Oh What A Time...

This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed from yesterday! We’ve got a different episode format for you this week; a book review of the 1989 classic chronicle of the French Revolution: Citizens by Simon Schama. We’ll be focussing on; the storming of the Bastille, the flight to Varennes of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette and the fearsome guillotine.  Elsewhere this week we’re trying to fig...

We’ve got a different episode format for you this week; a book review of the 1989 classic chronicle of the French Revolution: Citizens by Simon Schama. We’ll be focussing on; the storming of the Bastille, the flight to Varennes of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette and the fearsome guillotine.  Elsewhere this week we’re trying to figure out why piano teachers are, by and large, quite mean fo...

Oh What A Time is moving to the Wondery network! We’re thrilled to be joining forces with one of the biggest names in podcasting, and we couldn’t be more excited. They’re the home of some truly incredible shows - and 2 Elis James podcasts - and now, we’re joining that lineup! So what does this mean for you, dear listeners? First off, don’t worry - Oh What A Time is still the same show you know and...

This week we’re discussing 3 absolute icons: the iconic Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe, the incredibly talented JMW Turner and one of Victorian Britain’s most iconic sport stars, Arthur Gould. Elsewhere this week we are bemoaning the fate that has befallen the humble travel book, whilst also speculating on the fate of Horatio Nelson’s arm (which he famously lost on a disastrous lads holiday to Tene...

This week we’re discussing 3 absolute icons: the iconic Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe, the incredibly talented JMW Turner and one of Victorian Britain’s most iconic sport stars, Arthur Gould. Elsewhere this week we are bemoaning the fate that has befallen the humble travel book, whilst also speculating on the fate of Horatio Nelson’s arm (which he famously lost on a disastrous lads holiday to Tene...

This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed from yesterday! This week we’re packing our bags and heading out on some of the longest journeys known to the annals of history. From the travels of Herodotus and how he put Judith Chalmers to shame, Charles Dickens on tour in America and two books on the subject of being a vagrant in the USA at the dawn of the 20th century. And now they’re we’re at the d...

This week we’re packing our bags and heading out on some of the longest journeys known to the annals of history. From the travels of Herodotus and how he put Judith Chalmers to shame, Charles Dickens on tour in America and two books on the subject of being a vagrant in the USA at the dawn of the 20th century. And now they’re we’re at the dawn of the AI apocalypse that may wipe out humanity and the...

This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed from yesterday! This week we’re closing our eyes and going to the land of dreams. We’ve got: how the ancient Babylonians regarded the land of nod, great works of art and inventions that came to people while snoozing and also what Sigmund Freud made of sleepy time. And guess what! We’ve found the worst Christmas tree on earth and GUESS WHAT: it belongs to...

This week we’re closing our eyes and going to the land of dreams. We’ve got: how the ancient Babylonians regarded the land of nod, great works of art and inventions that came to people while snoozing and also what Sigmund Freud made of sleepy time. And guess what! We’ve found the worst Christmas tree on earth and GUESS WHAT: it belongs to Elis and it’s been up all year. Please send your Christmas...

This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed from yesterday! This week we’re talking about cold hard cash, moolah, readies: Currencies. We’ll be chatting about worker’s pay tokens, pieces of eight and the creation of banknotes! And we’re also discussing how on earth swimming got going? And just how easy is it to swim the channel? If you’d like to get in touch with the show you can do so at: hello@oh...

This week we’re talking about cold hard cash, moolah, readies: Currencies. We’ll be chatting about worker’s pay tokens, pieces of eight and the creation of banknotes! And we’re also discussing how on earth swimming got going? And just how easy is it to swim the channel? If you’d like to get in touch with the show you can do so at: hello@ohwhatatime.comIf you fancy a bunch of OWAT content you’ve ne...

This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed from yesterday! This week we’re off to some of the world’s most celebrated festivals. We’re travelling back to 1969 for Woodstock, then off to Edinburgh festival and finishing our odyssey at Glastonbury festival. And this week we’re talking about Elis’ really waterproof jacket and pondering how people in the past could possibly have put up with rain in th...

This week we’re off to some of the world’s most celebrated festivals. We’re travelling back to 1969 for Woodstock, then off to Edinburgh festival and finishing our odyssey at Glastonbury festival. And this week we’re talking about Elis’ really waterproof jacket and pondering how people in the past could possibly have put up with rain in their (we assume) cow hide outerwear? If you’ve got any idea:...

This week we’re heading to the ballot box to discuss elections! The importance of eating racoon meat in Arkansas, how democracy worked in Britain before 1872 and how political party colours have evolved over the last century or so. And this week we’re also talking about: showers. Is anyone out there a power-shower fan? And is there a water source in the world with a lower pressure than the average...

This week we’re heading to the ballot box to discuss elections! The importance of eating racoon meat in Arkansas, how democracy worked in Britain before 1872 and how political party colours have evolved over the last century or so. And this week we’re also talking about: showers. Is anyone out there a power-shower fan? And is there a water source in the world with a lower pressure than the average...

This week we’re looking at how the art of complaining has evolved over history. You’ll hear the evidence of people having a moan in Ancient Babylonia, Pliny the Younger and his tear-ups with his pal Septicius Clarus, plus.. how medieval scribes expressed a displeasure with their lot. And the big conversation that’s got the nation thinking this week: could anyone feasibly build a house out of Chomp...

This week we’re looking at how the art of complaining has evolved over history. You’ll hear the evidence of people having a moan in Ancient Babylonia, Pliny the Younger and his tear-ups with his pal Septicius Clarus, plus.. how medieval scribes expressed a displeasure with their lot. And the big conversation that’s got the nation thinking this week: could anyone feasibly build a house out of Chomp...

This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed from yesterday! This week we’re discussing the most intelligent creatures the animal kingdom has to offer. We’ll be looking at mankind’s attempts to communicate with apes, plus we’ll be looking at a very intelligent horse (Clever Hans) and a very intelligent octopus (Paul).And in this episode we get more detail on Elis’ Christmas room, the lack of respect...

This week we’re discussing the most intelligent creatures the animal kingdom has to offer. We’ll be looking at mankind’s attempts to communicate with apes, plus we’ll be looking at a very intelligent horse (Clever Hans) and a very intelligent octopus (Paul).And in this episode we get more detail on Elis’ Christmas room, the lack of respect he receives from his cats and whether his simian-esque pos...

This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed from yesterday! We’re back and so is our much loved ‘Pick n Mix’ format in which we pick three random subjects to discuss and so this week for you we have.. The biggest hole ever built! How baby names have evolved down the years! And when exactly did having a sun tan become popular?!And this week we learned that one of these two things are true:1) Every d...

We’re back and so is our much loved ‘Pick n Mix’ format in which we pick three random subjects to discuss and so this week for you we have.. The biggest hole ever built! How baby names have evolved down the years! And when exactly did having a sun tan become popular?!And this week we learned that one of these two things are true:1) Every dark urban myth that went around Britain did actually REALLY...

It’s the final week of our summer holiday and so it’s the final week of our ‘best of’ specials! This week, you’re lovingly being presented with the following:From #38 Corpses we’ve got the story of the Tollund ManHow we got the names for our months/days from #25 CalendarsAnd finally Elizabeth I’d speech at Tilbury from our #48 Speeches episode We’ll be back imminently! If you'd like to drop us an...

It’s week two of our summer break and thus it’s time for our third-ever best-of compilation. This week you’ll be treated to the following:From #32 Escapes we’ve got the crazy story of how Alice Tankerville almost escaped the clutches of the Tower of LondonFrom #47 Criminals the true story of Bonnie and ClydeAnd from #57 Health & Safety, Peter Duncan cleaning Big BenIf you'd like to drop us an emai...

As promised, we’re delighted to present all the 4th parts from subscriber specials.. ALL IN ONE MEGA EPISODE (A MEGASODE if you will *caps off*).In this episode you will find 4th parts from:20 The Coast21 The Great Depression22 Big Projects23 Christmas25 Calendars26 Blunders27 Beauty28 Nightlife29 Love30 Discoveries31 Myths32 Escapes33 Conflict34 Health and Fitness36 Presidents37 Prime Ministers38...

We’re taking a summer break for 3 weeks, so while we’re off sunning ourselves, please enjoy our second ever ‘Best of’ episode. This week you’ll be treated to the following:From #26 Blunders we’ve got: the demise of Frederick BarbarossaFrom #28 Nightlife: Boza (a lovely drink which isn’t custard)And from #39 Survival: the nightmarish story of Alexander SelkirkIf you'd like to drop us an email while...