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Trapped History is a history reboot for everyone. It tells the stories of the forgotten – of the hidden heroes ignored by the history we were taught in school. We take our name from something the writer James Baldwin said: “People are trapped in history and history is trapped in them.” We want to break people free from those stories. Whether it is women's history, Black history, military history, cultural history – all of this, hidden or forgotten, is also trapped history. And so we give you a history podcast for the curious, with inspiring tales of unsung heroes, people who broke the mould with their courage and defiance. Co-hosts Oswin and Carla are joined by special guests who help bring those stories to life. People like Mishal Husain, Jeremy Corbyn, Michaela Strachan, Sathnam Sanghera – even Zippo the Clown and Jet from Gladiators! Anyone with a new and different perspective on history. Rebooting history one story at a time. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to the award-winning history podcast at our website for bonus episodes and more: www.instagram.com/trappedhistory www.facebook.com/trappedhistory www.trappedhistory.com This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

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Check latest episodes from Trapped History podcast

Hall of Fame: Capitalism and Slavery

2026/08/16

Eric Williams was Trinidad and Tobago's first Prime Minister after independence. Pretty consequential stuff. But for us, and for this week's guest Alex Renton, Eric was so much more. Because in the 1940s, he became the first historian to forensically question the economics of slavery. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography has dubbed his masterpiece, Capitalism and Slavery, "the most influential book" on the history of the subject in the 20th century. It aligns the slave economy not only with the expansion of the British Empire, but also with the Napoleonic Wars and the Industrial Revolution – and it questions the motives behind the abolitionist movement. Heady stuff. But also great fun and we thoroughly recommend this week's listen. Enjoy the rest of your summer and see you soon! Head over to www.trappedhistory.com to sign up to the award-winning podcast, get our newsletter, bonus episodes and much, much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My Family Owned Slaves

2026/08/09

As we close out Season 7, Trapped History takes a long dark walk down one of the most uncomfortable roads in history, going deep into the story of one British family which owned and traded in slaves. We are joined by the journalist and writer Alex Renton who has tried to make sense of his family's past ever since he uncovered the shameful history. It is a hard story, a painful one but it is a story which we all need to hear – Black and White, British and Caribbean – if we are ever to free ourselves from the history which traps us. Head over to www.trappedhistory.com to sign up to the award-winning podcast, get our newsletter, bonus episodes and much, much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hall of Fame: The Man Who Designed Bond

2026/08/02

After pulling the curtain away from James Bond, writer Mark O'Connell chose Bond's book designer for his Hall of Fame nominee. Richard Chopping was Ian Fleming's choice too, and he created the template for Bond which we are all familiar with from the films, even if we've never read or seen one of the books. He was also a fiercely proud gay man at a time when it was still illegal. So tune in to hear all about Dickie's magnificently dissolute life and times. Not only did he live twice, I think he lived a thousand times! Head over to www.trappedhistory.com to sign up to the award-winning podcast, get our newsletter, bonus episodes and much, much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Name's Bond. Queer Bond.

2026/07/26

He's the man's man, the lady's man, the pinnacle of heterosexual hyper-masculinity. His name is Bond. But you know what? Maybe James Bond is not as straight as you think. Because the origin story of 007 is a very queer one. From Ian Fleming's gay coterie and literary touchstones through to the creation of the Bond template on film, there's more to the world's favourite spy than meets the eye. And that's before we even mention the music. So tune in for a romp through 007's backpages in the company of cultural historian Mark O'Connell, whose new book, Bond, Queer Bond pulls the spy firmly out of the closet. Pull on your dancing shoes, get out that glitter, raise an eyebrow and if a vodka martini doesn't stir you in this heat, take advantage of this episode's sponsor, Brulo non-alcoholic beer, and treat yourself to £10 off one of their mixed cases. Just visit https://www.brulobeer.com/collections/shop and use the coupon TRAPPEDHISTORY at checkout. Head over to www.trappedhistory.com to sign up to the award-winning podcast, get our newsletter, bonus episodes and much, much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jocelyn Bell: Music, Poetry and That Other Thing

2026/07/19

This week, we've got a special Trapped History short for you. It felt wrong to ask Jocelyn to nominate someone for the Hall of Fame (Vera Rubin, anyone?) and so today we've got some choice gems which didn't make it into the main show. Starter for ten: have you ever wondered about the pop cultural impact of Jocelyn's pulsars? Well, it's huge and it has adorned the bedroom walls of many a teenager down the years. Following that – Jocelyn's a poet herself and has compiled poetry books and given poetry readings. Again, ask yourself why . . . And finally, listen in as Oswin – in true 'don't mention the war' style – well and truly puts his foot in it! Enjoy. Head over to www.trappedhistory.com to sign up to the award-winning podcast, get our newsletter, bonus episodes and much, much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lost Nobel Women

2026/07/12

In its 120 year history, nearly 1,000 people have won a Nobel Prize. And we're going to ask you a simple question: how many of those Nobel laureates are women? What, half of them maybe? Or perhaps more realistically, one in four? One in ten even? Nope. Of 990 Nobels, 67 are women. That's just 7%. And when we turn to scientific Nobels, then out of 659 awardees, only 26 are women. That's not even 4%. And so today on Trapped History, we're recognising two women in particular whose names really should be on that list. Vera Rubin, who discovered dark matter, and Jocelyn Bell-Burnell, who found pulsars. Don't worry – you don't need a physics degree to tune in. Because we're actually in the room with Jocelyn herself, as she holds our hand and gently leads us through the mind-boggling world of stars, space and sexism. As Oswin says at the end of the show, he's learnt a lot but he's 'unlearnt' even more! Head over to www.trappedhistory.com to sign up to the award-winning podcast, get our newsletter, bonus episodes and much, much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hall of Fame: The Modernist Romantic

2026/07/05

For this week's Hall of Fame, the author Joe Dunthorne presents the writer's writer: Heinrich von Kleist. A contemporary of Goethe, Byron and Shelley he was perhaps even more jaded, world-weary and downright depressed than a whole inkwell of Doomed Romantic poets. And that, ironically, is what makes him so modern. His stories don't resolve. There are no happy endings. No-one gets their comeuppance. A writer for our times, perhaps? And a writer for Joe too, because in researching Children of Radium he also wasn't in control of the story. If you've not heard his episode yet, find it now. And in the meantime, wallow with us in the modernist romance of Heinrich von Kleist. Head over to www.trappedhistory.com to sign up to the award-winning podcast, get our newsletter, bonus episodes and much, much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My Great-Grandfather Made Chemical Weapons for the Nazis

2026/06/28

Wouldn't it be nice if the stories we're told were all true, were all heroic and inspiring? But that's not always the case. Because more often than not, family histories – all our family histories – are messy, complicated, disappointing and sometimes even shameful. This season on Trapped History, we're looking at some of those stories. And today, we're joined by the writer Joe Dunthorne, whose critically acclaimed book Children of Radium and BBC radio series, Half Life, tell the story of his great-grandfather, Siegfried – and his troubling past which is both visible and hidden at the same time. It is a must listen. Head over to www.trappedhistory.com to sign up to the award-winning podcast, get our newsletter, bonus episodes and much, much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hall of Fame: The French Menu Cookbook

2026/06/21

On this week's Hall of Fame, prepare to bask in the glorious Provençal sunshine, as you sit under grapevines, drinking Rosé and tucking into the most delicious goat's cheese salad. This is the world of Richard Olney, writer of perhaps the greatest cookbook ever, The French Menu Cookbook. And we are introduced to it today by Claire Thomson, food writer extraordinaire, who as 5 O'Clock Apron has a quarter of a million Instagram followers gobbling up her recipes. Feel the sun on your face and the food on your tongue and pray, just pray, that it's not going to rain . . . Head over to www.trappedhistory.com to sign up to the award-winning podcast, get our newsletter, bonus episodes and much, much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Woman who Taught a Nation to Cook

2026/06/14

Rationing. It's a word which sends shivers down the spine. A word which conjures up Spam and powdered eggs, potato peel pie and cabbage. Endless cabbage. But it wasn't all doom and gloom. And today we celebrate the woman who taught Britain how to 'make do': the glorious Marguerite Patten. Her recipes went down in history and she's still the cook with the most books – 170 at the last count. Marguerite was the first TV chef, the first to publish a colour cookbook and the first to recognise the magic of gadgets. So pull up a chair and feed your mind as we tuck into some of her recipes in the company of the food writer Claire Thomson, AKA @5oclockapron. It's hearty fare though we can't say the same about the food! Head over to www.trappedhistory.com to sign up to the award-winning podcast, get our newsletter, bonus episodes and much, much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hall of Fame: Shooting for the Moon

