Forbidden History

In this episode of Forbidden History, we are joined by battlefield archaeologist Tim Sutherland, who investigates one of the most extraordinary Viking discoveries ever made. A specialist in conflict archaeology and the forensic analysis of mass graves, Tim has spent decades uncovering the physical evidence of warfare left behind in the soil. Now he travels to the remote shores of Estonia, where two ancient ship burials are rewriting everything we thought we knew about Viking culture. Cast List: Eric Meyers: Narrator Tim Sutherland: Host Raili Allmäe: Osteo-Archaeologist, University of Tallinn John Haywood: Historian and Writer Marge Konsa: Archaeologist, University of Tartu Jüri Peets: Archaeologist, University of Tallinn Neil Price: Historian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1945, an armoured Nazi train allegedly vanished into a sealed tunnel in the mountains of Poland, loaded with billions in stolen treasure. Decades later, treasure hunters arrived with new technology. The world held its breath. What they found next was either the greatest discovery in history or the ultimate disappointment. Cast List: Guy Walters: Historian & Author Eric Meyers: Narrator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the Russian Revolution erupted in 1917, Tsar Nicholas II and his family looked to one man who might save them: King George V of Britain, his own cousin. Britain initially offered the Romanovs refuge, but the offer was suddenly withdrawn. Why did the king change his mind, and could that decision have sealed the Romanovs’ fate? Cast List: Eric Meyers: Narrator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For this St Patrick’s Day special episode of Forbidden History, archaeologist Tim Sutherland travels to Ireland to explore the reality behind one of the country’s most famous medieval battles. With insights from historians, archaeologists and weapons experts, the episode reveals how new research and archaeology are shedding fresh light on the conflict. Cast List: John Cronin: Writer and Historian Seán Duffy: Historian, Trinity College Dublin (Prof. Seán Duffy) Rodney French: Coppersmith Andrew Halpin: Historian and Weapons Expert (Dr. Andrew Halpin) Frank Kearney: Galway County Council Paul Macdonald: Swordmaker, Macdonald Armouries David Nicolle: Military Historian (Dr. David Nicolle) Boyd Rankin: Armourer Damien Shiels: Archaeologist, Rubicon Heritage Tim Sutherland: Archaeologist, University of York Eric Meyers: Narrator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Forbidden History, we are joined by historian Tracy Borman. Tracy heads to Chicago to discover how Al Capone rose to infamy, from club bouncer to the most notorious gangster in history, uncovering the two sides to his personality. Cast List: Tracy Borman - Historian Tony McMahon - Historian and Author Dominic Selwood - Historian and Author Eric Meyers – Narrator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this final episode of our three-part series, we explore the modern battle over the Parthenon sculptures as a clash between the idea of shared global heritage and the pull of national identity, as Britain and Greece stake competing claims to history itself. Cast List: Dominic Selwood: Journalist Eric Meyers: Narrator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part II of our Parthenon trilogy, we follow Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin as he secures the sculptures and begins their fraught journey from Athens to Britain. Imprisonment, financial ruin, and fierce public criticism surround him as the marbles arrive in London. Almost immediately, they ignite heated debate in Parliament and among Britain’s cultural elite. Part III is released this Thursday. Cast List: Dominic Selwood: Journalist Eric Meyers: Narrator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Long before it became a global controversy, the Parthenon was the ultimate statement of Athenian power. In Part I of our three-part special, historian Dominic Selwood takes us back to 5th-century BC Athens. Join us in exploring its construction under Pericles, its role as a temple and imperial treasury, and the powerful sculptural programme designed by Phidias. From the metopes and frieze to the towering statue of Athena to the changes that different cultures made to them. This is Part I of a three-part series. Part II, examining Lord Elgin and the removal of the sculptures, releases tomorrow. Part III follows the day after, exploring the legal and cultural debates that continues today. Cast List: Dominic Selwood: Journalist Eric Meyers: Narrator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In World War II, the U.S. Army’s 761st Tank Battalion, known as the Black Panthers. They fought not only Nazi Germany but also the racism within their own ranks. Sent into some of the fiercest battles in Europe, they built a combat record that stunned and impressed their commanders. Yet for decades, their story was largely overlooked. Cast List: Dr. Ed Lengel: Chief Historian, National Medal of Honor Museum Selena Carty: Cultural and Ancestral Historian Dr. Robert Jefferson: Associate Professor of History, University of New Mexico Wayne Robinson: 761st Historian Shalina Patel: Historian Private E.G McConnell: Self Staff Sgt. Floyd Dade: Self Eric Meyers: Narrator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we dive into the world of the Condottieri, the mercenary captains who shaped the politics and battlefields of Renaissance Italy. We explore their shifting loyalties, ruthless strategies, and the lasting legacy they left on European warfare… Cast List: Tim Sutherland: Archaeologist Dr David Nicolle: Author & Military Historian Dr Toby Capwell: The Wallace Collection Dave Hewitt: White Rose Armourie Eric Meyers: Narrator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we uncover the