The Rest Is History

Latest Episodes:

683. Washington: Hero of the Revolution (Part 1) Jun 28, 2026

Show notes

Where did George Washington come from, and what was he like? How did he come to take on such a pivotal role in the American Revolution? And, was he really central to America’s triumphant struggle for independence?

Join Dominic and Tom as they launch into the extraordinary life and origins of George Washington.

Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at the⁠⁠restishistory.com⁠⁠.

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Lloyds. 250 years on and still backing the nation's aspirations.

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Discover something new on TikTok.

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Twitter:

@TheRestHistory

@holland_tom

@dcsandbrook

Video Editors: Jack Meek, Harry Swan + Adam Thornton

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude

Senior Producer: Callum Hill

Executive Producer: Dom Johnson

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682. South Africa: Mandela and the Death of Apartheid (Part 6) Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

How did the rugby World Cup final of 1995 inspire South Africa’s totemic national anthem? Why does the story shed a light on the history of Apartheid in South Africa? And, after becoming president, following years of imprisonment, how did Mandela use rugby and the national anthem to forge a new South Africa?

Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss the inspiring story behind South Africa’s national anthem, the collapse of Apartheid, and Nelson Mandela’s presidency.

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Lloyds. 250 years on and still backing the nation's aspirations.

To read our new newsletter, sign up at:

therestishistory.com/newsletters

Advertise with us: Partnerships@goalhanger.com

_______

Twitter:

@TheRestHistory

@holland_tom

@dcsandbrook

Video Editors: Jack Meek, Harry Swan + Adam Thornton

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude

Senior Producer: Callum Hill

Executive Producer: Dom Johnson

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681. Brazil: The Emperor’s Anthem (Part 5) Jun 21, 2026

Show notes

What does the Brazilian national anthem reveal about its history of slavery and revolt? Why did the king of Portugal rule his country all the way from Rio in the 19th century? Who was the first emperor of Brazil? And, why was the second anthem a symbol of liberty?

Join Tom and Dominic as they delve into the chaotic episode of Brazilian history that resulted in its first and second national anthems.

_______

Lloyds. 250 years on and still backing the nation's aspirations.

To read our new newsletter, sign up at:

therestishistory.com/newsletters

Advertise with us: Partnerships@goalhanger.com

_______

Twitter:

@TheRestHistory

@holland_tom

@dcsandbrook

Video Editors: Jack Meek, Harry Swan + Adam Thornton

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude

Senior Producer: Callum Hill

Executive Producer: Dom Johnson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

680. The Netherlands: The Revolt that Made The Modern World (Part 4) Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

How is the Dutch national anthem, that has its origins during a 1568 siege of a French city, connected to the Dutch Revolt? What is the revolt’s role in the birth of modernity? And, why does it say ‘to the King of Spain I’ve granted a lifelong loyalty’?

Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss the national anthem with the deepest history, the Wilhelmus.

Father’s Day discounted gift memberships available here. Treat your dad to ad-free listening, early access to full series, bonus episodes, and much more.

To read our new newsletter, sign up at: ⁠⁠therestishistory.com/newsletters⁠⁠

_______

Advertise with us: ⁠Partnerships@goalhanger.com⁠

_______

Lloyds. 250 years on and still backing the nation's aspirations.

_______

Twitter:

@TheRestHistory

@holland_tom

@dcsandbrook

Video Editors: Jack Meek, Harry Swan + Adam Thornton

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude

Senior Producer: Callum Hill

Executive Producer: Dom Johnson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Fascist World Cup: Mussolini's Football Dictatorship | History of the World Cup Jun 16, 2026

Show notes

How did Benito Mussolini’s regime in the 1930s use sport to spread his ideology and prepare Italy for war? What infrastructure and propaganda strategies did he use to make the 1934 World Cup a showcase for fascism? And, did this form of propaganda actually work?

In this brand new The Rest Is History Club mini series, Dominic is joined by Paul Rouse to talk about dictatorships’ connections to football World Cups.

