Episodes

  • Churchill's Right Hand Man with John Kiszely

    Churchill's Right Hand Man with John Kiszely
    Mar 1 2025
    In late 1941 Winston Churchill lost his temper with his top generals over their disagreement in supplying Stalin with tanks and aircraft. Their obstruction caused a furious row at the heart of the British government. The man who resolved it? General Hastings Pug Ismay, Churchill’s right hand man throughout the war, who later played an important role in the Partition of India and became Secretary General of the newly formed NATO. Historian and former senior commander John Kiszely joins to discuss Ismay and Churchill, the Partition and we speculate as to how Ismay would have dealt with Donald Trump. John Kiszely Links Ismay: Soldier, Statesman, Diplomat, by John Kiszely Aspects of History Links Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99 Ollie on X Aspects of History on Instagram Get in touch: history@aspectsofhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    46 mins
  • The Causes of the Wars of the Roses: Part Two, Lancaster & York

    The Causes of the Wars of the Roses: Part Two, Lancaster & York
    Feb 26 2025
    In this second and concluding part on the Causes of the Wars of the Roses, Henry VI fails in his kingly duties, and rival factions were gain strength across England. Two houses had emerged: The House of Lancaster with Henry at its head, and the House of York with Richard Duke of York the main man. The Yorkists were joined by Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick and known as the kingmaker, though my guests today are sceptical as to his political achievements. Derek Birks and David Pilling return and we discuss the two houses, the rise of York and the faltering Lancasters, and the Kingmaker himself as momentum builds to the street fight that was the Battle of St. Albans in 1455. Links A Guide to the Wars of the Roses, by Derek Birks Kingbreaker: Rebel and Traitor, by David Pilling Kingmaker Board Game Aspects of History Links Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99 Ollie on X Aspects of History on Instagram Get in touch: history@aspectsofhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    33 mins
  • The Causes of the Wars of the Roses: Part One, Henry VI

    The Causes of the Wars of the Roses: Part One, Henry VI
    Feb 22 2025
    On 31 August 1422 Henry V, England’s finest king, died aged 35. His successor, Henry VI was only 9 months old and so his uncle, and Henry V’s brother, John, Duke of Bedford, became regent and continued the war in France. The young Henry was a gentle child, and most worrying for England he lacked a monarch as mentor, and so little understanding of how to handle the politics of kingship in the 15th century. The consequences would be severe as the Wars of the Roses would erupt in 1455 for a number of reasons, chief among them Henry VI. Joining to discuss the causes is historian and author Derek Birks, whose new book A Guide to the Wars of the Roses is out, and David Pilling, also a historian and author and his latest novel is Kingbreaker, set during the Wars of the Roses. So we look into why it broke out, a clash so catastrophic it chewed up four kings as well as countless nobles and peasants. In part one we discuss Henry VI. Part two, out on Wednesday, examines the factions involved. Links A Guide to the Wars of the Roses, by Derek Birks Kingbreaker: Rebel and Traitor, by David Pilling Aspects of History Links Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99 Ollie on X Aspects of History on Instagram Get in touch: history@aspectsofhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    33 mins
  • The Nazi Mind with Laurence Rees

    The Nazi Mind with Laurence Rees
    Feb 15 2025
    During Nazi rule it is estimated that 8 million Germans were members of the party, that’s around 10% of the population. The ideology they believed in was responsible for the deaths of 6 million jews, as well as gypsies, homosexuals and the infirm. Millions more were murdered via slave labour and in the invasions east and west. So what about the mindset of the people who carried out these crimes against humanity? Were they brainwashed by Hitler? Were they mentally ill, or were they simply all psychopaths? Joining the podcast today is author and broadcaster Laurence Rees to discuss his new book, The Nazi Mind. Laurence is responsible for the hugely powerful TV documentary Nazis: A Warning from History and his insight into the psychology of Nazis is illuminating. Laurence Rees Links The Nazi Mind Aspects of History Links Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99 Ollie on X Aspects of History on Instagram Get in touch: history@aspectsofhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    52 mins
  • The Nazis & the German Royal Family with Stephan Malinowski

