History Rage

Unlock the hidden secrets of your ancestors because history didn't just happen, it happened to families.Are you tired of dry, dusty history books that only talk about prime ministers and battlefield generals? It is time to smash the myth that genealogy is just an isolated, second-rate hobby for tracking pedigree charts. In this episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill sits down with professional genealogist and research specialist Jen Baldwin to blow the lid off traditional historical study.Discover why family history is actually an essential, interdisciplinary gateway to understanding the real human consequences of our past. From the handwriting left on the 1921 Census of England and Wales to the surprising, messy tales preserved in global newspaper archives, learn how ordinary citizens were right in the thick of history's greatest upheavals. Whether you are tracing elusive agricultural laborers, criminal ancestors, or early colonial migrants, this episode will completely reframe how you look at your family's history. Don't leave your family's unique narratives trapped in the attic—tune in, get angry about forgotten history, and start digging today!About Our GuestJen Baldwin has been working as a professional genealogist for over 15 years. She serves as a research specialist for FindMyPast and is a passionate advocate for connecting family archives with broader social and contextual history.Instagram: @jenbaldwin_genealogyListen to the FindMyPast Podcast: Start uncovering historical deep-dives by subscribing to A Family History of… podcast, available wherever you listen to your favorite shows.Ready to dive down your own genealogical rabbit hole and start uncovering the truth about your ancestors? All new users can start their FREE FindMyPast trial today!Claim Your Free Trial: https://www.findmypast.co.ukRecommended Additional EpisodesIf you loved this episode's deep dive into local, human-centered histories, check out these festival special episodes from the History Rage archive:Episode 121: Phil Moss and Andrew Armstrong uncover the surprising, hidden history of Gloucester.Episode 176: The Vice Dean of Peterborough Cathedral, Tim Alban Jones, rages that Peterborough is definitely not just some dull new town.Follow, Contact & Support History RageJoin the Rage Train and make sure you never miss an angry historian exposing the myths of the past!Support us on Patreon: Join the inner circle of History Ragers for £5 per month to get access to monthly live streams, early ad-free episodes, and the coveted History Rage mug! Subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/historyrage.Ad-Free Early Releases: Available on both Patreon and Apple Podcasts https://www.apple.com/apple-podcasts/.Spread the Word: If you are loving the show, please tell a friend and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

Was the Special Air Service truly built solely by David Stirling and rogue, unmanageable mavericks?Think you know the full origin story of the Special Air Service? The popular myth paints the WWII SAS as a rogues' gallery of unmanageable, rule-breaking mavericks who single-handedly reshaped special warfare before quietly vanishing at the end of the conflict. But this narrative ignores the quiet leadership, sharp political intellect, and crucial post-war battle that actually preserved the regiment's legacy. Without one man operating behind the scenes in the corridors of power, the modern SAS simply would not exist today.In this episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill sits down with former British Army officer and author Lieutenant Colonel Tim Spicer OBE to debunk the romanticized myth of Special Forces and restore a crucial figure to his rightful place in history. Together, they explore the extraordinary life of Brian Franks DSO MC—hotel manager turned Special Forces commander—who not only led operations behind enemy lines during Operation Loyton but personally brought Nazi war criminals to justice and spearheaded the campaign to rebuild the SAS from post-war disbandment.Guest Details & Book ReferralsGuest: Lieutenant Colonel Tim Spicer OBEFeatured Book: An Axe and Four Balloons: The Biography of Brian Franks DSO MC, The Man Who Saved the SAS by Tim Spicer. Buy your copy directly from the History Rage Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781999589172Other Books by Tim Spicer: A Suspicion of Spies: Risk, Secrets and Shadows – The Biography of Wilfred 'Biffy' Dunderdale and A Dangerous Enterprise: Secret War at SeaRecommended Additional EpisodesEpisode 310: Damien Lewis rages against the shocking portrayals of Blair 'Paddy' Mayne.Episode 218: Tony Rushmer rages that it is high time Reg Seekings got his moment in the sun.Follow, Contact & Support History RageWebsite: https://www.historyrage.com/Email: historyragepod@gmail.comX/Twitter: https://x.com/HistoryRageYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HistoryRagePodcastSupport on Patreon: Get early ad-free episodes, access to live stream recordings, and exclusive merch at https://www.patreon.com/historyrageApple Podcasts Subscription: Subscribe directly on Apple Podcasts for ad-free listening at https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/history-rage/id1583724649

