Podcast
The History Podcast
Hosted by BBC Radio 4 · EN
Invisible Hands - The American Century. David Dimbleby introduces the story of how America became a superpower through the invisible hands who made it happen.
89episodes
Episodes
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The House at Number 48: The Final Ticket
Oct 1700:14:40Summary readyAntony Easton's relatives, the Eisners were one of the richest Jewish families in Berlin. The patriarch, Rudolph Eisner, has done everything he possibly could to steer them safely through the rise of the Nazis. But now, as the net finally closes in, what will they do? The House at Number 48 is presented by Charlie Northcott. The series producer is Jim Frank. Sound design and mixing by Tom Brignell. The Editor is Matt Willis.
SummaryThe House at Number 48: The Silver Arrow
Oct 1700:13:41Summary readyAs the net closes in on the Eisners, Antony's grandfather, Rudolph, has come up with an ingenious plan to save his family and their business empire. Will it work? And who is this mysterious man who enters the lives of the Eisners? Is he a friend or foe?The House at Number 48 is presented by Charlie Northcott. The series producer is Jim Frank. Sound design and mixing by Tom Brignell. The Editor is Matt Willis.
SummaryThe House at Number 48: The Eisners
Oct 1700:14:51Summary readyAntony Easton begins to investigate his family's history. What he finds astonishes him: his relatives were owners of a huge steel empire worth billions today. But what has happened to this family fortune? The House at Number 48 is presented by Charlie Northcott. The series producer is Jim Frank. Sound design and mixing by Tom Brignell. The Editor is Matt Willis.
SummaryThe House at Number 48: The Secret Suitcase
Oct 1700:14:50Summary readyAfter the death of his enigmatic and distant father, Antony Easton finally gets to go through his Dad's secret suitcase: "This was his life," Antony says. As he forensically trawls through its contents, Antony discovers a series of clues which are about to change his life forever. And, after decades, a woman from Antony's childhood gets in touch. For her, time is running out. She says she must see him one last time... The House at Number 48 is presented by Charlie Northcott. The series producer is Jim Frank. Sound design and mixing by Tom Brignell. The Editor is Matt Willis.
SummaryThe House at Number 48: Made in Britain
Oct 1700:14:42Summary readyWhen Antony Easton’s enigmatic father passes away, he goes through his Dad's suitcase, filled with cryptic clues: neatly stacked German money, a family tree he doesn’t recognise, and books filled with sprawling notes. He also finds his father’s birth certificate, but bearing a different name. Confronting his dad’s double identity, Antony begins a ten-year quest to uncover the truth. Piece-by-piece he comes to understand his family’s dark history as he attempts to reclaim his grandfather’s property and art empire, and expose the historic robbery and murder of his relatives. Antony is determined to find the descendants of those who looted his family’s assets, and continue to live off their wealth today. He wants to meet them face to face.The House at Number 48 is presented by Charlie Northcott. The series producer is Jim Frank. Sound design and mixing by Tom Brignell. The Editor is Matt Willis.
SummaryThe House at Number 48: Trailer
Oct 1500:03:37Summary readyWhen Antony Easton’s enigmatic and distant father passes away, he discovers a suitcase filled with cryptic clues.Neatly stacked German money, a family tree he doesn’t recognise, and books filled with sprawling notes. He also finds his father’s birth certificate, but bearing a different name.Confronting his dad’s double identity, Antony begins a ten-year quest to uncover the truth.Piece-by-piece he comes to understand his family’s dark history.Large numbers of his relatives were murdered by the Nazis and a vast fortune was stolen from his grandparents - factories, property and art – which now lie scattered across Germany.Antony is determined to find the descendants of those who looted his family’s assets and continue to live off their wealth today. He sets out to meet them face to face.
