Think history is boring? That’s because you’ve only ever heard the fake version.
On History Rage, professional historians come in swinging — smashing the myths, clichés, and half-truths that keep getting recycled in classrooms, documentaries, and TikToks. Vikings with horned helmets? Nope. Britain standing alone in 1940? Wrong. Medieval people never bathed? Rubbish.
Why listen? Because the truth is way more exciting. You’ll leave every episode with jaw-dropping stories, killer facts to shut down pub bores, and the smug satisfaction of knowing what really happened.
🎧 Episodes drop every Monday.
📲 Follow now and get the history they don’t teach you — raw, raging, and real.
311. Victorian England is a hotbed of revolt with Ian Breckon
Saison 23 · Épisode 2
dimanche 5 juillet 2026 • Durée 01:00:15
Victorian England wasn’t calm and orderly—it was a powder keg with Ian Breckon
Victorian England is often remembered as a world of polite manners, strict morality, and orderly progress. But beneath the surface lay unrest, desperation, and rebellion. In this explosive episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill is joined by historian and novelist Ian Breckon to dismantle the myth of a peaceful Victorian society.
Drawing on his research for the book Mad Tom’s Rising, Ian reveals the extraordinary story of Sir William Courtenay—better known as “Mad Tom”—a charismatic imposter who led a rural uprising in Kent in 1838. What followed was violent confrontation, mass mobilisation of labourers, and what has sometimes been described as the last battle fought on English soil.
Far from the tranquil image of Victorian England, this episode explores a period rife with poverty, political anxiety, religious fervour, and social upheaval. Ian explains how economic hardship, the legacy of the Poor Laws, and widespread discontent created the conditions for revolt. When “Mad Tom” emerged preaching radical ideas and promising justice for the oppressed, desperate people were ready to follow.
Paul and Ian discuss how this forgotten rebellion challenges popular assumptions about the Victorian era. Was England really stable and orderly—or was it simmering with revolutionary potential? And why has this dramatic episode been pushed to the margins of mainstream history?
Expect a gripping conversation about imposters, messianic leaders, class anger, and the uneasy reality of life for ordinary people in the early industrial age.
About the Guest
Ian Breckon is a historical novelist and researcher whose work explores overlooked and dramatic episodes from the past. His book Mad Tom’s Rising tells the extraordinary story of the Courtenay uprising and the social tensions that made it possible.
310. Blair Paddy Mayne was NOT a Drunken Irish Thug with Damien Lewis | IWM History Festival Live 1
mercredi 1 juillet 2026 • Durée 49:46
Think you know the true story behind the birth of the SAS? Think again.
In this extraordinary live episode, recorded on location at the Imperial War Museum History Festival, host Paul Bavill fires up the blue touch paper with best-selling military historian and filmmaker Damien Lewis. Together, they take dead aim at the cheap Hollywood tropes and television distortions that have rewritten the legacy of Britain's most decorated wartime icons.
Damien unleashes a masterclass of historical rage against the BBC’s SAS Rogue Heroes portrayal of Lieutenant Colonel Paddy Mayne. Far from the foul-mouthed, unhinged, drunken stereotype broadcast to millions, the real Paddy Mayne was a qualified solicitor, an Irish rugby international, a devotee of poetry, and the elite unit's hand-picked Discipline Officer who led his men through fraternal brotherhood and transformational command. You will discover the breathtaking truth behind his four Distinguished Service Orders (DSOs), his unmatched record of destroying enemy warplanes on the ground, and the clerical errors that unjustly denied him the Victoria Cross.
But the rage doesn't stop in 1945. Damien connects history directly to the modern day, sharing a raw, unfiltered look at the shocking state of modern British defence funding. From frontline special operations to deep post-war psychological trauma, this episode peels back the curtain on the heavy cost paid by the "raiders of the thug variety" who fought to save Western civilization.
Grab the Books & Follow the Guest
Dive deeper into Damien Lewis's meticulous archival research and gripping historical narratives.
Buy Damien's Books: Grab SAS Great Escapes 5, SAS The Great Train Raid, or his definitive trilogy on Paddy Mayne's band of warriors (Brothers in Arms, Forged in Hell, and Daggers Drawn) directly from the History Rage Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781529448245
309. The Pacific War Does Not Start With Pearl Harbour it Starts with Manchuria with Jenny Chan
Saison 23 · Épisode 1
dimanche 28 juin 2026 • Durée 44:10
World War II in Asia began earlier—and was far darker.
When did World War II really begin in the Pacific? According to historian Jenny Chan, the answer isn’t 1941 and Pearl Harbor. It’s 1931—and the consequences reshaped Asia long before Europe went to war.
In this powerful and unflinching episode of History Rage, Paul Bavill is joined by Jenny Chan, historian, author, and co-founder of Pacific Atrocities Education, to expose the forgotten atrocities of the Second World War in Asia. From the Mukden Incident and the invasion of Manchuria to the Rape of Nanjing and the horrors of Unit 731, this episode confronts the systemic violence that began a decade before Pearl Harbor—and challenges the Western narrative of WWII.
Jenny argues that framing the Pacific War as starting in 1941 erases millions of Asian victims. Japan’s occupation of Manchuria in 1931 marked the beginning of large-scale imperial expansion, biological warfare experimentation, forced labour, and state-sponsored sexual slavery. The brutality of the Nanjing Massacre in 1937 shocked even foreign observers. Meanwhile, Unit 731 conducted human experimentation on an industrial scale—research later shielded from prosecution in exchange for scientific data.
This episode explores:
Why WWII in Asia began in 1931, not 1941
The Mukden Incident and the failure of the League of Nations
The Nanjing Massacre and its global implications
Unit 731 and Japan’s biological warfare programme
Forced labour, “comfort women,” and racial ideology
Why many perpetrators avoided justice after 1945
How the war’s end triggered civil wars and Cold War conflicts across Asia
Jenny also explains how Cold War politics reshaped justice in Asia, why some alleged war criminals returned to positions of power, and how unresolved trauma still shapes East Asian geopolitics today.
This is essential listening for anyone interested in World War II history, Pacific War history, Japanese imperialism, war crimes, or the global consequences of empire.
308. Boudicca and warrior women were not rare with Elodie Harper | Chalke History Festival Special 6
mercredi 24 juin 2026 • Durée 44:41
Think you know Boudicca? Discover the forgotten women who fought beside her.
The story of Boudicca is etched into history, but what if the most powerful warrior queen was actually one of three? In this episode of History Rage, regular host Paul Bavill sits down with journalist and bestselling novelist Elodie Harper to shatter modern prejudices and Victorian myths surrounding Iron Age warrior women. If you’ve ever been told that powerful women didn’t exist in ancient Britain, prepare to have that misconception thoroughly dismantled.
Inside the Episode
Elodie dives deep into the archaeological and written evidence—from warrior style burials to the contemporary Roman records of Tacitus—proving that female authority, status, and military power were very real features of the ancient Celtic world.
Discover the hidden history behind Elodie’s latest book, Boudicca’s Daughter. While the Romans recorded the brutal atrocities committed against Boudicca’s two unnamed daughters to humiliate their bloodline, history has long left them in their mother's shadow as mere ciphers. Elodie explains why she chose to give these women their names and voices back, exploring the psychological aftermath of their trauma and their roles as political figureheads in Rome's greatest provincial crisis.
From the pitfalls of Victorian romanticization to how Elizabeth I invented our image of Boudicca's red hair, this episode is a passionate rally against the failure of imagination in modern historical storytelling.
See Elodie Live at Chalke History Festival
Elodie Harper will be speaking live at the Chalke History Festival on Saturday, 27th June at 1:15 PM. Don't miss your chance to hear more about this incredible history immersive experience!
307. Understand the History of Conspiracy Theory with James Crossland
Saison 22 · Épisode 10
dimanche 21 juin 2026 • Durée 54:30
The forgotten woman behind today’s global conspiracy thinking
Conspiracy theories didn’t begin with the moon landing. They didn’t start with QAnon. And they certainly didn’t begin on Reddit.
In this explosive episode of History Rage, Professor James Crossland returns to uncover the origins of modern conspiracy culture — and the overlooked figure who helped shape it. Long before talk of the “deep state,” the “New World Order,” or shadowy global elites, one British writer in the 1920s fused together Jews, Freemasons, Bolsheviks and secret societies into a single sweeping theory of world domination.
Her name was Nesta Helen Webster — and according to Crossland, she is “patient zero for the plague of conspiracy-fed stupidity.”
Drawing on his research into extremism, fascism and political violence, James explains how Webster inherited earlier myths about the Illuminati and the French Revolution and repackaged them for the post–First World War world. In an age of fear, upheaval and political instability, she offered something dangerously seductive: a simple explanation for complex events.
We explore:
The real history of the Illuminati in 1770s Bavaria
Why the French Revolution became a conspiratorial blueprint
How the Bolshevik Revolution intensified global paranoia
The role of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion
The rise of the British Fascisti
The roots of the American far right and the John Birch Society
How conspiracy thinking evolves, mutates and survives
From Adam Weishaupt to QAnon, from interwar Britain to modern America, this episode traces the long thread of conspiratorial belief and asks a crucial question: why do these ideas endure?
If you want to understand the historical roots of today’s global conspiracy movements — and why they feel so persuasive — this is essential listening.
306. Catherine The Great Did Not Have Sex With a Horse with Kate Williams | Chalke Festival Special 5
mercredi 17 juin 2026 • Durée 45:19
Discover the truth behind history's most persistent and monstrous sexual slur.
Think you know how Russia’s greatest empress met her end? If you are still repeating the infamous stallion myth, you have fallen hook, line, and sinker for 18th-century wartime propaganda.
In this special episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill sits down with the brilliant Professor Kate Williams to completely dismantle the pervasive, malicious lies built to tear down powerful women in history. From Cleopatra being branded a mere "seductress" to Marie Antoinette's alleged scandals, powerful women have always faced intensely gendered character assassinations.
But Catherine the Great took the brunt of it.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
The Cold Hard Truth: Exactly how Catherine the Great actually died (peacefully in her bed at age 67 from a stroke!).
The Origin of the Lie: How her British, French, and Polish enemies weaponized satirical gossip to reduce a massive global superpower to a monstrous joke.
The Real Legacy: Why Catherine was actually a groundbreaking vaccine pioneer, a champion of state education, and a builder of public health infrastructure.
Despot vs. Democrat: The fascinating dichotomy of an absolute ruler who implemented policies we now associate with modern democracies.
Stop letting 300-year-old "banter" dictate historical fact. It is time to respect one of Russia's most successful monarchs for her sharp political mind rather than a fabricated bedroom scandal.
Hear More From Kate Williams
· Grab the Book: Unpack the full history of how the images imposed on queens become all-consuming. Buy Kate's latest book, Regina: A New History of Women and Power, directly from the History Rage Bookshop:
305. Ancient Greece wasn’t peaceful philosophers in flowing robes with Adrian Goldsworthy
Saison 22 · Épisode 9
dimanche 14 juin 2026 • Durée 59:36
What if everything you think you know about Ancient Greece is wrong?
In this episode of History Rage, bestselling historian Adrian Goldsworthy dismantles the comforting myth of a civilised, philosophical utopia. Forget marble statues and thoughtful men in cloaks — this is a world of bitter rivalries, brutal warfare, political volatility, and communities obsessed with proving they were the best.
Drawing on his latest book, Athens and Sparta: The Rivalry That Shaped the Ancient World, Adrian reveals a Greek world far more dangerous, competitive and unstable than most documentaries dare to show.
Ancient Greece: 800 Rival States, Not One Noble Nation
There was no “Greece” in the modern sense. Instead, there were 800–1,000 fiercely independent city-states, constantly competing for prestige, power and survival.
In this episode, we explore:
Why the Persian invasions weren’t an attack on a united Greece
Why more Greeks fought for Persia than against it
How competition — not culture — defined Greek identity
Why colonisation, warfare and rivalry were normal
The performance culture of honour and reputation
This isn’t Plato’s academy come to life. It’s a volatile world where cities needed enemies — but not so destroyed that there was no one left to applaud their victories.
Athens vs Sparta: Democracy, Discipline and Myth
We also unpack the two giants of the Greek world:
Athens – Radical Democracy or Mob Rule?
Athens pioneered a form of direct democracy that feels startlingly modern — and terrifyingly unstable.
Every male citizen could vote
304. The Black Death was not just a European Problem with Tom Asbridge | Chalke Festival Special 4
mercredi 10 juin 2026 • Durée 55:58
Think the Black Death was just a medieval European tragedy? Think again.
When you picture the Black Death, you probably imagine a third of Europe being wiped out while flagellants marched through British and French villages. But pandemics don’t stop at borders. What if our standard history lessons have completely ignored more than half of the story?
In this special episode for the Chalke History Festival, host Paul Bavill sits down with Tom Asbridge, Reader in Medieval History at Queen Mary University of London and author of The Black Death, a Global History. Together, they shatter the Euro-centric myths to reveal a truly global disaster that stretched from Central Asia all the way across the medieval world.
Discover how the plague reshaped the wealthy and sophisticated Mamluk Empire. Massive Middle Eastern cities like Cairo—which completely dwarfed London with a population of half a million people—faced unimaginable mass mortality. Tom explains the fascinating doctrinal differences that dictated survival; while Christian Europe viewed the disease as divine punishment that justified flight and abandonment, Islamic doctrine saw it as a merciful martyrdom. This completely altered how communities reacted, locked down, and ultimately collapsed under the weight of the pandemic.
From the horrific eyewitness accounts of parents burying their own children to the long-term socioeconomic shifts that triggered peasant revolts and altered workers' rights, this episode zooms out to a global scale and zooms in on the raw human experience. If you want to understand the true scale of history's most terrifying disease, hit play now!
About Our Guest
Tom Asbridge is a professional historian, author, and Reader in Medieval History at Queen Mary University of London.
See Tom Live: Catch Tom speaking at the Chalke History Festival on Friday 26th June at 4:00 PM. Grab your tickets at: https://www.chalkefestival.com/
Buy the Book: Get your copy of directly from the History Rage Bookshop to support the show:
303. Berlin was not blockaded in 1948 with Joseph Pearson
Saison 22 · Épisode 8
dimanche 7 juin 2026 • Durée 55:26
Berlin wasn’t blockaded — and that changes everything you think.
Was Berlin really “blockaded” in 1948? Or have we been repeating a Cold War myth for nearly eighty years?
In this explosive episode of History Rage, cultural historian and author Joseph Pearson dismantles one of the most entrenched narratives of the early Cold War. We all know the story: Stalin sealed off West Berlin, starving its people, and the West heroically saved the city through the Berlin Airlift. But what if Berlin was never truly blockaded at all?
Drawing on deep archival research and firsthand accounts from Berliners, Pearson argues that the term “blockade” is historically misleading. While ground and rail access from West Germany was restricted, movement between East and West Berlin continued. Civilians crossed borders. Food flowed in. Even Soviet authorities offered rations. The airlift was real — and extraordinary — but the idea of a city completely sealed off is far more myth than fact.
We explore:
What a “blockade” actually means — and why the word matters
How ordinary Berliners experienced the airlift
The women who built Tegel Airport in just 90 days
The terrifying near-misses that could have sparked World War III
The propaganda war that turned former enemies into allies
Why the Berlin Airlift remains a masterclass in geopolitical brinkmanship
Joseph Pearson, originally from Canada and now based in Berlin, specialises in everyday history — the lived experience behind the headlines. His latest book examines the Berlin Airlift through the eyes of civilians and pilots, revealing a more complex, human and politically charged story.
Guest Details:
Joseph Pearson is a cultural historian and author based in Berlin.
Book: The Airlift: Victories, Myths, and the Berlin Blockade
302. Stop Overglorifying Pericles with Paul Cartledge | Chalke Festival Special 3
jeudi 4 juin 2026 • Durée 01:01:11
Why history’s greatest Athenian leader may be wildly misunderstood today
Was Pericles really the mastermind behind Athens’ Golden Age — or have historians spent centuries exaggerating his importance?
In this explosive episode of History Rage, acclaimed classicist and Cambridge professor Paul Cartledge tears apart the modern obsession with “Periclean Athens” and argues that ancient democracy was far more complex than the story of one great man. From the origins of democracy and demagogues to the brutal realities of Athenian politics, this is a fascinating deep dive into Ancient Greece, the Peloponnesian War, Sparta, rhetoric, and political power.
Paul explains why Pericles could never have ruled like a dictator, why Athens executed failed politicians, and why modern comparisons between Pericles and modern autocrats completely miss the point. He also explores the cultural mythmaking around the Parthenon, the famous Funeral Oration, and the role of Thucydides in shaping Pericles’ legendary reputation.
The conversation also shines a spotlight on Aspasia of Miletus — often unfairly dismissed as Pericles’ “mistress.” Paul argues passionately that Aspasia was Pericles’ intellectual equal and one of the most misunderstood women in ancient history.
If you love Ancient Greek history, classical civilisation, democracy, Sparta vs Athens, Greek philosophy, or the politics of historical memory, this episode is essential listening.
In this episode:
Was Pericles really responsible for Athens’ Golden Age?
How Athenian democracy actually worked
Why the word “demagogue” changed meaning
The truth about Aspasia of Miletus
Pericles, Sparta and the outbreak of total war
Ancient rhetoric and political persuasion
Why historians still argue about Pericles today
Paul Cartledge’s book:
Pericles: Statesman, Demagogue, Eccentric
Follow Damien on Social Media: @authordlewis
Binge More History Rage Special Forces Episodes
If this deep dive into WWII Special Forces left you wanting more, check out these recommended past episodes:
Episode 33: Gavin Mortimer takes aim at the myths surrounding SAS founder David Stirling.
