Not What You Thought You Knew

Nov 09 2020 14 ep. 38 mins 2.2k

Not What You Thought You Knew Podcast artwork

Think you know your history? Think again.

From the stories of the former slave that taught Charles Darwin to the first female playwright who was a spy for the English King... Historian, author and broadcaster Dr Fern Riddell is exploring some little-known characters from history to reveal not just their incredible stories, but also why they're so important for our view of what the past looked like.

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History Education Society & Culture

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The Sacred Band of Thebes

Nov 09 2020 56 mins

An army of lovers seems like something from ancient myth but the story of the Sacred Band of Thebes is based on reality. This elite fighting force of the Theban army played a crucial role in ending Spartan hegemony in the 4th century BC.To find out more Dr Fern Riddell speaks to Professor of Ancient History at the University of Warwick James Davidson and Professor of Classics and A

Olaudah Equiano and the British Abolitionist Movement

Nov 02 2020 46 mins

Olaudah Equiano's autobiography The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano was one of the very first slave narratives that spawned a popular literary genre. However, while relatively famous in the 18th century, his legacy was largely forgotten in the UK until the 1960s when there was a resurgence of interest in his life. How could such a prominent figure be all but fo

A Tribute to Olaudah Equiano

Oct 26 2020 7 mins

While Dr Fern Riddell takes a week off before we bring the final two episodes of the series, we have a special teaser for our penultimate episode.The BBC's Calypsonian-in-Residence Alexander D Great regularly works with organisations such as the Windrush Foundation and the Equiano Society and has written an original song on Olaudah Equiano's life which he has kindly given us permis

Allan Noel Minns the WW1 Officer and Son of Britain's First Black Mayor

Oct 19 2020 47 mins

Allan Noel Minns, son of Dr Allan Glaisyer Minns, Britain's first Black mayor when elected mayor of Thetford in 1904, served in the British Army as a medical officer during the First World War.To find out more Dr Fern Riddell speaks to former soldier and director of Recognize Black Heritage and Culture Garry Stewart and academic Dr Remi Adekoya, author of Biracial Britain: A Differ

The Ivory Bangle Lady and Roman Britain

Oct 12 2020 38 mins

What does the archaeological evidence tell us about the Ivory Bangle Lady, a wealthy woman who died in 4th Century York, and what do her grave goods tell us about material culture in the African diaspora throughout history?To find out more Dr Fern Riddell speaks to archaeologist Professor Hella Eckhardt and fashion historian Teleica Kirkland. For more information on the topics disc

The First Black British Football Heroes

Oct 05 2020 47 mins

Uncovering the story of our pioneering Black British footballers, finding out what we can learn from their experiences, and their long history in The Beautiful Game.Dr Fern Riddell speaks to The Voice and Football Black List's Rodney Hinds, and sports broadcaster Anne-Marie Batson, assistant producer on the documentary Coming in from the Cold, which looks at the history of black an

The Night Witches and the Fighting Women of the Soviet Union

Sep 28 2020 48 mins

The Night Witches were the feared, all-female military aviators of the 588th Night Bomber Regiment. Yet the Night Witches weren't the only Soviet women on the front-line during the Second World War. Women were pilots, doctors, partisans, snipers and anti-aircraft gunners.Dr Fern Riddell speaks to Dr Reina Pennington and Prof Kristen Ghodsee.Sky HISTORY's Not What You Thought You Kn

The Chevalier d'Éon and Gender Nonconformity

Sep 21 2020 45 mins

Soldier, diplomat, spy and fencing champion: the Chevalier d'Éon lived an extraordinary life. But on top of that they are also an important figure for the understanding of gender diversity throughout history,Dr Fern Riddell speaks to author and historian Dr Andrew Lear and curator of the Museum of Transology EJ Scott.Sky HISTORY's Not What You Thought You Knew is presented by

Inghen Ruaidh, the Birka Grave and Viking Warrior Women

Sep 14 2020 46 mins

We touch on the mythology behind Viking shield-maidens, what we do know about Viking warrior women and how we need to address bias in archaeology.Dr Fern Riddell discusses the legend of Inghen Ruaidh with Professor Judith Jesch and the Birka female Viking warrior grave with Professor Rebecca Gowland.Sky HISTORY's Not What You Thought You Knew is presented by Dr Fern Riddell, p

John Edmonstone the Former Slave who Taught Darwin

Nov 26 2019 38 mins

John Edmonstone was born into slavery in the former Dutch colony of Demerara in the late 1700s but died a free man in Scotland having taught one of the greatest men in the history of science, Charles Darwin, the skill of taxidermy. We speak to Dr Angelina Osborne, independent researcher and heritage consultant and co-author of the upcoming book, 100 Great Black Britons about E