History Hit Podcasts

A Guide to Medieval Churches

​Do you know the difference between a church and a chapel? A bishop and an archbishop? An abbey and an abbess? 

In this episode of...

Medieval Torture & Execution

When you say ‘going medieval’ on someone, it brings up quite nasty connotations. 

But is this brutal suggestion a fair depiction of...

Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt: The Impossible Alliance that Won WWII

In the summer of 1941, Hitler invaded the Soviet Union. As the Germans drove towards Moscow, a catastrophic Soviet defeat seemed imminent - a...

Echoes of History: A New Chapter

Introducing a new chapter of Echoes of History, the podcast that explores the incredible real-life stories and events that inspire the locations,...

The Real Hamilton: Downfall, Duel & Death

When Alexander Hamilton took a bullet to the abdomen on the morning of the 11th July 1804, he joined a long list of people who had fallen foul of...

Shardlake and its Creator C.J. Sansom

Fans of historical fiction and crime novels have been saddened to learn of the recent death of the award-winning, best-selling author C.J. Sansom,...

The Great Famine: Ireland’s Darkest Chapter (Part 1)

One million people died. Two million emigrated. The Great Irish Famine was the world turned upside down. The darkest chapter in Ireland's...

Twelve Caesars with Mary Beard

The title of Caesar has echoed down the ages as the pinnacle of absolute power and perhaps even tyranny. A single man at the head of a nation or...

Marshal Pétain: Hero or Traitor?

Marshal Pétain emerged from the First World War as a French national hero. His defence of Verdun had set him on course to become one of France's...

The Cleopatras: A Dynasty of Rule Breakers

Cleopatra. It is one of the most recognisable names in ancient history, made famous by the exploits of Egypt’s controversial pharaoh queen. But...

The Viking Age: What Discoveries Reveal

The Vikings continue to fascinate us because their compelling stories connect with universal human desires for exploration and adventure. But...

Menopause: History, ‘Hysteria’ & Hormone Revolutions

When you look into the history of menopause it’s steeped in misogyny, fear and demonising women’s bodies. 

But what is the truth...

Forbidden Desire in Early Modern Europe

**This episode contains conversation about sexual behaviour**

In early modern Europe, acting upon same-sex desires was forbidden. We only...

President James A. Garfield: Sex Cults & Assassination

This may have been the second shortest Presidency in the history of the United States, but the term of James Garfield is definitely not one to...

Nineveh

Nineveh was one of the great cities of ancient Mesopotamia. Situated on the eastern bank of the River Tigris, it rivalled cities like Babylon and...

Harry Potter Monsters: The Ancient Origins

***Spoiler Alert: this episode contains spoilers for the Harry Potter books and films***

Giant snakes, winged horses and hooded demons. The...

Merlin, The Occult and British Politics

Who was the real Merlin? Dr Francis Young says the closest is John Dee, Elizabeth I's occultist advisor who gave her the idea for a British...

Women Crusaders

The image we usually associate with a Crusader - of a dashing nobleman on a mighty steed heading out for Holy War - often obscures all of the...

Sex & Scandal in Charles II's Court

There are many privileges that come with being a royal, but where do mistresses lay amongst these? If you'll excuse the pun.

Charles II was...

The Dynasty That Made Medieval France

From Hugh Capet to Eleanor of Aquitaine, the Capetian dynasty considered itself divinely chosen to fulfil a great destiny. From an insecure...

The Real Hamilton: Lover, Adulterer, Family Man?

Founding Father, first Secretary of the Treasury and focus of one of the world's first political sex scandals - we couldn't do a series about...