650. London’s Golden Age: The Mad Life of Dr Johnson (Part 1)
March 9, 2026
The initial meeting between the young, celebrity-obsessed James Boswell and the established, physically imposing Samuel Johnson in 1763 marks a pivotal moment in British literary history.
649. The Fall of the Incas: The Last Emperor (Part 6)
March 5, 2026
The internal Spanish conflict between Francisco Pizarro and Diego de Almagro culminated in Almagro's execution in 1538, marking a decisive victory for the Pizarro faction in the civil war, despite Almagro's initial advantage in controlling Cusco.
648. The Fall of the Incas: Battle for the Sacred City (Part 5)
March 2, 2026
The initial period of Manco Inca's puppet emperorship was marked by an illusion of harmony, which quickly fractured due to the Spaniards' escalating greed, mistreatment of local women, and internal feuding among the conquistadors (Pizarro brothers vs. Almagro).
647. The Fall of the Incas: The King in the North (Part 4)
February 26, 2026
Following Atahualpa's execution, Pizarro installed the puppet emperor Tupac Hualpa, aligning the Spanish with the Huascar faction and enabling the march toward the wealthy city of Cusco.
Greatest Paintings: The French Revolution - Millet's Angelus
February 25, 2026
The painting under discussion in this episode of "The Rest Is History," *
646. The Fall of the Incas: Death to the Emperor (Part 3)
February 23, 2026
Emperor Atahualpa, held captive by Francisco Pizarro in Cajamarca, offered an unprecedented ransom—filling a room with gold and twice that with silver—believing this would secure his release and allow him to continue managing the aftermath of the Inca civil war.
The Book Club: Wuthering Heights
February 20, 2026
The Book Club is a new weekly podcast from Goalhanger, hosted by Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett, alternating between classic and contemporary literature, starting with *
The Fall of the Incas: Massacre in the Andes (Part 2)
February 19, 2026
The Spanish conquistadors, led by Francisco Pizarro, were a small, opportunistic force composed largely of non-professional soldiers seeking fortune, relying heavily on surprise and military technology (horses, steel, gunpowder) to confront the massive Inca Empire.
Greatest Paintings: Age of Enlightenment - Raeburn's Skating Minister
February 18, 2026
The episode of *
644. The Fall of the Incas: Empire of Gold (Part 1)
February 16, 2026
The conquest of the Inca Empire by Francisco Pizarro's small force is framed as the dramatic sequel to the fall of the Aztecs, driven by Pizarro's relentless, illiterate ambition for glory.
643. Rome’s Greatest Enemy: Carthage Destroyed (Part 4)
February 12, 2026
The memory of Hannibal's devastating invasion of Italy ensured that, even after its defeat, Carthage remained Rome's supreme, almost demonic, enemy, fueling an irrational fear and desire for vengeance among the Romans.
Greatest Paintings: The Ghost of Spain – Velázquez’s Las Meninas
February 11, 2026
Laura Cumming considers Diego Velázquez's *
642. Rome’s Greatest Enemy: Bloodbath in Africa (Part 3)
February 9, 2026
The Battle of Zama, the ultimate showdown between Hannibal and Scipio, resulted in a decisive Roman victory due to superior Roman infantry training and Hannibal's critical lack of cavalry.
641. Rome’s Greatest Enemy: Hannibal’s Nemesis (Part 2)
February 5, 2026
Publius Cornelius Scipio cultivated a deliberately glamorous, almost divine public image, drawing comparisons to Alexander the Great, which was highly unconventional for a Roman general of the Republic.
The Arnolfini Portrait, with Laura Cumming
February 4, 2026
The episode of "The Rest Is History" featuring Laura Cumming focuses on Jan van Eyck's "Arnolfini Portrait," which is described as an early riddle in art history due to its combination of hyper-realism and unresolved symbolic mysteries.
