History Hit Podcasts

The Manson Family: Cult Murder in Hollywood

In the summer of 1969, Hollywood was shaken by a set of brutal murders. Their perpetrators? The infamous Charles Manson and his 'family'.

In...

Xanthippe: The Formidable Wife of Socrates

Assassin's Creed Odyssey lets players spend time with renowned philosopher Sokrates - but it also lets us meet his surprisingly younger and...

How to Kill a Scottish Witch

**This episode contains some descriptions of torture and executions**

If you lived in Scotland in the 1500s, it was highly likely that you,...

Lost Colony of Roanoke: the Untold Story

The lost colonists left behind one clue, the word "Croatoan" carved into a tree. Who were the Croatans? What were their lives like? How can we see...

The Nazi Occupation of Jersey

The only British territory ever occupied by the Nazis was the Channel Islands. From 1940 to the end of the war, the Germans turned Jersey, and...

The Council of Nicaea

1700 years ago, the Roman Emperor Constantine called an unprecedented meeting of early Christian leaders from across the empire to settle a fierce...

Legends of Robin Hood

Was Robin Hood a symbol of justice? A challenge to authority? Or simply a folk hero offering a fantasy of freedom? Whether or not he truly...

What Made You Ugly In Tudor Times?

Why did royalty have worse teeth than commoners? How would the Tudor court have smelt? And when even the Queen of England can be accused of being...

Why is Timbuktu Famous?

Synonymous for somewhere far away, Timbuktu has been mythologised by the stories of old European explorers. But in fact, for centuries it was in...

Shakespeare's First Playhouse

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Dr. Daniel Swift to delve into the formative years of William Shakespeare's career. They explore the...

How to Survive the Desert: Cities of the Southwest

How did cities grow in America's largest and hottest desert? How did the rivers of the South West shape its history? Don is joined by Kyle...

The Last Roman Emperors

No grand battle. No final blaze of glory. In 476 AD, the Western Roman Empire collapsed not with a roar, but with a quiet abdication. A boy...

The Dark Side of Ancient Egypt

When people talk about Ancient Egypt, they often focus on the amazing pyramids, mummies, and the advanced civilisation.

At After Dark, we...

The Glorious Revolution

In this episode we hear all about the Glorious Revolution, a pivotal moment in British history that saw the overthrow of King James II and the...

Ivar the Boneless

Ivar the Boneless is renowned as a fearsome Norse leader who invaded England and Ireland. But beyond the myth-making, who was Ivar really? Was he...

The Dandy: Dressing in Defiance

He cuts a fine figure, walking down the street. Whether it's a bow tie and a sharp suit, perfectly curated clashing colours, or a moustache with...

Jonestown: The Death of a Cult

Did you ever wonder where the phrase 'drink the Kool-Aid' came from? In this second episode about the Peoples Temple, we rejoin them in Jonestown,...

Sparta vs Athens: The Peloponnesian War

Assassin's Creed Odyssey puts us at the heart of the expansive conflict that occurred when Athens went to war with Sparta: the Peloponnesian War....

Lost Colony of Roanoke: Mystery of Virginia Dare

WTF happened to Virginia Dare, America's first English child? How did her and her mother's legend grow over time? Did mysterious carvings found on...

Young Elizabeth I

Before she became Queen Elizabeth I, Elizabeth Tudor was surrounded by scandal, suspicion and deadly intrigue. Born to Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII,...

The Siege of Vienna

In the summer of 1683, Vienna was under siege. A vast Ottoman army surrounded the city, poised to breach the walls and clear the way for Ottoman...