Best Irish Translated Podcasts (2025)

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#431 - Western Meddling and Betrayal in the Middle East: A Dialogue with Fawaz Gerges 1:05:41

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5h ago1:05:41

1:05:41

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Fawaz Gerges about continuous Western involvement in the Middle East. They discuss misconceptions of the Middle East, role of colonialism, Iran and Turkey being exceptions to foreign colonial involvement, Arab Nationalism, Civilizations and colonialism, political Islam, and many more topics. Fawaz…

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Make Mercia Great Again 43:37

2h ago43:37

43:37

The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Mercia played an important role in the development of England. Although it was sandwiched between the other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Northumbria and Wessex, unlike those two places, it lacks a great historical chronicle. And, according to Max Adams, this means it's been somewhat overlooked in the story of the birth of the …

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The Merovingians: everything you wanted to know 39:38

6h ago39:38

39:38

Professor James Palmer guides us through the 300-year reign of the Merovingians, the Frankish dynasty whose legacy helped birth the very idea of France. Speaking to Kev Lochun, he explores how they used violence, myth, and immaculate hair to maintain power – until the pope brought the dynasty to its knees. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by th…

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How the Allies won WW2 36:04

1d ago36:04

36:04

This summer it's 80 years since the greatest conflict in human history came to an end. To mark the anniversary, the military historian, author and broadcaster James Holland has co-written a book that tells the story of the final moments of The Second World War through the Axis surrenders that brought the conflict to a close. In this episode James r…

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Ancient tips for health and happiness 39:42

3d ago39:42

39:42

The science of health and wellbeing is a hot topic of modern life, and it was no different for the ancient civilisations of Greece and Rome. From what you should eat, to how you should exercise, and when you should (and shouldn't) have sex, these cultures developed their own highly specific set of rules to live by to maximise health and happiness. …

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Thomas Aquinas: life of the week 44:20

4d ago44:20

44:20

Thomas Aquinas was a 13th-century Dominican theologian whose groundbreaking ideas set medieval Europe aflame – and continue to resonate today. As 2025 marks the 800th anniversary of Aquinas's birth, Emily Briffett speaks to Professor Robert Pasnau to find out more about the man behind some of medieval Europe's most significant philosophical and the…

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#430 - The Rise and Spread of Mass Education: A Dialogue with Agustina Paglayan 1:44:28

7d ago1:44:28

1:44:28

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Agustina Paglayan about mass education around the world. They discuss education as a tool for political and social order, theories of education, and explicit aims of government education. They also talk about early critical thinking, nationalism, and education worldwide. They discuss mass educatio…

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Barmier than Bond: Ian Fleming's extraordinary wartime escapades 41:30

7d ago41:30

41:30

Bogus sex parties, fake corpses, exploding tin cans and belligerent pigs. If you thought that James Bond's fictional escapades were outrageous, then the real-life experiences of his creator, Ian Fleming, are arguably even more extraordinary. Here, in conversation with Spencer Mizen, Edward Abel Smith reveals how Fleming's work as a wartime intellig…

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Fatherhood: a short history 40:24

6d ago40:24

40:24

What does it mean to be a father? When did people first start talking about men as 'father figures'? And how has the concept of fatherhood changed over the millennia? In conversation with David Musgrove, Augustine Sedgwick charts the story from the ancient near east right through to the modern father figure today. (Ad) Augustine Sedgwick is the aut…

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CIA book smugglers of the Cold War 36:27

8d ago36:27

36:27

During the Cold War, the CIA book programme was a covert campaign to smuggle books into the Eastern Bloc using everything from balloon drops to baked bean tins. But why was literature such a significant weapon in the culture wars between east and west? Lauren Good speaks to author Charlie English about his book The CIA Book Club: The Gripping New H…

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#429 - Translation Multiples: A Dialogue with Kasia Szymanska 1:16:12

