Histories of the Unexpected

Countdown to Christmas 2023: 24: GENEROSITY!

24 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the countdown to Christmas 2023, the Unexpected Christmas elves have been busy preparing a special podcast advent calendar for your delectation, ba...

Countdown to Christmas 2023: 23: CHRISTMAS 2021!

23 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the countdown to Christmas 2023, the Unexpected Christmas elves have been busy preparing a special podcast advent calendar for your delectation, ba...

Countdown to Christmas 2023: 22: CHRISTMAS 2018 PART 2!

22 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the countdown to Christmas 2023, the Unexpected Christmas elves have been busy preparing a special podcast advent calendar for your delectation, ba...

Countdown to Christmas 2023: 21: CHRISTMAS 2018 Part 1

21 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the countdown to Christmas 2023, the Unexpected Christmas elves have been busy preparing a special podcast advent calendar for your delectation, ba...

Countdown to Christmas 2023: 20: CHRISTMAS 2016!

20 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the countdown to Christmas 2023, the Unexpected Christmas elves have been busy preparing a special podcast advent calendar for your delectation, ba...

Countdown to Christmas 2023: 19: WISE MEN!

19 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the countdown to Christmas 2023, the Unexpected Christmas elves have been busy preparing a special podcast advent calendar for your delectation, ba...

Countdown to Christmas 2023: 18: SHEPHERDS!

18 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the countdown to Christmas 2023, the Unexpected Christmas elves have been busy preparing a special podcast advent calendar for your delectation, ba...

Countdown to Christmas 2023: 17: BABIES!

17 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the countdown to Christmas 2023, the Unexpected Christmas elves have been busy preparing a special podcast advent calendar for your delectation, ba...

Countdown to Christmas 2023: 16: REINDEER Part 2!

16 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the countdown to Christmas 2023, the Unexpected Christmas elves have been busy preparing a special podcast advent calendar for your delectation, ba...

Countdown to Christmas 2023: 15: REINDEER Part 1!

15 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the countdown to Christmas 2023, the Unexpected Christmas elves have been busy preparing a special podcast advent calendar for your delectation, ba...

Countdown to Christmas 2023: 14: ELVES!

14 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the countdown to Christmas 2023, the Unexpected Christmas elves have been busy preparing a special podcast advent calendar for your delectation, ba...

Countdown to Christmas 2023: 13: WINGS PART 2

13 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the countdown to Christmas 2023, the Unexpected Christmas elves have been busy preparing a special podcast advent calendar for your delectation, ba...

Countdown to Christmas 2023: 12: WINGS PART !!

12 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the countdown to Christmas 2023, the Unexpected Christmas elves have been busy preparing a special podcast advent calendar for your delectation, ba...

Countdown to Christmas 2023: 11: DONKEYS!

11 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the countdown to Christmas 2023, the Unexpected Christmas elves have been busy preparing a special podcast advent calendar for your delectation, ba...

Countdown to Christmas 2023: 10: STARS!

10 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the countdown to Christmas 2023, the Unexpected Christmas elves have been busy preparing a special podcast advent calendar for your delectation, ba...

Countdown to Christmas 2023: 9: SNOW!

09 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the countdown to Christmas 2023, the Unexpected Christmas elves have been busy preparing a special podcast advent calendar for your delectation, ba...

Countdown to Christmas 2023: 8: CARROTS!

08 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the countdown to Christmas 2023, the Unexpected Christmas elves have been busy preparing a special podcast advent calendar for your delectation, ba...

Countdown to Christmas 2023: 7: OBSCENITY!

07 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the countdown to Christmas 2023, the Unexpected Christmas elves have been busy preparing a special podcast advent calendar for your delectation, ba...

Countdown to Christmas 2023: 6: RIOTS!

06 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the countdown to Christmas 2023, the Unexpected Christmas elves have been busy preparing a special podcast advent calendar for your delectation, ba...

Countdown to Christmas 2023: 5: SPITE!

05 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the countdown to Christmas 2023, the Unexpected Christmas elves have been busy preparing a special podcast advent calendar for your delectation, ba...

Countdown to Christmas 2023: 4: LUCKY FINDS!

04 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the countdown to Christmas 2023, the Unexpected Christmas elves have been busy preparing a special podcast advent calendar for your delectation, ba...

Countdown to Christmas 2023: 3: SHOES!

03 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the countdown to Christmas 2023, the Unexpected Christmas elves have been busy preparing a special podcast advent calendar for your delectation, ba...

Countdown to Christmas 2023: 2: Evil!

