Pop Quiz | The Great Debasement

As Churchill once said, "Truth must be surrounded by a bodyguard of lies," and this is never more true in wartime (or a presidential campaign). This week we discuss a deception operation during World War Two, its effect on the war, and the anatomy of both humans and the continent ... Show More

During the summer break, the 15-Minute History podcast team are republishing some of their favorite episodes. This episode originally aired on February 26, 2024.___Two men stood in a large room shouting at one another, raging over family and war or accusing each other of incompet ... Show More

Do we need government regulations to protect employees in the workplace? Can labor unions go too far in efforts to safeguard their members? And did the sinking of RMS Titanic have something to do with shoddy health & safety measures?Post your comments, questions, and thoughts abo ... Show More

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb kicks off four special episodes about the Tudor Dynasty with a look at its founding father King Henry VII. Seen as an exile and outsider with barely a claim to the throne, there was little to suggest that the obscure Henry would last any longer than hi ... Show More

Henry V only had a short reign, but his legacy looms large over the medieval landscape. Remembered as a heroic warrior king, who bested the French at Harfleur then marched his forces to victory at Agincourt, few monarchs have such a distinguished reputation. But 'Prince Hal' wasn ... Show More

It's 1163; Thomas Becket has cast off the shackles of his working class roots to become King Henry II's right-hand man. He is appointed to the highest position in the land next to the Crown; Archbishop of Canterbury. But Church and state are at loggerheads, with Henry and Thomas ... Show More

Henry V of England was the archetypal medieval king, a warrior par excellence whose example inspired English kings for centuries to come, the victor at Agincourt and conqueror of much of France. Tides of History's returning champion guest, Dan Jones, joins me to talk about his ne ... Show More

Henry Bolingbroke has gone down in history as the usurper that stole the English crown from the tyrant Richard II – and was later plagued by rebellion and ill health. But what else do we know about the man who later became Henry IV? In the second episode of our three-part History ... Show More

No advisor was more important to King Henry VIII than Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. He captured Henry's attention with his brilliance and became his most trusted confidant.  But when the King wanted to divorce Catherine of Aragon, not even the eloquent Wolsey could convince the Pope to ... Show More

At the time, surely Kateryn Parr had her reservations about being Henry VIII's sixth wife? Aside from being a tyrannical maniac who'd just beheaded his last wife, Catherine Howard, he was getting old, angry and his ulcerous leg was getting smelly. However, Kateryn was smart - she ... Show More

Meek and mild, or smart and scheming? Have we all been underestimating the third wife of Henry VIII? Was Jane Seymour the meek and mild lady she's often portrayed as, or was she more smart and scheming than we give her credit for? Although her time as queen didn't last long, Seym ... Show More

On 28 January 1547, King Henry VIII died at the age of 55. Just hours before his passing, his last will and testament had been read, stamped, and sealed. Historians have disagreed ever since about its authenticity and validity, and the circumstances of its creation, making Henry' ... Show More

What causes a person to lose the Presidential election? Henry Clay ran for the Presidency 3 times, and for nomination by his party 5 times, but never made it to the Oval Office as the Commander in Chief. So who was he? And why could he just not get the votes? Find out in this epi ... Show More