Best Tracy Knight Podcasts (2025)

1
WW2 legacies and Magna Carta: history behind the headlines 47:40

10h ago47:40

47:40

In the latest episode of our monthly series charting the past behind the present, historians Rana Mitter and Hannah Skoda explore the ways the Second World War continues to shape the world of today. Plus the medieval manuscripts hitting the headlines, and an express history of rail nationalisation. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team b…

1
Fiddler on the Roof returns to the stage 42:17

13h ago42:17

42:17

Samira discusses the Olivier award-winning production of Fiddler on the Roof with its star Adam Dannheisser and director Jordan Fein. Sarah Dunant talks about the women in the Renaissance who became art patrons, as she publishes her novel The Marchesa, about Isabella d'Este of Mantua. Screenwriter Frederic Raphael, whose films include Far From the …

1
313. [MICHIGAN] After The Game || The Murder of David Carter 59:45

1d ago59:45

59:45

A loving father, a fantastic co-parent, and a strange race to the door. Contributing Writing & Research: The Queen of All Things Haley Gray For information pertaining to this case, check out the highlight at the top of my profile at Instagram.com/TheHeatherAshley. Sponsors: Graza.com/BIGMAD⁠⁠ - Use promo code BIGMAD to get 10% off of TRIO which inc…

1
Drink, dance, death: wine in ancient Egypt 37:19

1d ago37:19

37:19

From merriment to mummification, new year revelries to funerary rites, wine played a key role in ancient Egyptian culture. Islam Issa speaks to Matt Elton about why the alcoholic drink was so important – and how it inspired everything from a wine vending machine to the Festival of Drunkenness. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ ⁠⁠https://nordvpn.com/hepod⁠⁠ …

51
The Scottish Enlightenment: everything you wanted to know 39:58

2d ago39:58

39:58

In everything from the social sciences and technology to art and architecture, 18th-century Scotland saw a flowering of ideas and innovation. But what made the Enlightenment in Scotland different to the rest of Europe? Who were some of its key thinkers? And why were so few women involved? Historian Craig Smith, from the University of Glasgow, runs …

1
Jane Austen Wrecked My Life 33:34

3d ago33:34

33:34

That's a film title, not a Matthew Socey opinion. He'll review the film, regardless. Plus, some films recently released on DVD and Blu-Ray.By [email protected] (WFYI Public Media)

151
Deadly skies: the WW2 mission to fly over the Himalayas 47:27

4d ago47:27

47:27

During the Second World War, a promise by President Roosevelt to provide supplies to nationalist China led to the creation of an ill-fated air supply route from India, across a perilous stretch of the Himalayan foothills known as 'the hump'. Caroline Alexander tells Elinor Evans about the young American pilots who braved the world’s most dangerous …

1
Imelda Staunton in Mrs Warren's Profession 42:25

5d ago42:25

42:25

Samira Ahmed and writers Dreda Mitchell and Mark Ravenhill review Imelda Staunton and her daughter, Bessie Carter, in Mrs Warren's Profession. They consider, too, theatre director Marianne Elliott's first foray into film, The Salt Path, based on a Raynor Winn's bestselling memoir of how she and her husband, after they have lost their house and farm…

1
S5 E184 NPC vs Man: Rat Bait (May 2025) 21:43

5d ago21:43

21:43

Ever wondered what it might be like to experience GTA as an NPC - or an animal? Well check out our pick this week! An hilarious let's play by @PuttherUncut "I Pretended to be a RAT NPV in GTA RP and Trolled the ENTIRE SERVER | DonDada RP", released 5 June 2022. Shades of Robin Hood in the approach - 2:37 Putther Uncut's Rat NPC trolling... 5:10 Det…

1
Paul Hartnoll of Orbital on the band's Brown album, and a new biography of Muriel Spark. 42:13

6d ago42:13

42:13

Paul Hartnoll of electronic music duo Orbital talks about the reissue of the band's Brown album which was originally released in 1993, with the addition of 23 extra tracks of rarities and previously unreleased material and about the intersection between dance music and politics. Frances Wilson, who has previously published acclaimed biographies of …

1
Alison Steadman live from Hay Festival 42:24

6d ago42:24

42:24

Live from the Hay Festival, Alison Steadman talks to Samira about her career, from Abigail's Party to Gavin and Stacey. Laura Bates and Gwyneth Lewis discuss Arthurian Legends and The Mabinogion. Hisham Matar champions the Egyptian Nobel Laureate Naguib Mahfouz. And transatlantic husband and wife country duo Outpost Drive perform on stage. Presente…

