History Rage

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334. Tudor Propaganda? The Yorkists Got There First with Nathen Amin | Gloucester History Festival LIVE Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

Did the Tudors really invent medieval fake news, or did the Yorkists get there first?

When we think of historical spin, Tudor propaganda usually takes centre stage. But host Paul Bavill sits down live at the Gloucester History Festival with acclaimed medieval historian and author Nathen Amin (House of Beaufort, Son of Prophecy) to completely shatter this dynastic myth.

In this fiery live session, Nathen exposes how Henry VII was simply a student of the game, adopting the very political playbook created by the House of York. From medieval Photoshop on parchment rolls and character assassination against Margaret of Anjou to the destruction of parliamentary records, discover how the Yorkists pioneered every trick in the book long before the Tudors ever claimed the throne.

Digital Passes & Festival Information

Nathen Amin appeared as part of the Gloucester History Festival. Digital passes to catch up on other talks from the festival can be purchased online at https://www.gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk.

Recommended History Rage Episodes

If you enjoyed this deep dive into medieval politics, check out these related episodes:

Episode 79: Richard III Fanatics with Nathen Amin – Nathen's famous first appearance unleashing his rage on Ricardian myths.
Episode 137: Nathen rages that Henry VII should not be the Tudor nobody talks about

Guest Info & Books

Follow Nathen Amin and order his books:

Website / Books: Find Son of Prophecy, and more at https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781398133525
X (Twitter): https://x.com/nathenamin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathenaminauthor

Connect, Follow & Support History Rage

Angry about bad history? Join the movement, follow us, and help keep the rage alive!

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333. Genealogy is not second rate history with Jen Baldwin and FindMyPast Sep 20, 2026

Show notes

Unlock the hidden secrets of your ancestors because history didn't just happen, it happened to families.

Are you tired of dry, dusty history books that only talk about prime ministers and battlefield generals? It is time to smash the myth that genealogy is just an isolated, second-rate hobby for tracking pedigree charts. In this episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill sits down with professional genealogist and research specialist Jen Baldwin to blow the lid off traditional historical study.

Discover why family history is actually an essential, interdisciplinary gateway to understanding the real human consequences of our past. From the handwriting left on the 1921 Census of England and Wales to the surprising, messy tales preserved in global newspaper archives, learn how ordinary citizens were right in the thick of history's greatest upheavals. Whether you are tracing elusive agricultural laborers, criminal ancestors, or early colonial migrants, this episode will completely reframe how you look at your family's history. Don't leave your family's unique narratives trapped in the attic—tune in, get angry about forgotten history, and start digging today!

About Our Guest

Jen Baldwin has been working as a professional genealogist for over 15 years. She serves as a research specialist for FindMyPast and is a passionate advocate for connecting family archives with broader social and contextual history.

Instagram: @jenbaldwin_genealogy
Listen to the FindMyPast Podcast: Start uncovering historical deep-dives by subscribing to A Family History of… podcast, available wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

Ready to dive down your own genealogical rabbit hole and start uncovering the truth about your ancestors? All new users can start their FREE FindMyPast trial today!

Claim Your Free Trial: https://www.findmypast.co.uk

Recommended Additional Episodes

If you loved this episode's deep dive into local, human-centered histories, check out these festival special episodes from the History Rage archive:

Episode 121: Phil Moss and Andrew Armstrong uncover the surprising, hidden history of Gloucester.
Episode 176: The Vice Dean of Peterborough Cathedral, Tim Alban Jones, rages that Peterborough is definitely not just some dull new town.

Follow, Contact & Support History Rage

Join the Rage Train and make sure you never miss an angry historian exposing the myths of the past!

Support us on Patreon: Join the inner circle of History Ragers for £5 per month to get access to monthly live streams, early ad-free episodes, and the coveted History Rage mug! Subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/historyrage.
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Spread the Word: If you are loving the show, please tell a friend and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

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332. The SAS Founder History Forgot! With Lt-Col. Tim Spicer OBE Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

Was the Special Air Service truly built solely by David Stirling and rogue, unmanageable mavericks?

Think you know the full origin story of the Special Air Service? The popular myth paints the WWII SAS as a rogues' gallery of unmanageable, rule-breaking mavericks who single-handedly reshaped special warfare before quietly vanishing at the end of the conflict. But this narrative ignores the quiet leadership, sharp political intellect, and crucial post-war battle that actually preserved the regiment's legacy. Without one man operating behind the scenes in the corridors of power, the modern SAS simply would not exist today.