11d ago1:16:12

1:16:12

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Kasia Szymanska about translation of texts. They discuss how many translations can diverge from one source, translating into English, post-1989 Poland and translation, ethics of translation, the poem VIA, A Clockwork Orange translations, and many more topics. Kasia Szymanska is Lecturer in transla…

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Here’s How 181 – Votes, Lies and Video Tape 38:29

11d ago38:29

38:29

Kev Collins’ Youtube channel his here. Ben Scallan writes for Gript. ***** That’s a clip I played on the podcast a while back, it’s from one of the far-right protest a while back, and we’ve had a couple more of those anti-immigration protests in the last while. I saw some comments on social media about […]…

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[Classic Replay] A Criminal Conversation: Affairs & Divorce in 1920s Ireland 40:52

12d ago40:52

40:52

A story from the 1920s that will reshape the way you view our great grandparents lives! Unfortunately, there’s no new show this week, but I wanted to re-share an episode I really enjoyed making two years ago. It'll well worth another spin. In 1920s Ireland, Alice Morton’s marriage breakdown sparked a sensational divorce trial. Accused of adultery, …

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The Renaissance: not such a golden age? 49:33

10d ago49:33

49:33

From Michelangelo's David and Machiavelli's The Prince to the plays of Shakespeare, the Renaissance produced some of history's most astounding works of culture, art and innovation. But can focusing on these glittering creations obscure the messy and often violent reality of actually living through the era? Speaking to Ellie Cawthorne, Ada Palmer hi…

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Archimedes: life of the week 34:32

11d ago34:32

34:32

He’s best known for his Eureka moment, but Archimedes was far more than a naked man in a bathtub. Speaking to Kev Lochun, Professor Michael Scott takes us through the wild imagination of this Ancient Greek polymath, who dreamt up war machines, water screws and a giant claw – but not, as legend has it, a death ray. The HistoryExtra podcast is produc…

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#428 - Iran's Grand Political Strategy: A Dialogue with Vali Nasr 1:43:55

14d ago1:43:55

1:43:55

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Vali Nasr about the recent political history of Iran. They give an overview of Iran’s political motives and strategy, impact of the Persian empire and Shia Islam, and Reza Khan and Iranian nationalism. They talk about the impact of “Kemalism,” the 1979 Iranian revolution, the Iran-Iraq war, rise o…

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The Third Reich's first genocide 40:24

12d ago40:24

40:24

Between 1939 and 1945, the Nazis killed nearly 300,000 people with learning disabilities or psychiatric illnesses. Some 400,000 more were forcibly sterilised. Historian Dagmar Herzog speaks to Ellie Cawthorne about how decades of eugenic theorising and propaganda led so many institutions to become complicit in this programme of sterilisation and ma…

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English folklore: everything you wanted to know 47:59

13d ago47:59

47:59

What happens when you step inside a fairy ring? Where did the figure of the Green Man come from? And why have so many East Anglians been terrorised by a menacing, dog-like creature called Black Shuck? Emily Briffett speaks to folklorist and historian Francis Young to uncover more about the myths and historical traditions of England – from iconic ch…

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What happened in Shakespeare's "lost years"? 37:42

15d ago37:42

37:42

Shakespeare is now a towering figure of global theatre. But in the 1590s, he was just an up-and-coming young playwright, trying to scratch out a living in Shoreditch's emerging theatre scene. Daniel Swift revisits this early stage of the Bard's career in his new book The Dream Factory, linking it with the story of a long-lost Shoreditch playhouse s…

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#427 - A History of the Irish Famine: A Dialogue with Padraic Scanlan 1:12:32

18d ago1:12:32

1:12:32

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Padraic Scanlan about the Irish famine. They provide an overview of the Irish famine, discuss the relationship between Ireland and Britain and how British colonialism impacted the Irish famine. They talk about potatoes in Ireland, formation of the United Kingdom, variables leading up to the Irish …

