Best Keith Hockton Podcasts (2024)

1
The Campbell's and MacDonald's - The Massacre of Glencoe 28:15

3h ago28:15

28:15

Send us a Text Message. The Massacre of Glencoe, a dark and chilling event in Scottish history, unfolded on the snowy morning of February 13, 1692. Amid the serene beauty of the Glen, the MacDonald clan awoke to the horror of betrayal. Soldiers they had hosted with Highland hospitality for almost two weeks turned on them with ruthless precision. Un…

1
Plagues and Pandemics - Does History Repeat Itself? 23:06

2d ago23:06

23:06

Send us a Text Message. From a plague in Athens during the Peloponnesian War in 430 BCE, to another in 540 that wiped out half the population of the Roman Empire, down through the Black Death in the Middle Ages and on through the 1918 flu epidemic which killed between 50 and 100 million people, to SARS and COVID 19, plagues have been been a much mo…

1
DreamReads: Dracula (First Published in 1887) 47:00

10d ago47:00

47:00

Send us a Text Message. I’m always worried about my listeners staying up late at night to listen to my podcasts – and falling asleep by them…and there are some serious topics there that I wouldn’t want you falling asleep to– so I decided to create DreamReads, stories that will lull you to sleep, that won’t have you worrying about the world and it’s…

1
Napoleon - The Battle of Waterloo 39:57

9h ago39:57

39:57

Send us a Text Message. The Battle of Waterloo, fought on June 18, 1815, near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, marked the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte. It was a pivotal confrontation between the French army, led by Napoleon, and the Allied forces, commanded by the Duke of Wellington and Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. The battle saw intense fi…

1
Raiders of The Lost Ark - Where is The Ark of The Covenant? 59:10

1d ago59:10

59:10

Send us a Text Message. The Ark of the Covenant has fuelled stories for millennia, whether as a weapon of mass destruction, an elaborate filing cabinet for sacred laws, or as the very location where God and man meet. Join Keith as he delves into the mysteries surrounding the Ark of the Covenant, its creation, its importance and its eventual disappe…

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DreamReads: The Picture of Dorian Gray (First Published in 1890) 34:45

19d ago34:45

34:45

Send us a Text Message. For this second episode I'm introducing you to Oscar Wild, and "The Picture of Dorian Gray". The Picture of Dorian Gray" tells the story of a young and handsome man named Dorian Gray who becomes the subject of a portrait painted by his friend Basil Hallward. Dorian becomes increasingly influenced by the hedonistic philosophy…

1
The Real History of Hogwarts - Ancient Schools and Students that Revolted 59:56

22d ago59:56

59:56

Send us a Text Message. "To be a boy at one of these schools was to be both tyrant and slave" 18th century British Public Schools were hotbeds of violence and uproar, despite their deeply Christian origins. From raucous rebellions featuring students fighting armed militias, and building barricades and taking hostages and firing pistols, to animal a…

1
DreamReads: A Conspriacy of Paper (First Published in 2000) 32:03

26d ago32:03

32:03

Send us a Text Message. I’m always worried about my listeners staying up late at night to listen to my podcasts – and falling asleep by them…and there are some serious topics there that I wouldn’t want you falling asleep to (lol) – so I decided to create DreamReads, stories that will lull you to sleep, that won’t have you worrying about the world a…

1
Lawrence of Arabia - T.E Lawrence 1:02:41

20d ago1:02:41

1:02:41

Send us a Text Message. Who was Lawrence of Arabia? Born Thomas Edward Lawrence, he was a British archaeologist, military officer, diplomat and spy who became famous for his pivotal role in the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during World War I. His extraordinary leadership and strategic acumen, combined with his deep understanding of Arab c…

1
The East India Company - Mutiny and Rebellion 54:22

2M ago54:22

54:22

Send us a Text Message. In 1857 tensions in Company controlled India came to a head in what the British called 'The Indian Mutiny', now referred to in India as the First War of Independence. The uprising and the bloody reprisals sent shockwaves through the British Empire and ended the rule of the East India Company, and led to the creation of the R…

1
The East India Company Rule India 1:00:29

2M ago1:00:29

1:00:29

Send us a Text Message. Emerging victorious from the battles of Plassey and Buxar, The East India Company under Sir Robert Clive cements its grip on power in India. Join Keith as he discusses the nature, the horrors and the key figures of "Company Rule" in India at its height in the early 19th century.…

1
The East India Company - Spice and India 1:07:03

2M ago1:07:03

1:07:03

Send us a Text Message. Join Keith as he discusses the rise of The East India Company, exploring how a small start up, a corporation founded in Tudor England, with only a handful of employees, came to rule India.By Keith Hockton