surprising, sometimes contradictory sides of Isaac Newton, from his plague‑year breakthroughs to his mystical obsessions and turbulent personality. He was far more than the inventor of calculus and the man who explained gravity - he was also a secretive alchemist, a biblical scholar, a financial speculator, and a fiercely private thinker whose curiosity knew almost no bounds. Cast List: Dominic Selwood: Author, Historian & Barrister Eric Meyers: Narrator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we take a deeper look into a clandestine CIA project from the Cold War-era, MK-Ultra. Mind control, drug use, and a potential link to Charles Manson are just a few of the topics that shadow this story, with its eventual exposure reshaping the public’s trust in government intelligence agencies. Cast List: Tony McMahon: Former BBC news producer, author, print journalist and historian Eric Meyers: Narrator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we’re revisiting an earlier episode of Forbidden History that you may have missed. In this episode, we take a look at the historical evidence of Jesus’ crucifixion, from the realities behind the legend, to piecing together what we know for certain and what is missing. We explore how little detail the Bible truly contains – including no reference to a cross – and the lack of archaeological evidence. Cast List: Karen Bellinger: Anthropologist, archaeologist, and historian Dr Andrew Boakye: Lecturer in Religions & Theology at the University of Manchester Janina Ramirez: A cultural historian, broadcaster and author based at the University of Oxford Tony McMahon: A former BBC news producer, author, print journalist and historian Dominic Selwood: A historian, barrister, bestselling author, novelist and frequent contributor to national newspapers including The Independent, The Spectator and The Daily Telegraph Peter Stanford: Writer, editor, journalist and presenter, known for his biographies and writings on religion and ethics Gunnar Samuelsson: Author and Associate Professor in New Testament Studies at the University of Gothenburg. Bena Mantel: Licensed tour guide, lecturer and archaeologist. Peggy Brunache: Historian, archaeologist and lecturer at University of Glasgow Israel Hershkovitz: Anatomist Professor at Tel Aviv University Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we take a look at the D-Day landings of World War II. From the overlooked battlefields to the details of the combined arms allied operation, this episode questions what we think we know about one of history’s most iconic military operations. Including a daring commando raid behind enemy lines, that was instrumental to the seizure of the beaches. Cast List: Geoffrey Wawro: Professor of Military History Peter Caddick-Adams: Historian Martin Davies: Author Stuart Lawrence: Historian Rudy Passera: Military Historian Eric Meyers: Narrator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we’re revisiting an earlier episode of Forbidden History that you may have missed. We take a look at the tragic murder of the last Tsars of Russia, the Romanovs, in 1918. This episode explores the decline of Tsar Nicolas as ruler, the grizzly deaths of him and his family, and the conspiracies that surrounded their deaths in the following years. Cast List: Helen Rappaport: Author & Historian Guy Walters: Author & Historian James Sherwood: Writer & Royal Correspondent Christopher Warwick: Royal Biographer & Historian Andrew Cook: Author, Historian & former British civil servant Eric Meyers: Narrator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Deep in the Pyrenees lies an abandoned railway station that was once the second largest in Europe. This luxurious station at the border between France and Spain in its heyday was a real-life Casablanca. In this episode, we take a look at the shadowy history of Canfranc, including tales of espionage, Nazi gold and the fight against tyranny. Cast List: Tim Dunn: Railway Historian Dominic Selwood: Historian & Journalist Guy Walters: Author & Historian Claire Barratt: Industrial Heritage Engineer Jonathan Diaz: Retired Bus Driver Regine Pehau-Gerbet: Historian Rocio Hurtado: Forest Engineer Nigel Jones: Author & Historian Ramon J. Campo: Historian & Journalist Santiago Marraco: Son of Resistance Fighter Simone Casaubon: Ex Resistance Fighter Emilio Astier: Grandson of Resistance Fighter Suze Kundu: Material Chemist Carlos Pena Garay: Director, Canfranc Underground Lab Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

King Ludwig II of Bavaria, famed for his eccentricity and fairy-tale castles, was found dead in Lake Starnberg in 1886 under mysterious circumstances. Officially ruled a suicide, his death has long fuelled speculation of a government conspiracy to remove a monarch whose artistic pursuits clashed with political priorities. This enduring mystery raises the question: was Ludwig truly mad, or the victim of darker forces? Go to ⁠rula.com/forbidden⁠ and take the first step towards better mental health today. Cast List: Guy Walters: Author & Historian James Sherwood: Writer and Royal Correspondent Ann Marie Ackerman: Writer & Prosecutor Ken Hollings: Writer, broadcaster and cultural theorist Dr Gerhard Immler: Chief Archive Director, Bavarian State Archives, Munich Eric Meyers: Narrator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we dive into one of the more peculiar World War II conspiracy theories: the alleged Nazi expeditions to Antarctica. We explore the historical roots, the myths of secret bases, and why this story continues to captivate imaginations decades later. Was it simply for science and discovery, or something stranger? Go to ⁠rula.com/forbidden⁠ and take the first step towards better mental health today. Cast List: Guy Walters: Author & Historian Eric Meyers: Narrator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices