Bonus Episode: What was it like to be a prisoner at the infamous Alcatraz Federal Prison? In this episode of Forbidden Fruit, we take a deep dive into the lives of its notorious inmates, and one of its most high-profile escape attempts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we explore the life of one of the world’s more notorious gangsters, Al Capone. From his humble beginnings on the streets of New York, to his peak in the 1920s as the undisputed King of Chicago, we take a look at his speedy rise and his equally rapid fall. What crimes did he commit to get himself locked up in Alcatraz? Cast List: Jonathan Eig: American journalist and biographer. Author of ‘Get Capone’ Dominic Selwood: A historian, barrister, bestselling author, novelist and frequent contributor to national newspapers including The Independent, The Spectator and The Daily Telegraph Craig Alton: Tour guide and co-founder of Untouchable Tours: Chicago’s Original Gangster Tour Tony McMahon: A former BBC news producer, author, print journalist and historian Hallie Rubenhold: Author, broadcaster and historian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bonus Episode: In this episode of Forbidden Fruit, we do a deep dive into the incredible life of legendary baseball player, who once happened to be a member of the Black Panthers, Jackie Robinson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we hear the incredible story of the 761st Tank Battalion, also known as the Black Panthers, who fought their way through Nazi occupied Europe in WWII. As an all-black tank battalion, they were keen to prove their abilities through combat for the benefit of all like them across the United States. For the Black Panthers, it was a fight not only against the powerful enemy abroad, but a racist system at home. Cast List: ·     Shalina Patel: Historian, teacher and writer. ·     Selena Carty: Cultural & Ancestral Genealogist and historian specialising in Global African, Black, Indigenous military contributions. ·     Robert F. Jefferson Jr.: Associate Professor of History at the University of New Mexico ·     Ed Lengel: American author and military historian. Vice President for Museum Experience at the U.S. National Medal of Honor Museum ·     Wayne Robinson: Specialist historian of the 761st Tank Battalion ·     Private E.G. McConnell: Member of the 761st Tank Battalion · 

Bonus Episode: In this episode of Forbidden Fruit, we explore another iconic female Viking discovery, the Birka Warrior. From its excavation in 1878, to the 2017 DNA uncovering, revealing the remains to be those of a female, we take a deep dive into what factors made them believe the remains were of a male warrior for over 100 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we take a look one of the most influential finds in Viking archaeology; the 1904 discovery of the remnants of an incredible royal burial within the Oseberg Ship. We explore how the excavation rewrote understandings of Viking history and sparked many fascinating theories about who the entombed really were.   Cast List: ·     Tim Sutherland: Archaeologist – University of York, UK ·     Neil Price: Archaeologist specialising in the study of Viking Age-Scandinavia ·     Tor Øydvin: Historian at the Museum of Cultural History, Oslo, Norway ·     Ellen Marie Næss: Archaeologist and lecturer at the Museum of Cultural History, Oslo, Norway ·     Terje Gansum: Archaeologist – Vestfold Fylkeskommune, Norway ·     Hanne Lovise Aannestad: Archaeologist – Museum of Cultural History, Oslo, Norway ·     Einar Erlingsen: The New Oseberg Viking Ship Foundation, Tønsberg, Norway ·     Ole Harald Flaten: Skipper of the Saga Oseberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc

Bonus Episode: In this episode of Forbidden Fruit, we explore the life of Hessy Levinsons Taft, the girl who won the ‘most beautiful Aryan baby’ Nazi propaganda contest as an infant in 1935. As it turned out, Hessy was actually Jewish. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the 1930s until the end of World War Two, the Nazis unleashed unspeakable horrors upon the minorities of Europe. In this episode, we take a look at their appalling pursuit of a pure Aryan race where, among other horrific ways, they established disturbing eugenics programs, both at home and across continent. Cast List:   ·     Andrew Gough: Author and historian ·     Jane Thynne: British novelist, journalist and broadcaster ·     Nicholas O’Shaugnessy: Professor of Communications and post-Cold War German history at Queen Mary University of London ·     Lisa Pine: Author and historian, specialising in the history of Nazi Germany ·     Frank McDonough: Specialist author and historian on the Third Reich ·     Adrian Weale: Writer, journalist, illustrator and photographer ·     Terry Charman: Historian, author and curator at the Imperial War Museum ·     Gisela Heidenreich: Born under the Lebensborn program in 1943 in Oslo, Norway while it was under Nazi control ·     Nigel H. Jones:

Bonus Episode: How did the religion of Christianity go from being persecuted in the Roman Empire, to becoming its state religion in less than 200 years? In this episode of Forbidden Fruit, we take a deep dive into the rise of Christianity within the Roman Empire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we take a look at the historical evidence of Jesus’ crucifixion, from the realities behind the legend, to piecing together what we know for certain and what is missing. We explore how little detail the Bible truly contains – including no reference to a cross – and the lack of archaeological evidence. Cast List: ·     Karen Bellinger: Anthropologist, archaeologist, and historian ·     Dr Andrew Boakye: Lecturer in Religions & Theology at the University of Manchester  ·     Janina Ramirez: A cultural historian, broadcaster and author based at the University of Oxford ·     Tony McMahon: A former BBC news producer, author, print journalist and historian ·     Dominic Selwood: A historian, barrister, bestselling author, novelist and frequent contributor to national newspapers including The Independent, The Spectator and The Daily Telegraph ·     Peter Stanford: Writer, editor, journalist and presenter, known for his biographies and writings on religion and ethics ·     G