1
Is Trump Caesar or Nixon? 37:07

2M ago37:07

37:07

Send us a Text Message. In this podcast Keith asks is Donald Trump a modern day Caesar, willing to do anything to stay in power, or is Trump the natural successor to the disgraced Richard Nixon? Keith draws parallels between the modern White House of the 1970's and ancient Rome and comes to a stunning conclusion.…

1
Le Marquis de Sade - Philosopher of Pleasure 1:00:52

3M ago1:00:52

1:00:52

Send us a Text Message. The man whom sadism was named after, a prophet of totalitarianism, the Marquis de Sade was a french aristocrat and writer, an uncompromising and unashamed libertine with the weird ability to completely corrupt those around him. Arrested by the French monarchy, the revolutionaries and then Napoleon he spent most of his life i…

1
The Furies - Goddesses of Vengeance 26:33

2M ago26:33

26:33

Send us a Text Message. The gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece have been written about for thousands of years. From their home atop Mount Olympus, they reigned over the land, the sea and the sky. The course of human history was shaped by the whims and the wishes of these deities, and the Furies were no exception. Join Keith as he talks about the …

1
Pythagoras's Utopia - The Greatest Hippy of all Time 35:35

3M ago35:35

35:35

Send us a Text Message. What comes to mind when you think of Pythagoras? His triangle, his theorem and a foundational principle of mathematics? Absolutely, but he was also the enigmatic founder of Pythagoreanism, a mysterious secret society that strove to create a Utopia on earth. Today Keith delves into this ancient social experiment, and talks ab…

1
H. Rider Haggard - King Solomon's Mines and Much Much More 1:08:18

3M ago1:08:18

1:08:18

Send us a Text Message. King Solomon's Mines was one of the first English quest adventure novels set in darkest Africa, a story about treasure, bravery and romance featuring the all action hero, Alan Quartermain and his fellowship. Haggard's words inspired the likes of Arthur Conan Doyle, H.P Lovecraft, Wilbur Smith, George Lucas and Steven Speilbe…

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Haggis - Scotland's Mouth Watering National Dish 22:57

3M ago22:57

22:57

Send us a Text Message. Picture the Haggis, a culinary marvel and the heartbeat of Scottish feasts. It's like a poetic symphony of flavors dancing on your taste buds. Imagine a savory blend of minced sheep's heart, liver, and lungs, expertly mixed with oats, onions, and spices, all encased in a sheep's stomach, ready to be transformed into a dish t…

1
Alexander's Lost Library 1:08:11

4M ago1:08:11

1:08:11

Send us a Text Message. One of, if not the greatest institution in the world, the great Library of Alexandria was the embodiment of ultimate learning and a repository of everything. Or was it? Built within the same complex as the tomb of Alexander The Great, it stood as a beacon of knowledge, boasting an unparalleled collection of scrolls and manus…

1
The Clans of Scotland 31:42

4M ago31:42

31:42

Send us a Text Message. Scottish clans are traditional kinship groups that have played a significant role in Scottish history and culture. Each clan is associated with a specific surname and often has its own tartan pattern, crest, and motto. These clans have their own unique histories, traditions, and ancestral lands in Scotland. Clans started to …

1
Sir John Soane - Master of Light and Magic 38:14

5M ago38:14

38:14

Send us a Text Message. Sir John Soane (1753-1837) stands as a magical and special luminary in the realm of architecture. His visionary creations, notably exemplified in the Sir John Soane's Museum in London, transcend conventional boundaries, weaving classical principles with an enchanting touch that transports visitors into a narrative-rich journ…

1
Elgin's Marbles 42:24

5M ago42:24

42:24

Send us a Text Message. The question of whether the Elgin Marbles should be returned is a complex and contentious issue. Advocates for repatriation argue that the sculptures were removed from the Parthenon under controversial circumstances by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century, and their rightful place is in Greece. Opponents, on the other hand, …

1
Oscar Wild - The End 43:11

5M ago43:11

43:11

Send us a Text Message. It's 1895, and with the libel case brought against the Marquess of Queensbury having collapsed, Oscar Wilde is arrested and charged with committing acts of "gross indecency". With former lovers, hotel servants and chambermaids lining up to give evidence, and the evening papers, night after night, full of scandalous allegatio…

1
Oscar Wilde - The Beginning 56:34

5M ago56:34

56:34

Send us a Text Message. "The truth is rarely pure and never simple." The Importance of Being Earnest, Wilde's most famous play, hints that Oscar Wilde's life was a complicated one. Perhaps the most famous gay martyr in history, Wilde is often presented as the sacrificial victim destroyed by a bigoted government whose Prime Minister was in fact gay …

1
The Assassination of Julius Caesar 59:39

6M ago59:39

59:39

Send us a Text Message. He was trapped - he couldn't get up. There was blood everywhere. The faces were coming closer, the knives rose and fell. And then to his relief he saw Brutus. The most iconic death in history, Caesars assassination is the climax to an impressive series of victories: from conquering Gaul (France) and Britain, to outlasting Po…

