History Hit Podcasts

President William McKinley: The Secret Service & the Spanish-American War

Why does the Secret Service protect the President of the United States? And what can we learn from McKinley's life and presidency, not just his...

The Roman Gladiator

The ferocious, professional fighters who fought in great arenas all across the Roman Empire for the pleasure of the crowd were the celebrities of...

Charles II's Most Infamous Mistress: Barbara Villiers

The tempestuous and passionate Barbara Villiers captured the hearts of many in Stuart-era Britain, including King Charles II. But she had a dark...

Slenderman & Mothman: Origins of Internet Horror

"The internet is full of dark and wicked things" said a police chief after a shocking crime by two children claiming to be acolytes of the...

Biden: US Presidents, Reelection & the Second Term Curse

President Joe Biden will address the nation from the Oval Office on Wednesday night, after announcing he was ending his reelection bid a few...

The Voyage That Changed the Way We Eat

3/4 In February 1882 the SS Dunedin departed New Zealand on a voyage that would revolutionise the way we eat and kickstart the world's food supply...

Flagellation Brothels: Georgian Spanking Houses

18th century London was a haven for kinky connoisseurs, and flagellation houses were at the heart of it.

Whatever your preference to be...

Emperor Frederick II: Scourge of the Papacy

One of the most important of Holy Roman Emperors, Frederick II was revered and reviled in equal measures.  He was a scholar, an architect, a...

The Greatest Crown Jewel: The Koh-i-Noor Diamond

The literal jewel in the British crown, the Koh-i-Noor diamond has a history as rich as its caratage. Queen Victoria received it from the last...

Bidens Out: A History of What Could Happen Next

How unprecedented is Joe Biden's sudden withdrawal from the presidential race? He's given his endorsement to Kamala Harris to take his place, but...

Secrets of the White House

How did a party in the White House end in mayhem? When did the West Wing become a hive of government? And how has the private life of the...

The Mighty Ashanti: Rival to the British Empire

At the end of the 17th century, a small clan - the Akan - in West Africa began growing into what would later become the powerful Ashanti...

Victorian Teen Who Murdered Her Baby Brother

In 1860 Britain was rocked by the brutal murder of 3-year-old Francis Kent inside his family home. Scotland Yard sent their finest but when a...

Operation Valkyrie: The Attempted Assassination of Hitler

On the 80th anniversary of the 20th of July Plot, Dan explores the dramatic events when members of Germany's military and political elite...

Neanderthal Britain

For more than 100,000 years, Neanderthals made their home in Ice Age Britain, right on the edge of the inhabitable world. But what evidence do we...

US Presidents Who Escaped Assassination

Lincoln, FDR, Reagan, Clinton, Bush and now Trump. All have been targets of assassination attempts while in or running for office. Listen to this...

The Medieval Tudors

We don't often use the word 'Tudor' on Gone Medieval but we can't ignore how the Tudors have a sensational medieval story. 

Henry VII...

Incest & Royalty: House of the Dragon & Beyond

With the House of the Dragon featuring *that* incest scene, we thought we'd look into the real history of sexual relations within...

Sovereignty, the Constitution and 100 years of Citizenship: Native Rights

This podcast contains adult language.

What was the ‘Indian Citizenship Act’ of 1924? Why was it necessary? How did it happen? And why...

Pyramid of the Sun

The Pyramid of the Sun is ancient America’s Great Pyramid of Giza. Built in the legendary city of Teotihuacán, and given its name by the...

Spycraft: From the Elizabethans to the Restoration

The 16th and 17th centuries were a crucial time for spycraft, full of political intrigue and diplomatic subterfuge. Walsingham was known as a 'Spy...