Histories of the Unexpected

In this BONUS episode, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, take another flight into the historical stratosphere to talk about the expected history of WINGS! Which is all about Aerial combat in WWI, John Aidan Liddell, VC, William Blake and Paradise Lost, tree toppers, Hans Christian Anderson’s Christmas Tree! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, scale the heights of historical inquiry to uncover the expected history of WINGS! Which is all about biblical angels, the Christmas story, early modern angels and the Reformation, conservation and falcons, the Cottingley Fairies and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the THIRD of our special Christmas-themed micro-histories in which we will embrace the task of demonstrating how an unexpected subject not only has a history but is massively important and interesting - in just 15 minutes! We will start with a shared example and then have just five minutes each to make a case for an interesting history on that very unexpected subject. Contributions will be...

This is the SECOND of our special Christmas-themed micro-histories in which we will embrace the task of demonstrating how an unexpected subject not only has a history but is massively important and interesting - in just 15 minutes! We will start with a shared example and then have just five minutes each to make a case for an interesting history on that very unexpected subject. Contributions will b...

This is the FIRST of our special Christmas-themed micro-histories in which we will embrace the task of demonstrating how an unexpected subject not only has a history but is massively important and interesting - in just 15 minutes! We will start with a shared example and then have just five minutes each to make a case for an interesting history on that very unexpected subject. Contributions will be...

This is second episode in our new micro history series - where we take an historic subject and try to demonstrate how it has a history in just 15-20 minutes!! And without just talking at supersonic speed. Think of it as the historicaI equivalent of speed chess or speed dating. In this second foray into historical brevity the histories of the unexpected duo of James Daybell and Sam Willis tackle th...

In this BONUS episode, the Histories of the Unexpected buddies, James and Sam, renew their explorations in the archives to investigate further the wonderfully pleasant expected history of FRIENDSHIP! Which is all about childhood memories, oral history and essays, pals battalions and WWI, Francis Bacon and Cicero, friendship albums at the British Library, as well as relations between nations and th...

In this episode, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, make their way through the archives to investigate the wonderfully pleasant expected history of FRIENDSHIP! Which is all about Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie and friendship at first sight; it's about diary-writing, letter-writing and the history of emotions, as well as bereavement, falling in love; it's about Francis Bacon, Cicero a...

This is the launch of a new challenge! We’ve enjoyed so much our recent lengthier explorations of unexpected subjects in which one topic runs over two podcasts, such is the depth of our research! Nonetheless it raises the important question of whether or not we could do a micro history - take an historic subject and try to demonstrate how it has a history in just 15-20 minutes!! And without j...

In this BONUS episode, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, continue their rampage through the past on their question to uncover the unexpected history of LOSERS!  Which is all about The Wall Street Crash and the Great Depression, the American Dream, rugged individualism, and the concept of being unsuccessful (bankrupts, defeats, third-raters, good-for-nothings, flunkies,...

In this episode, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, scour the archives to uncover the unexpected history of LOSERS!  Which is all about Donald Trump and the 2020 US Presidential Election, it’s about democracy, Jim Carey and Ace Ventura Pet Detective, Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, George H. W. Bush, John McCain, Etiquette in Defeat, Homer’s Iliad, Charles Dickens, workho...

In this BONUS episode, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, re-hatch the unexpected history of MAGGOTS! Which is all about the American Civil War, Ancient and modern medicine, dangerous Sardinian delicacies, the circle of life, forgetful mothers-in-law and Amazonian plane crashes!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, hatch the unexpected history of MAGGOTS! Which is all about the American Civil War, Ancient and modern medicine, dangerous Sardinian delicacies, the circle of life, forgetful mothers-in-law and Amazonian plane crashes!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this BONUS episode, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, return to get their hands dirty once more by exploring the unexpected history of INK! Which is all about elections and fraud, Ancient China, the personality of US Presidents, spies and the Cold War and who could forget Renaissance letter-writing! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, get their hands dirty exploring the unexpected history of INK! Which is all about elections and fraud, Ancient China, the personality of US Presidents, spies and the Cold War and who could forget Renaissance letter-writing! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this BONUS episode, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, reopen the medical textbooks of the past and diagnose the unexpected history of PATIENTS!  Which is all about history from below, smells and noises, introspection, Samuel Pepys, Charles Darwin, architecture and Dr Chapman's spinal ice-bags. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, open up the medical textbooks of the past and diagnose the unexpected history of PATIENTS!  Which is all about history from below, smells and noises, introspection, Samuel Pepys, Charles Darwin, architecture and Dr Chapman's spinal ice-bags. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, once again clear their throats and continue to spitball about the unexpected history of SALIVA! Which is all about all about civilisation, politeness and Norbert Elias, chewing tobacco, tuberculosis, truth-telling, protecting from evil, women’s political movements, Charles Dickens and childhood beliefs and superstitions.! H...

In this episode, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, clear their throats and spitball on the unexpected history of SALIVA! Which is all about all about civilisation, politeness and Norbert Elias, chewing tobacco, tuberculosis, truth-telling, protecting from evil, women’s political movements, Charles Dickens and childhood beliefs and superstitions.! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...

In this bonus episode, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, continue to get inside the unexpected history of HEADS! Which is all about politics, regicide, technology, ghost stories, wooden naval vessels, Anne Boleyn and Washington Irving! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, get inside the unexpected history of HEADS! Which is all about politics, regicide, technology, ghost stories, wooden naval vessels, Anne Boleyn and Washington Irving! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this BONUS episode, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, re-climb the majestic heights of the unexpected history of MOUNTAINS! Which is all about freedom, prejudice, vendetta, elephants, the New Deal, female travel writers and the absence of history! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, climb the majestic heights of the unexpected history of MOUNTAINS! Which is all about freedom, prejudice, vendetta, elephants, the New Deal, female travel writers and the absence of history! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode BONUS EPISODE, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, tackle the rib-ticklingly fascinating subject of the history of LAUGHTER! Which is all about the Reformation, class differences, foreigners, poverty, politeness, awkwardness, the Tudor court, madness and breaking wind in front of Queen Elizabeth I! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio...

In this episode, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, tackle the rib-ticklingly fascinating subject of the history of LAUGHTER! Which is all about the Reformation, class differences, foreigners, poverty, politeness, awkwardness, the Tudor court, madness and breaking wind in front of Queen Elizabeth I! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.