Ministry of History Podcast

In this episode of Minister’s Questions , two ministers and passionate Berlin tour guides tour guides - Artie and Tina - explore Berlin’s share what inspired them to highlight places named after women in the city in the HerStory Buff series, offer expert recommendations for must-see spots, and discuss the impact of living in Berlin. Beyond travel tips, we delve into Germany’s snap general election...

A Quick Message from the Minister of History 🎙️📜 Hey history buffs! Artie here with a quick update on the podcast. While the Ministry of History Podcast isn’t going anywhere, I’m shifting focus to growing our social media presence for now. That means fewer episodes for a bit—but don’t worry, I’ll still be dropping sporadic releases , including the final Tudor episodes and more on East Germany . W...

In this episode, I’m joined by Daniel, an internationalist and passionate carnivalist , to dive deeper into the history and evolution of Carnival. We break down some common stereotypes and I share my personal experiences, recorded just before my second trip to Rio for Carnival! We take a closer look at how this incredible festival transformed from its chaotic, street-fighting origins—shaped by a m...

In this third episode of the East Germany series, Artie is joined by Deputy Minister and fellow Berlin tour guide Tina to discuss East Germany’s first major crisis. By the early 1950s, West Germany was booming thanks to American subsidies, while the GDR remained in ruins, burdened by Soviet reparation payments. Living standards had declined, fuelling unrest. When the government ordered a 10% produ...

Welcome back to the Ministry’s Tudor series! In this episode, Anna and Artie uncover the fascinating—and often tragic—story of Mary I, England’s first crowned queen. Ruling from 1553 to 1558, her short reign is often overshadowed by that of her formidable sister, Elizabeth I. But was Mary truly the ruthless "Bloody Mary" history remembers her as? We dive into her early life, the dramatic power str...

In this second episode of the Ministry of History's East Germany series, we’re diving into the political system, ideology, and leaders of the GDR. East Germany officially called itself a democracy —its full name was the German Democratic Republic (GDR) —and it even held elections. But were they truly democratic? The ruling Socialist Unity Party (SED) tightly controlled the state, ensuring that rea...

The Ministry of History Podcast is launching a brand-new series all about East Germany! Officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), East Germany existed from 1949 until the collapse of communism and German reunification in 1990. Despite its fascinating history, many people hold misconceptions about the GDR, or just think about the Berlin Wall, and this series aims to set the record s...

In today’s episode, Minister Artie and Deputy Minister Anna dive into the fascinating yet often overlooked reign of Edward VI. Though his rule lasted just six years—cut short by his death at age 15—Edward left an indelible mark on England’s history. As a devout Protestant, Edward spearheaded significant reforms, including the introduction of an English-language Bible—a move so controversial it spa...

This week in 1919, the Paris Peace Conference began. Five months later, on 28 June 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed. The treaty is often hailed as one of history’s most influential—and controversial—agreements. Marking the end of the First World War, it aimed to bring peace but is frequently criticised for sowing the seeds of an even deadlier conflict: the Second World War. In this episod...

Often referred to as the 'forgotten pandemic,' the Spanish flu of 1918 claimed an estimated 50 million lives in just one year—more than twice the death toll of the First World War, which was just winding down as the virus ramped up. Unlike typical influenza outbreaks, this deadly virus primarily went for young adults aged 20–40, an age group usually less vulnerable to such illnesses. Why was the S...

In this second part of Minister's Questions 1, Tina and Artie are answering yet more questions from you and from guests on their tours. What is the most challenging thing about being a tour guide in Berlin? What was the best tour you got in a city that was not in Berlin? What is your favourite thing to do in the city when you're not showing people around? Watch to find out the answer to these and...

Join Anna and me for the seventh episode of our series, The Tudors: A Real Game of Thrones , where we explore the dramatic final chapter of Henry VIII’s reign before his death in 1547. After the stormy 1530s, Henry dreamed of being young again, and this led him to the young and foolish Catherine Howard. She humiliated Henry by indulging the attentions of one of his favourite courtiers and she duly...

With the transformation of The History Buff into the Ministry of History, there is a new series called 'Minister's Questions' (MQs). This is where ministers from the Ministry will answer questions either submitted by you or just random questions. Themes will be about history but also about other things the Ministry does such as tours of Berlin. MQs was originally just going to be YouTube content,...

To celebrate the 110th anniversary of the Christmas Truce, the Ministry of History Podcast is relaunching (having previously been The History Buff) with an episode about its story. In the midst of the horrific fighting of the First World War, on Christmas Day, German and British soldiers laid down their weapons and agreed a spontaneous truce. They met each other in no-mans land where hours before...

"Divorced, Beheaded, SURVIVED!" Join Anna and me as we dive deep into the dramatic lives of Henry VIII's last three wives—Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, and Catherine Parr. As Henry's health and reign deteriorated in his later years, so did the stability of England. Each of these women played a unique role in his life: Anne, chosen for political reasons, Catherine Howard, who reignited his yout...

In this episode, Anna and I dive deep into one of the most pivotal moments in English history—the break with Rome. What drove Henry VIII to sever ties with the Roman Catholic Church, a decision that would reshape the religious and political landscape of England forever? Was it purely his desire for an annulment from Catherine of Aragon, or were there deeper political and personal motivations at pl...

In this episode of HerStory Buff , where we talk about women in history, we dive into the fascinating life of Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the world's first female prime minister. Journey with us as we explore how this trailblazing leader from a small island nation shattered the global glass ceiling in 1960, well before her counterparts Indira Ghandi in India and Margaret Thatcher in Britain. We'll unco...

Anna and I are back with The Tudors: A Real Game of Thrones! "Divorced, beheaded, died..."—the first part of the famous rhyme tells the fate of Henry VIII's first three wives, and we're diving into their stories in this episode. We will explore the dramatic lives of wife number one: the loyal Catherine of Aragon, wife number two: the ambitious Anne Boleyn, and wife number three: the tragic Jane Se...

This week, we unravel the chilling mystery of the Dyatlov Pass incident, where nine seasoned hikers met a bizarre and unexplained end in the frozen Russian wilderness. Found scattered across the landscape, some half-clothed in a frantic dash, their twisted bodies and various states of injury hinted at a possible traumatic demise at the hands of some unspeakable terror. Explore eerie details and th...

This week, we're taking a break from our "Tudors" series. Join me and fellow Berlin tour guide Tina from Tina's Tours Berlin as we dive into the riveting history of a legendary figure in German history—the Trümmerfrau, or "Rubble Woman." The image of the Rubble Women is iconic, symbolising the post-war reconstruction of Germany from the ashes of the Second World War. But who were these women? Were...

Anna Morris and I are back with another episode of The Tudors: A Real Game of Thrones! In this third instalment, we will be discussing the young life of Henry VIII and his early reign. Henry VIII is arguably England's most famous monarch. This is partly because of the drama and intrigue caused by his multiple marriages to six different women (with two of these ending in beheadings of the wife!) bu...

Welcome to the second episode of THE TUDORS: A REAL GAME OF THRONES! Join Anna and me as we delve into the fascinating rule of the first Tudor monarch, Henry VII. Fresh off his triumphant victory at Bosworth Field in August 1485, Henry Tudor ended the brutal Wars of the Roses by marrying Elizabeth of York, uniting the warring houses of York and Lancaster. But his challenges were far from over. Win...

The Tudors are Britain's most famous royal dynasty. They ruled over England from 1485 until 1603, and included England's two arguably most influential monarchs - Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. However, the Tudor dynasty also included many other fascinating and consequential monarchs such as Henry VII (the first Tudor monarch), Edward VI and Mary I (England's first female monarch). In this twelve-part...

In the riveting conclusion of The History Buff's Berlin Wall series, I'm joined by fellow tour guide Joerg to delve into the momentous events of November 1989. We discuss the fateful night that marked the end of an era, including the infamous press conference, where an innocent mistake by an East German official led the Berlin Wall to come crashing down. Joerg, who witnessed these events firsthand...

In this episode, we shift our focus from the Berlin Wall itself to the lives of the people on either side. We'll explore how Berlin evolved into a bastion of counterculture and artistic expression, with distinct influences and circumstances in both the East and the West. Joining me for this discussion is fellow Berlin tour guide Ryan, an expert in this fascinating topic. Together, we'll delve into...