The boys are joined by Otto English and together they set out to skewer some of the biggest names in the pantheon. Did Coco Chanel collaborate with the Nazis? Was JFK really 'The Man'? Or more of a myth? Not even Mother Teresa escapes untarnished.   Otto English is the pen name of author and journalist Andrew Scott - find him on X HERE and purchase his latest book 'Fake Heroes' HERE Get in touch, follow Heroes &amp; Howlers and find them everywhere HERE Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The boys have had a bumper year, and with the 'Giving Season' upon us they're delivering their final treats. When did a 'cab' become a 'taxi'? Who really was that 'Third man'? And which Hero had the worst Howler of a school report card?  Get in touch, follow Heroes &amp; Howlers and find them everywhere HERE Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

End Of Year Special

In this episode Paul and Mikey chat to academic and Theatresports legend Professor Jioji Ravulo. It’s a fascinating look into the history of  sexual and gender diversity in communities across the Pacific, as well as a discussion about the arrival of and the repercussions brought about by those pesky missionaries. Get in touch, follow Heroes &amp; Howlers and find them everywhere HERE Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pasifika!

New Guests. New Heroes. New Howlers. All of which have inspired Mikey and Paul to do a deep dive into more 'stories behind the story'. Sir Francis Drake, Lord Byron, Quack Doctors, and the North-West Passage - which side of the ledger will this lot fall?' Get in touch, follow Heroes &amp; Howlers and find them everywhere HERE Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Extra Helpings 3 (Series 9 episodes 9-11)

In this episode Paul and Mikey chat with American comedy legend Jessie Joyce. He’s written a fantastic book with the wonderful title ‘Killing the Guys Who Killed the Guy Who Killed Lincoln”We look at Edwin Booth the brother of John Wilkes Booth and ask the question, “was there ever a stranger character in Civil war history than Boston Corbett?" Find Killing the Guys who Killed the Guy who Killed Lincoln by Jesse Joyce available exclusively on Everand - where you’ll find a host of ebooks, audiobooks, podcasts, magazines and sheet music. Enjoy millions of great titles across every genre, including best-selling authors, diverse voices, emerging talents, and more. Get in touch, follow Heroes &amp; Howlers and find them everywhere HERE Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Killing the Guys Who Killed the Guy Who Killed Lincoln

Award-winning journalist and and broadcaster Tracey Spicer joins Mikey and Paul to shift the debate a notch or two. Women have long been written out of schoolbook History but why The Sciences too? In the life of Ada Lovelace, Tracey believes lies the answer.   Follow Tracey on X HERE, Instagram HERE and purchase her book 'Man Made' HERE Get in touch, follow Heroes &amp; Howlers and find them everywhere HERE Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HERstory - could the future of AI learn from the lessons of HIStory?

Fake Heroes

Our guests have inspired us with chunky extra helpings to share with you - a veritable smorgasbord of tales. From duels, to Greek philosophers, dangerous British politicians,  and bizarre American presidential family trees, to a big slice of The Great Wall of China.There’s even dessert - with the origins of tiramisu! Give feedback and follow Heroes &amp; Howlers on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Extra Helpings 2 (Series 9 episodes 1-3)

In this episode Paul and Mikey talk to broadcast legend and co-host of the “Suddenly Senior” podcast Ian Rogerson about his hero Teddy Roosevelt. We also find out just what his uncle thought about Aussie fascist Francis de Groot, spoiler alert it’s not flattering! Listen to Ian Rodgerson on the Suddenly Senior podcast here Give feedback and follow Heroes &amp; Howlers on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Bull Moose, Some Rough Riders and One Rogue Horseman

In this episode Paul and Mikey talk to author and historian Esme Louise James about the complicated life of the sword fighting soprano Julie d’Aubigny. They also pass a sideways glance at a the rather odd man who went down in history as Diogenes the Cynic. Give feedback and follow Heroes &amp; Howlers on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Opera, Cross Dressing, Sword Fighting & One Very Strange Philosopher

