Get in loser, we’re making history

Get in loser, we’re making history

Author: Sony Music Entertainment March 31, 2026 Duration: 4:06
We’re often taught that history’s written by the winners. But we’d like to argue that, in fact, it’s the losers who end up making history.  In this brand new miniseries from Dan Jones and Elizabeth Day, History’s Greatest Fails aims to answer the simple, but complex, question: Why do losers make history?  From Richard III, to Vincent Van Gough, to the purposefully forgotten female Pharaoh Hatshepsut, this series is going to help you better understand how the idea of failure changes over time, and what lessons failure has for all of us.   Dan and Elizabeth are old friends, fellow history graduates, and fellow authors and podcasters.  Dan Jones is host of This Is History — A Dynasty to Die For, a narrative podcast that charts the bloody and complex drama of England’s Plantagenet dynasty, now up to its 10th season.  Elizabeth is host of How To Fail, a podcast that has brought together hundreds of luminaries and thinkers including Kate Winslet, Yuval Noah Hariri, and Malala Yousafzai, to reflect on failure in the present.  Over six episodes, History’s Greatest Fails will dissect failure of all kinds, from troubled historical rulers, to the failures of remembrance, to the failures that have created the happy accidents that last for generations. As always, Dan’s royal favourites can chime in anytime on the royal court on Patreon at patreon.com/thisishistory. And for the bonus episodes of this miniseries, Dan and Producer Al are hearing from the favourites directly — join us as they discuss the royal favourites’ special fail mentions.  So, join us for the debut episode of History’s Greatest Fails, premiering on Tuesday April 7.  –– A Sony Music Entertainment production.  Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts  To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com  Learn more about your ad choices.  Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices  – Presented by Dan Jones and Elizabeth Day   Producer - Alan Weedon  Senior Producer - Dominic Tyerman Executive Producer - Simon Poole  Executive Producer - Dan Jones Executive Producer for Daylight Productions - Elizabeth Day   Production Manager - Jen Mistri  Production coordinator - Eric Ryan  Head of content - Chris Skinner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is History: A Dynasty to Die For picks up the story after the death of Henry V, leaving England with an infant king, Henry VI. Historian Dan Jones guides listeners through the tumultuous reign that follows, a period defined by fragile regencies and escalating noble rivalries. This podcast delves into the power vacuums and personal dramas that set the stage for decades of conflict. The narrative explores how scandal, accusations of witchcraft, and the looming specter of madness intertwined with the brutal political machinations of the era. As factions vie for control both domestically and in England's French territories, the series charts the descent into the dynastic carnage known as the Wars of the Roses. Each episode builds a vivid picture of a kingdom teetering on the brink, where the crown itself becomes a lethal prize. The storytelling in this podcast focuses on the human ambitions and failures behind the historical events, offering a detailed and compelling audio experience. Listeners will hear a deep analysis of the key figures and turning points that shaped this pivotal century, moving beyond simple dates and battles to understand the motivations and consequences that defined a nation's destiny.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

This is History: History’s Greatest Fails
Podcast Episodes
Season 7 | 2. Death and Taxes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:05
Richard II’s reign is not off to a good start – find out more about the runners and riders in this week’s bonus episode. You can also visit patreon.com/thisishistory to become a Royal Favourite member to get extra perks…
Season 7 | 1. God Save The Kid [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:10
Visit patreon.com/thisishistory to become a Royal Favourite member and unlock bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access, and more exclusive subscriber perks. The reign of the mighty warrior king Edward III is final…
Introducing… Season Seven of a Dynasty to Die for [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27
This is the story of the ultimate frenemies that will see a cataclysmic shift in power away from the Plantagenets. The warrior king Edward III is dying and disaster looms when his grandson, the child king Richard II, is…
Empire of Gold | 6. An Emperor’s Legacy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:05
Find out more about Musa’s incredible legacy in our bonus episode. Subscribe for weekly episodes and ad-free listening. Musa looks to cement his legacy in West Africa with a spectacular project in Timbuktu but first must…
Empire of Gold | 5. Journey’s End [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:49
Find out more about the battlefield in mediaeval Mali in our bonus episode. Subscribe for weekly episodes and ad-free listening. Musa is tantalisingly close to completing his pilgrimage but conflict looms large in Timbuk…
Empire of Gold | 4. Gold Rush [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:20
Find out more about Musa’s extravagance in our bonus episode. Subscribe for weekly episodes and ad-free listening. It’s chaos in Cairo as Musa’s extravagant generosity has spectacular consequences. The Egyptian merchants…
Empire of Gold | 3. Trouble in Cairo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:41
Find out more about the legendary Mamluks in our bonus episode. Subscribe for weekly episodes and ad-free listening. Musa clashes with the fearsome Mamluks as he enters Cairo and must find a way to placate the sultan of…
Empire of Gold | 2. Shifting Sands [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:23
Subscribe for exclusive bonus episodes every week and ad-free listening to all episodes. With a murder in the desert praying on his mind, Musa and his Mali pilgrims find themselves in peril in the middle of the unforgivi…
Empire of Gold | 1. Matricide [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:17
Mansa Musa sets out on a dangerous pilgrimage across the Sahara desert to absolve himself of a terrible crime. Facing treacherous conditions and deadly threats, he ventures where few would dare. Will he survive the peril…
Introducing...The Empire Of Gold [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:23
Wealth, power, redemption, and legacy: it’s the story of the richest man to ever live and his extraordinary reign. This is History is heading to West Africa, to bring you the story of the legendary emperor of Mali: Mansa…