History Lessons

Hosted by Mattias Hessérus – features interviews with leading historians and authors.

The GCHQ building in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Credit: David Goddard / Getty Images.

Episode 11

GCHQ – John Ferris on the official history

Mattias Hessérus in conversation with John Ferris, the historian 'behind the enigma' of Br...

December 19, 2020

Russian President Vladimir Putin with military intelligence officials at the GRU building, 2006. Credit: Dmitry Astakohv/AFP via Getty Images.

Episode 9

David Omand on what it takes to think like a secret agent

Mattias Hessérus is in conversation with David Omand, former director of GCHQ, on how we c...

December 14, 2020

John F. Kennedy sitting in his signature rocking chair in the Oval Office. Creidt: © CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images.

Episode 8

History Lessons – Fredrik Logevall on JFK

Mattias Hessérus is in conversation with Fredrik Logevall - author of the new, landmark wo...

December 4, 2020

German soldiers march through France early in the war. Credit: Popperfoto via Getty Images.

Episode 7

MI9 – Helen Fry on wartime escape

Mattias Hessérus is in conversation with Helen Fry on the ingenious exploits of MI9 – the ...

December 16, 2020

machiavelli

Episode 6

History Lessons – Alexander Lee on Machiavelli

In this episode of History Lessons, Mattias Hessérus is joined by Alexander Lee to discuss...

September 28, 2020

Episode 5

Asian Philosophies of Rebirth with Jessica Frazier

In this episode of History Lessons, Mattias Hesserus and Jessica Frazier are in conversati...

September 11, 2020

History Lessons by Engelsberg Ideas

Episode 2

The History of Quarantine with Lincoln Paine

On this episode of History Lessons, Mattias Hessérus speaks to the maritime historian Linc...

July 1, 2020

An American soldier passes the ruins of a temple in Hue, Vietnam, 1968. Credit: Bettmann Archive / Getty Images.

Episode 1

History Lessons – Margaret MacMillan on war

Mattias Hessérus is in conversation with Margaret MacMillan on how conflict has shaped hu...

March 31, 2021

Robert Maxwell, left, celebrating the first edition of 'The European' in 1990 with Maurice Levy of Publicis. Credit: Michel Turpin / Sygma via Getty Images.

Episode 1

Maxwell’s fall – John Preston on the mysterious demise of a disgraced tycoon

Mattias Hessérus is in conversation with John Preston, author of 'The Dig', on his new bio...

February 22, 2021