In this episode Paul and Mikey talk to writer, presenter and bon vivant Matt Preston about Zheng Yi Sao, the woman who became possibly the most powerful pirate in maritime history. They also discuss the eventful life of Major General Smedley Butler and a foiled insurrection during FDR’s administration. Give feedback and follow Heroes &amp; Howlers on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt Preston, the Pirate Queen and a Guy Called Smedley

New Guests, New Heroes, New Howlers! It all means Paul and Mikey are doing more deep dives to find those ‘stories behind the story’. Look out Captain Moonlite, and Sriracha Sauce lovers! Give feedback and follow Heroes &amp; Howlers on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Extra Helpings 1 (Series 9 episodes 1-3)

In this episode the lads talk to author and broadcasting legend Wendy Harmer, discussing Jimmy Carter, Australia in the ‘70s, and some timely reflections on the state of politics in the USA. Follow Wendy Harmer on Twitter  Give feedback and follow Heroes &amp; Howlers on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wendy Harmer, the 70s, and Jimmy 'Cardigan'.

This Season, the boys are mixing it up a bit and will be joined by special guests with their very own contenders for 'Heroes' and 'Howlers'. In this episode Max Markson, showbiz guru and celebrity manager, offers up the greatest showman of them all - P. T. Barnum. Follow Max on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram Give feedback and follow Heroes &amp; Howlers on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

P.T Barnum - The Greatest Showman?

It's Season 9 and for the new series the boys will be joined by special guests, each with their very own Hero and Howler. First up is Historian and author, David Hunt, but which side of the ledger will he be putting legendary bushranger Ned Kelly? Contact David Hunt here Follow Heroes &amp; Howlers and contact on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Hunt, Ned Kelly & Alfred Deakin

“I  asked: ‘Do you speaka my language?’ He just smiled and gave me a Vegemite sandwich.” Men at Work Do armies really march on their stomachs? Paul and Mikey tuck into how conflict has transformed food production over the centuries and given us some of our best-loved staples.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vegemite (Food Wars/War Food)

“Young men make wars…, old men make the peace. And the vices of peace are the vices of old men. Mistrust and caution. It must be so.” Prince Faisal (Lawrence Of Arabia)The Arabian Peninsula has been pivotal since ancient times, and for good reason. Home to legendary figures such as the Queen of Sheba, and thriving trading hubs linking India to Africa to the Mediterranean, its territories have been fought over for centuries. Time for Paul and Mikey to get some sand between their toes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Sharif of Mecca (Arab Revolt 1916-18)

“They say openly that Christ and his saints slept.” The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Paul and Mikey look at how one howler of a booze cruise plunged twelfth century England and France into chaos.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

White Ship (The Anarchy)

“I wish for adventure. I wish to matter.” Sins of a Wicked Duke Good Dukes, Wicked Dukes and Wicked Uncles - Tudor England had them all. Or was that just Shakespearean propaganda? Paul and Mikey dig deep to find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 1st Duke of Northumberland (The Tudors)

“If nobody else is going to invent a dishwashing machine, I’ll do it myself.” Josephine Cochrane  Paul and Mikey look at the life of this groundbreaking entrepreneur and inventor, and the rise of the women’s rights movement in late 19th century America.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Josephine Cochrane (Women’s Suffrage)

“No, not quite naked. I shall have my uniform on.” Curious last words of King Frederick William I of Prussia (1713-40)  Paul and Mikey kick off Season 3 by going Prussian! Join them as they cast a quizzical eye over the man they called the ‘Soldier King’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Potsdam Giants (Prussia)

“Peccavi - I have sinned (Sindh)” Charles Napier (Major-General British Army in India)  The arrogance of the British in India knew few bounds. Paul and Mikey pick through probably the worst howler of them all - The First Afghan War.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1st Afghan War (East India Company)