1
Capability Brown - Visionary or Vandal? 38:15

6M ago38:15

38:15

Send us a Text Message. Lancelot Brown, famously known as Capability Brown, stands as a legendary figure in the realm of landscape architecture, leaving an indelible mark on the English countryside during the 18th century. Born in 1716, Brown's visionary approach to garden design transformed the rigid, formal landscapes of the time into sweeping, n…

1
Sir Christopher Wren - Polymath Extraordinaire 39:38

6M ago39:38

39:38

Send us a Text Message. Best known for designing and building St Paul's Cathedral, Christopher Wren was the greatest architect Britain has ever known. But he was so, so much more! He was an astronomer first, he was fascinated by meteorology and he loved anatomy. He also ran the nation's biggest architectural office with all its petty jealousies and…

1
The Beatles and The Reformation of 1520 48:55

6M ago48:55

48:55

Send us a Text Message. There will never be another group like them. The band's ability to evolve and experiment with diverse styles, from the early Beatlemania era to the psychedelic exploration of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, showcased their exceptional versatility. And the parallels to what they did in the 1960's and the 1520's reforma…

1
The First World War - The Crazy Causes 44:00

7M ago44:00

44:00

Send us a Text Message. Whose fault was it? Does the question even make sense? Are wars, and was this war somebody's fault? Should the British have joined the war in the first place, and should they have joined the Germans instead of the French and Russians? Join Keith as he answers these questions and many more in this mind bending episode that op…

1
The Mitford Sisters - A Frivolity of Evil 1:03:27

7M ago1:03:27

1:03:27

Send us a Text Message. The Mitford Sisters were the most glamorous aristocrats on the London scene in the 1920's. At their head was Diana, the most beautiful woman in England, who would eventually marry Sir Oswald Mosley, 6th Baronet, and founder of the British Union of Fascists. However it was her younger sister Unity who would strike up a relati…

1
Shakespeare - Pure Genius 29:45

7M ago29:45

29:45

Send us a Text Message. Arguably the world's greatest ever dramatist, after five and half centuries William Shakespeare remains as popular as ever. But how did he become so famous? And why has he stayed supreme above all other writers? Why was he known as an upstart crow and seen as a sexy poet? Keith Hockton asks all the big questions and gives al…

1
The Bible - That Little Book 30:26

8M ago30:26

30:26

Send us a Text Message. Calling all Bible enthusiasts and history buffs, get ready for a thrilling ride with Keith in our inaugural "shorteas" episode! We're about to turn a biblical epic into an engaging and entertaining adventure. In this installment, we delve deep into the riveting history of the Bible, tracing its remarkable journey through the…

1
The Taj Mahal 45:14

8M ago45:14

45:14

Send us a Text Message. Explore the captivating narrative behind the Taj Mahal, a masterpiece constructed by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in loving memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. This iconic monument not only reflects the might and authority of the Mughal Empire but also endures as an enduring symbol of unparalleled excellence, sophistication, a…

1
Men in Kilts - A Short History of Kilts and Tartens 33:54

8M ago33:54

33:54

Send us a Text Message. Men in kilts have a unique superpower: they can simultaneously brave the Scottish Highlands and air out their "bagpipes" with a single swish of tartan fabric. It's like they've unlocked the secret to defying both chilly weather and societal norms, all while providing an unintentional yet captivating display of leg acrobatics…

1
The French Foreign Legion - The Expendables 31:57

8M ago31:57

31:57

Send us a Text Message. What comes to mind when you think of the French Foreign Legion? Most likely men struggling through the desert in heavy blue coats and white peaked caps. Men who joined up after a lifetime of crime, fighting valiantly, then leaving the Legion to become tough, faceless mercenaries trading on their background, or else dying in …

1
Witches 1:06:19

9M ago1:06:19

1:06:19

Get your witchy powers on because we are delving into psychic realms today with a new take on Witches. And they certainly aren’t how they have been portrayed throughout our history that’s for sure. The new Witches have a different agenda. Join Nikki and Keith to find out what it is! You may need two cups of your favourite tea today ❤️ Support the s…

1
Energy Vampires 52:23

9M ago52:23

52:23

We have all heard about Energy Vampires but what exactly are they? Where are they lurking? Nikki and Keith are breaking it all down in this week’s episode with a-ha moments, epiphanies and of course their personal stories. So pour your favourite cuppa and settle in with us. Find out how to keep these menaces out of your life. Energy Vampires - be g…

