Best Heroes Behind Headlines Podcasts (2024)

1
SOG Legend "Tilt" Meyer Is Back! (Part Two) 1:00:30

43m ago1:00:30

1:00:30

Heroes Behind Headlines Executive Producer Ralph Pezzullo Produced & Engineered by Mike Dawson Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com Cold Case Western Australia They're the crimes that continue to haunt grieving family members and the wider... Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifyBy Heroes Behind Headlines

1
The Tyrant, the usurper and the hero | Henry V: hero 50:33

1h ago50:33

50:33

Henry V only had a short reign, but his legacy looms large over the medieval landscape. Remembered as a heroic warrior king, who bested the French at Harfleur then marched his forces to victory at Agincourt, few monarchs have such a distinguished reputation. But 'Prince Hal' wasn't always destined for greatness. Was he really the gadabout youth Sha…

1
How Stalin won WW2 40:07

6m ago40:07

40:07

In June 1944 Allied armies landed in force in northern France, and the liberation of western Europe began. But, the battle that really sealed Hitler's fate was taking place in the east, as the Red Army prepared an almighty assault against the war-weary Wehrmacht. Speaking to Rob Attar, broadcaster and military historian Jonathan Dimbleby tells the …

1
Family Fight Fest: Keeping Peace Over the Holidays 35:39

7h ago35:39

35:39

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Or is it? Holiday family gatherings can be deeply memorable or deeply stressful - probably some of both. Doug and Brad break down some practical ways to reach out to difficult family members over the holiday season, whether that person is distant, opinionated, or just plain grumpy. Doug also shares his unus…

1
The Venerable Bede: life of the week 38:15

1h ago38:15

38:15

The Venerable Bede was a monk who lived in Northumbria 1300 years ago, but his influence reached far beyond the confines of his monastic home. In fact, he is remembered today as the 'Father of English History'. In this 'life of the week' episode, David Musgrove explores the life and long-lasting legacy of this early medieval scholar and saint, in t…

1
Grand Ol’ American Football Culture 32:14

3h ago32:14

32:14

In this new episode of More Than News, host Kris Moore sits down with her old friend, Jake Gadon an accomplished sports journalist, for an insider look at the evolving landscape of American football. From the exhilarating atmosphere of Texas high school football to the stadiums of the NFL, Gadon shares personal insights from his journalism career –…

1
SOG Legend John Stryker "Tilt" Meyer Is Back! (Part One) 55:45

1h ago55:45

55:45

Special Forces legend "Tilt" Meyer is back in a special two-part episode, sharing stories from his new book “On The Ground!” If you joined MACV-SOG–-the Studies and Observations Group—in the 1960s for America's "Secret War" in Laos and Cambodia, the first thing you did was sign an oath to never speak about what happened for 20 years. Now able to sp…

1
Decoding Mary, Queen of Scots 38:03

26m ago38:03

38:03

How might cryptic messages written from within a political prison bring us closer to understanding a captive queen? Historian Jade Scott has studied the letters Mary, Queen of Scots wrote in captivity, and describes them as "her weapons, her armour, her battle strategy". Speaking to Lauren Good, she reveals what we can learn from these coded missiv…

1
The Blitz: everything you wanted to know 47:17

7m ago47:17

47:17

How did British civilians respond when they found themselves under aerial bombardment during the Second World War? Was normal life put on hold during air raids? And was 'Blitz Spirit' a real thing? Speaking to Ellie Cawthorne for our latest 'everything you wanted to know' episode, historian Dan Todman answers your questions on the Blitz. Caroline S…

1
The gunpowder plot: everything you wanted to know 39:52

20m ago39:52

39:52

What drove a group of plotters to attempt to blow up the king on 5 November 1605? To what extent did the conspiracy sour relations between Protestants and Catholics? And why do we continue to be so fascinated by this extraordinary episode today? Speaking with Spencer Mizen in this episode from 2022, John Cooper answers listener questions about the …

1
Telling the story of modern Jerusalem 45:35

28m ago45:35

45:35

First published in 2011, Simon Sebag Montefiore's book Jerusalem: The Biography charts life in the city across the course of centuries. Now he's returned with an updated version, which extends the story beyond 1967 right up to the present day. Simon speaks to Matt Elton about the importance and challenges of telling such a history, and explains how…

1
The Tyrant, the usurper and the hero | Henry IV: usurper 53:57

4m ago53:57

53:57

Henry Bolingbroke has gone down in history as the usurper that stole the English crown from the tyrant Richard II – and was later plagued by rebellion and ill health. But what else do we know about the man who later became Henry IV? In the second episode of our three-part HistoryExtra podcast series 'Tyrant, Usurper, Hero', Dan Jones speaks to Hele…

1
Satan & the sabbath: witchhunting in the Basque Country 34:15

8d ago34:15

34:15

Satanic sabbaths, magic potions and demonic toads – in the early 17th century, the Basque Country was convulsed by strange accusations of supernatural activities. A new book by Jan Machielsen explores why fears of witchcraft gained such traction in this isolated region on the French-Spanish border. He tells Ellie Cawthorne more about how overexcite…

1
Florence Nightingale: life of the week 41:24

1d ago41:24

41:24

From her groundbreaking work in nursing and public health reform to her battles against societal expectations and love of animals, Melissa Pritchard explores the life and legacy of English nurse and statistician Florence Nightingale. (Ad) Melissa Pritchard is the author of Flight of the Wild Swan (Bellevue, 2024). Buy it now from Amazon: https://ww…

1
A Battle for Transplant Surgery Rights with Kathleen Haynie 21:45

2d ago21:45

21:45

What drives a sister to change the law after her brother with Down Syndrome was denied a life-saving kidney transplant? As the Executive Director of Senior Life Midland and a lifelong disability advocate, Kathleen Kirwan Haynie reveals how her fight for justice transformed Texas medical rights and sparked a national movement. Through determination …

1
Introducing History's Greatest Conspiracy Theories 1:00

2d ago1:00

1:00

Was the moon landing faked? Did Shakespeare actually pen the works he’s credited with? And were the pyramids really built by aliens? In History's Greatest Conspiracy Theories, the new podcast from HistoryExtra, Rob Attar takes a deep dive into the some of history’s most compelling conspiracy theories in the company of expert historians to uncover i…

1
Part Two: CIA Whistleblower Reveals The Foreign Attack On Our Elections 58:47

7d ago58:47

58:47

Retired CIA Operative and government whistleblower Gary Berntsen continues to share insights and details from the results of a four-year investigation into election tampering. His team’s conclusion: Enemies of the United States including Venezuela, Cuba, China and Serbia have been determining the results of elections in the U.S. since 2006 through …

1
Cocaine: a Victorian sensation 37:37

2d ago37:37

37:37

In a much-publicised race in the 1870s, the most celebrated athlete of his day, the long-distance pedestrian Edward P Weston, admitted that he had chewed coca leaves, sparking a frenzy of interest in the substance and its derivative, cocaine. For the next few decades, cocaine became a household ingredient in many products, and was perfectly legal. …

1
Medieval science: everything you wanted to know 56:37

3d ago56:37

56:37

Was the medieval Church really anti-science? Why did one monk hurl himself from an the roof of his abbey tower in the name of experimentation? And what were the high-tech gadgets of the Middle Ages? Speaking to Emily Briffett, Seb Falk answers your questions on the often misunderstood realm of medieval science, highlighting the significant contribu…

1
Halloween traditions: everything you wanted to know 32:06

4d ago32:06

32:06

How did a Catholic religious celebration transform into a spooky, supernatural festivity? Why were turnips and swedes replaced by pumpkins? And what happened on ‘mischief night’? Speaking with Ellie Cawthorne for this episode originally aired in 2022, Professor Owen Davies uncovers the historical origins of popular traditions surrounding 31 October…

