Quacks, wise women, barber surgeons and private madhouses - just some of the options available if you were to find yourself in ill health in the 16th and 17th centuries. Dan is joined by historian Dr Alanna Skuse to look at healthcare in Renaissance England, from healing the humours and blood letting to cross animal blood transfusions, skin grafts that involved attaching the face to the upper arm and the notorious treatments of patients at Bedlam, Britain's most famous psychiatric hospital. But not all treatments were bizarre or gruesome; in fact, early practitioners had some pretty progressive ideas around holistic health, the benefits of nature, sleep and friendship.

Alanna shares astonishing stories of treatments, patients and practitioners from her new book 'The Surgeon, the Midwife and the Quack: How to Stay Alive in Renaissance England'

Produced by Mariana Des Forges and edited by Dougal Patmore

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Today, we dive into the dramatic tale of two men whose rivalry changed the course of English history. We unravel the complex relationship between King Richard II and his ambitious cousin, Henry Bolingbroke - later crowned Henry IV.

We're joined by Helen Castor, historian, broadcaster and author of ‘The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV’. We discover how this seismic power struggle toppled a king.

Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore.

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Was the Industrial Revolution the most important event in human history? Dan is joined by economist and journalist Duncan Weldon to explore why exactly the industrial revolution started on the soggy archipelago of Britain and the impact of its entrepreneurs, politics, and empire had on the country and the rest of the world across the 18th and 19th centuries.

They trace a story of ambition and invention—but also upheaval, inequality and consequences and explain what happened and why it still matters.

Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Matthew Wilson and Dougal Patmore.

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Today, we journey back to Berlin in the summer of 1943, where a clandestine gathering of Germany’s elite quietly plots to resist Hitler’s regime. But there is a traitor in their midst...

We're joined by acclaimed journalist and author Jonathan Freedland, author of 'The Traitors Circle: The Rebels Against the Nazis and the Spy Who Betrayed Them'. He unravels the true story behind the Solf Circle - a group of courageous men and women who risked everything to oppose the Nazis from within.

Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore.

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On 31st May, 1916, 250 warships and nearly 100,000 sailors converged in the North Sea for the world's first full-scale clash of dreadnought fleets. Admiral Jellicoe’s Grand Fleet was pitted against Admiral Scheer’s High Seas Fleet for what was supposed to be a decisive battle - but which ended with a less than certain outcome.

We're joined by Andrew Lambert, Laughton Professor of Naval History at King's College London, to hear all about the battle and whether it can be considered a German tactical success or a British strategic victory.

Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore.

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Warning: this episode contains explicit language.

Medieval people weren’t prudish—far from it. Dan is joined by medieval historian Dr Eleanor Janega to explore sex, marriage, and desire in the Middle Ages. They delve into the beliefs around sodomy as “non-procreative sex”; pilgrimages as raucous release valves, raunchy art and love spells. They'll look at sex habits among the different classes, queer lives in monasteries, widows’ freedoms, abortion, STIs, and the risks of childbirth, and what purgatory had in store for the lustful. Along the way, they bust myths from chastity belts to teenage brides. A funny, frank, evidence-packed tour of how people got down—then worried about their souls.

Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Matthew Wilson and Dougal Patmore.

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This is the story of a city that laid the foundations for our modern world. Sitting at the intersection of East and West, Alexandria has been home to many of humanity's greatest architectural and cultural achievements, like the famous Lighthouse and the storied Great Library. Some of history's most illustrious figures have left their mark there, from Alexander the Great and Aristotle to Julius Caesar and Cleopatra.

Dan is joined by Islam Issa, Professor of English at Birmingham City University and author of 'Alexandria: The City that Changed the World'. Islam explains how a city that started as a vision in Alexander the Great’s mind became a global capital of knowledge.

This episode was first released in February 2024.

Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore.

You can sign up to watch Dan and Dr Michael Livingston's documentary series on Magna Carta on https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

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Why did Spain spiral into civil war in 1936? Today, we delve into the grinding class conflicts and ferocious political divisions that split Spain in two, from the dictatorship of the 1920s to the ambitious and divisive government of the early 1930s. We explore why democracy unravelled in Spain, and how foreign intervention - or lack of it - turned a bungled coup into a full-blown conflict that killed half a million people, and gave rise to the regime of Francisco Franco.

We're joined by Helen Graham, Professor of Modern European History at Royal Holloway and author of 'In the Shadow of Defeat: Radical Lives After the Spanish Civil War'. She explains how important international players were in shaping the conflict, and how crucial it was to the broader course of European history.

Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore.

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In this episode, Dan explains the dramatic story of the Battle of Agincourt when, against overwhelming odds, Henry V’s underdog English army emerged victorious over their mighty French opponents. We explore why the battle happened in the first place, as well as the key characters, weaponry, and tactics that turned the tide.

Join Dan to discover how Agincourt became a legendary military triumph in English history.

Written by Dan Snow, and edited by Dougal Patmore and Matthew Wilson.

Did you know you can watch this episode on Dan's YouTube Channel? Check it out on https://www.youtube.com/@DSHHPodcast

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Dan and leading medieval historians explain everything you need to know about Magna Carta...and the story is more dramatic than you might think. Magna Carta sprang from an England on the brink of civil war; the feeble king John left grappling for control after a disastrous defeat in France in the early 13th century and a baron's rebellion in England. It was forged at a standoff on the banks of the Thames in 1215 and still provides the basis of law for most of the English-speaking world today.

With thanks to Dr Michael Livingston, Dan Jones and Dr Jess Nelson.

This episode was produced by Mariana Des Forges and edited by Dougal Patmore with additional production from Mark Edger.

Click here to listen to Dan's explainer on William the Marshal.

Click here to listen to Dan's explainer on Richard the Lionheart.

You can sign up to watch Dan and Dr Michael Livingston's documentary series on Magna Carta on https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on.

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