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History Undone

History Undone

News Broadcasting 53 Episodes Oct 14, 2026

History Undone explores pivotal moments in history, examining key battles and strategic decisions. Each week, host Fergus Macphee and expert guests rewind to analyze the biggest 'what ifs' from the Roman Empire to modern times. The podcast delves into alternative scenarios and their potential impacts on the course of history.

Episodes

How the Houthis became a problem Saudi Arabia can't solve | Origins
How the Houthis became a problem Saudi Arabia can't solve | Origins Oct 14, 2026 30:16 On this episode of History Undone: Origins, Fergus Macphee speaks with Professor Thomas Juneau from the University of Ottawa to discuss the history of the Houthis and how their influence has grown. Far from just being rebels in Yemen, the group are now a regional power, causing difficulty to Saudi Arabia and the US. Yet how did we get here? This is Origins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy f
What if France had WON the Franco-Prussian War? An entirely new 20th Century
What if France had WON the Franco-Prussian War? An entirely new 20th Century Oct 9, 2026 1:01:55 On this edition of History Undone, Fergus Macphee is joined once again by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry to discuss one of the most overlooked, but important conflicts of the last 200 years: the Franco-Prussian War. What was supposed to be a chance for Napoleon III to reassert French dominance on the continent, quickly turned into a total nightmare. Poor planning and chaotic strategy saw the French r
Without the 1789 Revolution, would France be protesting today? | Origins
Without the 1789 Revolution, would France be protesting today? | Origins Oct 7, 2026 25:55 On this episode of Origins, Fergus Macphee is joined by Emeritus Professor of history at The University of Melbourne and an expert on the French Revolutionm, Professor Peter McPhee. They discuss the current protest that have swept through France and, in some places turned violent. The country is used to large-scale demonstrations, but can this be traced back to the Revolution and do the French rea
How the Royal Navy collapsed from 1,400 ships to 60 | Origins
How the Royal Navy collapsed from 1,400 ships to 60 | Origins Oct 4, 2026 31:16 Welcome to the first episode of History Undone: Origins. This is the space we will be discussing current affairs and geopolitics, through our historical and counterfactual lense. For the first episode, Fergus Macphee is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry to discuss the decline of the Royal Navy. Rather than one event, this is a story of managed decline over the course of 85 years, but can it al
1942: The year that changed the world forever? A History Undone special
1942: The year that changed the world forever? A History Undone special Sep 25, 2026 1:55:47 On this very special edition of History Undone, Fergus Macphee is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and show favourite Jonathan Parshall in the studio to mark the release of his book 1942: The Crux of War. In an extended, two hour long conversation, the three discuss the year as a whole and some of the most consequential moments. At the beginning of 1942, things looked bleak for the allies, ye
What if Hannibal had won the Battle of Zama & the Second Punic War?
What if Hannibal had won the Battle of Zama & the Second Punic War? Sep 11, 2026 1:01:26 On this episode of History Undone, Fergus Macphee is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Dr Simon Elliott to discuss the culmination of the Second Punic War, which saw the Roman Republic finally defeat its nemesis: Hannibal. Before the battle, the Carthaginian general had already terrorised Rome for 15 long years on the Italian mainland, with some Romans avoiding fighting him at all costs. S
What if the allies had prioritised the Atlantic NOT the strategic bombing of Germany?
What if the allies had prioritised the Atlantic NOT the strategic bombing of Germany? Aug 28, 2026 46:38 On this episode of History Undone, Fergus Macphee is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry once again - this time to discuss the decision by the allies to prioritise the strategic bombing campaign of Germany, rather than the Atlantic. It had huge ramifications for D-Day and the Cold War borders, but was it the right one? This is History Undone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor
If the Nazis had NEVER risen to power… would there still be a Second World War?
If the Nazis had NEVER risen to power… would there still be a Second World War? Aug 14, 2026 53:29 On this edition of History Undone, Fergus Macphee is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry & Drachinifel to discuss one of the most important events in modern history: the rise of the Nazi party and it's impact on the Second World War. Whilst the fight against Hitler & fascism was at the core of the conflict, there were other reasons for many of the world's great nations to go to war. For
What if the Enigma code had never been cracked? An entrenched Nazi-Soviet war
What if the Enigma code had never been cracked? An entrenched Nazi-Soviet war Jul 31, 2026 45:06 On this episode of History Undone, Fergus Macphee is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Nigel Jones to discuss one the allies' biggest breakthroughs in the Second World War: cracking the Enigma code. Despite being deemed 'unbreakable', Polish mathematicians had actually solved a version in 1932 and passed this work on to the British. The work of a group based in Bletchley Park, containing o
What if the Indian Rebellion had succeeded? British OUT but a broken nation emerges
What if the Indian Rebellion had succeeded? British OUT but a broken nation emerges Jul 17, 2026 59:46 On this episode of History Undone, Fergus Macphee is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Professor Chandrika Kaul from the University of St Andrews to discuss one of the most important events in the history of modern India and Imperial Britain: the Rebellion of 1857. Also referred to as the 'mutiny', it began on the 10 May when Sepoy soldiers rose up in the city of Meerut near Delhi. A day l
What if Franco had LOST the Spanish Civil War?
What if Franco had LOST the Spanish Civil War? Jul 3, 2026 1:01:46 On this episode of History Undone, Fergus Macphee is joined once again by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry & Dr Klaus Schmider to discuss one of the most significant events of the 20th Century: the Spanish Civil War. It was a bloody and fiercely ideological war, that saw Francisco Franco's Nationalists control the country and would see him lead Spain until his death in 1975. Yet today we ask, what
What if Winston Churchill had died in WW2? 'The whole picture changes'
What if Winston Churchill had died in WW2? 'The whole picture changes' Jun 19, 2026 54:38 On this episode of History Undone, Fergus Macphee is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry & Nigel Jones to discuss the sometimes chaotic tenure of Winston Churchill during the Second World War. There periods of disquiet when he could have been ousted, assassination attempts, a near miss in the Blitz and ill health; yet he remained. So what if he had not? This is History Undone. Hosted on Acas

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