A random number generator with a soap opera attached, what are the origins of Basketball and what makes a good sport? Dr Steve Cross is on a mission to make us nerds appreciate the squeak of converse on hardwood.

What has Pears Soap, a soprano, bell ringing orphans, a lesbian affair, ritual dowsing, litigation and a Monkey called Mr Titileehee have to do with the advancement of women's rights? Author, actor, comedian, hero Emma Kennedy will tell you.

What oud you do if a fly landed on your face mid Talk?!

Alice Fraser explains how 6 stolen boots, a snake and drawing lots result in a man being eaten? Welcome to the horrible tale of Alexander Pearce 1790-1824. Who would eat humans... even when he strictly didn't 'need' to.

Jo Caulfield tells you about the infamous Mrs Prodgers - a litigious fighter for justice and lower taxi cab bills. Recorded live at The British Museum

Mitch Benn on a man who not so much has been forgotten but rather DELIBERATELY written out of History…

Irving Finkel and Florence Schecter on heroes of code breaking… ok, one translated ancient languages and the other helped crack the enigma code because of a typo. One man very good at translation was Jean-François Champollion and how he came to use the Rosetta Stone… a LOT of podcasts for your ears!

The most outrageous thing is that you have never heard of Emmy Noether and without her Einstein wouldn't be a thing. 

What woman links Sanskrit, The National Trust, Narnia and Catholicism?

The WORST DEATH of all time. Plus nearly getting hit by a pig in a drain. What stops London collapsing? Here is a clue... eat some prunes. 

Sin Eaters with Bob Mills

A brief episode on Music Hall, St Paul and Winston Churchill's double. 

British Museum Curator Ben Alsop on Thomas Spence: a tiny man from Newcastle. One of 19 children, invented a new method of reading, recommended living like a cat...  started fights and created an entirely new constitution... plus edited the best named magazine of all time: 'Pigs' Meat - Lessons for the swinish multitude'. 

Who killed Cyrus the Great? Just some girl? Possibly... 

what do chicken feet taste like? Plus Radio 4 hangover cures.

The latest Z List Dead List podcast is all about Quack Doctors of the past...

Who is behind today's door? Click to find out!

A real vampire would only sparkle because of the ooze dripping from it's decomposing body! Tales of the undead, real life witches, and a ghostly ferret called Gef. HAPPY HALLOWEEEEN!

The ultramarathon was invented a thousand years before the marathon! 

The Garden of Eden WAS located in Bedford