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
Nov 11, 2019 • 25min
Britain's Class System in the 1930s
During the 1930s, social class in Great Britain was experiencing a gradual transition away from the dominance that the landed aristocracy had enjoyed during the 19th Century. Instead, a new bourgeoisie was emerging, divided between an upper and lower middle class with different expectations and experiences, but similar political loyalties. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 4, 2019 • 25min
Nazi Propaganda and Radio Broadcasting
Even before 1933, the Nazis were aware that radio offered then unprecedented opportunities to shape public thought. However, the use of radio did not quite have the power to create the type of existential and cultural revolution that Goebbels and Hitler had envisaged. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 18, 2019 • 26min
US anti communism and the Republican Party 1945-50 (Part One)
This is the first of a series of podcasts on the development of anti communism in the 1940s in the USA and the role that the Republican Party played. By 1945 a fear of communism and also the suspicion that the Democrats had been too easy on communists led to the development of deep changes in the public perception of communism and fears that communists might be operating in the USA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 14, 2019 • 26min
The Roots of German and Italian Fascism
This podcast is a continuation of a series on the origins of fascism and it examines the development of fascist ideas in interwar Italy and Germany. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 7, 2019 • 25min
German Bombing Raids on London and Paris 1917-18
Strategic bombing of the enemy's home front began in earnest in the second half of the First World War, with London facing a near collapse of its air defences in early 1918. This podcast focuses on the development of German strategic bombing and the British and French anti aircraft responses. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 30, 2019 • 24min
Comintern agents between the wars
During the 1920s and 1930s, communist parties across Europe and beyond fell under the control, often voluntarily, of Comintern, the Soviet body dedicated to foreign subversion. This podcast explores the prominence that Comintern agents rose to in Eastern Europe after the Second World War how non 'Moscow Communists' were viewed with suspicion by Moscow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 23, 2019 • 24min
Renunciation in Stalin's Russia
During the Stalin era, those accused of counter revolutionary crimes and their family members were desperate to be relieved of the stigma of being a class enemy and the punishments that accompanied it. One approach to dealing with the threat of being disenfranchised was to renounce ones class origins, even if this meant renouncing ones family, community, spouse or religion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 17, 2019 • 20min
Politics, class and democracy in interwar Britain 1918-39
During the interwar years Britain became a dramatically more democratic society, following the extension of the franchise in 1918 and 1928. British society began to change gradually with the challenges of modernity and mass democracy, but many traditional deferential values endured. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 15, 2019 • 23min
Czechoslovakia's anti German ethnic cleansing 1945
At the end of the Second World War, Czech prime minister in exile Eduard Benes petitioned both western allies and the USSR to expel all ethnic Germans from Czechoslovakia. This permission was granted and the result was the ethnic cleansing of the Sudetenland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 10, 2019 • 21min
Special Update: Report on the Coup: Part Two
The second in my reports on the current political crisis here in Great Britain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
