HistoryExtra Podcast

HistoryExtra podcast episodes are released every week, featuring interviews with notable historians on topics spanning ancient history through to recent British to American events. Episodes feature history stories and perspectives on everything from crusading knights to Tudor monarchs and the D-Day landings.

Roland Philipps tells the story of Mathilde Carré

Second World War

Traitor or triple agent? The WW2 spy Mathilde Carré

Catherine Fletcher discusses what is known about the private life and relationships of the Renaissance polymath, and considers the historical inspirations for the new TV drama Leonardo. (Image by Getty Images)

Leonardo da Vinci’s private life

Frank Spotnitz and Steve Thompson, creators of the new drama 'Leonardo' starring Aidan Turner, talk about the inspirations behind their series on the Renaissance polymath. (Image by © Fabio Lovino)

Leonardo: bringing Da Vinci to the screen

The bigamy trial that scandalised Georgian England

Bayeux Tapestry | Exclusive Podcast Series

Unravelling the Bayeux Tapestry Episode 5: What now?

To mark HistoryExtra’s 1,000th episode, Dan Jones takes us on a whistlestop tour through the last millennium of British history. (Image by Steve Sayers)

Dan Jones on 1,000 years of British history

Professor Matthew Restall tackles listener questions and popular search queries about the central American civilisation. (Image by Getty Images)

General ancient history

The Maya: everything you wanted to know

Elaine Farrell shares the stories of Irish women incarcerated in the 19th century, from daily prison routines to relationships with staff and contact with the outside world. (Image by Getty Images)

Women prisoners in 19th-century Ireland

Sean McMeekin discusses his revisionist new history of the Second World War, which places Josef Stalin at the centre of the conflict. (Image by Getty Images)

Second World War

Stalin: the real victor of WW2

In 1961 cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man to journey into space. Stephen Walker delves into the supercharged battle between the Soviets and Americans to reach this milestone. (Image by Getty Images)

Sending the first man into space

Bayeux Tapestry | Exclusive Podcast Series

Unravelling the Bayeux Tapestry Episode 4: What's missing?

Portrait of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689-1762) by Joseph Highmore (Photo by Alamy)

The feminist who waged war on smallpox

The Great Fire of London, 2-5 September 1666 (Photo by Alamy)

The Great Fire of London: everything you wanted to know

Cleopatra bust. (Photo by Getty Images)

Cleopatra: unpicking myth from reality

In 1910 Lydia Harvey seemed to disappear. Julia Laite delves into her story – one of exploitation, sex and the vagaries of justice – and the trial that brought it to light.

Traffickers on trial: the sensational case of Lydia Harvey