PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW To round off this series on historical scandal, here is part two of the podcast on the notorious OJ Simpson incident. In June 1994, America was shocked as one of its most-loved celebrities was charged with the murder of his wife and her friend. The next year and a half would leave the nation grappling over questions of misogyny, celebrity and - most of all - race. In this second part, we examine the trial that split America, and how the story perfectly encapsulates the them...
May 12, 2021•41 min•Season 2Ep. 7
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW To round off this series on historical scandal, we start a two-part podcast on the notorious OJ Simpson incident. In June 1994, America was shocked as one of its most-loved celebrities was charged with the murder of his wife and her friend. The next year and a half would leave the nation grappling over questions of misogyny, celebrity and - most of all - race. In this first part, we explore OJ Simpson's past, we get to know his wife, Nicole Brown, and we see the dark side t...
May 09, 2021•32 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Back to 14th century France for this week's episode, which focuses on one of the biggest scandals in Medieval Europe. Two wives of French princes, the daughters-in-law of the French King, are caught having affairs with a pair of Norman knights. Was it really true, or was it just an attempt to discredit the princesses? Were they victims of a wider political scheme? The Ministry of History is a podcast that aims to take a look at some of history's lesser known characters and stories. Each series o...
May 02, 2021•22 min•Season 2Ep. 5
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW In July 1969, police in Martha's Vineyard were shocked to find an upturned car lying in shallow water, with the body of a dead woman in the passenger seat. They were even more shocked when they learned that the car belonged to a member of one of the most famous and powerful political dynasties in America - Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy. The Ministry of History is a podcast that aims to take a look at some of history's lesser known characters and stories. Each series ...
Apr 25, 2021•32 min•Season 2Ep. 4
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW Continuing our focus on historical scandal, this week I interview Robert Walsh about one of the biggest espionage scandals in American history. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted of and executed for the crime of passing American secrets to the Soviets at the beginning of the Cold War. How did they get involved in such a dangerous mission? Were they both actually guilty? What was the reaction around the world to their deaths? Robert and Tom discuss all of that, and mo...
Apr 18, 2021•30 min•Season 2Ep. 3
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW Carrying on with our focus on historical scandal, this week we are heading back to early 19th century Britain. George IV had only recently become King, and now his wife, Caroline, wanted to join him. The problem? George hated his wife, and didn't want her anywhere near the crown. So began his clumsy attempt to secure a divorce, and one of the biggest scandals of the 19th century. The Ministry of History is a podcast that aims to take a look at some of history's lesser known...
Apr 11, 2021•19 min•Season 2Ep. 2
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW Series two of the Ministry of History podcast is all about historical scandal, and we're starting off with a big one. In 1971, President Richard Nixon commissioned a shady group of 'fixers' to work on his behalf, and in 1972 they broke into the Democratic National Committee Headquarters at Washington's Watergate hotel. The crime, and the cover-up, led to one of the biggest scandals in American history, and the only resignation of a President. Much has been written and said ...
Apr 04, 2021•50 min•Season 2Ep. 1
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW! An hour by hour account of the historic events of 22-25th November 1963, a weekend when three men - a policeman, an assassin, and a President - met violent deaths in the same city. The Ministry of History is a podcast that aims to take a look at some of history's lesser known characters and stories. Each series of the podcast focuses on a different theme: Series one focuses on historical murders and true crime, while plans for further series' include a focus on historical ...
Mar 22, 2021•48 min•Season 1Ep. 12
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW In this episode, Tom talks to Shauna about the Great Exhibition, a fabulous display of wealth and valuables from across the British Empire in 1851. We discuss the origins of the project, its meaning, its legacy, and, of course, the fabulous Crystal Palace that was constructed to host the event. Shauna's twitter handle is @historyshauna You can find Shauna's blog here - shaunadoeshistory.wordpress.com and her Instagram page here - Instagram.com/shaunadoeshistory… The Ministr...
Mar 08, 2021•29 min•Season 1Ep. 11
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW! In this podcast, Tom interviews Donna Catapano (@Ms_Catapano on twitter) for the Ministry of History's first guest podcast. Donna talks about John Brown, the 19th century American anti-slavery firebrand. Was Brown a terrorist or a martyr? Listen and decide for yourself! The Ministry of History is a podcast that aims to take a look at some of history's lesser known characters and stories. Each series of the podcast focuses on a different theme: Series one focuses on histori...
