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. The real Mitford Sisters - Letters 1

    5d ago

    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 #DictatorsPlaybook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 16m
  2. The real Mitford Sisters - Debo 7

    Jun 3

    The real Mitford Sisters - Debo 7

    ✨👧The Last Mitford Standing: How Debo Saved Chatsworth 🚜👑In this final episode on Deborah Mitford, we witness how the baby sister turns into the savior of the family home, Chatsworth. Faced with an astronomical death duties, Debo threw out the old aristocratic rulebook. Giving Chatsworth away would have felt like an amputation, so she had to find a way to make money and transform a drafty ancestral monument into a thriving organisation and the economic heartbeat of the region. But this isn't just a story of commercial plans and stately homes. We also peek behind the gilded curtain, looking at Debo’s candid reflections on Andrew’s battles with alcoholism, balanced against the genuine bright sides of their long marriage. From the obscene dinner parties of Chatsworth’s past to the quiet, final years of the last living Mitford sister, join us as we say goodbye to the most surprising revolutionary. Chapters:  0:00:00 Intro & Recap (of lands, titles, and bananas) 0:02:35 Financial challenges of the past 0:07:18 … and then WWII happens 0:12:43 … and then the death duty happens 0:20:29 Inheritance, tax negotiations, and determination 0:25:50 Debo the trailblazer: a business plan for Chatsworth 0:33:03 Debo introducing more innovation 0:41:34 The wider impact on people and region 0:45:19 Chatsworth as a business today: eco- & community-friendly 0:48:21 The Chatsworth Trust (& obscene dinner stories from the past) 0:52:18 Debo’s opening up about Andrew and the alcohol 1:00:58 The bright sides of their marriage 1:04:25 The last years of the last of the Mitfords 1:06:11 Wrap & Outlook (What’s next? Any more Mitford Mischief?) For everyone who wants to dive deeper into Debo’s life, we recommend her memoir “Wait for me!” And here’s the Chatsworth House website for everyone who wants to visit or find out more about it. 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: #DeborahMitford #ChatsworthHouse #HouseOfDevonshire #BritishHistory #WomenInBusiness #TheMitfords #Aristocracy #NationalTrust Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 9m
  3. The real Mitford Sisters - Debo 6

    May 27

    The real Mitford Sisters - Debo 6

    ⚔️🍌From the Glorious Revolution to going bananas: The Cavendishes rising through the ranks 👑🏰Every dynasty has a starting point, and this week we are tracing the origins of the family Debo married into. We go right back to the formidable Bess of Hardwick and William Cavendish, the Tudor power couple who laid the first stones of Chatsworth. We’ll explore how they cleverly made their way into an Earldom, and the massive political gamble during the Glorious Revolution that finally earned them a Dukedom. As it turns out, to become a Duke, you have to do some pretty heavy lifting—historically speaking—like meddling with the fate of the English throne. Finally, we meet the eccentric Bachelor Duke with his record-breaking greenhouses, and discover the bizarre botanical history behind the world's most popular fruit: the Cavendish banana. Plus, we uncover which legendary philosopher thought and taught in the halls of Chatsworth! Chapters:  0:00:00 Intro & Recap  0:02:13 Chatsworth origins: Bess of Hartwick & William Cavendish 0:08:11 The first Earl of Devonshire & the impecunious King 0:09:45 Promotion to Duke: You gotta do some big Sh*t! 0:11:22 Enter the Glorious Revolution 0:14:15 The Immortal Seven & the Token of Gratitude 0:20:03 The Bachelor Duke, the Greenhouse, and the Cavendish Banana  0:30:04 A famous philosopher at Chatsworth 0:46:45 Wrap & Outlook (Debo gets to work now!) For everyone who wants to dive deeper into Debo’s life, we recommend her memoir “Wait for me!” And here’s the Chatsworth House website for everyone who wants to visit or find out more about it. 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: #DeborahCavendish #TheMitfords #ChatsworthHouse #BritishHistory #TrueStories #GloriousRevolution #ThomasHobbes #Bananas #Aristocracy #TheTudors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    33 min
  4. The real Mitford Sisters - Debo 5