1
A History of Scotland 37:38

9M ago37:38

37:38

Send us a Text Message. The first recorded story of Scotland begins with the arrival of the Romans in 84AD when the province of Britannia reached as far north as the Antonine Wall. But how much further back can the history of Scotland be traced? Who were the Picts and the Gales and the Scottie? And how did the Viking invasion change that landscape?…

1
Cecil Rhodes - Visionary or Despot? 33:55

9M ago33:55

33:55

Send us a Text Message. Who is Cecil Rhodes? The statue of him at Oriel College has been the epicenter of debates over Britain's imperial past, but are they just? To some, he is an inspiring pioneer and philanthropist. To others, he represents everything wrong with colonialism. So should Rhodes statue fall? What does Wilbur Smith, a Northern Rhodes…

1
Crystals - Everything You Need To Know! 1:16:36

9M ago1:16:36

1:16:36

If you are intrigued by the world of crystals or want to choose some but don’t know where to start, this is the podcast for you! Nikki and Keith are chatting about why “energy crystals” are so cool, which ones you can try on yourself, how to use them, how to protect yourself from the “evil eye”, how to raise the energy in your home, and how they ca…

1
Killer Fashion 1:11:57

9M ago1:11:57

1:11:57

We were mighty surprised to discover just how deadly fashion has been over the years. And we're talking d-e-a-d-l-y! From killer skirts, to poisonous colours, to inflammable dresses to shoes that will make your eyes water, there is much to talk about in today's episode. Join Nikki and Keith as they mosey on down through the ages while reminiscing a…

1
The Secret Life of Trees (Updated!) 41:21

10M ago41:21

41:21

There's creatures in them there trees! And the new information that we have found out blows my mind, which is why we have re-mastered this episode and re-released it. In fairy tales we read about trees with human faces, trees that can talk, and sometimes walk. This enchanted forest is the kind of place that we dream about and yet the world is full …

1
Shortea: A History of Bank Collapses - Why They Happen 28:18

10M ago28:18

28:18

Banks seem to be collapsing left, right and centre; but they didn't for over 100 years, so what does that mean for us and why is it happening now? Does anyone care, and is this the start of a major banking crisis? Join Keith, who spent half of his life working in the murky world of investment banking, as he walks us through why these collapses happ…

1
Nicholas Flamel and The Sorcerer's Stone 46:40

11M ago46:40

46:40

Get your magic hats on, here's an episode that will have you thinking...or maybe conjuring! Alchemy means different things to different people. But Nicholas Flamel became an international man of mystery and intrigue when he claimed to have used Alchemy to change base metal into gold, in the process creating the Sorcerer's Stone and the elixir of et…

1
Shortea: The Bible 28:46

11M ago28:46

28:46

Join Keith in the first of our "shorteas" episodes where we take a humongous topic and make it a wee bit more fun and a wee bit more interesting. This episode is all about the history of the Bible. Keith traces its dissemination in Judaism and Christianity from Antiquity to the rise of modern biblical scholarship, and explains clearly how meaning h…

1
The Intergalactic Council - Who Are They And What Do They Do? 42:22

11M ago42:22

42:22

We have a whopping show today! Nikki is introducing the 12 members of The Intergalactic Council. You will also find out who on the Council had past incarnations as Adam, Elijah, Merlin, King Arthur, the Three Wise Men, the goddess Isis of Egypt, Pythagorus and more. These masters work behind the scenes to help our planet. Their missions are extreme…

1
Colours - The World Looks Different to Every Living Thing! 1:05:00

12M ago1:05:00

1:05:00

We have been surrounded by colours our entire lives. But did you know that they have special powers? What do the colours you are wearing today say about you? What is their secret sauce and why does the world look completely different to every single living thing? Why are Mantis Shrimps so special and how does one woman see over a 1,000 more colours…

1
General Gordon of Khartoum - The Last Victorian Hero 1:00:40

12M ago1:00:40

1:00:40

General Charles Gordon - a man who achieved incredible success in China and the Sudan, and changed the world as we know it today. Even though he was the most famous man in the world, and Queen Victoria's favorite General, he rejected all fame and glory. He was the quirkiest General of his time, intuitively brilliant, and he would become one of the …

1
Letters From Famous People Throughout History - Part Two 55:34

1y ago55:34

55:34

Part Two of our "Letters" series does not disappoint. There's something very special about being transported back in time, to a person's mind when they expressed something that was so meaningful to them. Today we have the priviledge of peering into the minds of Alan Turing, Roald Dahl, an eager 9 year old writing to the Blue Peter show, Virginia Wo…

1
The Hidden Mystery Of Stonehenge 45:29

1y ago45:29

45:29

Stonehenge is a beloved piece of British history. So beloved in fact that 1.5 million visitors flock to see these giant stones each year. But where exactly did they come from and what is its purpose? Some believe it's a magical celestial clock, some say it's a giant vagina metaphor, some say it's a portal to other universes originally connected to …

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