Aspects of History

By Oliver Webb-Carter

The editor of Aspects of History, Ollie Webb-Carter, interviews historians and authors on the past - from the ancient world right up to the modern day. In each episode, Ollie seeks to get to the botto... more

4.9

2727 ratings

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about Aspects of History:

How many episodes does Aspects of History have?

The podcast currently has 298 episodes available.

Aspects of History episodes:

August 29, 2025 Operation Sea Lion with Alex Gerlis
In the summer of 1940, Britain was on its knees. The British Expeditionary Force had fled from mainland Europe in humiliation, and Nazi Germany eyed the South East of England greedily. All that stood between Hitler and his SS marching up the Mall was a thin strip of English channel.
My guest today is Alex Gerlis who has written The Second Traitor, a novel set in those dark days of the first year of the war. We talk about the Operation Sea Lion, its likelihood, and Nazi sympathisers in both Britain and Ireland.
Alex Gerlis Links
The Second Traitor
Previous episode discussing Every Spy a Traitor
Aspects of History Links
Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99
Ollie on X
Aspects of History on Instagram
Get in touch: [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
39min
August 26, 2025 The Wars of the Roses Part Six: The Battle of Bosworth Field
On 22 August 1485 Henry Tudor met Richard III at Bosworth Field. In a strange battle, Henry’s smaller force eventually overcame Richard’s army. The Wars of the Roses were all but over after thirty years of murder, warfare and political machinations.
In this final episode of our 6 part special, Derek Birks, author of The Guide to the Wars of the Roses and David Pilling author of Kingbreaker, join to discuss the battle, the factions involved, Henry Tudor and Richard III.
Links
A Guide to the Wars of the Roses, by Derek Birks
Kingbreaker: Rebel and Traitor, by David Pilling
Kingmaker Board Game
Aspects of History Links
Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99
Ollie on X
Aspects of History on Instagram
Get in touch: [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
36min
August 22, 2025 The Wars of the Roses Part Five: The Princes in the Tower
In August of 1483 a sighting was reported of two young boys playing in the grounds of the Tower of London. Rumours spread that these were the two princes, Edward V and his younger brother Richard Duke of York. It was the last time they were seen again, and ever since, speculation has been rife that their uncle, Richard III had them killed, or, and this is perhaps less likely, they managed to escape abroad.
So began the reign of Richard III as Derek Birks, author of the Guide to the Wars of the Roses and David Pilling, author of Kingbreaker join me to discuss the enduring mystery of what happened to the princes.
Links
A Guide to the Wars of the Roses, by Derek Birks
Kingbreaker: Rebel and Traitor, by David Pilling
Kingmaker Board Game
Aspects of History Links
Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99
Ollie on X
Aspects of History on Instagram
Get in touch: [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
54min
August 19, 2025 The Wars of the Roses Part Four: The Fall of the Kingmaker
Welcome to episode 4 of this 6 part special on the Wars of the Roses. Today’s episode sees Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, the Kingmaker, make plans which soon fall apart.
Joining me are two historians, Derek Birks, the author of the Guide to the Wars of the Roses, and David Pilling, author of Kingbreaker.
You’ll get two episodes per week, and so hopefully will emerge from August with a superior knowledge of a conflict that was an early civil war, and which formed England for the next few hundred years. All the great characters are here, Elizabeth Woodville, Henry VI, Queen Margaret, Warwick the Kingmaker, Edward IV, Richard III and finally Henry Tudor.
Links
A Guide to the Wars of the Roses, by Derek Birks
Kingbreaker: Rebel and Traitor, by David Pilling
Kingmaker Board Game
Aspects of History Links
Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99
Ollie on X
Aspects of History on Instagram
Get in touch: [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
36min
August 15, 2025 The Wars of the Roses Part Three: Edward IV
Welcome to episode 3 of this 6 part special on the Wars of the Roses. Today Edward IV emerges as the great new hope for the Yorkist cause now that his father, Richard Duke of York is dead.
Joining me are two historians, Derek Birks, the author of the Guide to the Wars of the Roses, and David Pilling, author of Kingbreaker.
You’ll get two episodes per week, and so hopefully will emerge from August with a superior knowledge of a conflict that was an early civil war, and which formed England for the next few hundred years. All the great characters are here, Elizabeth Woodville, Queen Margaret, Warwick the Kingmaker, Edward IV, Richard III and finally Henry Tudor.
Links
A Guide to the Wars of the Roses, by Derek Birks
Kingbreaker: Rebel and Traitor, by David Pilling
Kingmaker Board Game
Aspects of History Links
Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99
Ollie on X
Aspects of History on Instagram
Get in touch: [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
35min
August 12, 2025 The Wars of the Roses Part Two: The Death of York
Welcome to episode 2 of this 6 part special on the Wars of the Roses as today we deal with the fall of Richard Duke of York.
Joining me are two historians, Derek Birks, the author of the Guide to the Wars of the Roses, and David Pilling, author of KingBreaker.
You’ll get two episodes per week, and so hopefully will emerge from August with a superior knowledge of a conflict that was an early civil war, and which formed England for the next few hundred years. All the great characters are here, Elizabeth Woodville, Queen Margaret, Warwick the Kingmaker, Edward IV, Richard III and finally Henry Tudor.
Links
A Guide to the Wars of the Roses, by Derek Birks
Kingbreaker: Rebel and Traitor, by David Pilling
Kingmaker Board Game
Aspects of History Links
Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99
Ollie on X
Aspects of History on Instagram
Get in touch: [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
41min
August 08, 2025 The Wars of the Roses Part One: The Rise of York
Welcome to the first of 6 episodes on the Wars of the Roses. Over the next few weeks we’ll be starting with the Battle of St. Alban’s in 1455, all the way up to the Battle of Bosworth thirty years later in 1485 when Richard definitely said, "A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!"
Joining me are two historians, Derek Birks, the author of the Guide to the Wars of the Roses, and David Pilling, author of Kingbreaker.
You’ll get two episodes per week, and so hopefully will emerge from August with a superior knowledge of a conflict that was an early civil war, and which formed England for the next few hundred years. All the great characters are here: Henry VI, Elizabeth Woodville, Queen Margaret, Warwick the Kingmaker, Edward IV, Richard III and finally Henry Tudor.
Links
A Guide to the Wars of the Roses, by Derek Birks
Kingbreaker: Rebel and Traitor, by David Pilling
Kingmaker Board Game
The Causes of the Wars of the Roses
Aspects of History Links
Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99
Ollie on X
Aspects of History on Instagram
Get in touch: [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
39min
August 01, 2025 Prince Rupert of the Rhine with Mark Turnbull
On Sunday 23 October 1642, at Edgehill during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, Parliament and the Royalists met on the field of battle. In an inconclusive engagement, both sides left the field largely intact, but one man’s name would be known throughout England. Prince Rupert of the Rhine led a stunning cavalry charge on the King’s right flank, breaking through the Parliamentarians. But, as with so many cavalry advances, the thrill got the better of him and he pressed his attack too far, thus threatening the infantry.
Rupert’s reputation grew however, but who was this foreign prince? Mark Turnbull joins to discuss this brilliant soldier, sailor and renaissance man. Mark has written a new book that has found new material, not easy in a crowded field.
Episode Links
Prince Rupert of the Rhine: King Charles I’s Cavalier Commander
Aspects of History Links
Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99
Ollie on X
Aspects of History on Instagram
Get in touch: [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
55min
July 25, 2025 Ukraine's Foreign Legion with Colin Freeman
On 27th February 2022, three days after the Russians invaded Ukraine, President Zelensky sent out the call for volunteers from abroad to join the Ukrainians in resisting Putin’s so called special military operation. Over 20,000 expressed interest, but for those that made it out onto the front lines, combat proved far more difficult, and less romantic, than it had first appeared.
Joining today is Colin Freeman, author of The Mad and the Brave, the thrilling account of life in the Foreign Legion for those volunteers fighting Russia. We discuss the struggles, motivations and courage of these extraordinary men.
Episode Links
The Mad & the Brave: The Untold Story of Ukraine's Foreign Legion
Want to join up? Join the Brave
Aspects of History Links
Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99
Ollie on X
Aspects of History on Instagram
Get in touch: [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
50min
July 22, 2025 Film Club: The Thin Red Line (1998)
This month’s film club is the Terrence Malick 1998 masterpiece The Thin Red Line starring Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, Jim Caviezel, John Cusack, John Travolta and Woody Harrelson, among many others. We talk the Adrien Brody cut, the military elements, comparisons with Saving Private Ryan and much more. It’s me, historian Roger Moorhouse and filmmaker Tim Hewitt talking The Thin Red Line.
Links
Adrien Brody on his being cut from The Thin Red Line.
Christopher Plummer & George Clooney on Terrence Malick.
Ollie on X
Tim on X
Roger on X
Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99
Aspects of History on Instagram
Get in touch: [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
1h 13min

