RIVET COUNTER

Listen to all the episodes before anyone else

$2.99/mo or $34.99/yr after trial

History Rage

Paul Bavill
  • 4.9 (33)
  • History
  • Updated Weekly

Think history is boring? That’s because you’ve only ever heard the fake version. On History Rage, professional historians come in swinging — smashing the myths, clichés, and half-truths that keep getting recycled in classrooms, documentaries, and TikToks. Vikings with horned helmets? Nope. Britain standing alone in 1940? Wrong. Medieval people never bathed? Rubbish. Why listen? Because the truth is way more exciting. You’ll leave every episode with jaw-dropping stories, killer facts to shut down pub bores, and the smug satisfaction of knowing what really happened. 🎧 Episodes drop every Monday. 📲 Follow now and get the history they don’t teach you — raw, raging, and real. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 10h ago

    301. Operation Paperclip was a necessary evil with Guy Walters

    When history gets reduced to lazy moral takes, it misses the real Cold War truth. In this episode of History Rage, historian and broadcaster Guy Walters tears into the misunderstandings surrounding Nazi scientists, rocket technology, and one of the most consequential intelligence grabs of the 20th century: the post-war scramble for expertise that became Operation Paperclip. At the heart of the discussion is the extraordinary story of the V2 rocket programme and the Polish resistance operation that recovered an intact missile from occupied territory during the chaos of 1944. That single recovery effort fed directly into Allied intelligence assessments and helped shape how Britain and the United States understood Germany’s technological leap forward in rocketry. Guy argues that the real story isn’t about moral purity—it’s about survival in an emerging Cold War. As the Iron Curtain fell, the question wasn’t whether these scientists were compromised. It was who would get them first: the West or the Soviet Union. From covert recoveries in wartime Poland to the intelligence race over German aerospace expertise, this episode reveals how fragile the balance of power really was in 1945—and how close the Soviets came to dominating early rocket science. Guy also dismantles the idea that Operation Paperclip was uniquely scandalous. In reality, every major power—US, UK, USSR, and others—was racing to absorb German technical knowledge. The Cold War, he argues, was shaped as much by captured minds as by captured territory. The discussion explores: The Polish resistance recovery of a near-intact V2 rocket Why Allied intelligence needed it so urgently Whether Nazi rocket science could have changed WWII or only the Cold War The ethical grey zone of recruiting former Nazi scientists How figures like Wernher von Braun influenced the space race and beyond This is not just a story about rockets. It’s about power, pragmatism, and the uncomfortable truth that technological supremacy often comes with moral compromise. If you think the Cold War was won by ideals alone, this episode will challenge that assumption. If you already suspect history is messier than textbooks suggest, this is a deep dive into exactly how messy it gets. Buy the book featured in this episode 📘 Stealing Hitler’s Rocket by Guy Walters 👉 https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781035910854 Follow the guest Instagram: @guyebwalters X / other platforms: @GuyWalters Support History Rage If you enjoy the show and want to help it grow: Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/historyrage Or listen ad-free via Apple Subscriptions (£3/month) Tell someone else about the show and spread the Rage In this episode, history doesn’t behave. It collides with ethics, necessity, and Cold War fear—and leaves us with uncomfortable answers about who really shaped the modern world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min

  2. 10h ago • Subscribers Only

    Catherine The Great Did Not Have Sex With a Horse with Kate Williams | Chalke Festival Special 5

