Subject to Change

Latest Episodes:

Clive of India with Dr Zareer Masani Dec 11, 2021

Show notes

Zareer is a a renowned historian and broadcaster. Clive of India is out of fashion these days but Zareer remains an admirer. In this episode Zareer rises to my challenge of a 5 minute history of India from the days of Alexander, talks about Clive's life, achievements and gruesome death and hits back at recent attempts to portray Clive as some kind of sociopath.

Laurence Bergreen on Magellan Nov 26, 2021

Show notes

Laurence Bergreen threads the needle for me. He tells Magellan's story in a way that is exciting and moves with pace but leaving in all the 'maybes' and 'buts' that a story like this needs. His book Over the Edge of the World: Magellan's Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe is an absolute pleasure.

With one leap he was free! - stories from Peter Henderson's life Oct 21, 2021

Show notes

It is hard to describe Peter Henderson's adventures without lapsing into cliche. Hair raising, eye popping and so on. A news cameraman and reporter (and latterly an entrepreneur) in some of the world's most notorious hotspots of the last few decades he has found himself in appalling danger again and again. The stories are great fun to listen to but for many of them I am glad it was him and not me.
If you enjoy the podcast I really recommend you buy Peter's book Bigger Than Me. Apart from the amazing stories 100% of the proceeds go to the Rory Peck Trust. The Trust provides practical and financial support to freelance journalists and their families worldwide, assisting in times of crisis and helping them to work more safely. I think once you have listened to the podcast you will understand just how difficult and how dangerous the work can be so it is a really good cause.

A history of astronomy - from the Babylonians to Galileo Sep 28, 2021

Show notes

Thony Christie has a blog called the Renaissance Mathematicus. It covers the history of science and is one of the wonders of the blogging world. I asked him to talk to me about the history of astronomy and he delivered a masterclass.

Clocks, Civilization, Power . . . all About Time with David Rooney Aug 27, 2021

Show notes

David Rooney is the author of About Time: A History of Civilisation in Twelve Clocks. He talks about clocks (in the widest sense of the word - sundials, waterclocks, orbiting satellites and more) and about how time is used to demonstrate and exert power. He is quite simply a delightful speaker who knows his subject inside and out and knows how to get you to share his enthusiasm. Such a pleasure!

Talking movies with Freddie deBoer and Abe Callard (Mad Max, OUTIH, Ghostbusters etc) Aug 19, 2021

Show notes

Freddie, Abe and I talk about movies. Three blokes talking about feminism in movies. Well of course. But much more besides. Films discussed include Mad Max Fury Road, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, that Ghostbusters remake . . .
I asked everyone to recommend one hidden gem. Freddie delivered his one, Abe crammed in three and I cheated and came up with five:
Freddie
S.F. W.
Abe
The Man Who Wasn't There
Advise & Consent
Talk Radio
Russell
Red Rock West
Ripley's Game
A Stranger of Mine
One Cut of the Dead
Headhunters

Julian Sancton on the ill fated voyage of the Belgica to the Antarctic in 1898 Aug 08, 2021

Show notes

Julian Sancton is a wonderful guide to the Belgian expedition to Antartica in 1898. The crew of the Belgica included Roald Amundsen and Frederick Cook who went on to become among the most famous explorers of their time. Julian's book is a classic of the genre. Check out on Amazon in the UK and in the US.

When the Shogun's Sumo met Commodore Perry's minstrel show Jul 24, 2021

Show notes

Kenji Tierney is a wonderfully engaging speaker. Starting with memories of being introduced by his grandmother to sumo by way of watching TV with her he gives a wonderfully learned and fascinating talk on sumo and its development. The story of how the Japanese tried to impress Commodore Perry with a sumo wrestling exhibition and he responded by putting on a minstrel show is just one of many fascinating stories. If sumo has always left you a bit baffled this is a thoroughly entertaining 'deep dive'.

Amazon the behemoth Jul 14, 2021

Show notes

Robin Gaster's book Behemoth, Amazon Rising: Power and Seduction in the Age of Amazon is available to buy on, naturally, Amazon. If you want to understand where Amazon came from, why it is so successful and why it needs to be tamed this is a great place to go. I spoke to Robin on my podcast. I still can't make up my mind. It seems I buy half my stuff from Amazon - but Robin makes a good case for why that is the problem . . .

Memories of wartime Japan and reflections on the kamikaze Jun 29, 2021

Show notes

Emiko Ohnuki-Tierney is a professor of anthropology at the University of Wisconsin. Here she recalls her life as a young girl in Kobe during World War II and we talk also about the kamikaze pilots of that period. Her books Kamikaze Diaries and Kamikaze, Cherry Blossoms and Nationalisms have been highly influential in explaining how the highly educated young men were led to their fate.

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