The Cloak and Dagger Podcast

Feb 26 2025 61 ep. 67 mins 123

The Cloak and Dagger Podcast artwork

Will and Patrick explore strange and rarely told tales of history - from ancient Indian assassins and Baghdad scientists to Irish rebels and New York mob queens, and everything in between…

And if you want to see even more for each episode, including sneak peeks, accompanying images and bonus facts, check out our instagram @cloakanddaggerpodcast

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The Soldier's Secret

As the US Civil War entered its second bloody year, a young man recently arrived from Ireland enlists in the 95th Illinois Volunteer Regiment and marches to war.He joined thousands of other young men but unlike them, he has a secret which if revealed, could lead to great hardship and potential physical harm if discovered. This does not deter him from his choice to fight and makes h

Grave Misconduct - Rome, 897

Jan 30 2025 69 mins

Pope Stephen was furious. So angry, in fact, that he was going to make his predecessor feel his wrath - no matter the consequences. His cardinals were too scared or too shocked to intervene and soon the pope had his wish - he dragged his predecessor into a trial that would echo through the centuries and mark one of the lowest points in the history of the papacy. Welcome to the Ca

Unbowed, Unbroken - England, 16th Century

Jan 18 2025 65 mins

Everyone thinks they know about Katharine of Aragon but beyond a few nursery rhymes and inaccurate tv shows, the true story of Katharine is far more compelling and rich than you can imagine. Jackson Van Uden is hosting the Katharine of Aragon Festival in Peterborough from 22nd to the 29th January and he came on the show to tell us about this extraordinary queen.

Against the Current - London, 1843

Dec 25 2024 72 mins

Happy festive season listeners! Whether you're celebrating Christmas or just enjoying the day off work, we've got a tale for you. A spectacular story of a man's journey across a world turned upside down by revolutions, culminating in an engineering feat to rival the pyramids and panama canal! If you want to see this episode’s accompanying images and a sneak peek of upcoming epis

Hell Hath No Fury - Crimea, 1943

Nov 28 2024 54 mins

Vengeance is a fire that burns white hot. A life once filled with joy, can become shadowed with the dark specter if revenge. But sometimes in a time of horror, brutality and misery, the only thing one can hold onto, is he hope of vengeance. And when all things crumble into to dust, that fire will keep you going. To the bitter end. If you want to see this episode’s accompanying i

Bonded by Bourbon - Lynchburg Tennessee, 1856

As an old Irish proverb says “What whisky will not cure, there is no cure for”. And while I’m no doctor, I am Irish so I do believe there is something in that. Even in a land so divided it’s close to breaking, where a man may be countered as only three fifths of a person, this elixir could form the most unbreakable bonds that would last through generations until this very d

Cousins of Anarchy - England, 12th Century (Part 2)

Sep 26 2024 58 mins

Well this has gotten out of hand. The new and improved England seemed to be going so well, but a sunken ship, a flurry of royal bastard, and few too many sexist principles and now the whole kingdom’s falling apart. I’m sure it’ll all work itself out… Welcome back to Part 2 of out tale of the Anarchy! For this episode of the podcast we are very excited to have our friend J

Cousins of Anarchy - England, 12th Century (Part 1)

Ever have a family spat go a bit too far? Well 12th Century two cousins did just that, and their little argument over who got to sit in their grandfathers chair, tore the entire English Kingdom in half. And only 72 years after Aegon William the Conqueror had taken the throne. For this episode of the podcast we are very excited to have our friend Jess (an actual real historian) joi

A Mind for War - Sicily, 287 BCE

Aug 28 2024 82 mins

Can a great mind cut deeper than a sword? If the history of humanity’s endless wars with itself is anything to go on, the answer is undoubtably yes. Again and again, great scientists, engineers, and mathematicians have been pulled from their pursuit of unravelling the mysteries of our world and put to work creating terrible machines of war. And at a time where a big bridge stuck

Sequins and Secrets - New York, Mid-20th Century

Jul 31 2024 73 mins

1930s New York was a city of opportunity. Where any man with enough grit and determination could make his fortune... inside or outside the law. But this was a world built by and for men. So who knows how much grit and determination it would take for a woman to make something of herself. Well, Anna Genovese knew exactly what it would take... In this months episode of the Cloak & Da