    Discover the truth behind history's most persistent and monstrous sexual slur. Think you know how Russia’s greatest empress met her end? If you are still repeating the infamous stallion myth, you have fallen hook, line, and sinker for 18th-century wartime propaganda. In this special episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill sits down with the brilliant Professor Kate Williams to completely dismantle the pervasive, malicious lies built to tear down powerful women in history. From Cleopatra being branded a mere "seductress" to Marie Antoinette's alleged scandals, powerful women have always faced intensely gendered character assassinations. But Catherine the Great took the brunt of it. What You'll Learn in This Episode: • The Cold Hard Truth: Exactly how Catherine the Great actually died (peacefully in her bed at age 67 from a stroke!). • The Origin of the Lie: How her British, French, and Polish enemies weaponized satirical gossip to reduce a massive global superpower to a monstrous joke. • The Real Legacy: Why Catherine was actually a groundbreaking vaccine pioneer, a champion of state education, and a builder of public health infrastructure. • Despot vs. Democrat: The fascinating dichotomy of an absolute ruler who implemented policies we now associate with modern democracies. Stop letting 300-year-old "banter" dictate historical fact. It is time to respect one of Russia's most successful monarchs for her sharp political mind rather than a fabricated bedroom scandal. Hear More From Kate Williams • Grab the Book: Unpack the full history of how the images imposed on queens become all-consuming. Buy Kate's latest book, Regina: A New History of Women and Power, directly from the History Rage Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781474621359 • See Her Live: Kate will be speaking at the Chalke History Festival on Thursday, 25th June at 2:00 PM. Secure your spot and buy tickets now at the Chalke Festival Official Website: https://www.chalkefestival.com/ • Connect: Follow Professor Kate Williams on social media for more historical insights on social media at @KateWilliamsme Recommended Episodes to Catch Next If this deep dive into historical misrepresentation got your blood boiling, check out these related episodes: • Episode 232: Elizabeth Norton rages about the Queens Regnant. • Episode 199: Una McIlvenna rages the truth about Catherine de Medici. Support History Rage & Join the Revolution! Loved this episode? Help us keep the rage alive and access exclusive perks: • Patreon: Support the podcast for just £5 a month to get entry into our monthly book draw, invite privileges for future guest Q&As, access to monthly live streams, and the highly coveted History Rage Mug! Join the inner circle at https://www.patreon.com/historyrage • Follow Us: Stay updated on all future rages by following the show on your favourite podcast platform. Stay angry!

    45 min

  3. 3d ago • Subscribers Only

    The British were NOT "too slow" liberating Caen with Ben Mayne

    Why Caen’s ‘slow’ liberation actually won the Battle of Normandy. Historian and battlefield guide Ben Mayne joins https://historyrage.com to dismantle one of the most persistent myths of the Second World War: that the British and Canadians were “too slow” to break out from Caen after D-Day. Drawing on years of battlefield research, veterans’ testimonies and deep study of Operation Charnwood, Ben argues that the fighting around Caen unfolded exactly as Bernard Montgomery intended. Rather than a failed advance, Caen became the crucial “anvil” that trapped and destroyed the bulk of Germany’s Panzer divisions while the Americans prepared their breakout across Normandy. We explore why the city proved so difficult to capture, the role of the Hillman bunker complex, the impact of Operation Fortitude, and how attritional warfare shaped the wider Normandy campaign. Ben also explains why the RAF bombing raids before Charnwood were never intended to flatten Caen — and how post-war narratives unfairly painted British and Canadian troops as passive or ineffective. This episode dives into: • Why Caen mattered so much to Allied strategy after D-Day • The real purpose of Montgomery’s Normandy campaign plan • How German SS Panzer divisions concentrated around Caen • The brutal fighting faced by British and Canadian infantry • Why Operation Charnwood deserves far greater recognition • The truth behind the “drinking tea while waiting” myth • How logistics, manpower and attrition shaped the liberation of Normandy If you enjoy military history, Normandy battlefield analysis, D-Day history, or debates around Montgomery’s leadership, this episode is essential listening. Follow Ben Mayne: • X/Twitter: https://x.com/BattlefieldBen • Liberation Route Europe UK: https://www.liberationroute.com/uk • Liberation Route Europe App: https://www.liberationroute.com/app Related listening: • James Holland on the Italian Campaign and the “D-Day Dodgers” • Jack Bowsher on why the Burma Campaign was far more than infantry warfare Support History Rage: • Website: https://historyrage.com • Substack: https://historyrage.substack.com • Patreon: https://patreon.com/historyrage Follow History Rage on social media and subscribe for more military history podcasts, historical myth-busting, and expert interviews every week.

