How, exactly, does a woman ‘slip’ out of history?

How, exactly, does a woman ‘slip’ out of history?

Author: Sony Music Entertainment April 21, 2026 Duration: 40:16
What would you do if your life was omitted, reduced to an overlooked footnote, or filed away as an anomaly? In this episode, Dan and Elizabeth turn a lens on the practice of history itself, interrogating the choices and power structures that have traditionally left women out of the history books. They retrace the lives of three women who once stood firmly in their moment: Hatshepsut, a pharaoh who consolidated power in Ancient Egypt; Joanna Ferrour, a peasant whose voice briefly direct the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381; and Ada Lovelace, a Victorian thinker whose ideas arrived well before the world was ready for them. Each was successful in their time. And yet each of their world-changing contributions were quietly edited out, only to be rediscovered generations — or even millennia later. So what does it mean when the practice of history fails to record the world as it was? And what happens when history’s failures reveal themselves, much later, as triumphs to a new generation? – As always, Dan’s royal favourites can chime in anytime on the royal court on Patreon at patreon.com/thisishistory. And don’t forget to listen to this season’s accompanying bonus episodes for this miniseries, where Dan and Producer Al are dissecting the biggest historical failures as submitted by the royal favourites. In this episode, they discuss Catherine Parr’s failed arrest, and what the Crusades reveal about success and failure. – 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 Researcher - Phoebe Joyce 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…