Explaining History
Nick Shepley
The Explaining History Podcast, created and hosted by Nick Shepley, offers a comprehensive exploration of 20th-century history through weekly episodes. For over a decade, this podcast has been providing students and history enthusiasts with in-depth analyses of key events, processes, and debates that shaped the modern world.The podcast covers a wide range of topics within 20th-century history, including:- Major historical events like World Wars I and II, The rise and fall of communism, fascism and imperialism- Political movements and ideologies- Economic developments and crises- Social and cultural changesEpisodes typically run for about 25 minutes, offering concise yet informative discussions on specific subjects. The podcast invites listeners to engage with complex historical topics in manageable segments, making it ideal for students and busy history enthusiasts.Expert InsightsNick frequently invites expert guests to contribute their knowledge and perspectives, enriching the podcast with diverse viewpoints and specialized expertise. This approach helps listeners understand the competing debates and interpretations surrounding historical events and processes.Educational FocusThe podcast is particularly valuable for students, especially those studying A-level history. It offers targeted content aligned with specific curricula, such as the AQA syllabus for Russian history. This educational focus makes it an excellent supplementary resource for formal history studies.Chronological ApproachWhile the podcast primarily focuses on the 20th century, it adopts a chronological approach to storytelling. This method allows listeners to follow the progression of events and understand how different historical moments are interconnectedEngaging PresentationNick's presentation style combines rigorous historical analysis with an engaging narrative approach. The podcast aims to not only inform but also captivate listeners, making complex historical topics accessible and interesting to a broad audienceBy offering this mix of comprehensive content, expert insights, and engaging presentation, the Explaining History Podcast serves as a valuable resource for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of 20th-century history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 8, 2024 • 28min
Men At War - Masculinity, Sexuality and Memory 1939-45
In this fascinating conversation with writer Luke Turner, we explore the emotional and intimate lives of men who fought in the Second World War. Luke's new book, Men at War 1939-45 is an exploration of the motivations, beliefs and personal and sexual histories of British soldiers in the Second World War. Join us to hear more about the book and the ideas behind it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 20, 2024 • 34min
The Fall of Civilisations
In this wide ranging conversation with historian and podcaster Paul Cooper, we explore the themes in his new book The Fall of Civilisations. Paul has examined numerous ancient and medieval civilisations from the Assyrians to the peoples of Easter Island to understand the factors and tipping points that lead to the end of civilisations. We explore how empires divide, how civil conflicts begin, the role of food insecurity and other stress factors and how likely our civilisation will reach its own existential crisis.Note: There were a couple of audio issues in this podcast, but stick with it, it's well worth it.You can hear Paul's podcast here, and Paul's book Fall of Civilisations is available here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 7, 2024 • 37min
Westlessness: The changing power of the west in the 21st Century
The western world fought for its survival in the 20th Century and won the three great historical challenges it faced, the first and second world wars and the long ideological struggle of the Cold War. Now in the 21st Century, during a time of rapid global transitions of power the future of the western power is less certain in an increasingly multipolar world. In this episode of the Explaining History Podcast, I speak with Dr Samir Puri, author of a new book Westlessness, which explores the past and the future of the west and its competitors. Note: There were a couple of audio issues in this podcast, but stick with it, it's an absorbing conversation.You can pre-order the book here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 28, 2024 • 37min
SAS warfare, survival and resistance 1942-44
In this episode of the Explaining History podcast we hear from Gerald Hough, whose new book Desert Raids with the SAS recounts the story of his father, Anthony, and his experience of war, captivity and escape. Part of the SAS in North Africa during the long desert campaigns between the 8th Army and the Afrika Korps, Anthony Hough was captured by the Italians and sent to a prison camp near Pescara in Italy. When Italy surrendered and Germany occupied the northern half of the country, he found himself trapped behind enemy lines and facing potential deportation to Germany. With two other soldiers he hid and then escaped as the camp was being emptied and found the most extraordinary support and help from Italian anti fascists in the nearby villages. Reduced eventually to living in a cave, Anthony Hough crossed mountainous terrain in winter and desperately ill managed to make it back across allied lines. Hear about this incredible story of survival and resistance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 21, 2024 • 34min
French Counter Insurgency in Algeria
