
Patented: History of Inventions
This podcast investigates the curious history of invention and innovation. Did Thomas Edison take credit for things he didn’t actually invent? What everyday items have surprising origins? And would man have ever got to the moon without… the bra? Each episode host Dallas Campbell dives into stories of flukey discoveries, erased individuals and merky marketing ploys with the help of experts, scientists and historians. Expect new episodes every Wednesday and Sunday.
Latest episodes

Sep 27, 2023 • 30min
Things vs. Humans: the spiteful behaviour of inanimate objects
Explore the theory of Resistentialism, which suggests that inanimate objects have a spiteful behavior towards humans. The podcast discusses the frustrations caused by everyday objects, explores personal experiences, and delves into the philosophical implications of this phenomenon. It also highlights the influence of Resistentialism on art, literature, and music.

Sep 24, 2023 • 40min
First Ever Submarine
400 years ago, the world's first submarine was showcased on the River Thames. Cornelis Drebbel, the genius behind it, also invented perpetual motion machines and chemical air conditioning. The podcast explores the intertwined relationship between magic, science, and religion during the Jacobian era and discusses the emergence of science fiction in the 17th century. It delves into the life of Cornelis Drouble, a radical philosopher, artist, and submarine inventor, and explores the connections between alchemy and technological advancements. The rise of projectors and their ambitious plans for world domination is also discussed, along with the forgotten scientific achievements of Cornelius Dribble in the 17th century.

13 snips
Sep 20, 2023 • 37min
Inventing Fire: the First Spark of Humanity
Anthropologist Richard Wrangham discusses the significance of fire in human evolution, including its impact on our anatomy, diet, and brain size. The podcast explores the origins of cooking, the control of fire throughout history, the evolution of reactive aggression, and the role of language in shaping alliances and morality. It also touches on our predisposition to war and the significance of fire in our lives.

Sep 17, 2023 • 48min
Rise and Fall of High Heels
For most of their history, High Heels were resolutely masculine. The most manly of manly footwear. How did they turn into burning icons of femininity? And now that the heyday of women's high heels is over, what lies ahead for them?Dallas's guest today is Elizabeth Semmelhack, Director and Senior Curator of the Bata Shoe Museum.Edited by Tom Delargy, Produced by Alex Carlon, Senior Producer is Charlotte LongGet 50% off your first 3 months with code PATENTED. Download the app on your smart TV or in the app store or sign up at historyhit.com/subscribeYou can take part in our listener survey here.

Sep 13, 2023 • 30min
Sunglasses
What do all incredibly cool people have in common? They wear Sunglasses. Whether you're Miles Davis or Audrey Hepburn, James Dean or Bob Dylan, your sunglasses are never far away.Who invented sunglasses and who made them so cool? Was there a moment when sunglasses went from being just an instrument for protecting your eyes to becoming an iconic symbol of high fashion?Vanessa Brown, author of Cool Shades: The History and Meaning of Sunglasses knows everything about sunglasses and she joins Dallas to answer all your burning questions about sunglasses.Edited by Tom Delargy, Produced by Alex Carlon, Senior Producer is Charlotte LongGet 50% off your first 3 months with code PATENTED. Download the app on your smart TV or in the app store or sign up at historyhit.com/subscribeYou can take part in our listener survey here.

Sep 10, 2023 • 36min
Deep-Sea Submersibles & the Titan Disaster
The Titan submersible implosion was a tragic example of marine exploration going wrong. Today Dallas speaks to one of the world's leading marine archaeologists about Titan and the history of deep-sea submersibles leading up to it. Why and how did we begin exploring the ocean depths? What drives us on? And what lessons should be learned from Titan?Edited by Tomos Delargy, Produced by Alex Carlon, Senior Producer Charlotte LongGet 50% off your first 3 months with code PATENTED. Download the app on your smart TV or in the app store or sign up at historyhit.com/subscribeYou can take part in our listener survey here.

Sep 6, 2023 • 48min
Patriarchy
Angela Saini, author of 'The Patriarchs, How Men Came to Rule', joins the discussion to explore the origins of patriarchy and debunk assumptions of male dominance. They discuss the progression of patriarchy, the nature of oppression, gender roles in different societies, and the power of belief in conspiracy theories.

Sep 3, 2023 • 31min
Donald Hebb: Brainwashing in the Cold War
In 1950, a new word ‘brainwashing’ entered the English language. From the paranoia of the Cold War a new type of Evil Scientist had emerged — the Mind Controller. But was there any truth to the fear?In the 1950s the CIA went to an eminent psychology Donald Hebb and asked him to investigate the possibility. His idea was to test what happened to the brain when it is starved of everything that anchors it to reality. Of anything to see, to listen to, to touch or smell.With nothing to hold onto, will the mind drift loose? Could it be reprogrammed?Dallas's guest today is Charlie Williams, a researcher at Queen Mary University in London who explores the history of brainwashing in the Cold War.Produced by Alex Carlon and Freddy Chick. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long.Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free original podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians like Dan Snow, James Holland, Mary Beard and more.Get 50% off your first 3 months with code PATENTED. Download the app on your smart TV or in the app store or sign up at historyhit.com/subscribeYou can take part in our listener survey here.

Aug 30, 2023 • 36min
Medieval Swords
No invention conjures up the 'Old World' as much as the Sword. It's an utterly iconic object that whisks us back to knights in shining armour. But what were Medieval swords really like? Who owned them? And what did they mean at the time?Today we're bringing you an episode from another History Hit podcast we thought you'd love - Gone Medieval hosted by Matt Lewis and Eleanor Janega.This episode was edited by Joseph Knight and produced by Rob Weinberg.Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free original podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians like Dan Snow, James Holland, Mary Beard and more.Get 50% off your first 3 months with code PATENTED. Download the app on your smart TV or in the app store or sign up at historyhit.com/subscribeYou can take part in our listener survey here.

Aug 27, 2023 • 38min
Marie Curie
Patricia Fara, an expert in the history of science, discusses the life of Marie Curie. Topics include her groundbreaking work with radium chloride, the stereotypes associated with her, her contributions to understanding the nucleus of an atom, the health hazards of radiation, and her significant discoveries of polonium and radium.
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