Episode 218: Tony Rushmer confronts the media's portrayal of legendary original member Reg Seekings.
Follow & Support History Rage
Help keep the podcast angry, independent, and dedicated to historical truth!
Support us on Patreon: Join the inner circle of History Ragers for £5 a month to get entry into monthly book draws, exclusive live streams, the chance to submit questions to guests, and the coveted History Rage mug! Join today at https://www.patreon.com/historyrage
Get in Touch: Follow the anger on social media by searching for @HistoryRage on X/Twitter and Instagram, or join the conversation using the hashtag #HistoryRage.
Jenny Chan is a historian, author, and co-founder of Pacific Atrocities Education, a non-profit organisation dedicated to documenting and preserving the history of WWII in Asia.
Her book:
Maruta: Unit 731, Human Experimentation, and the Forgotten Asian Auschwitz
Episode 306: Kate Williams rages that Catherine the Great didn't die having sex with a horse.
Episode 298: Linda Porter rages that Mary Queen of Scots is not a bloody stupid woman.
Support History Rage
If you want to help us keep burying historical myths under King's Cross Station, consider becoming a History Rager on Patreon! For just £5 a month, you'll get entry into our monthly book draw, the invite to submit guest questions, access to monthly live streams, and the coveted History Rage mug.
Professor James Crossland is Director of the Centre for Modern and Contemporary History at Liverpool John Moores University. His research focuses on extremism, political violence, war crimes and the darker sides of modern history.
He is also host of the podcast History’s Devils, where each episode dives deep into some of history’s most troubling and complex figures — terrorists, war criminals, spies and ideological extremists.
Follow James:
X (Twitter): @DrJCrossland
Bluesky: @james.crossland.bsky.social
Podcast: History’s Devils (available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and all major platforms)
Follow History’s Devils on Instagram @historysdevils
Why This Episode Matters
Conspiracy theories thrive in times of fear. After the First World War, confusion and anger created fertile ground for simple answers. Webster provided a framework so adaptable that it still underpins movements today.
As James argues, conspiracy culture persists because it offers clarity where history offers complexity. It replaces polycausal explanation with villain-driven narrative. It provides belonging, identity and meaning.
Understanding its history is not optional — it’s essential.
Support History Rage
If you enjoy fearless historical debate and myth-busting:
Join the Rage on Patreon: www.patreon.com/historyrage
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And if you love the show, tell someone. Bring another historian aboard the Rage Train.
· See Her Live: Kate will be speaking at the Chalke History Festival on Thursday, 25th June at 2:00 PM. Secure your spot and buy tickets now at the Chalke Festival Official Website: https://www.chalkefestival.com/
Connect: Follow Professor Kate Williams on social media for more historical insights on social media at @KateWilliamsme
Recommended Episodes to Catch Next
If this deep dive into historical misrepresentation got your blood boiling, check out these related episodes:
Episode 232: Elizabeth Norton rages about the Queens Regnant.
Episode 199: Una McIlvenna rages the truth about Catherine de Medici.
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Adrian explains how Athenian democracy worked in practice — including how the Assembly once voted to execute an entire rebellious city… and reversed the decision the next day.
This was participation politics at its most extreme.
Sparta – Military Machine or Misunderstood Society?
Sparta’s reputation as a society of full-time soldiers doesn’t tell the whole story.
Because the Spartans wrote almost nothing themselves, much of what we “know” comes from outsiders — often centuries later.
Adrian challenges the clichés:
Were Spartans truly permanent warriors?
How rigid was their society in reality?
What was life like for the Helots?
Why did Sparta’s citizen population collapse?
How democratic was Sparta — really?
The result is a more complex, less cartoonish Sparta than Hollywood’s 300 ever allowed.
About Adrian Goldsworthy
Adrian Goldsworthy is a leading historian of the ancient world and bestselling author. Though best known for his work on Rome, he has written extensively on Greece and the classical world.
Book
Athens and Sparta: The Rivalry That Shaped the Ancient World
Episode 193: Luke Pepera rages that there is an African history long before any Europeans turned up.
Episode 143: Eleanor Janega brings the rage to prove that medieval women absolutely worked.
Support and Follow History Rage
If you love truth being freed and myth getting a long, slow, brutal death, help us keep the anger alive!
Support us on Patreon: Join the inner circle for £5 a month to get entry into our monthly book draws, pitch questions to future guests, access live streams, and grab the coveted History Rage mug: https://www.patreon.com/historyrage
If you care about Cold War history, post-war Germany, the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, or how propaganda shapes memory — this episode will challenge what you thought you knew.
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