640. Rome’s Greatest Enemy: Carthage at the Gates (Part 1)
February 2, 2026
The episode focuses on the immediate aftermath of Hannibal's devastating victory at the Battle of Cannae in 216 BC, specifically the debate over whether he should march on Rome.
639. Revolution in Iran: Death in the Desert (Part 4)
January 29, 2026
President Jimmy Carter's handling of the Iranian hostage crisis, despite personal anguish and honorable intentions, was perceived as weakness, contributing significantly to his political downfall against Ronald Reagan.
638. Revolution in Iran: The Hostage Crisis (Part 3)
January 26, 2026
The seizure of the US Embassy on November 4, 1979, by the 'Muslim students following the line of the Imam' was initially intended as a brief, symbolic sit-in, but rapidly escalated into a major geopolitical crisis involving 66 American hostages.
637. Revolution in Iran: Rise of the Ayatollah (Part 2)
January 22, 2026
Ayatollah Khomeini's November 1978 message from Paris, framed in apocalyptic Shiite terms, was the catalyst for the final uprisings that led to the downfall of the Shah of Iran.
636. Revolution in Iran: Fall of the Shah (Part 1)
January 19, 2026
The relationship between the US, symbolized by President Jimmy Carter's toast to the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, on New Year's Eve 1977, was marked by profound irony, as it occurred just days before the revolution that would sweep the Shah from power.
635. Joan of Arc: For Fear of the Flames (Part 4)
January 15, 2026
Joan of Arc's trial, presided over by Bishop Pierre Cauchon, was a meticulously documented ecclesiastical inquisition focused on her claims of divine voices and her insistence on wearing male attire, despite the English desire to use her condemnation as political propaganda against Charles VII.
634. Joan of Arc: Heroine in Chains (Part 3)
January 12, 2026
Joan of Arc's charisma and performance, drawing heavily on Arthurian chivalric romance, was instrumental in inspiring French captains and securing the miraculous liberation of Orléans, which validated her divine mission for the French side.
633. Joan of Arc: Saviour of France (Part 2)
January 8, 2026
Joan of Arc's initial impact was demonstrated by an ultimatum letter dictated on March 22, 1429, demanding the English surrender the towns they held in France, written by an illiterate peasant girl to the King of England.
632. Joan of Arc: Warrior Maid (Part 1)
January 5, 2026
The context for Joan of Arc's emergence in 1429 was a dire situation for the French, as the English, led by formidable figures like Henry V and the Duke of Bedford, appeared on the verge of winning the Hundred Years' War following major victories and French internal chaos (Burgundian vs. Armagnac civil war).
631. Wagner: LIVE at the Royal Albert Hall
January 1, 2026
Richard Wagner is considered the single most controversial composer in music history due to his egotism, anti-Semitic writings, and association with Nazism, yet his cultural influence on the 19th century was titanic.
630. Tchaikovsky: LIVE at the Royal Albert Hall
December 29, 2025
The live episode of The Rest Is History, recorded at the Royal Albert Hall, features the Philharmonia Orchestra and conductor Oliver Zeffman, and is split into two parts, with this episode focusing on Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
629. WWI: The Christmas Truce
December 25, 2025
The 1914 Christmas Truce was preceded by informal fraternization between British and German soldiers starting as early as November, often for practical reasons like burying the dead or repairing trenches.
628. Jack The Ripper: The Killer Unmasked (Part 5)
December 22, 2025
The enduring appeal of the Jack the Ripper case drives the public and theorists to seek sensational, melodramatic solutions involving famous or high-status figures, often overlooking simpler explanations.
627. Jack The Ripper: From Hell (Part 4)
December 18, 2025
The murder of Mary Jane Kelly in Miller's Court on November 9, 1888, was the most extreme and private of the Ripper killings, allowing the perpetrator unprecedented time for mutilation.
626. Jack The Ripper: The Killer Strikes Again (Part 3)
December 15, 2025
The episode details the 'Double Event' murders of Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes on September 30, 1888, highlighting the extreme mutilation of Eddowes compared to the relatively untouched body of Stride, leading to theories about the Ripper being interrupted.
