Almost History: The 'What If' Podcast

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  What if Elizabeth I had married? | Almost History 02.10.2026 43min

  In this episode of Almost History, All About History Editor Jonathan Gordon discusses the suitors and love interests of Elizabeth I with Sophie Shorland, author of All the Queen's Men: The Competition to Marry Elizabeth I. Who were the most likely candidates and what would it have meant for the Virgin Queen to pick a husband?Sophie reveals why Ivan the Terrible thought marrying Elizabeth I was a great idea, how marrying for love could have cost her the throne and why a lesser-appreciated Austrian archduke might have been the one that got away.Almost History, the 'What If' podcast from All About History is a speculative history show that explores the possibilities of the past, taking key moments from years gone by and turning them on their heads.Regular readers of All About History magazine will be familiar with our recurring What If feature where we discuss alternate histories with experts. We find a key moment from the past and we chat about how that could have turned out differently.We've been having these conversations with experts for many years and we wanted to bring them to you directly, so you can hear them for yourself.To read more from All About History magazine, visit HistoryAnswers.co.uk Music: Midnight Dancers, Brightarm Orchestra Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  What if Tutankhamun's tomb had not been discovered? | Almost History 25.09.2026 35min

  In this episode of Almost History, the 'What If' podcast, All About History Staff Writer Emily Staniforth speaks with Christina Riggs, Professor (History of Visual Culture) in the Department of History at Durham University, and author of Treasured: How Tutankhamun Shaped a Century. Prof. Riggs discusses how the discovery of the young pharaoh's tomb in 1922 impacted the field of Egyptology, as well as what it unveiled about the rites and burial practises of Ancient Egypt. She also suggests ways in which our understanding of the period might have been radically different, if Tutankhamun's had not been found. Almost History, the 'What If' podcast from All About History is a speculative history show that explores the possibilities of the past, taking key moments from years gone by and turning them on their heads.Regular readers of All About History magazine will be familiar with our recurring What If feature where we discuss alternate histories with experts. We find a key moment from the past and we chat about how that could have turned out differently.We've been having these conversations with experts for many years and we wanted to bring them to you directly, so you can hear them for yourself.To read more from All About History magazine, visit HistoryAnswers.co.uk Music: Midnight Dancers, Brightarm Orchestra Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  What if Spartacus defeated Rome? | Almost History 18.09.2026 23min

  In this episode of Almost History, kicking off Season 2 of the 'What If' podcast, All About History Features Editor Callum McKelvie speaks with Dr Emma Southon, author of Servus: How Slavery Made the Roman Empire. She's an ancient Roman history expert with several books on life both at the top and bottom of Roman society.Dr Southon offers her expertise in unpicking the Spartacus revolt, why Roman society was so threatened by his rebellion and where it might have succeeded. Could his band of gladiator-trained fighters have really overcome the might of the empire?Almost History, the 'What If' podcast from All About History is a speculative history show that explores the possibilities of the past, taking key moments from years gone by and turning them on their heads.Regular readers of All About History magazine will be familiar with our recurring What If feature where we discuss alternate histories with experts. We find a key moment from the past and we chat about how that could have turned out differently.We've been having these conversations with experts for many years and we wanted to bring them to you directly, so you can hear them for yourself.To read more from All About History magazine, visit HistoryAnswers.co.uk Music: Midnight Dancers, Brightarm Orchestra Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Bonus episode: The Odyssey | Almost History 04.09.2026 33min

  In this special bonus episode of Almost History, All About History team members Jonathan Gordon, Emily Staniforth and Callum McKelvie critique the historical accuracy of The Odyssey (2026), directed by Christopher Nolan. In a change to the usual format of the show, the Almost History panel analyse this adaptation of Homer's epic poem, what the film gets wrong, what it gets right and its historically interesting additions. Drawing on expert insight from recent All About History contributors, the team offers an objective analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of this new epic action movie.Almost History, the 'What If' podcast from All About History is a speculative history show that explores the possibilities of the past, taking key moments from years gone by and turning them on their heads.Regular readers of All About History magazine will be familiar with our recurring What If feature where we discuss alternate histories with experts. We find a key moment from the past and we chat about how that could have turned out differently.We've been having these conversations with experts for many years and we wanted to bring them to you directly, so you can hear them for yourself.To read more from All About History magazine, visit HistoryAnswers.co.uk Music: Midnight Dancers, Brightarm Orchestra Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  What if the Bolshevik Revolution failed? | Almost History 11.06.2026 43min

  In this episode of Almost History, All About History Editor Jon Gordon spoke with Professor Jonathan Daly of University of Illinois, Chicago. He specialises in Russian, European, and world history, and is the author of several books including Seven Myths of the Russian Revolution (Hackett Publishing Company, 2023) which he co-authored with his former Ph.D. student, Leonid Trofimov. Prof. Daly discusses how the Bolshevik party rose to power, the challenges Vladimir Lenin and his comrades faced, and the critical turning points that could have resulted in a much altered timeline. Almost History, the 'What If' podcast from All About History is a speculative history show that explores the possibilities of the past, taking key moments from years gone by and turning them on their heads.Regular readers of All About History magazine will be familiar with our recurring What If feature where we discuss alternate histories with experts. We find a key moment from the past and we chat about how that could have turned out differently.We've been having these conversations with experts for many years and we wanted to bring them to you directly, so you can hear them for yourself.To read more from All About History magazine, visit HistoryAnswers.co.uk Music: Midnight Dancers, Brightarm Orchestra Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  What if the U.S. dropped the atomic bomb in Korea? | Almost History 28.05.2026 31min