    52 min

  4. 3d ago

    300. Crusades are not just the Middle East with Aleks Pluskowski

    The Crusades reshaped Europe far beyond Jerusalem — and we’ve forgotten it For most people, the Crusades begin and end with Jerusalem, Richard the Lionheart and Saladin. But that narrow view hides a far bigger story. In this episode of History Rage, medieval archaeologist Professor Aleks Pluskowski takes aim at the myth that crusading was confined to the eastern Mediterranean — and reveals how crusades transformed northern and eastern Europe in ways that still shape the modern world Drawing on decades of archaeological research and historical evidence, Aleks explains how the Baltic Crusades were longer, more successful, and ultimately more influential than those in the Levant. From the rise of the Teutonic Order to the foundation of cities like Riga and Tallinn, this conversation exposes a forgotten chapter of European history that fundamentally reshaped societies, borders and identities You’ll hear why crusading was a papally authorised penitential war, how it expanded beyond Jerusalem to target pagans, heretics and political enemies, and why northern Europe became the Crusades’ most enduring battlefield. Aleks also unpacks the diversity of pre-Christian belief systems in the Baltic, the realities of conquest and settlement, and how crusading ideology became a template for later colonialism and modern nationalist myths The episode also tackles how the Teutonic Order evolved from a humble hospital in Acre into a powerful military state, why it succeeded where the Levantine Crusader states failed, and how its image was later distorted by 19th-century nationalism and Nazi propaganda. This is not just military history — it’s a story about how Europe learned to dominate, govern and remember its past If you think you know the Crusades, this episode will make you rethink everything. Guest: Professor Aleks Pluskowski Professor of Medieval Archaeology, University of Reading Aleks Pluskowski is a leading authority on crusading in northern Europe, with extensive fieldwork experience across Poland and the Baltic region. His research focuses on material culture, landscapes of conquest, and the long-term impact of crusading societies. Book The Black Cross: The Medieval Baltic Crusades Buy here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9780300279061 About History Rage History Rage is the podcast that hunts down historical myths and kicks them into the long grass. Hosted by Paul Bavill, each episode invites leading historians to vent their fury at what everyone gets wrong about the past — loudly, passionately, and with evidence. Follow History Rage Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/historyrage Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/historyrage Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyrage Support the podcast Join the rage on Patreon for bonus content, livestreams and early access: https://www.patreon.com/historyrage Or support via Apple Podcasts Subscriptions for ad-free listening and early releases. If you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend and bring someone new aboard the rage train. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    54 min

  5. May 27

    299. The Historic Royal Family Was Way More Dysfunctional than Anything We Have Now with Charlie Higson | Chalke History Festival Special #2

    From exploding kings to civil wars, Britain’s royals were never respectable. Comedy legend, author and podcast host Charlie Higson joins History Rage to dismantle the myth that today’s monarchy is uniquely scandalous. From William the Conqueror’s warring sons to murderous Plantagenets, abusive Hanoverians and Edward VII’s infamous Parisian “sex chair”, Charlie argues the Royal Family has always been gloriously dysfunctional. Drawing from his brilliant new book Willy, Willy, Harry, Stee, Charlie takes Paul Bavill on a whirlwind tour through a thousand years of royal chaos, revealing why modern headlines about Harry, Meghan and Prince Andrew are tame compared to the behaviour of their ancestors. Expect exploding corpses, imprisoned wives, civil wars, royal affairs, fathers and sons at war, and the astonishing truth behind Britain’s longest-running soap opera. In this episode: Why William the Conqueror’s family immediately descended into violence The endless cycle of Plantagenet betrayal and civil war Why Edward II may have been too normal to be king The shocking dysfunction of the Georgian monarchy The real story behind George IV and Queen Caroline Edward VII’s scandalous private life and surprising political successes Why the monarchy survives despite centuries of scandal Charlie also explains why Britain remains fascinated by royalty — and why countries that abolished monarchies still recreate them through celebrity dynasties and political families. Charlie Higson will be appearing at the Chalke History Festival on Sunday 28th June. Tickets available here: https://www.chalkefestival.com/ Buy Charlie’s book here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9780008741051 Follow Charlie Higson: https://x.com/monstroso Follow and support History Rage: https://historyrage.com/ https://www.patreon.com/historyrage https://www.facebook.com/historyragepodcast https://www.instagram.com/historyragepodcast/ https://x.com/historyrage If you enjoy sharp historical debate, outrageous true stories and irreverent takes on Britain’s past, subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 10m

