We Are History

How a Conservative Prime Minister, off his head on amphetamines, attempted to assert Great Britain's proud global superpower status by invading Egypt and then changing his mind when the Americans told him to. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Britain's original warrior queen, who burned down London and nearly drove the Romans out of Britain, and all because they called her a 'feisty redhead'. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On the very day that the Nazis struck west against Holland, Belgium and France, Britain launched the politest invasion in the history of the warfare, waking up the Icelandic army (and his friend). See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How one Saxon King ruled for 37 years, battled with the Vikings, helped create the jury system and all anyone said was 'I bet he hasn't packed yet''. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How Hitler and Mussolini held a dress rehearsal for the Second World War, using troops, weapons and money to help a fellow fascist dictator seize power, while Britain and France stood back and watched hoping that might get it out of their system. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How the British state took it upon itself to provide millions of decent, affordable homes until Mrs Thatcher flogged them all off at massive discounts, so that housing would never be a problem for the young and low-waged ever again. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The longest industrial dispute in British history, as bitter division, violence and incredible hardship divided the country, while John did his bit, by wearing a 'Coal Not Dole' sticker on his anorak. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How one part of the United Kingdom suddenly became part of the Third Reich, prompting extreme reactions from the local Brits such as tutting and looking skywards. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How all out nuclear war was nearly launched in 1983 and Ronald Reagan said 'Oh well, it's not the end of the world.' See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How the railways meant that after thousands of years being stuck in the same village, the British could suddenly go anywhere and everywhere - until one day tragedy struck; leaves on the line at Didcot Parkway. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How tulips from Amsterdam became the first get-rich-quick scheme, until it turned out that the early Dutch capitalists had invented the financial crash. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Why was Stonehenge built? Who worshiped there and why did they stop? (Answer; No one knows, so this is a very short episode.) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How one Jamaican man living in Peckham in the 1930s set about fighting institutional racism, when only the entire British Empire depended on it. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How the cult of the Kim family turned North Korea into a dynastic Communist dictatorship, where public displays of love for the leader are compulsory and laughing at his haircut is not recommended. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

That's enough plague and war - for the last show of the series we talk about the really serious stuff - the history of the Eurovision Song Contest. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How one species of hominid outlived all the others, despite an embarrassing one night stand with a Neanderthal. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How a 1970s burglary and the clumsy cover up brought the American Presidency to an all-time low. (Until now). See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How a suicidal plan to try and overthrow the British Empire in the middle of a world war was always doomed to failure, and yet somehow did the job. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A 'We Are History' first, as we welcome a PROPER historian on the show. Hallie Rubenhold, award winning author of 'The Five' joins us to discuss why one particular serial killer has been fashioned into a dastardly pantomime villain, while his victims 'Polly' Nicholls, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly were misrepresented or simply forgotten. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How a handful of young Black campaigners challenged racist employment practises in Bristol and against all odds won their case and changed the law. (Not to be confused with the 1969 sit-com 'On The Buses' where Reg Varney made lots of jokes about 'lovely Bristols'.) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How one eccentric Englishman seized an abandoned offshore gun platform, launched a 1960s pirate radio station and then decided to create his own country instead. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

John attempts to persuade Angela that the most famous date in English history still matters, but they end up talking for ages about beer versus wine. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A lot is heard about the French Resistance or the Warsaw Uprising, but what about the Germans who resisted Hitler? Was it historically insignificant, or have we chosen to ignore them? Between them, John and Angela have A' Levels in History AND German, so who could be more qualified to explain it all... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What the original English country house murder-mystery teaches us about Victorian hypocrisy, the class system and the subjugation of women. (Plus it led to John spending a week in a hotel with Ann Widdecombe.) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How beer became the every drink of ordinary Britons, and the healthy option to give to your kids to stop them dying from cholera. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A potty-mouthed history of swearing, in which John blushes and stammers and Angela just talks like she always does. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How the Cold War ended in an incredible few months across Eastern Europe in 1989. (And Angela remembers Kylie's duet with Jason) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How the ancient midwinter festival evolved into our modern day Christmas, despite the Puritans banning it because Cromwell forgot to get his missus a present. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