  In this episode of Almost History, History of War Staff Writer Louis Hardiman spoke with Alex Wellerstein, professor at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, and visiting researcher at the Nuclear Knowledges program at the Center for International Studies at Sciences Po in Paris, France.They discuss the potentially catastrophic fallout if the U.S. military had decided to use an atomic bomb during the Korean War (1950-53). Professor Wellerstein details how such an attack might have impacted the battlefield tactically in the short term, but how it might have changed the nature of warfare forever.Almost History, the 'What If' podcast from All About History is a speculative history show that explores the possibilities of the past, taking key moments from years gone by and turning them on their heads.Regular readers of All About History magazine will be familiar with our recurring What If feature where we discuss alternate histories with experts. We find a key moment from the past and we chat about how that could have turned out differently.We've been having these conversations with experts for many years and we wanted to bring them to you directly, so you can hear them for yourself.To read more from History of War magazine, follow on Apple News+, or pick up the magazine in all good stores.Music: Midnight Dancers, Brightarm Orchestra Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  What if America lost the Revolutionary War? | Almost History 21.05.2026 20min

  In this episode of Almost History, All About History Features Editor Callum McKelvie spoke with Professor Alan Taylor, Thomas Jefferson Foundation Chair, Emeritus at the University of Virginia.Professor Taylor discusses the causes and critical stages of the Revolutionary War, how Washington's almost faced defeat, and how a British victory may have changed the course of history. Almost History, the 'What If' podcast from All About History is a speculative history show that explores the possibilities of the past, taking key moments from years gone by and turning them on their heads.Regular readers of All About History magazine will be familiar with our recurring What If feature where we discuss alternate histories with experts. We find a key moment from the past and we chat about how that could have turned out differently.We've been having these conversations with experts for many years and we wanted to bring them to you directly, so you can hear them for yourself.To read more from All About History magazine, visit HistoryAnswers.co.uk Music: Midnight Dancers, Brightarm Orchestra Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  What if Carthage won the Punic Wars? | Almost History 14.05.2026 28min

  In this episode of Almost History, All About History Staff Writer Emily Staniforth spoke with Dr Eve MacDonald, an archaeologist and Senior Lecturer in Ancient History at Cardiff University.They discuss the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage, the power and politics in the ancient Mediterranean, and the possibly outcomes if Carthage had emerged victorious from its struggle with the Roman Republic. This episode is brought to you by Osprey, which has recently launched audiobooks of selected titles from its acclaimed Campaign series. Almost History, the 'What If' podcast from All About History is a speculative history show that explores the possibilities of the past, taking key moments from years gone by and turning them on their heads.Regular readers of All About History magazine will be familiar with our recurring What If feature where we discuss alternate histories with experts. We find a key moment from the past and we chat about how that could have turned out differently.We've been having these conversations with experts for many years and we wanted to bring them to you directly, so you can hear them for yourself.To read more from History of War magazine, follow on Apple News+, or pick up the magazine in all good stores.Music: Midnight Dancers, Brightarm Orchestra Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  What if D-Day had failed? | Almost History 07.05.2026 21min

  In this episode of Almost History, Jon Trigg spoke with All About History Features Editor Callum McKelvie about what might have happened if Nazi Germany had successfully stopped the Allied landings on 6 June, 1944. He discusses the points in the battle that almost saw Allied defeat, and the potential fallout for the rest of the Second World War. Almost History, the 'What If' podcast from All About History is a speculative history show that explores the possibilities of the past, taking key moments from years gone by and turning them on their heads.Regular readers of All About History magazine will be familiar with our recurring What If feature where we discuss alternate histories with experts. We find a key moment from the past and we chat about how that could have turned out differently.We've been having these conversations with experts for many years and we wanted to bring them to you directly, so you can hear them for yourself.To read more from All About History magazine, visit HistoryAnswers.co.uk Music: Midnight Dancers, Brightarm Orchestra Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  What if Henry VIII had died young? | Almost History 30.04.2026 21min

  In this episode of Almost History, Elizabeth Norton spoke with All About History Staff Writer Emily Staniforth about the possible consequences of Henry VIII's premature death before he could ascend the throne of England. They discuss the potential alternative successors to Henry VII, and the likely catastrophic return to civil war as a result of his only heir's demise.Almost History, the 'What If' podcast from All About History is a speculative history show that explores the possibilities of the past, taking key moments from years gone by and turning them on their heads.Regular readers of All About History magazine will be familiar with our recurring What If feature where we discuss alternate histories with experts. We find a key moment from the past and we chat about how that could have turned out differently.We've been having these conversations with experts for many years and we wanted to bring them to you directly, so you can hear them for yourself.To read more from All About History magazine, visit HistoryAnswers.co.uk Music: Midnight Dancers, Brightarm Orchestra Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Almost History, the 'What If' podcast from All About History 27.03.2026 1min

  Almost History, the 'What If' podcast from All About History is a speculative history show that explores the possibilities of the past, taking key moments from years gone by and turning them on their heads. Regular readers of All About History magazine will be familiar with our recurring What If feature where we discuss alternate histories with experts. We find a key moment from the past and we chat about how that could have turned out differently. We've been having these conversations with experts for many years and we wanted to bring them to you directly, so you can hear them for yourself.To read more from All About History magazine, visit HistoryAnswers.co.uk Music: Midnight Dancers, Brightarm Orchestra Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.