History Unpacked

During the Cold War, a new kind of conflict emerged—one fought not by armies, but by shadowy figures operating across borders. Among them, none became more infamous than Carlos the Jackal.Born Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, Carlos moved from ideological radicalism to international notoriety, carrying out bombings, assassinations, and hostage-taking operations that shook Europe and the Middle East. Moving between intelligence agencies, militant groups, and safe houses, he became a symbol of an era defined by proxy wars and political extremism.This episode explores the life, motivations, and legacy of Carlos the Jackal—tracing how a committed revolutionary became one of the most hunted men of the twentieth century, and what his story reveals about the darker undercurrents of Cold War history.

Discover the remarkable journey of the Mayflower, the small English ship that carried a group of settlers across the Atlantic in 1620. This episode explores the ship’s origins, the reasons behind the voyage, the hardships faced at sea, and the legacy that followed. We examine what life aboard the Mayflower was truly like and how a single crossing helped shape early American history. Join us as we step back into the uncertainty, resilience, and determination that defined one of history’s most famous voyages.

In December 1952, London was smothered under a deadly blanket of yellow-brown smog—an environmental catastrophe now known as the Great Smog of London. For five days, the city ground to a halt as coal smoke, industrial fumes, and cold weather fused into a toxic fog that seeped into homes and hospitals. Visibility vanished, transport stopped, and thousands fell ill. The true scale of the disaster shocked the nation and led directly to major reforms, including the Clean Air Acts. This episode explores what caused the smog, how it unfolded, and why it remains one of the most significant environmental crises in modern British history.

Discover the remarkable story of how cats went from solitary desert hunters to one of humanity’s closest companions. This episode explores the origins of cat domestication in the ancient Fertile Crescent, the rise of early farming communities, and the role cats played as protectors of grain stores. We trace their spread across the Mediterranean, their sacred status in Egypt, and their long journey into medieval Europe and modern homes. If you’ve ever wondered how this independent hunter chose to live beside us, this chapter uncovers these answers.

In the early 1950s, America was gripped by fear — fear of infiltration, subversion, and a creeping “enemy within”. In this episode of History Unpacked, we journey into the age of Joseph McCarthy and the ideology that would bear his name: McCarthyism. From the famed Wheeling speech in 1950, to televised hearings, loyalty oaths and the Hollywood blacklist, we explore how suspicion, propaganda and political showmanship combined to produce one of the darkest chapters in American civil-liberties history.What started as a crusade against communism became a campaign of fear. Tens of thousands lost their jobs, many had their reputations destroyed — often without proof. What triggered the rise of McCarthyism? How did it unravel? And what legacy does it leave for our world of modern surveillance and ideological divides?Join us as we unpack the tactics, personalities and consequences of McCarthyism — and ask: could history repeat itself?