We should be better at talking about death, and maybe we could also do with being comfortable with the personal rituals that would allow that to happen. That’s what Helen Gittos suggests in this new Life Lessons from History podcast, as she explains how medieval people let rituals run throughout their lives, and how we might benefit from doing the same. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Seek out silence, like a Tudor
2026-03-02 | 21 min.
Do you ever actively seek out silence? Maybe you should, suggests historian of the early modern era Professor Mark Stoyle, in this latest Life Lessons from History episode, which explores the ways in which people reacted to noise, or the lack of it, in early modern England. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Build your own stone circle
2026-02-23 | 25 min.
The people who constructed Stonehenge seem to have had a very communal society, in which they came together to work as one on these great megalithic building projects. Susan Greaney’s Life Lesson from History is that we should try to adopt more communal, less individualistic lives, and harness the spirit of Stonehenge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Love learning like Æthelstan
2026-02-16 | 16 min.
The Anglo-Saxon king Æthelstan, who did much to establish the idea of England, was also a keen learner. He impressed on his people the importance of deep study, and that’s something we could do with embracing today in our world of distractions, says David Woodman in this Life Lesson from History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Be wary of labour-saving devices
2026-02-09 | 36 min.
Don’t let your life be ruled by your vacuum cleaner, says celebrated historian of the Industrial Revolution Emma Griffin in this episode of our Life Lessons from History series. She also shares some helpful observations about how we might deal with the challenges of the AI revolution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How can the experience of the Babylonians and Assyrians ease our worries now? Can we look to a Tudor queen for advice on procrastination? How can we harness the ancient fear of faeries and witches to add a bit of enchantment to our lives today?
What’s this all about? It’s a simple concept. I find a great historian or archaeologist and I ask them to propose a Life Lesson from History – some learning from their study of the past that will help us today to live better, happier, healthier, or more productive lives.
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