Aspects of History

Zeb Baker-Smith
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Books
  • Updated Weekly

Aspects of History interviews historians and authors on the past – from the ancient world right up to the modern day. In each episode, we seek to get to the bottom of a story or scrutinise a figure from history. There are bonus episodes too, from current events to anniversaries.

  1. 3d ago

    Ball of the Century with Brendan Cooper

    One unforgettable delivery, a genius athlete and a defining figure for many - but still the most teasing historical question remains... can single moments and instances shape eras? This week on the podcast, ⁠⁠Zeb Baker-Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Editor of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Aspects of History⁠⁠⁠⁠, is joined by author Brendan Cooper to discuss his new book, ⁠Ball of the Century⁠, a remarkable exploration of Shane Warne's iconic first Ashes delivery at Old Trafford on 4th June 1993. He traces the story of the Australian leg spinner's rise, the psychological hold he exerted over English cricket, and the wider cultural landscape of Britain and the Ashes during the 1990s. We discuss how sporting mythology, memory and the enduring power of Ashes folklore combined to transcend the boundaries of sport and transform Warne into a cultural icon. Episode Links Ball of the Century Brendan Cooper Links Brendan ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Brendan on Twitter/X Aspects of History Links AoH ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AoH on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter /X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AoH on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Zeb Links Zeb on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter /X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Zeb on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram Zeb on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  2. Jul 31

    The Aspects of History Film Club: The Odyssey Effect with Erica Stevenson (aka MoAn Inc.) and Henry Thackray

    There’s nothing like a summer blockbuster to get cinema back to the top of the agenda. One of the main talking points of the year so far, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has split opinion but no doubt it’s achieved conversation. In this episode, the first of the newly-rebooted Film Club, Zeb Baker-Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Editor of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Aspects of History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, is joined first by classicist and YouTuber Erica Stevenson (aka MoAn Inc.) to discuss her new book, The Odyssey Effect, and explore the extraordinary afterlife of Homer’s poem, from the epic tradition’s oral beginnings to this year’s long-awaited adaptation, before welcoming film editor Henry Thackray for an in-depth chat about the film itself. Together, the guests examine why Homer's epic continues to inspire successive generations, debate Nolan's interpretation of the character of Odysseus, the challenge of translating the poem to the screen, the director's commitment to practical effects and spectacle, and whether the film succeeds both as a blockbuster and as adaptation of one of history and literature’s greatest stories. Episode Links The Odyssey Effect: How Homer's Epic Poem Shaped the World Erica Stevenson Links Erica ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Erica on ⁠Instagram Erica on ⁠⁠YouTube Erica on Facebook Erica on X/Twitter Henry Thackray Links Henry ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online Henry on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Aspects of History Links AoH ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AoH on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter /X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AoH on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Zeb Links Zeb on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter /X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Zeb on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠ Zeb on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  3. Jul 24

    The Path of Light: Walking to Auschwitz with Anthony Seldon

    The power of pilgrimage, the enduring legacy of war, and the significance and delicate nature of truth, memory and reconciliation in an age of renewed global instability – each of these proved to be the inescapable findings of a 1,300km journey on foot across the landscapes of Central Europe, so scarred by conflict over the centuries. In this episode of the podcast, author and historian Anthony Seldon joins Zeb Baker-Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Editor of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Aspects of History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, to discuss The Path of Light, the remarkable account of his journey from Kilometre Zero on the Swiss border to Auschwitz. Following the success of The Path of Peace, he set out across Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland in search of the men and women, figures of light who stood against tyranny and genocide during the Second World War, uncovering stories of courage, conscience and humanity and explaining why this search remains as relevant today as ever. Episode Links The Path of Light: Walking to Auschwitz Anthony Seldon Links Anthony ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Anthony on Twitter/X Aspects of History Links AoH ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AoH on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter /X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AoH on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Zeb Links Zeb on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter /X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Zeb on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  4. Jul 17

    Alexander: God, King, Man with Edmund Richardson

    He remains one of history's most scrutinised figures, but Alexander the Great's victories were far from inevitable. Recent discoveries are beginning to reshape our understanding of his life and legacy, and the immense personal burden of becoming simultaneously Macedonian king, Egyptian pharaoh, Persian Great King and a living god. With Zeb Baker-Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Editor of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Aspects of History, on the podcast this week is Edmund Richardson, historian and classicist, whose book, ⁠Alexander: God, King, Man⁠, re-examines its title character through newly translated sources, groundbreaking archaeology and a wealth of evidence to reveal a conqueror far more uncertain, contradictory and human than legend would suggest. Episode Links Alexander: God, King, Man Edmund Richardson Links Edmund ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Aspects of History Links AoH ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AoH on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter /X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AoH on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Zeb Links Zeb on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter /X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Zeb on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  5. Jul 10

