Aspects of History interviews historians and authors on the past â from the ancient world right up to the modern day. In each episode, we seek to get to the bottom of a story or scrutinise a figure from history. There are bonus episodes too, from current events to anniversaries.
The relationship between the United States and China will help shape the
world over the next quarter of a century. But is conflict between the two
superpowers inevitable, or could demographic change, economic interdependence and diverging technological priorities lead to a very different future? Looking ahead to 2049, the centenary of the Chinese Communist Partyâs rise to power, the answers may be less predictable than many assume.
In this episode of the podcast, â Tim Hamesâ  joins â Zeb Baker-Smithâ â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â , Editor of â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Aspects of Historyâ â â â â â â â , to discuss his new book, â â War or Peace?: The United States and China, 2026â2049 with Tim Hamesâ â . Together they examine the historical roots of the rivalry, the significance of the so-called Thucydides Trap, and the contrasting approaches of Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. Tim also ponders Chinaâs looming demographic crisis, the competition over artificial intelligence and semiconductors, and the strategic importance of Taiwan.
Tim argues that the two countries are not necessarily destined for a new
Cold War, and that their rivalry may be shaped as much by ageing populations and economic realities as by military power. He considers where cooperation might be possible, the challenges facing Britain and Europe, and why understanding Chinaâs future could change how Washington views its principal rival.
Episode Links
War or Peace?: The United States and China, 2026â2049 with Tim Hames
Tim Hames Links
Tim â â â â â â â â â onlineâ â â â â â â â â
Zeb Links
Zeb on â â â â â â â â â â â â Twitter /Xâ â â â â â â â â â â â
Zeb on â â â â â â â â â â â â â Instagramâ â â
Zeb on â â â â â â â â â â â â â Substackâ â â â
Aspects of History Links
AoHÂ â â â â â â â â â â â onlineâ â â â â â â â â â â
AoH on â â â â â â â â â â â â Twitter /Xâ â â â â â â â â â â
AoH on â Instagramâ â â
AoH on â â â â â â â â â â â â â Substackâ â â â â â â â â â â â â
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The Kop: A Fanâs History of Footballâs Most Famous Stand with Brian Reade
The Kop in full swing at Anfield is one of the beautiful gameâs most iconic
sights: a sea of flags and scarves, a red wall of song and noise, and a crowd
whose support has become the fulcrum of Liverpool Football Clubâs unique
identity. Yet the story behind it goes far beyond football, beginning with a
disastrous British defeat during the Second Boer War and evolving into a
history of working-class culture, collective memory and the unequalled bond between a club and its supporters.
In this episode of the podcast, Brian Reade joins â â Zeb Baker-Smithâ â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â , Editor of â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Aspects of Historyâ â â â â â â â â , to discuss his new book, â â The Kop: A Fanâs History of Footballâs Most Famous Standâ â â . They trace the name back to Spion Kop in South Africa, explore how the terrace became a symbol of Liverpoolâs rise under Bill Shankly, and consider the songs, legendary European nights and remarkable atmosphere that have made Anfield famous around the world.
Brian also reflects on the Kopâs role beyond the pitch, from its response to
Hillsborough and the fight for justice to protests against footballâs
commercialisation. Drawing on six decades of supporting the countryâs most successful club, he explores how the stand has become a repository of shared memories and a tradition passed between generations â and what its future might hold.
Episode Links
The Kop: A Fanâs History of Footballâs Most Famous Stand
Brian Reade Links
Brian â â â â â â â â â â onlineâ â â â â â â â â â
Brian on â â Twitter/Xâ â
Zeb Links
Zeb on â â â â â â â â â â â â â Twitter /Xâ â â â â â â â â â â â â
Zeb on â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Instagramâ â â â
Zeb on â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Substackâ â â â â
Aspects of History Links
AoHÂ â â â â â â â â â â â â onlineâ â â â â â â â â â â â
AoH on â â â â â â â â â â â â â Twitter /Xâ â â â â â â â â â â â
AoH on â â Instagramâ â â â
AoH on â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Substackâ â â â â â â â â â â â â
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Flying Pianos: The Eccentric Birth of British Aviation with Charles Spicer
In the space of a few decades, aviation advanced from fragile aircraft
barely capable of crossing the Channel to the long-range bombers and fighter planes that would shape the Second World War. Behind this transformation were a motley cast of individuals: daring pilots, ambitious engineers, determined politicians and eccentric visionaries who helped turn flight from a dangerous novelty into a decisive military force.
In this episode of the â Aspects of Historyâ  podcast, â â Charles Spicer joins â â Phil Craigâ â to discuss â â â â â Flying Pianosâ , published by Oneworld Books, his new book on the early history of British aviation. They explore the pioneers who pushed the boundaries of flight before the First World War, that conflictâs impact on military aviation, and the technological developments that led to the Spitfire and the Merlin engine. Along the way, they consider Winston Churchillâs surprisingly hands-on role in the development of the RAF, the achievements of trailblazers such as Harriet Quimby.
Charles also discusses the darker side of air power, from the RAFâs use in
the British Empire to the devastating potential of aerial bombing, while
reflecting on what this era of rapid innovation might teach us today. This is
an episode brimming with ambition, ingenuity and determination â all of which helped shape the age of aviation that followed.
Charles Links
Charles onlineâ
Charles â â â â â on X/Twitter
Charles on Instagram
Phil Links
Phil â â onlineâ â
Phil on â â â â â The Scandal Mongersâ â â
Phil on â â â â â â Twitter /Xâ â â â â â
Phil on â â â â â â â Instagramâ â â â
Aspects of History Links
AoHÂ â â â â â â â â onlineâ â â â â â â â
AoH on â â â â â â â â â Twitter /Xâ â â â â â â â
AoH on â â Instagramâ â â
AoH on â â â â â â â â â â Substackâ â â â â â
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Napoleon and his Marshals: Victory, Rivalry, Betrayal with Andrew Roberts
As the Second World War in Europe entered its final weeks, the outcome was no longer in doubt â but the fighting continued with extraordinary intensity. From the Allied crossing of the Rhine and the German defence of their homeland to the liberation of Belsen and the final bombing raids, the last days of the war were marked by courage, confusion, brutality and tragedy.
In this episode of the Aspects of History podcast, Max Hastings joins Phil Craig to discuss his new book, Plunder. They explore why so many German soldiers continued to fight when defeat was inevitable, the persistence of the Nazi killing machine, the liberation of Belsen, and the difficult encounters between Allied troops and those emerging from the camps and prisoner-of-war system.
Max also discusses the extraordinary individual stories he uncovered while researching the final weeks of the war and the importance of bearing witness â and why, even after a lifetime of writing about the Second World War, there are still stories that deserve to be better known.
Episode Links
Plunder: The Last of the War in Europe, 1945
Max Links
Max â â onlineâ â
Phil Links
Phil â onlineâ
Phil on â â â â The Scandal Mongersâ â
Phil on â â â â â Twitter /Xâ â â â â
Phil on â â â â â â Instagramâ â â
Aspects of History Links
AoHÂ â â â â â â â onlineâ â â â â â â
AoH on â â â â â â â â Twitter /Xâ â â â â â â
AoH on â Instagramâ â
AoH on â â â â â â â â â Substackâ â â â â â
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Thomas Cromwell and Oliver Cromwell are among the most recognisable figures of Tudor and Stuart history â but few people realise that they were related. Separated by a century, their lives were shaped by remarkably similar rises from relative obscurity to the centre of English political life.
In this episode of the Aspects of Historyâ â â â â â â â podcast, historian
Miranda Malins joins Mark Turnbull to discuss her new book, â The House of Cromwell. Together they explore the Cromwell familyâs origins, its two
branches, the wealth and estates inherited from Thomas Cromwell, and how
fortunes were made and lost across the Tudor and Stuart periods.
Miranda also explores the striking parallels between Thomas and Oliver, from their early obscurity and religious convictions to their relationships with Parliament and the Reformation. The conversation also considers how both menâs reputations have changed over the centuries â and how their family continued to navigate the political and religious upheavals of the 16th and 17th centuries.
Episode Links
The House of Cromwell: Power, Family and the Making of Modern Britain
Miranda Malins Links
Miranda â â â â â â â â â â onlineâ â â â â â â â â â
Miranda on â â Twitter/Xâ â
Miranda on â â â Instagramâ â â
Miranda on â â â Facebookâ â
Mark Turnbull Links
Mark â â â â â â â â â â â onlineâ â
Mark on â â â Twitter/Xâ â â
Mark on â â â â Instagramâ â â â
Mark on â â â â Facebookâ â â
Aspects of History Links
AoH â â â â â â â â â â â â onlineâ â â â â â â â â â â â
AoH on â â â â â â â â â â â â â Twitter /Xâ â â â â â â â â â â â
AoH on Instagramâ
AoH on â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Substackâ â â â â â â â â â â â â
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The Aspects of History Film Club: Pressure with Giles Milton and Henry Thackray
What happens when one of the most pivotal decisions of the Second World War rests on something as unpredictable as the weather? The new feature film, Pressure, takes us behind the D-Day invasion, where meteorologists and Allied command must decide whether conditions are right for the Normandy landings.
In this special â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Aspects of Historyâ â â â â â â Film Club episode, bestselling historian Giles Milton joins Zeb Baker-Smithâ â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â again, this time to discuss the historical reality behind the film â from the competing teams of British and American meteorologists to James Staggâs role in presenting their forecasts to Eisenhower. They discuss what the film gets right and wrong, including its portrayals of Eisenhower and Montgomery, and the figures it leaves out.
Zeb is then joined by film editor Henry Thackrayâ to discuss Pressure
as cinema: Andrew Scott and Brendan Fraserâs performances, its chamber-piece structure, use of maps and weather charts, and its attempt to create suspense when the audience already knows the outcome. They also ask whether its intimate approach offers a refreshing alternative to the familiar D-Day blockbuster.
Episode Links
D-Day: The Soldiers' Story
Giles Milton Links
Giles â â â â â â â â â onlineâ â â â â â â â â
Giles on â Twitter/Xâ
Giles on â â Instagramâ â
Giles on â â Facebookâ
Henry Thackray Links
Henry â â â â â â â â â â onlineâ
Henry on â â â Instagramâ â â â â â â â â â
Aspects of History Links
AoH â â â â â â â â â â â onlineâ â â â â â â â â â â
AoH on â â â â â â â â â â â â Twitter /Xâ â â â â â â â â â â â
AoH on â â â â â â â â â â â â â Substackâ â â â â â â â â â â â â
Zeb Links
Zeb on â â â â â â â â â â â Twitter /Xâ â â â â â â â â â â
Zeb on â â â â â â â â â â â â Instagramâ â
Zeb on â â â â â â â â â â â â Substackâ
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Deep into the Sixties: Britain 1965â66 with David Kynaston
The Sixties are often remembered as a decade of sweeping social and cultural change. But how much really changed for ordinary people? From deindustrialisation and urban redevelopment to immigration, race relations and the shifting attitudes of a younger generation, Britain in the mid-1960s was a far more complicated place than the familiar images of the Beatles and a swinging London suggest.
In this episode of the podcast, David Kynaston joins Zeb Baker-Smithâ â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â , Editor of â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Aspects of Historyâ â â â â â â â , to discuss â Deep into the Sixties: Britain 1965â66, the latest volume in his Tales of a New Jerusalem chronicle of post-war Britain. They dissect the realities behind the decade's reputation for modernisation and liberalisation, and how contemporary diaries, newspapers and personal accounts demonstrate the gap between political and cultural change and everyday life.