625. Jack The Ripper: Horror in Whitechapel (Part 2)
December 11, 2025
The Jack the Ripper phenomenon was heavily shaped by the rise of mass literacy and competitive, sensationalist Victorian newspapers, which fueled public hysteria and dictated much of the narrative surrounding the crimes.
The Beatles: The British Invasion, with Conan O’Brien (Part 2)
December 10, 2025
The recording of *
624. Jack The Ripper: History’s Darkest Mystery (Part 1)
December 8, 2025
Jack the Ripper is arguably the first serial killer whose name and phenomenon are known globally, marking a new classification of crime in the modern era.
623. The Nazis at War: Churchill’s Finest Hour (Part 4)
December 4, 2025
Winston Churchill's "Finest Hour" speech on June 18, 1940, occurred at a moment of supreme danger for Britain, following the fall of France and preceding the Battle of Britain.
The Beatles: The Band that Changed the World, with Conan O’Brien (Part 1)
December 3, 2025
The Beatles' historical significance stems from their revolutionary status as self-contained singer-songwriters who created a complete break from previous musical traditions, ushering in cultural and ethical transformations on the scale of the 16th century.
622. The Nazis at War: The Fall of France (Part 3)
December 1, 2025
Adolf Hitler's three-hour sightseeing tour of Paris in late June 1940, described by Albert Speer, represented a personal peak of triumph for him, fulfilling a lifelong dream.
621. The Nazis at War: Blitzkrieg (Part 2)
November 27, 2025
The German invasion of Norway and Denmark (Operation Weserübung) was strategically driven by the critical need to secure Swedish iron ore supplies, despite the Allies' own poorly executed intervention plans.
620. The Nazis at War: Hitler Strikes West (Part 1)
November 24, 2025
Despite the swift conquest of Poland, the Allies' subsequent inaction during the 'Phoney War' stemmed from deep trauma over World War I casualties and a misplaced hope that economic pressure would force Hitler's removal.
619. Elizabeth I: The Virgin Queen (Part 4)
November 20, 2025
Elizabeth I immediately established her mastery of political theatre and rhetoric upon accession, using her speech at the Tower of London to frame her survival as divinely ordained purpose, while simultaneously keeping her true intentions veiled.
618. Elizabeth I: The Shadow of the Tower (Part 3)
November 17, 2025
John Foxe's *
617. Elizabeth I: Anne Boleyn's Bastard (Part 2)
November 13, 2025
Following Anne Boleyn's execution, the infant Elizabeth I was immediately stripped of her status, declared a bastard, and neglected by Henry VIII, though she was cared for by her great-aunt, Lady Brian.
616. Elizabeth I: The Fall of the Axe (Part 1)
November 10, 2025
Elizabeth I remains one of England's most admired and effective rulers, whose image was heavily shaped by Elizabethan propaganda like Edmund Spenser's *
RIHC: Disney's Legacy, with Bob Iger
November 7, 2025
Bob Iger views his legacy as being a custodian who advanced Walt Disney's kingdom through more great storytelling, innovation, and risk-taking, aiming for a standard Walt himself would approve of.
615. Disneyland: The Modern American Utopia
November 6, 2025
Disneyland's conceptual roots are deeply intertwined with European historical attractions, notably the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens and the Tivoli Gardens, which served as direct inspirations for Walt Disney's vision.
614. Walt Disney: The Great American Storyteller
November 3, 2025
Walt Disney is positioned as a figure who, more than any other, established animation as a mass media art form and helped establish American popular culture as the dominant global culture through innovations like synchronized sound in *
Spartacus and Gladiators, with Mary Beard
October 31, 2025
The fascination with gladiators reveals a complex Roman legacy where modern audiences simultaneously condemn the cruelty while being drawn to the spectacle, suggesting a reflection on human nature's darker side explored safely through ancient history.