“A merry life and a short one” Pirate motto of Bartholomew Roberts (aka ‘Black Bart’) Black Bart captured over 400 ships and was the complete opposite from this episode’s Howler: Stede Bonnet. Paul and Mikey shiver their timbers and have a look down the spy-glass at the man known as ‘The Gentleman Pirate’. Beware the Black Spot!  Facebook Twitter Instagram  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stede Bonnet (Pirates)

“I am the son of the road, my country is the caravan, my life the most unexpected of journeys.” Leo Africanus Paul and Mikey follow in the footsteps of one of History’s greatest historians. Their journey takes them along West Africa’s Gold Coast, up the Niger and into the heart of the Sahara Desert - all in search of …?   Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leo Africanus (Timbuktu)

“My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One of us has to go.” -Oscar Wilde In this episode Paul and Mikey look at the bizarre connection between the death of Napoleon and one of Britain’s greatest interior designers.  Facebook Twitter Instagram  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wallpaper (Napoleon)

‘Steal a loaf of bread and they will cut your hands off, steal an entire country and they will proclaim you their king.’ Norse Sagas Don’t be fooled by chilly tales of beards and battle-axes. Head east with Paul and Mikey, and discover a whole new (warm!) viking world.  Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Varangian Guard (Vikings)

“Assassination has never changed the history of the world” Benjamin Disraeli Sorry to disagree with you, Ben, but the killing of Lincoln had repercussions that we still feel today. Paul and Mikey look at that fateful April night and one participant that history has tried to forget.  Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lincoln Assassination (US Civil War)

'Whenever I can find the time, I read history books and the classics so as to avoid idle living.’ Yongle (Ming Dynasty Emperor) Big China or Little China? Why did Ming Dynasty China turn its back on the world? Could modern-day China be about to do the same? Paul and Mikey go in search of the answers.  Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Treasure Fleet (Ming Dynasty)

“I am a man more sinned against than sinning.” King Lear, Act 3 Scene 2 Paul and Mikey look at one of theatre’s greatest sins - the century and half when King Lear was performed with (of all things) a happy ending!  Facebook Twitter Instagram  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Theatre History (Shakespeare)

“I shall be a good politician. Even if it kills me. Or if it kills anyone else, for that matter.” Mark Antony Mikey and Paul ask you to lend them your ears as they recount one of the epic showdowns in history: Mark Antony vs Octavian (Augustus). But who’s the hero? Facebook Twitter Instagram  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Antony (& Cleopatra?!)

“The same intelligence is required to marshal an army in battle and to order a good dinner.” Lucius Aemillius Paullus (Roman Consul and General, conqueror of Macedon 168 BC) A secret but often overlooked weapon the United States brought to the battlefields of WWI. Mikey has a theory but Paul’s going to need some convincing. Facebook Twitter Instagram  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World War 1 (Donuts)

“Here’s an equivocator that could swear in both the scales against either scale, who committed treason enough for God’s sake, yet could not equivocate to heaven..” Macbeth Was Guy Fawkes a Catholic terrorist or the ‘equivocator’ alluded to by Shakespeare? Mikey and Paul scour the records and find out more about Bonfire Night than they bargained for. Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gunpowder Plot (1605)

“I have often marvelled at the thin line which separates success from failure.” Ernest Shackleton But sometimes failure is hard-wired in from the start. Paul and Mikey uncover why the Burke and Wills expedition was already in deep trouble long before the tragic events of the Dig Tree. Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Burke and Wills (1860-61 Australia)

“I have not told half of what I saw.” Marco Polo (1254–1324) There’s a reason why Marco didn’t tell the other half - because that would have lifted the lid on Niccolo Polo, Marco’s dad. Niccolo was the true hero and it’s his name that should have gone down in the history books - Paul and Mikey tell you why.  Facebook Twitter Instagram  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Niccolo Polo (The Silk Roads)