In this episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill sits down with former British Army officer and author Lieutenant Colonel Tim Spicer OBE to debunk the romanticized myth of Special Forces and restore a crucial figure to his rightful place in history. Together, they explore the extraordinary life of Brian Franks DSO MC—hotel manager turned Special Forces commander—who not only led operations behind enemy lines during Operation Loyton but personally brought Nazi war criminals to justice and spearheaded the campaign to rebuild the SAS from post-war disbandment.

Guest Details & Book Referrals

Guest: Lieutenant Colonel Tim Spicer OBE
Featured Book: An Axe and Four Balloons: The Biography of Brian Franks DSO MC, The Man Who Saved the SAS by Tim Spicer. Buy your copy directly from the History Rage Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781999589172
Other Books by Tim Spicer: A Suspicion of Spies: Risk, Secrets and Shadows – The Biography of Wilfred 'Biffy' Dunderdale and A Dangerous Enterprise: Secret War at Sea

Recommended Additional Episodes

Episode 310: Damien Lewis rages against the shocking portrayals of Blair 'Paddy' Mayne.
Episode 218: Tony Rushmer rages that it is high time Reg Seekings got his moment in the sun.

Follow, Contact & Support History Rage

Website: https://www.historyrage.com/
Email: historyragepod@gmail.com
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331. Rome was NOT just a Land Power with Stephen DeCasien Sep 13, 2026

Show notes

Why the "Roman Land Power" Myth is a Massive Historic Lie

There is a stubborn myth floating around popular culture and older history books that the Romans hated the sea, were terrible at sailing, and let their navy rot the second a war ended. But according to ancient historian and nautical archaeologist Dr. Stephen DeCasien, that is complete history rage material.

In this episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill dives deep into the ancient Mediterranean to shatter the misconception that Rome was strictly a land power. By exploring cutting-edge underwater archaeology, ancient naval rams, and the industrial scale of Roman shipbuilding, Dr. DeCasien proves that Rome was just as formidable on the waves as they were on land.

Discover how the Romans fought an ancient naval arms race against Carthage during the First Punic War, engineered devastating boarding tools like the Corvus, and deployed massive warships weighing thousands of kilograms at the legendary Battle of Actium. If you want to understand how Rome truly dominated the ancient world, you have to look at their navy.

About the Guest: Dr. Stephen DeCasien

Dr. Stephen DeCasien is an ancient historian and nautical archaeologist specializing in ancient Greek and Roman naval warfare, shipbuilding, and the bronze naval rams used on the bows of ancient warships.

Follow Stephen on Social Media: Connect with him on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram at @DeCasien

Binge These Additional Episodes Next!

If you loved this deep dive into ancient Rome, check out these highly recommended episodes from the History Rage archive:

Episode 255: Simon Elliott makes the case for why Septimius Severus was the greatest Roman emperor.
Episode 296: Emma Southon rages against the myth that Roman slavery was somehow better than Roman poverty.

Follow, Contact & Support History Rage

Do you love historians getting angry about historical inaccuracies? Help us keep the rage train rolling!

Support us on Patreon: Join the inner circle at https://www.patreon.com/historyrage. For just £5 a month, you get access to our exclusive monthly live stream, early ad-free episodes, and the coveted History Rage mug!
Follow us on Social Media: Get updates and submit your own history rages on X @HistoryRage or Instagram @HistoryRage.
Spread the Word: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and tell a friend to get them aboard the rage train!

Until next week, thanks for listening and stay angry!

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330. The Home Guard Were NOT Doddering Old Incompetents with Sinclair McKay | Gloucester History Festival Special Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

Were 2 million unpaid British civilians really just doddery, helpless old men?

Think Private Godfrey and Corporal Jones speak for the Home Guard? Think again! Captain Mannering's platoon gets a complete reality check in this fiery episode of History Rage.

Join host Paul Bavill as he chats with author and historian Sinclair McKay to shatter the sitcom myths and restore dignity to Britain's WWII civilian army. From guerrilla warfare tactics taught by Spanish Civil War veterans at Osterley Park to the top-secret underground "auxiliaries" trained for sabotage and assassination, discover the deadly serious reality of the men—and women—who stood ready to defend their homes.