David also discusses his approach to social history, the value of diaries in capturing the âbigâ and âsmallâ moments of ordinary lives, and the economic pressures facing Harold Wilson's Labour government. The conversation concludes with England's 1966 World Cup victory, and what that day reveals about Britain and its changing mood.
Episode Links
Deep into the Sixties: Britain 1965â66
David Kynaston Links
David â â â â â â â â onlineâ â â â â â â â
Aspects of History Links
AoHÂ â â â â â â â â â â onlineâ â â â â â â â â â
AoH on â â â â â â â â â â â Twitter /Xâ â â â â â â â â â
AoH on Instagramâ â
AoH on â â â â â â â â â â â â Substackâ â â â â â â â â â â â
Zeb Links
Zeb â â â â â â â â â onlineâ â â â â â â â â
Zeb on â â â â â â â â â â Twitter /Xâ â â â â â â â â â
Zeb on â â â â â â â â â â â Instagramâ
Zeb on â â â â â â â â â â â Substackâ
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In the early 20th century, the Arctic remained one of the last great unexplored regions of the world. When the celebrity explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson sets out to chart its unknown territory, the expeditionâs flagship, the Karluk, becomes trapped in the ice, leaving its crew, scientists and Indigenous members facing an extraordinary struggle for survival.
In this week's episode of the podcast, bestselling historian Giles Milton joins Zeb Baker-Smithâ â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â , Editor of â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Aspects of Historyâ â â â â â â , to discuss his new book, Empire at the Edge of the World, including the Karluk disaster, Captain Robert Bartlettâs remarkable journey to raise the alarm, and the ill-fated attempt to establish a colony on Wrangel Island. They explore the realities of Arctic exploration, from temperatures of minus 50 degrees to starvation, contaminated food and the treacherous sea ice.
Giles also discusses Ada Blackjack, the Indigenous seamstress who found herself stranded on Wrangel Island, and the diaries and accounts that reveal what happened there. From Stefanssonâs vision of the Arctic as the future of the world to his eventual fall from celebrity to disgrace, the conversation also considers Wrangel Islandâs continuing geopolitical importance a century later.
Episode Links
Empire at the Edge of the World: Endurance and Madness in the High Arctic
Giles Milton Links
Giles â â â â â â â â onlineâ â â â â â â â
Giles on Twitter/X
Giles on â Instagramâ
Giles on â Facebookâ
Aspects of History Links
AoHÂ â â â â â â â â â â onlineâ â â â â â â â â â
AoH on â â â â â â â â â â â Twitter /Xâ â â â â â â â â â
AoH on Instagramâ â
AoH on â â â â â â â â â â â â Substackâ â â â â â â â â â â â
Zeb Links
Zeb on â â â â â â â â â â Twitter /Xâ â â â â â â â â â
Zeb on â â â â â â â â â â â Instagramâ
Zeb on â â â â â â â â â â â Substackâ
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In 1963, former model Evelyn Westbrook is secretly beginning psychotherapy to understand a recurring nightmare. But as her relationship with Dr Daley develops, her search for answers becomes increasingly unsettling.
In this episode of the Aspects of Historyâ â â â â â â â  podcast, author Lucy Ashe joins Ella Beales to discuss The Model Patient, her psychological suspense novel inspired by her own experience of therapy. Together they examine the complex relationship between patient and therapist in the novel, and the narrative's blurred boundary between care and control.
Lucy also discusses her character's struggle for autonomy, shifting expectations of women in the 1960s, the role of art in expressing hidden emotions and poses the question of what happens when we trust someone else to help us understand ourselves.
Episode Links
The Model Patientâ
Lucy Ashe Links
Lucy online
â Lucy on Twitter/Xâ
Lucy on Instagram
â Lucy on Tiktok
Ella Links
Ella online
Ella on â â â â â Instagramâ â
Aspects of History Links
AoHÂ â â â â â â onlineâ â â â â â
AoH on â â â â â â â Twitter /Xâ â â â â â
AoH on Instagramâ
AoH on â â â â â â â â Substackâ â â â â â
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