The Rest Is History
Take a deep dive into History’s biggest moments with Tom Holland & Dominic Sandbrook. Explore the stories of History’s most brutal rulers, deadly battles, and world-changing events. From the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, the Nazi conquest of Europe, and Hitler’s evil master plan for world domination, to the French Revolution, the sinking of the Titanic, or the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Tom and Dominic bring the past to life with gripping storytelling and expert analysis, as they unpack the high-drama moments that shaped our world. Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at therestishistory.com. For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com.
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Recent Episodes
625. Jack The Ripper: Horror in Whitechapel (Part 2)
Dec 11, 2025Summary Preview
This episode delves into the escalating terror of the Jack the Ripper murders in London's East End during September 1888. Following the brutal murders of Polly Nichols and Annie Chapman, the press fuels mass hysteria while the police struggle with an unprecedented serial killer case. The episode explores the victims' final hours, witness accounts, police investigations, and the media frenzy that transforms these crimes into a cultural phenomenon, culminating in the infamous letter signed 'Jack the Ripper' and a horrifying double murder on September 29th.
- The Press Frenzy and Public Panic After the Whitechapel Murders
- The Murder of Annie Chapman at 29 Hanbury Street
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Conan O'Brien joins Tom Holland at Abbey Road Studios for an in-depth exploration of the Beatles' later years, from 1966 to their breakup in 1970. The discussion covers their controversial Jesus comments, revolutionary albums like Revolver and Sgt. Pepper, spiritual journeys with the Maharishi, business troubles with Apple Corps, and their final masterpiece Abbey Road. O'Brien shares his deep Beatles fandom and personal anecdotes, including getting in a bag with Yoko Ono, while analyzing how the band's impeccable timing and creative brilliance cemented their legacy as the defining musical act of the 1960s.
- The Jesus Controversy and American Backlash
- The End of Touring and Creative Evolution
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Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook explore the origins of the Jack the Ripper murders in Victorian London's Whitechapel district in 1888. They examine the social context of extreme poverty, prostitution, and crime in the East End, before detailing the brutal murder of Mary Ann 'Polly' Nichols on August 31st, 1888 - marking the beginning of the Ripper's reign of terror. The episode establishes how this unsolved case became the world's first modern serial killer phenomenon, while also providing a window into late Victorian society's stark class divisions and the desperate lives of the victims.
- The Infamous Jack the Ripper Letter and Victorian London Context
- Whitechapel: London's Dark Shadow and the Rookeries
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Churchill rejects Hitler's peace offers as the Battle of Britain begins in summer 1940. Despite Hermann Göring's confidence, the Luftwaffe fails to destroy the RAF or break British morale. Unable to launch Operation Sea Lion, Hitler makes the fateful decision to invade the Soviet Union instead, issuing Directive 21 for Operation Barbarossa in December 1940. This turning point marks Hitler's first major setback and sets the stage for Nazi Germany's eventual downfall.
- Britain Rejects Hitler's Peace Offers
- The Absurd Plot to Kidnap Edward VIII
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Tom Holland and Conan O'Brien record a Beatles special at Abbey Road Studios, exploring how four working-class lads from Liverpool became the most significant cultural force of the 1960s. They trace the Beatles' journey from their early influences in post-war Liverpool through Hamburg's rough club scene, their breakthrough with Brian Epstein and George Martin, Beatlemania's explosion in Britain and America, and their principled stand against segregation. The episode concludes with the brewing controversy over John Lennon's 'more popular than Jesus' comment in 1966.
- The Beatles' Historical Significance and Early Influences
- Hamburg: The Crucible That Forged the Beatles
622. The Nazis at War: The Fall of France (Part 3)
Dec 01, 2025Summary Preview
This episode chronicles the fall of France in 1940, from the evacuation at Dunkirk through Hitler's triumphant visit to conquered Paris. It examines Hitler's crucial halt order that allowed the British escape, the French government's collapse and decision to seek armistice, and the dramatic week when Paris fell to the Nazis. The episode explores why France surrendered while Britain fought on, and Hitler's moment of supreme vindication as he reversed Germany's 1918 defeat.
- Hitler's Paris Visit and the Road to French Defeat
- The Halt Order: Hitler's Crucial Mistake
621. The Nazis at War: Blitzkrieg (Part 2)
Nov 27, 2025Processing failed
620. The Nazis at War: Hitler Strikes West (Part 1)
Nov 24, 2025Summary Preview
This episode examines the dramatic autumn and winter of 1939-40, following Hitler's conquest of Poland. Despite offering peace to Britain and France, Hitler immediately begins planning attacks on the West, facing resistance from his own generals who attempt to organize a coup. The episode culminates with Georg Elser's near-successful assassination attempt on Hitler in Munich's Bürgerbräukeller, missing the Führer by just 13 minutes. The failed plot strengthens Hitler's resolve and popular support, setting the stage for the coming Blitzkrieg campaigns in Scandinavia and Western Europe.
- The Phoney War and Hitler's Strategic Dilemma
- Hitler Demands Attack on the West
619. Elizabeth I: The Virgin Queen (Part 4)
Nov 20, 2025Summary Preview
Elizabeth I's early reign was marked by extraordinary political skill as she navigated religious upheaval, succession crises, and diplomatic challenges. At just 25, she consolidated Protestant power in England while managing Catholic opposition, foreign threats from France and Spain, and constant pressure to marry. Her refusal to commit to marriage or name a successor became both her greatest vulnerability and her most powerful diplomatic weapon, while William Cecil worked tirelessly to secure Protestant England against the looming threat of Mary, Queen of Scots.
- Elizabeth's Coronation and Early Challenges
- The Religious Settlement and Protestant Transformation
618. Elizabeth I: The Shadow of the Tower (Part 3)
Nov 17, 2025Summary Preview
In this episode of The Rest Is History, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook explore Elizabeth I's perilous early years during her half-sister Mary Tudor's reign. They challenge the traditional 'Bloody Mary' narrative, examining Mary's actual religious policies, her Spanish marriage, and Elizabeth's survival through political cunning. The episode covers Elizabeth's imprisonment in the Tower, her connection to Wyatt's Rebellion, and Mary's ultimately unsuccessful attempt to restore Catholicism to England, culminating in Elizabeth's accession to the throne in 1558.
- Mary Tudor Takes the Throne: A Complicated Inheritance
- The Spanish Marriage: Strategic Coup or Fatal Mistake?
617. Elizabeth I: Anne Boleyn's Bastard (Part 2)
Nov 13, 2025Summary Preview
Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook explore the formative years of Elizabeth I, from her mother Anne Boleyn's execution when she was not yet three years old through her adolescence. The episode chronicles her childhood neglect, the succession of stepmothers, her exceptional education, the disturbing behavior of Thomas Seymour, and her emergence as a politically astute teenager during the turbulent reigns of Edward VI and Mary I.
- Elizabeth's Early Childhood Neglect and Loss
- Elizabeth's Exceptional Education
616. Elizabeth I: The Fall of the Axe (Part 1)
Nov 10, 2025Summary Preview
A detailed exploration of Elizabeth I's extraordinary path to the English throne, focusing on her tumultuous childhood shaped by her father Henry VIII's ruthless pursuit of a male heir and her mother Anne Boleyn's tragic downfall. The episode examines how Elizabeth's early traumas—including her mother's execution when she was just three years old—forged the character of England's most celebrated monarch.
- Elizabeth I's Enduring Legacy and Gloriana Mythology
- Henry VIII: The Charismatic Yet Insecure Tudor King