251
Royal sisters: the tragic lives of Queen Victoria's granddaughters 38:47

6d ago38:47

38:47

Victoria, Ella, Irene and Alix of Hesse were four young European princesses and granddaughters of Queen Victoria, whose marriages would change the face of early 20th-century Europe. Speaking to Elinor Evans, Frances Welch introduces the four sisters. She explores their relationships with one another, and reveals how their stories stretch from the c…

1
Will Butler formerly of Arcade Fire on his play set in a recording studio 42:23

7d ago42:23

42:23

Stereophonic is a play about the creative process, power dynamics and fraught personal relationships of a 1970s rock band. It won a Tony and many other awards on Broadway. Now Stereophonic has come to the West End. Playwright David Adjmi and Will Butler, sometime of Arcade Fire, who has written the music, discuss their own artistic process as they …

1
Calamity Jane: life of the week 46:15

7d ago46:15

46:15

Calamity Jane roars into the popular imagination atop the Deadwood Stage with a 'whip-crack-away' and her pistol ready-loaded. A bold and resourceful frontierswoman, Calamity held her own among the men of the American West. But she was also instrumental in the making of her own myth. Emily Briffett spoke to historian Karen Jones to piece together w…

1
Special Episode: Ghosts, Time Slips & Haunted History || Inside the Paranormal with Eric from The Knight House 1:05:45

8d ago1:05:45

1:05:45

We are off for Memorial day! Enjoy the newest episode of Critical Incidents! Paranormal researcher Eric shares chilling encounters, from full-body apparitions to time slip theories and a haunted Civil War mansion he now owns—The Knight House. Dive into ghost hunting myths, the science behind hauntings, and why spirits may be more human than we thin…

1
Spiritual showmen: the 1920s occult 36:40

8d ago36:40

36:40

Tahra Bey became a celebrity with his apparent ability to control his pulse, stab himself without pain and even bury himself alive. Dr Dahesh, meanwhile, was a spiritualist who sparked an entire religious movement. Speaking to Lauren Good, Raphael Cormack explores the lives of these two figures who made a name for themselves in the occult scene of …

1
Cheese history: everything you wanted to know 40:16

9d ago40:16

40:16

Nothing beats a well-loaded cheeseboard. But while so many of us enjoy a stinky stilton and ripe brie, or chuck a reliable old cheddar into our basket at the supermarket each week, what do we actually know about the history of the cheese we eat? From sustaining Roman troops to becoming a staple in lunchboxes across the globe, the history of cheese …

1
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning 51:25

11d ago51:25

51:25

Matthew Socey reviews the latest Tom Cruise Stunt Show.By [email protected] (WFYI Public Media)

1
Taking sides: how the Civil War turned friends into enemies 31:12

11d ago31:12

31:12

As 17th-century Britain edged ever closer to civil war, two friends, Bulstrode Whitelock and Ned Hyde, found their relationship under increasing strain. Minoo Dinshaw tells Ellie Cawthorne about how these two companions found themselves on opposite sides of a political and ideological divide, and reflects on how the Civil War caused painful rupture…

1
Mission Impossible & Benicio Del Toro 42:35

12d ago42:35

42:35

Benicio Del Toro talks about playing a business tycoon in Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme. This aesthetically stylised film, by the director who also made The Royal Tenenbaums and The Grand Budapest Hotel, is reviewed by Tom and critics Larushka Ivan-Zadeh and Rachel Cooke. They also give their verdict on Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckon…

1
[Bonus Episode] Listener Q&A 45:29

12d ago45:29

45:29

It’s a random Thursday, so here’s a BONUS listener write in episode. Enjoy! Sponsors: Zbiotics.com/BIGMAD⁠⁠ - Use BIGMAD at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. ZBiotics has a 100% money-back guarantee, so if you’re unsatisfied for any reason they will refund your money, no questions asked. IQBAR - Text "BIG" to 64000 …

1
S5 E183 Total War: Battle of Badr (May 2025) 36:55

12d ago36:55

36:55

In this episode, we discuss an account of an historic battle, which is commemorated annually on the 17th of Ramadan across all Muslim countries: the Battle of Badr 624AD. The film has been created by the Bellum et Historia channel, released on 16 November 2024, and made in Total War Atilla and other games, using various mods. These are, however, a …

1
Shirley Manson of Garbage 42:18

13d ago42:18

42:18

Frontwoman of Garbage, Shirley Manson talks about the band's latest album Let All That We Imagine Be The Light, which is inspired by contemporary events including the killing of George Floyd in Los Angeles, but which presents an optimistic perspective on a dystopian world. We hear from the winner of the International Booker Prize, which was announc…

