Episodes

  • 68. Chernobyl: The Worst Nuclear Disaster In History (Ep 1)

    68. Chernobyl: The Worst Nuclear Disaster In History (Ep 1)
    Jan 26 2026
    How did a routine safety test turn into the worst nuclear disaster in history? How did Soviet secrecy, impossible targets, and corner-cutting set the stage for Chernobyl? Why did the disaster begin long before 1986, and end with the unravelling of the Soviet Union itself? Sarah Churchwell and David Olusoga trace the political and historical failures which led to the fateful Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Social Producer: Emma Jackson Assistant Producers: Alfie Rowe, Alfie Norris Producer: Alice Horrell Head of History: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    39 mins
  • 67. The Spanish Civil War: The Death of Democracy (Ep 6)

    67. The Spanish Civil War: The Death of Democracy (Ep 6)
    Jan 22 2026
    How did the Spanish Civil War inspire resistance movements throughout the 20th century? Why does Spain contain thousands of hidden mass graves? What is the legacy of the conflict in modern Spain? Why were American volunteers persecuted for opposing fascism? David Olusoga and Sarah Churchwell explore the long legacy of the Spanish Civil War and the shadow it still casts. Social Producer: Emma Jackson Assistant Producers: Alfie Rowe, Alfie Norris Producer: Alice Horrell Head of History: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    36 mins
  • 66. The Spanish Civil War: Guernica, Picasso and The Nazis (Ep 5)

    66. The Spanish Civil War: Guernica, Picasso and The Nazis (Ep 5)
    Jan 19 2026
    How did Pablo Picasso capture the horror of aerial bombing? Why did Hitler use a small Spanish town to test the Blitzkrieg? What was Stalin’s role in the Spanish Civil War? David Olusoga and Sarah Churchwell explore how Spain became a testing ground for the Second World War. Social Producers: Emma Jackson Assistant Producers: Alfie Rowe, Alfie Norris Producer: Alice Horrell Head of History: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    31 mins
  • 65. The Spanish Civil War: Orwell V Stalin (Ep 4)

    65. The Spanish Civil War: Orwell V Stalin (Ep 4)
    Jan 15 2026
    What were Barcelona’s ‘May Days’? How did Orwell manage to escape Stalinist agents? Why did communists and anarchists begin to fight each other? How did the Spanish Civil War inspire Animal Farm and 1984? Join David Olusoga and Sarah Churchwell as they look at the harrowing events that inspired one of the twentieth century's most iconic writers. Social Producers: Emma Jackson, Harry Balden Assistant Producers: Alfie Rowe, Alfie Norris Producer: Alice Horrell Head of History: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    24 mins
  • 64. The Spanish Civil War: A Nazi Training Ground (Ep 3)

    64. The Spanish Civil War: A Nazi Training Ground (Ep 3)
    Jan 12 2026
    What were Barcelona’s ‘May Days’? How did Orwell manage to escape Stalinist agents? Why did communists and anarchists begin to fight each other? How did the Spanish Civil War inspire Animal Farm and 1984? Join David Olusoga and Sarah Churchwell as they look at the harrowing events that inspired one of the twentieth century's most iconic writers. Social Producers: Emma Jackson, Harry Balden Assistant Producers: Alfie Rowe, Alfie Norris Producer: Alice Horrell Head of History: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    24 mins
  • 63. The Spanish Civil War: Fighting Fascism With Hemingway And Orwell (Ep 2)

    63. The Spanish Civil War: Fighting Fascism With Hemingway And Orwell (Ep 2)
    Jan 8 2026
    Why did 35,000 foreign volunteers join the International Brigades? How did the conflict lead to the first racially integrated military unit in US history? What was women’s role in the conflict? How was modern conflict journalism pioneered in Spain? David Olusoga and Sarah Churchwell examine the role of foreign volunteers and journalists in the Spanish Civil War Social Producers: Emma Jackson, Harry Balden Assistant Producers: Alfie Rowe, Alfie Norris Producer: Alice Horrell Head of History: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    35 mins
  • 62. The Spanish Civil War: A Nation In Flames (Ep 1)

    62. The Spanish Civil War: A Nation In Flames (Ep 1)
    Jan 5 2026
    What caused Spain to collapse into civil war in 1936? How did Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin become involved in the conflict? Why did western democracies do nothing to aid Spain’s government? What connected Ernest Hemingway, Martha Gelhorn, George Orwell and Kim Philby to the war? David Olusoga and Sarah Churchwell explore the events that led to Spain’s 1936-1939 Civil War. Social Producers: Emma Jackson, Harry Balden Assistant Producers: Alfie Rowe, Alfie Norris Producer: Alice Horrell Head of History: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    42 mins
  • 61. A Christmas Carol: From Alastair Sim To The Muppets (Ep 3)

    61. A Christmas Carol: From Alastair Sim To The Muppets (Ep 3)
    Jan 1 2026
    In what significant ways did the bestselling book ‘A Christmas Carol’ change Victorian behaviour around Christmas? From Christmas movies to the office Christmas party, what traditions do we have Charles Dickens to thank for? Why does this story still resonate in modern debates around poverty, responsibility, and compassion? Join David Olusoga and Sarah Churchwell exploring the enduring legacy of Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’. Social Producers: Emma Jackson, Harry Balden Assistant Producers: Alfie Rowe, Alfie Norris Producer: Alice Horrell Head of History: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    44 mins