For our last podcast of the year we attempt our own first draft of history; looking back at the year that has just been, when Covid-19 meant a complete change of behaviour for us all (except the people telling us to completely change our behaviour). See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How the River Thames became one massive open sewer, forcing Parliament to close the windows and do something about it. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Roman Empire decides to take on the lads from Kent, and it all kicks off down by the Isle of Thanet. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Britain under Oliver Cromwell's Puritan dictatorship; no theatres, no Christmas and no music - so a tough old decade for Catholic panto stars. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How the historical prejudice against homosexuals was given fresh impetus in the 1980s by a mysterious illness which seemed to target gay men. And John struggles to admit that the Tory minister did "a good thing". See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The incredible story of Ann Bonny and Mary Read, both illegitimate and raised as boys in the early 18th century, they brought terror to the Caribbean after meeting on a lesbian pirate website. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When post-war Berlin became divided between East and West, both sides resolved that their political system would be able to boast having the the very best zoo. Pandas, hippos and bears became the unlikely players in this escalating propaganda battle of the Cold War. (No pandas were harmed in the making of this podcast.) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When the United States banned alcohol in the 1920s, they unleashed a huge wave of illegal alcohol production and smuggling that turned honest drinkers into criminals, and small time crooks into millionaire gangsters. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How a homeless Welsh alcoholic helped transform the fortunes of the British Army in the Second World War, despite already being dead. (Warning, podcast contains bad Churchill impressions.) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Back in 1936 the newspapers were utterly scandalised by a British royal abandoning his stately duties to run off with a controversial divorced American. Hard to imagine today. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In a time when women were not allowed to perform on the stage, children were sometimes kidnapped and forced to become actors against their will. (Warning; episode contains John re-enacting some of his worst childhood performances.) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

John and Angela examine the rapid chain of events that led to the shock resignation of Margaret Thatcher, in their most balanced and even-handed podcast to date. (Includes John playing The Red Flag on a kazoo). See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How did the institution of marriage evolve down the centuries in Britain? With Angela getting married this year, she thought she would make her fella feel really secure by reading lots of books about divorce law. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tennessee in 1925, and a young school teacher is put on trial for teaching his students about evolution. The dramatic trial grips the whole of America and beyond; pitting science against religion and freedom of speech against the rule of law - while the locals are deeply offended at the suggestion that they are descended from monkeys. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Victorian English gentleman who announced he was the Son of God, and proceeded to have carnal relations with various attractive young ladies in his secretive religious cult. The 'Abode of Love' is an important chapter in British history, and not at all an excuse for John and Angela to giggle at a load of saucy Victorian hypocrites. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Meet the men and women who worked hard to try and stop women having the vote. Learn all about their fascinating arguments and deep concerns. And when the Women's National Anti-Suffrage League merged with the Men's League, find out which gender put themselves in charge of it all... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When America was shocked to see their neighbour Cuba going socialist, they trained and armed a group of Cuban exiles to invade, confident in the knowledge that this would spark a popular uprising against all that free healthcare and universal education. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How the 1970s Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe attempted to hide his longstanding gay affair by having his lover shot. But the British public felt he'd gone too far when a dog got shot instead. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The last episode of the series looks at the embarrassing business of contraception down the ages. Can you avoid pregnancy by eating a bee? Would you use a sheep's intestine as a condom? And what is the Latin for coitus interruptus? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Multiple strikes, power-cuts and a sense of growing social crisis destroyed the reputation of a minority Labour government, which would be cast out of power for the following 18 years. (Not to be confused with the January sale at Millets or 'the winter of discount tents') See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The incredible life story of Robert Maxwell - megalomaniac bully, fraudster and sociopath (but apart from that he was a lovely chap). See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The world-changing voyage of Columbus that opened up a whole new continent, even though he could never accept that. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the Second World War, one branch of the security services was established to help British Prisoners escape from German camps and make their way back home. Inventing secret hidden gadgets, they were the inspiration for 'Q' in the James Bond stories. (This podcast comes with a hidden map and compass.) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How a group of American Indian activists occupied the former prison island in San Francisco Bay, and then sarcastically offered to buy it from the American government for a handful of beads. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How an American President was impeached for perjury but remained in office, while his young intern was publicly shamed for telling the truth. A complex political and moral narrative (with blow jobs). See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Why was the persecution of witches in the 17th century so much more severe than in other parts of the British Isles? How did the accusations and trials play out? How was it used to suppress so-called 'difficult' or 'argumentative' women. And would Angela have been burned as a witch? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How the confident Victorians organised massive showcase of their greatest achievements, tactfully leaving out all the rampant exploitation, the new urban poverty and the brutal wars of conquest. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How Victorian governments made the cow-pox vaccination compulsory, and faced a huge backlash from people who didn't trust the authorities or worried they might grow horns and udders. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Maud West was a master of disguise and legendary private detective in 1930s London and many of her adventures sound unbelievable today. (Although that might be because she made a lot of them up). See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Who murdered the young Princes in the Tower in 1483? We apply modern analysis and scientific rigour to question whether it really was Richard III (and conclude that he's obviously guilty - just look at the hump). See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In a life that began in the Weimar Republic and outlived the Berlin Wall, Ursula Kuczynski spied for Communism all around the world, and not even her own children suspect anything. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The women-only peace camp that became the focus of the anti-nuclear movement of the 1980s and inspired a whole new generation of feminists. (Contains walk on parts for both of John's parents.) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Just a little message to let you know that We Are History will soon be returning to your podcast feeds. Our first episode will be a LIVE recording at the Cheerful Earful Podcast Festival at the Bedford in Balham, London and YOU CAN JOIN US - the recording is taking place at 3pm on Sun 9th Oct - tickets available from cheerfulearful.co.uk in advance and most likely also on the door. We hope to see you there! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How self-inflicted economic disasters and endless sleazy scandals made a Conservative government massively unpopular. Imagine it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How are group of clever young graduates working in a shed in Cambridge discovered a powerful new weapon that became known as 'satire'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The incredible story of Ray Hill who in the 1970s underwent a massive change of heart and switched from fascist rabble-rouser to secret informant undermining the British Far Right and preventing a racist terrorist attack. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Angela has read yet another book about East Germany (this one by Philip Oltermann) and explains how it was believed that loyalty to the Communist regime could be secured, not just by suppressing dissent and spying on your neighbours, but also with encouraging pro-government poetry . (Includes a hastily-penned socialist limerick written by John.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the BBC celebrating it's centenary, we explore how the corporation came into existence, out of a chaotic broadcasting free-for-all. (This podcast was originally submitted as a programme idea to the Home Service in 1927, but we gave up waiting for a response) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How a few hungry wolves hanging around outside the caves led to Paris Hilton's embarrassed chihuahua wearing a tiara and sitting in a chintzy handbag. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is compulsory or a man of John's age to do one episode on the Second World War. But fascists being useless is always worth revisiting - and the farcical and disastrous leadership of Benito Mussolini between 1940-45 is that rare thing in modern history - a bit of World War 2 that hasn't been done to death. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Never mind world wars or revolutions, it's time to do the really important history - how did Christmas singles become a thing in the UK, and when was the golden age of of the festive hit. Warning; includes John doing dad singing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NEW SERIES! The not-so-serious podcast unravelling fascinating and down-right bizarre historical events. Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell celebrate the return of We Are History by plunging into the luminous but lethal history of Radium. They reveal how its discovery led to a craze for radio-active health and beauty treatments, which had the slight drawback of eventually killing you.  Angela and John share our predecessors ill-advised fascination with radium; its myriad ‘miracle' uses include a radium jock strap and the pair wonder whether to name their next pub-rock band Liquid Sunshine or The Radium Runners… Get all episodes a week early – when you support We Are History on Patreon: https://patreon.com/WeAreHistory “I should say, we're not scientists.” – Angela Barnes “To be fair we're not historians either and that's never stopped us.” – John O'Farrell “When I was a kid it was completely normal to have your feet x-rayed in the shoe shop. That's why my hair fell out.” – John O'Farrell Reading List: Half Lives: The Unlikely History of Radium by Lucy Jane Santos We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Audio production by Simon Williams and artwork by James Parrett. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production. https://twitter.com/wearehistorypod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell present the not-so-serious podcast unravelling fascinating and down-right bizarre historical events. This time: They dive deep into the year American politics took a dark turn towards lies, divisiveness and criminality. As is said so often on this podcast; 'it could never happen now'. This is the bitterly fought American Election that set the modern tone with its controversy and dishonesty - and heralded the rise of the new right in America. Spoiler alert - Richard Nixon ends up as a preserved head in Futurama. Get all episodes a week early – when you support We Are History on Patreon: https://patreon.com/WeAreHistory “That guy off the chimp movie? No way!” – John O'Farrell “I am alone in the land of the aardvarks.” – Senator Eugene McCarthy “If there's one thing I know about American politics, is that they don't want a poet for president.” – Angela Barnes Reading List: An American Melodrama; the Presidential Campaign of 1968 by Lewis Chester, Geoffrey Hodgson and Bruce Page. We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Audio production by Simon Williams and artwork by James Parrett. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production. https://twitter.com/wearehistorypod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell bring us more ridiculous history facts and a less-than serious romp through an event from the past. This time: How one small country in Europe lurched suddenly from hardline Stalinism to Disaster Capitalism, and then gave everyone guns and said ‘Oh sort it out yourselves'. Albania has suffered a stormy history of dictatorships, a king called Zog and being economically choked by the iron grip of mass pyramids schemes which provided false hope to millions. Get all episodes a week early – when you support We Are History on Patreon: https://patreon.com/WeAreHistory “King Zog wasn't royal he just decided to be king” – Angela Barnes “None of the books I read have any of these titbits” – John O'Farrell “Albania had the illusion of democracy, the homeopathy of democracy” – Angela Barnes “This is the biggest understatement you've ever written in your notes, John; ‘not an ideal situation” – Angela Barnes Reading List: Free by Lea Ypi  A Concise History of Albania by Bernd J. Fischer and Oliver Jens Schmitt Modern Albania From Dictatorship To Democracy in Europe by Fred C Abrahams. We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Audio production by Simon Williams and artwork by James Parrett. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production. https://twitter.com/wearehistorypod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell present the not-so-serious podcast unravelling fascinating and down-right bizarre historical events. This week; our history enthusiasts discuss how the US military used an indigenous American language to outfox the Nazis. By taking a gamble that there weren't many natural Navajo speakers in Berlin, the Americans kept their secret messages unbreakable by the enemy. Get all episodes a week early – when you support We Are History on Patreon: https://patreon.com/WeAreHistory “You couldn't choose just any language for coded messages; for instance; ‘we'll just send all our messages in french' as if the Nazi's couldn't speak french.” – Angela Barnes “The Navajo language hadn't ever been written down in 1940; there was no Duolingo for Navajo.” – John O''Farrell “They created a new code, as a crossword nerd I love this.” – Angela Barnes “Their name for Adolf Hitler was ‘crazy white man', doesn't narrow it down, does it?” – John O'Farrell Reading List:  Navajo Code Talkers by Nathan Aaseng Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee by Dee Brown  We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Audio production by Simon Williams and artwork by James Parrett. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production. https://twitter.com/wearehistorypod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell dust off more delightful and unbelievable details from the pages of history. This time: How most of London was destroyed after a baker ignored his wife's advice to check if the fire had gone out, saying ‘Oh, what's the worst that could happen?' Get all episodes a week early – when you support We Are History on Patreon: https://patreon.com/WeAreHistory “Does one tip the man with the corpse cart? It's one of those embarrassing social dilemmas.” – John O'Farrell “We need a radical solution to these wooden houses being so close together – if only there was some way of starting again…” – Angela Barnes “Inflammable and flammable mean the same thing. I studied linguistics, this annoys me” – Angela Barnes “Angela, you're pinpointing the real tragedy of the Great Fire there.” – John O'Farrell Reading List: By Permission of Heaven: The Story of the Great Fire of London by Adrian Tinniswood. We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Audio production by Simon Williams and artwork by James Parrett. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production. https://twitter.com/wearehistorypod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell present the not-so-serious podcast unravelling fascinating and down-right bizarre historical events. This week; you ordered an innuendo, so we're giving you one. Yes, it's that stalwart of smut, the saucy seaside postcard. Join us as we enter a cartoon world of buxom ladies and henpecked men. But enough about us here's a podcast about the history of this great British institution. Get all episodes a week early – when you support We Are History on Patreon: https://patreon.com/WeAreHistory “In a show about double entendre I really should've milked ‘seamen' - oh no!” – Angela Barnes “All together: It was a different time!” – John O'Farrell “Y'know that bit in The Shining, when Jack Nicholson goes off when he's disturbed writing? I think he's right! He was disturbed!” – Angela Barnes Reading list: Please be warned both of these sources contain language and descriptions of their time, which may cause offence. Please Excuse Me While I Kick Fido - The World Of Donald McGill by Elfreda Buckland  The Art of Donald McGill by George Orwell We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Audio production by Simon Williams and artwork by James Parrett. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production. https://twitter.com/wearehistorypod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell present the not-so-serious podcast unravelling fascinating and down-right bizarre historical events. New Episode! For much of the 20th century the Catholic establishment had a stranglehold over Ireland's morality and used it to deny Irish women basic rights such as contraception, divorce and abortion. When a series of scandals stripped away the hypocrisy of the church, the women of the country took their chance to stand up against the patriarchy and were finally able to win basic human rights – and even win the presidency. This is a real-life story of hope, sacrifice and the power of Irish women. Get all episodes a week early and ad-free – when you support We Are History on Patreon: https://patreon.com/WeAreHistory “Ireland wasn't oppressed by the Catholic church with nuns wielding batons and water canons…the only torture was the really long sermons.” – Angela Barnes “When the Church tells you what you have to do, it always ends well.” – John O'Farrell “John explains feminism to me, part 723!” – Angela Barnes “Erm, so if I could just talk over you, about this feminism…” – John O'Farrell Reading list: We Don't Know Ourselves by Fintan O'Toole. Ireland – the autobiography. A collection of essays and articles edited by John Bowman We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Audio production by Simon Williams and artwork by James Parrett. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production. https://twitter.com/wearehistorypod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell romp through history, unravelling fascinating and down-right bizarre events. This time; the five month-long 1904 Olympic Games which was a catalogue of failures and unbelievably poor decisions. This included restricting liquids during the marathon, one of the runners stopping to practise his english and wild dogs chasing the athletes. It's an incredible story so make sure those shoelaces are tied and your nipples are Vaselined. “Every four years, as a nation, we pick one event we're experts in, like the Olympic Slalom.” – Angela Barnes “41 runners signed up for the marathon, but only 32 turned up.” – John O'Farrell “To be fair, John, we've all done it. I've signed up for so many races.” – Angela Barnes Reading list: The Wildest Race Ever - The Story of the 1904 Olympic Marathon - Meghan McCarthy Marathon 1904, a standup show by Nic Sampson We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Audio production by Simon Williams and artwork by James Parrett. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production. https://twitter.com/wearehistorypod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell romp through history, unravelling fascinating and down-right bizarre events. This time we meet the New Zealand born journalist turned French society housewife Nancy Wake, who became one of Churchill's most decorated agents and one of the Gestapo's most wanted.   Whether she was flirting with Nazis to get out of trouble or parachuting into the heart of the French Resistance, Nancy Wake was right in the thick of the action and the woman the Germans called “White Mouse”. She took no shit from anyone. Contemporaries say she ”put the men to shame by her cheerful spirit and strength of character."  Find out exactly how this kick-ass woman kicked some ass. Get all episodes a week early – when you support We Are History on Patreon: https://patreon.com/WeAreHistory “In training Nancy had to be bribed with whiskey before jumping out of a plane. I love her.” – Angela Barnes “Tardivat said about her; ‘She is the most feminine woman I know—until the fighting starts! Then,' and he kissed his fingers as only a Frenchman can, ‘she is like five men'.” – John O'Farrell “She went out dancing in occupied France and was doing parachute rolls on the floor. It's a bit of a giveaway.” – Angela Barnes  Reading list: Nancy Wake by Russell Braddon White Mouse : The Autobiography of Australia's Wartime Legend We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Audio production by Simon Williams and artwork by James Parrett. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production. https://twitter.com/wearehistorypod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell cavort through history and uncover the most fascinating and down-right bizarre events. This time; the day hundreds of walkers asserted the Right To Roam across the Peak District against the wishes of the landed gentry who wanted the hills kept private so they could shoot grouse. John and Angela really struggle to take sides on this one.  The protest is seen as an important catalyst to securing access to the countryside, but has the simple story of one dramatic day of action obscured the truth about the decades of diligent campaigning that did the hard work? Trigger warning; this episode includes John singing a snippet of a folk song. Support We Are History on Patreon and receive exclusive benefits:  https://patreon.com/WeAreHistory “I like the idea of a country walk, but the countryside hates me. To insects I'm the equivalent of a restaurant with three Michelin stars.” – Angela Barnes “The mass trespass was a stunt – it's a good simple story, with young victims and posh villains which is why it has found its way into public consciousness.” – John O'Farrell Reading list:  Kinder Scout and the Legend of the Mass Protest by David Haye Right to Roam by Marion Shoad  Forbidden Land by Tom Stephenson  We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Audio production by Simon Williams and artwork by James Parrett. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production. https://twitter.com/wearehistorypod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell are back with Series 8 of the hit podcast which romps through history unravelling fascinating and down-right bizarre events. This time: how the Nazis and Allies became locked in a race for the atom bomb, keeping it a total secret from everyone except all the Russian spies. Get all episodes a week early – when you support We Are History on Patreon: https://patreon.com/WeAreHistory Reading List: Atomic: The First War of Physics and the Secret History of the Atom Bomb 1939-49 by Jim Baggott Angela Barnes is on tour with her critically acclaimed, sold out Edinburgh Fringe show ‘Hot Mess'. Tickets are available here https://www.angelabarnescomedy.co.uk  We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Audio production by Simon Williams and artwork by James Parrett. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production. https://twitter.com/wearehistorypod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Series 8 of the hit podcast continues to romp its way through history unravelling fascinating and down-right bizarre events. This time: Angela Barnes tells John O'Farrell about The Glamour Boys – a group of courageous queer MPs in buttoned-up Britain of the 1930's. They put the "party" into "party politics" and were some of the first people to warn the government they needed to stand up to that Hitler. Get all episodes a week early – when you support We Are History on Patreon: https://patreon.com/WeAreHistory Reading List: The Glamour Boys: The Secret Story of the Rebels who Fought for Britain to Defeat Hitler by Chris Bryant. Angela Barnes is on tour with her critically acclaimed, sold out Edinburgh Fringe show ‘Hot Mess'. Tickets are available here https://www.angelabarnescomedy.co.uk  We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Audio production by Simon Williams and artwork by James Parrett. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production. https://twitter.com/wearehistorypod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This time; our eager non-historians Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell discuss the amazing story of the enslaved people of Haiti, who rose up and defeated a major world power and established the New World's first independent black state.  Episode includes violence, voodoo and a zombie. Recommended reading: Avengers of the New World by Laurent Dubois You are all free : the Haitian revolution and the abolition of slavery by Jeremy Popkin The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James Get all episodes a week early – when you support We Are History on Patreon: https://patreon.com/WeAreHistory Angela Barnes is on tour with her critically acclaimed, sold out Edinburgh Fringe show ‘Hot Mess'. Tickets are available here https://www.angelabarnescomedy.co.uk  We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Audio production by Simon Williams and artwork by James Parrett. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production. https://twitter.com/wearehistorypod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John O'Farrell and Angela Barnes take a not-so-serious look at the most captivating and bizarre moments in history. This time Angela tells John how in 1917, the German Foreign Minister, Arthur Zimmerman sent a telegram to his man in Washington. Sounds dull? It isn't; this telegraph was probably responsible for changing the course of WW1. What could a telegram possibly say that would make peace loving US President Woodrow Wilson take his country into the bloodiest conflict? Recommended reading: The Zimmerman Telegram by Barbara Tuchman. Cryptologic Quarterly, National Security Agency - The Zimmermann Telegram. Get all episodes a week early – when you support We Are History on Patreon: https://patreon.com/WeAreHistory Angela Barnes is on tour with her critically acclaimed, sold out Edinburgh Fringe show ‘Hot Mess'. Tickets are available here https://www.angelabarnescomedy.co.uk  We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Audio production by Simon Williams and artwork by James Parrett. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John O'Farrell and Angela Barnes take a not-so-serious look at the most captivating and bizarre moments in history. This time things get very silly as John sneaks a peek at nakedness and how our attitudes to it has changed throughout history. He insists that this is a serious sociological and historical study and not at all an excuse to giggle at bare bottoms. Main source A Brief History of Nakedness by Philip Carr-Gomm Get all episodes a week early – when you support We Are History on Patreon: https://patreon.com/WeAreHistory Angela Barnes is on tour with her critically acclaimed, sold out Edinburgh Fringe show ‘Hot Mess'. Tickets are available here https://www.angelabarnescomedy.co.uk  We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Audio production by Simon Williams and artwork by James Parrett. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production. https://twitter.com/wearehistorypod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our technologically-challenged hosts Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell trace the history of Artificial Intelligence from Greek Mythology, via Alan Turing and the Speak and Spell to the rapid developments we're seeing today. Should we be afraid of our robot overlords? Will AI ever be able to deliver a lighthearted History podcast? Maybe it already has... Reading List: The Brain Makers: The History of Artificial Intelligence – Genius, Ego, And Greed In The Quest For Machines That Think - HP Newquist Get all episodes a week early – when you support We Are History on Patreon: https://patreon.com/WeAreHistory Angela Barnes is on tour with her critically acclaimed, sold out Edinburgh Fringe show ‘Hot Mess'. Tickets are available here https://www.angelabarnescomedy.co.uk  We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Audio production by Simon Williams and artwork by James Parrett. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production. https://twitter.com/wearehistorypod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This time on We Are History; our bold and fearless non-historians Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell find out how and why Britain's first major terrorist plot was conceived and ultimately thwarted.  Expect barrels of explosive fun, gory retribution and hear why we burn the wrong person on Bonfire night. Sources: Remember Remember the Fifth of November by James Sharpe https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/discover/six-things-you-didnt-know-about-executions-london-docklands#:~:text=Not%20many%20know%2C%20that%20on,was%20then%20disembowelled%20and%20quartered. Get all episodes a week early – when you support We Are History on Patreon: https://patreon.com/WeAreHistory Angela Barnes is on tour with her critically acclaimed, sold out Edinburgh Fringe show ‘Hot Mess'. Tickets are available here https://www.angelabarnescomedy.co.uk  We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Audio production by Simon Williams and artwork by James Parrett. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production. https://twitter.com/wearehistorypod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on We Are History, Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell look at the origins of the Green Belt, what is it and why do we have it? Spoiler alert, it's not for holding up your green trousers. The Green Belt is a phrase we've heard politicians talking about forever, so we wanted to find out whose idea it was, how it has evolved over the last 100 or so years and how it affects the relationship between town and country. Reading List: Outskirts by John Grindrod Repurposing the Green Belt in the 21st Century by Peter Bishop, Alona Martinez Perez, Rob Roggema, and Lesley Williams Get all episodes a week early – when you support We Are History on Patreon: https://patreon.com/WeAreHistory Angela Barnes is on tour with her critically acclaimed, sold out Edinburgh Fringe show ‘Hot Mess'. Tickets are available here https://www.angelabarnescomedy.co.uk  We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Audio production by Simon Williams and artwork by James Parrett. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production. https://twitter.com/wearehistorypod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the final episode in this series, the ever-so-honest John O'Farrell and Angela Barnes find out how and why smuggling in Britain became a crime epidemic that benefited everyone except the tax man. Source: Smuggling in the British Isles by Richard Platt  Support We Are History on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes, mugs and more! https://patreon.com/WeAreHistory Angela Barnes is on tour with her critically acclaimed, sold out Edinburgh Fringe show ‘Hot Mess'. Tickets are available here https://www.angelabarnescomedy.co.uk  We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Audio production by Simon Williams and artwork by James Parrett. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production. https://twitter.com/wearehistorypod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John O'Farrell and Angela Barnes return for a new season of We Are History! In this first episode they explore how the British had a very polite revolution without anyone getting hurt, and then pretended they'd actually wanted to be invaded by a big foreign army. Support We Are History on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes, mugs and more! https://patreon.com/WeAreHistory Reading List: Happy and Glorious: The Revolution of 1688 - Michael Wilson We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Audio production by Simon Williams and artwork by James Parrett. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Just in time for International Women's Day on March 8, we dig into the surprising history of this worldwide celebration of patriarchy-pummeling. Angela Barnes and feminism “expert” John O'Farrell trace IWD's roots from its beginnings in Communist countries in the early 20th century via a brazen American attempt to cover up its origins… and never once says “yeah, but when is it International Men's Day?”   Support We Are History on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes, mugs and more! https://patreon.com/WeAreHistory We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Production by Simon Williams. Artwork by James Parrett. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How one scruffy Irish popstar saw a terrible famine being reported on his television and decided to do a bit more than just send a cheque to Oxfam. (John spent so long researching this podcast on Live Aid that he thought he might as well do a West End Musical about it at the same time).  Reading List: The Eighties, One Day, One Decade by Dylan Jones;  Is That It by Bob Geldof Buy books through our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund We Are History by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. Support We Are History on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes, mugs and more! https://patreon.com/WeAreHistory We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Production by Simon Williams. Artwork by James Parrett. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 18th Century France the Ancien Regime comes up against the Enlightenment and Age of Reason and, spoiler alert, it doesn't end well for the monarchy. In this episode that serves as a sort of French revolution for dummies we look at what happened, from the storming of the Bastille on, well, Bastille Day to the rise of Napoleon Reading List: Vive La Revolution: A Stand-up History of the French Revolution by Mark Steel Buy books through our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund We Are History by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. Support We Are History on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes, mugs and more! https://patreon.com/WeAreHistory We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Production by Simon Williams. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Centuries ahead of those “Brits Abroad” tabloid headlines that make us hang our heads in shame, the British were still managing to cause chaos on the continent. The Grand Tour was a chance for upper class boys to kick up their heels and party across Europe under the auspices of an educational expedition, before getting married off and settling down in a massive country pile. A sort of Georgian Gap Year. We look at where they went, what they got up to and what they brought back with them in an age before antibiotics. Support We Are History on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes, mugs and more! Reading List: The British Abroad: The Grand Tour in the Eighteenth Century by Jeremy Black Buy books through our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund We Are History by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Production by Simon Williams. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Angela tricks John into learning about the history of April Fool's Day. Where did it originate? Why do we do practical jokes on people we are supposed to love? Fom the Swiss spaghetti harvest to the Black Cliffs of Dover, we look at some of the best April Fool's Day pranks across the centuries. And this episode is brought to you in smellovision, so don't forget to scratch your screen to get the accompanying aromas. Gotcha!  Reading List: Practically Joking by Moira Marsh https://hoaxes.org/af_database  Support We Are History on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes, mugs and more! We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Production by Simon Williams. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How the IRA came very close to killing Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and the British Cabinet and triggered a massive manhunt for that world famous crime fighting agency, the Sussex County Constabulary. Reading List: Killing Thatcher by Rory Carroll Buy Killing Thatcher through our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund [name of podcast] by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. Support We Are History on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes, mugs and more! https://patreon.com/WeAreHistory We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Production by Simon Williams. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Angela drags John around the shops of Britain for about 200 years as we take a look at the history of how we shop. We look at why shopping moved out of town centres and ask the important questions like “Does Selfridges sell fridges?” Reading: Back to the Shops: The High Street in History and the Future by Rachel Bowlby We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Production by Simon Williams. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How travelling quacks and snobby doctors held back dentistry for centuries, while millions endured the agony of toothache and wondered why ‘smoking out the tooth worms' didn't seem to be working. Reading List: An Excruciating History of Dentistry by James Wynbrand Support We Are History on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes, mugs and more! https://patreon.com/WeAreHistory We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Production by Simon Williams. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How a handful of landmark events and reforms suddenly shook off the hypocrisy, censorship and repression that had plagued Great Britain since Victorian times. (Available in Northern Ireland several decades later) We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell. Production by Simon Williams. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices