History Hit Podcasts

Witch Hunts of Scotland

In 1603, James VI & I became the first king of Scotland and England. But this isn’t the only reason he was remarkable. Because he also had a...

The Rise of Buffalo Bill

He was the most famous man in the world at the turn of the 20th century, bringing the American frontier to the rest of the United States, the...

Witches of St Osyth

In March 1582, a number of women from the small Essex village of St Osyth, were hanged for the crime of witchcraft. Several others, including one...

Messalina: Empress of Rome

In this episode of The Ancients, host Tristan Hughes speaks with historian Honor Cargill-Martin about the notorious Empress Messalina, third wife...

Dan Explains: The Dambusters Part 2

On the night of the 16th May, 1943, Operation Chastise commenced - 133 RAF airmen in their iconic Lancaster bombers took off from England, bound...

Inventing Bond: Cocktails

It's Cocktail Hour! In honour of James Bond we ask who invented cocktails? Have they always been a cool thing to drink? And where do horses...

Dan Explains: The Dambusters Part 1

On the night of the 16th of May, 1943, 133 RAF airmen in their iconic Lancaster bombers took off from England, and headed for Germany. Armed with...

Origins of English

Approximately 1.35 billion people use it, either as a first or second language, so English and the way that we speak it has a daily impact on huge...

Perfume

What did Napoleon smell like? How many pairs of scented gloves did Marie Antoinette get through a month? And how did the study of perfume become...

Ruling as a Renaissance Queen

The 16th century in Europe was an age of great Queens. But just because they were in charge, didn't always mean they were powerful or safe; it was...

Roanoke: The Lost English Colony

When it was founded in 1585, Roanoke was intended to be the first permanent English outpost in America. So how did it become the 'lost...

Louis XIV and his Mistresses

Louis XIV ruled France for more than 72 years, the longest recorded reign of any monarch of any sovereign country in history. Despite the...

Duke of Wellington

Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, was a soldier, statesman, and prominent political figure who served the United Kingdom twice as Prime...

Knossos

The legend of the Minotaur and its labyrinth has captivated us for centuries, but is there any evidence of it really existing?

In this...

Alexander The Great's Sex Life

This episode contains references and words of a sexual nature.

Did Alexander the Great and the Queen of the Amazons really have sex for 13...

Horses

In this story, the cart really does come before the horse. Horse transport doesn't begin with people riding around on horses' backs. It starts...

Charles III Coronation: Security & Threats

The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla will be an event attended by thousands, including heads of state, dignitaries, and members of...

How The Weather Shaped Medieval North America

One of the most consequential eras in North American history was the Medieval Warm Period of 800-1300 CE, when the continent was shaped by climate...

Coronation Fashion: Crowns, Orbs & Pubic Wigs

From significantly sized cod-pieces to revenge dresses, the Royal family have used clothes to send a message to the public for centuries, and a...

The King & FDR: The Birth of the Special Relationship

In 1939, on the invitation of Franklin D. Roosevelt, King George VI became the first reigning British monarch to set foot on American...

King Midas

As Shirley Bassey once said, "He's the man. The man with the Midas touch." But who was the man that's inspired stories from Greek myths to Bond...