    May 20

    The real Mitford Sisters - Debo 5

    🏰🌳Debo’s Lifework: The Secrets of Chatsworth House ⛲🐐🧘Welcome to this playground of the British aristocracy. This week, we are stepping away from the Mitford siblings to focus on Debo’s most prominent achievement: Chatsworth House. This massive estate isn't just a home—it’s a historical powerhouse, a Hollywood filming darling, and a modern commercial machine. How many libraries are there? And how many window cleaners does it take to run this “house”? We are taking a closer look at the gravity-defying Emperor Fountain, the Maze and the hedges, and, of course, the rare breeds of livestock roaming the grounds. We’ll also shed light on its darker history as a gilded prison for Mary, Queen of Scots. Grab your (metaphorical) walking shoes and let’s explore the 300+ rooms and 1,000+ acres of this ancestral monument. Chapters:  0:00:00 Intro & Recap  0:02:56 The Palace of the Peaks - an overview 0:10:56 Chatsworth House & Gardens - a closer look 0:19:06 Chatsworth & Co up for rental 0:26:09 The deer, the funky sheep, & the rare breeds 0:34:47 Visiting Chatsworth: spectacular events & filming 0:41:21 Prisoner of Chatsworth: Mary Queen of Scots 0:46:45 Wrap & Outlook (history and renovation of the “house”) For everyone who wants to dive deeper into Debo’s life, we recommend her memoir “Wait for me!” And here’s the Chatsworth House website for everyone who wants to visit or find out more about it. You can also find and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@raidersofthelostarchive_pod  And you can email us: raidersofthelostarchive.pod@gmail.com  For Londoners and people who care about Women’s Health:  Do you want to book a massage with Women + Health?  Or maybe organise a Team Event with us? Or make a donation? Look us up online: www.womenandhealth.org.uk Tags: #DeborahCavendish #TheMitfords #Chatsworth #BritishStatelyHomes #TrueStories #BritishAristocracy #TheDuchess #JaneAusten #KeiraKnightly #MaryQueenOfScots Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min
  5. The real Mitford Sisters - Debo 4

    May 13

    The real Mitford Sisters - Debo 4

    💔 The Tragedy, The Spare, and The Kennedy Connection: Debo’s Years of Trial 🕊️🗝️In this episode, we explore some of the toughest years of Deborah Mitford’s life. We begin with the golden boy of the Cavendish family, William "Billy" Hartington, whose romance with Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy caused immense religious turbulence—a tragic union that linked the Mitfords to the Kennedys forever. While Andrew Cavendish’s battles with alcoholism and infidelity created a challenging marriage, Debo was simultaneously facing her own heartbreaks. From the joy of her first childbirth to the profound trauma of losing several infants in quick succession, we take a raw, emotional look at a life lived in the shadow of death and disappointment, all while the massive responsibility of "the House" loomed on the horizon. Chapters:  0:00:00 Intro & Recap  0:05:03 Andrew’s brother William, the heir apparent 0:08:24 Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., ambassador to the UK 0:15:10 Kick Kennedy & William and religious complications 0:25:10 Andrew Cavendish, the spare son  0:35:53 Debo’s first childbirth in late 1941 0:41:53 Debo’s children Emma & Peregrine (aka Stoker) 0:50:10 Childbirths, deaths, & traumas - and another child! 1:00:00 Wrap & Outlook (the inheritance & the “house”) For everyone who wants to dive deeper into Debo’s life, we recommend her memoir “Wait for me!” You can also find and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@raidersofthelostarchive_pod  And you can email us: raidersofthelostarchive.pod@gmail.com  For Londoners and people who care about Women’s Health:  Do you want to book a massage with Women + Health?  Or maybe organise a Team Event with us? Or make a donation? Look us up online: www.womenandhealth.org.uk Tags: #DeborahCavendish #TheMitfords #Chatsworth #RoyalGossip #TrueStories #LucienFreud #TheKennedys #Antisemitism #BritishAristocracy #GriefAndResilience Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 2m
  6. The real Mitford Sisters - Debo 3

    May 6

    The real Mitford Sisters - Debo 3

    💍✨From a Noble Wedding to a Mysterious Country House Death 🏰☠️For Deborah Mitford, marrying a Cavendish meant marrying their ghosts, too. We’re unpacking the baggage of one of Britain's most illustrious dynasties, from the legendary Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire (the 18th-century "it-girl" linked to Marie Antoinette and Lady Di) and her scandalous ménage à trois, to the tragic ties that bind the family to the Kennedy Curse and the heavy shadow of the 10th Duke’s sudden, suspicious death. This episode explores how Debo stepped into a world where high society glamour meets dark ancestral mysteries and personal tragedies.🪦🎭 Chapters:  0:00:00 Intro & Recap (we look at Andrew’s family) 0:04:32 How did Debo and Andrew meet? - the various versions 0:12:03 Debo & Andrew get married in 1941 0:16:36 Names: Cavendish, Devonshire, Derbyshire  0:18:37 The Cavendishes: Georgiana & the ménage à trois  0:25:42 The Cavendishes: Andrew’s father (the 10th Duke) 0:28:55 The Cavendishes: Andrew’s mother (Lady Mary) 0:34:10 The sudden & suspicious death of the 10th Duke 0:39:39 The Cavendishes: Andrew’s sisters 0:45:57 Wrap & Outlook (the heavy death duty) For everyone who wants to dive deeper into Debo’s life, we recommend her memoir “Wait for me!” You can also find and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@raidersofthelostarchive_pod  And you can email us: raidersofthelostarchive.pod@gmail.com  For Londoners and people who care about Women’s Health:  Do you want to book a massage with Women + Health?  Or maybe organise a Team Event with us? Or make a donation? Look us up online: www.womenandhealth.org.uk Tags: #DeborahMitford #TheMitfords #Chatsworth #RoyalGossip #LadyDi #TrueStories #EnglishCountryLife #MysteriousDeaths #TheKennedys #AristocraticScandal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min
  7. The real Mitford Sisters - Debo 2