613. Nelson: Glory at Trafalgar (Part 6)
October 30, 2025
The Battle of Trafalgar, fought on October 21, 1805, was a clash of immense firepower, involving ten times the firepower of the armies at Waterloo, and was the culmination of Nelson's strategy of annihilation.
612. Nelson: The Final Showdown (Part 5)
October 27, 2025
Nelson's departure from Emma Hamilton and Horatia on September 13, 1805, was an intensely emotional farewell, marked by his journal entry expressing submission to fate and hope for his loved ones' protection.
Julius Caesar, with Mary Beard
October 23, 2025
Julius Caesar's enduring legacy is evident in modern language, as his title 'Caesar' evolved into 'Tsar' in European monarchies.
611. Nelson: Bonaparte Prepares to Strike (Part 4)
October 22, 2025
Despite Nelson's heroic status after Copenhagen, Britain in 1801 was war-weary, leading the new government under Henry Addington to seek a provisional peace with Napoleon.
610. Nelson: The Battle of Copenhagen (Part 3)
October 19, 2025
Nelson's decision to ignore Admiral Parker's signal to 'Discontinue the action' by famously claiming he could not see it, demonstrated his supreme confidence and established his authority over his commander-in-chief in the heat of battle.
Alexander the Great, with Mary Beard
October 16, 2025
Alexander the Great is a figure whose legend is so potent and widespread, appearing even in texts like the Quran, that his story must be examined for both truth and myth.
609. Nelson: The Gathering Storm (Part 2)
October 15, 2025
Nelson's return to Britain in November 1800 was immediately overshadowed by the public introduction of his mistress, Lady Emma Hamilton, to his wife Fanny and father, marking the beginning of a severe personal crisis.
608. Nelson: Slaughter in Naples (Part 1)
October 12, 2025
Horatio Nelson arrived in Naples in September 1798, immediately after his victory at the Battle of the Nile, where he was received with immense adulation that began to affect his judgment and ego.
The Trojan War, with Mary Beard
October 9, 2025
The four-part bonus series featuring Mary Beard and Tom Holland will cover the Trojan War, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Gladiators & Spartacus.
607. Nelson’s Lover: The Scandalous Lady Hamilton
October 8, 2025
Admiral Horatio Nelson's final thoughts before the Battle of Trafalgar were focused on securing a provision for his mistress, Lady Emma Hamilton, and their daughter, Horatia, whom he mentioned in a codicil to his will.
606. Enoch Powell: Rivers of Blood
October 5, 2025
Enoch Powell's 1968 "Rivers of Blood speech" remains one of the most incendiary moments in British political history, instantly cementing his name as a symbol of nationalism and controversy.
605. Greek Myths: Jason & The Quest for the Golden Fleece (Part 4)
October 1, 2025
The film *
604. Greek Myths: Sex, Drugs & Tragedy (Part 3)
September 28, 2025
The climax of Euripides' tragedy *
603. Greek Myths: The Riddle of the Sphinx (Part 2)
September 24, 2025
The story of Oedipus, as dramatized by Sophocles, is not merely a myth but a complex narrative deeply embedded in the political and social context of 5th century Athens, serving as both a cautionary tale and a reflection of Athenian anxieties.
602. Greek Myths: Zeus, King of the Gods (Part 1)
September 21, 2025
The origins of Greek mythology, particularly the story of Zeus, are deeply rooted in ancient Near Eastern traditions, notably Babylonian myths concerning generational conflict and the division of the cosmos.
601. Scandal in the White House
September 17, 2025
The 1884 US presidential election was heavily influenced by a sex scandal involving candidate Grover Cleveland and Maria Halpin, with accusations ranging from seduction to rape, highlighting the intense partisan media battles of the era.
600. CHATHAM HIGH STREET
September 14, 2025
Rochester and Chatham, historically linked by the Medway River and Watling Street, represent a fascinating juxtaposition of England's ancient past (Roman bridge, Norman castle, Anglo-Saxon cathedral) and its imperial maritime might (Royal Dockyards), highlighting a profound sweep of historical change.