History Hit Podcasts

Othered: Race, Gender & Human 'Monsters'

**Contains examples of 'othering', including birth abnormalities, and the terms used to describe them historically**

Professor Suzannah...

Roman Aqueducts

How did Roman aqueducts help build an empire? They’re some of the most iconic structures from the ancient world — feats of engineering that...

The Surrender of Japan

On the morning of August 15th, 1945, Emperor Hirohito's voice crackled over Japanese airwaves to announce the unthinkable - the surrender of...

The Strangest Tudor & Stuart Aphrodisiacs

Forget oysters, have you tried eating sparrows with a side of phallic vegetables to stir your lust?!

Getting in the mood isn’t just a...

Legend of William Tell

What happened when tyranny came face to face with an imperturbable crossbow sharp-shooter?

Dr. Eleanor Janega explores the myth of...

The End of the Pacific War

On August 14, 1945, the Japanese government accepted Allied terms of surrender. The war in the Pacific was over. But how had it come to...

Trajan's Projects In The Provinces

In the new game Anno 117: Pax Romana, the Emperor has appointed you as governor, tasked with developing new provinces in the Empire. The game is...

Molière: Satire, Scandal & the Stage

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Professor Jan Clarke to explore the life, legend, and legacy of Jean-Baptiste Poquelin — better known...

The Body In The Trunk: France's Shocking 19th Century Murder Case

It was a murder mystery that gripped 19th century France and changed crime investigation forever.

Who was the body in the trunk? What were...

Edinburgh Castle

From its origins as a Bronze Age settlement, to a battleground for Robert the Bruce’s men during the Wars of Independence, and a refuge for...

How to Survive in Carthage

From towering tenements to Punic porridge — step into the streets of ancient Carthage.

In this immersive episode of The Ancients, Tristan...

How to Survive the 15th Century

As a summertime treat, Dr. Eleanor Janega is let out of the Gone Medieval dungeon to join Matt Lewis to delve into the complexities of the 15th...

Did Henry VI Have A Sex Coach?

Henry VI didn't fit the medieval image of masculinity, or that much of a king, either.

Who gave sex education to someone of this stature?...

The Great Train Robbery

Did the "heist of the century" really happen the way the robbers say it did? In the summer of 1963, a gang of masked robbers executed a daring...

Italians in America

From Columbus onwards, Italians have been a part of American culture. Don explores this rich history with Professor Anthony Tamburri, Dean of the...

Bloodiest Mutiny & Shipwreck in History: Batavia

What happens when you're left on a desert island with a psychopath? This is a story so horrendous it would be hard to believe were it not for the...

Vasari: Inventor of Artistic Genius

What if the tale of one night could change the way we view art forever?

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Dr. Noah Charney to explore...

The Olmec: Mother of Mesoamerican Civilisations

Iconic monumental stone heads, the intriguing Lord of Las Limas, the enigmatic 'were-jaguar' figures, so much survives from the ancient Olmec...

Hiroshima: As It Happened

This episode contains descriptions of graphic violence and may not be suitable for all listeners.

On the morning of August 6th, 1945, a...

Medieval Beauty Standards with Kate Lister

How did the 14th-century Black Death influenced fashion trends? And were medieval bald men considered 'hot' because their hair burned off due to...

Who Were The Vestal Virgins?

What happened if a Vestal Virgin broke their pledge of virginity? How would a woman be chosen for the role? And were there any benefits to taking...