Best The Tower at the End of the World Podcasts (2024)

1
Francis Drake: life of the week 43:21

41m ago43:21

43:21

As Elizabethan England's most famous sea captain, Francis Drake saw his fair share of sea-faring adventures – from scuffles with the Spanish Armada, to circumnavigating the globe. But his story also contains darker elements – including slave-trading, looting and the execution of his right-hand man. Speaking to Ellie Cawthorne in our latest 'life of…

1
Our long obsession with the end of the world 40:26

22m ago40:26

40:26

From asteroids, bacteria and comets to growing fears about artificial intelligence and climate change, human history has long been stalked by a terror of the end of days. But what do these fears tell us about the past? And can that past help us prepare for an uncertain future? Dorian Lynskey spoke to Matt Elton about the long history of apocalyptic…

1
The Grand Tour: everything you wanted to know 43:15

19m ago43:15

43:15

In the 18th century, countless British travellers set off to continental Europe in search of art, architecture... and a good time. But what were the must-see locations on the Grand Tour? How did people overcome the challenges of language, currency and uncomfortable mules? And what were the biggest scandals that shook fashionable Europe? In this 'ev…

1
Black Death: everything you wanted to know 43:43

22m ago43:43

43:43

Earlier this week, new comedy drama The Decameron dropped on Netflix. Based on a set of 14th-century tales by Giovanni Boccaccio, it follows the raucous exploits of a group of medieval Italian nobles, after they flee to the hills to escape the Black Death. Boccaccio's text is one of the key sources we have on the plague pandemic that ravaged Europe…

1
The Decameron: sex, plague, and a medieval Love Island 45:34

11m ago45:34

45:34

What would you do if your home town was ravaged by plague? Would you lock your doors and hide? Run for the hills? Or accept that the end was nigh and party? Boccaccio's The Decameron - a medieval bestseller written during the Black Death - considers all these options. With the launch of a new Netflix series based on the pivotal work, David Musgrove…

1
Toilets through time | 1. Roman latrines 35:21

1h ago35:21

35:21

What was it like to do your business in a Roman communal toilet? In the first episode of our new mini-series, Toilets Through Time, David Musgrove begins his journey through the bathrooms of British history in the Roman era, with historian Dr Hannah Platts. They discuss dubious ancient ablutions, the confronting experience of sitting alongside your…

1
Assassinations that shaped US history 33:01

17m ago33:01

33:01

Following the attempted assassination of Donald Trump earlier in July, historian Adam Smith speak to Matt Elton about previous attempts to kill political leaders in the United States – and how these events changed the nation. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcas…

1
Is democracy doomed? History behind the headlines 41:11

2d ago41:11

41:11

In the latest episode of our monthly series exploring the past behind the present, Hannah Skoda and Rana Mitter are joined by Professor Paul Cartledge to explore the long roots of recent tensions in democracies around the world. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit pod…

1
Catherine of Braganza: the Merrie Monarch's forgotten queen 41:21

25m ago41:21

41:21

Picture Charles II's court and you'll probably imagine a riot of excess, filled with drinking, games, and of course, mistresses. The queen by Charles' side, Catherine of Braganza, is often obscured by this scandalous picture. Speaking to Elinor Evans, Sophie Shorland discusses her new biography detailing the life of the often overlooked consort – f…

1
The Spanish Inquisition: everything you wanted to know 42:27

14m ago42:27

42:27

The era of the Spanish Inquisition is most commonly remembered as a period of widespread fear and paranoia, where communities turned on each other and torture was rife. But how true is this popular perception? Speaking to Emily Briffett, Giles Tremlett answers listener questions on the Spanish Inquisition, from the real history behind the sinister …

1
Season 2 Trailer: Minds of Malice 2:19

5h ago2:19

2:19

"The Unexplained" returns with its most chilling season yet. In "Minds of Malice," we delve into the darkest corners of human psychology, exploring the notorious serial killers who have terrorized communities and baffled law enforcement. "The Unexplained: Minds of Malice" challenges listeners to confront the monsters that walk among us and the soci…

1
Episode 20: The Lighthouse at World's End 31:38

3h ago31:38

31:38

In this special season finale of "The Unexplained," we bring you the mind-bending account of Cpt. Evelyn Marsh, a former Coast Guard officer who accepted a posting at the remote Terminus Point Lighthouse. What began as a routine assignment quickly descended into a nightmare of time distortions, reality shifts, and an ancient cosmic horror that defi…

1
1217: the year that (almost) changed English history 39:47

27m ago39:47

39:47

1217 is not one of the most famous years in English history. But with a major French invasion looming and a brutal war that wracked both towns and the countryside, this was a year that could have altered the nation's history beyond recognition. So, why aren't we more familiar with the events of 1217? Emily Briffett speaks to medievalist Catherine H…

1
Deeds not words | 6. Mission accomplished? 34:21

1h ago34:21

34:21

After an escalating campaign of bombing and arson attacks, the suffragette movement was brought to a sudden halt on the outbreak of war in 1914. In the final episode of our new series Deeds not words: the story of the suffragettes, Ellie Cawthorne speaks to expert historians about why and how the campaign came to its conclusion, and whether it achi…

1
Episode 19: The Whispering Rooms of Hollow Creek Sanatorium 35:52

5h ago35:52

35:52

In this extended episode of "The Unexplained," we bring you the chilling account of Dr. Amelia Blackwood, a paranormal psychologist who accepted a position at the long-abandoned Hollow Creek Sanatorium. What began as a scientific study of residual hauntings quickly spiraled into a nightmare of shifting realities, lost time, and a malevolent force t…

1
Kindness & hostility: refugees in wartime Britain 33:32

32m ago33:32

33:32

Before and during the Second World War, Britain provided a safe haven for thousands of people fleeing Nazi persecution. But, as the author Paul Dowswell argues, this is not an entirely heroic story. In conversation with Rob Attar, Paul explains how huge numbers of Jews were denied entry to Britain and reveals how many of the refugees who were accep…

1
Catherine de' Medici: life of the week 49:32

33m ago49:32

49:32

Catherine de' Medici has gone down in history as the sinister 'serpent queen', who had a troop of female spies in her court and may have instigated the deadly St Bartholomew's Day massacre. But is this a fair judgement of the 16th-century queen and regent? In this 'Life of the week' episode, Emily Briffett speaks to historian Leah Redmond Chang to …

1
Episode 15 - Other Worlds 1:08:36

2h ago1:08:36

1:08:36

After getting the "real" Velum back, Arlette & The Doodleys continue to search for the hidden library within the strange house, uncovering strange new realms with every door they open... HEY - I (Justin) had some computer issues during the time this episode was recorded, and because of those I had some files become corrupted. So, this episode is ju…

1
Episode 18: The Forgotten Town of Echo Falls 40:33

2d ago40:33

40:33

In this extended episode of "The Unexplained," we bring you the harrowing account of David Thorne, a wildlife photographer who stumbled upon the town of Echo Falls - a place that, by all official records, doesn't exist. David's chilling tale of a town trapped in time, mysterious disappearances, and a sinister force lurking beneath the surface will …

1
The suffragettes who fell in love 32:06

3h ago32:06

32:06

Evelina Haverfield and Vera Holme, known as Jack, were in love. Not only were they in love, but they also worked together – as suffragette protestors, during prison sentences, and on the wards of military hospitals abroad. Speaking to Lauren Good, Wendy Moore explores the fascinating adventures of these two women before and during the First World W…

1
Servants: everything you wanted to know 38:04

4d ago38:04

38:04

What was it like to be a servant in one of Britain's grand stately homes? How much were domestic staff paid? And what made maids revolt against wearing mopcaps? From daily drudgery to stories of scandal, in our latest Everything you wanted to know episode, historian Lucy Lethbridge speaks to Lauren Good about the reality of domestic service in the …

1
Episode 17: The Whispering Walls of Willow Creek Asylum 12:47

4d ago12:47

12:47

In this haunting episode of "The Unexplained," we hear the first-hand account of Dr. Emily Hartley, a psychiatrist who took a job at the abandoned Willow Creek Asylum, only to discover that some patients never truly leave. Her chilling tale of disembodied whispers, inexplicable medical phenomena, and a dark history that refuses to stay buried will …

1
Anxieties of the Edwardian age 38:03

12d ago38:03

38:03

The Edwardian era is sometimes regarded as an uneventful stopgap between the cultural and technological innovations of the Victorian period and the seismic shifts brought about by the First World War. But is this a fair assessment? Alwyn Turner talks to Jon Bauckham about what life was really like during the reign of Edward VII, and how anxieties a…

1
Episode 16: The Forgotten Floors of Meridian Tower 19:16

6d ago19:16

19:16

In this chilling episode of "The Unexplained," we investigate the mysterious Meridian Tower, where an impossible discovery has turned the world of architecture and physics upside down. Join us as we delve into the story of a skyscraper that seems to defy the laws of reality, featuring interviews with bewildered engineers, terrified security guards,…

1
Deeds not words | 5. Burning down the house 42:19

3d ago42:19

42:19

Smashing windows, burning down politicians’ homes and planting bombs in public places. As the suffragette movement progressed, it turned to increasingly extreme methods to further its cause. In episode five of our new series on the suffragettes, Ellie Cawthorne speaks to expert historians to reveal how the campaign became ever more militant and ask…

1
How the Plantagenets forged the English state 48:38

4d ago48:38

48:38

Between 1199 and 1399, English politics was packed full of high drama, as the Plantagenet monarchs reacted - and adapted - to plague, warfare, uprisings and economic crises. But, according to medieval historians Caroline Burt and Richard Partington in their new book //Arise, England//, the Plantagenet age is also one that shines a light on England'…

1
Episode 15: The Midnight Caller of Ravenwood Lane 14:20

8d ago14:20

14:20

In this bone-chilling episode of "The Unexplained," we investigate the terrifying phenomenon plaguing Ravenwood Lane. For months, residents have reported mysterious phone calls at exactly midnight, each call ending with inexplicable consequences. Join us as we unravel this modern ghost story, featuring exclusive interviews with the affected familie…

1
Justinian: life of the week 57:38

8d ago57:38

57:38

Justinian stands tall among the Byzantine rulers, as the 'sleepless emperor' whose religious fervour and legislative zeal saw him rebuild the eastern Roman empire from the ground up... until the 'four horsemen of the apocalypse' arrived and threatened it all. Peter Sarris talks to Kev Lochun about how the conniving and ruthless Justinian claimed po…

1
Episode 14 - Dimensional Doors 43:16

5d ago43:16

43:16

Velum occupies a body that isn't quite his own as he flees from a gallows within the town square of Arbourstone. Arlette and Wyatt are surprised to see two Velums return through the door... and the exploration of this strange house continues. Welcome to our Dungeons & Dragons homebrew campaign 'Silvistead'! A dark, dire odyssey through the wilds. N…

1
The woman who saved the children 37:05

22d ago37:05

37:05

Eglantyne Jebb was a woman who had no real love of children – but nevertheless worked tirelessly to campaign for their rights. Clare Mulley joins us to discuss the life and work of a pioneering fundraiser and the founder of the international Save the Children fund, whose unconventional personal life defied the strictures of her class. (Ad) Clare Mu…

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The Tower At The End Of The World Podcasts

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