History Hit Podcasts

How and Why History: King David

One of the Old Testament’s most compelling figures, King David was anointed as king of a united Israel, conquering Jerusalem and bringing the...

In Conversation with Sir David Attenborough

Sir David Attenborough is an English veteran broadcaster and naturalist. He is best known for writing and presenting the nine Life series, in...

Septimius Severus in Scotland

Dan Snow talks to Simon Elliott about Septimius Severus, the first Hammer of the Scots, about his Northern Campaigns, and the true story of this...

Ireland's Great Famine: Counterpoint

Christine Kinealy joined me on this podcast to discuss the British government’s adverse policies during the Great Famine, and the effects these...

The Lancaster Bomber: A Veteran’s View

An Avro Lancaster Bomber was one of the most dangerous places to be during the Second World War. The planes had a 46% combat attrition rate, and yet...

WW2 Tank Commander with Captain David Render

Captain David Render was a nineteen-year-old second lieutenant fresh from Sandhurst when he was sent to France to join a veteran armoured unit that...

A President Incapacitated: Woodrow Wilson's Stroke

101 years ago this week, President Woodrow Wilson suffered a serious stroke which left him prone to "disorders of emotion, impaired impulse...

Asylum on Saint Helena

Annina Van Neel showed me around Saint Helena, a small scrap of land in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. This island is the most significant...

Vikings Conquer The World: The Dawn Of A New Era

Viking attacks continued in England, but Alfred the Great and his troops fought back. Maybe it's time for the conquerors of the North to go and...

Birth Of An Empire: The Vikings In England

10 years after the conquest and the very first victories, it's time for the Vikings to start building! It's time for setting down roots, from...

War with Margaret MacMillan

Margaret MacMillan joined me on the podcast to discuss the ways in which war has influenced human society. We discussed how, in turn, changes in...

Nero the Antichrist?

The Emperor Nero is one of antiquity's most infamous figures, having a particularly hostile relationship with the Christians. But did the early...

MI9: The Secret Service for Escape and Evasion

Helen Fry joined me on the podcast to talk about the thrilling history of MI9. The WWII organisation engineered the escape of Allied forces from...

How Steam Power Remade the World

John Darwin joined me on the podcast to discuss how steam power reshaped our cities and our seas, and forged a new world order.

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Nazi Megastructures

Walking around Second World War fortifications, Patrick Bury is able to draw on his time in the infantry to tell the stories of the battles that...

The Hunt For The Killers Of Julius Caesar

Peter Stothard joined me on the podcast to discuss the assassination of Julius Caesar. Many men killed Julius Caesar. Only one man was determined...

Thor's Hammer

Set off with the Great Viking Army to conquer English Kingdoms. Find yourself in the midst of a conquest, battles and pillages. Also discover some...

Agrippa: Rome's Forgotten Hero

There are few men in Roman history that can claim to have been as influential as Marcus Agrippa. The right-hand man of Octavian / Augustus, his...

Soviet Snipers on the Eastern Front

In many countries, including Britain, women were banned from taking part in active combat operations during the Second World War. In the Soviet...

History of China with Michael Wood

Michael Wood joined me on the podcast to talk about his new history of China. He takes a fresh look at Chinese history in the light of the current...

Longships: The Dragon Of The Seas

Embark on a Viking ship, travel the seas, overcome huge waves and dodge lightning! Feel the fear in an untamed ocean. If you let yourself be...