This week we are heading back to the turn of the 20th century to discuss the life of Margaret Damer Dawson, a one woman campaigning machine who had a strong sense of justice, and enough money to ensure that her voice was heard.

After seeing the way that women in the 1910s were experiencing the criminal justice system, Margaret decided that the only way to improve things would be to have women on the front lines as police officers in their own right, and she would not rest until it happened...

...which thanks to the start of WWI wouldn't actually take as long as she might have feared.

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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Happy 200th Episode

This week we are looking into the biggest disaster in the history of Glasgow shipbuilding, when a relatively small ship designed to ferry people and cargo to Northern Ireland instead became a sunken tomb for over 100 people. Even worse it was a disaster that occurred in front of a large audience, and only a biscuit throw from shore.

A tale of cutting corners and entirely predictable consequences the story of the Daphne goes to show that the Victorians were experts at putting profits before people.

With a bonus discussion of over 500 years of ship building on the west coast of Scotland that features a cameo from at least two separate King James'

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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We are heading into the skies this week to talk about Sir Thomas Sopwith, a man who had a natural talent for two things. Engines and business.

Luckily for him he was born just in time for the dawning of powered flight. Slightly less luckily he was also in prime position to influence he development of British fighter planes during both world wars.

So join us as we shamelessly name drop some of the most important men in aviation history and discuss how the RAF were able to have the edge on the competition in spite of the Government as we delve into the life and times of centurion Sir Thomas Sopwith (who may or may not have murdered his father in cold blood....)

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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This week we are delving into the brief period when Britain was a republic, and when anything seemed possible...

At least it did to Gerrard Winstanley, a failed businessman who took the promise of more equality to the extreme when he founded a commune in Surrey with the belief that God had told him to prove to the people of England that private property was against the teachings of Jesus.

Regardless of if this was true or not, the local landowners were not about to let Gerrard potentially prove that communal living without any attempt to profit off your fellow man could work, so they wrote to the new republic government and soon the head of the army became involved.

So join us for a story of naive optimism in the face of state power and vested interests as we see if anyone in the country actually dug the Diggers.

Guest Host: Pam Loetterle

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We are treading the boards this week as we investigate a series of theatre disasters that took place across Britain, but always in a building named the Theatre Royal.

Starting with the most famous theatre fire in 1613 we discuss how, over the next 400 or so years, theatre owners never seemed to learn the lesson that basic safety precautions are never too expensive in the long run (also, buildings insurance seems to be a worthwhile investment).

So join us as we discuss how hundreds of people who just wanted to be entertained for a few hours were burned, choked, crushed and even had their pants literally set on fire as a result of some dodgy decision making in pursuit of profits.

Guest Host: Jack Heathcote

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This week we are are dipping our toes into medical history, discussing the life and times of the fastest surgeon (possibly) ever. A native Scotsman, Robert Liston was already an accomplished surgeon while still in his teens. But while his talent was great, his ego appeared to be even greater.

After annoying his colleagues in Edinburgh for over a decade, Robert found himself being passed over for plumb positions to the point that he decided to move to London to see if the English would be more appreciative of his skills (and tolerant of his personality).

A man who combined natural talent with an inventive mind and a total inability to accept anything other than perfection, Robert Liston was definitely the may you wanted in charge of your operation, but the last person you would ever want to work with.

Guest Host: Ang Reddoch

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This week we are heading back to the world of the Women's Suffrage movement to discuss how a clerical error gave one shopkeeper a chance to vote in a General Election.

Having worked her way up to the point where she met the property threshold for a vote (had she been a man) Lilly Maxwell found herself added to the electoral roll for a hastily arranged by-election in Manchester in November 1867.

Encouraged to use this mistake as an opportunity to prove that a woman voting would not cause the world to end, Lilly, a Scotswoman in her 60s, had an opportunity to make history.

But would she take it? Would her vote be counted? And what would the fallout be if she did?

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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This week we are delving into the world of early Victorian pseudo-medicine with a man who can literally be described as 'a bit of a character.'

Born into obscurity near Manchester (possibly), young John Smith (at least we assume that was his name) dreamed of becoming famous throughout the British Isles and beyond.

To this end he reinvented himself as 'Baron Spolasco', a doctor who could cure absolutely anything, provided you had the cash.

So join us as we cover a life of flim-flammery of the highest order. With manslaughter cases, shipwrecks and children of questionable origin thrown in for good measure...

...as long as we can get Ollie's equipment sorted out.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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