    The Nazis & the German Royal Family with Stephan Malinowski
    Feb 8 2025
    On 9th November 1918 Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated the German crown and retired to Holland where he learnt Dutch and began a passion for archaeology. But during the rise of the Nazis hope was raised that he could once more stride the imperial stage arm in arm with Adolf Hitler. These hopes were taken on by his son the Crown Prince but these too were dashed, and then began an attempt to cleanse the Hohezollern name, a name that evoked names such as The Great Elector, Frederick William and Frederick the Great. Joining today is the acclaimed historian Stephan Malinowski, the author of The Hohenzollerns and the Nazis and we discuss the German Royal Family’s opportunities, and opportunistic attempts, during the rise of the Third Reich, their involvement, or lack of, in the resistance, life after the war and what the Hohenzollern name means in Germany today. Stephan Malinowski Links The Hohenzollerns and the Nazis Nazis and Nobles: The History of a Misalliance Aspects of History Links Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99 Ollie on X Aspects of History on Instagram Get in touch: history@aspectsofhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    49 mins
  • Athens, Sparta and Honour with Paul A. Rahe

    Athens, Sparta and Honour with Paul A. Rahe
    Feb 5 2025
    In a continuation of Saturday’s discussion with Paul Rahe, we delve into the Peloponnesian War after the Sicilian Expedition, as the Spartans take Persian gold to subdue their democratic rivals Athens. The war continues for a further nine years as the Athenians rise again after their Sicilian disaster, before ending in crushing defeat in 404BC. Paul then goes on to talk about current events and the importance of honour to states today, and of history to the health of society. Paul A. Rahe Links Sparta's Sicilian Proxy War Sparta's Third Attic War: The Grand Strategy of Classical Sparta, 413-404 BC First part Aspects of History Links Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99 Ollie on X Aspects of History on Instagram Get in touch: history@aspectsofhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    36 mins
  • Athens, Sparta and the Sicilian Expedition with Paul A. Rahe

    Athens, Sparta and the Sicilian Expedition with Paul A. Rahe
    Feb 1 2025
    In 415BC, the Athenian Empire, during a lull in the Peloponnesian War against the Spartans, voted to embark on a massive campaign to capture Syracuse. So began the Sicilian Expedition, which soon became a proxy war between Sparta and Athens, as the Spartans despatched just one man, the great general Gylippus, to assist the Syracusans. The war had been underway since 431 BC and would last until 404BC and end in total defeat for Athens with the loss of its empire. Joining today is Paul A. Rahe, a highly distinguished ancient historian the first in a two part discussion with him. Coming up next on Wednesday he discusses contemporary events, and how his understanding of the Peloponnesian war seeks to help policy makers in the United States as its supremacy is challenged by China. Paul A. Rahe Links Sparta's Sicilian Proxy War Sparta's Third Attic War: The Grand Strategy of Classical Sparta, 413-404 BC Book on Alcibiades discussed: Nemesis: Alcibiades and the Fall of Athens, by David Stuttard Aspects of History Links Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99 Ollie on X Aspects of History on Instagram Get in touch: history@aspectsofhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    32 mins
  • The Mafia & the Kennedys with Louis Ferrante Part 2

    The Mafia & the Kennedys with Louis Ferrante Part 2
    Jan 29 2025
    On the 22nd November 1963 President John F Kennedy was assassinated…..by Lee Harvey Oswald right? Well wrong, because today’s guest has a suspect, the boss of the New Orleans mafia, Carlos Marcello who, along with other family bosses Sam Giancana and Santo Traficante, conspired to have the President whacked. Louis Ferrante joins in this second part of our discussion on the mafia and the Kennedys as we talk about the assassination, motives, evidence and those involved. If you haven’t listened to part one that’s the previous episode. Louis Ferrante Links Part One Borgata Vol II: Clash of Titans: A History of the American Mafia Borgata Vol I: Rise of Empire: A History of the American Mafia Episode from 2024 with Louis Ferrante Aspects of History Links Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99 Ollie on X Aspects of History on Instagram Get in touch: history@aspectsofhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    36 mins