Why the "Roman Land Power" Myth is a Massive Historic LieThere is a stubborn myth floating around popular culture and older history books that the Romans hated the sea, were terrible at sailing, and let their navy rot the second a war ended. But according to ancient historian and nautical archaeologist Dr. Stephen DeCasien, that is complete history rage material.In this episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill dives deep into the ancient Mediterranean to shatter the misconception that Rome was strictly a land power. By exploring cutting-edge underwater archaeology, ancient naval rams, and the industrial scale of Roman shipbuilding, Dr. DeCasien proves that Rome was just as formidable on the waves as they were on land.Discover how the Romans fought an ancient naval arms race against Carthage during the First Punic War, engineered devastating boarding tools like the Corvus, and deployed massive warships weighing thousands of kilograms at the legendary Battle of Actium. If you want to understand how Rome truly dominated the ancient world, you have to look at their navy.About the Guest: Dr. Stephen DeCasienDr. Stephen DeCasien is an ancient historian and nautical archaeologist specializing in ancient Greek and Roman naval warfare, shipbuilding, and the bronze naval rams used on the bows of ancient warships.Follow Stephen on Social Media: Connect with him on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram at @DeCasien Binge These Additional Episodes Next!If you loved this deep dive into ancient Rome, check out these highly recommended episodes from the History Rage archive:Episode 255: Simon Elliott makes the case for why Septimius Severus was the greatest Roman emperor.Episode 296: Emma Southon rages against the myth that Roman slavery was somehow better than Roman poverty. Follow, Contact & Support History RageDo you love historians getting angry about historical inaccuracies? Help us keep the rage train rolling!Support us on Patreon: Join the inner circle at https://www.patreon.com/historyrage. For just £5 a month, you get access to our exclusive monthly live stream, early ad-free episodes, and the coveted History Rage mug!Follow us on Social Media: Get updates and submit your own history rages on X @HistoryRage or Instagram @HistoryRage.Spread the Word: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and tell a friend to get them aboard the rage train!Until next week, thanks for listening and stay angry! 

Were 2 million unpaid British civilians really just doddery, helpless old men?Think Private Godfrey and Corporal Jones speak for the Home Guard? Think again! Captain Mannering's platoon gets a complete reality check in this fiery episode of History Rage.Join host Paul Bavill as he chats with author and historian Sinclair McKay to shatter the sitcom myths and restore dignity to Britain's WWII civilian army. From guerrilla warfare tactics taught by Spanish Civil War veterans at Osterley Park to the top-secret underground "auxiliaries" trained for sabotage and assassination, discover the deadly serious reality of the men—and women—who stood ready to defend their homes.Key Takeaways & What You’ll Discover:Beyond the Sitcom: Why the "doddery old men" stereotype started in 1940—long before the 1968 BBC series Dad's Army.Real Combat Experience: Why the average age was actually 38, packed with First World War veterans and eager teenagers.Lethal Tactics: How volunteers were trained in asymmetric warfare, Molotov cocktails, sniper skills, and hand-to-hand combat.The Secret Auxiliaries: The underground, top-secret elite units prepared for covert resistance, sabotage, and target eliminations.Women on the Front Line: The fierce push for female enlistment, from factory platoons to outshooting MPs on the range.Catch Sinclair McKay Live!Sinclair is speaking at the Gloucester History Festival (which runs from 12th–20th September)!Event: Sinclair McKay on Dad's ArmyDate & Time: Sunday, 20th September at 10:00 AMTickets: Available now at gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.ukGuest Book & Referral DetailsBuy the Book: Grab your copy of Dad's Army: The Glorious True Story of the Home Guard by Sinclair McKay directly from the History Rage Bookshop: uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9780241772324Recommended Additional EpisodesEpisode 205: Nathan Hazlehurst on why there's more to civil defence than just putting bloody lights out.Episode 292: Joshua Levine rages against the myths surrounding the Blitz Spirit.Follow, Contact & Support History RageSupport on Patreon: Get early ad-free episodes, monthly live streams, and the coveted History Rage mug at patreon.com/historyrage.Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: Listen ad-free via Apple Podcasts.Follow Us: Stay angry and join the conversation on social media @HistoryRage.    