02 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the countdown to Christmas 2023, the Unexpected Christmas elves have been busy preparing a special podcast advent calendar for your delectation, ba...

Countdown to Christmas 2023: 1: Bad Luck

01 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the countdown to Christmas 2023, the Unexpected Christmas elves have been busy preparing a special podcast advent calendar for your delectation, ba...

BONFIRE NIGHT SPECIAL - RERELEASE of FIRE

05 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Inspired by Bonfire Night, Sam Willis and James Daybell reexplore the unexpected history of fire. It's all about communicating with fire, propaganda, ...

Halloween 2023: Rerelease 4 - FEAR - A HALLOWEEN SPECIAL

31 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this fourth and final RELEASE for HALLOWEEN 2023, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis discuss the unexpected history of F...

Halloween 2023: Rerelease 3 - MONSTERS

31 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this third RELEASE for HALLOWEEN 2023, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis discuss the unexpected history of MONSTERS! Ho...

Halloween 2023: Rerelease 2 - ZOMBIES

31 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this second RELEASE for HALLOWEEN 2023, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis discuss the unexpected history of ZOMBIES! Ho...

Halloween 2023: Rerelease 1 - CORPSES

31 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this RERELEASED episode for HALLOWEEN 2023, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis try to breathe new life into the unexpect...

PINK!

09 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis uncover the UNEXPECTED history of PINK! Which is all about the ...

SUNSHINE!

19 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis don their shades of history, bag the sun beds by the pool of the...

HOMESICKNESS!

11 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis get rather maudlin and nostalgic about the UNEXPECTED history of...

APOLOGIES!

05 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis prostrate themselves upon the ground and humbly beg forgiveness ...

RERELEASE: GLOVES!

02 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

RERELEASED for your listening pleasure, one of our favourite episodes from our back catalogue: the unexpected history of GLOVES!The gloves are off as ...

FRAILTY!

22 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis clutch the walking stick of the past to uncover the UNEXPECTED h...

MOTHER'S DAY SPECIAL!

19 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In honour of mothers around the world, past and present, a rerelease of our episode on the Unexpected History of MOTHERS!THE UNEXPECTED HISTORY OF MOT...

WAITING!

16 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis stretch their weary limbs, yawn and check their proverbial watch...

WALLS!

05 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis scale the great heights of the UNEXPECTED history of WALLS! Whic...

STRIPES!

02 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

STRIPES!In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis try on the city slicker pinstripe suits and speculate on...

VALENTINE'S DAY RERELEASE: LOVE!

14 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Happy Valentine's Day to our listeners! For this episode let us join the Cupid of history, Professor James Daybell and the Casanova of histo...

FISH!

06 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis don the waders, bait the hook of history and cast out to land th...

ROBOTS!

30 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis get all mechanised and programme the unexpected history of ROBOT...

RERELEASE: Christmas Microhistory 1: Bad Luck!

21 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this RERELEASE episode from the archive the Histories of the Unexpected team explain how the history of Christmas is actually all about BAD LUCK - ...

RERELEASE: SNOW!

17 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest RERELEASED episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis don their most Artic-like winter wear to track down t...

THE NUMBER 50!

16 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis take stock of half a century (in honour of the Daybell's milesto...

SPOTS!

05 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis pinch the historical pus out of the extraordinarily unexpected h...

FOXES!

01 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis shout TALLY HO! and follow the historical scent of the extraordi...

SECRETS!

25 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis get all hush, hush (we'd love to tell you, but then we'd have to...

BEARS!

18 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis tackle the extraordinarily unexpected history of BEARS! It's not...

MUMBLING!

12 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis tackle the extraordinarily unexpected history of MUMBLING! Yes! ...

OLD AGE!

10 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis uncover the fascinating and remarkably unexpected history of OLD...

IDIOTS

03 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis try to take very seriously indeed the unexpected history of IDIO...

Halloween 2022: Rerelease 4 - FEAR - A HALLOWEEN SPECIAL

31 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this fourth and final RELEASE for HALLOWEEN 2022, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis discuss the unexpected history of F...

Halloween 2022: Rerelease 3 - MONSTERS

31 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this third RELEASE for HALLOWEEN 2022, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis discuss the unexpected history of MONSTERS! Ho...

Halloween 2022: Rerelease 2 - ZOMBIES

31 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this second RELEASE for HALLOWEEN 2022, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis discuss the unexpected history of ZOMBIES! Ho...

Halloween 2022: Rerelease 1 - CORPSES

31 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this RERELEASED episode for HALLOWEEN 2022, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis try to breathe new life into the unexpect...

REUNIONS!

07 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis wander down memory lane and bump into old friends in this remini...

BOARDGAMES!

07 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis unpack the box, set up the pieces and roll the dice of history t...

FAME!

15 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis are inspired by having just watched a fantastic new film on...

BUCKETS

15 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis head down to the beach of history and dig into the unexpected hi...

RERELEASE: SHARKS - THE RETURN!

01 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this bonus episode, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, take a FURTHER MEATY bite out of the UTTERLY BIZARRE history of SHARKS! Whi...

RERELEASE: SHARKS!

01 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, take another bite out of the frankly fa...

JEWELLERY!

01 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis don the bling of the past to explore the unexpected history of J...

TENTS!

27 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis head outdoors and pitch camp in order to savour the unexpected h...

DISBELIEF!

11 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis scratch their collective heads really hard and blink their colle...

PASTIES!

09 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis carefully roll out the pastry of the past, fill it with meat of ...

FOOTSTEPS!

06 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis walk very carefully down the pathway of the past to stumble upon...

BUNTING!

23 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis bring out the paper plates and plastic cups and reach into the d...

STREET PARTIES!

23 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis bring out the paper plates and plastic cups of the past to celeb...

KETCHUP!

16 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis tip of the condiment bottle of the past and pour out the unexpec...

BANANAS!

26 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis peel back the layers to uncover the unexpected history of BANAN...

THE THUMB!

23 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis inspired by real life events uncover the unexpected history of T...

MONKEYS!

15 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis swing through the trees of the past to uncover the unexpected hi...

Ribbons: Homeschooling Georgian and Victorian Orphans

30 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

James and Sam tackle the humbling history of RIBBONS! From the use of ribbons for commemoration, mourning, decoration and gifting, Sam and James rampa...

CORRIDORS!

30 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis explore the UNEXPECTED history of CORRIDORS! Which is all about ...

RERELEASE: MOTHERS!

27 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

RE-RELEASE: THE UNEXPECTED HISTORY OF MOTHERS! A boy’s best friend is his mother’   (Norman Bates – Psycho, written and...

HUNGER!

26 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis explore the UNEXPECTED history of HUNGER! Which is all about the...

FAREWELLS!

24 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis bid a heartfelt goodbye to the UNEXPECTED history of FAREWELLS! ...

SURPRISE!

04 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis hide behind the hedge of the past and jump out with the UNEXPECT...

THIRST!

02 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis take a deep drink from the glass of the past to deliver to you t...

BRAVERY

28 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis humbly and in full solidarity with the people of Ukraine explore...

HOUSES!

20 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis walk down the garden path of history and through the front door ...

HELPING OUT: HOMESCHOOLING WWI ON THE HOME FRONT!

18 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this Homeschooling History episode, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, explore the fascinating history of HELPING OUT. From discus...

CORPSES!

15 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis try to breathe new life into the unexpected history of CORPSES! ...

RED!

13 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis get all romantic with a St Valentine's Day special on the histor...

DIVORCE: Homeschooling Henry VIII, The King's Great Matter and the Break with Rome

11 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this Homeschooling History episode, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, explore the fascinating history of DIVORCE. From discussion...

THE FLEA!

11 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis do more than scratch the surface of the unexpected history of TH...

BEES!

04 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis buzz around and sting you with the unexpected history of BEES! W...

STAIRCASES!

02 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis taking the winding stair of history to explore the unexpected hi...

REVENGE: Homeschooling the Wars of the Roses and the Battle of St Albans

29 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this Homeschooling History episode, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, explore the fascinating history of REVENGE. From discussion...

VOLCANOES!

28 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis erupt forth with the unexpected history of VOLCANOES! Which is a...

DOGS!

27 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis take you all for a long country walk to exercise the unexpected ...

PYJAMAS!

22 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis unpack the unexpected history of PYJAMAS! Which is all about fes...

DINOSAURS!

21 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis uncover the fossilised remains of the past with unexpected histo...

RESOLUTIONS!

20 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis wish listeners a HAPPY NEW YEAR with the unexpected history of R...

GENEROSITY!

24 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis get all festive ONE MORE TIME and inspired by the Christmas Stor...

WISE MEN!

22 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis get all festive ONE MORE TIME and inspired by the Christmas Stor...

BABIES!

18 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis get all festive ONE MORE TIME and inspired by the Christmas Sto...

ELVES!

15 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis get all festive again and offer yet another Christmas special on...

STARS!

15 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode, the Unexpected duo, Professor James Daybell and Dr Sam Willis get all festive again and offer another Christmas special on the...