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Histories of the Unexpected — History
Histories of the Unexpected

Histories of the Unexpected explores the past in ways that you never dreamt possible. Surely there’s nothing unexpected about the past? About History? Aha, well Histories of the Unexpected adopts a new approach to exploring our past. Gone is the traditional linear plotting of battles, monarchs and political movements. Histories of the Unexpected argues that everything has a history, even the most unexpected of subjects. Like SLIME. Or COURAGE. or APPLAUSE…. Presented by Dr Sam Willis and Professor James Daybell.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Latest Episodes:

Reading! Jul 17, 2021

Show notes

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis uncover the unexpected history of READING! Which is all about Renaissance book wheels, medieval reading aloud, bibles, sending letters and the concept of privacy, reading glasses, secrecy and codes and snooping! Who knew!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Contempt! Jul 17, 2021

Show notes

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis uncover the unexpected history of CONTEMPT! Which is all about William McMahon and Australian politics (courtesy of a superstar listener!), eighteenth-century rebukes, facial expressions, unrequited love, William Shakespeare and Sir Philip Sidney. Who knew!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DANGER! Jul 02, 2021

Show notes

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis uncover the unexpected history of DANGER! Which is all about accidents in Tudor England, accident-prone children, the history of health and safety and the industrial revolution, stunt performers, Harold Lloyd and early cinema. It's also all about lion-taming and the history of bear attacks! Who knew!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jam! Jul 01, 2021

Show notes

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis invite you all to indulge your sweet teeth with the unexpected history of JAM! Which is all about WW2, rationing and the Women's Institute (think Jam and Jerusalem); it's also all about seventeenth century recipes, empire, sugar, colonial trade and slavery! Who knew!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teenagers! Jun 25, 2021

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In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis uncover the unexpected history of TEENAGERS! Which is all about the lost generation in China during the Cultural Revolution and oral history, teenagers bedrooms and anthropology, twentieth-century US pop culture and high schools. Who knew!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cliques! Jun 21, 2021

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In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis invite you all to join them in uncovering the unexpected history of CLIQUES! Which is all about factions at the court of Henry VIII, and the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn, the Cabal Ministry of Charles II, and the magic circle (including a magic teapot that will produce any beverage that you like!) It's also all about twentieth-century US pop culture and high schools, conspiracy theories and the French Revolution. Who knew!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Greed! Jun 18, 2021

Show notes

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis uncover the utterly fascinating and genuinely unexpected history of GREED! Which is all about the seven deadly sins and Dante's Divine Comedy, Francis Bacon's Essay 'Of Riches', it's about feasting and Christmas at the court of Henry VIII, and the history of eating competitions! It's also all about Bernard Mandeville and bees, coffee drinking and Balzac. Who knew!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Poison! Jun 11, 2021

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In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis uncover the utterly fascinating and genuinely unexpected history of POISON! Which is all about eighteenth-century shopkeepers, assassination attempts on Queen Elizabeth I, Roman women, and the history of Bread! It's also all about Venice and powdered diamonds, weedkiller and the history of horticulture! Who knew!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Honesty! May 24, 2021

Show notes

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis uncover the historical truth of the unexpected history of HONESTY! Which is all about Abraham Lincoln (Honest Abe) and shopkeeping, oath taking and the bible, US presidents (Franklin D. Roosevelt, Barack Obama and Joe Biden) and swearing in ceremonies, and honesty among schoolchildren! It's also all about truth serum, Pinnochio and George Washington! Who knew!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anxiety! May 18, 2021

Show notes

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis uncover the nail-bitingly unexpected history of ANXIETY! Which is all about phobias, anxious masculinity and seventeenth-century patriarchy, separation anxiety, Freud and the London Foundling Hospital! It's also all about Elizabeth I and her famous Tide letter to Mary I (replete with manuscript hatchings!), the cold war and anxiety about the economy, werewolves, and sharks! Who knew!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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