Key Takeaways & What You’ll Discover:

Beyond the Sitcom: Why the "doddery old men" stereotype started in 1940—long before the 1968 BBC series Dad's Army.
Real Combat Experience: Why the average age was actually 38, packed with First World War veterans and eager teenagers.
Lethal Tactics: How volunteers were trained in asymmetric warfare, Molotov cocktails, sniper skills, and hand-to-hand combat.
The Secret Auxiliaries: The underground, top-secret elite units prepared for covert resistance, sabotage, and target eliminations.
Women on the Front Line: The fierce push for female enlistment, from factory platoons to outshooting MPs on the range.

Catch Sinclair McKay Live!

Sinclair is speaking at the Gloucester History Festival (which runs from 12th–20th September)!

Event: Sinclair McKay on Dad's Army
Date & Time: Sunday, 20th September at 10:00 AM
Tickets: Available now at gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk

Guest Book & Referral Details

Buy the Book: Grab your copy of Dad's Army: The Glorious True Story of the Home Guard by Sinclair McKay directly from the History Rage Bookshop: uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9780241772324

Recommended Additional Episodes

Episode 205: Nathan Hazlehurst on why there's more to civil defence than just putting bloody lights out.
Episode 292: Joshua Levine rages against the myths surrounding the Blitz Spirit.

Follow, Contact & Support History Rage

Support on Patreon: Get early ad-free episodes, monthly live streams, and the coveted History Rage mug at patreon.com/historyrage.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: Listen ad-free via Apple Podcasts.
Follow Us: Stay angry and join the conversation on social media @HistoryRage.

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329. Edward VIII Did NOT Give Up The Throne for Love with Sian Evans Sep 07, 2026

Show notes

The Abdication Crisis Demolished

In 1936, King Edward VIII gave up the British throne for the woman he loved—or so the story goes. But was the abdication of Edward VIII really the ultimate modern fairy tale, or a carefully orchestrated establishment takedown?

Journalist and author Sian Evans joins host Paul Bavill on History Rage to shatter the classic fig leaf surrounding Wallis Simpson and the crown. Evans uncovers the political maneuvers, secret service surveillance, and establishment panic behind the year of three kings, exposing Edward VIII not as a romantic hero, but as an unsuitable, petulant playboy king the government desperately needed to replace.

Key Discussion Points

The Romantic Fig Leaf: Why the "greatest love story" myth served both the royal family and the British government to hide a constitutional coup.
Playboy Prince to Reluctant King: Edward’s self-indulgence, low boredom threshold, and early threats to renounce his royal duties.
Enter Wallis Simpson: The dynamic American divorcee, the secret Ipswich divorce trial, and why the establishment saw her as a threat.
The Establishment Takedown: How Stanley Baldwin, Archbishop Cosmo Lang, and court officials leveraged the crisis to install Bertie (King George VI).
Royal Duty vs. Personal Desire: The echoes of 1936 in modern royal departures, from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to royal duty.

Recommended History Rage Episodes

Episode 175: Stop Worshipping the Bloody Mitfords with Guy Walters
Episode 227: Coco Chanel Was Not a Nazi Spy with Anne de Courcy

Guest Information & Book Link

Guest: Sian Evans
Book: 1936: The Year of Three Kings
Buy the Book: Support the guest, independent booksellers, and History Rage by purchasing from the History Rage Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781399722766

Follow, Support & Join History Rage

Support on Patreon: Get access to live streams and exclusive content at https://www.patreon.com/historyrage
Apple Podcasts: Subscribe for ad-free listening directly via Apple Subscriptions
Follow on Socials: Search @HistoryRage across Twitter/X, Instagram, and Facebook.

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328. Elizabeth Báthory was NOT a Blood-Bathing Serial Killer with Shelley Puhak Sep 06, 2026

Show notes

Vampires, bloodbaths, and historical smear campaigns: why the legends you know are dead wrong.

Think you know the story of Elizabeth Báthory, the "Blood Countess" who bathed in the blood of virgins to stay forever young? Think again. In this episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill sits down with former professor and author Shelley Puhak to tear down four centuries of myth and reveal the real woman behind the monster.

The canonical legend has cemented Báthory as the world's most prolific female serial killer, a creature walled up in a tower after being caught red-handed. But the reality has nothing to do with horror tropes and everything to do with early modern witch trials, immense wealth, and a cutthroat political turf war against the Habsburg Empire.