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The Irish Wake: A History 50:11

19d ago50:11

50:11

The Irish funeral wake is a unique tradition where family and friends gather around the body of the deceased to share stories, remember their life, and celebrate their legacy. Often resembling a lively party with plenty of drink, this ritual is both a farewell and a celebration. Predating Christianity, the Irish wake stretches back thousands of yea…

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Plague, famine and chivalry: a human history of the 14th century 54:04

19d ago54:04

54:04

Plague, war, regicide, famine, revolt – during the 14th century, life for people in England was turned on its head. Historian Helen Carr charts this extraordinarily turbulent period through the lives of three very different monarchs, each with their own idea of what it meant to wield power. Exploring the humanity of those on the throne, she speaks …

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WW2 legacies and Magna Carta: history behind the headlines 47:40

18d ago47:40

47:40

In the latest episode of our monthly series charting the past behind the present, historians Rana Mitter and Hannah Skoda explore the ways the Second World War continues to shape the world of today. Plus the medieval manuscripts hitting the headlines, and an express history of rail nationalisation. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team b…

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Drink, dance, death: wine in ancient Egypt 37:19

21d ago37:19

37:19

From merriment to mummification, new year revelries to funerary rites, wine played a key role in ancient Egyptian culture. Islam Issa speaks to Matt Elton about why the alcoholic drink was so important – and how it inspired everything from a wine vending machine to the Festival of Drunkenness. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ ⁠⁠https://nordvpn.com/hepod⁠⁠ …

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#426 - A History of Free Speech: A Dialogue with Jacob Mchangama 1:42:19

21d ago1:42:19

1:42:19

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Jacob Mchangama about the history of free speech. They discuss free speech in Europe, defining free speech, limits of free speech and ethics of free speech. They also talk about the free speech recession, origins of free speech, Athenian and Roman empires, Abbasid Caliphate, ancient India, printin…

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The Scottish Enlightenment: everything you wanted to know 39:58

20d ago39:58

39:58

In everything from the social sciences and technology to art and architecture, 18th-century Scotland saw a flowering of ideas and innovation. But what made the Enlightenment in Scotland different to the rest of Europe? Who were some of its key thinkers? And why were so few women involved? Historian Craig Smith, from the University of Glasgow, runs …

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Deadly skies: the WW2 mission to fly over the Himalayas 47:27

24d ago47:27

47:27

During the Second World War, a promise by President Roosevelt to provide supplies to nationalist China led to the creation of an ill-fated air supply route from India, across a perilous stretch of the Himalayan foothills known as 'the hump'. Caroline Alexander tells Elinor Evans about the young American pilots who braved the world’s most dangerous …

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#425 - What Russians Believe About Russia: A Dialogue with Paul Chaisty & Stephen Whitefield 1:30:35

25d ago1:30:35

1:30:35

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Paul Chaisty and Stephen Whitefield about public opinion in Russia. They discuss Russia’s transformation since the fall of the Soviet Union, Consolidation and contestation within Russia’s hybrid political economy, and generational changes under Putin. They talk about authoritarianism, collecting p…

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Midwives & Mothers: A History of Birth in Ireland 28:47

26d ago28:47

28:47

In times past, childbirth was a profoundly communal and intimate experience, guided by the steady hands and wisdom of community midwives. Known as Bean Ghlúine—the Women of the Knee—these women were among the most important figures in rural Irish communities. In this episode, I’m joined by historian Emma Laffey to explore the world of birth and mid…

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Royal sisters: the tragic lives of Queen Victoria's granddaughters 38:47

26d ago38:47

38:47

Victoria, Ella, Irene and Alix of Hesse were four young European princesses and granddaughters of Queen Victoria, whose marriages would change the face of early 20th-century Europe. Speaking to Elinor Evans, Frances Welch introduces the four sisters. She explores their relationships with one another, and reveals how their stories stretch from the c…

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Calamity Jane: life of the week 46:15

