Life Lessons from History

HistoryExtra
HistoryExtra

How can the experience of the Babylonians and Assyrians ease our worries now? Can we look to a Tudor queen for advice on procrastination? How can we harness the ancient fear of faeries and witches to add a bit of enchantment to our lives today? What’s this all about? It’s a simple concept. I find a great historian or archaeologist and I ask them to propose a Life Lesson from History – some learning from their study of the past that will help us today to live better, happier, healthier, or more productive lives. GET MORE WITH MEMBERSHIP  Become a HistoryExtra podcast member and unlock access to The Full Story podcast, plus enjoy ad-free listening, early access to other podcast episodes, and a member-exclusive newsletter.  ⁠⁠⁠ Sign up here ⁠⁠⁠ EXPLORE MORE For more fascinating stories from the past, head to HistoryExtra, the home of ‘History’s Greatest’ podcasts. Find out more at ⁠⁠historyextra.com/podcast⁠⁠. GET IN TOUCH We'd love to know what you think about the podcast, so leave us a review and let us know the topics you think we should be covering. Or, follow us on ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠X⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠YouTube⁠ to keep in touch.

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  1. Oct 11

    Throw away your phone and go to a ball

    You shall go to the ball. Or at least, that’s what you should do if you follow the advice of my expert in this episode of Life Lessons from History, from HistoryExtra. As Amy Boyington suggests to David Musgrove, we should throw away our phones and go to a ball, and channel the 18th-century art of socialising. They didn’t have much choice but to live in the moment in Georgian Britain and engage in real-life interaction, and we can take a leaf out of their books. And if going to a big dance isn’t your thing, don’t worry – we also discuss the lost art of letter writing, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Throw away your phone and go to a ball

  2. Oct 4

    Just get outside, the air is lovely

    Just get outside and enjoy some fresh air. That was a simple pleasure that our medieval forebears embraced, and it’ll do wonders for us today. That’s the view of medievalist Katherine Harvey, talking on this episode of Life Lessons from history, from HistoryExtra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Just get outside, the air is lovely

  3. Sep 27

    Wait for the wheel of fortune to turn your way

    Sometimes things go your way, sometimes they don’t. That was the approach that many people in the Middle Ages took to life, because they had an understanding of time that was more cyclical than we tend to have today. You can channel this in your day-to-day by being patient, taking a breath, and waiting for the wheel of fortune to turn back your way again. In this special live episode of Life Lessons from History from HistoryExtra, recorded in front of an audience at the Gloucester History Festival in the autumn of 2025, David Musgrove chats to the great medieval historian and broadcast Janina Ramirez about what we can learn about time and patience from the Middle Ages Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Wait for the wheel of fortune to turn your way

  4. Sep 20

    Be more confident, like a WW2 secret agent

    Become a secret agent and throw yourself into life-or-death situations because if it doesn’t kill you, it’ll make you stronger. That’s not very helpful or practical advice for most of us, but if you do want to build your confidence, Roderick Bailey tells David Musgrove that we can take something from the experiences of WW2 SOE agents and how they grew as people from the challenging situations they found themselves in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Be more confident, like a WW2 secret agent

  5. Sep 13

    Never give up, even in the face of terrible odds

    If you don’t think you can carry on with something, take a moment to consider the resilience of 17th-century patients. Sick people in the 1600s were remarkably resilient, even when the chances of them recovering from illnesses were slim. They still plugged on and kept trying cures to bring them round. In this episode of Life Lessons from History, from HistoryExtra, Alun Withey reveals to David Musgrove how he takes inspiration from that in his life today, when facing up to illness and in general life resilience. On an unrelated note, this conversation also includes advice on effective beard maintenance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Never give up, even in the face of terrible odds

  6. Sep 6

    Argue like a medieval Irish monk

    Medieval Irish monks knew how to disagree respectfully. That’s a skill that we sorely need these days, as social media nudges us into binary anger. According to medievalist Elizabeth Boyle, in conversation with David Musgrove, we can learn a lot from the monastic habit of arguing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Argue like a medieval Irish monk

  7. Aug 30

    Always look on the gloomy side of life

    According to Prof James Romm’s reading of the wisdom of the ancient Greek philosopher Sophocles, if you prepare well for gloom, you can enjoy the sunshine more readily. This episode of Life Lessons from History is all about mental fortitude, and how an awareness that things might not go well allows you to cope with the slings and arrows of bad fortune, and to revel robustly when things do go your way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Always look on the gloomy side of life

  8. Aug 23

    Go for a walk to free your mind

    What if the best way to solve a problem isn't to think harder, but simply to go for a walk? In this episode of Life Lessons from History, explorer and geographer Nicholas Crane joins Dave Musgrove to uncover the remarkable history of Britain's footpaths and explain why walking has always been far more than a means of getting from A to B. From prehistoric routeways and medieval travellers to Charles Dickens and modern neuroscience, Crane argues that humans are hardwired to roam, and that walking frees the mind, deepens our understanding of the landscape, strengthens communities and restores perspective. It's a conversation about history, geography and wellbeing that suggests one of the oldest human behaviours remains one of the most valuable in the modern world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Go for a walk to free your mind
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3.9
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How can the experience of the Babylonians and Assyrians ease our worries now? Can we look to a Tudor queen for advice on procrastination? How can we harness the ancient fear of faeries and witches to add a bit of enchantment to our lives today? What’s this all about? It’s a simple concept. I find a great historian or archaeologist and I ask them to propose a Life Lesson from History – some learning from their study of the past that will help us today to live better, happier, healthier, or more productive lives. GET MORE WITH MEMBERSHIP  Become a HistoryExtra podcast member and unlock access to The Full Story podcast, plus enjoy ad-free listening, early access to other podcast episodes, and a member-exclusive newsletter.  ⁠⁠⁠ Sign up here ⁠⁠⁠ EXPLORE MORE For more fascinating stories from the past, head to HistoryExtra, the home of ‘History’s Greatest’ podcasts. Find out more at ⁠⁠historyextra.com/podcast⁠⁠. GET IN TOUCH We'd love to know what you think about the podcast, so leave us a review and let us know the topics you think we should be covering. Or, follow us on ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠X⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠YouTube⁠ to keep in touch.

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