Hidden History Happy Hour with Alex & Bryan

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History runneth over with obscure tales of heroics and villainy, gruesome battles, hilarious happenings and downright bizarre coincidences. Hosts and longtime pals Alex Deane and Bryan Cunningham will be your guides through this hidden history. Based on D

Alex & Bryan


    • May 19, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 37m AVG DURATION
    • 76 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Hidden History Happy Hour with Alex & Bryan podcast is an absolute gem in the world of podcasts. From the moment you press play, you'll find yourself completely hooked on this show's unique blend of interesting discussions, great chemistry between the hosts, and a healthy dose of humor. It's not often that a podcast manages to be both educational and thoroughly enjoyable, but this one pulls it off effortlessly.

    One of the best aspects of The Hidden History Happy Hour is its ability to keep listeners engaged and entertained throughout each episode. The hosts, Alex and Bryan, have a natural charisma that shines through in their banter and conversations. They have a knack for finding fascinating historical events that are often overlooked or forgotten, and they bring them to life with their passionate storytelling. You'll be captivated by their enthusiasm as they dive deep into these hidden histories, always learning something new along the way.

    But what truly sets this podcast apart is its attention to detail when it comes to creating an immersive listening experience. Each episode is meticulously researched, ensuring that you're getting accurate information while still being entertained. And let's not forget about the drinks! In true happy hour fashion, Alex and Bryan pair historically relevant cocktails with each anecdote they share. It adds an extra layer of authenticity to the show and really helps transport you back in time.

    While it may be difficult to find any major flaws with The Hidden History Happy Hour podcast, some listeners might argue that the sheer amount of information presented can be overwhelming at times. There is so much knowledge shared in each episode that it can be hard to retain everything. However, this is a minor issue considering how well-crafted and engaging each episode is.

    In conclusion, if you're looking for a podcast that combines history with humor, The Hidden History Happy Hour with Alex & Bryan is a must-listen. You'll laugh, learn something new with every episode, and come away feeling smarter for having listened. The chemistry between the hosts is palpable, and their dedication to providing quality content shines through in every minute of this show. So grab a drink, sit back, and prepare to be entertained by the fascinating hidden histories brought to life by Alex and Bryan. Cheers!



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    Latest episodes from Hidden History Happy Hour with Alex & Bryan

    Enormous Stones: Part Deux

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2025 27:19


    The boys return to a favourite theme: Gallantry at Sea, with midget submarines and the heroic last rides of a retired dairy farmer. Thanks to our sponsor The Wolf Project ...

    Enormous Stones! The West's Greatest Spy Against Russia

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2025 24:32


    We're BACK With the West's Greatest Spy Against Russia. RIP Oleg Gordievsky. Alex & Bryan tell us about when baby poo saved the world, when rudeness is required, and how ...

    Royal Pains

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2024 24:42


    Alex and Bryan are back with two tremendous takes from royal history. A Crowning achievement. Sources: Lessons From History: Hidden heroes and villains of the past, and what we can ...

    Naval Derring Do Part Deux

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2024 52:58


    The guys return with two crackin' (or is that Kraken?) tales of bravery and heroism at sea, this time from the War of 1812 and World War 1. Sources: Lessons ...

    H4: The Musical

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2024 31:38


    H4 The Musical: The guys find the lost Brandenburg Concertos and hear true modern musical tails from record producer and conservationist Scott Bledsoe. Sources: Lessons From History: Hidden heroes and ...

    33 Months in a North Korean Prison Camp

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2024 38:02


    Alex & Bryan bring tales of gallantry and privation in a North Korean prison camp and of “Marie Claire,” heroic WW2 spy who helped 100 downed British airmen escape home ...

    Castle Itter: The Weirdest Battle in History

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2024 40:09


    Castles and Nazis and Grand Slams, Oh My! The guys tell the story of the last castle and strangest battle of WW2. Prepare to suspend disbelief. Sources: Lessons From History: ...

    Walter Bromley-Davenport: The Loudest MP in History

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2024 32:41


    Bryan and newly-minted House of Commons Candidate Alex Deane tell two (of course) legislative stories. Hear of a “codger” MP who literally kicked the wrong bum and a short-lived Australian ...

    The Great Stork Derby

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2024 36:15


    This one's for Canada. And one for the Royal Navy. The boys celebrate the new addition to the H4 family with the story of the Great Canadian Stork Derby and ...

    Italy 1944 – The Underbelly of the Axis

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2024 8:00


    In this special edition mini episode, Alex takes us back to 1944 Italy, a post-Mussolini state which had become a battleground between Allied forces and Hitler's Wehrmacht. Sources: Lessons From ...

    The Prince & Saddam

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2024 30:53


    It's a gruesome quickie (Yikes!) as the guys talk a dictator's exploding fish and a conqueror's exploding….well….just tune in. And join Bryan here on groundhog day: https://x.com/denvercunning/status/1748788411341984019?s=20 Sources: Lessons From ...

