History Half-Hour with Ryan & Jamie

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Join Jamie and Ryan as they discuss topics throughout the history of the world, and sometimes Mars. If you learn something, that's great, If you don't...well...we tried.

Ryan May-Miller


    • Jul 2, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 34m AVG DURATION
    • 62 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from History Half-Hour with Ryan & Jamie

    S3E20: 'The Battle of Hastings'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2022 69:49


    In this hour-long Series Three Finale, Ryan and Jamie look into a battle that shaped English history, the Battle of Hastings in 1066. They discuss William of Normandy, the Bayeux Tapestry and reminisce about the last sixty episodes in the final History Half-Hour with Ryan & Jamie.

    english battle hastings normandy 'the battle bayeux tapestry
    S3E19: 'Blackbeard'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2022 38:10


    This week, Ryan and Jamie discover the history of infamous pirate Blackbeard. They discuss Queen Anne, The Royal Navy and 'Jaws'.

    S3E18: 'The Theft of the Mona Lisa'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2022 34:03


    This week, Ryan and Jamie examine the 1911 theft of Leonardo Da Vinci's 'Mona Lisa'. They discuss Vincenzo Peruggia, Napoleon and spanners.

    S3E17: 'Watergate'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2022 33:07


    This week, Ryan and Jamie discuss the major political scandal that caused Nixon to resign in 1974, Watergate. They look into The Washington Post, The FBI and Forrest Gump.

    S3E16: 'The History of the Sex Pistols'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2022 40:10


    This week, Ryan and Jamie look into the British Punk Revolution and the rise of the band the Sex Pistols. They discuss 'God Save The Queen', Vivienne Westwood and hiccups.

    S3E15: 'The Making of Back To The Future'

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2022 35:23


    This week, Ryan teaches Jamie about the complex making of the 1985 iconic film 'Back To The Future'. They discuss Michael J. Fox, Ronald Reagan and Spacemen from Pluto.

    S3E14: 'The Malayan Emergency'

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2022 30:16


    This week, Ryan and Jamie look into the Malayan Emergency that began in 1948. They discuss the Chinese Civil War, The Malayan Union and Chile.

    S3E13: 'Cold War- SALT II'

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2022 32:40


    This week, Ryan and Jamie continue their discussions on Detente by talking about the second round of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks. They discuss Gerald Ford, Vladivostok and peanut farming.

    S3E12: 'Cold War- SALT I'

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2022 36:12


    This week, Ryan and Jamie look into the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks in May of 1972. They discuss Nixon, Multiple Independently-targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs) and Pet Rocks.

    S3E11: 'The History of Socks'

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2022 31:41


    Jamie and Ryan look into the history of socks in this week's episode. They discuss Latin, Fort Payne and Rowan Atkinson.

    S3E10: 'Suffragettes'

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2022 32:50


    Molly Montague joins Ryan as guest host this week to talk about the women's suffrage movement in Britain. They discuss Emmeline Pankhurst, Emily Davison and Mini Golf.

    S3E9: 'Robert Dudley'

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2022 38:53


    This week, Ryan and Jamie look into the life of Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester. They discuss Elizabeth I, Kenilworth Castle and Meal-deal pasta pots.

    S3E8: 'The History of Podcasts'

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2022 39:03


    Ryan and Jamie perform another look into the history of certain everyday things, this time it's the podcast. On this podcast history history-podcast, they discuss iPod, Radio and Doritos.

    S3E7: 'Greek Mythology'

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2022 33:44


    This week, Molly and Lizzy discuss tales from Ancient Greece, and sometimes Rome. They converse over Lysistrata, Mount Olympus and 'Cloud Cuckoo Land'.

    S3E6: 'The Tragic History of the Kennedy Family'

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2022 32:49


    Jamie and Ryan look into the history of the Kennedy Family and the tragic prevalence of premature deaths amongst its members. They discuss JFK, the Cold War and intense chair sounds.

    S3E5:'Gandhi'

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2022 39:29


    This week, Ryan and Jamie look into the life and work of Indian Nationalist leader, Gandhi. They discuss the Amritsar Massacre, Lord Mountbatton and Baristas.

    gandhi baristas amritsar massacre
    S3E4:'The First Crusade'

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2022 38:52


    Ryan and Jamie are once again joined by Charlie to teach the about the First Crusade. They discuss The Byzantine Empire, Peter the Hermit and They Might Be Giants.