The Abdication Crisis DemolishedIn 1936, King Edward VIII gave up the British throne for the woman he loved—or so the story goes. But was the abdication of Edward VIII really the ultimate modern fairy tale, or a carefully orchestrated establishment takedown?Journalist and author Sian Evans joins host Paul Bavill on History Rage to shatter the classic fig leaf surrounding Wallis Simpson and the crown. Evans uncovers the political maneuvers, secret service surveillance, and establishment panic behind the year of three kings, exposing Edward VIII not as a romantic hero, but as an unsuitable, petulant playboy king the government desperately needed to replace.Key Discussion PointsThe Romantic Fig Leaf: Why the "greatest love story" myth served both the royal family and the British government to hide a constitutional coup.Playboy Prince to Reluctant King: Edward’s self-indulgence, low boredom threshold, and early threats to renounce his royal duties.Enter Wallis Simpson: The dynamic American divorcee, the secret Ipswich divorce trial, and why the establishment saw her as a threat.The Establishment Takedown: How Stanley Baldwin, Archbishop Cosmo Lang, and court officials leveraged the crisis to install Bertie (King George VI).Royal Duty vs. Personal Desire: The echoes of 1936 in modern royal departures, from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to royal duty.Recommended History Rage EpisodesEpisode 175: Stop Worshipping the Bloody Mitfords with Guy WaltersEpisode 227: Coco Chanel Was Not a Nazi Spy with Anne de CourcyGuest Information & Book LinkGuest: Sian EvansBook: 1936: The Year of Three KingsBuy the Book: Support the guest, independent booksellers, and History Rage by purchasing from the History Rage Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781399722766Follow, Support & Join History RageSupport on Patreon: Get access to live streams and exclusive content at https://www.patreon.com/historyrageApple Podcasts: Subscribe for ad-free listening directly via Apple SubscriptionsFollow on Socials: Search @HistoryRage across Twitter/X, Instagram, and Facebook.

Vampires, bloodbaths, and historical smear campaigns: why the legends you know are dead wrong.Think you know the story of Elizabeth Báthory, the "Blood Countess" who bathed in the blood of virgins to stay forever young? Think again. In this episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill sits down with former professor and author Shelley Puhak to tear down four centuries of myth and reveal the real woman behind the monster.The canonical legend has cemented Báthory as the world's most prolific female serial killer, a creature walled up in a tower after being caught red-handed. But the reality has nothing to do with horror tropes and everything to do with early modern witch trials, immense wealth, and a cutthroat political turf war against the Habsburg Empire.Shelley exposes how a powerful, literate, and politically inconvenient widow was systematically dismantled by ambitious, paranoid men who used the era's raging satanic panics to launch a massive land grab. If you love true history, political intrigue, and watching legendary myths get turned to ash, this rage is exactly what you need.Discover the Real History:The Fabricated Myth: Why the infamous "bathing in blood" detail wasn't added until a century after her death by a Jesuit priest looking to sell local folklore.A Political Target: How Báthory’s control of vast strategic fortresses and her family's ties to open rebellion made her a massive threat to the Habsburg crown.An Investigation Without Bodies: The shocking truth behind the lack of evidence, missing victims, and the hurried torture and execution of her servants.The Weapon of Misogyny: How powerful women throughout history—from Anne Boleyn to Catherine de' Medici—are consistently transformed into monsters in the historical imagination.Links and ResourcesBuy the Book: Grab your copy of Shelley Puhak's gripping book, The Blood Countess: Murder, Betrayal, and the Making of a Monster, from the History Rage Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781639732159Follow the Guest: Connect with author Shelley Puhak and dive deeper into her work on marginalized histories by visiting her website: https://www.shelleypuhak.comRecommended EpisodesIf you enjoyed this episode, dive into these angry deep-dives from our archives:Episode 254: Rachel McCarthy James rages about the misunderstandings surrounding the Lizzie Borden murders.Episode 306: Kate Williams sets the record straight on the royal, scandalous myths of Catherine the Great.Support History Rage!If you want to help us keep slaying historical myths, please consider supporting the show:Patreon: Join our community as a free or premium member at https://www.patreon.com/historyrageSubstack: Subscribe to the History Rage mailing list for updates at https://historyrage.substack.comWebsite: Find everything History Rage right here at https://www.historyrage.comDon't forget to subscribe, leave a review on Apple Podcasts and Google, and—until next week—stay angry!