Shelley exposes how a powerful, literate, and politically inconvenient widow was systematically dismantled by ambitious, paranoid men who used the era's raging satanic panics to launch a massive land grab. If you love true history, political intrigue, and watching legendary myths get turned to ash, this rage is exactly what you need.

Discover the Real History:

The Fabricated Myth: Why the infamous "bathing in blood" detail wasn't added until a century after her death by a Jesuit priest looking to sell local folklore.
A Political Target: How Báthory’s control of vast strategic fortresses and her family's ties to open rebellion made her a massive threat to the Habsburg crown.
An Investigation Without Bodies: The shocking truth behind the lack of evidence, missing victims, and the hurried torture and execution of her servants.
The Weapon of Misogyny: How powerful women throughout history—from Anne Boleyn to Catherine de' Medici—are consistently transformed into monsters in the historical imagination.

Links and Resources

Buy the Book: Grab your copy of Shelley Puhak's gripping book, The Blood Countess: Murder, Betrayal, and the Making of a Monster, from the History Rage Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781639732159
Follow the Guest: Connect with author Shelley Puhak and dive deeper into her work on marginalized histories by visiting her website: https://www.shelleypuhak.com

Recommended Episodes

If you enjoyed this episode, dive into these angry deep-dives from our archives:

Episode 254: Rachel McCarthy James rages about the misunderstandings surrounding the Lizzie Borden murders.
Episode 306: Kate Williams sets the record straight on the royal, scandalous myths of Catherine the Great.

Support History Rage!

If you want to help us keep slaying historical myths, please consider supporting the show:

Patreon: Join our community as a free or premium member at https://www.patreon.com/historyrage
Substack: Subscribe to the History Rage mailing list for updates at https://historyrage.substack.com
Website: Find everything History Rage right here at https://www.historyrage.com

Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review on Apple Podcasts and Google, and—until next week—stay angry!

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327. Stop Trying To Find The Real King Arthur with Amy Jeffs | Gloucester History Festival Special Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

Was King Arthur real? or are we looking at history all wrong?

If you think finding a 6th-century tomb solves the Arthurian legend, think again. Medievalist, artist, and author Dr. Amy Jeffs (author of Arthur: A New Life) joins host Paul Bavill to dismantle the obsession with "smoking gun" popular history. From giant-descended queens to shape-shifting wizards, the true power of King Arthur lies not in a single dead warlord, but in centuries of evolving folklore, political propaganda, and captivating mystery.

In this episode, we explore:

The Gloucester Cathedral Apprentice Bracket Myth: How medieval art history misreads grief vs. miracles.
The Real Roots of Arthur: 9th-century Breton charters, early Welsh poetry, and monster-slaying heroes.
Brute Chronicles & Propaganda: How medieval kings twisted myth to justify foreign conquests.
The Dark Origin of the Round Table: Food fights, brutal executions, and baronial politics.
Forgotten Women of Arthurian Legend: Morgan le Fay, Guinevere's lineage, and Merlin’s sister.

Stop reducing complex legends to simple answers—embrace the magic of historical mystery!

Guest Info & Book Links:

Buy the Book: Order Arthur: A New Life via the History Rage Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781529431681
Website: https://www.amyjeffshistoria.com/
Instagram: @amyjeffs_author
Live Event: See Dr. Amy Jeffs live at the Gloucester History Festival (12th–20th September). Book tickets now at https://www.gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk.

Recommended Episodes:

Episode 322: Emily Hauser rages that there is no canonical version of The Odyssey.
Episode 276: Nick Jubber rages that vampires are not Transylvanian.

Follow & Support History Rage:

Website: https://www.historyrage.com
Patreon: Join for £3/month for ad-free listening, or £5/month for live streams, early releases, and the History Rage mug at https://www.patreon.com/historyrage.
Apple Podcasts: Subscribe directly on Apple Podcasts for ad-free episodes.
Social Media: Follow @HistoryRage on Twitter/X, Instagram, and Facebook.

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326. Nuclear Civil Defence is NOT a futile joke with Nathan Hazlehurst Aug 30, 2026

Show notes

Britain’s terrifying Cold War survival plans were far more serious than imagined.

Was Cold War civil defence genuinely useful — or simply political theatre designed to comfort a frightened population? In this explosive episode of History Rage, emergency planning historian Dr. Nathan Hazlehurst dismantles decades of myths surrounding Britain’s nuclear preparedness.

