Bedste Long Reads-podcasts (2025)

1
Was Charles I a tyrant? 24:12

3d ago24:12

24:12

The reviled king was condemned to death as a “Tyrant, Traitor, Murderer and Public Enemy”. But, as 2025 marks the 400th anniversary of his accession, how fair does that judgment seem today? This Long Read, written by Jonathan Healey, offers his verdict... HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC History Magazine, direct to your…

1
VE Day: was it really one big party? 26:18

10d ago26:18

26:18

It’s been 80 years since Britons heard the news that the war in Europe was over. But how did those who lived through VE Day remember the moment? With the help of the BBC WW2 People’s War archive, this Long Read written by John Willis reveals a day of partying, remembrance and continuing sacrifice. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best article…

1
Dangerous delights: Victorian Britain's cocaine habit 22:15

17d ago22:15

22:15

In the 19th century, a magic new drug took the medical community by storm, riding a wave of scientific endeavour. But, as this Long Read written by historian Douglas Small reveals, it wasn’t long before the dark side of this miraculous substance began to emerge. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC History Magazine, direct …

1
Mercia: the lost kingdom 24:53

24d ago24:53

24:53

Battered by the Vikings, outshone by King Alfred, Mercia has long been painted as the also-ran of the Anglo-Saxon world. Yet, as this Long Read written by Max Adams considers, this mighty Midlands kingdom was at the very heart of the emergence of England. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC History Magazine, direct to your…

1
Did Ronald Reagan 'make America great again'? 21:54

1M ago21:54

21:54

This year has seen Donald Trump retake the US presidency, repeating his vow to ‘make America great again’. But he’s not the first to wield such a slogan, as this Long Read written by Phil Tinline explores. Back in the 1980s, Ronald Reagan stood for election with the same promise. Did he deliver? HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles …

1
Fingers, frogs and fairies: fortune telling in early modern Britain 22:01

1M ago22:01

22:01

Fortune telling was all the rage in the 16th and 17th centuries, and practitioners would stop at nothing to tap in to the supernatural. This Long Read written by Martha McGill tells a story of Highland seers, tarot cards and encounters with the spirit world. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC History Magazine, direct to y…

1
WW2 evacuees: when Britain escaped to the country 27:45

1M ago27:45

27:45

It was a moment of possibilities, dislocation – and dread. This Long Read, written by Dan Todman, tells the story of the 1.5 million urban Britons evacuated to the countryside at the start of the Second World War. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC History Magazine, direct to your ears. Today’s feature originally appeared…

1
500,000 years of African history 22:59

2M ago22:59

22:59

Slavery, exploitation and racism. These tragedies have long dominated histories of Africa. But there’s another way to tell this story. And, as this Long Read written by Luke Pepera explains, it’s one that puts Africans right at the centre of their continent’s extraordinarily rich and vibrant past. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best article…

1
Henry III and the Magna Carta that mattered 24:23

2M ago24:23

24:23

King John’s sealing of Magna Carta at Runnymede in 1215 is one of the most feted moments of the Middle Ages. Yet, as this Long Read written by David Carpenter explains, it was in fact a charter issued by his son 10 years later that became fundamental to England’s history. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC History Magazin…

1
How a Chinese battery factory sparked a political meltdown in a small Michigan town 32:38

2M ago32:38

32:38

The Chinese company Gotion's EV battery plan was the kind of big, ambitious, the U.S. economy — and the struggling small town of Big Rapids — needed. But that’s not how some locals saw it. In this narrated feature Rest of World explores how ambitious executives at Gotion wanted to join America’s EV gold rush, but were met with geopolitics in rural …

1
Marco Polo's adventures: lands of make believe? 23:44

2M ago23:44

23:44

Marco Polo’s adventures in Asia earned him lasting fame. But are his accounts of these travels essentially works of fiction? In this Long Read, historian Peter Jackson investigates whether we can trust this medieval travel-writing superstar. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC History Magazine, direct to your ears. Today’s…

1
The gunpowder plot: how to build a radical 20:41

2M ago20:41

20:41

The experiences that radicalised Guy Fawkes and his gunpowder plot co-conspirators into violent extremists sound all too familiar today. This Long Read, written by Lucy Worsley, tells a story of religious clashes, state-sanctioned torture and comrades-in-arms willing to die for the cause. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BB…

1
The battle of Monte Cassino: a hill to die on 27:37

3M ago27:37

27:37

In early 1944, the Allied advance in Italy was brought to a halt at a rocky outcrop called Monte Cassino. This Long Read, written by historian James Holland, explores how flawed leadership was to blame for the bloodbath that followed. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC History Magazine, direct to your ears. Today’s featur…

1
Why sex was a sin in the Middle Ages 18:31

3M ago18:31

18:31

Celibacy barely merits a mention in the Bible. Yet, by the early Middle Ages, it was being celebrated as a shortcut to a seat next to God. In this Long Read written by Diarmaid MacCulloch, we explore Christianity’s long love affair with sexual abstinence. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC History Magazine, direct to your…

1
Ptolemy XII: Cleopatra's father from hell 22:59

3M ago22:59

22:59

The tragic fate of Cleopatra has long overshadowed her predecessor, Ptolemy XII. But, as this Long Read written by Diana T Nikolova explains, it’s impossible to understand the daughter’s downfall without exploring the father’s hapless reign. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC History Magazine, direct to your ears. Today’s…

1
Keep smiling: the history of happiness 23:35

3M ago23:35

23:35

What can history teach us about how to find joy? In this Long Read written by Katie Barclay, we share five lessons from the past about the pursuit of happiness – from the warmth family can provide to the pleasures of curling up with a good book. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC History Magazine, direct to your ears. Tod…

1
Winston Churchill: still the greatest? 28:45

4M ago28:45

28:45

Of all the figures in the pantheon of British history, Winston Churchill is consistently ranked amongst the greatest. But how far does this legendary legacy stretch? In this Long Read written by David Reynolds, we ponder whether the wartime leader continues to remain top dog. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC History Mag…

1
The global struggle over how to regulate AI 29:21

4M ago29:21

29:21

Big AI companies like Google, Meta, OpenAI and Amazon, have come out hard against comprehensive regulatory efforts in the West — but are receiving a warm welcome from leaders in many other countries. This episode from Rest of World uses behind-the-scenes reporting from local journalists in India, South Africa, and Brazil, to give an in-depth look a…

1
Influencers of the medieval age 18:27

4M ago18:27

18:27

Women in the Middle Ages rarely wielded political or economic power – yet, a little like the most persuasive doyennes of social media today, their words could shape minds and lives far beyond their own circles. In this Long Read, written by Hetta Howes, we introduce four female literary and spiritual trailblazers. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you…

1
Thomas Cromwell: hero to zero 25:16

4M ago25:16

25:16

Thomas Cromwell’s final six months were a Greek tragedy of hubris and political venom – all presided over by a tyrannical king. This Long Read, written by Diarmaid MacCulloch, charts Cromwell’s rapid descent from the very pinnacle of power to the executioner’s block. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC History Magazine, di…

1
Introducing History's Greatest Scandals | New Podcast 0:59

4M ago0:59

0:59

Poisoned sweets. Criminal misdeeds. And a sex scandal involving… the prime-minister. Listen to HistoryExtra's new podcast History’s Greatest Scandals, delving into the murky underworld of The Victorians. Ellie Cawthorne and historian Professor Rosalind Crone take a journey through the backstreets of 19th-century Britain to explore the darker side o…

1
Sarah Biffin: extraordinary artist 16:29

4M ago16:29

16:29

One of the most famous British painters of the first half of the 19th century was a woman born without arms or legs. This Long Read, written by Alice Loxton, explores the life and work of an ambitious artist who became a favourite of royalty and was immortalised by Charles Dickens. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC Histo…

1
Lord Lucan: what really happened to the missing earl? 21:06

5M ago21:06

21:06

Fifty years ago, the notorious peer Lord Lucan vanished following the murder of his children’s nanny, Sandra Rivett. This Long Read, written by Laura Thompson, reviews the case of the disappearing earl – and explores what it reveals about social attitudes of the time. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC History Magazine, d…

1
Gladiators: tales from the Roman arena 25:47

5M ago25:47

25:47

How did gladiators supercharge the rise of Julius Caesar? And why were they seen as sex symbols? As the new film directed by Ridley Scott, Gladiator II, arrives in cinemas, this Long Read written by Guy de la Bédoyère tells the story of this brutal form of mass entertainment through six of its most significant and surprising moments. HistoryExtra L…

1
Audacious lady swindlers, con-women and hustlers 27:30

5M ago27:30

27:30

New BBC series Lady Swindlers with Lucy Worsley tells the stories of female criminals from the 18th to 20th centuries. Their chicanery often earned them great riches, yet, their schemes didn’t always go to plan… This Long Read, written by series consultant Rosalind Crone, examines six case studies that reveal a dark criminal underworld of drug-deal…