    Conquest: A History of Roman Britain with Ferdinand Addis

    Roman Britain might appear a staid topic at first glance, one littered with the usual headliners and the iconic events, Julius Caesar's brief expeditions, Claudius' conquest, Boudicca's revolt and Agricola's northern campaigns. But, dig deeper, the narrative is not quite how it seems, especially in light of archaeological discoveries, the continued challenges of interpreting an ancient past, and the shifting ways generations of Britons have come to understand the Roman occupation. This week on the podcast, Zeb Baker-Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Editor of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Aspects of History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, is joined by historian and author Ferdinand Addis to discuss his new book, ⁠Conquest: A History of Roman Britain⁠. The conversation ranges from Iron Age hill forts and ancient DNA to imperial ideology, national identity. He also discusses his approach to writing history, the importance of landscape and place, and why the Roman conquest remains one of the defining encounters in British history. Episode Links Conquest: A History of Roman Britain Ferdinand Addis Links Ferdinand ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ferdinand on ⁠Twitter/X⁠ Aspects of History Links AoH ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AoH on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter /X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AoH on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Zeb Links Zeb on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter /X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Zeb on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  6. Jul 3

    Summer Reads 2026

    This week, it's a special episode as three of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Aspects of History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ gang – Antonia Senior⁠⁠, Richard Foreman⁠⁠ and Jane Thynne – join Zeb Baker-Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in person to talk through their recommendations for your holiday reading list. Plenty of picks, with links below, to accompany you in your hand luggage this summer! Books The August Coup: The Destruction of the Soviet Union and the Making of New Russia, 1985-1991, by Robert Service Stalin’s Apostles: The Cambridge Five and the Making of the Soviet Empire, by Antonia Senior The Writers' Castle: Reporting History at Nuremberg, by Uwe Neumahr Cold War Football: A History in Ten Matches, by Tony Shaw and Alan McDougall White River Crossing, by Ian McGuire The Black Death: A Global History, by Thomas Asbridge Nonesuch, by Francis Spufford Conquest: A History of Roman Britain, by Ferdinand Addis Guests ⁠⁠Antonia Senior - Author and Historical Fiction Reviewer for The Times⁠ ⁠⁠Richard Foreman - Author and Publisher⁠ Jane Thynne - Author Aspects of History Links AoH ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AoH on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter /X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AoH on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Zeb Links Zeb on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter /X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Zeb on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  7. Jun 26

    Relative Failures with Matthew Sturgis

    What if you had a sibling as brilliant as Oscar Wilde…?  This week’s episode offers a vivid window through which to view the artistic, literary and theatrical world of late Victorian London, a period of remarkable creativity, dramatic falls and cultural change. But, instead of viewing this fin de siècle moment through the brightest lights, why should we not focus on the forgotten characters? Joining ⁠Zeb Baker-Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Editor of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Aspects of History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on the podcast is acclaimed biographer Matthew Sturgis to discuss Relative Failures, his exploration of three overlooked figures who lived in the shadow of their more famous siblings: Willie Wilde, brother of Oscar Wilde; Mabel Beardsley, sister of Aubrey Beardsley; and Howard Sturgis, younger brother of the novelist Julian Sturgis. Episode Links Relative Failures: The Lives of Willie Wilde, Mabel Beardsley and Howard Sturgis Matthew Sturgis Links Matthew ⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠ Matthew on Instagram Aspects of History Links AoH ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AoH on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter /X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AoH on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Zeb Links Zeb on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter /X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Zeb on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  8. Jun 19

    Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe with Katja Hoyer

    The Weimar Republic, synonymous with German culture, idealism, and artistic brilliance, has become a common trope in the 21st century, as everyday politics becomes more polarised across Europe. Is Germany’s journey from fragile optimism to fascist collapse a warning we ought to be heeding today? Joining Phil Craig on the ⁠⁠Aspects of History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ podcast is historian Katja Hoyer, whose latest title, Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe, offers an astute depiction of that period between 1919 and 1939 through the perspective of the small town and its residents. She explains the optimism of post-war democracy and the trajectory to economic despair, political radicalisation, and life lived in the shadow of Buchenwald concentration camp, all the while keeping an eye on the uncomfortable moral ambiguities that would come to shape daily life under Nazism. Episode Links Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe Katja Hoyer Links Katja online Katja on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter /X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Katja on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack Phil Links Phil on ⁠⁠The Scandal Mongers Phil on ⁠⁠⁠Twitter /X⁠⁠⁠ Phil on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠ Aspects of History Links AoH ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AoH on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter /X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AoH on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See All (347)

Trailers

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Aspects of History interviews historians and authors on the past – from the ancient world right up to the modern day. In each episode, we seek to get to the bottom of a story or scrutinise a figure from history. There are bonus episodes too, from current events to anniversaries.

Information

  • Creator
    Zeb Baker-Smith
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    347
  • Copyright
    © Aspects of History
  • Show Website
    Aspects of History

You Might Also Like