EXplaining History (Exeter's Live History Podcast)

Today we’re very lucky to be joined by Kalathmika Natarajan, who has just published a must-read intervention in migration history: Coolie Migrants, Indian Diplomacy: Caste, Class and Indenture Abroad, 1914–67 – Get a copy here! Kala is Lecturer in South Asian History, and in this conversation she takes us through the entanglement of emigration, indenture, and diplomacy in 20th century India. We discuss indentured labour in Ceylon, the appearance of Hindu missionaries in the Caribbean, and the decisive influence of caste. We had to cut this one a little short due to the sudden recollection that we both had to teach.

This very special live episode of EXplaining History features a discussion exploring the exciting new work of Dr Gregory Lippiatt on the political and social consequences of the Albigensian Crusade, exploring how state and religious powers negotiated the heretic worlds that developed in the south of France in the 12th century (listeners excited to be entertained with proper hellfire and the invocation of demons will have to be contented with the popularisation of veganism-- but how could veganism invoke such dangers for church authority? Dr Lippiatt explains all). Listeners interested in Pennsylvania will be fascinated to discover that John and Gregory both grew up in the keystone state, and they compare childhood experiences of exploring historical PA sites from Gettysburg to the underground Benjamin Franklin Museum.

In this live episode, Probably HIstory at Exeter invites Dr Gemma Clark (Senior Lecturer, Modern History) to take us through her past work on the Irish Civil War, on writing the history of violence, and on how our identities as historians can shape our work (and careers!) in sometimes unexpected ways. Gemma reveals some of her new work on arson and fire as forms of political violence, and our host John Lidwell-Durnin learns about turf missiles and the negative consequences of offering to sell butter to the police. Don't miss this episode! Thanks so much to Digital Humanities at the University of Exeter for hosting and recording.

In our first live episode hosted by Digital Humanities at the University of Exeter, we get a chance to sit down with Dr Alun Withey, Senior Lecturer in the History of Medicine and (sometimes) historical consultant, presenter, and Tik Tok sensation. We discuss Alun's experiences working in everything from radio to social media, while our host John (an American who has done his best to get up to speed with British culture and expressions) struggles to understand the ingredients of Alun's top recipes for poisons and remedies in the early modern era. Thanks to Digital Humanities at the University of Exeter for helping us to record and produce this episode!