker, feminist, sociologist, campaigner: 19th-century writer Harriet Martineau was a pioneer and a radical across a huge range of areas, but it's very likely you've never heard of her. Stuart Hobday tells Matt Elton about a figure who played a key role in shaping the modern world – and wasn't afraid to ruffle some feathers along the way. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Read more about radical women who shaped the modern world in HistoryExtra's extensive collection of articles and podcasts: https://bit.ly/4rt2sie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    40 mins