Anglotopia Podcast | Discussing UK British Travel, History, Culture, London, British Slang, and More!

In this episode of the Anglotopia Podcast, Jonathan Thomas sits down with Jonathan W. Jordan — New York Times bestselling military historian, Wall Street Journal book critic, and now federal judge — to discuss his richly researched new book Ike and Winston: World War, Cold War, and an Extraordinary Friendship . Spanning a quarter century from their first meeting on Christmas Eve 1941 — when Eisenh...

In this episode of the Anglotopia Podcast, Jonathan Thomas sits down with Professor Paul Robichaud — Professor of English at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Connecticut — to discuss his remarkable new book,  Stories of the Stones: Imagining Prehistory in Britain, Ireland, and Brittany , published by Reaktion Books on July 6th. Paul is not an archaeologist but a literary scholar, and his...

In this monthly bonus episode of the Anglotopia Podcast, Jonathan Thomas returns with the July edition of What's On in London — a complete rundown of everything worth seeing and doing in the city this month. July is London at its most extroverted: Wimbledon fever, the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, British Summertime at Hyde Park, open-air cinema across the city, and a remarkable cluster of n...

In this deeply personal episode of the Anglotopia Podcast, Jonathan Thomas makes a big announcement — he and Mrs. Anglotopia are returning to Gold Hill in Shaftesbury, Dorset, the place that inspired Anglotopia itself. As a teenager in Indiana, Jonathan hung a poster of Gold Hill on his bedroom wall and dreamed of going there; it became the reason he fell in love with Britain. After nearly 10 year...

In this special on-location episode of the Anglotopia Podcast, recorded at the Chicago History Museum on the occasion of His Majesty the King's official birthday, Jonathan Thomas sits down with Richard Hyde — His Majesty's Consul General in Chicago and the senior British diplomatic representative across 14 states in the American Midwest. Speaking just before the British Consulate's King's Birthday...

Did you know that in addition to saving the free world, Churchill was also an accomplished painter? In this episode of the Anglotopia Podcast, Jonathan Thomas sits down with Dr. Lucy Davis — curator of paintings at the Wallace Collection in London and co-curator of Winston Churchill the Painter , the first major retrospective of Churchill's art in over 60 years and the first substantial UK exhibit...

In this episode of the Anglotopia Podcast, Jonathan Thomas is joined by Brendan Dowd — West Point graduate, Iraq War veteran, government consultant, and host of History Nerds United, one of the most respected history book podcasts in the business with over 220 episodes — for a pure, unfiltered book nerd conversation. Both hosts came with a stack of their favorite British history books and took tur...

In this special bonus episode of the Anglotopia Podcast, Jonathan Thomas launches an experimental new monthly format: a London events guide covering what's actually on in the city this month. June is arguably London's finest month — 16 to 17 hours of daylight, the longest evenings of the year, and an events calendar absolutely bursting at the seams. Jonathan walks through everything worth knowing...

In this solo episode of the Anglotopia Podcast, Jonathan Thomas delivers his definitive guide to Oxford — his favorite city in England outside of London and the subject of his guidebook 101 Oxford Travel Tips and Tricks . From the bleary-eyed chaos of his first visit in 2012 with an angry 16-month-old and the Mini Cooper factory ring road at midnight, to two stays as a student on the Oxford Experi...

In this episode of the Anglotopia Podcast, Jonathan Thomas sits down with Dr. Gary L. Stiles — physician, medical researcher, former Distinguished Professor of Cardiovascular Research at Duke University, and lifelong Churchill scholar — to discuss his new book A Prelude to Immortality , published by Unicorn Publishing Group. Gary's book is the definitive study of Churchill's most beloved work, My...

In this episode of the Anglotopia Podcast, Jonathan Thomas sits down with Spencer Murphy — Assistant Professor in Media and Communications at Coventry University, specialist in film theory and cross-cultural cinema, and founder of the Coventry East Asian Film Society — for a wide-ranging, enthusiastic, and genuinely entertaining conversation about British film. What is a British film, exactly? Is...

In this episode of the Anglotopia Podcast, Jonathan Thomas is joined by Heather Teysko — host of the Renaissance English History Podcast, founder of TudorCon, and one of the true pioneers of independent history podcasting. Heather started her podcast back in 2009 on a Labor Day weekend whim, with a cheap microphone and no idea how to edit audio, and has since built it into one of the longest-conti...

In this episode of the Anglotopia Podcast, Jonathan Thomas is joined by Magnus Birch Throckmorton, the latest custodian of Coughton Court — a Tudor manor house in Warwickshire that has been home to the Throckmorton family for over 600 years. Coughton Court is one of England's most historically charged houses: its great gatehouse was built during the reign of Henry VIII, its walls conceal a double...

A quick but exciting announcement from Jonathan: the Anglotopia Podcast is approaching its 100th episode, and to celebrate, Jonathan and Jackie — Mrs. Anglotopia herself — are sitting down together for a special no-script, no-agenda Q&A episode, just like they did for Episode 50. Anything goes: the history of Anglotopia, upcoming trips, favorite corners of Britain, TV recommendations, the mona...

In this episode of the Anglotopia Podcast, Jonathan Thomas is joined by Sarah Morris — creator of the Tudor Travel Guide, author of multiple Tudor books, including her novel about Anne Boleyn, and co-founder of Simply Tudor Tours — for a sweeping, entertaining, and deeply informative crash course in Tudor Britain. Calling it Tudor 101, Jonathan and Sarah walk through the full arc of the dynasty: f...

In this episode of the Anglotopia Podcast, Jonathan Thomas sits down with Ben Pearson — retired West Yorkshire Police traffic officer, Police Interceptors TV veteran, bestselling author, and mental health advocate — for the ultimate American's guide to driving in the UK. Ben spent 19 years on one of Britain's elite roads policing units, handling high-speed pursuits, fatal collisions, and serious o...

In this episode of the Anglotopia Podcast, Jonathan Thomas sits down with Tim Barber, Yorkshire Blue Badge guide and founder of Real Yorkshire Tours, for an in-depth traveler's guide to one of England's most captivating and varied regions. Tim brings over a decade of guiding experience and a background in geography, geology, and marketing to the conversation, explaining why Yorkshire — at 6,000 sq...

In this episode of the Anglotopia Podcast, Jonathan Thomas is joined by Mia Ferullo, Digital Engagement Officer, and Sam, Programme Officer at the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth, Yorkshire — and co-hosts of the museum's own acclaimed podcast,  Behind the Glass: A Parsonage Podcast.  Together they explore what makes the Parsonage one of Britain's most atmospheric and emotionally reson...

In this episode of the Anglotopia Podcast, host Jonathan Thomas sits down with retired British police officer, military veteran, and author John Donoghue to discuss his remarkable journey from the Royal Navy and British Army to 40 years in the police — and then, in retirement, accidentally becoming a castle guide at Pembroke Castle in Wales. John's new book, *Castles, Crime and Cake: A Policeman's...

In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, host Jonathan Thomas welcomes back photographer and adventurer Quintin Lake to discuss the Hadrian's Wall National Trail. They explore Quintin's experiences walking the trail, its historical significance, the unique landscapes, and the challenges of photography along the route. The conversation also touches on memorable moments, iconic sites, and practica...

This episode of the Anglotopia Podcast delves into the hidden history of Bletchley Park, exploring its origins, growth, and the significant role it played during World War II. Dr. Chris Smith joins us to discuss the secrecy surrounding the operations, the organizational structure, and the cryptanalysis processes that led to the breaking of the Enigma code. The discussion also highlights the impact...

In this engaging conversation, Adam Pennington, a Tudor and Plantagenet historian, shares his journey from a corporate media consultant to a full-time historian. He discusses his passion for Tudor history, particularly the story of Margaret Pole and her family's tumultuous relationship with Henry VIII. The conversation delves into the complexities of the Exeter Conspiracy, the brutal execution of...

After 25 years and roughly 25 trips across the Atlantic — including one where he ran out of money and had to beg his parents from a London phone box and another that ended with a $1,200 phone bill — Jonathan Thomas has learned how to travel Britain without going broke. In this special bonus episode, he introduces the completely rewritten third edition of 101 Budget Britain Travel Tips , walks thro...

In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, host Jonathan Thomas speaks with Billy Cullen, a London taxi driver and history enthusiast, about the unique experience of navigating London's rich history through the lens of the iconic black cab. They discuss the rigorous training known as 'The Knowledge,' the challenges of being a tour guide, and the impact of modern technology like Uber on the traditi...

In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, host Jonathan Thomas speaks with Dan Absher, a lifelong Beatles fan and CEO, about the cultural impact of the Beatles and the insights he has drawn from their success for his upcoming book, 'The Fab Four Pillars of Impact: Building Dynamic Teams the Beatles' Way.' They discuss Dan's early memories of the Beatles, his experiences in Liverpool, and the less...