Beastly History

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30 Aug 2026 · 32 min

Terra Nova Expedition: Sex, Death and Survival in Antarctica (Part 2)

It’s 1912, and on the Terra Nova British Antarctic Expedition, scientist and explorer George Murray Levick and five other men are marooned on what they’ll come to call ‘Inexpressible Island’. Their ship has failed to return. The Antarctic winter is closing in — seven months of brutal cold and constant darkness. With time running out, the men must build a tiny ice cave, hunt seals and penguins for food, and somehow survive the most hostile environment on Earth. They’ll battle hunger, illness and exposure. And if they make it through the winter, they face a gruelling journey back to base, to…

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Earlier episodes 6 most recent

1. 

   25 Jul 2026 · 26 min

   Terra Nova Expedition: Sex, Death and Survival in Antarctica (Part 1)

   You may have heard of Captain Scott's doomed race to the South Pole. But do you know about the other gripping survival stories on history's most infamous Antarctic Expedition? Scientist and explorer George Murray Levick makes discoveries about Adélie penguins’ sex lives that shock him and could scandalise Edwardian British sensibilities. But will Levick even live to share his story? When he and five other men are marooned on ‘Inexpressible Island’, they must summon all their mental and physical strength to face the most brutal winter on Earth alone. Michelle is joined by expert Douglas…

2. 

   15 Jun 2026 · 37 min

   The Lion Queen: The Dangerous World of Big Cat Taming

   Nellie Chapman has an extraordinary way of drawing a crowd. Born into the strange and spectacular world of 19th Century travelling menageries, she rises to fame as one of Britain's most celebrated lion tamers. Performing inside the cage with some of the world's most feared predators, Nellie captivates audiences eager for a glimpse of danger. A performance for Queen Victoria offers the chance of a lifetime, but life among the big cats comes with enormous risks. At the height of Nellie's career, a shocking on-stage tragedy sparks public outrage and shines a spotlight on the hidden realities of…

3. 

   12 May 2026 · 35 min

   'Iceberg Right Ahead!' A Titanic Lookout's Story

   (Content warning: please be aware this episode includes discussion of suicide). It's 1140pm in the North Atlantic Ocean, April 14 1912, when Titanic lookout Fred Fleet first glimpses a hulking great mass of ice looming out of the darkness. He desperately warns the crew with the famous words "Iceberg! Right Ahead!" But it's already too late. Many things went wrong in the build up to one of history's most famous disasters and the loss of around 1500 lives. And in this episode we're focusing on the Titanic story through the point of view of 24-year-old lookout Fred Fleet. Why didn't Fleet see…

4. 

   1 Apr 2026 · 28 min

   Ireland’s Wolf Hunters

   Rory Carragh has a deadly reputation. He hunts wolves, and he’s very good at it. Now he faces his toughest challenge yet. Two large wolves keep taking sheep in a remote mountain village, and the people are getting desperate. These elusive wolves are said to be among the last in County Tyrone. For Carragh, success means reward and status. But failure could cost him everything. In this episode, we journey back to a time when wolves and humans coexisted across Ireland, before the violent upheaval of the 17th century. Under Oliver Cromwell, forests were destroyed and bounties placed on wolves,…

5. 

   27 Feb 2026 · 29 min

   The Hound of the Baskervilles: Dartmoor’s Demon Dogs

   It’s 1901. Writer Arthur Conan Doyle is on holiday when he first hears whispers of a chilling local legend - spectral hounds said to tear across the wilds of Dartmoor under cover of darkness. A tale of an evil squire. A cursed family. And a pack of demonic dogs haunting the moors. We’re delving into the story of how this eerie West Country folklore inspired one of the greatest gothic thrillers of all time: The Hound of the Baskervilles - and why its creation posed a huge dilemma for Doyle and his most famous character, Sherlock Holmes. Joining Michelle is dark heritage expert Dr Romany…

6. 

   22 Feb 2026 · 1 min

   Introducing Beastly History

   Welcome to Beastly History – the podcast where you’ll hear the most thrilling tales of people and the wild. Perilous polar expeditions. Unbelievable survival stories. The true origins of animal myths and legends. And natural history’s heroes, villains and oddballs. Join me, wildlife producer Michelle Douglass as we investigate the juicy, mysterious and gripping history of our planet and our place on it. The world is full of brilliantly beastly stories. Come and explore with Beastly History, landing 27 February 2026. Follow Beastly History wherever you get your podcasts And find me on…

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