Making History Matter: A Live Debate with Joshua Levine and Oswin

Making History Matter: A Live Debate with Joshua Levine and Oswin

Author: trappedhistory August 12, 2025 Duration: 43:58

It's time for a history reboot. In this Trapped History Special, Oswin and historian Joshua Levine discuss truth, myth and storytelling in front of an invited audience at an event hosted by Saboteur, a London-based brand agency.

In a wide-ranging conversation which covers everything from Trump and Putin to Downton and Dunkirk, we grapple with the fundamentals of what we mean when we talk about history, hidden history, forgotten history and unsung heroes. Josh gives us some fascinating insights into how history is turned into entertainment from his time as a historical consultant on blockbuster movies, while Oswin gives you his best (or actually his worst) Churchill impression!

With extraordinary and sometimes shocking tales about the SAS, 911 and America's longstanding desire for Canada, this is a great summertime listen which will set you up nicely for the rest of the season.



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Trapped History digs into the corners of the past that standard narratives often overlook, guided by James Baldwin's idea that people and history are mutually confined. This podcast is a deliberate effort to loosen that grip, one story at a time. You'll hear detailed accounts of individuals and events sidelined by traditional textbooks, from strategic minds in forgotten battles to cultural pioneers whose influence was deliberately minimized. Each episode reconstructs a specific moment or life, focusing on the nuanced realities of women's history, Black history, military history, and cultural history. The aim is to provide a more complete and human picture, moving beyond dates and dominant names to the textures of lived experience. By engaging with these overlooked chapters, the podcast invites a deeper understanding of how our present is shaped. It’s for anyone who suspects there's more to the story, offering a thoughtful and researched alternative to the history many of us were first taught. Listening feels like a conversation with a knowledgeable friend, one committed to unearthing truths that resonate with our contemporary world. The result is an educational and compelling narrative that challenges simple takeaways, encouraging listeners to question what they think they know about the forces that have built and bound our societies.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 76

Trapped History
Podcast Episodes
Remembering the Ordinary: The Memorial to Heroic Self-Sacrifice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:19
The Memorial to Heroic Self-Sacrifice is the memorial we all need. It's 120 years old but feels like it was made yesterday – it's about you and me, and about how we remember. Join Oswin and Carla, and our guest Ian Wolte…
The Four Heroic Lives of Johnny Smythe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:11
Johnny Smythe is one of the best people you could ever meet. He fought for freedom over the skies of Europe, back home in Sierra Leone and onboard one particularly important ship – the Windrush. Join Oswin, Carla and Tre…
Adelaide Hall: The Greatest Singer you've Never Heard Of [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:12
Adelaide Hall is the greatest singer you've never heard of. She was the Queen of the Cotton Club and the most popular singer in Britain during the Blitz. But she's virtually unknown now. Tune in to find out who Adelaide…
The Many Tangled Lives of Peter Stevens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:20
He's a decorated war hero. A loving father. The inspiration for a character in The Great Escape. And a convicted fraudster and a spy. But what else is Peter Stevens and who exactly is he really? Join Oswin and Carla as t…
Nellie Bly: The Greatest Person Ever! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:27
Ever heard of Nellie Bly? She was a journalist, travel writer, anthropologist, entrepreneur . . . a pioneer who decided not to be defined by what she couldn’t do but by what she could. Join us as we hear from historian R…