    S3E3:'The Legend of Sawney Bean'

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2022 32:20


    This episode, Ryan and Jamie recount the tale of legendary Scottish cannibal and clan leader, Sawney Bean. They look into caves, King James and Gareth from accounting.

    S3E2: 'The Attempted Assassinations of Fidel Castro'

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2022 32:28


    This week, Jamie and Ryan take a look at some of the most peculiar attempts made on the life of Cuban leader Fidel Castro. They discuss the CIA, Cigars and eating shoes.

    S3E1: 'Mary Wollstonecraft'

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2022 47:12


    Ryan and Jamie return for a third series, leaping out of the gate with the life and work of one of the first feminists: Mary Wollstonecraft. They consider equality, voting rights and a holiday on the moon.

    S2E20: 'Jack the Ripper'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2022 75:49


    The finale for Series Two brings a look into the crimes of the most notorious serial killer, Jack the Ripper. Ryan and Jamie orchestrate this hour-long special with discussions about Victorian London, the Victims and how Jimmy should not be listening. This episode contains material that may not be suitable for some listeners including descriptions of murders and crime scenes.

    S2E19: 'The Development of the English Language' Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2022 38:29


    Lizzy Riley returns as the final guest of series two, but the first guest of 2022, to continue her coverage of how the English language developed throughout the early modern period. They discuss accents, invasion and cheesecake.

    S2E18: 'New Year's Special'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2022 6:10


    We want to wish you a very happy New Year with this small episode on New Years Day 2022, with a few New Year's facts to get you through.

    Christmas Special: 'The History of Christmas'

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2021 36:37


    In this Christmas Special, Jamie and Ryan discover the history of the holiday. They look into Ancient Rome, St Nicholas and Cheese. 

    S2E16: 'British Decolonisation in Asia'

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2021 32:26


    Ryan and Jamie examine the reasons behind decolonisation of the British Empire in Asia after the Second World War. They talk about Aung San, Singapore and a communist granny.

    S2E15: 'The History of Sleep'

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2021 39:20


    This time Jamie and Ryan stay up to talk about the history of sleep, and investigate the question 'why do we sleep?'. They look into segmented sleep, Roger Ekirch and Wizards.

    sleep wizards 'the history
    S2E14: 'Vincent van Gogh'

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2021 35:37


    This time Jamie and Ryan dive into the turbulent life and career of Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh. They discuss Post-Impressionism, German Expressionism and Doctor Who. 

    S2E13: 'The Marshall Plan'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2021 35:21


    It's Jamie's Birthday, and this time the boys discuss the Marshall Plan during the Cold War. They cover George Marshall, Poland and Jamie hiding in a bin.

    S2E12: 'Former Jobs of Dictators'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2021 31:37


    In this episode, Ryan and Jamie examine the professional pasts of some of History's most evil people, with some surprising results. They cover Stalin, Cambodia and doughnuts.

    S2E11: 'Bayard Rustin'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2021 32:18


    This time Jamie and Ryan look into the life and work of American Civil Rights activist Bayard Rustin. They ponder the March on Washington, Gandhi and ketchup.

    S2E10: 'Alexander the Great'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2021 34:59


    This time Ryan and Jamie look into the life and death of Macedonian King Alexander III, better known as Alexander the Great. They discuss Aristotle, Babylon and Tesco.

    S2E9: 'The History Behind 'Frankenstein''

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2021 39:17


    Ryan teaches Jamie about the historical context behind Mary Shelley's iconic 1818 novel 'Frankenstein'. They discuss Lord Byron, Galvanism and 'WrestleMania'.

    S2E8: 'The Development of The English Language'

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2021 30:00


    Lizzy Riley returns to the podcast to teach Ryan and Jamie about how the English Language developed from 450AD. They learn about Vikings, Geoffrey Chaucer and the Farming Mafia. 

    S2E7: 'Magna Carta'

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2021 31:50


    Ryan and Jamie delve into the legal document that is more than eight centuries old, the Magna Carta. They discuss King John, taxes and apple crumble. 

    S2E6: 'The History of Irons'

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2021 32:03


    On this week's episode, Ryan and Jamie look into the history of clothes irons. They deliberate over Henry W. Seeley, Ancient Chinese technology and Tudor ruffs.

    S2E5: 'What Inspired Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'?'

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2021 32:19


    This time, Ryan teaches Jamie about some historical contexts that inspired William Shakespeare's final play, 'The Tempest'. Jamie learns about King James I, The Gunpowder Plot and the Bard's ghost.

