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We Are History

Author: Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell

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Description

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.

108 Episodes
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Trailer

Trailer

2019-12-3101:31

A laughable attempt at a history podcast with Angela Barnes and John O'Farrell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We put the call out, and you came, in your droves! Thank you so much to everyone who made the first ever We Are History Live Q+A. The video is available to watch back over on our Patreon page and here is a special audio mix. Angela and John answer your questions without fear or favour, but much frivolity! Find out how they select their subjects, whether John really does have a piece of the Berlin Wall and what's coming up in Series 8. We Are History is written and presented by Angela Barnes and John O’Farrell. Audio production by Simon Williams and artwork by James Parrett. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor is Andrew Harrison. We Are History is a Podmasters Production. https://twitter.com/wearehistorypod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Profumo Scandal

The Profumo Scandal

2020-01-0838:352

1963 and the ultimate British scandal; complete with naked showgirls, hypocritical politicians, a grand stately home, a Cold War sub-plot and lots of people pretending they were very concerned about national security when they really just wanted to read about all the sex. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nudism in East Germany

Nudism in East Germany

2020-01-1353:331

Making the Cold War even colder. Communist East Germany and the cult of nudism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How Vlad the Impaler got his nickname. (Was it just the main thing people noticed about him?) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
1975 - the first time Britain had a referendum on being in Europe and the ugliest things ever got was the fashion for flares, tank-tops and mullet haircuts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Spy Pigeons

Spy Pigeons

2020-02-0340:09

How homing pigeons were dropped behind enemy lines to acquire secrets from Nazi occupied Europe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Televangelism

Televangelism

2020-02-1039:091

In the 1970s and '80s, the rise of TV evangelism in America made multi-millionaires of the most ruthless and ambitious self-styled preachers, who used the money they extorted from vulnerable Christians for a variety of good causes - such as private jets, right-wing politics and prostitutes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Black Death

The Black Death

2020-02-1731:54

How the Black Death killed half of Europe, swept away serfdom, nudged Europe into the Rennaisance and made it much harder for spotty teenagers to get invited to parties. (This episode was recorded before the Coronavirus outbreak.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In the 1930s, as Germany succumbed to the Nazis and Mussolini ruled Italy, Sir Oswald Mosley created the British Union of Facists, supported by the Daily Mail who famously declared 'Hurrah for the Blackshirts!' Why did he fail? Could Britain have succumbed to a facist dictatorship? And did his teenage kids say 'Honestly Dad, you're such a facist!' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How former slaves campaigned in Georgian Britain, recounting how they were ripped from their families in Africa and sold into a brutal life of slavery, which you're not allowed to do since political correctness went mad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
'The Cycling Suffragettes" - how young women shocked Victorian society by finding freedom on bicycles and wearing weird trousers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How post-war America became so paranoid about Communists, they organised show trials and exiled enemies of the state just like the Communists. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How Britain prepared for the advent of nuclear war by not building enough fall-out shelters but having enough tea bags in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Opium War

The Opium War

2020-03-2942:051

Victorian Britain versus Imperial China in the very first 'war on drugs' (when Britain was on the side of drugs). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How besieged Paris went into lockdown and the French were forced to survive by eating all the animals in the zoo, then their dogs and then the rats. But all beautifully cooked. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Suez Crisis 1956

The Suez Crisis 1956

2020-04-1343:062

How a Conservative Prime Minister, off his head on amphetamines, attempted to assert Great Britain's proud global superpower status by invading Egypt and then changing his mind when the Americans told him to. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Boudica

Boudica

2020-04-2036:32

Britain's original warrior queen, who burned down London and nearly drove the Romans out of Britain, and all because they called her a 'feisty redhead'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On the very day that the Nazis struck west against Holland, Belgium and France, Britain launched the politest invasion in the history of the warfare, waking up the Icelandic army (and his friend). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ethelred the Unready

Ethelred the Unready

2020-05-0451:16

How one Saxon King ruled for 37 years, battled with the Vikings, helped create the jury system and all anyone said was 'I bet he hasn't packed yet''. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Comments (10)

Martin Quinn

Heard Angela mention this podcast on Mark Steels WTF is going on podcast, thought I'd give it a try..... Brilliant. I knew I'd like it when journalist Anthony Howard got a name check on the first episode..... don't know how I missed it, bonus is loads to catch up on

Jul 17th
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Mike Hodges

Our canine friends get the We Are History treatment. Loved the reference to the son of Lassie being tried in court (in a film) for violence.

Dec 15th
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Mike Hodges

Once more history is subjected to the unique perspectives of Angela Barnes and John o'Farrel. entertaining and informative.

Dec 11th
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Mike Hodges

A much anticipated return doesn't disappoint. I loved the bit where Angela Barnes exclaimed that they couldn't do this show on the BBC. Sadly all too true. Can't wait for more.

Oct 29th
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Dizzy Dj

Get well soon Angela!

Apr 3rd
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Jeff Wagstaff

Funny hearing Angela Barnes repeatedly giving dates as 1941 and 1942 instead of 1841 and 1842. Interesting nonetheless as usual.

Mar 14th
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Kimberly Slone

I love this podcast, the way you present history, and the way you share your sources and recommendations for reading. Thank you for this.

Mar 21st
Reply (1)

Athena&TheOwl

Excellent podcast that covers a wide range of historical events with humour. Highly recommended

Nov 9th
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username

History with insight and humour, well worth a listen. Five stars from me!

Oct 6th
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