FAQs about Aspects of History:

How many episodes does Aspects of History have?

The podcast currently has 298 episodes available.

More shows like Aspects of History

History Extra podcast by Immediate Media

History Extra podcast

3,231 Listeners

The WW2 Podcast by Angus Wallace

The WW2 Podcast

1,224 Listeners

Dan Snow's History Hit by History Hit

Dan Snow's History Hit

4,729 Listeners

Cold War Conversations by Ian Sanders

Cold War Conversations

454 Listeners

WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk by Goalhanger

WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk

1,358 Listeners

The Old Front Line by Paul Reed

The Old Front Line

178 Listeners

The Ancients by History Hit

The Ancients

3,104 Listeners

Warfare by History Hit

Warfare

535 Listeners

Presidents, Prime Ministers, Monarchs & Dictators by Global

Presidents, Prime Ministers, Monarchs & Dictators

69 Listeners

The Rest Is History by Goalhanger

The Rest Is History

13,566 Listeners

Battleground by Goalhanger

Battleground

332 Listeners

Empire by Goalhanger

Empire

2,304 Listeners

WW1: Not So Quiet On The Western Front! | A Battle Guide Production by Dan Hill and Dr. Spencer Jones

WW1: Not So Quiet On The Western Front! | A Battle Guide Production

111 Listeners

WW2: Both Sides of The Wire | A Battle Guide Production by Prof. Matthias Strohn & Jesse Alexander

WW2: Both Sides of The Wire | A Battle Guide Production

82 Listeners

The Rest Is Classified by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Classified

921 Listeners