    S2E4: 'The Manchurian Crisis'

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2021 30:04


    Ryan and Jamie dive into the Manchurian Crisis of 1931 to 1933, in which Japan invaded a Chinese province. They look into the League of Nations, Woodrow Wilson and 'Shaun of the Dead'.

    S2E3: 'Titanic'

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2021 39:13


    Molly Montague Joins the boys as the first guest of series two to talk about the historic sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. They cover White Star Line, Violet Jessop and a century-old locked cupboard. 

    S2E2: 'Napoleon's Invasion of Egypt'

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2021 33:47


    This time, Ryan and Jamie look into the French campaign in Egypt led by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1798 and the grand sea battle that took place. They converse over Nelson, the port of Alexandria and fighting robot Pyramids . 

    S2E1: 'Cracking the Enigma Code'

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2021 34:21


    The boys are back with a brand new series. Ryan and Jamie discuss the exceptional work done at Bletchley Park during the Second World War by the likes of Alan Turning and Joan Clarke in breaking the German Enigma machine. They talk about the invention of computers, MI6 and Boffins.

    world war ii mi6 bletchley park enigma code boffins german enigma alan turning
    Bonus: 'Pilot Episode'

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2021 19:49


    This is the original pilot episode of History Half-Hour with Ryan & Jamie, back when it was under the working title: 'Student History'. This recording from March 2021 is bonus material from series one of the podcast and features many of the elements of what the show would become. In this 20 minute pilot, Ryan and Jamie discuss the Cold War. We hope you enjoy this bonus material. 

    S1E20: 'The Vietnam War'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2021 69:32


    In this Series One Finale, Ryan and Jamie operate the grandest History Half-Hour yet with an hour-long special on the Vietnam War, particularly the beginning of the conflict to the end of the Johnson Administration in 1968. They look into Guerrilla Warfare, Operation Popeye and 'The Terminator'.

    vietnam war guerrilla warfare johnson administration
    S1E19: 'The Battle of Fishguard'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2021 33:29


    Ryan and Jamie are joined by Solomon Harrison to describe the historical farce that was the 1797 battle of Fishguard in Wales between British and invading French forces. They converse over Colonel William Tate, Napoleon Bonaparte and Shipwrecked Portuguese Wine.

    S1E18: 'Harry Houdini Vs. Mediums'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2021 33:34


    Ryan and Jamie delve into the history of famed magician and escape artist Harry Houdini and his exploits in exposing Physics and Spiritualists who claimed to speak to the dead. They explore Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Mina Crandon and 'Ghostbusters'.

    S1E17: 'The Tale of Oliver Cromwell's Head'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2021 29:09


    Jamie and Ryan explore the bizarre three hundred year story of British Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell's severed head. They look into The English Civil war, King Charles II and a terrified Santa Claus.

    S1E16: 'The History of Yo-yos'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2021 30:00


    This time, Ryan and Jamie take a light hearted approach to the podcast and ponder the history of the beloved children's toy the yo-yo. They reference ancient Greece, a 1965 trademark case and vending machines.

    greece 'the history
    S1E15: 'Operation Mincemeat'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2021 31:29


    This week, Ryan and Jamie discuss Operation Mincemeat, a successful British deception operation carried out in 1943 during the Second World War. They consider HMS Seraph, The Allied invasion of Sicily and a Mexican Spy Crab.

    S1E14: 'Richard III'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2021 33:18


    For the next half-hour, Ryan and Jamie try to solve the mysteries surrounding English King Richard III who reigned from 1483 to 1485. They investigate Edward IV, the Tower of London and Jet skis.

    S1E13: 'Franco'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2021 31:37


    Ryan and Jamie are joined by Brooke Carter who teaches those two about the Fascist Spanish dictator Francisco Franco, Caudillo of Spain from 1939 until 1975. They talk about the Spanish Civil War, women's suffrage and a Fascist check-book.  

    S1E12: 'The Korean War' Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2021 34:20


    Ryan and Jamie continue their coverage of the course of the Cold War Korean conflict from 1950 to 1953. They ponder General Douglas MacArthur, Rollback and Skittles.

    S1E11: 'The Korean War' Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2021 29:31


    This week, Ryan and Jamie take on the first Cold War conflict: The Korean War from June 1950 to July 1953. The pair tackle the United Nations, Kim Il Sung and the Six Million Dollar Man.

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