Episodes

  • President Jimmy Carter
    Jan 9 2025

    Dr Aurelie Basha joins me to talk about the foreign policy highs and lows of Jimmy Carter, who served as U.S. President from 1977 to 1981, in response to his death a few weeks ago at the age of 100.

    From the Iranian hostage crisis and the Camp David accords, to Afghanistan and the end of détente, what is Carter's foreign policy legacy?

    Cover artwork: "Comfort of a Bed of Roses" by James Gillray, courtesy of Look and Learn History Picture Archive.
    Music by Lexin Music from Pixabay.

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    47 mins
  • The AK-47
    Jan 4 2025

    Alex Pitts, weapons handler at the Combined Military Services Museum, returns to the show for another weapons episode, this time on the globally famous Kalashnikov assault rifle from 1947.

    Cover artwork: "Comfort of a Bed or Roses" by James Gillray, courtesy of Look and Learn History Picture Archive.

    Music by Lexin Music from Pixabay.

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    24 mins
  • The Bridge over the Berezina
    Nov 30 2024

    In the winter of 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte and his Grande Armee are retreating from Moscow until they come upon the River Berezina blocking their path.

    With the Russian Army hot on their heels, can Napoleon's engineers build a bridge across the Berezina quickly enough before the French task force's foes catch up with it and bring about its total destruction?

    Cover artwork: "Comfort of a Bed of Roses" by James Gillray, courtesy of Look and Learn History Picture Archive.
    Music by Lexin Music from Pixabay.

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    19 mins
  • Inglorious Bastards: William Jones and the S.I.B.
    Oct 25 2024

    In this brilliant, rollercoaster episode, Robert recounts the story of his father, William Jones, during the Second World War and his role as a British military policeman in the Special Investigation Branch (S.I.B.) in Europe after D-Day.

    From interrogating SS officers and arresting black marketeers to gathering military intelligence and going undercover in an Allied POW camp, William's story is like an adventure thriller. Enjoy.

    Cover artwork: "Comfort of a Bed of Roses" by James Gillray, courtesy of Look and Learn History Picture Archive.
    Music by Lexin Music from Pixabay.

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    57 mins
  • Operation Grapple
    Aug 1 2024

    November, 1957
    On Christmas Island and Malden Island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, a British Valiant jet bomber flies overhead. It is about to drop a single bomb just off the coast. This is Operation Grapple, Britain's efforts to acquire the hydrogen bomb.

    Cover artwork: "Comfort of a Bed of Roses" by James Gillray, courtesy of Look and Learn History Picture Archive.

    Music by Lexin Music from Pixabay.

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    16 mins
  • Louis XVI
    Jul 13 2024

    Dr Ambrogio Caiani returns to the show to discuss the reign of King Louis XVI of France, 250 years after he ascended to the throne in 1774.

    Cover artwork: "Comfort of a Bed of Roses" by James Gillray, courtesy of Look and Learn History Picture Archive.

    Music by Lexin Music from Pixabay.

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    59 mins
  • Land is All that Matters: The Struggle that shaped Irish History
    Jun 16 2024

    Ireland has always been a rural country and as such, who owns land has always been a thorny issue and has spawned protests, murders, wars and eventually a social revolution.
    Myles Dungan, author and broadcaster of Irish TV and radio, joins me to talk about his new book which explores the changes and conflicts surrounding Irish land ownership.

    Cover artwork: "Comfort of a Bed of Roses" by James Gillray, courtesy of Look and Learn History Picture Archive.

    Music by Lexin Music from Pixabay.

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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • D-Day: 80 years on, Part 2, with The WW2 Podcast
    Jun 7 2024

    Part 2 of this episode about the 80th anniversary of D-Day, where I'm joined by Angus Wallace of the WW2 Podcast to talk about the operation in Normandy itself and its wider legacy, especially in cinema.

    Cover artwork: "Comfort of a Bed of Roses" by James Gillray, courtesy of Look and Learn History Picture Archive.

    Music by Lexin Music from Pixabay.

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    52 mins