25d ago46:15

46:15

Calamity Jane roars into the popular imagination atop the Deadwood Stage with a 'whip-crack-away' and her pistol ready-loaded. A bold and resourceful frontierswoman, Calamity held her own among the men of the American West. But she was also instrumental in the making of her own myth. Emily Briffett spoke to historian Karen Jones to piece together w…

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#424 - Reforming Our Institutions: A Dialogue with Yuval Levin 1:10:13

28d ago1:10:13

1:10:13

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Yuval Levin about the importance of reforming our institutions. They discuss why institutions are important, individuals and institutions, slow change with institutions, and the mistrust and dislike of institutions. They also make the case for elites, building broad political coalitions, Trump’s 2…

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Spiritual showmen: the 1920s occult 36:40

26d ago36:40

36:40

Tahra Bey became a celebrity with his apparent ability to control his pulse, stab himself without pain and even bury himself alive. Dr Dahesh, meanwhile, was a spiritualist who sparked an entire religious movement. Speaking to Lauren Good, Raphael Cormack explores the lives of these two figures who made a name for themselves in the occult scene of …

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Cheese history: everything you wanted to know 40:16

27d ago40:16

40:16

Nothing beats a well-loaded cheeseboard. But while so many of us enjoy a stinky stilton and ripe brie, or chuck a reliable old cheddar into our basket at the supermarket each week, what do we actually know about the history of the cheese we eat? From sustaining Roman troops to becoming a staple in lunchboxes across the globe, the history of cheese …

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Taking sides: how the Civil War turned friends into enemies 31:12

1M ago31:12

31:12

As 17th-century Britain edged ever closer to civil war, two friends, Bulstrode Whitelock and Ned Hyde, found their relationship under increasing strain. Minoo Dinshaw tells Ellie Cawthorne about how these two companions found themselves on opposite sides of a political and ideological divide, and reflects on how the Civil War caused painful rupture…

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Here’s How 180 – Medieval Attitudes 1:06:42

1M ago1:06:42

1:06:42

Dr Kirill Bumin is Associate Dean of Metropolitan College of Boston University and Dr Mordechai Inbari is Professor of Religion at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. ***** That’s the diminutive Justin Barrett, formerly of Youth Defence and a string of other far-right organisations, Litler himself, talking to a commentator with the Canadi…

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#423 - Changing Personality: A Dialogue with Olga Khazan 59:46

1M ago59:46

59:46

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Olga Khazan on whether one could change their personality. They discuss why someone would want to change their personality, constancy over the lifespan, and why she used the BIG-5. They talk about extroversion and connection, neuroticism and mindfulness, openness to experience, conscientiousness, …

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Glenmalure & Memories of a Lost World - How Did Electrification Change Rural Ireland? 36:54

1M ago36:54

36:54

Nestled deep in the Wicklow Mountains, Glenmalure was once a stronghold for rebels and a sanctuary from the outside world. But long after the echoes of rebellion faded, the valley remained a place apart, where the comforts of modern life arrived late. Glenmalure was only connected to the electricity grid and running water in the late 20th century, …

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Were Roman women done dirty by modern translations? 37:09

1M ago37:09

37:09

The stories of ancient Rome are littered with despicable women, and those of the Julio-Claudian dynasty are especially infamous. But where do these stories come from? And why have they endured for centuries? Speaking to Elinor Evans, Joan Smith explores how Roman misogyny, mistranslations, and modern historians have shaped a distorted narrative – c…

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Otto von Bismarck: life of the week 43:33

1M ago43:33

43:33

Few 19th-century leaders have a CV quite like Otto von Bismarck's. This formidable statesman's cunning, charisma and eye for an opportunity helped him drive the unification of Germany and engineer a stunning defeat of France in 1871. Here, in conversation with Spencer Mizen, Katja Hoyer introduces a man whose rise would change the face of European …

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#422 - The Power of Behavioral Genetics: A Dialogue with Robert Plomin 1:45:08

1M ago1:45:08

1:45:08

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Robert Plomin on behavioral genetics. They discuss why behavioral genetics has explanatory power, heritability, genetics and psychological research, SNPs, GWAS, and epigenetics. They also talk about shared and non-shared environments, twin models and adoption models, heritability and cognitive abi…

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The Einstein murders 39:02

1M ago39:02

39:02

In the summer of 1944, as the German forces were retreating in northern Italy, a small group of soldiers made a detour to a remote villa in search of Albert Einstein's cousin. Robert Einstein posed no threat to the Nazi regime, but nonetheless they were determined to hunt him down. The tragic events that followed are the basis of a new book by the …

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The Beaker People: everything you wanted to know 39:58

1M ago39:58

39:58

Who were the Beaker People? What was their contribution to the building of Stonehenge? And did their arrival in Britain really lead to the obliteration of the indigenous population? Here, in conversation with Spencer Mizen, Mike Parker-Pearson answers the most pressing questions on the prehistoric culture that changed Britain for good. The HistoryE…

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Gods, demons, witches and exorcists: inside an ancient Assyrian library 40:57

1M ago40:57

40:57

In the seventh century BC, the ancient Assyrian king Ashurbanipal created a gigantic library in his capital city – one that contained centuries of wisdom. And this vast wealth of ancient knowledge can reveal a lot about how the people of the Near East thought about their gods. Dr Selena Wisnom tells David Musgrove more about the Assyrians' religiou…

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#421 - Beauty and the gods: A Dialogue with Hugo Shakeshaft 1:04:36

1M ago1:04:36

1:04:36

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Hugo Shakeshaft about ancient greeks ideas about beauty and the gods. They discuss beauty in ancient Greece and its impact on modern times, architecture and beauty, beauty and aesthetics, and the gods and beauty. They talk about the relationship between humans and the gods, superficial and deeper …

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Glendalough & The History Tourists Are Never Told 35:00

1M ago35:00

35:00

Glendalough is one of Ireland’s most iconic and picturesque destinations. Its medieval monastery and stunning mountain landscape attract around one million tourists every year. However behind the postcard-perfect scenery lies a history that rarely makes it into the tourist brochures. In this episode, I veer off the well-trodden paths to uncover the…

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Peaks, perils, and pioneers: the deadly history of mountaineering 37:36

1M ago37:36

37:36

What has prompted humans throughout history to risk life and limb to conquer some of the world's highest mountains? Author and climber Daniel Light talks to Rachel Dinning about why humans have always been drawn to mountains, the evolution of mountaineering as a sport, and the stories of the individuals who risked everything to make it to the top o…

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Josephine Baker: life of the week 47:17

1M ago47:17

47:17

Showbusiness, spying and civil rights - the extraordinary life of Josephine Baker had it all. From difficult beginnings, Baker transformed herself into the world's first black superstar, before turning her talents to espionage on behalf of the French Resistance. Hanna Diamond tells Ellie Cawthorne more about Baker's showbiz lifestyle, tireless camp…

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#420 - Translating Homer's The Odyssey: A Dialogue with Daniel Mendelsohn 1:20:52

1M ago1:20:52

1:20:52

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Daniel Mendelsohn on his new English translation of Homer’s The Odyssey. They discuss the massive impact of The Odyssey, major themes in the Odyssey, authorship, and translation for our time. They talk about the lines and meter of the Odyssey in English, oral to written form, adapting the Odyssey,…

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Women who ruled over Africa 41:58

1M ago41:58

41:58

From rainmaking queens to dogged isolationists, the lives and reigns of Africa’s female rulers have long been shrouded in mystery, misunderstanding and misogyny. Over the centuries and throughout the continent, these individuals navigated the rigid traditions of their own cultures to wield power – even to the detriment of their subjects. Speaking t…