In today's episode of the Explaining History podcast, we hear from Terence Peterson author of Revolutionary Warfare: How the Algerian War Made Modern Counterinsurgency. In this fascinating discussion, we explore the brutal realities of the Algerian war of Independence and France's struggle to comprehend and counter a nationalist movement that threatened to dismantle its empire. France's loss in Vietnam had been a shattering blow to French pride and self confidence, along with the national humiliation and trauma of the Second World War. The French war against the nationalist movement in Algeria whilst unsuccessful created the framework for the bloody suppression of third world nationalist movements for the next half century. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 16, 2024 • 36min
William Freeman and America's first profit driven prisons
In the first half of the 19th Century profit driven prisons were established in America's northern states, using extreme brutality and conditions that amount to torture to extract free labour from inmates. In this week's edition of the Explaining History Podcast, we hear from Professor Robin Bernstein, whose new book Freeman's Challenge: The Murder that Shook America's Original Prison for Profit tells the story of William Freeman. Freeman was wrongfully convicted of stealing a horse and sent the profit driven prison in his home town of Auburn NY, and who endured terrible physical and mental punishment during the five years of his incarceration. Freeman, a half black, half native American was forced to perform free labour and rebelled against the prison's rules, particularly the imposition of total silence 24 hours a day. When released he demanded restitution for the loss of wages and finally committed a terrible murder. What happened next shaped the racist lie perpetuated in America until the present day of an alleged link between African Americans and violent crime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 31, 2024 • 33min
From biplanes to the jet age - three decades in the RAF
In this episode of the Explaining History podcast, we hear from Mark Aedy, whose father Ken served as a bomber pilot during the Second World War. Trained to fly in Oklahoma in 1942, Ken saw active service as a bomber pilot attacking the Ruhr, Munster, Dresden and a variety of other targets. After the war he stayed with the RAF and served in Egypt during the end of the Palestine mandate and flew Soviet escorted relief flights at the beginning of the first Berlin Crisis of 1948. Join us for this wide ranging chat about aviation the pressures of war and the moral complexities of the allied mass bombing of Germany. If you'd like to grab a copy of Ken Aedy's memoirs, you can get a copy here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 27, 2024 • 35min
Music and Marxism - understanding pop from a materialist and class analysis
In this week's episode we hear from writer Toby Manning whose new book, Mixing Pop and Politics explores a Marxist history of popular music and examines the economic and social forces that make the phenomenon that is popular music and culture. In a wide ranging conversation that explores everything from Beyonce's country album, John Lennon's Working Class Hero, the intersection with queer culture and representation, Queen's commercial suicide in USA following the video for I want to break free, and the corporate pressure on the Beatles and Guns N' Roses, we explore popular music as a site of resistance.You can order a copy of the book directly from Repeater Books here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 16, 2024 • 37min
South Africa's Democracy: 30 Years On
Peter Hain was, along with his family, forced to flee South Africa in the late 1960s, at the height of the Apartheid regime's war against its opponents. From exile in London Peter was a pivotal member of the anti Apartheid movement in the 60s, 70s and 80s. In this interview before the publication of his third novel, the Lion Conspiracy, we talk about conservation and the international corruption that fuels poaching across Africa, and the valiant attempts by African rangers to preserve wildlife. We also explore the state of South Africa three decades after the transition to a multiracial democracy and the reasons for a decline in the popularity of the ANC following the corruption of former prime minister Jacob Zuma. A former member of Tony Blair's government and now a member of the House of Lords, Peter has fascinating insights on the nature of the struggle against apartheid and the reasons for the fall of the Pretoria regime.You can grab a copy of the Lion Conspiracy here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 11, 2024 • 26min
Understanding Nostalgia
Open up your Twitter feed or Facebook page and you're one or two clicks away from a nostalgia meme, they grow like historically illiterate fungi, but nostalgia itself is a more complex and even sometimes problematic phenomenon. In this episode of the Explaining History podcast we hear from Dr Agnes Arnold-Forster, the author of a new history of Nostalgia itself. We explore the first recorded instances of nostalgia in the 17th Century through to its current usage and weaponisation in culture wars. Our shared longings for less complex or worrying times and our fears and misunderstandings about the nature of the past are part of this complex and fluid socially shared emotional and cultural phenomenon. You can grab a copy of the book here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