1
Medieval women: friendship, wanderlust and the medieval hustle 46:00

5d ago46:00

46:00

Marie de France, Julian of Norwich, Christine de Pizan and Margery Kempe: what can these four extraordinary female writers reveal about the everyday lives of ordinary women in the Middle Ages? Well, rather a lot, according to historian Hetta Howes. Looking closely at these authors' works, she captures glimpses into medieval lives that have otherwis…

1
The Tyrant, the usurper and the hero | Richard II: tyrant 51:56

8d ago51:56

51:56

Richard II lacked all the qualities a medieval monarch needed, bar one: birthright. Born believing he was God's representative on Earth, the narcissistic tyrant seems to have done everything wrong. But did Richard just not understand what it meant to be king? In the first episode of this three-part HistoryExtra podcast series 'Tyrant, Usurper, Hero…

1
Chris Packham & Peter Frankopan: can history help tackle the climate crisis? 46:17

8d ago46:17

46:17

Climate change is an issue that animates politicians, scientists and activists around the world – but could looking to history help shape our approach to the climate crisis today? And what role do historians have to play in facing the issue? In this conversation with Matt Elton, best-selling author and historian Peter Frankopan and broadcaster and …

1
5 Ways to Not Lose Your Friends This Election Season 28:25

10d ago28:25

28:25

It's Season 4 of Go M.A.D. (Make A Difference)! Doug and Brad kick off with a timely Thanksgiving topic: politics. Instead of endorsing candidates, the bros explore how to be Christ's ambassadors during this volatile period. They emphasize that it's not just what we do, but how we do it that matters. Plus, find out if the rumors about Doug being es…

1
History Behind the Headlines: political memoirs, fuel and access to nature 46:11

8d ago46:11

46:11

In the latest episode of our monthly series charting the past behind the present, Hannah Skoda and Rana Mitter explore the history of political memoirs, Britain's changing energy supplies across the centuries, and conflicts over access to the countryside. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about…

1
Evolution of the Newsroom and Broadcasting With Jay Hendricks 25:38

13d ago25:38

25:38

Step into the world of broadcast journalism with veteran news anchor Jay Hendricks as he takes us on a captivating journey through the evolution of media. From manually typed scripts and film cameras to digital newsrooms and social media alerts, Hendricks offers a rare glimpse behind the scenes of a rapidly changing industry. Discover how a small-t…

1
Breaking Story: CIA Whistleblower Reveals The Foreign Attack On Our Elections 1:25:26

14d ago1:25:26

1:25:26

Retired CIA Operative and government whistleblower Gary Berntsen reveals the results of a four-year investigation into election tampering. His team’s conclusion: Enemies of the United States including Venezuela, Cuba, China and Serbia have been determining the results of elections in the U.S. since 2006 through the use of electronic systems that th…

1
Tudor spymaster: the secret machinations of Robert Cecil 45:45

9d ago45:45

45:45

Late Tudor England was a dangerous place, with plots both at home and abroad, and no certainty about who was going to succeed the ageing queen, Elizabeth I. Into this perilous world stepped Robert Cecil, a brilliant but unglamorous statesman and spymaster who played a pivotal role in keeping the country together and ensuring a smooth transition to …

1
The Korean War: everything you wanted to know 39:47

10d ago39:47

39:47

On today's Everything You Wanted to Know episode, we're covering the Korean War, exploring how the nation came to be divided in two, what the impact of fighting was on the peninsular's civilian population, and how close the clash came to going nuclear. In conversation with Spencer Mizen, Owen Miller of the Centre of Korean Studies at SOAS answers y…

1
Roman slavery: a brutal life in the ancient empire 30:12

12d ago30:12

30:12

How many slaves were there in the Roman empire? Were they cruelly treated, or could they sometimes go on to win fame, fortune and freedom? And how often did they – like Spartacus –rebel? Here, in conversation with Spencer Mizen, Guy de la Bédoyère explores the remarkable, and often brutal, history of slavery in the ancient world's most powerful emp…

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