Dan Snow's History Hit

How did a Siberian mystic catalyse the downfall of the 300-year-old Russian Empire?

In an era defined by brutal industrialisation and the butchery of World War I, Russia's isolated autocracy was collapsing from the inside out. Bound to the royal family by the agonising secret of Tsarevich Alexei’s illness, the mysterious monk Grigori Rasputin became the court's ultimate pariah and the people’s chief villain.

Dan Snow is joined by renowned historian Sir Antony Beevor, author of 'Rasputin: And the Downfall of the Romanovs', to investigate Rasputin and the scandalous twilight of the House of Romanov.

Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Matthew Wilson and Dougal Patmore.

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You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com.

Dan Snow's History Hit is a History Hit podcast.

History Hit is part of Little Dot Studios, a Certified B Corp™.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For centuries, humans have been fascinated by the mysteries of the deep sea. The history of submarines is one of extraordinary invention, daring exploration and deadly warfare. From the first experimental underwater vessels of the 17th century to the devastating U-boats of the First and Second World Wars, submarines have transformed naval warfare and revolutionised our understanding of the oceans.

Today, Dan visits the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport and is joined by curator Alexandra Geary to discover the eccentric origins of underwater travel and the dramatic submarine battles of WWI and WWII in honour of the 125th anniversary of the Royal Navy Submarine Service. He also speaks to Vice Admiral Sir Tim McClement, who was Second in Command on HMS Conqueror during the sinking of the Argentine ARA General Belgrano warship in the Falklands, as well as First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins on how AI might shape the submarines of the future.

You can find out more about the Royal Navy Submarine Service at https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/organisation/submarine-service

and plan a visit to the Royal Navy Submarine Museum at https://www.royalnavymuseums.org.uk/visit-us/submarine-museum

With huge thanks to Commander James 'Dally' Dalrymple and Annarose Hearsum.

Produced by Mariana Des Forges, Beth Donaldson and edited by Dougal Patmore

Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com.

Dan Snow's History Hit is a History Hit podcast.

History Hit is part of Little Dot Studios, a Certified B Corp™.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bread cut with sawdust. Horses boiled to the bone. Men trading pet dogs and mice for scraps.

In the brutal winter of 1914 to 1915, the grand Austro-Hungarian fortress of Przemyśl came under siege. Cut off by Russian armies and doomed by the vanity of their own generals, the garrison survived by the skin of their teeth until a final, desperate breakout charge…

Dan Snow is joined by Alexander Watson, author of ‘The Fortress’, to step inside WWI’s longest, bloodiest siege.

Produced by Mariana Des Forges and James Hickmann, edited by Natasha Hughes and Dougal Patmore.

You can find more of Dan Snow's History Hit on the audio podcast here: https://podfollow.com/dan-snows-history-hit/view

Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://bit.ly/4iTFm3x.

You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com.

Dan Snow's History Hit is a History Hit podcast.

History Hit is part of Little Dot Studios, a Certified B Corp™.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1698, a 6’8” Russian giant went on a bender through an English gentleman’s estate. He trashed portraits, burned furniture and drunkenly rammed wheelbarrows through a prize-winning holly hedge. The giant in question was Peter the Great, and this wasn’t just a royal lads' holiday; it was - ostensibly - statecraft.

In this episode, Dan Snow is joined by historian Daniel Beer to unpack the life of Russia’s most ruthless moderniser - from dodging Kremlin bloodbaths to building a brand new capital atop a mountain of human bones.

Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore.

Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com.

Dan Snow's History Hit is a History Hit podcast.

History Hit is part of Little Dot Studios, a Certified B Corp™.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghost stories have haunted conversations since ancient times, from the Mesopotamians to the Romans to the Vikings. The medieval period was particularly awash with ghost stories - after all, it was an era of great plague, piety and corporal punishment. Ghost stories served as useful tools to uphold hierarchies and manipulate the masses - live in accordance with the bible or be visited by a restless spirit... or become one yourself. To delve into some of the most popular ghost stories of medieval Britain and what the restless dead can tell us about the anxieties of the living, Dan is joined by Dr Eleanor Janega, historian and host of the Gone Medieval podcast.

Produced by Mariana Des Forges and edited by Natasha Hughes.

Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com.

Dan Snow's History Hit is a History Hit podcast.

History Hit is part of Little Dot Studios, a Certified B Corp™.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.