John Hopkins

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  1. Ada Lovelace

    3d ago

    Ada Lovelace

    Ada Lovelace, the daughter of the notorious poet Lord Byron, did not follow in her father’s literary footsteps. Instead, she is remembered today as a trailblazer for women in science. At a time when women's access to education was limited, she was able to use her wealth and title to connect with the greatest scientific minds of her day. But as well as possessing an impressive intellect, Ada Lovelace lived an unusual life, experiencing her fair share of scandal, heartbreak and near ruin. So how did the circumstances of her parentage and upbringing shape her character? How was she able to pursue her scientific ambitions, despite society’s constraints? And how did her fascination with mathematics lead her to financial disaster? This is a Short History Of Ada Lovelace. A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. With thanks to Dr Corin Throsby, a writer, broadcaster, and expert in Romantic literature who teaches at the University of Cambridge. Written by Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow | Produced by Kate Simants | Production Assistant: Chris McDonald | Exec produced by Katrina Hughes | Sound supervisor: Matt Peaty | Sound design by George Tapp | Assembly edit by Dorry Macaulay | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Cody Reynolds-Shaw | Fact Check: Sean Coleman Unlock the next two episodes of Short History Of… right now by subscribing to Noiser+. You’ll also get ad-free listening and early access to shows across the Noiser podcast network, including Real Survival Stories and Sherlock Holmes Short Stories. Just click the subscription banner at the top of the feed, or head to www.noiser.com/subscriptions to get started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  2. Sydney Opera House

    Oct 26

    Sydney Opera House

    Sydney Opera House is a modern wonder of the world. One of the most recognisable and admired buildings of the 20th century, it is a symbol of modern Australia; an ambitious and outward-looking nation. But the iconic building came at a tremendous cost. A legendary calamity of bad planning and mismanagement, it was one of the most over-budget and long-delayed projects in history, and was steeped in personal drama and political conflict. Why did architect Jørn Utzon’s design prove so hard to construct? What innovations did engineers require to complete the ambitious structure? And how did the notoriously troubled project become an icon of modern Australia? This is a Short History Of the Sydney Opera House. A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. With thanks to Dr Anne Watson, a curator and author of the book Building a Masterpiece, The Sydney Opera House. Written by Jo Furniss | Produced by Kate Simants | Production Assistant: Chris McDonald | Exec produced by Katrina Hughes | Sound supervisor: Matt Peaty | Sound design by Oliver Sanders | Assembly edit by Dorry Macaulay | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Cody Reynolds-Shaw | Fact Check: Sean Coleman Unlock the next two episodes of Short History Of… right now by subscribing to Noiser+. You’ll also get ad-free listening and early access to shows across the Noiser podcast network, including Real Survival Stories and Sherlock Holmes Short Stories. Just click the subscription banner at the top of the feed, or head to www.noiser.com/subscriptions to get started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  3. Hoover Dam

    Oct 18

    Hoover Dam

    Truly a modern wonder of the world, the Hoover Dam is one of the great feats of human ingenuity. Its creation was a saga of large-scale ambition and engineering genius executed by a labour force of thousands working in gruelling conditions. The project involved the rerouting of a great river and the construction of a vast concrete edifice, and began as America was in the midst of an unprecedented economic slump. But just what did it take to build this extraordinary landmark? Why was it considered such a vitally important project – and at what cost? And, almost 100 years since construction began, can it now be said that the sacrifice was worth it? This is a Short History Of the Hoover Dam. A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. With thanks to Michael Green, Professor of History at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Written by Dan Smith | Produced by Kate Simants | Production Assistant: Chris McDonald | Exec produced by Katrina Hughes | Sound supervisor: Matt Peaty | Sound design by Oliver Sanders | Assembly edit by Dorry Macaulay | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Cody Reynolds-Shaw | Fact Check: Sean Coleman Unlock the next two episodes of Short History Of… right now by subscribing to Noiser+. You’ll also get ad-free listening and early access to shows across the Noiser podcast network, including Real Survival Stories and Sherlock Holmes Short Stories. Just click the subscription banner at the top of the feed, or head to www.noiser.com/subscriptions to get started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  4. The Boer Wars

