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 6 | 3. The Hundred Years’ War [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:44
A woman executed for her crimes. An outlaw fleeing from his king. A heron killed by a hawk. The stage is set for Edward III to walk England into a war unlike anything seen before. A Sony Music Entertainment production. F…
Season 6 | 2. The Flying Scotsman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:35
Turmoil in Scotland leads an unexpected ally to Edward III’s door. What Edward doesn’t know is that this is the first step towards the longest war the world has ever seen. A Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more…
Season 6 | 1. The Raid [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:05
A young king finds himself locked out of power by his mother and her tyrannical lover. Time is running out, so he decides to take a huge risk and try to take back his country. A Sony Music Entertainment production. Find…
Introducing… Season Six of a Dynasty to Die for [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:14
The times they are a changin’ in the Middle Ages, as we step into the tumultuous reign of Edward III. This Plantagenet is a warrior, tactician, and party prince through-and-through, but with a dangerously ambitious strea…
In Conversation | Mediaeval Feasts and Foraging - with Annie Gray [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:41
Dan is joined by food historian Annie Gray, to take a culinary voyage back in time to the feasts of the Plantagenet courts, and for a peek inside a peasant’s pantry. Along the way, Annie busts plenty of Mediaeval food my…
In Conversation | Greek myths in the Middle Ages- with Stephen Fry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:43
Stephen Fry joins Dan to discuss his latest book, Odyssey, and how Greek myths have delighted people for thousands of years, right through the Middle Ages to the current day. Plus, Britain’s secret origins as “a new Troy…
In Conversation | The tyrant and the usurper - with Helen Castor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:06
Dan is joined by his friend and mentor, the renowned historian and author of The Eagle and The Hart, Dr Helen Castor, for a rundown of the wildest rivalry in Plantagenet history. Richard is a king, with the ego to match,…
In Conversation | Sexy poets and killer queens - with Alice Loxton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:00
For This is History’s first ever live show, Dan is joined at the London Podcast Festival by author Alice Loxton. Alice’s most recent book, Eighteen, examines the teenage years of some of history’s biggest legends, includ…