Bonus Episode: What happened to the innocent ship crew of the Hoki Maru? In this episode of Forbidden Fruit, we take a deep dive into their story as Japanese prisoners of war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is an explorative retelling of Operation Hailstone, a great sinking of Japanese battle ships by US forces in WW2, in Chuuk Lagoon in the Federated States of Micronesia. We follow a local team as they dive a newly discovered wreck, and recount stories of the epic battle along the way, including those from the perspective of local indigenous people.  Cast List: Bill Jeffrey: Associate Professor at University of Guam Diane Strong: Former Journalism Professor at the University of Guam. Biographer of Kimiuo Aisek. Gradvin Aisek: Local Chuukese whose father, Kimiuo, was born under the Japanese mandate on Chuuk. Guy Walters: A British author, historian, and journalist who has written several books on WWII. As a journalist for The Times, he writes on historical topics for the national press. Michael Barnette: Marine biologist, diver, author and photographer. Bill Stinnett: Local diver and owner of Truk Stop Hotel & Dive Centre on the island of Chuuk. Learn more abou

Bonus Episode: In this episode of Forbidden Fruit, we do a deep dive into the famous female fighters of history, from the first superstar British women fighter, Lady Bareknuckles, in 1750s Georgian London, to British boxer, Nicola Adams, taking home the world’s first Olympic women’s boxing gold medal in the London 2012 Olympics.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we explore the underground female bare knuckle prizefighting that took place in the squalors of Georgian London. We cover the historical context of how this came to be and tell the story of important places and people attributed to this topic. Cast List: ·     Lucy Inglis: Eighteenth-century historian and author, and curator of an award-winning blog about Georgian London. ·     Mick Crumplin: Former surgeon and expert on medical techniques used throughout history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bonus Episode: In this episode of Forbidden Fruit, we take a deep dive into the life of CIA operative Frank Olson. We explore his career, partaking in some of the CIA's most clandestine experiments, and how his participation ultimately lead to his death.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we explore the CIA mind control experiments of the 1950s, specifically the top secret program ‘MK Ultra’, who utilised LSD. We'll recount various chilling experiments and explore the mysterious death of one of their top scientists. Cast List: Peggy Brunache: Historian, archaeologist and lecturer at University of Glasgow Lindsay Moran: Author and former CIA operative  Dominic Selwood: Historian, barrister, bestselling author, novelist and frequent contributor to national newspapers including The Independent, The Spectator and The Daily Telegraph Luke Daly Groves: Historian, author and lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire Lynn Picknett: Historian and researcher specialising in exposing historical conspiracies. She is also the co-author of several notable works Colin Ross: Psychiatrist and former president of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation Tony McMahon: Former BBC news producer, author, print journalist and hi

Bonus Episode: In this episode of Forbidden Fruit, we take a deep dive into the life of Christina, Queen of Sweden, who once owned the Devil’s Bible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we follow the 800-year history of a medieval Bible manuscript, famous for its giant illustration of the Devil contained within its pages. We recount its journey across Europe as it changes hands between emperors and queens, and the history it sees along the way – as well as the cursed legends that follow it. Cast List: Dominic Selwood: A historian, barrister, bestselling author, novelist and frequent contributor to national newspapers including The Independent, The Spectator and The Daily Telegraph Janina Ramirez: A cultural historian, broadcaster and author based at the University of Oxford Tony McMahon: A former BBC news producer, author, print journalist and historian Elin Andersson: A specialist in ancient manuscripts and an expert on the Devil’s Bible, based at the National Library of Sweden Scott Sophos: Prague-based historian and teacher Dr Andrew Boakye: Lecturer in Religions & Theology at the University of Manchester  Peter Stanford: Writer, edi

Bonus Episode: In this episode of Forbidden Fruit, we take a deep dive into the Romanov’s relationship to the British Royal Family, and explore the question ‘Could Tsar Nicholas and his family have been saved by his cousin, King George V?’ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

July 1918, Yekaterinburg, Russia. It’s a sweltering night, and within the claustrophobic walls of Anastasia and her sister Maria’s bedroom, the heat hangs heavy in the air. Anastasia had eventually managed to get to sleep, despite the distant pitter patter of gunfire, and the ever-looming presence of the guard outside her door. Whilst asleep, she could pretend these worries were far, far away... In the middle of the night however, the sisters are awoken by a rapid knock at the door. ‘Fighting’, the guard says, ‘enemies closing in on the city’. It’s too dangerous, and they need to be moved. They’re told to get dressed and come downstairs. The sister’s do as they’re told. Anastasia helps Maria lace up her bodice, careful not to dislodge the small diamonds they’ve sewn into the seams – relics from their old lives they keep hidden from the guards. They hope to use them one day if they ever escape, even if they know they can never again be the princesses of Russia. They meet the rest of the

Forbidden History is back. In our second season, we continue to explore the past’s darkest corners, delve into the history archives and reveal new perspectives on familiar stories. Series two starts May 24th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices