Best Conan Elphicke and Chris McCombe Podcasts (2024)

1
Best of the History Blokes – Part 2 1:05:39

3M ago1:05:39

1:05:39

This is the second and final highlights episode and therefore the absolute final, final ep of the History Blokes. So, that's it from us. Thanks to all of you for listening!By Conan Elphicke and Chris McCombe

1
Best of the History Blokes – Part 1 1:10:25

3M ago1:10:25

1:10:25

This bumper edition of The History Blokes includes highlights from the series.By Conan Elphicke and Chris McCombe

1
Smallpox epidemic of 1789 36:59

4M ago36:59

36:59

In this, the final original episode of The History Blokes, Conan looks at the smallpox epidemic that devastated Sydney's Aboriginal population a year after the First Fleet arrived. Meanwhile, Chris walks us through the Black Death and the Spanish Flu. Stay tuned though for two best-of compilation eps coming soon!…

1
Creation of Australian citizenship and the national flag 42:30

5M ago42:30

42:30

In this, the penultimate episode of The History Blokes, Conan looks at Australian citizenship, which didn't exist until the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948. He also examines the emergence of the Australian flag, which was designed in 1901 but didn't become the official national flag for another 50 years. There's a strong Kiwi flavour to this e…

1
Miles Franklin 37:55

6M ago37:55

37:55

Happy new year, everyone! In this ep, Conan warbles about author Miles Franklin who so beautifully captured both the spirit of rural Australia at the time of Federation and the frustrations of so many young women who yearned to escape the ties that bound. In the intermission, Chris looks at the Ern Malley affair, which has been described as the 20t…

1
Charles Kingsford Smith 43:48

6M ago43:48

43:48

In this episode, Chris and Conan deploy a grovelling apology for the long delay since they last laid an ep. More importantly, Conan talks about aviation pioneer Charles Kingsford Smith and the trans-Pacific flight that made his name, while Chris looks at a bizarre episode in Australian aviation history that took place over Bass Strait during the 19…

1
Harold Florey and the discovery of penicillin 44:34

10M ago44:34

44:34

Penicillin was the wonder drug that changed the world. It was the first antibiotic and proved an effective treatment against many diseases that are today considered relatively minor, but were more often than not deadly prior to its use. Discovered in 1928 by Alexander Fleming, the drug was made medically useful in the 1940s by a team of Oxford scie…

1
David Unaipon – inventor, author, orator, activist 40:32

11M ago40:32

40:32

We might recognise him from the $50 note but how much do most of us really know about David Unaipon? Born in 1872, this brilliant First Nations man was born on a church mission near Adelaide. During his remarkably long life (he died aged 94) Unaipon patented many inventions, wrote several books about Aboriginal culture and myth, preached Christiani…

1
The Wreck of the Batavia 49:10

1y ago49:10

49:10

In 1629, the Dutch ship Batavia wrecked 60 kilometres off the Western Australian coast. Of the 330 souls on board, about 100 drowned immediately. As the stricken ship slowly foundered, the survivors found refuge on nearby islands. Little did they know that one of the most horrific events in Australian history was about to unfold.…

1
A history of Anzac Day 38:34

1y ago38:34

38:34

In this slightly late ep, Conan looks at the history of Anzac Day from its inception in 1915 (yes, 1915 not 1916!) to the present, while Chris discusses the Anzacs' superbly executed withdrawal from Gallipoli in December 1915.By Conan Elphicke and Chris McCombe

1
'Black box' flight recorder 34:38

1y ago34:38

34:38

Most people don't know that the black box flight recorder was invented by an Australian, namely Dr David Warren AO. And that its invention dates back to the 1950s. Listen with rapt attention as Conan and Chris delve into why, how and what obstacles David faced.By Conan Elphicke and Chris McCombe

1
Sir Douglas Mawson – Australia’s greatest Antarctic explorer 30:42

1y ago30:42

30:42

In this episode, Conan rambles delightfully about Douglas Mawson whose expeditions helped stake for Australia 42 per cent of Antarctica. He is also famous for one of the most extraordinary feats of endurance in the history of Antarctic exploration. Chris meanwhile delivers some cool facts about the coldest continent.…

1
Edith Cowan – Australia’s first female parliamentarian 35:16

1+ y ago35:16

35:16

Edith Cowan won a seat in the Western Australian parliament 102 years ago today. It made her the first female Australian parliamentarian and only the second in the British empire. But Cowan was more than a milestone; she was a remarkable individual who devoted her entire adult life to helping the disadvantaged. We also take a brief look at the Grea…

1
Matthew Flinders – explorer, cartographer, cat-lover 39:31

1+ y ago39:31

39:31

In what critics are already calling the Matthew Flinders episode, The History Blokes look at this somewhat overlooked European explorer. Flinders, like Cook, contributed to the colonisation of Australia, but his feats looked at in isolation reveal a brave and determined man beset by frequent misfortune. Flinders, his crew and a Guringai man called …

1
Decimalisation – Australia gets a new currency 39:28

1+ y ago39:28

39:28

This Valentine’s Day, if you’re thinking of romance and candlelit dinners, you’re wasting precious mental energy. Turn your mind instead to the fact that it is the 57th anniversary of decimalisation – when Australia ditched pounds, shillings and pence in favour of dollars and cents. Though driven by economic imperatives, decimalisation was of great…

1
Australia Day / Invasion Day 38:20

1+ y ago38:20

38:20

In this episode, Chris and Conan (or Chronan, as they are coming to be known among their gazillion devotees) delve into the thorny issue of Australia Day / Invasion Day. Conan reveals the long and chequered history of 26 January and its various iterations. How the states struggled to agree on a date for a national day, and even a name for it. The B…

1
Polio in Australia 37:45

1+ y ago37:45

37:45

In this episode, Conan and Chris look at the polio epidemics that hit Australia in the mid 20th century, the controversial Australian nurse who defied medical authorities to improve treatment, the two American scientists who finally came up with vaccines, and how Australia contributed to the near elimination of polio around the world. You’ll also: …

1
Ronald Ryan – the last person to be hanged in Australia 33:10

1+ y ago33:10

33:10

In this, the first episode of The History Blokes, Conan Elphicke and Chris McCombe examine the story of Ronald Ryan - the last person to be executed in Australia. Chris constantly gawps in wonder as Conan lays on this remarkable account of one Victorian Premier's determination to see Ryan swing, despite huge public opposition. And just when things …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Conan Elphicke And Chris McCombe Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
The History Blokes

Conan Elphicke and Chris McCombe

1
Best of the History Blokes – Part 2 1:05:39

1
Best of the History Blokes – Part 1 1:10:25

1
Smallpox epidemic of 1789 36:59

1
Creation of Australian citizenship and the national flag 42:30

1
Miles Franklin 37:55

1
Charles Kingsford Smith 43:48

1
Harold Florey and the discovery of penicillin 44:34

1
David Unaipon – inventor, author, orator, activist 40:32

1
The Wreck of the Batavia 49:10

1
A history of Anzac Day 38:34

1
'Black box' flight recorder 34:38

1
Sir Douglas Mawson – Australia’s greatest Antarctic explorer 30:42

1
Edith Cowan – Australia’s first female parliamentarian 35:16

1
Matthew Flinders – explorer, cartographer, cat-lover 39:31

1
Decimalisation – Australia gets a new currency 39:28

1
Australia Day / Invasion Day 38:20

1
Polio in Australia 37:45

1
Ronald Ryan – the last person to be hanged in Australia 33:10

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