Toto Koopman: Socialite, Vogue Model and WWII...

In 1553, Mary Tudor became the first woman to sit on the English throne - a reign of just five years, that history has remembered almost exclusively through the lens of her enemies. But today, we revisit the story of "Bloody Mary" to ask: was she really a ruthless tyrant?Joining ...  Show more

He was one of medieval England’s most formidable warriors. Today we hear how Edward of Woodstock - the Black Prince - earned that reputation, tracing his rise during the Hundred Years’ War and exploring the nature of his command. We also confront the harsher realities of his camp ...  Show more

You would think that a woman who was queen several times, commanded armies and was possibly the most powerful woman in medieval Europe would need no introduction…yet here we are.

On today’s show we’re joined by author and new co-host of the History Hit podcast Gone M ...

Toto Koopman (1908-1991) graced the cover of Vogue, spied for the Allied Forces in World World II, and narrowly escaped death in a concentration camp. This month, we’re talking about adventurers – women who refused to be confined. They pushed the boundaries of where a woman could ...  Show more

Was Rasputin really Russia’s greatest love machine? Did he have any healing powers? And why might his penis be pickling in a jar?

In this episode, we are drawing this mystical man out of his cloud of green smoke to find out which of the things we know about him might ...

Khawla bint al-Azwar (c. 630s AD) was a legendary Muslim soldier who fought in battles against the Byzantine Empire. This month, we're talking about Folk Heroes. People whose lives and stories took on mythic proportions. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good r ...  Show more