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The Middle East has, for decades, been riven by violent conflict. But what are the roots and ongoing causes of this violence? In this episode, Simon Sebag Montefiore discusses The Cauldron, his new book exploring the forces and figures that forged the region. Speaking to Charlotte Vosper, Simon takes us from the creation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through the decline of the imperial powers and the rise of Pan-Arabism, to 9/11 and the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST For more on how the past shapes today’s world, don’t miss our fortnightly…

HistoryExtra podcast

by Immediate · English · History

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…

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  1. E2632 · 24 Sep 2026 · 43 min

    The Soviet spy who couldn't love

    In 1981, a Soviet spy walked into MI6 HQ in Tehran and offered to defect to Britain – if, in return, Britain could help him improve his performance in bed. In this episode, Ben Macintyre introduces Spencer Mizen to an extraordinary agent with a sexual secret – a secret that changed the course of Iranian history and may, just may, have averted nuclear war. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you’d like to hear more from Ben Macintyre on the HistoryExtra podcast, why not listen to the episode in which he tells the incredible story of Oleg Gordievsky, the double agent who was sensationally…

  2. E2631 · 22 Sep 2026 · 48 min

    The slave ship that changed history

    In 1781, more than 130 enslaved Africans were deliberately thrown from a ship called the Zorg into the Atlantic. The horrifying story of this slave ship – long mistakenly known as the Zong – was to have consequences far beyond its murderous voyage. In this episode, historian and author Siddharth Kara speaks to Elinor Evans about the brutal economics of the Atlantic slave trade, the extraordinary court case that followed the massacre, and how the Zorg helped galvanise the abolitionist cause. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Find out more about the massacre and its place in the fight for abolition,…

  3. E2630 · 21 Sep 2026 · 41 min

    Have we overlooked England’s local histories?

    What happens to English history when you view it through a local lens, rather than a national one? Did people even notice when the Romans left Britain? Was 1066 really that important outside of London? And did the Black Death affect the English population equally? In this episode, Ian Mortimer guides Charlotte Vosper through the past 1,500 years of English history, viewed from the perspective of his own medieval home in Devon... ------ GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to hear more from Ian about what ordinary life was like in the past, then check out his HistoryExtra Academy series.…

  4. E2628 · 17 Sep 2026 · 43 min

    Joan of Arc: inspirational leader or flawed failure?

    Joan of Arc's story is one of the most remarkable chapters in medieval history: that of a rebellious teenage peasant girl rising to become a military leader, before suffering an equally precipitous fall from favour. But what leadership qualities contributed to her success? In today's episode, which originally featured in our History's Greatest Leaders series, entrepreneur and author of Next-Gen CEO Mike Soutar talks to historian Janina Ramirez about Joan's story, and the lessons it could offer for today's leaders. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Don't miss more of Mike Soutar's conversations…

  5. E2627 · 15 Sep 2026 · 36 min

    The forgotten slave traders who shaped Britain

    Who were the people who financed Britain’s transatlantic slave trade – and how did their money transform the nation? Elinor Evans speaks to historian William A Pettigrew, who has led a landmark project identifying some 13,000 investors connected to the trafficking of 3.2 million enslaved African people. William reveals how profits and networks associated with the trade influenced Britain’s politics, industry, culture and institutions, from the Royal Navy and canal building to theatres and charities. He also reveals the work behind a new register of the traders and how our ancestors'…

  6. E2626 · 14 Sep 2026 · 37 min

    What is ‘Europe’, anyway?

    What defines Europe – is it geography, politics, a shared culture, or perhaps a mix of all three? In this episode, historian Roderick Beaton tells Emily Briffett about the ways in which it has been defined, and redefined, as an idea by its people over the centuries. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST National icons aren’t born – they’re engineered. But how were historical figures such as Joan of Arc and Isabella of Castile transformed into political symbols, their real lives lost beneath centuries of myth-making? Find out in this episode of the HistoryExtra podcast with Janina Ramirez:…

  7. E2640 · 8 Oct 2026 · 46 minNew

    Being disabled in the medieval era

    Prosthetic legs, wheelbarrow wheelchairs and guide… children? Those were just some of the assistive technologies and body augmentations available to our medieval and early modern ancestors. In this episode, Rae Gillibrand highlights how bodily difference was understood in this pre-modern era, and explores the medical marketplace and community support that was available. Speaking to Emily Briffett, Rae reveals a world of ingenuity, adaptation and care. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about Tudor attitudes to disability – and why they may have been more compassionate than you…

  8. E2639 · 6 Oct 2026 · 37 min

    Vanilla: a far from ordinary history

    It's now often used as an adjective for anything standard, plain, and borderline boring – but the history of vanilla is anything but. Eric T Jennings – whose book Vanilla: The History of an Extraordinary Bean is among the titles shortlisted for the 2026 Cundill History Prize – tells Matt Elton about the ways in which piracy, espionage and cut-throat capitalism have shaped its story. ------ GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Delve further into food history with our podcast series History's Greatest Dishes, in which Annie Gray and Emily Briffett discuss the stories behind pizza, blancmange and more. Like…

  9. E2638 · 5 Oct 2026 · 36 min

    Ancient explosives and the philosopher's stone: a history of alchemy

    Think of alchemy, and you likely imagine bubbling vials of strange potions and molten metals. But how close is this popular perception to the truth? That’s the question behind historian and adventurer Kit Chapman’s latest book, The Age of Alchemy, which was recently announced as winner of the 2026 Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize. In this episode, Kit guides Emily Briffett through a remarkable story of discovery that blurred the boundaries between science and mysticism – and explains how alchemists pursued dreams of fortune and immortality that laid the foundations for modern…

  10. E2637 · 4 Oct 2026 · 46 min

    North Korea's religious dictators

    More than three decades after the end of the Cold War and the fall of the USSR, the North Korean regime remains steadfastly in place, defiantly ploughing its own path some eight decades after its founding. What might explain this remarkable longevity? In Jonathan Cheng’s new book, Korean Messiah, the Wall Street Journal correspondent argues that it owes much to the enduring cult of personality around its founder, Kim Il-Sung, who took inspiration from his own Christian roots to create a modern religion that endures to this day. Jonathan’s book is a finalist for the 2026 Cundill History…

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