Mar 01, 2021•33 min•Season 1Ep. 10
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW! On this day in 1820, a gang plotted to murder the Prime Minister and his entire cabinet. Unfortunately for them, they had been infiltrated by a government agent, who was relaying the plot to his masters all along... The Ministry of History is a podcast that aims to take a look at some of history's lesser known characters and stories. Each series of the podcast focuses on a different theme: Series one focuses on historical murders and true crime, while plans for further ser...
Feb 23, 2021•22 min•Season 1Ep. 9
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW! For the last in our historical true crime series, we meet two men who butchered their way through the western frontier of the United States at the turn of the 19th century. They are recognised as America's first serial killers. The Ministry of History is a podcast that aims to take a look at some of history's lesser known characters and stories. Each series of the podcast focuses on a different theme: Series one focuses on historical murders and true crime, while plans for...
Feb 22, 2021•18 min•Season 1Ep. 8
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW! Back to Victorian London this week, for a story that involves new inventions, a sensationalist press, and a deadly love triange. The Ministry of History is a podcast that aims to take a look at some of history's lesser known characters and stories. Each series of the podcast focuses on a different theme: Series one focuses on historical murders and true crime, while plans for further series' include a focus on historical disasters, scandals and political events. Explore th...
Feb 15, 2021•23 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Britain's largest unsolved murder case. A mysterious killer stalks west London's suburbs in the 1960s, bringing back haunting memories of the infamous 'Jack the Ripper.' Just like that Victorian murderer, 'Jack the Stripper' was never caught... Explore the blog for more great content! https://www.theministryofhistory.co.uk/ SUPPORT THE SHOW by becoming a patron and receive great benefits! I need your support to help keep the show going. £1 or £3.50 a month is not much to you, but it makes a worl...
Feb 11, 2021•24 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Britain's largest unsolved murder case. A mysterious killer stalks west London's suburbs in the 1960s, bringing back haunting memories of the infamous 'Jack the Ripper.' Just like that Victorian murderer, 'Jack the Stripper' was never caught... Explore the blog for more great content! https://www.theministryofhistory.co.uk/ SUPPORT THE SHOW by becoming a patron and receive great benefits! I need your support to help keep the show going. £1 or £3.50 a month is not much to you, but it makes a worl...
Feb 08, 2021•22 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Another 19th century murder, this time in London. Henry Wainwright was seemingly a family man and an upstanding member of the Victorian middle class, but he had an awful secret... Explore the blog for more great content! https://www.theministryofhistory.co.uk/ SUPPORT THE SHOW by becoming a patron and receive great benefits! I need your support to help keep the show going. £1 or £3.50 a month is not much to you, but it makes a world of difference to me! https://www.patreon.com/ministryofhistory ...
Feb 04, 2021•22 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Another 19th century murder, this time in London. Henry Wainwright was seemingly a family man and an upstanding member of the Victorian middle class, but he had an awful secret... Explore the blog for more great content! https://www.theministryofhistory.co.uk/ SUPPORT THE SHOW by becoming a patron and receive great benefits! I need your support to help keep the show going. £1 or £3.50 a month is not much to you, but it makes a world of difference to me! https://www.patreon.com/ministryofhistory ...
Feb 01, 2021•21 min•Season 1Ep. 3
In the early 19th century, an illicit trade known as 'gravedigging' plugged the gaps for doctors who wanted to experiment on dead bodies but whose supply had dried up. It was a lucrative trade, and in 1828 two couples in Edinburgh stumbled across an excellent business opportunity - they would cut out the middle man and produce their own corpses, rather than go through the trouble of digging graves. Luring vulnerable people to their lodging house, the two couples set off on a murderous spree. Wou...
Jan 23, 2021•23 min•Season 1Ep. 2
In the early 19th century, an illicit trade known as 'gravedigging' plugged the gaps for doctors who wanted to experiment on dead bodies but whose supply had dried up. It was a lucrative trade, and in 1828 two couples in Edinburgh stumbled across an excellent business opportunity - they would cut out the middle man and produce their own corpses, rather than go through the trouble of digging graves. Luring vulnerable people to their lodging house, the two couples set off on a murderous spree. Wou...
Jan 23, 2021•24 min•Season 1Ep. 1
