#197 Surgery & Monkeys Eating Musical Instruments (Part 1)

#197 Surgery & Monkeys Eating Musical Instruments (Part 1)

Author: Pop! Pop! September 7, 2026 Duration: 38:46

This week we’re travelling through time to see how surgery has been performed through the ages! We’ll head to 990AD to see what surgical innovation followed a monkey eating some musical instruments, the amazing (and odd) history of artificial resuscitation, and a brief history of how humans have reset and healed broken bones.


Elsewhere, we’re just so pleased to live in the iPad age of child entertainment whilst travelling. And: are you a ‘map of the world girl or guy’? For this and anything else, you can email us here: hello@ohwhatatime.com


And if you want more Oh What A Time and both parts at once, you should sign up for our Patreon! On there you’ll now find:

•The full archive of bonus episodes

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Join us at 👉 patreon.com/ohwhatatime


And as a special thank you for joining, use the code CUSTARD for 25% off your first month.


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Thank you to Dan Evans for the artwork (idrawforfood.co.uk).


Chris, Elis and Tom x


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Ever wondered if people in the 18th century had worse holidays than you do, or if being a child in Victorian times was genuinely as grim as it sounds? That’s the kind of territory explored in Oh What A Time..., a podcast where history is less about dusty dates and more about the bizarre, often terrible, human experiences across the ages. Each episode, comedians Elis James and Tom Craine join award-winning podcaster Chris Scull to take a deep, funny dive into a new theme-whether it’s marriage, life at sea, or countless other facets of existence. They sift through the strangest and most surprising stories from our collective past, all while trying to settle a central, burning query: just how awful was it back then? The tone is conversational and packed with curiosity, blending genuine historical insight with the hosts’ comedic perspectives. You’ll find yourself learning about the peculiar realities of daily life in different eras, all delivered with a warmth and humor that makes the past feel immediately relevant. This isn’t a lecture; it’s a lively discussion between friends who are equally fascinated and horrified by what they uncover. For anyone who enjoys a good story, a laugh, and a fresh take on the people who came before us, this podcast offers a consistently entertaining and oddly comforting look at the shared struggles and absurdities of human history.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Oh What A Time...
Podcast Episodes
#198 French Towns & The Kooks (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re taking a historical audio holiday to some of our favourite French towns. We’ll head to the very Roman Nîmes, we’ll dine out in Dinan and finally we’ll get the tr…
#198 French Towns & The Kooks (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:05
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#197 Surgery & Monkeys Eating Musical Instruments (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:24
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re travelling through time to see how surgery has been performed through the ages! We’ll head to 990AD to see what surgical innovation followed a monkey eating some…
#195 Hymns & Anthems! (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re discussing some classic hymns and all round total anthems through history. We’ll discuss a favourite on the UK football terraces: The Battle Hymn of the Republic…
#195 Hymns & Anthems! (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:06
This week we’re discussing some classic hymns and all round total anthems through history. We’ll discuss a favourite on the UK football terraces: The Battle Hymn of the Republic. The true story of that absolute banger ‘J…
#194 Captains (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:27
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!Ahoy captains! We’re back after our summer break and this week we’re discussing Captains! We have for you this week, the big one: Captain Cook. Another huge captain in Captain S…
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Duration: 38:22
Ahoy captains! We’re back after our summer break and this week we’re discussing Captains! We have for you this week, the big one: Captain Cook. Another huge captain in Captain Scott. And finally, then unbelievable true s…
[BONUS EP] #144 All Quiet on the Western Front [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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We're on our annual two-week summer break, but don't worry! Please enjoy these subscriber episodes from last summer while we're away!From September 2025, this is..It's another subscriber special and this time, Tom has be…
[BONUS EP] #141 Stonehenge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:32
We're on our annual two-week summer break, but don't worry! Please enjoy these subscriber episodes from last summer while we're away!From September 2025, this is..Following Chris’ trip to Stonehenge over the summer we th…