The Genius Myth: Helen Lewis on Why We Fall for the Same Old Shtick Throughout History

The Genius Myth: Helen Lewis on Why We Fall for the Same Old Shtick Throughout History

Author: trappedhistory September 9, 2025 Duration: 45:19

We are delighted to be joined today by Helen Lewis, whose new book, The Genius Myth, rips apart the stories we like to tell ourselves about ‘them’ – the heroic geniuses we idolise and adore. This is the ultimate history reboot.

And it's one of the reasons we created Trapped History in the first place – because we don’t need more stories about Leonardo, Churchill or Elon. We need the hidden history, the forgotten history, the untold stories. But if anyone can take down ‘The Great Men of History’ it’s going to be Helen!

So strap in as we rip through the centuries and the rulebook of what makes someone ‘special’, what constitutes ‘importance’ and why we might just be able to live without these geniuses.



This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

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
The Women who Ran The Resistance: Anne Sebba on the Forgotten Heroines [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:28
During the war, hundreds of RAF airmen escaped through France and into Spain along the Comet Line – an escape route run by women. Hear about the courage of Dédée, the Comet's leader, as she climbed the Pyrenees and brave…
How The Newsies beat the Press Barons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:15
It's not just Disney – the 'newsies' still inspire young people everywhere. Tune in to hear what today's youth think about the biggest child-led strike in history.
Hall of Fame: The Silent and Unseen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:05
Tune in to hear Clare Mulley's nomination for the Trapped History Hall of Fame.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
Hall of Fame: The Genius in the Library [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:00
It's Hall of Fame time! Tune in to hear an extended nomination from Sums of Anarchy's wonderful Dominique Miranda. This has everything: revolution, freedom and poetry, with a smattering of maths thrown in . . .This podca…
Emmy Noether: Einstein's Greatest Mathematician [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:03
Do you know who the greatest mathematician of the 20th century was? Someone who even Einstein bowed to? Listen in to hear all about Emmy Noether and her struggles in ultra-conservative Germany. You may even get to unders…
Hall of Fame: Helping Ukrainian Refugees [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:41
Polly Vacher's nomination for the Trapped History Hall of Fame is a true hero of our time.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy