History Rage

Drones didn’t start in Silicon Valley — they began with Victorians and war Drones feel like the defining weapon of the 21st century — cheap, disposable, and terrifyingly effective. But what if that belief is completely wrong? In this episode of History Rage , aviation historian and journalist Mark Piesing explodes the modern myth surrounding drones and reveals a truth that stretches back more than...

The Blitz myth shattered: courage, crime, and chaos behind stoicism The familiar story of Britain’s Blitz—calm, united, unshaken—is one of the most powerful myths of the Second World War. But in this gripping episode of History Rage , historian Joshua Levine dismantles the “Keep Calm and Carry On” narrative and reveals a far more complex reality. Drawing on firsthand accounts and deep archival res...

Bletchley Park wasn’t built by one man—and history must stop pretending otherwise For most people, Bletchley Park means one thing: Alan Turing, Enigma, and a single heroic breakthrough . That story is neat, cinematic—and deeply misleading. In this episode of History Rage , Paul Bavill is joined by historian, author, and Bletchley Park trustee Sir Dermot Turing to dismantle one of Britain’s most co...

Daniel Defoe wasn’t just a novelist — he helped forge Britain itself Daniel Defoe is remembered as the author of Robinson Crusoe — but that legacy hides a far more dangerous, politically explosive truth. Long before his novels reshaped literature, Defoe was shaping nations. In this episode of History Rage , Paul Bavill is joined by historian Marc Mierowsky , Fellow and Lecturer in English at the U...

Discover the Spanish Infanta who reshaped Renaissance power from behind the throne. Step into the glittering courts of 16th-century Europe as historian Professor Magdalena Sánchez joins host Paul Bavill to rage against a stubborn myth: that women only matter in history when they command political power. Catalina Micaela — daughter of Philip II of Spain and Duchess of Savoy — has long been treated...

Samuel Pepys exposed: secrets, suppression, and the truth behind his diary. Samuel Pepys Was Not What You Think… EXPLICIT CONTENT WARNING - NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED! For generations, Samuel Pepys has been portrayed as a witty observer of Restoration London — a charming administrator who documented plague, fire, and naval reform. But what if that version of Pepys wasn’t the full story? In this exp...

Titanic myths sink fast when the real evidence finally surfaces. For decades, J. Bruce Ismay has been cast as the Titanic’s cowardly villain—but what if almost everything you think you know is wrong? In this revelatory episode, Paul Bavill is joined by Clifford Ismay , author of Understanding J. Bruce Ismay: The True Story of the Man They Call the Coward of the Titanic , to explore the real man be...

The Mercian king history reduced to a ditch—but changed England Most people know Offa of Mercia for one thing: a giant ditch dividing England and Wales. But that familiar image hides a far more powerful—and fascinating—figure. In this episode, host Paul Bavill is joined by Cambridge historian Rory Naismith to challenge the long-standing myth of Offa as a brutal warlord. Instead, we uncover a ruler...

The Cambridge Five were not heroes—just dangerous traitors with devastating consequences The Cambridge Five have long been shrouded in myth, glamour, and intrigue—but what if the truth is far darker? In this explosive episode of History Rage , host Paul Bavill is joined by journalist, historian, and History Book Buffs co-host Antonia Senior to dismantle one of the most persistent legends of the Co...

Forgotten Restoration women reshaped power, culture, and scandal in spectacular ways. Step into a vibrant, myth-busting journey through the 17th century as cultural historian Breeze Barrington joins History Rage to tear down the idea that the only women worth remembering from the Restoration were Charles II’s mistresses. Drawing on her new book The Extraordinary Untold Lives of Women at the Restor...

Cleopatra revealed: power, propaganda, and the woman behind the myth Most people think they know Cleopatra — the irresistible seductress who captivated Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. But what if that story is largely fiction, shaped by political spin and centuries of retelling? In this episode of History Rage , host Paul Bavill is joined by acclaimed historian and author Lucy Hughes-Hallett to dis...

Horatio Nelson. Glorious victory. Britain “ruling the waves.” We've all heard the legend — but what if the real story of Trafalgar is far more complicated… and far less heroic… than we’ve been led to believe? In this episode of History Rage , three-time returning rager Dr Zack White tears apart centuries of patriotic mythmaking to reveal the uncomfortable truths behind Britain’s most celebrated na...

