562. Peter the Great: The Rise of Russia (Part 1)
Why was the early life of Peter the Great - Tsar and autocrat of all the Russias, who endures to this day as an iconic symbol of Russian might - drenched in blood and violence? What amalgamation of co...
4 Maj 20251h
561. The Golden Age of Japan: Secrets of the Imperial Court (Part 2)
In the vibrant but vicious golden age of Imperial Japan, how did women use writing as a way to secure their status, and express their deepest desires? Who was Sei Shōnagon, the witty courtier whose ac...
30 Apr 20251h 3min
560. The Golden Age of Japan: Lady Murasaki and the Shining Prince (Part 1)
At the height of Imperial Japan, during a golden age of court intrigue, obsessive hierarchy, and fabulous sophistication, who was the legendary lothario and emperor’s son, Genji? What can the Tale of ...
27 Apr 202551min
559. The Rolling Stones: Satanic Majesties of Sixties Rebellion (Part 2)
"We're not worried about petty morals." What happened to the Rolling Stones in 1967 to see them on the brink of imprisonment and mass censure, while at the height of their success, with fame, fortune...
23 Apr 20251h 5min
558. The Rolling Stones: Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll (Part 1)
What are the origins of Britain’s original bad boys, The Rolling Stones? Where did they all come from and how did they meet? What was it about the 1960s, with its air of sexual liberation, newly elect...
20 Apr 20251h 4min
557. 1066: The Norman Conquest (Part 4)
What happened in the aftermath of the Battle of Hastings? What horrors did William the Conqueror have to inflict upon his Anglo Saxon subjects in order to consolidate his new realm? And, what role did...
16 Apr 20251h
556. 1066: The Battle of Hastings (Part 3)
Following King Harold Godwinson’s climactic victory at the Battle of Stanford Bridge, and the death of Harald Hardrada, what did he do when news reached him that William of Normandy’s army had landed ...
13 Apr 202553min
555. 1066: Slaughter at Stamford Bridge (Part 2)
In the tumultuous climax of 1066, why was Harold’s very own brother Tostig the first of the mighty foes he had to face? How did Harald Hardrada then launch his invasion of England, and how much resist...
9 Apr 20251h 6min
