History Rage

Have you ever noticed that the JFK assassination is the only event in history where absolutely everyone feels entitled to an aggressive opinion? 🤬 The rich, human narrative of Dealey Plaza has been completely hijacked by toxic internet debates and dogmatic conspiracy culture.

But what if everything we've been arguing over misses the point entirely? 🕵️‍♂️ In this episode, author Martin Fitzgerald joins the pod to rescue history from the shouting matches. We move past the tired political theories to explore the incredible, bizarre, and deeply moving stories of the ordinary, reluctant witnesses who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

From the absolute chaos of an unpreserved crime scene to government agencies lying out of sheer institutional self-preservation, we unpack how official blunders birthed modern conspiracy culture. We also dive into the fragile nature of memory under trauma—including a witness who swore the six-second shooting lasted five minutes! Plus, Martin finally reveals the idiosyncratic, hilariously human truth behind the infamous "Umbrella Man".

Are you ready to drop the dogmatism and enjoy the fascinating mystery of the unknown? Click your favourite player below to stream the episode right now! 🎧

Links & Resources

Get the Book:
Grab your copy of Martin Fitzgerald's fantastic book, The Umbrella Man and Other Stories, directly from the History Rage Bookshop to support the show:
👉 https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781837360253

Connect with the Guest:

Follow Martin Fitzgerald on Social Media: @4hundredblows

Recommended Companion Episodes:

Episode 54: Stephen Wisdom rages on the moon landing theories.
Episode 265: Hallie Rubenhold rages on why identifying Jack the Ripper is completely pointless.

Support & Follow History Rage
If you love tearing down historical myths and want to keep the rage alive, here is how you can support our independent podcast:

Become a Patron: Join the Rage Train on Patreon for £5/month to get early, ad-free episodes, access to monthly live streams, and the coveted History Rage mug!
👉 https://www.patreon.com/historyrage

Follow Us: Stay updated with our latest historical rants on social media.
Spread the Word: Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and tell a friend to get aboard the Rage Train!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did the Tudors really invent medieval fake news, or did the Yorkists get there first?

When we think of historical spin, Tudor propaganda usually takes centre stage. But host Paul Bavill sits down live at the Gloucester History Festival with acclaimed medieval historian and author Nathen Amin (House of Beaufort, Son of Prophecy) to completely shatter this dynastic myth.

In this fiery live session, Nathen exposes how Henry VII was simply a student of the game, adopting the very political playbook created by the House of York. From medieval Photoshop on parchment rolls and character assassination against Margaret of Anjou to the destruction of parliamentary records, discover how the Yorkists pioneered every trick in the book long before the Tudors ever claimed the throne.

Digital Passes & Festival Information
Nathen Amin appeared as part of the Gloucester History Festival. Digital passes to catch up on other talks from the festival can be purchased online at https://www.gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk.

Recommended History Rage Episodes
If you enjoyed this deep dive into medieval politics, check out these related episodes:
Episode 79: Richard III Fanatics with Nathen Amin – Nathen's famous first appearance unleashing his rage on Ricardian myths.
Episode 137: Nathen rages that Henry VII should not be the Tudor nobody talks about

Guest Info & Books
Follow Nathen Amin and order his books:
Website / Books: Find Son of Prophecy, and more at https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781398133525
X (Twitter): https://x.com/nathenamin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathenaminauthor

Connect, Follow & Support History Rage
Angry about bad history? Join the movement, follow us, and help keep the rage alive!
Support on Patreon: Get early access, exclusive extras, and the coveted History Rage mug at https://www.patreon.com/historyrage
Listen & Subscribe: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast providers.
Follow on X (Twitter): https://x.com/HistoryRage
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyrage
Visit the Website: https://www.historyrage.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Unlock the hidden secrets of your ancestors because history didn't just happen, it happened to families.

Are you tired of dry, dusty history books that only talk about prime ministers and battlefield generals? It is time to smash the myth that genealogy is just an isolated, second-rate hobby for tracking pedigree charts. In this episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill sits down with professional genealogist and research specialist Jen Baldwin to blow the lid off traditional historical study.

Discover why family history is actually an essential, interdisciplinary gateway to understanding the real human consequences of our past. From the handwriting left on the 1921 Census of England and Wales to the surprising, messy tales preserved in global newspaper archives, learn how ordinary citizens were right in the thick of history's greatest upheavals. Whether you are tracing elusive agricultural laborers, criminal ancestors, or early colonial migrants, this episode will completely reframe how you look at your family's history. Don't leave your family's unique narratives trapped in the attic—tune in, get angry about forgotten history, and start digging today!

About Our Guest
Jen Baldwin has been working as a professional genealogist for over 15 years. She serves as a research specialist for FindMyPast and is a passionate advocate for connecting family archives with broader social and contextual history.

Instagram: @jenbaldwin_genealogy
Listen to the FindMyPast Podcast: Start uncovering historical deep-dives by subscribing to A Family History of… podcast, available wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

Ready to dive down your own genealogical rabbit hole and start uncovering the truth about your ancestors? All new users can start their FREE FindMyPast trial today!