The General Strike wasn’t revolutionary chaos—it was disciplined working-class resistance The 1926 General Strike is often painted as Britain’s near-miss with revolution—but the reality is far more revealing, and far more powerful. In this episode of History Rage , Paul Bavill is joined by historian Geoff Andrews to dismantle the myths and uncover the true story of working-class politics, solidari...

Renaissance medicine wasn’t ignorant—its cures were stranger and smarter than you think. Step back into a world of blood, bones, bile, and groundbreaking innovation as Dr Alanna Skuse dismantles the biggest myths about Renaissance medicine . From battlefield surgeries and prosthetics, to midwives, quacks, toads, and the four humours, this episode reveals a medical world far more logical, experimen...

Jungle warfare that reshaped the war – and history forgot it Step into the dense, unforgiving jungles of Burma in WWII as Dr Richard Duckett and Duncan Gilmour uncover the astonishing, largely untold story of Lt. Col. Edgar Peacock – the man they argue was Britain’s greatest SOE commander . In this gripping episode of History Rage , we expose the scale, the bravery, and the strategic brilliance of...

When a respectable Victorian doctor became Britain’s most feared poisoner Victorian England believed murder belonged to the gutters. Then Dr William Palmer shattered that illusion. In this gripping episode of History Rage , award-winning journalist and author Stephen Bates exposes the dark truth behind the case of William Palmer — the Midlands doctor hanged in 1856 for poisoning his friend John Pa...

Britain’s upper class isn’t a relic of the past—it’s still here, still powerful, and still shaping the land beneath our feet. In this gripping episode, journalist and author Eleanor Doughty dismantles the pervasive myth that the aristocracy simply “disappeared” in the 20th century. Spoiler: they didn’t. They just got quieter. Eleanor takes us inside the private estates, inherited titles, and soft...

The vampire didn’t rise from Transylvania — it crawled out of the Balkans. Forget Count Dracula — before Stoker’s gothic horror came centuries of chilling folklore, blood-soaked superstition, and very real vampire panics. In this spine-tingling episode, travel writer and award-winning author Nick Jubber joins Paul Bavill to rage against the myth that vampires were born in Transylvania. From Serbia...

A conqueror, a god, or just a man lost in myth? Alexander the Great: the name conjures images of conquest, charisma, and an empire that stretched from Greece to India. But how much of what we “know” is actually true? In this episode of History Rage , host Paul Bavill is joined by Dr Stephen Harrison , lecturer in Ancient History at Swansea University and author of Alexander: The Lives and Legacies...

Forget the katana myth — Japan’s samurai didn’t shun guns, they embraced them. 🔥 Were the samurai really noble warriors who turned their noses up at guns? This week on History Rage , host Paul Bavill sits down with historian, author, and YouTuber Matt Okuhara to demolish the myth of the “honourable warrior.” From matchlocks and martial arts to gun control laws in the 1600s, Matt reveals how Japan...

Discover how drugs shaped empires, creativity, and chaos throughout history. From ancient battlefields to Victorian medicine cabinets, this week’s episode of History Rage dives into the surprising — and often shocking — role of substance use across the ages. Host Paul Bavill is joined by historian and writer Sam Kelly ( @humanhistoryondrugs ) for a deep, thought-provoking journey through how drugs...

Anne Boleyn myths destroyed live at Katherine of Aragon Festival Recorded live at the Katherine of Aragon Festival , this special episode of History Rage sees host Paul Bavill joined on stage by Owen Emerson (Assistant Curator, Hever Castle) and Alfred Hawkins (Curator, Tower of London) to challenge the biggest myths surrounding Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII and Tudor England. Anne Boleyn remains one of...

The Desert Fox legend endures, but how much of it is true? In this landmark 200th episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill is joined once again by military historian and author Peter Caddick Adams to dismantle the enduring myths surrounding one of WWII’s most famous — and most misunderstood — figures: Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, the Desert Fox. Rommel has long been painted as the daring genius of...

Why history lessons drain passion – and how we can fix it History should ignite curiosity, creativity and connection. Instead, too often, it does the opposite. In this powerful History Rage Live episode, host Paul Bavill is joined by medievalist, broadcaster and historian Professor Janina Ramirez to rage against the way history is taught – and how rigid curricula, “great man” narratives and siloed...

Why are we still obsessed with the Tudors? In this lively episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill is joined by the brilliant comedian and World War II historian Al Murray to tackle the relentless fixation on the Tudor dynasty. With a blend of humour and historical insight, Al argues that it’s high time we move beyond the soap opera of Henry VIII and his six wives to explore the far more transfor...