“I could sooner reconcile all Europe than two women.” Louis XIV (1643-1715) Well he would say that, wouldn’t he? In this episode Mikey and Paul look at power, progeny, Louis’ love life, and how a certain one-eyed sex tutor saved the House of Bourbon. Facebook Twitter Instagram  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Louis XIV (Progeny)

“There is nothing impossible to him who will try.” Alexander of Macedon (356–323 BC) Alexander successfully conquered the known world but without his trusty steed, Bucephalus, many say he would have been only half the man. Just how much have famous horses changed the course of history? Mikey and Paul saddle up to find out.   Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alexander the Great - The Battle of Gaugamela (Horses)

“For the execution of the voyage to the Indies, I did not make use of intelligence, mathematics or maps.” Christopher Columbus Well no wonder he got lost!! Throw in some phantom islands plus a manatee fetish, and it's a surprise his ships ever left port. Paul and Mikey go exploring the high seas for answers. NB Columbus did NOT discover America! Facebook Twitter Instagram  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Columbus' Maiden Voyage (The New World)

"Dulce et decorum est, pro patria mori" - Wilfred Owen (via Horace)   'The Black Hand Gang - a name to strike fear into the heart of any Archduke. Throw in one hell of a wrong turn and… where’s Sat-Nav when you need it? Join Mikey and Paul as they take The Great War for a spin (Part I) Facebook Twitter Instagram  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Shot That Was Heard Around The World (WWI)

"The Wall will be standing in 50 and even in 100 years" - GDR head of state Erich Honecker, January 1989 The Berlin Wall, The Iron Curtain, The Warsaw Pact, The Eastern Bloc – could they all have been brought tumbling down by one lousy press conference? Join the boys as they sift through the rubble. Warning: contains German! Facebook Twitter Instagram  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Fall of The Berlin Wall (The Cold War)

“Be temperate in wine, eating, girls, and sloth; or the gout will have you both.” - Benjamin Franklin Everyone knows America was born on the Fourth of July, but what brought about the Declaration of Independence? Paul and Mikey dissect the politics, the economics, and the often overlooked role of gout… Yes that’s right, we said ‘gout’.  Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The American Declaration of Independence (Gout)

“The most signal and most durable monument of human folly that has yet appeared in any age or nation." - David Hume The Crusades is one of the defining chapters in History, a showcase for ‘East meets West’. It was the era of great men, Saladin, Richard the Lionheart, St Bernard of Clairvaux. So who cocked up the Fourth Crusade? And how did it end up turning on fellow Christians? Comedian Mikey Robins and Historian Paul Wilson kick off their new series in style. Join Mikey and Paul as they take on Seljuks, Saracens, Mamluks and more. Facebook Twitter Instagram  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Sacking of Constantinople (The Fourth Crusade)

'“History is a huge gramophone in which the voices of nations are preserved.” Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal To round off another great year, Paul and Mikey dish up the last of their tasty morsels from the smorgasbord that has been Season 8. More stories, more insights, and of course… more maps!! Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Extra Helpings 3 (Episodes 6-8)

“Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection.” Winston Churchill It's that time of year again! The halls are decked with holly and there’s a big tree blocking Martin Place. Listen in on the last of this Season’s episodes to get you in the Festive Spirit. Bottoms Up! Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christmas Special (2022)

Silk Roads Special

“I judge a man by one thing, which side would he have liked his ancestors to fight on at Marston Moor?” Isaac Foot (Liberal MP/father of Michael) Paul and Mikey dish up more tasty morsels from episodes 4 to 6. More stories, more insights, and of course… more maps!! Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Extra Helpings 2 (Episodes 4&5)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Musical Ep

It's that time of year! Christmas displays are in the Myer windows and the streets are lighting up. To get you ready for the home stretch of the year, Mikey and Paul are treating you with the Christmas special of last year, enjoy! Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's That Time Of Year!

“But what does it mean, the plague? It's life, that's all.” Albert Camus “Opinion has caused more trouble on this little earth than plagues or earthquakes.” Voltaire Move over COVID 19, in History the Bubonic Plague takes all the prizes. So Paul and Mikey are going in search of the worst of the worst. Camus vs Voltaire - Who will win the spoils? Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plagues

“History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it.” Did Churchill ever really say this?! Paul and Mikey dish up more tasty morsels from episodes 1 to 3. More stories, more insights, and of course… more maps!! Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Extra Helpings 1 (Episodes 1-3)

“Russia has sold us a sucked orange!” Horace Greeley, editor of the New York World's response to the Alaskan purchase of 1867.  In this episode Paul and Mikey look at how the politics of the Old World literally shaped the Americas. And why a tiny Caribbean island might be worth more than half a continent. Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Louisiana Purchase (Land For Sale)

“Wait not while your foe fits arrow to bowstring when you can send your own arrow into him.” Babur, founder of the Mogul Empire.  The Mogul Empire is seen as quintessentially Indian, but was born out of Afghanistan and Central Asia. Paul and Mikey go in search of why this could be, and the long lasting effects it would have on Indian cuisine. This episode is to be enjoyed in the presence of a good curry!! Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Moguls (India)

“How can anyone govern a nation that has two hundred and forty-six different kinds of cheese?” Charles De Gaulle Blessed are the cheesemakers - well, Paul and Mikey certainly think so! Join them on their historical world tour in search of the Grand Fromage. Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cheese!

In preparation for their 8th season, Paul and Mikey are too busy to bang out a new ep. Instead of missing a week, the guys thought they'd spoil you with an old favourite- the South Sea Bubble (18th Century). Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bubbles 2.0

‘Cities are the result of farmers working too hard. In fact, History is the result of farmers working too hard.’ Mark Forsyth, A Short History of Drunkenness Paul and Mikey keep digging and serve up a whole new bunch of treats from episodes 7 and 8. More stories, more insights, and of course… more maps!! Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Extra Helpings 3 (Episodes 7-8)

“Every man has his price, or a guy like me couldn’t exist.” Howard Hughes In this episode Paul and Mikey look at the archetypal eccentric billionaire, and how the life of one man did so much to mirror and then shape 20th Century America. Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Howard Hughes (Big Oil)

“Just because a King is a King does not mean he is not human.” Saladin The Kurds are one of History’s most put-upon races. But where are they, who are their heroes, and what prospects do they have for the future? Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Saladin (The Kurds)

“The hero is one who kindles a great light in the world, who sets up blazing torches in the dark streets of life for men to see by.” Felix Adler Paul and Mikey keep digging and serve up a whole new bunch of treats from episodes 4 to 6. More stories, more insights, and of course… more maps!! Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Extra Helpings 2 (Episodes 4-6)

“There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half as much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows In this episode Paul and Mikey look at three vessels that got well and truly messed up. From 17th century Sweden to the heights of the Cold War, these are three bizarre tales of the sea. Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ships

“August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time." Sylvia Plath Paul and Mikey explore all things August, Augustan and even Augustine! But where did this month come from and how did we survive for so long without it? Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August (St Augustine)

“Dream on, but don’t imagine they’ll all come true. When you realise that Vienna waits for you.” Billy Joel In this episode Paul and Mikey look at the interwoven lives of the powerful and the infamous, and how they all rubbed elbows in pre-World War I Vienna. It’s 1913 and they’re about to enter ‘The laboratory of the Apocalypse.’ Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vienna (1913)

Paul and Mikey dish up more tasty morsels from episodes 1 to 3. More stories, more insights, more maps!! Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I'm a hero on land but at sea I am a coward.” Adolf Hitler There’s nothing like an invasion for dishing up some cock-ups. England has seen its fair share over the centuries, but in this episode Paul and Mikey look at two you might not be quite so familiar with. The Battle of Fishguard, anybody?!  Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Invasions (England)

“Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we're not. In either case, the idea is quite staggering.” Arthur C. Clarke The Final Frontier?! Not for Paul and Mikey. Space exploration, hot rockets, cold wars, moon landings and ballistic missiles - this episode has them all. Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Space

“You can’t be a real spy and have everybody in the world know who you are and what your drink is. That’s just hysterically funny.” Roger Moore In this episode on espionage, Mikey looks at two of history’s most inept spies, and Paul asks: ‘Was one of England’s greatest playwrights a secret agent?’ Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spies

With Paul wrapping up his trip to the UK, the guys thought to wrap up our classic ep with Paul's Hero- The Earl of Macclesfield. Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul's Hero

Paul is still in the UK but Mikey can't help but keep on releasing some of his favourite episodes. This week, we take a look back on The Batavia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Batavia 2.0

With Paul off to the UK, the guys thought it would be a good idea to revisit some classic episodes and thought revisiting The Kushans would be a perfect start!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Revisiting The Kushans

“The past is not behind us but under our feet” H Corbin (French Philosopher) Paul and Mikey are serving it up a treat - a real smorgasbord from episodes 7 and 8. More stories, more insights, more maps!!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Travelling: it leaves you speechless, and then turns you into a storyteller.” Ibn Battuta Join Paul and Mikey as they go in search of one of the most well-travelled legends in History. With probably the world’s greatest traveller as their guide. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Green Man (Ibn Battuta)

“The difference between treason and patriotism is only a matter of dates.” Alexandre Dumas  In this episode Paul and Mikey look at the real D’Artagnan, how changing military tactics helped to keep the French at war for over a century, and a secret Parisian society dedicated to smoking hash.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

D’Artagnan (17th Century France)

“History is not the sort of animal you can domesticate.” Antonio Tabucchi (Pereira Maintains) Paul and Mikey dish up more tasty morsels from episodes 4 to 6. More stories, more insights, more maps!!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Scratch a Russian and you will find a Tartar.' Napoleon The lands above the Black Sea have been fought over for centuries. Yet in the 7th, 8th and 9th centuries they were united under one force - the Khazars. Could mass religious conversion have been the secret to their success?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Khazars (Ukraine)

“If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can’t it get us out?” Will Rogers In this episode Paul and Mikey look at some of the disastrous results of humans mucking around with nature.It’s about invasive species and the role played by Shakespeare in plane crashes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Origin of Species? (Flora & Fauna)

Oh!" said Pooh again. "What is the North Pole?"  "It's just a thing you discover," said Christopher Robin, not being quite sure himself.  A. A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh Paul and Mikey take the road north to balance out the series, stopping off to seek a route through the fabled NorthWest Passage on their way. But how can you discover a land that has no land?!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Arctic (Northwest Passage)

“Revolution is the opium of the intellectual." Raymond Aron  Paul and Mikey dish up more tasty morsels from episodes 1 to 3. More stories, more insights, more maps!!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“The church says the earth is flat; but I have seen its shadow on the moon, and I have confidence even in a shadow than in the church.” Ferdinand Magellan Paul and Mikey take a quizzical look at ‘Flat Earthers’ from the sixth century to the modern day. Just how could this trope of a theory get tangled up with ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’, a 1950s sign writer, and a moon full of beavers?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flat Earthers (Maps)

“Live dangerously. Build your cities on the slopes of Vesuvius.” Friedrich Nietzsche Brave words Freddy boy, but real estate choices near (and even not near) volcanoes can have dire consequences.  In this episode Paul and Mikey look at some far reaching  outcomes from volcanic activity, including the loudest noise in human history. The Volcano Revolution?!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Volcanoes (French Revolution)

“Every human longs for peace and love.” Hiawatha Separating ‘Fact’ from ‘Fiction’ is the constant challenge of an historian. None more so than the early history of North America’s First Nations peoples. Research relies heavily on oral traditions handed down from generation to generation but that hasn’t stopped Paul and Mikey digging for nuggets of truth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

North America’s First Nations (Klondike Gold Rush)