    Nov 16 · Subscriber Early Access

    The Boer Wars

    This episode will be available to listen to for free on 16th November 2026. You can listen to it right away by subscribing to Noiser+. Head to www.noiser.com/subscriptions for more information. At the dawn of the twentieth century, the might of the British Empire stretched across the globe, confident, expansive, and seemingly unstoppable. But in the vast interior of southern Africa, that confidence was about to be tested. There, the people of the independent Boer republics of the Transvaal and Orange Free State had a different vision of power, rooted in resistance and a quest for independence. It was here that a political disagreement over rights and resources quickly escalated into conflict that shocked the empire, reshaping the rules of warfare, and drawing civilians into its devastating orbit. But why did a dispute over land, rights and gold escalate into full-scale imperial wars? How did this conflict transform from a conventional campaign into a brutal battle for survival? And in the end, what was revealed about the strength and fragility of the British Empire? This is a Short History Of the Boer Wars. A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. With thanks to Bill Nasson, Emeritus Professor at Stellenbosch University, an award-winning author, and one of South Africa’s foremost historians. Written by Sean Coleman | Produced by Kate Simants | Production Assistant: Chris McDonald | Exec produced by Katrina Hughes | Sound supervisor: Matt Peaty | Sound design by Oliver Sanders | Assembly edit by Dorry Macaulay | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Cody Reynolds-Shaw

  5. Mary Shelley

    Oct 11

    Mary Shelley

    Mary Shelley is best known today as the author of Frankenstein, a Gothic novel widely considered the first work of science fiction. As demonstrated by her Swiss sojourn with the married Percy Shelley and the scandalous Lord Byron, Mary's own life was as sensational and tragic as anything contained within the pages of her famous novel. A real-life Gothic heroine and a serious author, her work profoundly influenced English genre fiction, and continues to inspire writers to this day. But to what extent was Mary Shelley’s work influenced by the revolutionary politics and philosophies of her parents? What rash decisions and traumatic events shaped her work? And how does a scary story written almost two centuries ago continue to enthral readers and inspire writers and filmmakers today? This is a Short History Of Mary Shelley A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. With thanks to Professor Fiona Sampson, a prize-winning poet and author of three literary biographies of Romantic women writers, including In Search of Mary Shelley: The Girl Who Wrote Frankenstein. Written by Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow | Produced by Kate Simants | Production Assistant: Chris McDonald | Exec produced by Katrina Hughes | Sound supervisor: Matt Peaty | Sound design by Oliver Sanders | Assembly edit by Dorry Macaulay | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Cody Reynolds-Shaw | Fact Check: Sean Coleman Unlock the next two episodes of Short History Of… right now by subscribing to Noiser+. You’ll also get ad-free listening and early access to shows across the Noiser podcast network, including Real Survival Stories and Sherlock Holmes Short Stories. Just click the subscription banner at the top of the feed, or head to www.noiser.com/subscriptions to get started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  6. The English Civil Wars, Part 1 of 2

    Sep 27

    The English Civil Wars, Part 1 of 2

    The English Civil Wars are among the most traumatic and consequential events in British history. What began as a struggle between Crown and Parliament over power, money and religion tore England, Ireland and Scotland apart, leading many to refer to the period as the Wars of Three Kingdoms. It was a conflict bitter enough to split communities, turn neighbour against neighbour, and tear families to shreds. By the time it is over, thousands are dead and the victors have exacted a revenge so shocking that many fear they have insulted God himself. But what disagreements triggered the political crisis that eventually collapsed into open war? How did Charles’ leadership fan the flames of rebellion? And once England goes to war with itself, who will dominate in the struggle to shape the country’s future? This is a Short History Of The English Civil Wars, Part 1 of 2. A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. With thanks to Mark Stoyle, Professor of History at the University of Southampton, who specialises in the English Civil War. Written by Sean Coleman | Produced by Kate Simants | Production Assistant: Chris McDonald | Exec produced by Katrina Hughes | Sound supervisor: Matt Peaty | Sound design by Oliver Sanders | Assembly edit by Dorry Macaulay | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Cody Reynolds-Shaw Unlock the next two episodes of Short History Of… right now by subscribing to Noiser+. You’ll also get ad-free listening and early access to shows across the Noiser podcast network, including Real Survival Stories and Sherlock Holmes Short Stories. Just click the subscription banner at the top of the feed, or head to www.noiser.com/subscriptions to get started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  7. The English Civil Wars, Part 2 of 2