    Apr 29

    The real Mitford Sisters - Debo 2

    👑 Noble Ranks & Tea with Hitler: Debo Meets her Duke ☕🤴Before Deborah Mitford could become a Duchess, she had to navigate the labyrinth of British high society—and we’re taking you along for the ride. In this episode, we decipher the baffling world of aristocratic titles, explaining why a Duke is the "ultimate boss" of the British aristocracy and where the Devonshires fit into this titular maze (or mess?). This is a proper name-dropping episode: We’re whizzing from the British Royal Family to Prince Andrew and Epstein; from the Glorious Revolution to Queen Anne (the tragic monarch from the film The Favourite); and from Winston Churchill and Blenheim Palace to Diana Spencer. We cover everything from disinheritance to imprisonment, and from Debo’s bizarrely casual tea with Adolf Hitler to the dance-floor charm of a young JFK. 🌟 It all culminates in Debo’s fateful meeting with the man who would eventually make her a Duchess: Andrew Cavendish.💖 Chapters:  0:00:00 Intro, Recap & Overview for today (Fun with British titles!) 0:05:07 All the wild Aristocratic Titles and the Dukes 0:08:49 Titles below the Dukes & the Roll of the Peerage 0:13:24 The Role of the Sovereign (👑) in the Titles 0:15:23 Why are Princes also Dukes? (🤑) 0:20:30 Debo’s chances of marrying a Duke 0:24:15 The Devonshires - How to become a Duke? (Revolution!) 0:29:23 Queen Anne, The Favourite, the Marlboroughs & Women 0:35:19 Some Gossip about the current Marlboroughs 0:39:40 Debo’s Tea with Adolf Hitler & Dance with JFK 0:42:56 Debo meets Andrew in 1939 0:45:07 Wrap & Outlook (still nobody expecting a Duchess…) For everyone who wants to dive deeper into Debo’s life, we recommend her memoir “Wait for me!” You can also find and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@raidersofthelostarchive_pod  And you can email us: raidersofthelostarchive.pod@gmail.com  For Londoners and people who are passionate about Women’s Health:  Do you want to book a massage with Women + Health?  Or maybe organise a Team Event with us? Or make a donation? Look us up online: www.womenandhealth.org.uk As a BONUS: Here's a little Cheat Sheet for the British Titles: Duke / Duchess (The "High Up Dudes" – reserved for Royal family or ancient lines like the Devonshires) Marquess / Marchioness (The "Border Guards" – held land on the edges of the country) Earl / Countess (The classic British title – think Downton Abbey) Viscount / Viscountess (The middle management of the aristocracy) Baron / Baroness (The entry-level tier aka the Lord Peasants) Tags: #DeboMitford #TheMitfords #DuchessOfDevonshire #BritishAristocracy #Bridgerton #TheWindsors #TheFavourite #LadyDi #RoyalHistory #Kennedys Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min
  8. The real Mitford Sisters - Debo 1

    Apr 22

    The real Mitford Sisters - Debo 1

    👒 The Duchess of Poultry: Debo’s Childhood in the Mitford Fortress 🏰🐣Are you ready to shift gears from the "Communist" to the "Duchess"? Because Deborah’s story is a completely different kind of Mitford madness. Meet the last, and perhaps most surprising, of the sisters: Deborah "Debo" Mitford. While her siblings were busy plotting revolutions and stalking dictators, the baby of the family was perfectly content in the chicken coop and out of the crossfire. We explore her early years at Asthall Manor, where she navigated the brutal wit of her eldest sister, Nancy, and formed a secret society against the "Horrible Counter-Hons." Discover how the future Duchess of Devonshire survived the Mitford madness with her sense of humour (and her knickers) intact.🤡👙 Chapters:  0:00:00 Intro & Overview (a duchess in the making) 0:04:22 Deborah - the last Mitford child 0:12:02 Debo & Nancy, the opposite sisters 0:15:52 The older and the younger siblings 0:20:33 Country siblings, library siblings, and emotions 0:26:09 Debo’s childhood & Asthall Manor 0:33:24 The Hons, the Counter Hons, and more nicknames 0:39:08 Their pets & “cautionary” tales for children 0:46:34 Debo, Nanny, and the undergarments 0:52:43 Wrap & Outlook (We’re done with politics - or are we?) For everyone who wants to dive deeper into Debo’s life, we recommend her memoir “Wait for me!” You can also find and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@raidersofthelostarchive_pod  And you can email us: raidersofthelostarchive.pod@gmail.com  For Londoners and people who care about Women’s Health:  Do you want to book a massage with Women + Health?  Or maybe organise a Team Event with us? Or make a donation? Look us up online: www.womenandhealth.org.uk Tags: #DeboMitford #TheMitfords #DeboCavendish #DowntonAbbey #Chatsworth #DuchessOfDevonshire #BritishAristocracy #AsthallManor #EnglishCountryLife #CarlaKaplan #Struwwelpeter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    54 min
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Trailers

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 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
    48
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Raiders of the Lost Archive
  • Show Website
    Raiders of the Lost Archive

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