"Number one Russian solution? Bring in the tanks!" Paul and Mikey, Heroes &amp; Howlers (March 2021) Back in Season 1, Paul and Mikey had a look at the collapse of the Soviet Union. They assessed its impact on Russia and Eastern Europe in the intervening thirty years, and just what it might mean looking forward. Twelve months on and their assessment of Putin and Co was worryingly prescient.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fall of The Berlin Wall (Classic Ep Revisited)

"If every fool wore a crown, we should all be Kings." Welsh Proverb Everybody’s favourite day of the year - well, certainly Paul and Mikey’s. But some of the stories behind the  pranks and foolishness might surprise you. Just what is a Scottish gowk? And why should we hunt it?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

April Fools (April 1st)

'The history of the world is but the biography of great men.' Thomas Carlyle Paul and Mikey disagree with TC. Howlers will always be as influential as Heroes, and ‘Unsung Heroes’ often more so. Time to look back at episodes 4-6, answer listener questions, and dish up a couple of extra treats.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Extra Helpings 2 (Season 5 Episodes 4-6)

“The world is a drama, staged in a dream.” Guru Nanak  Mata Khivi and the tradition of serving free communal meals (Langar) changed the face of Sikhism for ever. It has grown to become one of the most cherished institutions all over the world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mata Khivi (Sikhism)

“I would travel down to hell and wrestle a film away from the devil if it was necessary.” Werner Herzog But if that film was Birth of a Nation, Werner, you can just leave it there. In this episode Paul and Mikey look at how one film single-handedly resurrected the KKK. Then take a sideways glance at a few other early 20th-century repugnant (and sometimes costumed!) misfits/Howlers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Birth of a Nation (Ku Klux Klan)

“Claret is the liquor for boys; port for men; but he who aspires to be a hero must drink brandy.“  Samuel Johnson Paul and Mikey serve up more juicy morsels, answer questions from listeners, and dig out a couple of extra maps!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Extra Helpings (Season 5 Episodes 1-3)

“The only reason a warrior is alive is to fight, and the only reason a warrior fights is to win, otherwise why be a warrior? It is easier to count beads.” Miyamoto Musashi  Well, the Japanese navy was certainly not “counting beads” when it took on the Russians in 1904-5. In this episode Paul and Mikey look at the ‘Wild East’: Russian expansion, Japanese expansion and a naval battle that changed the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Battle of Tsushima (Russo-Japanese War 1904-05)

“Antarctica has this mythic weight. It resides in the collective unconscious of so many people, and it makes this huge impact, just like outer space. It's like going to the moon.” Jon Krakauer    The race to the South Pole was always going to throw up some Heroes, maybe a few Howlers too - but who should really get the credit for discovering the Seventh Continent? Paul and Mikey wrap up warm to take a look.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charles Wilkes (Antarctica)

“Rather fail with honour, than succeed by Fraud” Sophocles  If only Gregor McGregor had spent more time studying the Classics. This week Paul and Mikey go hunting for a Scottish rogue and find themselves marooned on Central America’s Mosquito Coast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gregor McGregor (Securities Fraud - 19th Century style)

“As for all your latest Mayan discoveries and poems, I want to hear every word of it.” Jack Kerouac, Letters to Allen Ginsberg The Americas were home to many fascinating nations and cultures, long before the Europeans arrived. And they did pretty well on the fruit and veg front too. In this episode, the boys take an in-depth look at the Maya, and see what Heroes and Howlers Meso-America might have to offer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Battle of El Pinar 1524 (The Maya)

“The past alone is truly real: the present is but a painful, struggling birth into the immutable being of what is no longer. Only the dead exist fully.” Bertrand Russell, On History Paul and Mikey dish up titbits galore, and answer listener questions from episodes 4-6. Time to close out Season 4 and enter a New Year in style.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Extra Helpings (Season 4 Episodes 4-6)

