Higgledy Piggledy History Hotchpod

By way of a taster for S3 we hope you enjoy another slightly different edition of the podcast. It was recorded—as you'll be able to tell—earlier in the year, but life kept getting in the way of the edit. We're now hard at work on S3 but we do have some spaces left to fill, so if there's anything you'd like to hear us waffle on about, please give us a shout with your suggestions and requests.

Magnificent forger of empires or mad as a badger and armed to the teeth? And we reach the end of our second season with a look at one of the most requested historical figures, the great Khan. You sick lot. Questions of his levels of sadism compared to contemporaries, his inability to keep his trousers on and the logical conclusion to his funeral cortege are all here. Warning: contains pronunciation that’s ropey even by our standards.

Radical feminists of Ancient Greece or bossy troublemakers? Nearing the end of Women’s History Month, we look at the women of ancient Sparta, famous for having more freedom and rights than women elsewhere in the Greek world. Often seen as promiscuous and domineering by contemporaries outside of Sparta, the ladies of Lacedaemon enjoyed academic and physical education, could pursue their own interests, and married later than their counterparts in other city-states. They also took multiple sexual partners all in the interests of producing more healthy warriors for the formidable Spartan military. Warning: contains audible chuckling at the notion of people exercising nude.

Posh southern bird on a Midlands jolly or the best queen the English never had? We’re celebrating Women's History Month with a discussion of one of the most important individuals in English history. Eldest daughter of King Alfred the Great of Wessex and descended from Mercian royalty, Æthelflæd came to rule Mercia in her own right following the death of her husband, Æthelred. Working alongside her brother King Edward the Elder, Æthelflæd staved off Viking attacks and conquered new territory for the inchoate English kingdom. Often overlooked in favour of her male kin, we explore the remarkable life and career of the leader who may have inspired Tolkien’s warrior princess, Éowyn, shieldmaiden of Rohan.

Sartorially sensational social warriors or jut a bunch of Brummie bandits? We’re keeping it local this week as we take a look at the real life urban street gangs in Birmingham who were the inspiration for TV’s Peaky Blinders. Cue much debate about accents and parents with a criminal past, coupled with a staggering lack of geographical knowledge about the city around which we we both grew up. Warning: contains the words "gooin", "yowm" and "blindin"; so no change there then.

Booze cruise gone wrong or the sinking that screwed the English succession? In late November 1120, the White Ship sank in the English Channel. Among the dead was King Henry I’s only legitimate son, and heir to the English throne, William Ætheling. Come aboard for a tale involving drunken sailors, an oblivious bishop, some pissed-off priests, Zippy from Rainbow, and an ultimately life-saving bout of diarrhoea. Warning: The Bayeux Tapestry gets mentioned again, and good luck distinguishing all the people named Matilda and William.

Piss-poor planning and preparation or the greatest polar journey ever made? Journey with us to the far southern latitudes as we attempt the first human crossing of the Antarctic with Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew, who displayed remarkable courage and resilience when things went wrong. Rattle engages in some unashamed hero-worship while Darth questions the sanity of all those involved during our discussion of the heroic age of polar exploration. Warning: contains a frank admission of not understanding just how cold the Antarctic is.

God’s right hand or ultraviolent reducer of pension liability? We’re back to our usual duo this week as we tackle one of history’s darkest characters with our look at Matthew Hopkins. With long grey hair, withered hands and a cackling laugh - and that’s just Rattle behind the mic - we talk of witches riding dogs over churches, poor choice of pet names and three headed cats. Warning: contains criticism of Monty Python’s historical accuracy. 

Best pope since Saint Peter or the Renaissance Berlusconi? In 1492 Rodrigo Borgia became Pope Alexander VI after a long and successful career as a cardinal and papal vice-chancellor under five Popes. We chat with Dr Katharine Fellows, expert on the renaissance papacy and co-creator of Charting the Commentaries, who elucidates the life of the intelligent, pragmatic, and charismatic man who remains one of the most controversial of Christ's vicars. Warning: passing your illegitimate children off as your nieces and nephews may not convince everyone.

History’s most famous ghost ship or a whole load of methylated spirits? In 1872, the US merchant vessel Mary Celeste was found adrift off the Azores with no one onboard. The fate of the crew remains unknown, but theories abound. Come aboard the world’s most lethal transatlantic booze cruise and meet the comically named Benjamin Spooner Briggs, Frederick Solly-Flood, J. Habakuk Jephson and Abel Fosdyk as we recount the events and attempt to get to the bottom of this maritime mystery. Warning: contains irrelevant poultry.