Raiders of the Lost Archive

The Mitford Podcast

Hello and welcome to Raiders of the Lost Archive - The MITFORD Podcast (soon changing to Never Heard Of Her) We're absolutely thrilled to present the insane story of the Mitford sisters. You probably think you have heard the story of the Nazi-loving sisters before? Think again, because the story we're about to uncover is a never ending source of entertaining scandals full of “Wows!” and “Oh. My. Cheeeezzz!” LOVE! WAR! NAZIS! SEX! PRISON! MORE NAZIS! SECRET MARRIAGES! MONEYYYY! COMMUNISTS! TEA WITH ADOLF HITLER! What’s not to love? It truly is the most outrageous story! We guarantee the most in-depth coverage on the Mitford sisters available anywhere on the internet here at Raiders of the Lost Archive! --> To our lovely listeners: We'll soon be done with all the Mitfords, so there's major change in the making: Over the summer, we'll rebrand our show to "Never Heard Of Her". We'll still be a podcast about historical women - soon looking at women from around the world who are famous in their own country and culture, but virtually unknown to English speakers. We'll welcome guests from countries around the world who will bring us the incredible stories of these women (yes, with all the juicy detail!) along with the cultural background. Lyn and I are super excited about this. We hope you are, too! Music credits: Jingle Funny Kids_30sec by Grand_Project found on Pixabay.com and Logan J Parker: Her Reason Why Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 2d ago ·  Bonus

    The real Mitford Sisters - BONUS: interview with Carla Kaplan

    📣 The Ultimate Rebellious Redhead: Chatting Troublemaker with Carla Kaplan! 🚩💥How does a high-society British aristocrat run away to fight fascists, join the American Communist Party, and become the undisputed "Queen of the Muckrakers"? In this special bonus episode, we sit down with biographer Carla Kaplan to unpack the rebellious, unapologetic universe of Jessica "Decca" Mitford—the subject of her acclaimed biography Troublemaker! Carla gives us the ultimate insider look at surviving 500 archival boxes to uncover the woman behind the legend. Packed with sharp insights, deep-digging historical nerdery, and plenty of outrageous Mitford mischief, this is a masterclass on the most formidable rebel of them all. 💩🪏 Chapters:  0:00:00 Episode Teaser  0:00:40 Intro & Welcome Carla!  0:02:17 How did Carla come across Decca & the Mitfords? 0:08:29 500 boxes, a dogged nerd & life in the archive 0:14:28 Decca was Decca! 0:23:35 Decca’s life-changing decision at crisis point 0:29:35 The wild energy of the Mitford Sisters 0:33:00 Decca’s losses & grief and channeling it 0:38:12 Decca, Diana & Unity - choices and contradictions 0:47:23 Decca the Outlier (her sense of social justice) 0:53:32 The composure & love of a Duchess 1:00:55 The love & bond between the Mitford Sisters 1:03:08 Wrap & Outlook (Troublemaker!) For everyone who wants to take a look at Carla’s fantastic book on Decca: "Troublemaker: The Fierce, Unruly Life of Jessica Mitford" by Carla Kaplan And you can get all the news and updates on what Carla is up to on her website: https://carlakaplan.com/ You can also find and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@raidersofthelostarchive_pod  And you can email us: raidersofthelostarchive.pod@gmail.com  ✨ Our Mission Moment: We believe that therapy shouldn't be a luxury! 💜 Women + Health is a London charity that does fantastic work for people who can't afford therapy. If you want to support them or care about women’s health, you can book a massage with Women + Health and help fund a woman's therapy. Or organise a Team Event with them! Or just make a donation! ✨ 💜 Look them up online: www.womenandhealth.org.uk Tags: #TheMitfords #JessicaMitford #Antifascists #WWIIHistory #BritishAristocracy #AmericanHistory #CivilRights #Muckraker #WomenInHistory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The real Mitford Sisters - BONUS: interview with Carla Kaplan