  6. May 27 • Subscribers Only

    The Black Death was not just a European Problem with Tom Asbridge | Chalke Festival Special 4

    Think the Black Death was just a medieval European tragedy? Think again. When you picture the Black Death, you probably imagine a third of Europe being wiped out while flagellants marched through British and French villages. But pandemics don’t stop at borders. What if our standard history lessons have completely ignored more than half of the story? In this special episode for the Chalke History Festival, host Paul Bavill sits down with Tom Asbridge, Reader in Medieval History at Queen Mary University of London and author of The Black Death, a Global History. Together, they shatter the Euro-centric myths to reveal a truly global disaster that stretched from Central Asia all the way across the medieval world. Discover how the plague reshaped the wealthy and sophisticated Mamluk Empire. Massive Middle Eastern cities like Cairo—which completely dwarfed London with a population of half a million people—faced unimaginable mass mortality. Tom explains the fascinating doctrinal differences that dictated survival; while Christian Europe viewed the disease as divine punishment that justified flight and abandonment, Islamic doctrine saw it as a merciful martyrdom. This completely altered how communities reacted, locked down, and ultimately collapsed under the weight of the pandemic. From the horrific eyewitness accounts of parents burying their own children to the long-term socioeconomic shifts that triggered peasant revolts and altered workers' rights, this episode zooms out to a global scale and zooms in on the raw human experience. If you want to understand the true scale of history's most terrifying disease, hit play now! About Our Guest • Tom Asbridge is a professional historian, author, and Reader in Medieval History at Queen Mary University of London. • See Tom Live: Catch Tom speaking at the Chalke History Festival on Friday 26th June at 4:00 PM. Grab your tickets at: https://www.chalkefestival.com/ • Buy the Book: Get your copy of The Black Death, a Global History directly from the History Rage Bookshop to support the show: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9780241399408 Recommended Episodes To Check Out Next • Episode 193: Luke Pepera rages that there is an African history long before any Europeans turned up. • Episode 143: Eleanor Janega brings the rage to prove that medieval women absolutely worked. Support and Follow History Rage If you love truth being freed and myth getting a long, slow, brutal death, help us keep the anger alive! • Support us on Patreon: Join the inner circle for £5 a month to get entry into our monthly book draws, pitch questions to future guests, access live streams, and grab the coveted History Rage mug: https://www.patreon.com/historyrage • Follow us on Twitter/X: https://x.com/HistoryRage • Visit our Website: Get the latest updates and episodes directly at https://www.historyrage.com

    56 min

  7. May 24 • Subscribers Only

    Jane Austen was NOT a genteel saintly woman with Izzy Meakin

    Jane Austen wasn’t polite—she was sharp, savage, and brilliantly misunderstood For generations, Jane Austen has been portrayed as a quiet, genteel figure—an almost saintly observer of polite Regency society. But what if that image is completely wrong? In this episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill is joined by Austen expert and What The Austen podcast host Izzy Meakin to dismantle one of literary history’s most persistent myths. Drawing on Austen’s surviving letters, family history, and the subtext of her novels, Izzy reveals a writer who was anything but passive—sharp-tongued, ironic, politically aware, and often brutally funny. From scathing remarks about neighbours and family to her barely concealed disdain for the Prince Regent, Austen’s private voice tells a very different story. With only around 160 letters surviving—and many deliberately destroyed by her sister Cassandra—the version of Austen we’ve inherited is incomplete at best, curated at worst. Izzy explores how Austen’s family helped shape her legacy after her death, particularly through her brother Henry’s glowing (and arguably over-sanitised) biography and even her gravestone inscription—both of which emphasised her sweetness and morality while ignoring her literary achievements. But the real Austen lives in the nuance: • A writer who channelled personal frustrations into Sense and Sensibility • A keen observer of social hypocrisy and gender constraints • A creator of complex, flawed, and deeply human female characters This episode dives into how Austen’s lived experiences—from financial insecurity to complicated family dynamics—fed directly into her fiction, and why her work continues to reward readers who look beyond the surface. If you think Austen is all romance and manners, this conversation will change your perspective entirely. About the Guest Izzy Meakin is the host of the What The Austen podcast, where she explores the life, works, and cultural legacy of Jane Austen with fresh insight and humour. • Instagram: @whattheausten • Podcast: Available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and all major platforms • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whattheausten Listen & Follow History Rage • Website: https://historyrage.com • Subscribe on your favourite podcast app • Join the mailing list via Substack • Follow for updates and episode releases Support the Podcast If you enjoyed this episode: • Follow and subscribe on your podcast platform • Leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts • Share the episode with fellow history lovers • Join the mailing list for exclusive updates at www.historyrage.com or https://historyrage.substack.com/ Step beyond the myth and rediscover Jane Austen as she really was: complicated, contradictory, and endlessly fascinating.

    50 min

  8. May 24

    298. Mary Queen of Scots WAS NOT a Bloody Stupid Woman with Linda Porter

    Mary Queen of Scots wasn’t stupid — history’s verdict is dangerously wrong. Was Mary, Queen of Scots really a reckless, lovestruck failure — or has history judged her by impossible standards? In this explosive History Rage counter-rage, acclaimed historian Linda Porter takes aim at one of the most persistent myths in British history and argues that Mary was anything but a “bloody stupid woman”. Drawing directly on political context, dynastic logic, gendered double standards, and Scotland’s uniquely volatile sixteenth-century landscape, Linda dismantles the lazy comparison between Mary and Elizabeth I. She reveals why Mary’s marriages made sense at the time, how Scottish politics stacked the odds against her, and why hindsight has been weaponised against a queen ruling in near-impossible circumstances. This episode dives deep into: Why Mary’s upbringing in France is misunderstood — and misused against herThe unfair Elizabeth I vs Mary, Queen of Scots comparisonThe dynastic logic behind the Darnley marriageWhy the Bothwell marriage looks far more like coercion than romanceHow trauma, pregnancy, betrayal, and political violence shaped Mary’s decisionsWhy calling Mary “stupid” says more about historians than history If you care about women in power, Tudor and Stuart history, Mary Queen of Scots, or how myths harden into “fact”, this episode is essential listening. About the guest: Linda Porter Linda Porter is one of Britain’s leading historians of the Tudor and Stuart period, known for her sharp analysis and willingness to challenge historical orthodoxies. She has written extensively on queenship, power, and dynastic politics. Buy the Book: The Thistle and The Rose: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781801105798 About History Rage History Rage is the no-nonsense history podcast where leading historians get angry about myths, bad history, and lazy storytelling. Hosted by Paul Bavill, the show strips away comforting narratives and replaces them with evidence, context, and expert fury. Follow & support History Rage: 🎧 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app💥 Ad-free listening: £3/month on Apple Subscriptions or Patreon🔥 Full supporter perks (£5/month on Patreon): live streams, asking guest questions, and the coveted History Rage mug Support the podcast: 👉 Patreon: www.patreon.com/historyrage 👉 Apple Podcasts subscriptions available in-app If you enjoy this episode, tell someone. One recommendation keeps independent history alive. Related episodes you might enjoy Episode 216 — Mary Queen of Scots: What a Bloody Stupid Woman (with Tracy Borman) https://pod.fo/e/2e60bdEpisode 186 — Katherine Parr (with Linda Porter): https://pod.fo/e/2b3cc9Episode 80 — Catherine of Braganza (with Linda Porter): https://pod.fo/e/1ef377 Mary, Queen of Scots wasn’t stupid — and after this episode, neither will you be about her. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    57 min
See All (393)

Trailers

4.9
out of 5
33 Ratings

About

Think history is boring? That’s because you’ve only ever heard the fake version. On History Rage, professional historians come in swinging — smashing the myths, clichés, and half-truths that keep getting recycled in classrooms, documentaries, and TikToks. Vikings with horned helmets? Nope. Britain standing alone in 1940? Wrong. Medieval people never bathed? Rubbish. Why listen? Because the truth is way more exciting. You’ll leave every episode with jaw-dropping stories, killer facts to shut down pub bores, and the smug satisfaction of knowing what really happened. 🎧 Episodes drop every Monday. 📲 Follow now and get the history they don’t teach you — raw, raging, and real. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Paul Bavill
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    393
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2022-2025 Paul Bavill
  • Show Website
    History Rage
  • Provider
    PAUL BAVILL

You Might Also Like