From Protect and Survive and regional nuclear bunkers to the grim realism of Threads and When the Wind Blows, Nathan reveals the astonishing scale of Britain’s plans for surviving nuclear war. Far from being laughable, civil defence involved thousands of volunteers, detailed “war books” in every council area, emergency food distribution plans, evacuation schemes, and preparations for maintaining government after atomic attack.

Nathan explains how the UK expected local authorities to become wartime rulers, why police would have received sweeping emergency powers, and how Britain planned to preserve society in the aftermath of nuclear devastation. The discussion also explores the cultural legacy of civil defence, including the influence of Yes Minister, Dad’s Army, and the BBC’s banned 1965 nuclear drama The War Game.

You’ll hear why the famous Protect and Survive booklet may actually contain surprisingly sensible resilience advice — much of which Scandinavian countries still issue to citizens today.

This episode explores:

The real purpose behind Britain’s Cold War civil defence network
Why local councils maintained secret nuclear war books
How Threads accurately portrayed nuclear emergency planning
The role of the Civil Defence Corps and Green Goddess fire engines
Britain’s regional seats of government and continuity plans
Why nuclear-free zones clashed with central government
How Cold War resilience planning still shapes emergency response today

Guest Details

Dr. Nathan Hazlehurst is an emergency preparedness practitioner and contemporary historian specialising in British civil defence and Cold War emergency planning. He is currently developing his doctoral research into a forthcoming book exploring the history and legacy of UK civil defence.

Follow Nathan on X/Twitter:

https://x.com/n_rh1992

Recommended Episodes

Episode 43 – Lucy Siebert rages that Protect and Survive isn’t really that bad
Episode 205 – Nathan Hazlehurst rages there’s more to wartime defence than “putting bloody lights out”

Follow and support History Rage:

Website: https://historyrage.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/historyrage

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/historyrage

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/historyrage

Support the podcast on Patreon for early ad-free episodes, monthly live streams, bonus content, and the legendary History Rage mug.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, share the episode online, and help more people discover the rage.

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325. Tudors are NOT overdone with Joanne Paul | Gloucester History Festival Special Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

Think we’ve exhausted Tudor history? Think again — what are we missing?

Are the Tudors really overdone, or are we simply telling the same stories over and over again? Dr Joanne Paul joins Paul Bavill for a counter-rage against the idea that historians should stop studying the Tudors.

From the English Reformation and the Break with Rome to poverty, politics, women, immigrants, people of colour and the extraordinary figures operating beyond the royal spotlight, there is far more to sixteenth-century England than Henry VIII, his six wives and Elizabeth I.

Joanne explains why modern Tudor history is busy challenging Victorian misconceptions, uncovering overlooked lives and rethinking how power actually worked. Why did the dissolution of the monasteries fundamentally change the experience of poverty? Were Tudor counsellors sometimes more important than the monarch? Were the seeds of the English Civil War already being planted in sixteenth-century ideas about government?

There is also plenty of discussion about the English Reformation, Lollardy, Renaissance humanism, Edward VI, the Marian regime, Henry VII, the rise of the “new men” and, inevitably, why Edward Seymour sucks.

If you think Tudor history begins and ends with Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII, this is your challenge to look again.

Dr Joanne Paul is speaking at the Gloucester History Festival, which runs from 12th–20th September. Joanne will be appearing on Friday 18th September at 4pm, discussing the end of Henry VIII's reign. Find festival information and tickets at: https://www.gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk

Find out more about Dr Joanne Paul and follow her work:

Website: https://www.joannepaul.co.uk

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrJoannePaul

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjoannepaul/

X/Twitter: https://x.com/drjoannepaul

Joanne is the author of Thomas More: A Life and Death in Tudor England and The House of Dudley. Buy The House of Dudley and support History Rage through the History Rage Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781405937191

Recommended episodes:

Episode 269: Al Murray argues it’s time to shut up about the Tudors.

Episode 266: Dr Joanne Paul rages that it’s not Lady Jane Grey — it’s Queen Jane Dudley.

Listen to more episodes and find History Rage here:

Website: https://www.historyrage.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/historyrage

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryRage

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyrage

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Want to support the show? Join the Angry Mob on Patreon for £5 per month and get early ad-free episodes, access to the monthly livestream and the coveted History Rage mug: https://www.patreon.com/historyrage

If you enjoy History Rage, please follow, subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen — and tell another history lover to climb aboard the rage train.

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