    The 99 Call – How the British Lions Bit Back

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2024 65:13


    NINE NINE! If you ever find yourself in a pub with British rugby players and hear this screamed – run for your life. Join Alex and Bryan for another week ...

    Col. John Spencer – on Ukraine, Urban Warfare and James Bond

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2023 36:43


    Bryan releases the bees on world renowned urban warfare expert Col. John Spencer (ret.). John tells a brand new and (almost) unbelievable story of the Battle of Mariupol, Ukraine and ...

    Eugene Lazowski – How One Doctor Saved 8,000 Jews from the Nazis

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2023 56:31


    Just when we need them most: Two Holocaust Heroes. And some much-needed truth from Alex and Bryan. Sources: Lessons From History: Hidden heroes and villains of the past, and what ...

    Guides of Bala Hissar: Queen Victoria’s Frontier Force In The Second Afghan War

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2023 11:24


    Alex tells the story of the Siege of Bala Hissar, and the fort's defenders – who were faithful even unto death. Sources: Lessons From History: Hidden heroes and villains of ...

    Eunice Carter: The Woman Who Brought Down Lucky Luciano

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2023 51:32


    Fan favorite guest Willard Foxton rejoins the guys for the second episode of Season Two of the Hidden History Happy Hour for an inspirational and rollicking tale of the first ...

    Ron Hockey: The Unsung War Hero

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2023 21:55


    The Hidden History Happy Hour launches Season Two with the heroic tale of RAF Pilot Ron Hockey and the guys discuss the legal, moral, and ethical issues around the agonizing ...

    No Wings But Maybe Extraterrestrial Body Parts

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2023 21:18


    Alex recounts the harrowing heroism of the US Marine Pilot who rode the thunder and the boys return to one of their favorite subjects: UFOs. Testimony in US Congress: US ...

    Release the Bees!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2023 24:54


    A Must WATCH. Listening alone will not give the full experience for this one. How I learned to stop worrying and love the honey. The boys cover the weapons spectrum ...

    The Patron Saint of Booze

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2023 14:22


    A new Alex yarn you CANNOT FIND ANYWHERE BUT HERE (including Twitter (X)) and the guys wax not-so-eloquent about the pros and cons of temperance. Sources: Lessons From History: Hidden ...

    Dive! Dive! Dive! And an Old Bet Settled (Spoiler: B was right)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2023 94:18


    Alex and Bryan hear an (almost) unbelievable tale of derring-do under the Arctic Ice from Alex's friend – and former British Navy Submarine Officer Andrew Storey, who also settles a ...

    H4 Goes to Hollywood – Live

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2023 37:19


    In the last of four live episodes recorded in the Summer of 2022 at NYC's fabulous Von Bar, the guys chat up the team from the award-winning new film Ramona at ...

    Two Lessons From France that Russia and Ukraine Should Hear

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2023 31:47


    Alex tells “The Day of the Tiles” from his first book and his latest story about Napoleon and the Prussians. The guys give their take on mutiny in Russia and ...

    What If?: The Accidental Shot that Might Have Prevented World War One

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2023 41:24


    The guys tell Alex's newest story, about Archduke Ferdinand, Lady Victoria, and an anonymous gun loader who might have prevented World War One. And the OG of the OG (Alex's ...

    We Love Ike – and the New Play About Him You MUST See

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2023 58:40


    In a show of bipartisanship and historical appreciation, Alex & Bryan interview the playwright, producer/director, and star of Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground. Also, Bryan overindulges in Ike's favorite scotch ...

    Making History: The Upcoming Feature Film About the 1970 Kent State University Shootings with Filmmaker Karen Slade

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2023 69:22


    Karen Slade rockets to the top echelon of our favorite guests as she joins Alex & Bryan for an extended discussion of the 1970 Kent State shootings, the 60s, moral ...

    Our Fiftieth Anniversary Extravaganza!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2023 47:06


    Alex and Bryan celebrate the 50th Episode of the Hidden History Happy Hour with behind-the-scenes discussion of your favorite episodes and, as you requested, tell a true crime story. Sources: Lessons ...

    Heroic Ukrainian Resistance and Russian Nuclear Threat Updates, Alex's Grandfather and Other War Heroes

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2023 53:10


    Alex is Back for a very special episode where the guys talk about Alex's Grandfather's WW2 heroics, along with leadership tales of Eisenhower and General Jim “Chaos” Mattis. Check out ...

    Ancient Aliens – What Me Worry?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2023 44:05


    With Alex on assignment, Bryan and Ancient Aliens Physicist Michael Dennin discuss all manner of…well, you'll just have to watch. #ancientaliens #ufo #history Sources: Lessons From History: Hidden heroes and ...

    Cheer(io)s LIVE From London, with UFOs, Spacemen, Heroic Girls & Spy Balloons

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2023 31:54


    A good time was had by all as Alex, Bryan & H4Fans record a LIVE episode in the wonderful High Timber restaurant in London. Learn of the amazing adventure of ...

    The Ancestors Sing with Terry Franklin and Jeffrey Moline And that Spy Balloon

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2023 38:33


    A multimedia extravaganza this week as fan favorite (and our first-ever guest) perform their new spoken-word/musical version of Lucy Sutton's story. And hear Bryan's take, as a former CIA officer, ...

    The SECOND Unluckiest Ship in WW2

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2023 16:08


    With gratitude for Germany in joining the US and UK in support of Ukraine with tanks, we even the score from last week with a US Navy ship that almost ...

    Don't Punch Yourself in the Face…and other Lessons From History

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2023 26:19


    Alex & Bryan, continuing the return to their boozy roots, tell two stories from the “phony war” before World War II, including a remarkable feat of destruction from air to ...

    Back to the Booze

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2023 35:26


    In honor of today's terrific tale of Ernest Hemingway's lesser-known brother from More Lessons of History, the guys debunk a Hemingway drinking myth and introduce fans to a Hemingway-favorite cocktail ...

    Ronald Reagan & Bill Clinton in Retrospect

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2023 14:34


    Bryan and guest co-host Nir Yarden tell Alex's Ronald Reagan story and talk leadership and decisiveness – and have a guffaw or two (laughing with Alex not at him). Sources: ...

    High Score

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2022 7:12


    Maurice Flitcroft enters the 1976 golf Open, and posts a score that will never be beaten. Sources: Lessons From History: Hidden heroes and villains of the past, and what we ...

    Ghosts of the Holy Land

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2022 34:49


    Bryan and special guest host Nir Yarden discuss Bryan's recent trip to the Middle East, including a new, true tale of “The Ghosts of Amona” and debate Middle East peace, ...

    English Legionnaire

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2022 8:35


    Alex tells the story of Simon Murray, the Englishman who ran away to join the French Foreign Legion when he didn't get the girl – and was part of the ...

    Hidden HistorTHREE: 3 Great Stories for the Price of Two

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2022 27:20


    For their second holiday, hidden history happy hour, Alex and Bryan, tell of a rollicking, rugby reunion, George Washington's horses, and…finally – pirates! Sources: Lessons From History: Hidden heroes and ...

    Our Saddest Story…and Fútbol

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2022 19:42


    Alex returns to the chair and tells the saddest story across all of his work, but it does have a hero. And a zany, remarkable but true Fútbol story to ...

    “Die Hard(s)”: It's Not Just for Christmas Anymore

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2022 38:37


    As we anxiously await Alex Deane's Return to the Hidden History Happy Hour, fan favorite Myke Cole returns to provide an actual historian's assessment of Alex's Lessons From History Chapter ...

    Hark! The Three Harolds: The First Battle of Stamford Bridge – With Myke Cole

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2022 55:52


    Bryan and Special Guest Co-Host Myke Cole discuss the decisive pre-Battle of Hastings. And an update on Bryan's Not-Yet-Read Book Club October 2022 selection. Back to the show's roots, Bryan's ...

    Tales from Down Under

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2022 8:17


    Alex tells the story of the Duumvirate, Gough Whitlam's groundbreaking Labor government of 1972 – and then tells some rude jokes. Sources: Lessons From History: Hidden heroes and villains of ...

    Risking Armageddon in Ukraine, ½ a Dead Sheep, Alex & Bryan's Acting Debut, and Bryan's New Book Club

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2022 63:50


    Two new H4 features in a long – but well-worth-it – episode as the guys provide a sober(ish) assessment of the current nuclear war risks in Ukraine. Lightening up the ...

    The Importance of Irrationality

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2022 10:59


    Two stories in this episode, in which Alex is flying solo. First, a cautionary tale from the Punic Wars about ignoring irrationality, and paying attention to chickens. Second, a pub ...

    Hypnotism, Death Rays, & Chess – Oh My!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2022 55:57


      Back on the air after taking a respectful pause for the mourning and funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Alex Deane & Bryan Cunningham discuss one of the ...

    A Tale of Two Bushes (one you'll guess, one you won't)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2022 17:48


    Alex and Bryan each have a George Bush story: first about one of the most qualified – and decent – modern US Presidents and then about an early Washington State ...

    It Could Have Happened That Way (Part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2022 27:11


    The guys launch a new H4 Feature in which they discuss known history stories but speculate on potential alternative explanations. First up: A little known “fact” about the infamous Lord ...

    Flying Saucers, Foo Fighters, and You

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2022 60:20


    In the first of many live Twitter Spaces episodes, the guys talk Bryan's personal experience with flying saucers and (the OG) Foo Fighters and, for the first time, chat live ...

    Harrowing Happenings and Heroism in the Air

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2022 27:03


    A flight crew doesn't leave their comrade (1/2 out the window of a jumbo jet in flight) behind and a heroic WW2 pilot's luck finally runs out. Great stories, but ...

    First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2022 46:06


      Our recovering lawyers discuss two historical lawyers: the only UK Prime Minister ever assassinated and the US President elected by a vote of 8-5 (no zeroes missing). Keep an ...

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