Beastly History

The Lion Queen: The Dangerous World of Big Cat Taming

Nellie Chapman has an extraordinary way of drawing a crowd. Born into the strange and spectacular world of 19th Century travelling menageries, she rises to fame as one of Britain's most celebrated lion tamers. Performing inside the cage with some of the world's most feared predators, Nellie captivates audiences eager for a glimpse of danger. A performance for Queen Victoria offers the chance of a lifetime, but life among the big cats comes with enormous risks. At the height of Nellie's career, a shocking on-stage tragedy sparks public outrage and shines a spotlight on the hidden realities of the menagerie industry. How did Nellie Chapman become Britain's famed Lion Queen? Why were Victorian audiences so enthralled by lion tamers and exotic animals? What dark and dangerous truths lay behind the spectacle? And what can Nellie's story reveal about our complicated relationship with wild animals? Michelle is joined by expert Dr Peta Tait to explore a world of spectacle, danger, and caged beasts, uncovering the remarkable story of Britain's Lion Queen. Discover More: Check out Dr Peta Tait's book, Fighting Nature https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fighting-Nature-Travelling-Menageries-Publics/dp/1743324308 [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fighting-Nature-Travelling-Menageries-Publics/dp/1743324308] More Beastly:    Follow Beastly History on Instagram @beastlyhistory [https://www.instagram.com/beastlyhistory/]  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

'Iceberg Right Ahead!' A Titanic Lookout's Story

(Content warning: please be aware this episode includes discussion of suicide). It's 1140pm in the North Atlantic Ocean, April 14 1912, when Titanic lookout Fred Fleet first glimpses a hulking great mass of ice looming out of the darkness. He desperately warns the crew with the famous words "Iceberg! Right Ahead!" But it's already too late.  Many things went wrong in the build up to one of history's most famous disasters and the loss of around 1500 lives.  And in this episode we're focusing on the Titanic story through the point of view of 24-year-old lookout Fred Fleet.  Why didn't Fleet see the iceberg in time? How come crew apparently ignored ice field warnings? And what does the catastrophe tell us about the Edwardian attitude towards the natural world in the name of progress?  Michelle's joined by Titanic expert Paul Lee for an epic Beastly History.  More Beastly:  Follow Beastly History on Instagram @beastlyhistory [https://www.instagram.com/beastlyhistory/] Discover More:  Explore Paul Lee's Titanic research: https://www.paullee.com/titanic/ [https://www.paullee.com/titanic/] Read Fred Fleet and others' testimony at the Titanic inquest in 1912: https://www.titanicinquiry.org/BOTInq/BOTInq15Fleet01.php [https://www.titanicinquiry.org/BOTInq/BOTInq15Fleet01.php] More Beastly:    Follow Beastly History on Instagram @beastlyhistory [https://www.instagram.com/beastlyhistory/]  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Ireland’s Wolf Hunters

Rory Carragh has a deadly reputation. He hunts wolves, and he’s very good at it. Now he faces his toughest challenge yet. Two large wolves keep taking sheep in a remote mountain village, and the people are getting desperate. These elusive wolves are said to be among the last in County Tyrone. For Carragh, success means reward and status. But failure could cost him everything. In this episode, we journey back to a time when wolves and humans coexisted across Ireland, before the violent upheaval of the 17th century. Under Oliver Cromwell, forests were destroyed and bounties placed on wolves, pushing them toward extinction. Join Michelle and expert guest Dr Kieran Hickey to unpack the gripping story of Ireland’s wolf hunters, and the cultural legacy of these lost magnificent beasts. Discover more: Check out Dr Kieran Hickey's book Wolves in Ireland: https://www.fourcourtspress.ie/books/2013/wolves-in-ireland Read an account of wolf hunter Rory Carragh's famous case in the Irish Penny Journal: https://www.jstor.org/stable/30001398?seq=1 More Beastly:    Follow Beastly History on Instagram @beastlyhistory [https://www.instagram.com/beastlyhistory/]  More Beastly:    Follow Beastly History on Instagram @beastlyhistory [https://www.instagram.com/beastlyhistory/]  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Hound of the Baskervilles: Dartmoor’s Demon Dogs

It’s 1901. Writer Arthur Conan Doyle is on holiday when he first hears whispers of a chilling local legend - spectral hounds said to tear across the wilds of Dartmoor under cover of darkness. A tale of an evil squire. A cursed family. And a pack of demonic dogs haunting the moors. We’re delving into the story of how this eerie West Country folklore inspired one of the greatest gothic thrillers of all time: The Hound of the Baskervilles - and why its creation posed a huge dilemma for Doyle and his most famous character, Sherlock Holmes. Joining Michelle is dark heritage expert Dr Romany Reagan to dig into folklore, fear, and the beasts that stalk our minds. Get ready for a spine-tingling first ever episode of Beastly History! More Beastly:    Follow Beastly History on Instagram @beastlyhistory [https://www.instagram.com/beastlyhistory/]  More Beastly:    Follow Beastly History on Instagram @beastlyhistory [https://www.instagram.com/beastlyhistory/]  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Introducing Beastly History

Welcome to Beastly History – the podcast where you’ll hear the most thrilling tales of people and the wild. Perilous polar expeditions. Unbelievable survival stories. The true origins of animal myths and legends. And natural history’s heroes, villains and oddballs. Join me, wildlife producer Michelle Douglass as we investigate the juicy, mysterious and gripping history of our planet and our place on it.  The world is full of brilliantly beastly stories.  Come and explore with Beastly History, landing 27 February 2026. Follow Beastly History wherever you get your podcasts And find me on Instagram @beastlyhistory [https://www.instagram.com/beastlyhistory/] More Beastly:    Follow Beastly History on Instagram @beastlyhistory [https://www.instagram.com/beastlyhistory/]  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.