HistoryExtra podcast
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The HistoryExtra podcast brings you gripping stories from the past and fascinating historical conversations with the world's leading historical experts. HistoryExtra is a free history podcast, with episodes released six times a week. Subscribe now for the real stories behind your favourite films, TV shows and period dramas, as well as compelling insights into lesser-known aspects of the past. We delve into global history stories spanning the ancient world right up to the modern day. You’ll hear deep dives into the lives of famous historical figures like Cleopatra, Anne Boleyn and Winston Churchill, and explorations of intriguing events from the past, such as the Salem witch trials, the battle of Waterloo and D-Day. Expect fresh takes on history, helping you get to grips with the latest research, as we explore everything from ancient Roman archaeology and Viking mythology to Renaissance royals and Tudor kings and queens. Our episodes touch on a wide range of historical eras – from the Normans and Saxons to the Stuarts, Victorians and the Regency period. We cover the most popular historical subjects, from the medieval world to the Second World War, but you’ll also hear conversations on lesser-known parts of our past, including black history and women’s history. Looking at the history behind today’s headlines, we consider the forces that have shaped today’s world, from the imposing empires that dominated continents, to the revolutions that brought them crashing down. We also examine the impact of conflict across the centuries, from the crusades of the Middle Ages and the battles of the ancient Egyptians to World War One, World War Two and the Cold War. Plus, we uncover the real history behind myths, legends and conspiracy theories, from the medieval murder mystery of the Princes in the Tower, to the assassination of JFK. Featuring interviews with notable historians including Mary Beard, Tracy Borman, James Holland and Dan Jones, we cover a range of social, political and military history, with the aim to start conversations about some of the most fascinating areas of the past. Unlock full access to HistoryExtra.com for 6 months for just 99p https://www.historyextra.com/join/
Listen to the last episode:
In 1708, the Spanish galleon San José was sunk by a British warship off the coast of Colombia, vanishing beneath the waves with a treasure trove of unimaginable riches. The wreck's exact location remained a mystery for centuries – until a maritime archaeologist named Roger Dooley made it his life’s mission to find it. In this episode, Julian Sancton tells Jon Bauckham about Dooley’s incredible search, set against a backdrop of secrecy, sacrifice and Cold War tensions. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Don't miss our alternate history feature on the War of the Spanish Succession, and what might have happened had Charles II produced an heir: https://bit.ly/4lUL7h1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Previous episodes
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2571 - How to find a billion-dollar shipwreck Thu, 16 Apr 2026
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2570 - A fantastical history of fairies Tue, 14 Apr 2026
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2569 - Aud the Deep-Minded: life of the week Mon, 13 Apr 2026
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2568 - How Tudor London inspired literary genius Sun, 12 Apr 2026
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2567 - The rise of Alfred the Great Sat, 11 Apr 2026
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2566 - Stalin's murderous vendetta against Trotsky Thu, 09 Apr 2026
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2565 - A new take on the battle of Hastings Tue, 07 Apr 2026
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2564 - Mrs Beeton: life of the week Mon, 06 Apr 2026
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2563 - The battle of the Arctic: the overlooked crucible of WW2 Sun, 05 Apr 2026
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2562 - How the Vikings pushed Anglo-Saxon England to the brink Sat, 04 Apr 2026
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2561 - How to stay healthy in the Middle Ages Thu, 02 Apr 2026
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2560 - Europe's Muslim history Tue, 31 Mar 2026
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2559 - Attila the Hun: life of the week Mon, 30 Mar 2026
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2558 - Captured by Barbary corsairs: an Englishwoman's extraordinary tale Sun, 29 Mar 2026
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2557 - Was Elizabeth I's reign really a 'golden age'? Sun, 29 Mar 2026
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2556 - Spy, hero, rebel, traitor: the story of Roger Casement Fri, 27 Mar 2026
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2555 - The relentless rise of the mafia Wed, 25 Mar 2026
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2554 - Harriet Martineau: life of the week Tue, 24 Mar 2026
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2553 - Sores, sweat and secretions: the pox in early modern London Mon, 23 Mar 2026
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2552 - Elizabeth’s enemies: plots, rivals and the Spanish Armada Sun, 22 Mar 2026
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2551 - Britain and the looted African gold Fri, 20 Mar 2026
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2550 - The devastating Jewish revolt against the Roman empire Wed, 18 Mar 2026
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2549 - Culture and conflict: a historical tour of Dublin Tue, 17 Mar 2026
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2548 - How Rasputin helped doom the Romanovs Mon, 16 Mar 2026
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2547 - Elizabeth I: a woman in a man’s world Sun, 15 Mar 2026
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2546 - Life on the mean streets of 19th-century London Fri, 13 Mar 2026
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2545 - Trailblazers and troublemakers: women who made French history Wed, 11 Mar 2026
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2544 - Vladimir Lenin: life of the week Tue, 10 Mar 2026
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2543 - Why Britons rejected fascism in the 1930s Mon, 09 Mar 2026
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2542 - Young Elizabeth I: the making of a queen Sun, 08 Mar 2026
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2541 - A poetic history of England Fri, 06 Mar 2026
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2540 - The hidden history behind Mount Rushmore Wed, 04 Mar 2026
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2539 - Juana Inés de la Cruz: life of the week Tue, 03 Mar 2026
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2538 - The forgotten wars that redefined Europe Mon, 02 Mar 2026
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2537 - Does Magna Carta matter today? Sun, 01 Mar 2026
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2536 - Slavery in the Islamic world Fri, 27 Feb 2026
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2535 - The real women behind Europe's greatest legends Wed, 25 Feb 2026
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2534 - Thomas Edison: life of the week Tue, 24 Feb 2026
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2533 - Following the footsteps of a WW2 prisoner of war Mon, 23 Feb 2026
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2532 - Magna Carta: why didn't King John keep his word? Sun, 22 Feb 2026
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2531 - How to be a Victorian Fri, 20 Feb 2026
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2530 - "The streets will run with blood!": the uprising that shook Victorian Britain Wed, 18 Feb 2026
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2529 - Pocahontas: life of the week Tue, 17 Feb 2026
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2528 - The ruthless revolution that made Britain great Mon, 16 Feb 2026
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2527 - The Magna Carta myth Sun, 15 Feb 2026
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2526 - Terrible puns and filthy limericks: the Victorian sense of humour Fri, 13 Feb 2026
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2525 - What your hands say about you – according to history Wed, 11 Feb 2026
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2524 - Thomas More: life of the week Tue, 10 Feb 2026
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2523 - Going on strike in ancient Rome Mon, 09 Feb 2026
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2522 - Magna Carta: king v barons Sun, 08 Feb 2026