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
Apr 25, 2022 • 28min
Chiang Kai Shek and war with Japan - 1937 (Part One)
After six years of Japanese control of Manchuria, and the establishment of control piecemeal across northern China, a skirmish at the Marco Polo bridge near Beijing presented Chiang with a fateful decision, to wage war now against Japan to prevent China further weakening or to ignore the crisis. Chiang knew that China would be forced to fight alone, as there would be no help forthcoming from embattled European democracies or the USA. Nationalist Chinese troops had developed under the tutelage of German military advisors, but the Chinese officer corps was still too small to face the onslaught to come. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 25, 2022 • 29min
Update: French fascism defeated at the polls by Macron
Today's update takes a sidestep away from Ukraine to look at the historic developments in France, following the defeat of Marine Le Pen and the Front National in Sunday's presidential election by Emmanuel Macron. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 4, 2022 • 30min
Ukraine Update Episode Four: Putin and Zelenskiy's Western Supporters
This is the fourth part of my exploration of the Ukraine crisis, and its wider ramifications. Across Europe and America both the Russian Federation and more recently Ukraine have found sympathisers whose support to either side reflects the state of cultural conflicts that have divided western democracies in the past decade. Whether this is by Russian design or not, these divisions and the support from the far right and populist right of the west have benefitted Vladimir Putin immesurably. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 28, 2022 • 45min
British national identity in the age of Brexit: Explaining History in conversation with Dominic Selwood
In this special extended feature episode of the Explaining History podcast, I had the great pleasure to chat with Dominic Selwood, author of Anatomy of a Nation: A history of Britain in 50 documents. In this episode we discuss British national identity throughout the post war era and the crisis of identity that marks the Brexit era. You can purchase a copy of the book here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 25, 2022 • 27min
SS mentalities and crimes
SS killers approached the violence and brutality of their murderous work in the camps during the war as part of the wider racial struggle that the Nazi regime had tasked them with. The camp SS viewed the camps as a battlefield and the murder of prisoners as another arena of warfare, so much so that SS murderers were given medals by Heinrich Himmler. However, not all camp SS could cope with the brutality of what they were tasked with and some tried to avoid becoming complicit with the regime's crimes. Many of those who sought to avoid becoming killers were forced through peer pressure into killing, and resorted to murder in order to retain their social standing amongst their peers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 21, 2022 • 28min
Ukraine Report March 2022 (episode Three)
This is the third Ukraine update and in this episode, we look at the wider strategic and diplomatic realignments that are rapidly occurring, including China's current strategic ambiguity and Britain's growing diplomatic irrelevance under Johnson's Brexit government. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 10, 2022 • 27min
Malta, Rommel and North Africa 1940-43
The failure of Nazi Germany to seize the small British mediterranean colony of Malta was a significant strategic error. In 1941, Hitler decided not to invade the island and instead decided to put his energies into the seizure of Crete, which he believed would pose a threat to Romania's oil fields if it remained in British hands. General Erwin Rommel (later promoted to field marshal), had a year of almost unstoppable victories against the British during the 1942, but as he raced across the desert, his supply lines grew and became ever more vulnerable. The inability to fully control the Mediterranean by the Axis powers was fatal for Rommel's resupply needs, just as allied forces in Egypt were being resupplied with thousands of tanks and othe vehicles by the USA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 10, 2022 • 28min
Ukraine Report March 2022 (episode two)
In this week's Ukraine update, I focus on the bigger strategic and geopolitical problems that face a kleptocratic state in Russia and the shortcomings of a Sino-Russian alliance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 4, 2022 • 28min
Ukraine Report March 2022
This is the first of a series of special episodes dedicated to exploring the Ukraine crisis. I will post these weekly, alongside regular history podcasts in order to help navigate the rapidly changing situation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 18, 2022 • 27min
Eisenhower, atomic testing and the early cold war
After the detection of the Soviet Union's first atomic bomb test in 1949, the race to create bigger and more destructive weapons led to testing in the wide expanses of Utah and at Bikini Atoll in the Pacific. The horrific costs of on civilians of these tests was mirrored by the USSR, which air-detonated bombs in the Urals to see if soldiers on the ground could continue fighting. The effect on the American defence industry of atomic testing was entirely positive however, with a massive arms boom in the 1950s providing huge opportunities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
