We Are History
Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell
The less-than-serious history podcast with stand up comedian Angela Barnes (The News Quiz, Mock The Week and Live at The Apollo) and writer John O'Farrell (An Utterly Impartial History of Britain, Things Can Only Get Better, Spitting Image). In each podcast our two history nerds discuss, explain and laugh at interesting and quirky episodes from the olden days, such as East German Nudism, Spy Pigeons or Vlad the Impaler. Angela and John’s in-depth knowledge of world history has been described as ‘laughable’ - and now they read the history books so that you don't have to. The We Are History podcast - not as world-changing as the Black Death, but slightly funnier.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 21, 2020 • 59min
The History of Christmas
How the ancient midwinter festival evolved into our modern day Christmas, despite the Puritans banning it because Cromwell forgot to get his missus a present. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 14, 2020 • 1h
1989 - Revolutions across Eastern Europe
How the Cold War ended in an incredible few months across Eastern Europe in 1989. (And Angela remembers Kylie's duet with Jason) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 7, 2020 • 1h 3min
An Explicit History of Swearing
A potty-mouthed history of swearing, in which John blushes and stammers and Angela just talks like she always does. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nov 30, 2020 • 1h 4min
A Thoroughly Researched History of Beer
How beer became the every drink of ordinary Britons, and the healthy option to give to your kids to stop them dying from cholera. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nov 23, 2020 • 43min
Murder at Road Hill House - 1860
What the original English country house murder-mystery teaches us about Victorian hypocrisy, the class system and the subjugation of women. (Plus it led to John spending a week in a hotel with Ann Widdecombe.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nov 16, 2020 • 1h 5min
German Resistance to the Nazis
A lot is heard about the French Resistance or the Warsaw Uprising, but what about the Germans who resisted Hitler? Was it historically insignificant, or have we chosen to ignore them? Between them, John and Angela have A' Levels in History AND German, so who could be more qualified to explain it all... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nov 9, 2020 • 43min
The Battle of Hastings - 1066
John attempts to persuade Angela that the most famous date in English history still matters, but they end up talking for ages about beer versus wine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nov 2, 2020 • 1h 5min
Sealand - the Essex family that declared independence from Britain
How one eccentric Englishman seized an abandoned offshore gun platform, launched a 1960s pirate radio station and then decided to create his own country instead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 26, 2020 • 33min
The Bristol Bus Boycott - 1963
How a handful of young Black campaigners challenged racist employment practises in Bristol and against all odds won their case and changed the law. (Not to be confused with the 1969 sit-com 'On The Buses' where Reg Varney made lots of jokes about 'lovely Bristols'.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 19, 2020 • 60min
The cult of Jack the Ripper
A 'We Are History' first, as we welcome a PROPER historian on the show. Hallie Rubenhold, award winning author of 'The Five' joins us to discuss why one particular serial killer has been fashioned into a dastardly pantomime villain, while his victims 'Polly' Nicholls, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly were misrepresented or simply forgotten. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
