logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2020
11 m

Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Gary Arndt | Glassbox Media
About this episode
In 2002 the BBC did a poll where they named the top 100 Britons in history. It had many people you have probably heard of, including Isaac Newton, Princess Diana, John Lenon, and Queen Victoria. The person who was ranked #2, however, is someone that many people outside of the UK might not have heard of. Yet, he really is one of the most important people when ... Show More
Up next
Yesterday
The Ottoman Empire
One of the most important empires in history was the Ottoman Empire.  It wasn’t the biggest empire, but it had an outsized impact on the world due to its strategic location and its moment in history.  The Ottomans shocked the world by capturing the city of Constantinople and la ... Show More
16m 49s
Nov 22
The Kokoda Track
In July 1942, Japanese forces landed on the north shore of the island of New Guinea  Their goal was to cross the island by land and take the strategic city of Port Moresby.  If they had been successful, the entire fate of the war in the Pacific would have altered.  They didn’t ... Show More
14m 3s
Nov 21
The Phoebus Cartel
Companies that sell products to the public have to follow a fine line.  On the one hand, they need to sell stuff to make money, and the way they do that is by making a good product.  However, if their product is too good, then people might not need to buy it again, or at least ... Show More
15m 4s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2024
Princess Diana
Princess Diana was one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. Not only was she married to the future King of England, she was also a fashion icon, a humanitarian, a devoted mother, and a role model for millions. However, her life was far from the fairytale she’d env ... Show More
59m 11s
Feb 2024
OFH Throwback- Episode #1- Was Queen Elizabeth Actually a Man?
In this throwback episode Sebastian takes you all the way back to the very first episode of OFH ever released. Queen Elizabeth I is easily one of England’s most celebrated monarchs. The so-called “virgin queen” has been credited with leading England through a golden age. However, ... Show More
33m 26s
Dec 2024
Buckingham Palace
The official seat of Britain’s monarchy for almost 200 years, Buckingham Palace has provided the stage and backdrop to countless events that have shaped the nation and the wider world. An iconic building, family home, and nucleus of political power, it’s one of the nation’s most ... Show More
58m 48s
Jul 2024
Dr David Livingstone
Over 32 years of exploration, Dr David Livingstone made a name for himself as a renowned adventurer, doctor, and Christian missionary. He travelled more than 30,000 miles, and contended with disease, heartbreak, and brutal conflict on the way. His experiences also turned him into ... Show More
58m 41s
Oct 2023
Who moulded Winston Churchill?
Winston Churchill’s remarkable career saw him interact with many of the other great figures of the age, many of whom had a profound impact on Britain’s wartime leader. Speaking to Rob Attar, Professor David Reynolds examines Churchill’s relationships with the likes of Stalin, Mus ... Show More
51m 26s
Nov 2014
Brunel
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the Victorian engineer responsible for bridges, tunnels and railways still in use today more than 150 years after they were built. Brunel represented the cutting edge of technological innovation in Victorian Britain, and hi ... Show More
44m 44s
Dec 2024
Tudor explorers: everything you wanted to know
By the time the Tudors took to the waves, much of the world had already been mapped by Europeans. So what was left for Tudor explorers to uncover – and should we call them 'explorers' at all? Historian Jerry Brotton doesn't think so. In this episode, he tells Kev Lochun how the R ... Show More
49m 23s
Sep 2022
Douglas Murray: British Monarchy vs. American Oligarchy
On this episode, Will sits down with New York Post Columnist and author of 'The War On The West' Douglas Murray, to discuss what Queen Elizabeth II's passing means for this moment in history.  Douglas and Will discuss the historic moments the Queen has lived through and why her p ... Show More
53m 37s
Oct 21
11th-century Europe: not just the Norman Conquest
When we think of Europe in the 11th century, one date stands out: 1066. However, as Professor Charles West explains, this was a century of great change, and great events, across all of Europe. In conversation with David Musgrove, Charles talks about why we should perhaps be more ... Show More
36m 4s