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The Magnificent O'Connors: 6. Undermine, Explain, or Accept
Oct 1500:29:36Summary readyRagnar and the family try to understand what the confession from the basement means. Is it the truth? Or was it just another story that Jimmy spun? Determined to find something to disprove the statement, they head to the National Archive in search of answers. While the family have been grappling with the confession and what it means for them, Louise Shorter has been going through the evidence around the case with an experienced Kings Council. And what they have to say could put new life in a story that’s over 80 years old. The question is, do the O’Connors have one more fight in them? Presenter: Ragnar O’Connor Producer: Emily Esson, Victoria McArthur Research: Elizabeth Ann Duffy, Louise Yeoman Script Assistant and Additional Research: Marisha Currie Script Writers: Emily Esson, Jack Kibble-White Original Music: Lomond Campbell Theme Music: Barry Jackson Addition mixing and sound effects: Charlie McPhee, Kayleigh Raphel Story Consultant: Jack Kibble-White Script Editor: Graham Russell Executive Editor: Gillian Wheelan Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams Commissioning Editor: Dan ClarkeA BBC Audio Scotland production for BBC Radio 4Thanks to Cheryl Field, Richard Field and Kirsty Williams
SummaryThe Magnificent O'Connors: 5. Shame the Devil
Oct 1500:28:20Summary readyIn 1995, a mysterious man phones the O’Connors. He wants to get something off his chest. Sensing something potentially huge, Nemone secretly records their meeting. What happened next could have change everything. The secret the mysterious man wants to share? He knows who killed Donk Ambridge. Meanwhile Ragnar is forced to confront everything he thought he knew about this case and his father. Hidden in the family archive is an account of the night Donk Ambridge was murdered that could turn everything upside down. Presenter: Ragnar O’Connor Producer: Emily Esson, Victoria McArthur Research: Elizabeth Ann Duffy, Louise Yeoman Script Assistant and Additional Research: Marisha Currie Actors: Cameron Jack, Irene Macdougall Script Writers: Emily Esson, Jack Kibble-White Original Music: Lomond Campbell Theme Music: Barry Jackson Addition mixing and sound effects: Charlie McPhee, Kayleigh Raphel Story Consultant: Jack Kibble-White Script Editor: Graham Russell Executive Editor: Gillian Wheelan Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke A BBC Audio Scotland production for BBC Radio 4 Thanks to Cheryl Field, Richard Field and Kirsty Williams
SummaryThe Magnificent O'Connors: 4. The Rise and Fall of Jimmy O'Connor
Oct 1000:28:04Summary readyThe fortunes of the O’Connors flip almost overnight. Nemone is no longer allowed to practice law, even after appealing to the highest authority, the Lord Chancellor. Meanwhile Jimmy’s confrontational style of writing attracts the attention of the BBC, landing him several prime-time TV plays. All the while Jimmy’s conviction is a constant shadow in their marriage. Meanwhile, in the present, the family continue to investigate the case. They uncover brand new documents that have never been seen before. Could these hold the key to getting Jimmy’s conviction overturned? Presenter: Ragnar O’Connor Producer: Emily Esson, Victoria McArthur Research: Elizabeth Ann Duffy, Louise Yeoman Script Assistant and Additional Research: Marisha Currie Script Writers: Emily Esson, Jack Kibble-White Original Music: Lomond Campbell Theme Music: Barry Jackson Addition mixing and sound effects: Charlie McPhee, Kayleigh Raphel Story Consultant: Jack Kibble-White Script Editor: Graham Russell Executive Editor: Gillian Wheelan Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke A BBC Audio Scotland production for BBC Radio 4 Thanks to Cheryl Field, Richard Field and Kirsty Williams
SummaryThe Magnificent O'Connors: 3. The Murderer and the Silk
Oct 800:29:08Summary readyJimmy is saved from the hangman’s noose with just hours to spare. With his sentenced commuted to life in penal servitude, he sets out to pass the time by learning how to write dramas. After ten years of moving from prison to prison, he’s finally released. But freedom doesn’t cut it for Jimmy. He wants to clear his name. He still maintains that he didn’t kill Donk Ambridge, and he’s determined to show it. He meets and woos the young Nemone Lethbridge, in a whirlwind romance that will have devastating effects for Nemone and the path she’s carved for herself. Meanwhile Ragnar enlists an expert in miscarriages of justice, Louise Shorter, to see what she thinks about the case and the potential for a new appeal. Presenter: Ragnar O’Connor Producer: Emily Esson, Victoria McArthur Research: Elizabeth Ann Duffy, Louise Yeoman Script Assistant and Additional Research: Marisha Currie Script Writers: Emily Esson, Jack Kibble-White Original Music: Lomond Campbell Theme Music: Barry Jackson Addition mixing and sound effects: Charlie McPhee, Kayleigh Raphel Story Consultant: Jack Kibble-White Script Editor: Graham Russell Executive Editor: Gillian Wheelan Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke A BBC Audio Scotland production for BBC Radio 4 Archive: The Russell Harty Show, ITV, April 1976Thanks to Cheryl Field, Richard Field and Kirsty Williams
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