Dangerous Makes

The business of death could be deadly....and making a grave mistake could end in disaster.

In this episode of Dangerous Makes, we're joined by Dr Dan O'Brien to dig into the fascinating, and occasionally downright dangerous world of death, funerals and the people who made a living from the dearly departed.

Expect morbid curiosity, a few coffin sized laughs and plenty of stories that prove history really does have a dark sense of humour.

CONTENT WARNING This episode includes discussions of historical deaths, dead bodies, burial practices and funerals.

Guest: Dr Dan O'Brien Dr Dan O'Brien (@dr.dan.o) • Instagram photos and videos 

Location: The Coffin Works, Birmingham Coffin Works – Home of Newman Brothers Museum

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Written, researched and presented by Kerri Williams.

Produced by Siobhán Stevenson.

Music by Tiffany Lunn.

Dangerous Makes: History's Most Hazardous Trades and Inventions with Kerri Williams.

Listen to Matt Lewis discuss his new short film A Taste of Loyalty.

Matt talks to Kerri about why he and Actor Thomas Dennis were so passionate about making this film about Richard III's life. In this bonus episode Kerri and Matt talk about the community of people who made it happen and the makers who worked on the film and why it's different from other versions you may have seen.

Guest: Matt Lewis Matt Lewis - Home

Film Patreon;

A Taste of Loyalty — A behind the scenes look at bringing Richard III's story to life | Patreon

Support the show

Written, researched and presented by Kerri Williams.

Produced by Siobhán Stevenson.

Music by Tiffany Lunn.

Dangerous Makes: History's Most Hazardous Trades and Inventions with Kerri Williams.

Dangerous Makes is a podcast about history's most hazardous trades and inventions.

In this episode of Dangerous Makes Kerri talks all things Castles with Matt Lewis, the host of History Hit's Gone Medieval podcast. 

On a tour of Warwick Castle, we find out when castle building became popular and how local villagers were persuaded to work 10 hour shifts for a loaf of bread or lured into apprenticeships that could ultimately see them fall to their deaths, have a very large block of stone dropped on their heads, or be thrown off the top of a castle so no one could replicate your work.

Guest: Matt Lewis Matt Lewis - Home

Location: Warwick Castle https://www.warwick-castle.com/

Support the show

Written, researched and presented by Kerri Williams.

Produced by Siobhán Stevenson.

Music by Tiffany Lunn.

Dangerous Makes: History's Most Hazardous Trades and Inventions with Kerri Williams.

Dangerous Makes is a podcast about history's most hazardous trades and inventions.

In our debut episode Dangerous Makes sends Kerri Williams to speak to Dr Kate Round an expert on glass making. 

While chatting with Kate and touring The Red House Glass Cone, a historic glass making site in Stourbridge, we explore how glass makers in the Black Country found innovative ways to increase production. We also ask why the Huguenots valued its naturals resoucres so much they moved to Stourbridge and Cradley and we find out exactly how dangerous it was for those working in one of history's hottest trades.

Guest: Dr Kate Round kateround.com – Stourbridge Glass | The Red House Glass Cone | All Things Glass

Location: The Red House Glass Cone: Red House Glass Cone | Dudley Council

Support the show

Written, researched and presented by Kerri Williams.

Produced by Siobhán Stevenson.

Music by Tiffany Lunn.

Dangerous Makes: History's Most Hazardous Trades and Inventions with Kerri Williams.

Out 22nd October - Dangerous Makes; Histories most hazardous trades and inventions.

Join Kerri Williams as she takes us through the dangers of working in glass making, castle building, digging out canals, chain making, funerals and sex work for historical workers. Come with us as we take you back to when health and safety policies weren't even a concept and workplace injuries were just a part of your job.

Dangerous Makes, History's most hazardous trades and inventions with Kerri Williams

Support the show

Written, researched and presented by Kerri Williams.

Produced by Siobhán Stevenson.

Music by Tiffany Lunn.

Dangerous Makes: History's Most Hazardous Trades and Inventions with Kerri Williams.