2026/06/07

In Charlene White's Hall of Fame, we're introduced to a mould-breaking community activist, Sybil Phoenix. She fostered children, founded a youth centre and set up a foundation for young homeless women. Wow. She's been honoured and recognised by the King but more than anything else, she was recognised by Charlene in the streets of south London when she was a kid. Sybil was her hero, the 'famous' person in Charlene's community. Sybil showed that anything was possible and that by working together, everyone was lifted higher. I can't think of a better reason for being a Trapped History Hall of Fame nominee. Enjoy. Head over to www.trappedhistory.com to sign up to the award-winning podcast, get our newsletter, bonus episodes and much, much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Windrush Made a Nation

2026/05/31

Welcome back to Season 7 of Trapped History! And have we got a season for you, full to bursting with stories of unexpected heroes and uncharted histories which will inspire you, make you laugh and make you cry. We’re kicking off with the magnificent broadcaster, journalist and Loose Woman, Charlene White, who joins us as we uncover the moving life story of Alford Gardner, one of the last surviving Windrush passengers. Born in Jamaica, Alford journeyed to England to fight for the ‘motherland’ in the Second World War. Job done, he went home – then came back, all the while trying to find a place of his own. It’s a universal story familiar to millions and Charlene shares her own family experiences of finding that place called home. It is a story full of joy and laughter – and tears and anger – and it is magnificently told by Charlene. Head over to www.trappedhistory.com to sign up to the award-winning podcast, get our newsletter, bonus episodes and much, much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Season 7 Teaser Trailer

2026/05/10

We are just busting to tell you about Trapped History's new season – packed with hidden stories about people we weren't taught about in school. Tune in to hear Charlene White talk about Windrush, Joe Dunthorne on his family's troubling past and Dame Jocelyn Bell on the mind-blowing women of science! There's Claire Thomson of 5 O'Clock Apron fame on Marguerite Patten, the cook who kept Britain fed during the war; journalist Alex Renton on how you cope with a shameful family history; and the glittery pop culture clutchbag which is Bond, Queer Bond. You will laugh, you will cry – you may even do a bit of cooking. But more than anything, Trapped History will feed your curiosity and get you thinking about the past, the present and the future. Find us at: https://trappedhistory.com/ https://www.facebook.com/trappedhistory https://www.instagram.com/trappedhistory Head over to www.trappedhistory.com to sign up to the award-winning podcast, get our newsletter, bonus episodes and much, much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hall of Fame: The Good War Criminal

2026/03/08

Keith Lowe is one of our greatest historians of the Second World War and its aftermath. He joined us to share the story of Ben Ferencz, one of the Nuremberg prosecutors who made it his life's work to fight for peace. Search for Ben Ferencz and the Quest for World Peace: Keith Lowe on the Fear and the Freedom. Keith's choice for our Hall of Fame is equally impressive. Someone who fought to try and change a nation's story of its war. But it is an uncomfortable nomination, because Yuasa Ken was a Japanese war criminal who performed horrendous human experiments during the war. Afterwards, however, he saw the light and dedicated the time he had left in the world to educate his country about its culpability. This is a powerful and unsettling listen, but it is one which we all need to hear. Head over to www.trappedhistory.com to sign up to the award-winning podcast, get our newsletter, bonus episodes and much, much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hall of Fame: The Martyrs of Matouba

2026/03/07

Joris Lechene joined us to understand the life and afterlife of the great John La Rose, one of the leading lights of Black British cultural life from the 1960s to the 1980s. And a few years ago, he was in the news again as London's Black Boy Lane was renamed in his honour. But the fallout was something to behold. This is a gripping episode – the very essence of Trapped History. You can find it as Black Boy Lane: Joris Lechene on the Legacy of John La Rose. And Joris' nomination for the Hall of Fame is equally fascinating. Because he doesn't nominate a person. He nominates a whole uprising, when the former slaves of Guadeloupe fought to the death against the French. Head over to www.trappedhistory.com to sign up to the award-winning podcast, get our newsletter, bonus episodes and much, much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.