On the Isle of Lewis, a lost cow unearths the most famous chess pieces in history. An Egyptian king and queen battle it out over the game board. A New York architect lays the foundations of Scrabble. And during World War Two, a Monopoly set is a matter of life or death for British prisoners of war…

A Noiser production, written by Roger Morris.

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In the Italian Alps, the world’s oldest known hat is unearthed. In ancient Rome, a simple head covering separates slaves from freedmen. In Victorian London, hats prove deadly for the men and women who make them. And Napoleon Bonaparte causes a stir, by rotating his bicorne 90 degrees…

A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds.

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In remotest Siberia, an intrepid archaeologist uncovers the oldest rug known to man. The Moors of north Africa occupy Spain, bringing new floor coverings with them. A young girl’s innovation turns a small Georgia town into the carpet capital of the world. And the Dalai Lama flees Tibet, taking his carpets with him…

A Noiser production, written by Roger Morris.

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A radical apothecary causes a stir during the English Civil War. Wise Women offer mysterious advice on how to rid oneself of warts. A wife’s accidents in the kitchen lead her husband to develop the first band-aid. And in Victorian London, unsuspecting mothers treat their children with a dangerously addictive drug…

A Noiser production, written by Roger Morris.

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This is a taster episode of a brand-new podcast from the Noiser network. Host Paul McGann follows the real people involved in the D-Day landings.

It’s 1944 and Europe is in the grip of the Nazi war machine. But on the shores of Great Britain, thousands of men and women are planning the great fightback. What will it take to turn the tide of World War 2?

Search ‘D-Day: The Tide Turns’ in your podcast app and hit follow to get new episodes each Thursday. Or listen at noiser.com

Episode 2 is live now on D-Day: The Tide Turns.

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Archaeologists in South Africa discover the world’s oldest bed. In Victorian London, homeless people have to choose between sleeping on a bench or sleeping in a coffin. 26 butchers and their wives get cosy in 17th-century Hertfordshire. And a bed proves fatal for three men in medieval France…

A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds.

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In ancient Mesopotamia, people invent straws to better enjoy their favourite tipple. The Romans turn their noses up at barbarian beverages. The introduction of hops to brewing sparks a beer-based battle of the sexes. And Prohibition in America leads to the production of potentially deadly drinks…

A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds.

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Fed up with mice pilfering their grain, farmers in the ancient Middle East turn to a new ally. In early modern Essex, a witch’s familiar is blamed for the murder of her husband. The world’s first cat lady is found living in Victorian London. And a diplomatic mission to Egypt goes awry after the death of a sacred feline…

A Noiser production, written by Roger Morris.

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Stories of the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon beguile generations of listeners. An Indian emperor builds paradise on Earth in memory of his beloved wife. In medieval England, gardening brings an inquisitive monk closer to God. And growing vegetables becomes a vital weapon in the war against Hitler…

A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds.

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A herder in 9th century Ethiopia discovers a stimulating plant, after observing his goats behaving strangely. The pope weighs in on whether a bitter new beverage really was invented by Satan. A stall selling hot drinks takes 1650s London by storm. And drinking coffee becomes a deadly habit in Ottoman Istanbul…

A Noiser production, written by Addison Nugent.

For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free trial. Or, if you’re on Spotify or Android, go to noiser.com/subscriptions

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