The History Buff

In 1970, Chile sent shockwaves through the Cold War-ridden world, particularly rattling the White House in Washington DC, as Salvador Allende became the world's first democratically elected Marxist president. Allende promptly embarked on a socialist trajectory for Chile, but from the outset, he faced challenges from both internal and external forces. US President Richard Nixon instructed his Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, to orchestrate measures aimed at causing upheaval in Chile, stating his desire to "make Chile scream."

By 1973, Chile's economic situation had severely deteriorated, exacerbated in no small part by US economic blockades. The Chilean military, traditionally non-political until then, chose to intervene and oust Allende from power. The coup unfolded on September 11, 1973, a day that continues to cast a lingering shadow over Chile. The subsequent regime, led by dictator Augusto Pinochet, left an enduring legacy that still haunts the country to this day.

I am joined by fellow history buff Teo to discuss the coup itself and its repercussions In Chile to this day.

For more content and if you'd like to sign up to our mailing list to be notified whenever we release a new episode, then head over to The History Buff website. You can also follow The History Buff on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.

Artwork by Leila Mead. Check out her website and follow her on Instagram.

Music: As History Unfolds by Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You may recognise her as the woman who, in the face of impending death from cancer at the age of just 33, implored Argentina not to cry for her from the iconic balcony of the Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires. She certainly made a lot of speeches from the balcony of the Casa Rosada. She knew how to connect to a crowd. She also knew how to ruffle feathers, and didn’t care that she did so. Even though it was actually her husband who was the president, Evita has become the enduring face of his political legacy (known as “Peronism”).

In this episode, which is half an hour longer than the usual time limit (as there was so much to talk about and the original conversation was almost 3 hours long!), I am joined by Buenos Aires tour guide Mercedes as we delve deep into the life of Eva Perón, the First Lady of Argentina from 1946 until her death in 1952, and explore some of the controversies and myths surrounding her. Loved and despised in equal measure in Argentina, with no middle ground, her legacy is a very divisive one with each side claiming certain truths about her life. We’re going to try as much as possible to talk objectively about her and find the nuance between the two emotionally charged narratives of Evita.

For more content and if you'd like to sign up to our mailing list to be notified whenever we release a new episode, then head over to The History Buff website. You can also follow The History Buff on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.

If you are planning on visiting Buenos Aires, do take a tour with Mercedes, she is absolutely fantastic - knowledgable, insightful, objective and impartial. 10/10. Book a tour with her.

Artwork by Leila Mead. Check out her website and follow her on Instagram.

Music: As History Unfolds by Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It all began with the Treaty of Windsor in 1373, which formally allied Portugal and what was then England (superseded by Great Britain in 1707). Since then there have been numerous developments and treaties to strengthen the alliance, with the two countries working together on trade, war and diplomacy. In June 2023, the two countries celebrated the 650th anniversary of the alliance, with the Portuguese president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa being hosted at Buckingham Palace by King Charles III for celebrations. In this episode, we'll dissect the complexities, tracing the evolution of this enduring relationship between the two countries. There have been ups and downs to the alliance, but one thing remains true: Portugal and Britain have maintained a steadfast friendship despite challenges, marked by substantial emigration flows in both directions for each nation, with each country contributing to the others culture in wonderful ways. Join us for a thoughtful examination of the shared endeavours, treaties, and geopolitical shifts that define the most enduring diplomatic alliance in history.

The bond between these two countries is so deep and special, that Portugal is the real ‘Special Relationship’ for Britain. Forget the USA.

For more content and if you'd like to sign up to our mailing list to be notified whenever we release a new episode, then head over to The History Buff website. You can also follow The History Buff on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.

Artwork by Leila Mead. Check out her website and follow her on Instagram.

Music: As History Unfolds by Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anna Morris and I are back with another episode of The Tudors: A Real Game of Thrones! In this third instalment, we will be discussing the young life of Henry VIII and his early reign.

Henry VIII is arguably England's most famous monarch. This is partly because of the drama and intrigue caused by his multiple marriages to six different women (with two of these ending in beheadings of the wife!) but also because England went through an enormous amount of change under his rule (more on that in later episodes). Henry wasn't originally meant to inherit the throne, his older brother Arthur was meant to do so, but Arthur died in 1502 at 15-years-old. This led to Henry becoming king and one of the most influential monarchs in history.

What was Henry's young life like? Was he always the tyrant he became known for by the end of his life? How was his relationship with his father, Henry VII? What were Henry's priorities when he first came to the throne? Listen to this episode to find out!

You can also watch the video of this episode on Youtube.

For more content and if you'd like to sign up to our mailing list to be notified whenever we release a new episode, then head over to The History Buff website. You can find more History Buff content on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook.

Artwork by Leila Mead. Check out her website and follow her on Instagram.

Music: As History Unfolds by Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The History Buff is charting the story of one of history's most infamous barriers - The Berlin Wall, which divided a city in the heart of a divided Europe for 28 years. As a Berlin tour guide, this is something that I talk about a lot, and it's something visitors Berlin continue to be fascinated by. In the last episode, I discussed the end of the Second World War, the division of Germany and the beginnings of the Cold War, which set the stage for the events of this episode.

In this second episode of The Berlin Wall series, I am joined by Quincy, a fellow Berlin tour guide, to talk about the events surrounding that fateful night in August 1961 where the last hole in the Iron Curtain, the border between East and West Berlin, was sealed off literally overnight. Berliners woke up on the morning of 13 August to find themselves cut off from friends, family and work.

But why was the Berlin Wall built in the first place? How was the mammoth task of sealing off the 155 kilometre border surrounding West Berlin actually put into practice? Who planned it? How did the West react? Listen to find out!

This episode is available to watch as a video on YouTube.

Quincy is launching his own online magazine about history and culture in Berlin, which you will be able to find here.

For more content and if you'd like to sign up to our mailing list to be notified whenever we release a new episode, then head over to The History Buff website. You can find more History Buff content on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook.

Artwork by Leila Mead. Check out her website and follow her on Instagram.

Music: As History Unfolds by Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.