The editor of Aspects of History, Ollie Webb-Carter, interviews historians and authors on the past - from the ancient world right up to the modern day. In each episode, Ollie seeks to get to the bottom of a story or scrutinise a figure from history. There are bonus episodes too, on current events and anniversaries to the Aspects of History Film Club.
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The Mafia & the Kennedys with Louis Ferrante Part 2
Season 1 · Episode 195
Wednesday, January 29, 2025 • Duration 36:08
On the 22nd November 1963 President John F Kennedy was assassinated…..by Lee Harvey Oswald right? Well wrong, because today’s guest has a suspect, the boss of the New Orleans mafia, Carlos Marcello who, along with other family bosses Sam Giancana and Santo Traficante, conspired to have the President whacked.
Louis Ferrante joins in this second part of our discussion on the mafia and the Kennedys as we talk about the assassination, motives, evidence and those involved. If you haven’t listened to part one that’s the previous episode.
Louis Ferrante Links
Part One
Borgata Vol II: Clash of Titans: A History of the American Mafia
Borgata Vol I: Rise of Empire: A History of the American Mafia
Episode from 2024 with Louis Ferrante
Aspects of History Links
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The Mafia & the Kennedys with Louis Ferrante Part 1
Season 1 · Episode 194
Saturday, January 25, 2025 • Duration 33:30
In early 1957, the Robert F Kennedy and his brother Jack were part of the US Senate Rackets Committee and they both attacked the notorious Jimmy Hoffa, the leader of the Teamsters union and a man with numerous connections to the mob. But as Hoffa probably knew at the time, the two of them were themselves involved with the mafia. Joining today is former member of the Gambino crime family and friend of the show Louis Ferrante, the author of three volumes on the history of the mafia in American and today we discuss the second, Borgata Vol 2, Clash of Titans. This is a two part special, with the second episode following on Wednesday.
Louis Ferrante Links
Borgata Vol II: Clash of Titans: A History of the American Mafia
Borgata Vol I: Rise of Empire: A History of the American Mafia
Episode from 2024 with Louis Ferrante
Aspects of History Links
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Film Club: Salvador (1986)
Season 1
Wednesday, January 22, 2025 • Duration 01:01:46
On the 2nd December 1980, four American nuns were driving from San Salvador international airport when their van was attacked and run off the road. Men from the El Salvador National Guard, the ruling government’s military, dressed in civilian clothing, raped, shot, then buried the four women. This event failed to halt US funding of the Salvadorian regime as billions of dollars were spent in propping up the fascist rulers. In 1985, before shooting Platoon, Oliver Stone began filming Salvador, starring James Woods as Richard Boyle so this is your January film club. Please do like, subscribe and follow, and if you can leave a kind rating then thank you, but it’s over to me, Roger and Tim on Salvador.
Links
Robert E White Obituary
Salvadoran Civil War
Salvador on IMDB
Salvador on Wikipedia
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Tim on X
Roger on X
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William Tell with Nick Hamm & Almut Seurbaum
Season 1 · Episode 193
Saturday, January 18, 2025 • Duration 40:55
Early in 14th century Switzerland was under the control of their far more powerful neighbour, Hapsburg Austria. In the small town of Aldorf in the canton of Uri, which is at the centre of Switzerland, near Lake Lucern and the city of Zurich there lived a brutal Austrian governor, Albrecht Gessler. Gessler hated the Swiss, a proud and rebellious people, and to remind them of their subjugation he placed his hat on a large post in the middle of the town, and demanded the Swiss bow when passing.
William Tell, an expert crossbowman and hunter, refused. Furious, Gessler set Tell a challenge. Shoot an apple off his son’s head, from 100 yards, as the wretched child was tied to the post or the boy would be executed. Tell reluctantly agreed, and with a miraculous shot he succeeded, and so began the revolt against Austria and Switzerland’s journey to independence for which it is known today, as well as dubious banking practises.
Joining the podcast is the director Nick Hamm who has made a film of William Tell, starring Claes Bang, Ben Kingsley, Jonathan Pryce, Golshifteh Farahani, Rafe Spall, Ellie Bamber and Connor Swindells. Also on the chat is the historian Almut Seurbaum.
William Tell Links
William Tell Movie on Wikipedia
William Tell Movie on IMDB
Aspects of History Links
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SAS Rogue Heroes Series 2 with Gavin Mortimer
Season 1 · Episode 192
Wednesday, January 15, 2025 • Duration 42:11
Gavin Mortimer joins me this week for a rollicking ride through the invasion of Sicily and Italy with the SAS and Paddy Mayne, Bill Stirling and his brother David. We discuss the portrayal Mayne, what the show gets right, and what it gets wrong. Rogue Heroes S2 stars Jack O'Connell and Connor Swindells.
