{"podcast":{"title":"HistoryExtra podcast","slug":"historyextra-podcast-746104","podcast_index_feed_id":746104,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/GLT5697813216","website_url":"http://www.historyextra.com/","image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/190b5144-ab83-11ed-82db-5fcd2fc76b79/image/b0b3b47eb14297ab7b0906abab7b8b52.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"HistoryExtra","episode_count":2624,"summary":"The HistoryExtra podcast brings you gripping stories from the past and fascinating historical conversations with the world's leading historical experts. HistoryExtra is a free history podcast, with episodes released six times a week. Subscribe now for the real stories behind your favourite films, TV shows and period dramas, as well as compelling insights into lesser-known aspects of the past. We delve into global history stories spanning the ancient world right up to the modern day. You’ll hear deep dives into the lives of famous historical figures like Cleopatra, Anne Boleyn and Winston Churchill, and explorations of intriguing events from the past, such as the Salem witch trials, the battle of Waterloo and D-Day. Expect fresh takes on history, helping you get to grips with the latest research, as we explore everything from ancient Roman archaeology and Viking mythology to Renaissance royals and Tudor kings and queens. Our episodes touch on a wide range of historical eras – from the Normans and Saxons to the Stuarts, Victorians and the Regency period. We cover the most popular historical subjects, from the medieval world to the Second World War, but you’ll also hear conversations…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-19T22:18:48.611786+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/historyextra-podcast-746104"},"episode":{"title":"Cleopatra’s bloody rise to power","slug":"cleopatra-s-bloody-rise-to-power","published_at":"2026-05-30T23:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/historyextra-podcast-746104/cleopatra-s-bloody-rise-to-power","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/historyextra-podcast-746104","url":"https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSR8724755475.mp3","audio_url":"https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSR8724755475.mp3","summary":"From formidable overseas leaders to vicious internecine conflict, Cleopatra’s rise to the top was bloody and brutal. So what personal qualities did she draw upon to navigate these shifting sands? And should her success mean we see her in a new light? In the second episode of our four-part Sunday Series on the ancient queen’s life and world, Islam Issa – professor of public humanities at Birmingham City University – tells Matt Elton about the truth behind the myth. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Captivated by Cleopatra? Matt Elton has curated a collection of essential reading, listening and viewing from the HistoryExtra vaults to help bring the ancient queen to life: https://bit.ly/3Pgs3hv And don’t miss our HistoryExtra Academy, Royal Women with Professor Kate Williams, for more on some of the past’s most powerful female leaders – from Cleopatra to Elizabeth II: https://bit.ly/3PRpwue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices","meta_description":"From formidable overseas leaders to vicious internecine conflict, Cleopatra’s rise to the top was bloody and brutal. So what personal qualities did she dr…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1776,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/historyextra-podcast-746104/episodes/cleopatra-s-bloody-rise-to-power/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/historyextra-podcast-746104/cleopatra-s-bloody-rise-to-power.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}