History Hit Podcasts

Medieval Eastern Europe

From the Baltics to the Balkans, from Prague to Kiev, Eastern Europe is more than the sum total of its annexations, invasions and independence...

History of Breastfeeding

How has our relationship with breast milk changed through history? Why are there associations of shame with this most natural act, of us consuming...

Suicide Drones: A History

Drone warfare has undoubtedly become a crucial component of contemporary military operations - with drone strikes in the Russia-Ukraine war often...

The Crossfire of Gettysburg

Gettysburg is synonymous with the bloodiest battle in the history of the United States. But before it was the location of a battle and Lincoln's...

The Lighthouse of Alexandria

The last monument to be added to the list of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Lighthouse of Alexandria (also known as the Pharos), was...

Thomas More on Film: The Historians' Verdict

What do you get when you bring together five top historians to debate depictions of Thomas More on film and TV? History with the gloves off - our...

The Battle of Kursk

Dan explains Operation Citadel. In July and August of 1943, it was the last major attempt by the Nazis to turn the tide of the war in the East....

Rise and Fall of Cinema

What was the first cinema? When were the heydays of cinema-going and where are we now? How has the experience of going to the cinema...

The Creation of the NHS

75 years ago this week, the National Health Service was born. Launched by Aneurin Bevan on the 5th of July, 1948, it revolutionised healthcare in...

Garter Knights & Kings' Graves: St George's Chapel, Windsor

There are few places more fascinating and evocative for Medieval enthusiasts than Saint George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

In this episode...

April Ashley: Paris Showgirl, Vogue Model & Trans Trailblazer

As the UK’s second person to go through gender reassignment surgery, April Ashley was a trans trailblazer, breaking new ground fearlessly and...

California Gold Rush

From the rings on our fingers to coins in our pockets and, for a select few, the medals hanging around our necks. Gold is one of the most coveted...

The Battle of Gettysburg

The first three days of July 1863 saw the bloodiest single battle of the American Civil War. This clash between the Unionist and Confederate...

Elizabeth I's Musician: William Byrd

The most admired and influential composer during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth I and King James I, William Byrd died exactly 400 years ago on 4...

Alan Turing & Bletchley Park

Alan Turing: pioneering mathematician, computer scientist, codebreaker. He played a crucial role in decrypting Nazi messages during the Second...

The First Day of The Somme

Dan Explains the first day of The Somme which remains the bloodiest day in the history of the British army; a symbol of the senseless carnage of...

Lion Man: The First Myth?

Discovered in a German cave, days before the Second World War broke out, the Lion Man statue remained an enigma for decades. A figurine that...

Dogs: Domesticating Wolves, Inventing Breeds (& Killer Beavers)

How do we go from wolves to modern dogs? And where do Killer Beavers fit into the story?

Humans domesticated wolves long before any other...

Wagner & Putin: The Russian Coup?

On the 24th of June 2023, amidst rising tensions within Russia, the Wagner mercenary group rebelled against the Russian Government. With news...

Medieval Comedy: Minstrels

Every historian dreams of hitting gold in the archives. Matt Lewis’s guest Dr. James Wade of Girton College, Cambridge has done just...

Women Warriors: From Boudicca to Ukrainian Snipers

From Boudicca to Ukrainian snipers, battlefields have always contained a surprising number of women.

Today Kate is joined Betwixt the Sheets...