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History Rage

History Rage

By: Paul Bavill
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About this listen

Think history is boring? That’s because you’ve only ever heard the fake version.

On History Rage, professional historians come in swinging — smashing the myths, clichés, and half-truths that keep getting recycled in classrooms, documentaries, and TikToks. Vikings with horned helmets? Nope. Britain standing alone in 1940? Wrong. Medieval people never bathed? Rubbish.


Why listen? Because the truth is way more exciting. You’ll leave every episode with jaw-dropping stories, killer facts to shut down pub bores, and the smug satisfaction of knowing what really happened.

🎧 Episodes drop every Monday.

📲 Follow now and get the history they don’t teach you — raw, raging, and real.

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© 2022-2025 Paul Bavill World
Episodes
  • 270. History Teaching Is Killing Curiosity with Janina Ramirez

    270. History Teaching Is Killing Curiosity with Janina Ramirez
    Jan 29 2026
    Why history lessons drain passion – and how we can fix itHistory should ignite curiosity, creativity and connection. Instead, too often, it does the opposite.In this powerful History Rage Live episode, host Paul Bavill is joined by medievalist, broadcaster and historian Professor Janina Ramirez to rage against the way history is taught – and how rigid curricula, “great man” narratives and siloed subjects are snuffing out a lifelong love of the past.Drawing on her own personal journey, Janina explains how school history almost drove her away from the subject she loved, why women and ordinary people remain marginalised in classrooms, and how our education system has all but killed the polymath. From medieval walls to modern smartphones, she makes a passionate case for interdisciplinary history that reflects real human lives – not just battles, kings and dates.Along the way, the conversation ranges widely:• Why women’s history is still treated as optional or tokenistic• How figures like Christine de Pizan and Hildegard of Bingen challenge everything we think we know about the past• Why timelines matter – but rigid periodisation often doesn’t• How digital access could create a new generation of polymaths• And why rewriting history isn’t about politics, but accuracyThis episode is essential listening for teachers, students, parents, historians and anyone who’s ever felt bored by history lessons – and wondered why.If you’ve ever loved history but felt pushed away by how it’s taught, this rage is for you.About the guest: Professor Janina RamirezProfessor Janina Ramirez is a medievalist, art historian and broadcaster, and President (for life) of the Gloucester History Festival. She is renowned for bringing interdisciplinary, people-centred history to wide audiences through books, television and public scholarship.Books📘 Legenda: The Real Women Behind the Myths That Shaped EuropeAvailable here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9780753560419Follow & contact Janina RamirezTwitter / X / Instagram: @drjaninaramirezGloucester History Festival: https://www.gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.ukMore History Rage with Janina Ramirez🎧 Episode 82 – Medieval women written out of history: https://pod.fo/e/1ef944🎧 Episode 147 – Life inside a medieval convent: https://pod.fo/e/269598About History RageHistory Rage is the podcast where historians vent their frustrations and dismantle the myths we were taught at school. Hosted by Paul Bavill, each episode challenges comfortable narratives and puts passion back into the past.Follow History RageTwitter / X / Instagram / Facebook: @HistoryRageWebsite & bookshop: https://www.historyrage.comSupport the podcast❤️ Join Patreon for live streams and exclusive content:👉 https://www.patreon.com/historyrage🎧 Listen ad-free on Apple Podcasts for just £3 per month via Apple Subscriptions⭐ And if you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review or recommend History Rage to a friend – it really helps the podcast grow.Stay angry. History depends on it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    58 mins
  • 269. Enough About The Tudors Already! with Al Murray

    269. Enough About The Tudors Already! with Al Murray
    Jan 26 2026

    Why are we still obsessed with the Tudors?

    In this lively episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill is joined by the brilliant comedian and World War II historian Al Murray to tackle the relentless fixation on the Tudor dynasty. With a blend of humour and historical insight, Al argues that it’s high time we move beyond the soap opera of Henry VIII and his six wives to explore the far more transformative events of the 17th century — namely, the English Civil War.


    Join us as we delve into:

    - Tudor Fatigue: Al’s candid thoughts on why the Tudors have overstayed their welcome in popular history.

    - The English Civil War: Discover why Al believes this tumultuous period is far more relevant and interesting than the Tudor saga.

    - Revolutionary Ideas: How the Civil War set the stage for modern British governance and the ongoing struggle between power and the people.

    - Historical Narratives: The importance of perspective in history and how personal biases shape our understanding of the past.

