Podcast Summary: This is History – “Get in loser, we’re making history”

Podcast: This is History: A Dynasty to Die For
Host: Sony Music Entertainment
Episode: Get in loser, we’re making history
Date: March 31, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode marks the launch of Season 9, where acclaimed historian Dan Jones returns to chart England’s dramatic transition after Henry V’s death. With a baby—Henry VI—on the throne, England faces instability, scandal, and foreign threats, setting the stage for the notorious Wars of the Roses. In this teaser-style episode (with lively co-host banter), Dan and Elizabeth Day also introduce a related new podcast, “History’s Greatest Fails,” exploring how failures, both personal and historic, shape our understanding of the past.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Personal ‘Fails’ and Setting the Scene (00:01–01:47)

• Elizabeth’s Personal Failure Story

  • Elizabeth kicks off by sharing a memorable personal mishap: helping a boyfriend carry in a camp bed, only for him to use it post-coital, then comment unfavorably about her future (00:05–01:25).
    • “He sort of unrolls his futon, then rolls onto the futon like a sort of faithful hound lying at the feet of his Tudor retainer.” — Elizabeth Day (00:44)
    • The boyfriend’s parting line (“as long as you don't come back to me in six months having changed your mind, because by then your ovaries would have dried up…”) is received with horror by both speakers.
      • "Somehow I find that more horrific than Henry VIII having Anne Boleyn beheaded with a sword... that is atrocious." — Dan Jones (01:25)

• Bridging from Personal to Historical 'Fails'

  • Dan pivots: if her story was rough, the episode promises failures on an epic, historical scale, introducing their new podcast segment. (01:47)
    • “Futon Don's got nothing on the epic failures we're about to tell you…” — Dan Jones (01:47)

The Value of Failure in History (02:00–03:14)

• Introducing “History’s Greatest Fails”

  • Dan and Elizabeth, both history graduates and old friends, tease their exploration of historical failures and why “losers make history.” (02:00–02:08)

• The Case of Richard III

  • Dan highlights how discussions about Richard III often start at the end (his defeat), rather than consider his rise and travails in context:
    • “When you read the story forwards, I think what you see with Richard III is a personal tragedy… Failure is not something to be ashamed of… it's something to learn from and grow from.” — Dan Jones (02:08–02:48)
  • He further comments on how modern culture is unique in its embrace of failure as a vehicle for learning, as opposed to the shame traditionally attached to it.

Why We Project on Historical Figures (03:14–03:46)

• Elizabeth on History as Emotional Mirror

  • Elizabeth elaborates on why historical characters so captivate us:
    • “In this person's reputation and legacy, we can put all of our own feelings of inadequacy and failure and shame and humiliation… it's why I love these stories.” — Elizabeth Day (03:21–03:46)

• Humorous Banter

  • Dan jokes about agreeing with Elizabeth’s “preposterous Ricardian statements”—setting a friendly, irreverent tone for the series.

Call to Action: Where to Listen (04:00)

• The hosts direct listeners to find “History’s Greatest Fails” on the “This Is History” podcast feed or on YouTube. (04:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This man cannot be my boyfriend and I need to break it off. And I did the next day.” — Elizabeth Day (01:13)
• “Somehow I find that more horrific than Henry VIII having Anne Boleyn beheaded with a sword.” — Dan Jones (01:25)
• “Failure is not something to be ashamed of. Failure is something to learn from and grow from.” — Dan Jones (02:34)
• “That's what's amazing about history. You describe him there as a character. This person actually existed.” — Elizabeth Day (03:14–03:21)
• “All of those petty grudges, all of those reputations we want to save about ourselves, we can put into this historic receptacle. It's kind of… it's why I love these stories.” — Elizabeth Day (03:35–03:46)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Elizabeth’s Futon Story: 00:05–01:25
• Pivot to History’s Greatest Fails: 01:47–02:00
• Richard III & Learning from Failure: 02:08–02:48
• History as Emotional Mirror: 03:14–03:46
• Show Launch & Where to Listen: 04:00

Summary & Takeaways

• The episode blends contemporary, relatable failures with sweeping historical blunders—a warm, irreverent preamble to the coming season’s deep dive into the life and times of Henry VI and the chaos of the Wars of the Roses.
• The hosts pitch their new “History’s Greatest Fails” segment, positioning history as a space not only for epic stories, but for learning from the mistakes of others—and ourselves.
• Expect an insightful yet accessible take on the triumphs and failures of England’s most turbulent eras, with a focus on re-examining villains and losers as complex, relatable figures.