We've talked a lot about pirates over the last few episodes, so in this Unearthed special I chat to Alex Barker from the Be More Pirate movement, about what pirates and the Golden Age of Piracy can mean for you today.

He sailed the seas in search of pirates, but the world that he thought supported him, would turn against him - branding him a pirate instead. This episode examines the trial and aftermath of Scottish born pirate Captain William Kidd. Was he a notorious villain, or victim of a villainous elite?

Interviews with:

• Richard Zacks: Author of Pirate Hunter
• Dr David Wilson: Historian at Strathclyde University
• Noel Young: Journalist and founder of www.pardoncaptainkidd.com
• Alex Barker: Author and Captain of the Be More Pirate movement.

Support the show by joining the Unearthed Club.

Captain William Kidd is a name that permeates pirate lore, but what is less discussed are his Scottish routes. But was this man a terror of the high seas, or patriotic privateer? What's the difference between pirates and privateers anyway? Join me in the first of this two part episode, where I'll investigate the life and crimes of Captain Kidd so you can make your mind up before his trial - is he innocent or shall he hang?

Interviews with:

• Dr David Wilson, historian and author
• Richard Zacks, author of Pirate Hunter
• Noel Young, journalist and founder of the Pardon Captain Kidd campaign.

Support the show by joining the Unearthed Club.

What led Scottish born Allan Pinkerton to track down one of America's most notorious outlaws? Jesse James is a house hold name to many, but in this episode we unearth the legend of both Pinkerton and James, to find out what brought these two men on a massive collision course, and how that ultimately changed the face of the Pinkerton Agency forever.

Interviews with:

• T.J Stiles - Pulitzer prize winning author of Jesse James: Last Rebel of the Civil War
• Bob Whitaker - Historian and producer of History Respawned Podcast
• Ian Templeton - ex-police officer from Glasgow

Did you know that the founder of the American secret service was from Glasgow? This week I take a look at the life of Allan Pinkerton, founder of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, and how he and his crew foiled a plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. It's a story of gun-slinging, murder, espionage, and cowboys. So welcome to Allan Pinkerton's Wild West!

Unearthed is a Scottish history podcast that dusts off the history books to take you back in time to find out more about lesser-known heroes from Scotland's past. What can we learn from the ghosts of the past?

Support the show by joining the Unearthed Club.

Who fired the starter gun for equality? Is there someone out there who pioneered centuries of furious debate for women's rights? This is the story of a Dundee born legend whose legacy resonates with us today - despite her being side-lined by history. How she would grow up to be a leading figure in a movement that would set the world on a new course. This is the story of Frances Wright and her Utopia.

Interviews:

• Dr Kenneth Baxter, Dundee University
• Dr Jane Rendall, University of York
• Dr Allison Lange, Wentworth Institute of Technology
• Ian Houston, President of the Scottish Business Network

Support the show by joining the Unearthed Club on Patreon and get access to my mini series Superstitions as well as full-length interviews and behind the scenes extras,

In 1848, two naval ships went missing in the Arctic ice. The British Navy believed it was on the cusp of discovering the first navigable link in the Northwest Passage, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by traversing the roof of Canada. But, this was not to be. So how did an Orcadian Scot become the centre of an international scandal? And was he actually the man to discover one of the world's most treacherous yet highly desired passageways? This is the story of why we should all know John Rae.

Interviews with:

• Ken McGoogan, author of Fatal Passage
• Anne Keenleyside. archaeologist at Trent University
• Dr Douglas Stenton, archaeologist at the University of Waterloo.
• Andrew Appleby, President of the John Rae society.

Join the Unearthed Patreon and support the show!

It's here - the third season of Unearthed! This time, I take a look at prominent Scots who fled the homeland to chase a better life in the New World - the good, the bad, and the mad.

Episode one lands Wednesday 11th August, wherever you get your podcasts!

Welcome to the History Sideshow! This week I take a look at Mary Slessor who sailed for Nigeria in 1876 - but should she be revered today in the light of damage caused by white-saviourism and voluntourism?

I'll also address something quite personal to me, including the responsibility that comes with broadcasting history programs in the wake of TV historian Neil Oliver's damaging claims, as well as news of the third season of Unearthed - coming next week! - plus, this week in history news!

Remember to join the Unearthed club on Patreon to get access to bonus material, my mini-series Superstitions where I look at the darker recesses of our history books, and much more! Join today on www.patreon.com/unearthed

Welcome to the History Sideshow - my weekly podcast that runs in between the main Unearthed seasons.

This week Ryan returns to the Covenanters Prison and the infamous Bluidy George Mackenzie, to sift out the poltergeist from the pretence, as well as highlighting a unique individual in Scottish history - a man named Alexander Trocchi whose drug fuelled literary career lay at the heart of the American Beat Generation with another weekly round up of week-in-history news!

Support the show by becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/unearthed