!SPOILER ALERT!
Gavin is the author of The Phoney Major, a new book that examines both Stirling and Mayne closely, and one that has exploded the myth of David Stirling, so he's well placed to discuss the series.
Gavin Mortimer Links
The Phoney Major
The SAS in 1943: Operations in Sicily and Italy
The SAS in Italy with Gavin Mortimer
Aspects of History Links
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Espionage and Duplicity with William Boyd
Season 1 · Episode 191
Saturday, January 11, 2025 • Duration 49:37
Today’s episode is a chat with the acclaimed and bestselling author, William Boyd. He has written countless books including a Solo a Bond novel, screenplays, operas and he even took part in a brilliant art hoax with David Bowie. Last month I had the chance to talk with him about his new book, Gabriel’s Moon, the first in a trilogy of espionage novels set in the 1960s featuring the hero Gabriel Dax. We cover that period, spy writing and plenty of other subjects. I should mention that this episode first appeared on our sister podcast SpyMasters and you should definitely check it out where my colleague Antonia Senior interviews spy authors, historians and maybe even a few spooks themselves.
William Boyd Links
Gabriel’s Moon
William Boyd & David Bowie Art Hoax
Aspects of History Links
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The Naval History of Britain: The Rise with N.A.M. Rodger
Season 1 · Episode 190
Wednesday, January 8, 2025 • Duration 35:48
On the afternoon of 31st May 1916 the Royal Navy’s Grand Fleet sighted ships of the Imperial German Navy’s High Seas Fleet and so began the major significant sea battle of the First World War. The result was inconclusive, but what were the real consequences? Naval historian joins to discuss this and other subjects as we cover the naval history of Britain in the 20th century. Now I should warn you we do mention briefly the famine in Ireland and the navy’s role in it to begin with, and we end with a brief chat on Admiral Nelson, and the future of naval combat so there is plenty of ground covered.
N.A.M. Rodger Links
The Price of Victory: A Naval History of Britain: 1815 – 1945
Aspects of History Links
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The Naval History of Britain: Malaise with N.A.M. Rodger
Season 1 · Episode 189
Saturday, January 4, 2025 • Duration 39:51
On the 20th October 1827 in Navarino Bay on the west coast of the Peloponnese in Greece, the Royal Navy under Admiral Edward Codrington won its greatest victory post Trafalgar. Codrington became a household name with pubs named after him, but at the highest levels of government there was fury and embarrassment. Despite Greece winning independence the battle had given Russia supremacy over the Ottoman Empire, and British interests in the Mediterranean were threatened.
Joining the podcast in this first of a two part special is the great naval historian N.A.M. Rodger, whose new book The Price of Victory covers the history of Britain from 1815 to the end of the Second World War. In this episode, we talk about the 19th century, before Wednesday’s concluding chat covers the First and Second World Wars, as well as future conflicts in the South China Sea.
N.A.M. Rodger Links
The Price of Victory: A Naval History of Britain: 1815 – 1945
Aspects of History Links
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Film Club: Apocalypse Now (1979)
Season 1
Saturday, December 28, 2024 • Duration 56:55
This month’s film club is Apocalypse Now, Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 masterpiece. For next month’s movie listeners have an opportunity to vote on the poll via the Spotify app, it’s either Salvador directed by Oliver Stone or Carol Reed’s The Third Man.
Links
Apocalypse Now on IMDB
Apocalypse Now on Wikipedia
Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
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Tim on X
Roger on X
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Richard II & Henry IV with Helen Castor
Season 1 · Episode 188
Saturday, December 21, 2024 • Duration 58:59
At the end of June in 1399 Henry Bolingbroke, son of John of Gaunt and cousin to King Richard II, landed at Ravenspurn with a small force intent on the overthrow of Richard. The King, who had been in Ireland, did not rush to return to England, but when he did, his throne had been lost, and Bolingbroke became King Henry IV. Richard would die in mysterious circumstances not long after. Henry had secured the throne but his would not be a happy reign.
Joining to discuss the two grandsons of Edward III is Helen Castor, author of The Eagle and the Hart: the Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV as we delve into the two characters in a fascinating period of medieval history.
Helen Castor Links
The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV
Helen on X
Aspects of History Links
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