Blind History

4.6 (32)
HISTORY
UPDATED WEEKLY

Blind History is a crash course in getting to know history’s greatest men and women - and by great we don’t always mean good. Hosted by Gareth Cliff and Anthony Mederer, this series will tell you what the history books sometimes leave out - the sordid stories, the less well-known details, some of the stuff they didn’t teach you at school. Each person will help you put a piece of the puzzle in place, and bring history to life.

12/06/2022

Nelson Mandela

The most famous South African, the first democratically elected president of the Rainbow Nation, the anti-apartheid icon, and the man who spent 27 years in prison for his conviction and devotion to the cause. There are many ways to describe Nelson Mandela, but we had to end this season with a big one. Here’s the story of a man most of us wouldn’t even think of as a part of history - mostly because he’s still very much in our present.

28 min
11/29/2022

Howard Hughes

Long before Elon Musk and Steve Jobs, there was a billionaire playboy who set the standard - a genius with a passion for flying and designing planes, a womaniser who bedded the sexiest women in Hollywood, and a man who was eccentric enough to be declared mentally ill by today’s standards. Howard Hughes was many things... but he certainly wasn’t boring!

25 min
11/22/2022

Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine

The fiery, furious relationship between the medieval era’s most famous power couple led to glory and terrible failure. The empire they presided over was the greatest empire in the West since the time of Charlemagne. He was 9 years younger than her, but she matched his energy. When they weren’t making love and producing one of many children, they were plotting against each other or fighting like cat and dog. She took no prisoners, but he made her one for 15 years. The world, it seems, wasn’t big enough for Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine.

26 min
11/15/2022

Lord Nelson

Vice Admiral Viscount Horatio Nelson was the greatest British sailor of all time, possibly the greatest sailor in all the world’s history. His adventures, tactical genius and courage inspired Britain to become the naval superpower that it was in the 1700s and 1800s, and helped bring about the fall of Napoleon and a change in the balance of power throughout the world. Though he had only one eye and one arm, he seems to have brought enough energy and ambition for two lifetimes, and history looks fondly on his contribution.

32 min
11/08/2022

Gannibal

In 1742 a Russian aristocrat and military engineer, fluent in Turkish and French, rose to prominence in the Imperial court of Peter the Great. He had all the trappings of nobility, and was held in such high regard that the Tsar adopted him. This great figure of Russian history's name is Gannibal - charming, intelligent and a man of extraordinary achievement. Oh, and also a black African.

20 min
11/01/2022

Mao Zedong

If there were a prize for genocide, one man would have unbeatable odds at claiming it. He began life as a bright young revolutionary with enormous enthusiasm for change and fairness - but he devolved into a fat, dirty, old tyrant who filled everyone with fear and loathing. He was at China’s helm when up to 55 million people died in just four devastating years. He was known as Chairman Mao, and he changed China forever.

31 min
10/25/2022

Lucky Luciano

Long before Mario Puzo wrote 'The Godfather', and before Brando and Pacino brought the book’s characters to life on the big screen, the real Godfather - Lucky Luciano - ruled over the world of organised crime. Gambling, prostitution, guns and shallow graves were his stock-in-trade. He was public enemy number one... and he remains the original gangster.

22 min
10/18/2022

Tuthmosis III

Unlike most great people from history, you can actually still look into the faces of some of the Pharaohs. At the Egyptian Museum of Civilisation, 22 mummies occupy a sanctified space, and represent over 3,000 years of recorded history. One of the most memorable is Tuthmosis III - while he was alive, his eyes looked out over the apex of Ancient Egyptian culture and power... and under his rule, they built the greatest temples, expanded the territory, and established a pantheon of gods.

22 min

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4.6

out of 5

32 Ratings

Nikola tesla episode?

02/21/2021

AresAlicer

Looking forward to that one.
Typical British anti-Catholic drivel.

03/18/2023

s37erasmus

Just like every other British history podcast. Oh, Hernan Cortez and those awful Spanish Catholics, putting and end to the Aztec empire of human sacrifice and skin suits. Hey, apart from all that human sacrifice, they weren’t so bad! Cortez had a handful of men and horses. He was only successful because the neighbors of the Aztecs feared and hated them. The culture of the Mexica, by the way, has hardly disappeared. Look at the celebration of the Day of the Dead. Look at the death worshipping cults of the various cartels, like the Santissima Muerte.
Feminist Definition

01/27/2022

Katjo57

One of the narrators is confused as to what IS a feminist. Margaret Thatcher is the very definition of a feminist which is to live her life as she wanted, whatever that may be.
Great podcast!

08/03/2020

Niko Biba

I love the short biographies, you should do one on Skenderbeg!

Blind History is a crash course in getting to know history’s greatest men and women - and by great we don’t always mean good. Hosted by Gareth Cliff and Anthony Mederer, this series will tell you what the history books sometimes leave out - the sordid stories, the less well-known details, some of the stuff they didn’t teach you at school. Each person will help you put a piece of the puzzle in place, and bring history to life.