Best Frank Beard Podcasts (2024)

1
Hidden labs, sex gardens & torture attics: secrets of British royal palaces 45:00

14m ago45:00

45:00

If walls could talk, what secrets would those of a British royal palace whisper? Murder, debauchery, treason and more, says Professor Kate Williams. Speaking to Kev Lochun, she reveals how palaces make royal robots of their incumbents, why monarchs always know where they are going to die, and what the future holds for these beloved buildings as the…

1
Toilets through time | 3. Tudor garderobes 35:23

1h ago35:23

35:23

Did constipation turn Henry VIII into a tyrant? For the third episode of our mini-series Toilets Through Time, David Musgrove revisits the luxurious surroundings of the royal Tudor water closet. To tell him more about unappealing 16th-century alternatives to loo roll, 'grooms of the stool' and Henry VIII’s gut health, David is joined by author and …

1
Gulbadan Begum: princess, explorer, author 29:41

1h ago29:41

29:41

Gulbadan Begum was meant to live a quiet life in a Mughal harem. Instead she set off on a daring pilgrimage to Islam's holy cities and, on her return, wrote an extraordinary account of her dynasty. In conversation with Spencer Mizen, Ruby Lal explores the life of a princess who transformed perceptions of what women could achieve in the 16th century…

1
Anne Frank: life of the week 33:36

14m ago33:36

33:36

Anne Frank was one of six million Jews to be murdered by the Nazis. A number of these victims' lives were lost to history. But Anne had left behind a diary – a diary that would become a global sensation. Here, in conversation with Spencer Mizen, Clare Mulley shares the teenager's remarkable and tragic story, from her impressions of wartime Amsterda…

1
Stealing the Mona Lisa 33:12

2d ago33:12

33:12

In August 1911, an Italian handyman walked out of Paris' Louvre museum with the Mona Lisa tucked under his arm. It was an audacious theft that shocked the art world, aroused the attention of the world's greatest detectives and even saw Picasso eyed with suspicion. Speaking to Charlotte Hodgman, Dr Noah Charney separates fact from fiction in the sto…

1
The Great Exhibition: everything you wanted to know 41:01

22m ago41:01

41:01

In 1851, a spectacular showcase of the world's best art, design and innovation opened in London. Housed in a magnificent 'Crystal Palace' constructed by Joseph Paxton in just five months, the Great Exhibition wowed its six million visitors - and its legacy still lives on in London's museum district today. Speaking to Ellie Cawthorne, Caroline McCaf…

1
Dismemberment & disgrace: the grisly fate of Simon de Montfort 47:15

3m ago47:15

47:15

Simon de Montfort's body was horribly mutilated and dismembered after his defeat at 1265's fateful Battle of Evesham, during the Second Barons' War. The medieval rebel leader's head and testicles were sent to the wife of one of his killers, while his butchered hands and feet were spread far and wide across Britain. Historian Sophie Thérèse Ambler e…

1
Toilets through time | 2. Medieval privies 37:35

9m ago37:35

37:35

Why were medieval monks so afraid of going to the loo? In the second episode of our mini-series Toilets Through Time, David Musgrove heads into the dark and dangerous world of medieval latrines on a quest to find out. Helping him navigate the risks of fire, filth and eternal damnation that came with paying a visit in the Middle Ages is author, arch…

1
Has imperial history become too politicised? 42:13

43m ago42:13

42:13

Controversies surrounding the history of the British empire have become particularly intense in recent years, with academics, politicians and commentators all offering differing views about how we should understand the nation's imperial past. A new book, The Truth about Empire, delves into the debate, with the stated aim of foregrounding the view o…

1
Francis Drake: life of the week 43:21

2h 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

33m 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

14m 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

15m 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

9d 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

17d 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

43m 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
1217: the year that (almost) changed English history 39:47

3h 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
Episode 945: Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard 20:12

8d ago20:12

20:12

Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard is back on MTM, discussing plenty of analytics and ideas from his philosophies as well as his strategies and ideas. He discusses similarities and differences between the SEC and Big 12 with his approach through the SEC basketball courts in his first season. He notes offense and defense from his points of view which m…

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

22d 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 944: Wofford head Coach Dwight Perry 19:27

2d ago19:27

19:27

Coach Dwight Perry checks in for his initial appearance on “Marching to Madness.” He played for three seasons at Kentucky while also working as an assistant to Shaka Smart at VCU, Johnny Dawkins at Stanford, and Niko Medved and Bob Richey at Furman. He has helped to orchestrate five winning seasons at Wofford as he was Mike Young’s assistant for tw…

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…

151
Catherine de' Medici: life of the week 49:32

15d 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 …

51
Episode 943: Chipola College head coach Donnie Tyndall 14:33

3d ago14:33

14:33

Chipola Head Coach Donnie Tyndall has one of the best junior college teams and groups of players every season inside the game. He has placed 28 of his players at the D-1 level in four years. Homes for these kids have included Kansas State, Syracuse, and Florida State, among others. He has led the Indians to the Final Four twice in his four seasons …

1
The suffragettes who fell in love 32:06

44m 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…

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