{"podcast":{"title":"History's Heroes","slug":"history-s-heroes-6396729","podcast_index_feed_id":6396729,"rss_url":"https://podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/m001mcbp.rss","website_url":"http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001mcbp","image_url":"http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/3000x3000/p0mq65jd.jpg","author":"BBC","episode_count":90,"summary":"History's Heroes: the BBC's breathtaking, high stakes, story-led history podcast feed that shines a light on extraordinary people from across history. Series include 'History's Heroes' with narration from Historian Alex von Tunzelmann, 'History's Toughest Heroes' with narration from Ray Winstone, 'History's Youngest Heroes' with narration from Nicola Coughlan and 'History's Secret Heroes' with narration from Helena Bonham Carter. In History's Heroes, Historian Alex von Tunzelmann (Radio 4's The History Podcast: The Lucan Obsession/writer of all the History's Heroes series) shines a light on the inspiring and unusual stories of courage, pioneering and people who used their voice to spark change. Heroes covered include groundbreaking surgeon Harold Gillies, composers Rodgers and Hammerstein and swimming champion Gertrude Ederle. Join Alex for stories of bold voices, with brave ideas and the courage to stand alone. In History's Toughest Heroes, Ray Winstone reveals wild, true stories of adventurers, rebels and survivors. Heroes covered include arctic explorer Peter Freuchen, Hollywood stunt woman Kitty O'Neil and medieval knight William Marshal. Join Ray for tales of fearsome heroes…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-22T00:17:38.974873+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/history-s-heroes-6396729"},"episode":{"title":"History's Toughest Heroes: Robert Smalls: Last Chance for Freedom","slug":"history-s-toughest-heroes-robert-smalls-last-chance-for-freedom","published_at":"2025-10-28T05:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/history-s-heroes-6396729/history-s-toughest-heroes-robert-smalls-last-chance-for-freedom","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/history-s-heroes-6396729","url":"http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002l352","audio_url":"http://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0m95s34.mp3","summary":"For an enslaved man like Robert Smalls during the American Civil War, there was only way out of Charleston: through the harbour and past hostile Confederate forts. He just needed a ship... In History's Toughest Heroes, Ray Winstone tells ten true stories of adventurers, rebels and survivors who lived life on the edge. Robert Smalls was born a slave in the American South. His one chance at escape and freedom hung on a key act of bravery on a single night. He’d have to sail right under the noses and massive cannons of the Confederate ships and forts . If he hoped to survive with his fellow fleeing slaves, he’d have to be bold, be a great actor, don a cunning disguise and have nerves of steel to pull it off. A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. Producer: Michael LaPointe Development Producer: Georgina Leslie Executive Producer: Paul Smith Written by Imogen Robertson Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts","meta_description":"For an enslaved man like Robert Smalls during the American Civil War, there was only way out of Charleston: through the harbour and past hostile Confedera…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1751,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/history-s-heroes-6396729/episodes/history-s-toughest-heroes-robert-smalls-last-chance-for-freedom/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/history-s-heroes-6396729/history-s-toughest-heroes-robert-smalls-last-chance-for-freedom.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}