  2. Jul 22 ·  Bonus

    The real Mitford Sisters - BONUS: Interview with Adam Gee

    💖🕊️The Two Extremes of Mitford History 💢🤛Uncover Hitler’s alleged secret baby and get close to the violent post-WWII street fights that took down London fascists! In this special bonus episode, BAFTA & Emmy-winner Adam Gee joins us to explore two politically opposite extremes tied to his life and work: the ultra-fascism of Unity Mitford—the subject of a Channel 4 documentary he commissioned—and the fierce anti-fascism of the post-WWII 43 Group, co-founded by Adam’s own stepfather. The interview also bridges the past with the present: What’s the relevance of standing up against extremism today? ✌️ Hit play for high-society scandal, East End brawls, and the ultimate Kray twins showdown—because British history is far stranger (and punchier) than fiction. Chapters:  0:00:00 Intro & Recap  0:03:54 Unity’s state after her return to England 0:11:28 Unity’s sexual relationships & MI5 0:13:47 Unity & Diana, Oswald & Hitler 0:14:16 Unity’s Diaries & The Daily Mail 0:19:12 1950s: fascism back in East London 0:22:33 The 43 Group & the street fights 0:34:05 Antisemitism in Germany & Britain today 0:44:48 Governments & appeasing the far right 0:55:42 A new 43 Group or Battle of Cable Street? 1:00:55  1:06:31 Mosley for Prime Minister? 1:06:31 Make Love, Not War! 1:14:29 Wrap & Outlook (brace yourself for funny letters!) For everyone who wants to watch a version of “Hitler’s British Girl” by Martin Bright & Adam Gee on Youtube. And you can connect with Adam Gee on LinkedIn. You can also find and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@raidersofthelostarchive_pod  And you can email us: raidersofthelostarchive.pod@gmail.com  ✨ Our Mission Moment: We believe that therapy shouldn't be a luxury! 💜 Women + Health is a London charity that does fantastic work for people who can't afford therapy. If you want to support them or care about women’s health, you can book a massage with Women + Health and help fund a woman's therapy. Or organise a Team Event with them! Or just make a donation! ✨ 💜 Look them up online: www.womenandhealth.org.uk Tags: #TheMitfords #UnityMitford #DianaMosley #Antifascists #WWIIHistory #EastLondon #VidalSassoon #43Group #ThirdReich Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The real Mitford Sisters - BONUS: Interview with Adam Gee

  3. Jul 15

    The real Mitford Sisters - Letters 6

    🔴🐏 Red Sheep vs. Black Shirt ⚫👕& Sisterly Showdowns: The Mitford Letters (1965–1975) 🤼‍♀️ In this sixth and last installment, we follow the sisters as they reflect on their lives, their relations to their mother or their old lovers, write memoirs or have biographies and plays written about them, and how they reunite and overcome even their harshest differences over the deathbed of the first of them to pass away. Expect a lot of controversy again (a rumour that Hitler talked about marrying Unity) as well as the appearance of old political faces (Winston) and new ones we haven't heard in connection with the Mitfords - so far! As ever, the Mitfords are related to everything happening in the 20th century, including ageing actors turned Presidents and scientists turned Prime Minister! Chapters:  0:00:00 Episode Teaser  0:00:32 Intro & Recap 0:03:18 Decca, Reagan, the Repubs & Co. 0:06:31 “The poor old soul” - unearthing old letters 0:09:23 Nancy’s illness & the other sisters 0:17:08 Decca & Diana meet after 33 years 0:21:50 Unity’s biography & marrying Hitler 0:33:42 A Mitford TV show & the Mitfords on stage  0:38:10 The sisters, Muv & Luv (Love),   0:41:49 Decca and the two personas of Muv 0:47:47 The return of the Hamish (Nancy mocking) 0:53:44 “Thank goodness it’s over” (Nancy died) 0:58:35 Diana & Decca on Nancy’s death 1:04:47 The not so agricultural Maggie Thatcher 1:15:10 Wrap & Outlook (Bonus Episodes!!) For everyone who wants to dive deeper into the letters, you can find out more about “The Book” here “Letters between Six Letters” You can also find and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@raidersofthelostarchive_pod  And you can email us: raidersofthelostarchive.pod@gmail.com  ✨ Our Mission Moment: We believe that therapy shouldn't be a luxury! 💜 Women + Health is a London charity that does fantastic work for people who can't afford therapy. If you want to support them or care about women’s health, you can book a massage with Women + Health and help fund a woman's therapy. Or organise a Team Event with them! Or just make a donation! ✨ 💜 Look them up online: www.womenandhealth.org.uk Tags: #TheMitfords #MitfordLetters #HistoricalGossip, #BritishAristocracy, #Reagan, #maggiethatcher, #winstonchurchill, #JFK, #TrueStories, #Dictators Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The real Mitford Sisters - Letters 6

