History Undone

On this episode of Origins, Fergus Macphee is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry to discuss a potential meeting between Xi Jinping, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin next month where they could discuss a plan for the future of Ukraine. In February 1945, 'the big three' of Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin met in Yalta to discuss future European borders after the Second World War. It was an imperfect arrangement that saw Germany punished, but Poland carved up and Stalin satisfied. If this happens in 2026, Ukraine will not be at the table - so what can we learn from the past? This is Origins.

On this episode of History Undone: Origins, Fergus Macphee is joined by author and host of Silicon Curtain podcast Jonathan Fink. They discuss the reported outbreak of plague from an institution in Russia which has led to the death of a lab worker. Yet nothing is certain, due in part to unclear messaging from the government. This is hardly the first time Russian or Soviet Union administration's have not been fully transparent. This is Origins.

On this episode of History Undone: Origins, Fergus Macphee speaks with Professor Thomas Juneau from the University of Ottawa to discuss the history of the Houthis and how their influence has grown. Far from just being rebels in Yemen, the group are now a regional power, causing difficulty to Saudi Arabia and the US. Yet how did we get here? This is Origins.

On this edition of History Undone, Fergus Macphee is joined once again by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry to discuss one of the most overlooked, but important conflicts of the last 200 years: the Franco-Prussian War. What was supposed to be a chance for Napoleon III to reassert French dominance on the continent, quickly turned into a total nightmare. Poor planning and chaotic strategy saw the French routed in a matter of weeks, before Paris was beseiged. Yet on the Prussian side, this led to the unification of Germany and the creation of the first German Empire, with lasting ramifications across the globe. So what if France had won? This is History Undone.

On this episode of Origins, Fergus Macphee is joined by Emeritus Professor of history at The University of Melbourne and an expert on the French Revolutionm, Professor Peter McPhee. They discuss the current protest that have swept through France and, in some places turned violent. The country is used to large-scale demonstrations, but can this be traced back to the Revolution and do the French really take to the streets as much as people think? This is Origins.

Welcome to the first episode of History Undone: Origins. This is the space we will be discussing current affairs and geopolitics, through our historical and counterfactual lense. For the first episode, Fergus Macphee is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry to discuss the decline of the Royal Navy. Rather than one event, this is a story of managed decline over the course of 85 years, but can it all be traced back to 1945? This is Origins.

On this very special edition of History Undone, Fergus Macphee is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and show favourite Jonathan Parshall in the studio to mark the release of his book 1942: The Crux of War. In an extended, two hour long conversation, the three discuss the year as a whole and some of the most consequential moments. At the beginning of 1942, things looked bleak for the allies, yet by the end, the war had turned. This is History Undone.

On this episode of History Undone, Fergus Macphee is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Dr Simon Elliott to discuss the culmination of the Second Punic War, which saw the Roman Republic finally defeat its nemesis: Hannibal. Before the battle, the Carthaginian general had already terrorised Rome for 15 long years on the Italian mainland, with some Romans avoiding fighting him at all costs. Step forward a young general named Scipio, who would launch an invasion of North Africa and into Carthage's homeland. What eventually took place in a town in modern day Tunisia was a seismic and decisive victory for the Romans, that finally ended Hannibal's dominance over them on the battlefield and effectively ended Carthage's place as a dominant power. So what if Hannibal had won that day? This is History Undone.