History Hit Podcasts

America Prepares for War: FDR & WW2

Was the USA already a superpower when it joined the Second World War? How did it turn from an isolationist nation to a force ready for...

Obscene Jokes in the Early Modern Period

In the 16th Century, rude jokes and scatological humour were just as much a feature of life as they are today. Between 1529 and 1539, a Swiss...

WW2: Last Letters of Resistance Fighters

It's 1943, you're part of the French resistance, and you've been sentenced to death. You're allowed to write one last letter before you're shot by...

1. Story of England: Stone Age to Roman Days

Dan begins his ultimate historical road trip at the mysterious plinths at Stonehenge in the South-West of England. Dan uncovers how the stones...

Rise and Fall of Encyclopedias

The 15th edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, published in 1974, cost $32 million to create. The largest investment in publishing history. And...

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

A legendary, ancient architectural wonder, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are one of the most famed wonders of the Ancient world. Described as...

Sudan: Why Is There A Conflict?

Fighting has broken out in Sudan following years of power struggle between the country's military leadership: General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head...

Molly Houses

It’s hard to imagine London’s gay scene before vibrant night spots like Heaven and G.A.Y, but come back with us to the 18th Century to find...

Medieval Warfare: Deception and Trickery

Deception and trickery have always been a universal feature of warfare and the wars of the Middle Ages were no exception - from the Battle of...

Serial Killer Family on the Frontier

Between 1871 and 1872, Labette County, Kansas became a source of mystery. Several people have gone missing on their journey west and a few bodies...

Poverty Point: Centre of Ancient America

An ancient, colossal site in Northeastern Louisiana, Poverty Point is a mystery amongst archaeologist and anthropologists a like. Dating back...

Anne Boleyn & Katherine of Aragon: Rival Queens?

History has painted Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn in two very different hues: one wife, one mistress; one Spanish, one French; one committed...

Henry III vs. Simon de Montfort

After speaking to Gone Medieval in April 2022 about the first volume of his magisterial biography of Henry III, David Carpenter promised Matt...

Inventing Bond: Wiretapping

We live in a world where everything is bugged. We all know we are being monitored. The surprising thing is that this is nothing new.

From...

Britain's WWII Lumberjills

The Second World War placed a tremendous strain on Britain's natural resources. One of the most important materials for fuelling the war effort...

Murder in the Roman World

The Ancient Romans are often thought of as ahead of their time. They invented concrete, sophisticated road systems and even underfloor...

Henry III vs. Simon de Montfort

After speaking to Gone Medieval in April 2022 about the first volume of his magisterial biography of Henry III, David Carpenter promised Matt...

Nazi Codebreaking with Betty Webb

Betty Webb is the last known living veteran who worked on both German and Japanese codes at Bletchley Park and Dan got an invite to her 100th...

LBJ's Legacy

The Vietnam War or the Great Society? Which event looms larger in the history of the United States? 

The 36th President of the United...

The Dambusters Raid with Max Hastings

80 years ago, in the late hours of May 16th 1943, Wing Commander Guy Gibson fearlessly commanded the 617 Squadron of the Royal Air Force to...

Enslaved Children in 16th Century Spain

Following the Second Granada War (1568-70), thousands of Moriscos in Spain were exiled, imprisoned or enslaved. Moriscos were former Muslims who...