“If a man were called upon to fix that period in the history of the world during which the condition of the human race was most happy and prosperous, he would, without hesitation, name that which elapsed from the death of Domitian to the accession of Commodus.“  Edward Gibbon, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Paul and Mikey serve up more juicy morsels, answer questions from listeners, and dig out a couple of extra maps!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Extra Helpings (Season 4 Episodes 1-3)

"England was merry England, when Old Christmas brought his sports again. 'Twas Christmas broach'd the mightiest ale; ‘Twas Christmas told the merriest tale; A Christmas gambol oft could cheer, The poor man's heart through half the year."  Walter Scott - Marmion  Paul and Mikey are unwrapping presents for everyone early this year. They’ve got Wars on Christmas, Coke bottle Santas, and drunken sleigh rides across New England. Sign off 2021 in style with the last of this season’s episodes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Festive Special

“Like the English in New Holland, we live only on the shores of a continent even yet, and hardly know where the rivers come from which float our navy” Henry David Thoreau  Captain Cook was the first to admit that the Dutch had been mapping New Holland decades before he set sail on The Endeavour. Could the Chinese have travelled that way too? The Spanish? The Portuguese? Paul and Mikey weigh anchor to find out.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Batavia (Early European Exploration ‘Down Under’)

This week, Mikey is revisiting Treasure Fleet as Paul is still in the UK. Enjoy! We will be back with new episodes shortly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Treasure Fleet 2.0

With Paul out of town, Mikey has chosen some of his all-time favourite episodes that he wants you to hear again. This week we have Napoleon (Wallpaper). Enjoy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Look Back At Napoleon

With Paul off in the UK, Mikey wanted to take a walk down memory lane and remind you of where it all began- The Fourth Crusade.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where It All Began

“Are we not like people sitting up with a corpse, and making merry in the house of the dead?” Herman Melville  Over a thousand years before Melville wrote his words one Pope actually did this very thing. In this episode Paul and Mikey look at the Cadaver Synod and the perilous political games played out amongst the early medieval papacy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cadaver Synod (Papal States)

“Do not to look upon the loss of 10 days with wonder or scorn. Do not regret the removal of 10 days from the calendar. All those who love sleep can console themselves by thinking about how wonderful it will be to go to bed on the second of the month and to sleep until the morning of the 14th”  -Benjamin Franklin Julian vs Gregorian. Ten months vs twelve. Lunar vs solar. Paul takes Mikey for a spin around the zodiac and ends up… in Macclesfield! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Earl of Macclesfield (Calendars)

“How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it.” Marcus Aurelius If only the Emperor Commodus had inherited a fraction of his father’s wisdom.In this episode Paul and Mikey look at the turbulent reign that many believe was the beginning of the decline of the Roman Empire. As well as the fascinating role played by adoption amongst Rome's ruling elite.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emperor Commodus (Gladiator)

“To follow the Silk Road is to follow a ghost. It flows through the heart of Asia, but it has officially vanished leaving behind the pattern of its restlessness: counterfeit borders, unmapped peoples.” Colin Thubron, Shadow of the Silk Road Rather than being a bridge to link East and West, The Silk Road was a web of routes growing ever outwards. From its heart in Central Asia, it would stretch to all four corners of the continent. Yet its architects, The Kushans, like the network itself have all but vanished - Paul and Mikey go in search of this lost people, and the ‘ghost’ of their leader, Kanishka the Great.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kanishka the Great (The Kushans)

“I know that all things pass away but history. History never dies. It is what defines us as a civilization, and we live out our collective histories every day, in ways both good and evil... History dies hard.” Paul Rusesabagina (An Ordinary Man) Paul and Mikey dish up more juicy morsels, answer listener questions from episodes 6-9, and bring Season 3 (and Lockdown!) to a close with a bang.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Extra Helpings (Episodes 6-9)

“History is nothing more than a tableau of crimes and misfortunes.” Voltaire (L'Ingénu)  Paul and Mikey dish up more juicy morsels, answer questions from listeners, and dig out a couple of extra maps.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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