Past Matters

Ploy Radford
  • 4.8 (5)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Museums, galleries and historic houses are treasure troves of items from the past. But how easy is it at these sites to unknowingly just walk straight past an object with an incredible story to tell? In this podcast series host Ploy Radford talks to the experts at different museums, galleries and historic houses about the most underrated objects in their collection, and unveils some fantastic facts.

  1. 08/29/2025

    Fulvia - interview with Dr Jane Draycott

    Hear historian Dr Jane Draycott reveal the fascinating life of Fulvia - the woman who defied all the rules in Ancient Rome.

    57 min

  2. 08/14/2025

    Three military tombstones - Roman Britain

    In this episode Dr Jo Ball shares the stories behind three military tombstones from Roman Britain, touching on themes of life and death in the Roman empire, what it means to be a Roman and more.

    43 min

  3. 08/01/2025

    A carved limewood cravat - Chatsworth House

    In the second of a two part episode focused on Chatsworth House, Assistant Curator Katherine Hardwick-Kulpa shares the mysteries around a carved limewood cravat .

    22 min

  4. 07/23/2025

    Chatsworth House - William Kent Pier Table

    In the first of a two-part episode focused on the English stately home Chatsworth House, Assistant Curator Katherine Hardwick-Kulpa explains to host Ploy Radford-Taylor why a small table tucked away in the West Sketch Gallery is actually one of the most significant pieces of furniture in the house's collection.

    27 min

  5. 06/26/2025

    The women of Homer - interview with Emily Hauser

    In this episode of Past Matters, academic and author Emily Hauser shines a light on the women who inspired the female characters of Homer's great epics.

    42 min

  6. 06/17/2025

    HMS Queen Charlotte Figurehead - The National Museum of the Royal Navy

    Season 5 opens with an interview with Hannah Bradbury-Crowther, Curator of Diverse Histories at the National Museum of the Royal Navy sharing the tales the figurehead of the HMS Queen Charlotte has seen...

    47 min

  7. 12/31/2024

    New Year Special - interview with author Amber Chen

    In this New Year special to round off season 4, author Amber Chen reveals the historical influences behind her silkpunk fantasy novel ‘Of Jade and Dragons’.

    30 min

  8. 12/19/2024

    The Sword of Ommerschans - Dutch National Museum of Antiquities

    Luc Amkreutz, curator of the prehistory collections at the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, reveals the story behind the Sword of Ommerschans, currently on display as part of the 'Bronze Age: Fires of Change' exhibition. The giant ceremonial Bronze Age sword provides a fascinating insight into an overlooked part of history that actually heralded great cultural change in society.

    45 min
See All (54)

Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Museums, galleries and historic houses are treasure troves of items from the past. But how easy is it at these sites to unknowingly just walk straight past an object with an incredible story to tell? In this podcast series host Ploy Radford talks to the experts at different museums, galleries and historic houses about the most underrated objects in their collection, and unveils some fantastic facts.

Information

  • Creator
    Ploy Radford
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2025
  • Episodes
    54
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ploy Radford
  • Show Website
    Past Matters