  4. Jul 8

    The real Mitford Sisters - Letters 5

    👑💃🕺 Royal Flashmobs & Presidential Playboys: The Mitford Letters (1960–1963) 🇺🇸🤠 The sisters have officially entered middle age, but if you thought they were settling down into quiet retirement, you clearly don’t know the Mitfords. In part five of our letters deep dive, you’ll get a lot of aristocratic gossip, a coronation, an inauguration, and two funerals. We kick off with the family’s complex reactions to Decca’s first memoirs, before diving into some royal robes, pomp, and circumstances. But the real meat plays out across the Atlantic. We explore Debo’s surprisingly close personal ties to the Kennedys, particularly to the most sexy American president to date. How exactly did Debo find out that the president’s body is one to "worship”? Chapters:  0:00:00 Episode teaser 0:00:42 Intro & Recap - into the middle age 0:03:17 Decca’s first memoir - Family reactions 0:13:11 A bit of trash talk - those dogs were just too much! 0:18:56 Coronations, Presidents & Royal Flashmobs (& Harry Potter) 0:27:27 JFK’s Presidential Inauguration (“almost biblical”) 0:37:31 JFK & sex and Eisenhower& golf 0:39:48 Debo & JFK - it’s getting juicy! 0:44:08 American (& British) Ways of Death  0:52:04 Debo & “the loved one” (who is very fit!) 1:00:13 Muv’s death  1:06:58 JFK’s visit to Chatsworth 1:10:42 JFK’s death & funeral  1:18:07 Wrap & Outlook (more memoirs on the horizon) For everyone who wants to dive deeper into the letters, you can find out more about “The Book” here “Letters between Six Letters” You can also find and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@raidersofthelostarchive_pod  And you can email us: raidersofthelostarchive.pod@gmail.com  ✨ Our Mission Moment: We believe that therapy shouldn't be a luxury! 💜 Women + Health is a London charity that does fantastic work for people who can't afford therapy. If you want to support them or care about women’s health, you can book a massage with Women + Health and help fund a woman's therapy. Or organise a Team Event with them! Or just make a donation! ✨ 💜 Look them up online: www.womenandhealth.org.uk Tags: #TheMitfords #MitfordLetters #JFKHistory #ChatsworthHouse #DeborahMitford #JessicaMitford #60sHistory #AmericanHistory #JFK #HistoricalGossip Something new coming your way: Raiders of the Lost Archive will soon be renamed to Never Heard of Her - stay tuned ;-) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The real Mitford Sisters - Letters 5

  5. Jul 1

    The real Mitford Sisters - Letters 4

    🕯️👊 Chandeliers & East End Schemes: The Mitford Letters (1947–1958) 🕊️💅 The war is finally over and our Mitford sisters are busy reinventing themselves for the post-war era. In part four of our letters deep dive, we follow the sisters as they navigate the sometimes absurd realities of the late '40s and '50s. We kick off with Debo’s tragic baby stories, while a partly recovered Unity is finding several new religions and Diana tries to support her husband’s highly controversial political relaunch in London's East End. Throw in the very odd reappearance of Nancy’s estranged husband (“odd Prod”), Debo’s dealings with too many broken chandeliers, and Pam sorting out a new life after her divorce, and you have a family saga that refuses to slow down. Chapters:  0:00:00 Intro & Recap - new after-war lives 🕊️ 0:01:49 The impossibility of delivering babies 0:04:55 Unity’s got a job! (& a new found love for religion) 0:11:44 Off-writers again for years 0:18:18 The Moselys trying their luck in the East End again 0:24:40 The Return of the Prod (Nancy’s husband)  0:28:14 Diana in urgent need of a holiday 0:34:29 An extremely un-duchessy life 0:38:48 Rooms piled with furniture & chandeliers 0:46:39 Woman First! is the motto 0:55:19 Wrap & Outlook (Hons & Rebels, Muv’s death & JFK) For everyone who wants to dive deeper into the letters, you can find out more about “The Book” here “Letters between Six Letters” You can also find and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@raidersofthelostarchive_pod  And you can email us: raidersofthelostarchive.pod@gmail.com  ✨ Our Mission Moment: We believe that therapy shouldn't be a luxury! 💜 Women + Health is a London charity that does fantastic work for people who can't afford therapy. If you want to support them or care about women’s health, you can book a massage with Women + Health and help fund a woman's therapy. Or organise a Team Event with them! Or just make a donation! ✨ 💜 Look them up online: www.womenandhealth.org.uk Tags: #TheMitfords #UnityMitford #DeccaMitford #DianaMosely #ChatsworthHouse #ThirdReich #WWIIHistory #sisterhood #JFK #TrueStories Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The real Mitford Sisters - Letters 4