To read our new newsletter, sign up at: ⁠⁠therestishistory.com/newsletters⁠⁠

_______

Advertise with us: ⁠Partnerships@goalhanger.com⁠

_______

Twitter:

@TheRestHistory

@holland_tom

@dcsandbrook

Video Editors: Jack Meek, Harry Swan + Adam Thornton

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude

Senior Producer: Callum Hill

Executive Producer: Dom Johnson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

679. Germany: The Song Hitler Stole (Part 3) Jun 14, 2026

Show notes

Why is the German national anthem the most controversial of all? Is it true that it is Austrian in origin? And, what happened when Germany split after the Second World War? Did it perhaps lead to an absolute banger in the form of East Germany’s new anthem..?

Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss the history of Germany and its various different anthems.

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To read our new newsletter, sign up at: ⁠⁠therestishistory.com/newsletters⁠⁠

_______

Advertise with us: ⁠Partnerships@goalhanger.com⁠

_______

Lloyds. 250 years on and still backing the nation's aspirations.

_______

Twitter:

@TheRestHistory

@holland_tom

@dcsandbrook

Video Editors: Jack Meek, Harry Swan + Adam Thornton

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude

Senior Producer: Callum Hill

Executive Producer: Dom Johnson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

678. Britain: God Save the King (Part 2) Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

How did the Napoleonic Wars contribute to the enshrinement of the British national anthem? What are the Jacobite origins of this legendary melody? And, which British monarch was it written for?

Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss the creation of Britain’s legendary national anthem, God Save the King, and its mysterious composer.

_______

Lloyds. 250 years on and still backing the nation's aspirations.

_______

Father’s Day discounted gift memberships available here. Treat your dad to ad-free listening, early access to full series, bonus episodes, and much more.

_______

Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at the⁠restishistory.com⁠

To read our new newsletter, sign up at:

therestishistory.com/newsletters

Advertise with us: Partnerships@goalhanger.com

_______

Twitter:

@TheRestHistory

@holland_tom

@dcsandbrook

Video Editors: Jack Meek, Harry Swan + Adam Thornton

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude

Senior Producer: Callum Hill

Executive Producer: Dom Johnson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

677. USA: The Star-Spangled Banner (Part 1) Jun 07, 2026

Show notes

How did the War of 1812 result in America’s national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner? Who came up with it? And, why does this origin story make the anthem so controversial?

Join Dominic and Tom as they launch into the first episode of their Football World Cup special, with the story behind America’s national anthem, and its secret story.

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*Father’s Day discounted gift memberships available here. Treat your dad to ad-free listening, early access to full series, bonus episodes, and much more.*

To read our new newsletter, sign up at:

therestishistory.com/newsletters

_______

Lloyds. 250 years on and still backing the nation's aspirations.

Advertise with us: Partnerships@goalhanger.com

_______

Twitter:

@TheRestHistory

@holland_tom

@dcsandbrook

Video Editors: Jack Meek, Harry Swan + Adam Thornton

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude

Senior Producer: Callum Hill

Executive Producer: Dom Johnson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

676. The First World War: Churchill’s Calamity (Part 6) Jun 03, 2026

Show notes

After Gallipoli has descended into a bloodbath, why do the British pour in more troops? Does Churchill finally understand his fateful error? How do the allies escape the total mess they find themselves in? And, why has this failed campaign become the foundational moment of Anzac identity?

Join Dominic and Tom as they bring an end to this disastrous Gallipoli campaign and the bloody year of 1915.

_______

Lloyds. 250 years on and still backing the nation's aspirations.

_______

To read our new newsletter, sign up at:

therestishistory.com/newsletters

Advertise with us: Partnerships@goalhanger.com

_______

Twitter:

@TheRestHistory

@holland_tom

@dcsandbrook

Video Editors: Jack Meek, Harry Swan + Adam Thornton

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude

Senior Producer: Callum Hill

Executive Producer: Dom Johnson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

675. The First World War: Slaughter at Gallipoli (Part 5) May 31, 2026

Show notes

Why was the Battle of Gallipoli, starting in February 1915, in Turkey, so disastrous for the Allies, and in particular, Winston Churchill? How has it become such a foundational moment in the national identity of New Zealand and Australia? And, how did it transform the destiny of Turkey?

Join Dominic and Tom as they launch into one of the worst military catastrophes of the First World War.

_______

Lloyds. 250 years on and still backing the nation's aspirations.

_______

To read our new newsletter, sign up at:

therestishistory.com/newsletters

_______

Advertise with us: Partnerships@goalhanger.com

_______

Twitter:

@TheRestHistory

@holland_tom