1
How WhatsApp ate the world 25:41

5M ago25:41

25:41

WhatsApp is already the world’s most widely used messaging app. Meta wants it to be a lot more. WhatsApp is the world’s most widely used messaging app, with 2 billion daily users, who send 100 billion messages every day in 60 languages across 180 countries. This feature takes an in-depth look at how it grew so big and Meta's plan for what comes nex…

1
Edward of Warwick: the other prince in the tower 22:40

5M ago22:40

22:40

The 1499 execution of Edward of Warwick snuffed out the final embers of the Wars of the Roses. In this Long Read written by Sarah Norton, we introduce the last male heir to the House of York – and explain why he “had to perish” to secure the crown for Henry VII. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC History Magazine, direct …

1
Mysterious mummification myths 27:54

5M ago27:54

27:54

Booby-trapped tombs, eviscerated corpses and terrifying curses – countless ‘facts’ swirl around the burial practices of ancient Egyptians. But which are based in fact, and which are a tissue of lies? In this Long Read written by Campbell Price, we unwrap the truth about mummies. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC History …

1
Henry V's brutal youth 22:35

6M ago22:35

22:35

Dan Jones reveals how Henry V's youth helped shape him into the pious warrior king we know today Held hostage at 12, deciding the fate of captives at 14, maimed in battle at 16 – by the time he reached adulthood, the future King Henry V had already learned a series of violent but valuable leadership lessons. In this Long Read, written by Dan Jones,…

1
Pigs in the medieval city 16:50

6M ago16:50

16:50

Dolly Jørgensen considers why the pig was so vital to urban life in the Middle Ages They killed children, exhumed dead bodies and caused an almighty stink. So why, asks this Long Read written by Dolly Jørgensen, were our medieval ancestors so dependent on the urban pig? HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC History Magazine,…

1
How we found our bearings: the origins of the four compass points 20:05

6M ago20:05

20:05

Jerry Brotton explores the origins of the four points of the compass Why did the ancient Chinese associate north with power? And what led early Muslims to pray to the south? This Long Read, written by Jerry Brotton, takes us on a journey through the history of the four points of the compass. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from…

1
Reading the runes: uncovering the everyday lives of the Vikings 22:29

6M ago22:29

22:29

Eleanor Barraclough reads the runes to find out more about day-to-day life during the age of the Vikings Mysterious characters inscribed on stone, wood and bone have revealed little-known details of everyday Viking life. This Long Read, written by historian Eleanor Barraclough, deciphers the runes to recount tales of love, lust, travel and tragedy …

1
Tales from history's toilets 16:59

7M ago16:59

16:59

David Musgrove takes a tour of the historic water closet to uncover how our toilets habits have changed over the centuries From Roman latrines and medieval communal privies to modern flushing cisterns, the toilet has been completely transformed over the past two millennia. In this Long Read, written by David Musgrove, we head down the u-bend in the…

1
Medieval England's political miracle 23:06

7M ago23:06

23:06

From Magna Carta to Parliament, taxation to the law courts, the 13th and 14th centuries laid the foundations for the modern British state. In this Long Read, written by Caroline Burt and Richard Partington, we explore the political revolution that transformed a nation under medieval monarchs from King John to Richard II. HistoryExtra Long Reads bri…

1
WhatsApp vigilantes in India are converting Christians by force 27:42

7M ago27:42

27:42

In this episode, Rest of World explores how far-right Hindu nationalists use WhatsApp to target Christian families when they’re most vulnerable — by preventing them from burying their dead. Written by Parth MN. Additional reporting by Durga M Sengupta. Narrated by Mithila Phadke. Original story: https://restofworld.org/2024/whatsapp-intimidation-fo…

1
Dudley Clarke: the spy who hoodwinked Hitler 24:35

7M ago24:35

24:35

Dummy tanks at El Alamein, bogus generals in Algiers, sham armies on D-Day – all were ruses masterminded by World War II's master of deception Dudley Clarke. This Long Read, written by Robert Hutton, tells the story of the British soldier who made an art form of duping the Nazis. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC History…

1
Henry VII: the king they couldn't kill 23:00

7M ago23:00

23:00

Why is Henry VII remembered as an intensely suspicious king, wracked by paranoia? According to Nathen Amin, the answer lies in his death-defying rise to power. In this Long Read, written by Nathen, we delve into the turbulent youth of the first Tudor monarch. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC History Magazine, direct to …

1
The suffragettes: masters of PR 21:40

8M ago21:40

21:40

The suffragettes crafted a brilliant PR campaign, driven by everything from marching bands to branded marmalade. But did their quest for publicity eventually backfire? In this Long Read, written by Ellie Cawthorne, we revisit the campaigners' battle for hearts and minds. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC History Magazine…

1
Robert the Bruce: the man, the myth, the murderer 25:14

8M ago25:14

25:14

Robert the Bruce is famed as a national hero, and lauded for his military exploits against the old enemy of England. But how true is this perception? As Scotland marks Bruce's 750th birthday, this Long Read, written by Fiona Watson, reveals the shadowy side of a ruthless noble who schemed and slaughtered his way to the throne. HistoryExtra Long Rea…

1
Destined for clicks: YouTube is driving an astrology boom in Pakistan 30:58

8M ago30:58

30:58

Amid economic, political, and environmental uncertainty, Pakistanis are increasingly seeking guidance from digital astrologers for a sense of reassurance. In this narrated feature, Rest of World profiles celebrity astrologers who are revitalizing the practice in one of the world’s most populous Muslim nations, using their growing platforms to advoc…

1
Oliver Cromwell's postal spies 20:57

8M ago20:57

20:57

When you place a letter in the hands of your local postal worker, you have faith that they won't take a sneak peek at your messages – but what if these well-trusted characters were secretly spies of the state? Well, that's exactly what people had to be wary of in Cromwell's England. This Long Read, written by Nadine Akkerman and Pete Langman, tells…

1
Dark knights and crusading criminals 21:40

8M ago21:40

21:40

The crusades sparked centuries of violence and chaos, and not just on the battlefield. This Long Read, written by Steve Tibble, examines the surge in criminality, from petty theft to cold-blooded murder, that accompanied the warring armies to the Holy Land. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC History Magazine, direct to yo…

1
Women of the Greco-Persian Wars 21:30

8M ago21:30

21:30

For so long, women have been excluded from ancient tales of extraordinary world-changing events. Writing them back into the narrative, this Long Read, written by classicist Daisy Dunn, tells the story of the Greco-Persian Wars through the deeds of the extraordinary female figures who shaped them. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles…

1
Oradour-sur-Glane: one of WW2's most infamous massacres 20:50

9M ago20:50

20:50

On the morning of the 10 June 1944, the residents of Oradour-sur-Glane were going about their lives as normally as was possible in occupied France. Cooking, washing, shopping, playing. Little did they know that they were about to become the victims of one of the most infamous massacres of the Second World War. In this Long Read written by Robert Pi…

1
From Tudor to Stuart: a brand new era? 19:49

9M ago19:49

19:49

The passing of the English crown from Elizabeth I to James VI and I was welcomed by a nation hungry for change. But, as historian Susan Doran argues in today's Long Read, it wasn't long before tensions began to rise between the incoming king and his new subjects. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC History Magazine, direct…

1
The madcap Paris Olympics: how chaos nearly derailed the 1900 Games 21:25

9M ago21:25

21:25

With the 2024 Summer Olympics taking place in Paris, this Long Read, written by David Goldblatt, describes how the 1900 Games, the first held in the French capital, almost defeated the Olympic ideal before it was even out of the starting blocks. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC History Magazine, direct to your ears. Tod…

1
The West Africa Squadron: Britain's war on slave ships 19:00

9M ago19:00

19:00

In the early 19th century, a Royal Navy squadron was sent to West Africa to hunt down ships carrying enslaved people to the Americas. The operation was hailed as an act of pure, unselfish philanthropy. Yet, argues this Long Read written by Mary Wills, the reality was far more tangled. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC Hi…

1
Can a church exist exclusively on the internet? 28:40

10M ago28:40

28:40

Amid a life of upheaval and poverty, Jeffter Wekesa tried and failed to found three churches in Kenya. Then he started preaching on TikTok, and his fortunes changed. In this episode, Rest of World takes you inside the emerging virtual-preaching economy in internet-obsessed Kenya. Livestream churches — backed by viewer donations — are increasingly p…

1
Club AD 130: a Roman holiday 16:22

10M ago16:22

16:22

From cruising down the Nile to carving names into historical monuments, ancient leisure habits don't seem too far from our own. This Long Read, written by Mary Beard, describes what happened when a party of elite Roman holidaymakers – led by the emperor Hadrian – descended on ancient Egypt’s tourist hotspots in AD 130. HistoryExtra Long Reads bring…

1
Airborne assault: the spearhead of the D-Day invasion 21:37

10M ago21:37

21:37

Hours before the assault on Normandy’s beaches got under way on 6 June 1944, British airborne troops launched an attack on targets in the French countryside. And as Saul David writes in this Long Read marking the 80th anniversary of this pivotal moment, the success of the entire D-Day landings was at stake. HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the be…

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