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History’s Greatest Leaders

HistoryExtra 2 Episodes Aug 23, 2026

What separates an ordinary leader from one who changes history? Join entrepreneur Mike Soutar, author of Next Gen CEO and advisor on BBC One’s The Apprentice, for History’s Greatest Leaders, the new series from HistoryExtra. Expect ambition, courage and ruthlessness, as Mike explores what the stories of Elizabeth I, Winston Churchill and six other leaders can teach us today, in the 21st century.

Episodes

Zenobia: The queen who challenged the Roman empire Aug 23, 2026 2181 She may not be well known to us today, but Zenobia – who was queen of what’s now Syria in the third century BC – definitely deserves to be. That’s because she took on the might of the Roman empire and, for a short time at least, emerged victorious. So how did she succeed where so many others failed? Was she a skilled leader, or merely an opportunist taking advantage of her opponent’s weakened circ

Walt Disney: Cartoon villain or genius leader? Aug 16, 2026 2623 Few brands are as famous as Disney. From animation blockbusters to theme parks and TV series, it’s a name with enormous cultural cachet around the world. But what do we know about Walt Disney himself? Was he the avuncular, creative genius of his public persona, or do some of the darker tales about the man – of his ruthlessness and need for control – have some truth to them? In this episode, Chr

Catherine the Great: How to survive on the Russian throne Aug 9, 2026 2355 During the turbulent 18th century, few leadership positions in Europe were as dangerous as the Russian throne. Yet Catherine the Great – empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796 – managed to navigate this position of peril with aplomb. How did she succeed where so many others failed? In this episode, historian, author and broadcaster Simon Sebag Montefiore talks to Mike Soutar about the remarkable p

Tokugawa Ieyasu: Know when to prepare – and when to act Aug 2, 2026 2751 Samurai and statesman Tokugawa Ieyasu founded the dynasty that unified Japan in the early 16th century. His house ruled the country for more than 250 years. He’s a towering figure from the nation’s history – a man capable of ruthless, decisive action, but who at other moments actively sought to avoid conflict and waited for his enemies to make mistakes. In this episode, Christopher Harding – se

Winston Churchill: How to use dynamism to beat the odds Jul 26, 2026 2576 Britain's Second World War prime minister was an inspiring visionary who's often credited with saving western democracy through sheer force of will. Yet Churchill is also a man whose dogged determination, and uncompromising leadership style, could lead to tension and conflict. In this episode, historian, author and TV producer Taylor Downing – whose books include The Army that Never Was: D-Day

Elizabeth I: The power of delaying decisions Jul 19, 2026 2121 We often think of successful leadership in terms of steely resolve and decisive action. And one of history’s most famous rulers, Tudor queen Elizabeth I, was certainly capable of this strength and dynamism. But there’s another side to her story, too: a recurring tendency towards procrastination and indecision. In this episode, Tracy Borman – chief historian at Historic Royal Palaces and the aut

Introducing History’s Greatest Leaders Jun 30, 2026 45 What separates an ordinary leader from one who changes history? Join entrepreneur Mike Soutar, author of Next Gen CEO and advisor on BBC One’s The Apprentice, for History’s Greatest Leaders, the new series from HistoryExtra. Starting Monday 20th July, expect ambition, courage and ruthlessness, as Mike explores what the stories of Elizabeth I, Winston Churchill and six other leaders can teach us

History’s Greatest Leaders

Episodes

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