Single Malt History with Gareth Russell

Gareth Russell

Historian Gareth Russell's weekly podcast with demented and delightful stories from the past

  • 1 hour 55 minutes
    Our 100th Dram

    It is Single Malt History's 100th episode! To celebrate, I'm taking a look back at its most downloaded episode and its (shaky!) first.

    There are clips from West End actors, stars of the silver screen, the first historian to stop by for a chat, and the two episodes that are still brought up to me the most often by listeners.

    19 March 2026, 6:10 pm
  • 39 minutes 42 seconds
    Power, Glory, and Memory in African History

    Luke Pepera discusses his debut book, "Motherland." From warrior-queens to Wakanda, from hajj to holy memories, Pepera chats with Gareth Russell about how he used history, anthropology, the memories held by landscape, and the legacy of great buildings to create his critically acclaimed book.


    3 March 2026, 10:30 am
  • 2 hours 9 minutes
    Eleanor of Aquitaine

    Eleanor of Aquitaine, 'the Lady of Two Kingdoms,' was once described as a woman out of legend. The greatest heiress of her generation, she became one of the Middle Ages' most dramatic, celebrated, and controversial figures.

    18 February 2026, 3:16 pm
  • 34 minutes 28 seconds
    Malleus Maleficarum

    Dr. Steven Veerapen, author of the new book "Witches: A King's Obsession," discusses the witch-hunts' most infamous textbook, supporters, and legacy.

    12 February 2026, 9:48 am
  • 23 minutes 7 seconds
    Elizabeth Boleyn

    Anne Boleyn's mother was said to be so beautiful that she inspired poetry. Others believe that Elizabeth Boleyn, Countess of Ormond and Wiltshire will always remain a mystery. I'm joined by Sophie Bacchus-Waterman, author of the first biography of Elizabeth, to discuss her remarkable story.


    20 January 2026, 1:17 pm
  • 31 minutes 44 seconds
    Shattered lands and the British Empire

    A hundred years ago, the Indian Empire of the British Empire covered one of the largest political entities in history. Then, over the space of forty years, it collapsed into five partitions that created twelve new states, triggering one of the largest mass migrations of people in human history. 

    To understand what happened, I'm joined by bestselling author Sam Dalrymple, who discusses who acclaimed new book "Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia." 

    6 January 2026, 5:00 am
  • 51 minutes 22 seconds
    Anna of Denmark

    One of the most glamorous, important, and fascinating queens in the histories of the British monarchies, Anna of Denmark led a life every bit as dramatic as the era in which she lived.


    23 December 2025, 3:58 pm
  • 52 minutes 55 seconds
    The Dark Lady of Doona

    Known to legend as Grace O'Malley, Gráinne Ní Mháille, the "pirate queen of Tudor Ireland," led a life that was adventurous on land and by sea. 

    4 December 2025, 10:00 am
  • 42 minutes 20 seconds
    Did King James abandon his mother?

    In 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots faced execution. Had her own son helped bring her to this terrible fate? One of the great mysteries of James VI's life are his feelings towards his exiled, Catholic mother. In this episode, I explore surprising evidence from the heart of James's court that shows the role he played in his mother's final tragedy.


    19 November 2025, 7:55 pm
  • 42 minutes 20 seconds
    The Stolen Crown of Elizabeth I?

    Skullduggery, espionage, royal narcissism, and plots a-plenty were the order of the day in the dying days of the Tudor dynasty - and to uncover it, we're joined on Single Malt History by Dr. Tracy Borman, Sunday Times bestselling author of the new hit book "The Stolen Crown".

    13 November 2025, 5:00 pm
  • 50 minutes 22 seconds
    A Civil War Queen

    Matilda of Boulogne was a powerhouse in medieval politics, almost universally admired in a time of treachery, anarchy, and civil war.


    4 November 2025, 11:00 am
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