1
Were Roman women done dirty by modern translations? 37:09

13d ago37:09

37:09

The stories of ancient Rome are littered with despicable women, and those of the Julio-Claudian dynasty are especially infamous. But where do these stories come from? And why have they endured for centuries? Speaking to Elinor Evans, Joan Smith explores how Roman misogyny, mistranslations, and modern historians have shaped a distorted narrative – c…

1
Musician Rhiannon Giddens on returning to her North Carolina roots after working with Beyoncé 42:26

14d ago42:26

42:26

Musician Rhiannon Giddens on returning to her North Carolina roots after working with Beyoncé. As a huge retrospective of the work of the artist Helen Chadwick opens at The Hepworth Wakefield, art critic Louisa Buck and the exhibition's curator, Laura Smith, discuss why Chadwick should be viewed as the godmother for a golden generation of British c…

1
Otto von Bismarck: life of the week 43:33

14d ago43:33

43:33

Few 19th-century leaders have a CV quite like Otto von Bismarck's. This formidable statesman's cunning, charisma and eye for an opportunity helped him drive the unification of Germany and engineer a stunning defeat of France in 1871. Here, in conversation with Spencer Mizen, Katja Hoyer introduces a man whose rise would change the face of European …

1
Joanne Harris on the return of Chocolat 42:21

15d ago42:21

42:21

25 years after Joanne Harris introduced readers to the soothing delights of Chocolat, she's released her new book Vianne. It’s the prequel that explains how her heroine found her way into the world of high end French confectionery. A new exhibition at the British Museum sheds light on the provenance of popular images of the Hindu god Ganesha, the B…

1
312. [AFRICA] The Safari Murder || The Murder of Bianca Rudolph Pt.2 1:04:16

15d ago1:04:16

1:04:16

Fraud, Root canals, and a defendant taking the stand. Contributing Writing & Research: The Queen of All Things Haley Gray. For information pertaining to this case, check out the highlight at the top of my profile at Instagram.com/TheHeatherAshley. Sponsors: ⁠Joinbilt.com/bigmad⁠⁠ - Make sure to use our URL so they know we sent you. Start earning po…

1
The Einstein murders 39:02

15d ago39:02

39:02

In the summer of 1944, as the German forces were retreating in northern Italy, a small group of soldiers made a detour to a remote villa in search of Albert Einstein's cousin. Robert Einstein posed no threat to the Nazi regime, but nonetheless they were determined to hunt him down. The tragic events that followed are the basis of a new book by the …

1
The Beaker People: everything you wanted to know 39:58

16d ago39:58

39:58

Who were the Beaker People? What was their contribution to the building of Stonehenge? And did their arrival in Britain really lead to the obliteration of the indigenous population? Here, in conversation with Spencer Mizen, Mike Parker-Pearson answers the most pressing questions on the prehistoric culture that changed Britain for good. The HistoryE…

1
Graduation and Blaxploitation 44:23

18d ago44:23

44:23

Matthew Socey discusses his film traditions on graduation weekend plus a new Blaxploitation boxset.By [email protected] (WFYI Public Media)

1
Gods, demons, witches and exorcists: inside an ancient Assyrian library 40:57

18d ago40:57

40:57

In the seventh century BC, the ancient Assyrian king Ashurbanipal created a gigantic library in his capital city – one that contained centuries of wisdom. And this vast wealth of ancient knowledge can reveal a lot about how the people of the Near East thought about their gods. Dr Selena Wisnom tells David Musgrove more about the Assyrians' religiou…

1
Review: Sondheim's final musical Here We Are, The Marching Band, Daniel Kehlmann's The Director 42:31

19d ago42:31

42:31

David Benedict and Viv Groskop review Stephen Sondheim’s final musical, Here We Are, a surreal story of brunch and existential dread; French film about about grassroots music, The Marching Band and Daniel Kehlmann’s new novel, The Director, about a real life German filmmaker navigating the Third Reich. Presenter: Tom SutcliffeProducer: Simon Richar…

1
S5 E182 Machinima News Omnibus (May 2025) 47:21

19d ago47:21

47:21

Our monthly roundup of all things we enjoy about this crazy world of machinima. Key discussion items - Machinima and virtual production updates AI-generated content and tools Video game trailers and announcements Character creation software developments AI music generation and legal considerations Creative video game content creation techniques 0:0…

1
Ocean with Attenborough, Garden Design, Turning Contemporary Politics into Opera 42:43

20d ago42:43

42:43

Colin Bulfield, Executive Producer of the new film Ocean With Attenborough, talks about working with the celebrated broadcaster and filmmaker Sir David Attenborough on his latest project, an exploration of the vital importance of healthy oceans to our planet which is in cinemas around the country now. Current exhibitions at V&A Dundee and the Briti…

1
Peaks, perils, and pioneers: the deadly history of mountaineering 37:36

20d ago37:36

37:36

What has prompted humans throughout history to risk life and limb to conquer some of the world's highest mountains? Author and climber Daniel Light talks to Rachel Dinning about why humans have always been drawn to mountains, the evolution of mountaineering as a sport, and the stories of the individuals who risked everything to make it to the top o…

1
Morcheeba perform, Virginia Woolf's Mrs Dalloway 100th anniversary 42:22

21d ago42:22

42:22

Novelist Elif Shafak, artist and writer Edmund de Waal and Professor Rachel Bowlby join Samira to discuss the centenary of Virginia Woolf's Mrs Dalloway. As the Semi Finals of Eurovision start tonight in Basel, Switzerland, Paddy O'Connell talks about this year's contest. Four hundred leading British Artists such as Paul McCartney and Kate Bush hav…

1
Josephine Baker: life of the week 47:17

21d ago47:17

47:17

Showbusiness, spying and civil rights - the extraordinary life of Josephine Baker had it all. From difficult beginnings, Baker transformed herself into the world's first black superstar, before turning her talents to espionage on behalf of the French Resistance. Hanna Diamond tells Ellie Cawthorne more about Baker's showbiz lifestyle, tireless camp…

1
Suzanne Vega sings in the studio, P Diddy trial, Mother Courage in County Durham 42:22

22d ago42:22

42:22

Suzanne Vega has just released her first album of all-new material for nearly a decade. "Flying With Angels" continues her folk-influenced sound and introduces influences of soul as well as a song in tribute to Bob Dylan's "I Want You". She performs in the studio with guitarist Gerry Leonard. Sean Combs aka P Diddy is on trial in New York, charged …

1
311. [AFRICA] The Safari Murder || The Murder of Bianca Rudolph Pt.1 58:07

22d ago58:07

58:07

A tall crocodile tale, a shot heard around the camp, and cameras in the workplace. Contributing Writing & Research: The Queen of All Things Haley Gray. For information pertaining to this case, check out the highlight at the top of my profile at Instagram.com/TheHeatherAshley. Sponsors: Hiyahealth.com/bigmad⁠ - Receive 50% off your first order. This…

1
Women who ruled over Africa 41:58

22d ago41:58

41:58

From rainmaking queens to dogged isolationists, the lives and reigns of Africa’s female rulers have long been shrouded in mystery, misunderstanding and misogyny. Over the centuries and throughout the continent, these individuals navigated the rigid traditions of their own cultures to wield power – even to the detriment of their subjects. Speaking t…

1
The Taiping Rebellion: everything you wanted to know 58:04

23d ago58:04

58:04

It's considered to be the bloodiest civil war in history, but there's a fair chance you've never heard of it. The Taiping Rebellion convulsed China from 1850 to 1864, leading to over 20 million deaths and severely weakening the Qing dynasty, but it remains little known outside of China today. Speaking to Rob Attar, Professor Stephen R Platt answers…

1
Juliet & Romeo & Simon 1:00:53

25d ago1:00:53

1:00:53

Matthew Socey reviews the new film musical Juliet & Romeo and has a chat with Food Network's Simon Majumdar about the new season of his podcast Eat My Globe.By [email protected] (WFYI Public Media)

1
How to choose a pope 40:57

25d ago40:57

40:57

All eyes have been on the Vatican in recent days, as the conclave have decided who will be the next pope. But how does the process today compare to that of past centuries? What have been some of the most dramatic papal elections down the centuries? And was there ever really a female pope? Matt Elton caught up with expert in papal history Rebecca Ri…

1
Review, The Wedding Banquet, Isabel Allende, The Brightening Air 42:34

26d ago42:34

42:34

Authors Matt Cain and Eimear McBride join Tom Sutcliffe to review a new remake of Ang Lee's 1993 classic The Wedding Banquet. They also discuss Isabel Allende's new novel My Name is Emilia del Valle and the play The Brightening Air, on at the Old Vic theatre in London. And the National Gallery is having a re-hang, we speak to Head of the Curatorial…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Tracy Knight Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen