178 episodes

The editor of Aspects of History, Ollie Webb-Carter, interviews historians and authors on the past - from the ancient world right up to the modern day. In each episode, Ollie seeks to get to the bottom of a story or scrutinise a figure from history. There are bonus episodes too, on current events and anniversaries to the Aspects of History Film Club.

Aspects of History Oliver Webb-Carter

    • History
    • 5.0 • 19 Ratings

The editor of Aspects of History, Ollie Webb-Carter, interviews historians and authors on the past - from the ancient world right up to the modern day. In each episode, Ollie seeks to get to the bottom of a story or scrutinise a figure from history. There are bonus episodes too, on current events and anniversaries to the Aspects of History Film Club.

    Shardlake and Thomas Cromwell with Peter Wagstaff

    Shardlake and Thomas Cromwell with Peter Wagstaff

    A bonus episode sees the historical consultant of the new Disney series Shardlake join to discuss disability and the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and the history behind the new show. Based on the novels written by C.J.Sansom who died on Saturday 27th April.
    Shardlake Links
    Shardlake on Disney
    Dissolution by CJ Sansom
    Antonia Senior tribute to CJ Sansom
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 22 min
    Iran & Britain with Ali Ansari

    Iran & Britain with Ali Ansari

    Iran & Britain are old friends, they've had ups and downs, and it's probably fair to say we're going through a difficult patch right now, but who better than Ali Ansari to talk about the historical relationship through much of the 20th century. Ali is a child of Iranians, but lives and was brought up here in Britain, where he is Professor of Modern History at St. Andrew's University in Scotland. We talk the Constitutional Revolution of 1906, the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, Mossadegh and the Coup of 1953, and the Shah of Iran who was overthrown in 1979.
    Those of Iranian descent, and of course any others, please do get in touch: history@aspectsofhistory.com
    Ali Ansari Links
    Ali's Book: Iran
    Ali on X
    Aspects of History Links
    Ollie on X
    Get in touch: history@aspectsofhistory.com
    Latest issue: Aspects of History Issue 21
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 59 min
    William Adams & Shogun with Giles Milton

    William Adams & Shogun with Giles Milton

    On the 19th April 1600, after nearly two years at sea, William Adams, one of only nine surviving crew members, made land at modern day Usuki, on the east coast of Japan. He was starving, scurvy ridden and close to death. So began an extraordinary story as Adams rose up the ranks to become a revered figure in Japan even today. So much so that a new Disney TV series, Shogun has been making waves starring Cosmo Jarvis as Adams and Giles Milton joins to tell his story.
    Giles Milton Links
    Samurai William
    Shogun
    Giles on X
    Aspects of History Links
    Episode on the Japan of Shogun
    Ollie on X
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 33 min
    Film Club: The Passion of the Christ (2004)

    Film Club: The Passion of the Christ (2004)

    The release of The Passion of the Christ in 2004 caused outrage, fury and accusations of antisemitism and sadomasochism. With Easter recently celebrated, we thought it time to re-examine Mel Gibson's passion project (sorry), as director Tim Hewitt joins to talk Jim Caviezel, controversy and even a QAnon.
    Links
    The Passion of the Christ on Wikipedia
    The Passion of the Christ on IMDB
    Interview with Mel Gibson
    Christopher Hitchens on Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ
    Ollie on X
    Tim on X
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 49 min
    The Berlin Wall with Iain MacGregor

    The Berlin Wall with Iain MacGregor

    The Berlin Wall stood for 28 years, but up until the very end, on the 9th November 1989, the whole world thought it was permanent. It's now 35 years since the Wall fell, but how did it get built, what was its impact, and how did it fall?
    Iain MacGregor, author of Checkpoint Charlie, joins as we go back the dark days of the Cold War through to its end.
    Iain MacGregor Links
    Checkpoint Charlie: The Cold War, the Berlin Wall and the Most Dangerous Place on Earth
    Iain on X
    Aspects of History Links
    Berlin Wall - OIlie at the Wall
    Ollie on X
    Get in touch: history@aspectsofhistory.com
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 53 min
    Patrick Leigh Fermor with Artemis Cooper

    Patrick Leigh Fermor with Artemis Cooper

    On a dark night in April 1944 a German general was returning to his villa on the Nazi occupied island of Crete. Suddenly, two men, dressed as Wehrmacht soldiers, emerged from the darkness and stopped the car. The two men were British officers, and together with Cretan resistance fighters, they bundled the general into the back, and drove through Heraklion and 22 checkpoints. So began one of the most audacious operations of World War Two, orchestrated by Patrick Leigh Fermor, autodidact, writer and war hero.
    Artemis Cooper, biographer of Paddy, joins to discuss his early life, the operation, his walk through Europe and his writing. 
    Artemis Cooper Links
    Patrick Leigh Fermor: An Adventure
    Cairo in the War: 1939-45
    Patrick Leigh Fermor Links
    3 Books Collection Set (A Time of Gifts, Between the Woods and the Water, The Broken Road)
    Abducting a General: The Kreipe Operation and SOE in Crete
    Mani: Travels in the Southern Peloponnese
    Roumeli: Travels in Northern Greece
    Aspects of History Links
    Ollie on X
    Get in touch: history@aspectsofhistory.com
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 59 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
19 Ratings

19 Ratings

Huntaaer ,

A Must Have for History Enthusiasts!

This is a wonderful podcast for anyone looking to further his or her academic knowledge of the past. I have personally enjoyed listening to Oliver while I work during the week as a farmer; his passion and enthusiasm for the show has led me to purchase some of the books mentioned in the podcasts, including Adam Zamoyski’s 1812: Napoleon’s Fatal March.

Brazzagal ,

British perspectives galore!

Ah the British… lots of muttering and mumbling, exclamations of “brilliant!“… just a general quirkiness mixed in with heavyweight historical perspectives from such greats as Max Hastings and Antony Beevor.Never before heard a British perspective on the American Civil War, which by the way was a lot shorter than the English Civil Wars. One historian insults Patton, sort of. Lots of interesting stuff on World War II and European history. Dear host: might be interesting to interview a few non-Brits.

SCL21 ,

Great podcast

This podcast consistently delivers high quality and thought provoking content. Don’t need to be a history aficionado to get value from it. Anyone will be smarter for listening. Particularly enjoy the interview guests and book recommendations.

Top Podcasts In History

History's Secret Heroes
BBC Radio 4
The Rest Is History
Goalhanger Podcasts
American Scandal
Wondery
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Dan Carlin
American History Tellers
Wondery
Everything Everywhere Daily
Gary Arndt | Glassbox Media

You Might Also Like

WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk
Goalhanger Podcasts
Warfare
History Hit
Dan Snow's History Hit
History Hit
The WW2 Podcast
Angus Wallace
The Rest Is History
Goalhanger Podcasts
Cold War Conversations
Ian Sanders