  6. Jun 24

    The real Mitford Sisters - Letters 3

    ⚔️🥳Wartime Woes & Joys: The Mitford Letters (1939–1945) 💔🇬🇧 The world erupts into global conflict, aka WWII, and our Mitfords face tragedy and joy in between. In part three of our series, we explore the letters spanning from the outbreak of World War II to its sad ending. We begin with the immediate aftermath of Unity’s shocking act in Munich, tracking her survival and her bittersweet correspondence with her sisters. But even in wartime, the Mitfords remain quintessentially themselves. While Pam navigates the realities of petrol shortages and blackouts, Nancy complains about the seeing her husband again and Debo about not being able to go shopping with Diana (because she’s inconveniently locked up in Holloway Prison). We’ll also dive into Debo’s letters to Decca tracking the stir the Kennedys caused, the enduring bond between the estranged sisters, and the heartbreaking loss of their adored brother, Tom, just as peace finally arrives. Chapters:  0:00:00 Intro & Recap (the war starts ☹️) 0:01:49 Unity’s last letter before she shot herself (start of WWII) 0:10:45 What happened to Unity immediately after 0:13:57 Pam on blackouts and rationing at wartimes 0:19:12 Debo about Derek Jackson & Pam’s marriage 0:25:07 Unity’s first letter AFTER 0:28:58 Debo to Decca about Kick & the Kennedys 0:35:19 Debo & Decca, their childhood & relationship 0:42:28 “I DO wish you weren’t in prison” (I can’t go shopping with you) 0:49:48 Unity’s congratulations to Decca 0:52:39 “I saw him coming out all slimy and bloody” 0:57:44 Uncle Geoff & views on nutrition 1:00:39 Nancy, the Americans, and the reappearance of Prod 1:07:09 The tragedy of their beloved brother Tom 1:11:26 Wrap & Outlook (the war is over! - we also need to talk about JFK) For everyone who wants to dive deeper into the letters, here you can find out more in Charlotte Mosley's “Letters between Six Letters” You can also find and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@raidersofthelostarchive_pod  And you can email us: raidersofthelostarchive.pod@gmail.com  ✨ Our Mission Moment: We believe that therapy shouldn't be a luxury! 💜 Women + Health is a London charity that does fantastic work for people who can't afford therapy. If you want to support them or care about women’s health, you can book a massage with Women + Health and help fund a woman's therapy. Or organise a Team Event with them! Or just make a donation! ✨ 💜 Look them up online: www.womenandhealth.org.uk Tags: #TheMitfords #UnityMitford #DeccaMitford #ChatsworthHouse #MitfordLetters #WWIIHistory #ThirdReich #TheKennedys #JFK #TrueStories Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The real Mitford Sisters - Letters 3

  7. Jun 17

    The real Mitford Sisters - Letters 2

    💒👹Fascist Weddings & Beastly Presents: The Mitford Letters (1933–1936) 🤫✉️ What happens when your sisterly group chat is a stack of handwritten letters, and half the siblings are casually rubbing shoulders with dictators? This week, we are diving into part two of our mini-series on Charlotte Mosley’s Letters Between Six Sisters, stepping straight back into the politically charged minefield of the mid-1930s. As Unity and Diana dive headfirst into extremism, the rest of the sisters learn a vital historical lesson: fascists have absolutely no sense of humour. We’re unpacking the ultimate family friction, from Unity’s furious protests over Nancy’s satirical writing to the art of staying friends when you are literal political enemies. Get ready for the inside scoop on Diana’s secret Berlin wedding to Nancy mocking the Reich in its own language. Chapters:  0:00:00 Intro & Recap 0:03:28 Unity’s protest against Nancy’s book  0:10:56 Don’t mock fascism (no humour in fascists) 0:17:16 Beastly presents & more mocking of fascism 0:23:43 Letter from one fascist to the other 0:29:07 How to be friends while being political enemies  0:38:12 A Fascist Wedding, Tom’s politics & blessed by the Führer 0:48:34 Magda Goebbels “being an angel” 0:51:06 Unity’s letter from the Wagner Opera festival 0:54:25 Nancy mocking fascists in German (“racial disgrace”) 0:58:12 Wrap & Outlook For everyone who wants to dive deeper into the letters, you can find out more about “The Book” here “Letters between Six Letters” You can also find and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@raidersofthelostarchive_pod  And you can email us: raidersofthelostarchive.pod@gmail.com  ✨ Our Mission Moment: We believe that therapy shouldn't be a luxury! 💜 Women + Health is a London charity that does fantastic work for people who can't afford therapy. If you want to support them or care about women’s health, you can book a massage with Women + Health and help fund a woman's therapy. Or organise a Team Event with them! Or just make a donation! ✨ 💜 Look them up online: www.womenandhealth.org.uk Tags: #TheMitfords #Mitfordsisters #UnityMitford #DianaMosley #1930sHistory #WWII #ThirdReich #HistoricalGossip #TrueStories #BritishHistory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The real Mitford Sisters - Letters 2

  8. Jun 10

    The real Mitford Sisters - Letters 1

    ✉️😈 The Mitford Letters, the Frivolity of Evil, and the Rise of Hitler 🏛️🇩🇪This week, we start giving you the highlights of the private correspondence of the Mitford sisters - at a time when fascism takes hold of Europe. Using Charlotte Mosley’s landmark collection, Letters Between Six Sisters, we dive into the archive starting in 1933—the year Adolf Hitler took power—to examine how casual sisterly banter seamlessly blended with a terrifying new political reality. The heart of the episode takes us to Munich, where an obsessed Unity Mitford managed to get into the Führer's inner circle. Through actual letters, we get a chilling eyewitness perspective on historical turning points like the Night of the Long Knives in 1934. The contrast between their witty prose and their extremist politics is one of the most jarring parts of this era. Chapters:  0:00:00 Intro & Recap  0:01:46 “Letters between Six Sisters” by Charlotte Mosely 0:11:03 The two sides of Diana Mosley 0:16:45 Charlotte and Alexander Mosley 0:20:39 Let’s dive into the letters… starting in 1933 0:25:57 Unity, Putzi Hanfstängl and Adolf Hitler in Munich 0:39:29 A letter from Munich… 0:41:53 The Night of the Long Knives 1934 in Munich 1:00:45 The frivolity of evil & the Dictator’s Playbook 1:14:29 Wrap & Outlook (brace yourself for funny letters!) For everyone who wants to dive deeper into the letters, you can find out more about “The Book” here “Letters between Six Letters” You can also find and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@raidersofthelostarchive_pod  And you can email us: raidersofthelostarchive.pod@gmail.com  ✨ Our Mission Moment: We believe that therapy shouldn't be a luxury! 💜 Women + Health is a London charity that does fantastic work for people who can't afford therapy. If you want to support them or care about women’s health, you can book a massage with Women + Health and help fund a woman's therapy. Or organise a Team Event with them! Or just make a donation! ✨ 💜 Look them up online: www.womenandhealth.org.uk Tags: #TheMitfords #UnityMitford #DianaMosley #MitfordLetters #WWIIHistory #Munich1930s #HistoricalArchives #ThirdReich #TrueStories Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The real Mitford Sisters - Letters 1
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Trailers

Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Hello and welcome to Raiders of the Lost Archive - The MITFORD Podcast (soon changing to Never Heard Of Her) We're absolutely thrilled to present the insane story of the Mitford sisters. You probably think you have heard the story of the Nazi-loving sisters before? Think again, because the story we're about to uncover is a never ending source of entertaining scandals full of “Wows!” and “Oh. My. Cheeeezzz!” LOVE! WAR! NAZIS! SEX! PRISON! MORE NAZIS! SECRET MARRIAGES! MONEYYYY! COMMUNISTS! TEA WITH ADOLF HITLER! What’s not to love? It truly is the most outrageous story! We guarantee the most in-depth coverage on the Mitford sisters available anywhere on the internet here at Raiders of the Lost Archive! --> To our lovely listeners: We'll soon be done with all the Mitfords, so there's major change in the making: Over the summer, we'll rebrand our show to "Never Heard Of Her". We'll still be a podcast about historical women - soon looking at women from around the world who are famous in their own country and culture, but virtually unknown to English speakers. We'll welcome guests from countries around the world who will bring us the incredible stories of these women (yes, with all the juicy detail!) along with the cultural background. Lyn and I are super excited about this. We hope you are, too! Music credits: Jingle Funny Kids_30sec by Grand_Project found on Pixabay.com and Logan J Parker: Her Reason Why Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    The Mitford Podcast
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    55
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Raiders of the Lost Archive
  • Show Website
    Raiders of the Lost Archive