History Collection

Histories of the Unexpected explores the past in ways that you never dreamt possible.  It adopts a new approach to exploring our past. Gone is the traditional linear plotting of battles, monarchs and political movements. Histories of the Unexpected argues that everything has a history, even the most unexpected of subjects. Like SLIME. Or COURAGE. or APPLAUSE…. Presented by Dr Sam Willis and Professor James Daybell

Sam Willis and James Daybell take on the UNEXPECTED history of CLOTHING! It’s all about social control, death, recycling and mending, nationalism, Venice, knights and maidens, the Crown Jewels, ostriches, Thomas Wolsey, and the rediscovery of a long lost dress that once belonged to Queen Elizabeth I of England!

5 Minute History brings you short histories of events, places, companies, products, and all sorts of other things. The show is split into seasons, each of which consists of ten episodes. Each episode, as the title of the show suggests, is only a few minutes long, so you can quickly learn the facts without all of the fluff that maybe you don’t need to know

In the fourth episode of season three of the 5 Minute History podcast, Wayne Armstrong take a brief look at the history something that most people own multiple pairs of – shoes.

The history podcast for people who don’t like history… and those who do. Greg Jenner brings together the best names in comedy and history to learn and laugh about the past.

This episode is about Lord Byron.  Was he the original celebrity? He might have been, you know. You should hear about the “things” that his fans sent him in the post! Find out the truth behind the first boy ever described as, “mad, bad and dangerous to know”. Greg Jenner is joined by comedian Ed Gamble and historian Dr Corin Throsby.

Revisionist History is Malcolm Gladwell’s journey through the overlooked and the misunderstood. Every episode re-examines something from the past—an event, a person, an idea, even a song—and asks whether we got it right the first time.  Because sometimes the past deserves a second chance.

In this episode – Dr Rock’s Taxonomy – we look at the story of John Rock who was the co-inventor of the birth control pill — and a committed Catholic. He wanted his church to approve of his invention. What happens when a layman takes on the Vatican?

Dan Snow’s History Hit is the UK’s most successful history podcast, with almost a million listens every month.  It features reports from the weird and wonderful places around the world where history has been made and interviews with some of the best historians writing today. Dan also covers some of the major anniversaries as they pass by and explores the deep history behind today’s headlines – giving you the context to understand what is going on today.

Peaky Blinders: The Real Story.  Dan talks to the well known social historian, broadcaster and author Professor Carl Chinn in this episode where the true history of Birmingham’s most notorious gangs is revealed.

NEON is a different way of sharing historical knowledge. NEON takes a pop culture phenomenon and turns it on its head by revealing lesser known facts, real-life events and history behind your favourite Netflix shows, movies or video games.

Here Jem Duducu looks at the themes of female power play, the history of colour, Britain’s greatest general and code breaking – whilst discussing the films The Favourite and Mary, Queen of Scots