Was King Arthur real? or are we looking at history all wrong?If you think finding a 6th-century tomb solves the Arthurian legend, think again. Medievalist, artist, and author Dr. Amy Jeffs (author of Arthur: A New Life) joins host Paul Bavill to dismantle the obsession with "smoking gun" popular history. From giant-descended queens to shape-shifting wizards, the true power of King Arthur lies not in a single dead warlord, but in centuries of evolving folklore, political propaganda, and captivating mystery.In this episode, we explore:The Gloucester Cathedral Apprentice Bracket Myth: How medieval art history misreads grief vs. miracles.The Real Roots of Arthur: 9th-century Breton charters, early Welsh poetry, and monster-slaying heroes.Brute Chronicles & Propaganda: How medieval kings twisted myth to justify foreign conquests.The Dark Origin of the Round Table: Food fights, brutal executions, and baronial politics.Forgotten Women of Arthurian Legend: Morgan le Fay, Guinevere's lineage, and Merlin’s sister.Stop reducing complex legends to simple answers—embrace the magic of historical mystery!Guest Info & Book Links:Buy the Book: Order Arthur: A New Life via the History Rage Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781529431681Website: https://www.amyjeffshistoria.com/Instagram: @amyjeffs_authorLive Event: See Dr. Amy Jeffs live at the Gloucester History Festival (12th–20th September). Book tickets now at https://www.gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk.Recommended Episodes:Episode 322: Emily Hauser rages that there is no canonical version of The Odyssey.Episode 276: Nick Jubber rages that vampires are not Transylvanian.Follow & Support History Rage:Website: https://www.historyrage.comPatreon: Join for £3/month for ad-free listening, or £5/month for live streams, early releases, and the History Rage mug at https://www.patreon.com/historyrage.Apple Podcasts: Subscribe directly on Apple Podcasts for ad-free episodes.Social Media: Follow @HistoryRage on Twitter/X, Instagram, and Facebook.

Britain’s terrifying Cold War survival plans were far more serious than imagined.Was Cold War civil defence genuinely useful — or simply political theatre designed to comfort a frightened population? In this explosive episode of History Rage, emergency planning historian Dr. Nathan Hazlehurst dismantles decades of myths surrounding Britain’s nuclear preparedness.From Protect and Survive and regional nuclear bunkers to the grim realism of Threads and When the Wind Blows, Nathan reveals the astonishing scale of Britain’s plans for surviving nuclear war. Far from being laughable, civil defence involved thousands of volunteers, detailed “war books” in every council area, emergency food distribution plans, evacuation schemes, and preparations for maintaining government after atomic attack.Nathan explains how the UK expected local authorities to become wartime rulers, why police would have received sweeping emergency powers, and how Britain planned to preserve society in the aftermath of nuclear devastation. The discussion also explores the cultural legacy of civil defence, including the influence of Yes Minister, Dad’s Army, and the BBC’s banned 1965 nuclear drama The War Game.You’ll hear why the famous Protect and Survive booklet may actually contain surprisingly sensible resilience advice — much of which Scandinavian countries still issue to citizens today.This episode explores:The real purpose behind Britain’s Cold War civil defence networkWhy local councils maintained secret nuclear war booksHow Threads accurately portrayed nuclear emergency planningThe role of the Civil Defence Corps and Green Goddess fire enginesBritain’s regional seats of government and continuity plansWhy nuclear-free zones clashed with central governmentHow Cold War resilience planning still shapes emergency response todayGuest DetailsDr. Nathan Hazlehurst is an emergency preparedness practitioner and contemporary historian specialising in British civil defence and Cold War emergency planning. He is currently developing his doctoral research into a forthcoming book exploring the history and legacy of UK civil defence.Follow Nathan on X/Twitter:https://x.com/n_rh1992Recommended EpisodesEpisode 43 – Lucy Siebert rages that Protect and Survive isn’t really that badEpisode 205 – Nathan Hazlehurst rages there’s more to wartime defence than “putting bloody lights out”Follow and support History Rage:Website: https://historyrage.comPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/historyrageTwitter/X: https://x.com/historyrageFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/historyrageInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/historyrageSupport the podcast on Patreon for early ad-free episodes, monthly live streams, bonus content, and the legendary History Rage mug.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, share the episode online, and help more people discover the rage.