    - Fresh Approaches: Al shares insights from his writing, including how to approach historical events without the burden of hindsight.


    With Al's unique blend of comedy and historical analysis, this episode is a call to arms for history enthusiasts to broaden their horizons and explore the rich tapestry of our past beyond the Tudors. Get ready for a passionate discussion that challenges the status quo of historical storytelling!


    📚 Connect with Al Murray

    Check out his latest book Victory 45 co-authored with James Holland: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781472146360

    Follow Al on social media: Instagram/Threads: @thealmurray | Twitter/Bluesky: @almurray


    ❤️ If you’re enjoying this episode, support the show on Patreon for exclusive content, early access, and the iconic History Rage mug. Subscribe at www.patreon.com/historyrage


    🔗 Follow History Rage on Social Media:

    Twitter: @HistoryRage

    Instagram: @historyrage

    Facebook: History Rage


    Join us for a spirited debate that’s sure to ignite your passion for history and challenge your views on what truly matters in our past!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    52 mins
  • 268. James I Was Not a Slobbering Weakling with Gareth Russell – Katherine of Aragon Festival Special 4

    268. James I Was Not a Slobbering Weakling with Gareth Russell – Katherine of Aragon Festival Special 4
    Jan 22 2026
    James I wasn’t weak, stupid, or slobbering — history got lazyJames I has gone down in history as a disappointment, a fool, a drunken slob — a king wedged awkwardly between Elizabeth I and Charles I and remembered largely for what others did to him. But what if almost everything you think you know about James I is wrong?Historian and author Gareth Russell returns for a record-breaking fifth appearance to dismantle the enduring caricature of James I of England and VI of Scotland. From supposed physical deformities and “slobbering” table manners to accusations of cowardice, weakness, and religious extremism, Gareth takes aim at centuries of lazy myth-making and historical snobbery.Drawing directly on contemporary sources, Gareth explains why the image of James as a grotesque failure tells us far more about xenophobia, propaganda, and bad history than it does about the man himself.This episode explores:Why James I became the “unpopular in-between king” of British historyHow English and Scottish prejudice shaped his posthumous reputationThe truth behind claims of physical deformity and drunken incompetenceJames’s surprisingly effective rule in Scotland — and why people wept when he leftHis deep commitment to peace and how he kept Britain out of the Thirty Years’ WarThe complex reality of his religious views, Catholic toleration, and hatred of Puritan extremismHis dangerous but evolving obsession with witchcraft and the long shadow of DaemonologieHow and why James authorised the King James Bible — and how involved he really wasWhy his failure to unite England and Scotland politically haunted his reignThis is not an exercise in rehabilitation or hero-worship. As Gareth makes clear, James I was deeply flawed — but he was also intelligent, scholarly, peace-driven, and far more effective than history likes to admit.If you’ve ever repeated the myths, laughed at the caricature, or dismissed James I outright — this episode is your invitation to rage at bad history and demand better.Live Appearance Announcement📍 Gareth Russell is speaking at the Katharine of Aragon Festival🗓 31 January & 1 February🎟 In-person tickets and digital passes available here:https://peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/about/history/katharine-of-aragon/kofa_26/Gareth’s festival talk explores the powerful and emotionally complex relationship between James I and his mother, Mary Queen of Scots, whose remains were once held at Peterborough Cathedral.About the Guest: Gareth RussellGareth Russell is a historian, broadcaster, and bestselling author specialising in early modern Britain and Europe.Books:Queen James: The Life and Loves of James I https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9780008660857The Palace: 500 Years of History at Hampton Court https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9780008437015Podcast:Single Malt History with Gareth Russell: https://open.spotify.com/show/1WESbOrpImFKKF55tfYYYjFollow Gareth Russell:Website: https://www.garethrussell.co.ukX / Twitter: @garethrussell1About History RageHistory Rage is the podcast where professional historians come armed with evidence — and fury — to tear down historical myths, misinformation, and lazy storytelling.Hosted by Paul Bavill, History Rage challenges everything you think you know about the past and demands better standards from popular history.Follow History Rage:All Social Media: @HistoryRageListen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platformsSupport the podcast:History Rage is proudly independent. You can support the show, access bonus content, and help keep historians raging by backing the podcast on Patreon. www.patreon.com/historyrageIf you care about truth, nuance, and calling nonsense what it is — this one’s for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    56 mins
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