    Oct 4

    The English Civil Wars, Part 2 of 2

    The First English Civil War ended with King Charles I defeated, his armies broken, and his cause apparently lost. But military victory for the Parliamentarians brought no real peace. Instead, the months that followed saw an even more volatile struggle, as Parliament turned on itself, and the captive King continued to bargain, delay and deceive. As the search for settlement gave way to renewed fighting, the conflict evolved into outright revolution. And when the extraordinary solution to the problematic monarch was finally enacted, it would shock even many of those who fought against him. Why didn’t the military defeat of Charles I bring the kingdom back to peace? How did Parliament’s victory give rise to deeper division and more radical politics? And why did a war fought to limit the power of the monarchy end with the King on trial for his life? This is a Short History Of The English Civil Wars, Part 2 of 2 A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. With thanks to Mark Stoyle, Professor of History at the University of Southampton, who specialises in the English Civil War. Written by Sean Coleman | Produced by Kate Simants | Production Assistant: Chris McDonald | Exec produced by Katrina Hughes | Sound supervisor: Matt Peaty | Sound design by Oliver Sanders | Assembly edit by Dorry Macaulay | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Cody Reynolds-Shaw If you've enjoyed these episodes on the English Civil Wars and want to learn more, then check out the Real Dictators episodes on Oliver Cromwell. Unlock the next two episodes of Short History Of… right now by subscribing to Noiser+. You’ll also get ad-free listening and early access to shows across the Noiser podcast network, including Real Survival Stories and Sherlock Holmes Short Stories. Just click the subscription banner at the top of the feed, or head to www.noiser.com/subscriptions to get started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  8. Ötzi the Iceman

    Nov 9 · Subscriber Early Access

    Ötzi the Iceman

    This episode will be available to listen to for free on 9th November 2026. You can listen to it right away by subscribing to Noiser+. Head to www.noiser.com/subscriptions for more information. In 1991, two German tourists stumbled upon Europe’s oldest known natural human mummy on the border between Italy and Austria. Nicknamed Ötzi after the Ötztal Alps where he was found, he lived some 5,300 years ago in the Copper Age. With his extraordinarily preserved body and array of artefacts, he has provided unique insights into some of the mysteries of our collective past. But just what is it that we have learned from Ötzi? What sort of life – and death – did he have? And what more might he have yet to tell us? This is a Short History Of Ötzi the Iceman. A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. With thanks to Albert Zink, Director of the Bavarian State Collection for Anthropology, and previously Head of the Institute for Mummy Studies at Eurac Research in Bolzano, Italy. Written by Dan Smith | Produced by Kate Simants | Production Assistant: Chris McDonald | Exec produced by Katrina Hughes | Sound supervisor: Matt Peaty | Sound design by Oliver Sanders | Assembly edit by Dorry Macaulay | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Cody Reynolds-Shaw | Fact Check: Sean Coleman Unlock the next two episodes of Short History Of… right now by subscribing to Noiser+. You’ll also get ad-free listening and early access to shows across the Noiser podcast network, including Real Survival Stories and Sherlock Holmes Short Stories. Just click the subscription banner at the top of the feed, or head to www.noiser.com/subscriptions to get started.

  9. The Peasants’ Revolt

    Sep 20

    The Peasants’ Revolt

    The so-called Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 was the first mass popular uprising in England. A true people’s revolution, it involved not just peasants but also tradesmen, merchants, artisans, priests, village leaders — an emerging middle-class from the countryside. Their demands were radical; an overhaul of a centuries-old system of power held by aristocrats and the church, and the end of the exploitation of the masses by the elites. By the time it was over, a small, disparate band of disillusioned common people had swollen into an army of tens of thousands, forcing the king himself to listen. How did a village ruckus explode into a national crisis? Who were the rebels willing to die for a cause? And who clung onto power after London fell into anarchy? This is a Short History Of The Peasants’ Revolt. A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. With thanks to Juliet Barker, a medieval historian and author of the book England, Arise.  Written by Jo Furniss | Produced by Kate Simants | Production Assistant: Chris McDonald | Exec produced by Katrina Hughes | Sound supervisor: Matt Peaty | Sound design by Oliver Sanders | Assembly edit by Dorry Macaulay | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Cody Reynolds-Shaw | Fact check: Sean Coleman Unlock the next two episodes of Short History Of… right now by subscribing to Noiser+. You’ll also get ad-free listening and early access to shows across the Noiser podcast network, including Real Survival Stories and Sherlock Holmes Short Stories. Just click the subscription banner at the top of the feed, or head to www.noiser.com/subscriptions to get started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  10. The Empire State Building

    Sep 13

    The Empire State Building

    The Empire State Building is one of the most recognisable structures in the world, an iconic component of New York City’s skyline. Even for those who have never visited, the building is internationally famous thanks to its starring role in a litany of blockbuster films. For decades, it was the tallest building in the world, a title much coveted by American businessmen and architects in the early decades of the previous century.   Who was behind this impressive feat of architecture and engineering? How did it become an American cultural icon? And what unexpected events have occurred there in its nearly 100-year lifespan? This is a Short History Of The Empire State Building. A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. With thanks to Anthony W. Robins, founding member and Vice-President Emeritus of the Art Deco Society of New York, as well as formerly Director of Survey at New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission, where he wrote the official Commission report on the Empire State Building. He is also the author of New York Art Deco: A Guide to Gotham's Jazz Age Architecture.  Written by Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow | Produced by Kate Simants | Production Assistant: Chris McDonald | Exec produced by Katrina Hughes | Sound supervisor: Matt Peaty | Sound design by Oliver Sanders | Assembly edit by Dorry Macaulay | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Cody Reynolds-Shaw | Fact check: Sean Coleman Unlock the next two episodes of Short History Of… right now by subscribing to Noiser+. You’ll also get ad-free listening and early access to shows across the Noiser podcast network, including Real Survival Stories and Sherlock Holmes Short Stories. Just click the subscription banner at the top of the feed, or head to www.noiser.com/subscriptions to get started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  11. Salvador  Dalí

    Aug 16

    Salvador Dalí

    With his expressive face and gravity-defying moustache, Salvador Dalí is one of the most recognisable – and influential – artists of the 20th century. Famed for his paintings of melting clocks and his lobster telephone, Dalí also cultivated a larger-than-life character for himself to play, using fashion and performance to blur the boundaries between art and reality. But alongside the deliberately provocative persona lurked a fascination with fascism and a sometimes-violent temper.   So what can we be sure of about the life of an artist who loved to self-mythologise? And how did he become the best known of the surrealists, creating images that far outlasted his own lifetime? This is a Short History Of Salvador Dalí. A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. With thanks to Dr Elliott H King, a professor of art history at Washington and Lee University in Virginia, who has studied the life of Salvador Dalí for more than two decades. Written by Nicola Rayner | Produced by Kate Simants | Production Assistant: Chris McDonald | Exec produced by Katrina Hughes | Sound supervisor: Matt Peaty | Sound design by Mirianna Pitman-Latham and George Tapp | Assembly edit by Dorry Macaulay | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Cody Reynolds-Shaw | Fact check: Sean Coleman Unlock the next two episodes of Short History Of… right now by subscribing to Noiser+. You’ll also get ad-free listening and early access to shows across the Noiser podcast network, including Real Survival Stories and Sherlock Holmes Short Stories. Just click the subscription banner at the top of the feed, or head to www.noiser.com/subscriptions to get started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices