The less-than-serious history podcast with stand up comedian Angela Barnes (The News Quiz, Mock The Week and Live at The Apollo) and writer John O'Farrell (An Utterly Impartial History of Britain, Things Can Only Get Better, Spitting Image). In each podcast our two history nerds discuss, explain and laugh at interesting and quirky episodes from the olden days, such as East German Nudism, Spy Pigeons or Vlad the Impaler. Angela and John’s in-depth knowledge of world history has been described as ‘laughable’ - and now they read the history books so that you don't have to. The We Are History podcast - not as world-changing as the Black Death, but slightly funnier.
85 Available Episodes (85 Total)Average duration: 00:52:09
Dec 12, 2022
Christmas Number Ones
01:16:11
Never mind world wars or revolutions, it's time to do the really important history - how did Christmas singles become a thing in the UK, and when was the golden age of of the festive hit. Warning; includes John doing dad singing.
It is compulsory or a man of John's age to do one episode on the Second World War. But fascists being useless is always worth revisiting - and the farcical and disastrous leadership of Benito Mussolini between 1940-45 is that rare thing in modern history - a bit of World War 2 that hasn't been done to death.
With the BBC celebrating it's centenary, we explore how the corporation came into existence, out of a chaotic broadcasting free-for-all. (This podcast was originally submitted as a programme idea to the Home Service in 1927, but we gave up waiting for a response)
The Stasi Poetry Circle - the East Germans secret police advancing socialism through verse
01:12:23
Angela has read yet another book about East Germany (this one by Philip Oltermann) and explains how it was believed that loyalty to the Communist regime could be secured, not just by suppressing dissent and spying on your neighbours, but also with encouraging pro-government poetry . (Includes a hastily-penned socialist limerick written by John.)
The Fascist Who Switched Sides and Spied on the British Far Right
00:47:35
The incredible story of Ray Hill who in the 1970s underwent a massive change of heart and switched from fascist rabble-rouser to secret informant undermining the British Far Right and preventing a racist terrorist attack.
Just a little message to let you know that We Are History will soon be returning to your podcast feeds. Our first episode will be a LIVE recording at the Cheerful Earful Podcast Festival at the Bedford in Balham, London and YOU CAN JOIN US - the recording is taking place at 3pm on Sun 9th Oct - tickets available from cheerfulearful.co.uk in advance and most likely also on the door. We hope to see you there!
Sadly, due to reasons, we've had to end this series of We Are History an episode early. But don't fret - WE WILL BE BACK! SOON! (Have I made that sound like a threat?)