Claim Your Free Trial: https://www.findmypast.co.uk

Recommended Additional Episodes
If you loved this episode's deep dive into local, human-centered histories, check out these festival special episodes from the History Rage archive:

Episode 121: Phil Moss and Andrew Armstrong uncover the surprising, hidden history of Gloucester.
Episode 176: The Vice Dean of Peterborough Cathedral, Tim Alban Jones, rages that Peterborough is definitely not just some dull new town.

Follow, Contact & Support History Rage
Join the Rage Train and make sure you never miss an angry historian exposing the myths of the past!

Support us on Patreon: Join the inner circle of History Ragers for £5 per month to get access to monthly live streams, early ad-free episodes, and the coveted History Rage mug! Subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/historyrage.
Ad-Free Early Releases: Available on both Patreon and Apple Podcasts https://www.apple.com/apple-podcasts/.
Spread the Word: If you are loving the show, please tell a friend and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Was the Special Air Service truly built solely by David Stirling and rogue, unmanageable mavericks?

Think you know the full origin story of the Special Air Service? The popular myth paints the WWII SAS as a rogues' gallery of unmanageable, rule-breaking mavericks who single-handedly reshaped special warfare before quietly vanishing at the end of the conflict. But this narrative ignores the quiet leadership, sharp political intellect, and crucial post-war battle that actually preserved the regiment's legacy. Without one man operating behind the scenes in the corridors of power, the modern SAS simply would not exist today.

In this episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill sits down with former British Army officer and author Lieutenant Colonel Tim Spicer OBE to debunk the romanticized myth of Special Forces and restore a crucial figure to his rightful place in history. Together, they explore the extraordinary life of Brian Franks DSO MC—hotel manager turned Special Forces commander—who not only led operations behind enemy lines during Operation Loyton but personally brought Nazi war criminals to justice and spearheaded the campaign to rebuild the SAS from post-war disbandment.

Guest Details & Book Referrals

Guest: Lieutenant Colonel Tim Spicer OBE
Featured Book: An Axe and Four Balloons: The Biography of Brian Franks DSO MC, The Man Who Saved the SAS by Tim Spicer. Buy your copy directly from the History Rage Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781999589172
Other Books by Tim Spicer: A Suspicion of Spies: Risk, Secrets and Shadows – The Biography of Wilfred 'Biffy' Dunderdale and A Dangerous Enterprise: Secret War at Sea

Recommended Additional Episodes

Episode 310: Damien Lewis rages against the shocking portrayals of Blair 'Paddy' Mayne.
Episode 218: Tony Rushmer rages that it is high time Reg Seekings got his moment in the sun.

Follow, Contact & Support History Rage

Website: https://www.historyrage.com/
Email: historyragepod@gmail.com
X/Twitter: https://x.com/HistoryRage
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HistoryRagePodcast
Support on Patreon: Get early ad-free episodes, access to live stream recordings, and exclusive merch at https://www.patreon.com/historyrage
Apple Podcasts Subscription: Subscribe directly on Apple Podcasts for ad-free listening at https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/history-rage/id1583724649
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why the "Roman Land Power" Myth is a Massive Historic Lie

There is a stubborn myth floating around popular culture and older history books that the Romans hated the sea, were terrible at sailing, and let their navy rot the second a war ended. But according to ancient historian and nautical archaeologist Dr. Stephen DeCasien, that is complete history rage material.

In this episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill dives deep into the ancient Mediterranean to shatter the misconception that Rome was strictly a land power. By exploring cutting-edge underwater archaeology, ancient naval rams, and the industrial scale of Roman shipbuilding, Dr. DeCasien proves that Rome was just as formidable on the waves as they were on land.

Discover how the Romans fought an ancient naval arms race against Carthage during the First Punic War, engineered devastating boarding tools like the Corvus, and deployed massive warships weighing thousands of kilograms at the legendary Battle of Actium. If you want to understand how Rome truly dominated the ancient world, you have to look at their navy.

About the Guest: Dr. Stephen DeCasien
Dr. Stephen DeCasien is an ancient historian and nautical archaeologist specializing in ancient Greek and Roman naval warfare, shipbuilding, and the bronze naval rams used on the bows of ancient warships.
Follow Stephen on Social Media: Connect with him on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram at @DeCasien

Binge These Additional Episodes Next!
If you loved this deep dive into ancient Rome, check out these highly recommended episodes from the History Rage archive:
Episode 255: Simon Elliott makes the case for why Septimius Severus was the greatest Roman emperor.
Episode 296: Emma Southon rages against the myth that Roman slavery was somehow better than Roman poverty.

Follow, Contact & Support History Rage
Do you love historians getting angry about historical inaccuracies? Help us keep the rage train rolling!
Support us on Patreon: Join the inner circle at https://www.patreon.com/historyrage. For just £5 a month, you get access to our exclusive monthly live stream, early ad-free episodes, and the coveted History Rage mug!
Follow us on Social Media: Get updates and submit your own history rages on X @HistoryRage or Instagram @HistoryRage.
Spread the Word: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and tell a friend to get them aboard the rage train!

Until next week, thanks for listening and stay angry!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.