Empire

Goalhanger

Islam

Endeavour

Muhammad

Iran

Sasanian Empire

Joseph Banks

Persia

Timur

James Cook

Nader Shah

Byzantine Empire

Zoroastrianism

Roman Empire

Alexander Dalrymple

Captain James Cook

HMS Endurance

Antarctica

Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition

South Georgia

Ferdowsi

The rise and fall of empires, rulers, and the events that shaped world history. William Dalrymple and Anita Anand explore the intricate stories of revolutions, imperial wars, and the people who built and lost empires. From the British Empire to the Ottomans to Ancient India, history is shaped by power struggles and territorial conquests. How does it continue to affect the world today? Empire Club:... more

14.7k ratings

Publishes	Twice weekly	Episodes	376	Founded	3 years ago
Number of Listeners		Category	History

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Latest Episodes

314. Rudyard Kipling: Villain or Visionary? (Part 3)

Should we still read Kipling today? What family tragedy did Kipling face in the later half of his life? How did he fan the flames of jingoism during and after the First World War?

William is reunited with Anita to discuss Rudyard Kipling’s later lif... more

9 Dec 2025 • 47 min

313. Rudyard Kipling: Escaping India & Writing The Jungle Book (Part 2)

What inspired Kipling to write his two most famous works: The Jungle Book and Kim? Why did Kipling hate London and swiftly move to the US? How did Kipling develop such astute observational writing about Anglo-Indians in his early twenties?

William i... more

4 Dec 2025 • 33 min

312. Rudyard Kipling: Son of Empire (Part 1)

Rudyard Kipling was one of the most evocative writers of India, yet he was a jingoist and an imperialist until his dying day. So how do we grapple with this conundrum, why was Kipling such a man of contradiction? In this episode we explore his early... more

2 Dec 2025 • 25 min

311. Cricket In India: Beating The Brits At Their Own Game (Part 2)

How did Britain’s imperial game become so popular in India? Why were India’s princes the ‘nepo babies’ of cricket? How does the legacy of Partition continue to affect matches in India and Pakistan today?

Anita and William are joined once again by Ti... more

27 Nov 2025 • 41 min

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Recent Guests

Tim Wigmore

Author and lead cricket correspondent for The Daily Telegraph

The Daily Telegraph

Episode: 310. The Origin of The Ashes & The Killer Cricket Scandal (Part 1)

Anna Funder

Author of 'Wifedom: Mrs Orwell's Invisible Life'

Episode: 305. Orwell: Dark Secrets, The CIA, & His Forgotten Failures (Part 4)

Caroline Elkins

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author of Legacy of Violence

Harvard University

Episode: 298. Gaza: The British Occupation of Palestine (Part 8)

Eugene Rogan

Author of 'The Arabs' and 'The Fall of The Ottomans'

Episode: 296. Ottoman Gaza: Gunpowder Conquests & Rising Nationalism (Part 6)

Jonathan Phillips

Professor of Crusading History at Royal Holloway College, University of London

Royal Holloway College, University of London

Episode: 295. Crusader Gaza: Saladin & Richard The Lionheart (Part 5)

Peter Sarris

Professor of Late Antique Medieval and Byzantine Studies at the University of Cambridge

University of Cambridge

Episode: 294. Gaza & The Islamic Conquest (Part 4)

Joe Quinn

Professor of Ancient History at Cambridge, author of How the World Made the West

Cambridge University

Episode: 291. Ancient Gaza: The Philistines (Part 1)

Anirudh Kanisetti

Author and historian focusing on the Chola Empire

Independent Author

Episode: 290. Medieval India’s Alexander The Great: The Cholas (Part 2)

Alex von Tunselman

Author of Blood and Sand

Episode: 286. Suez Crisis: Hungary Revolts & Britain Bombs Egypt (Part 3)

Hosts

Anita Anand

Co-host with a background in history and journalism, guiding conversations with insightful questions and engaging narratives.

William Dalrymple

Co-host and historian with extensive knowledge of imperial history and cultural narratives, known for his engaging storytelling style.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 14.7k ratings

Extraordinary show!
What an incredible show! I’ve just discovered it and am listening to the first season on the East India Company and beyond. I’ve learnt do so much. The learning, research, passion and humanity of our two lovely hosts make this an absolute must-listen! Thank you. Keep em coming’, please
Apple Podcasts
5
The Last Man in Europe
United Kingdoma month ago
Colonel
Quite entertaining, but not as entertaining as the Carry-on films, but as historically accurate.
In Anand world, all white men bad and all white men are worse if English.
Both she and her catspaw ignore acknowledged historical facts which do not agree with their perceptions e.g. slavery existed before the Europeans, especially the English arrived (and that slavery still continues today; Dalits, caste system); that the actual original source / land (therefore ownership) of the Koh-i-Noor is clai... more
Apple Podcasts
2
MoreExperiencedAndTravelled
United Kingdoma month ago
Excellent
Complicated history explained in an engaging and thoughtful dialogue. Perfect over morning coffee.
Apple Podcasts
5
Hey hey 12345
United Statesa month ago
The modern Ashurbanipal or Alexandria
A genuine modern-day jewel in the publishing universe. I find myself drawn to the unique chemistry of broadcaster , story-teller, historian and observer that can all be found in “Empire”. The respect for knowledge, both acquired and communicated, is genuinely appreciated. The velvet voice and razor-sharp focus for the story of Anita Anand combining with the intellect and passionately objective observations of a lifetime from William Dalrymple added to the stellar and unrivaled expert guests we ... more
Apple Podcasts
5
Aesychlus
Australiaa month ago
What could be a good podcast
This could be an excellent podcast if it was not for William’s imperialistic ideas! Thank God for Anita…
Apple Podcasts
2
Another history lover
United Kingdoma month ago

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Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some episodes attract criticism for perceived bias in historical narratives, urging for a more balanced exploration of contentious topics.

Listeners appreciate the engaging storytelling and expert guests, enhancing the understanding of complex historical topics.

The discussions are insightful and well-researched, providing thoughtful perspectives on historical events.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Spotify	#24	United States/History
Apple Podcasts	#17	United States/History
Spotify	#126	United Kingdom/Top Podcasts
Spotify	#6	United Kingdom/History
Spotify	#130	United Kingdom/Trending
Apple Podcasts	#48	United Kingdom/Top Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

310. The Origin of The Ashes & The Killer Cricket Scandal (Part 1)

Q: What happens at the match at the Oval when this match was even announced? What was the mood like?

The mood was filled with tension as people anticipated the match, and indeed, it attracted a large crowd of 20,000 spectators, all eager to witness the rivalry.

310. The Origin of The Ashes & The Killer Cricket Scandal (Part 1)

Q: Tell us about Captain Ivo Bly, because he also, he looks like he should be captaining the Titanic. What can you tell us about him?

Ivo Bly was born Lord of the Manor of Cobham, very privileged, went to Eton and Trinity College in Cambridge, and he was known for his highly privileged upbringing.

299. Gaza: The Palestinian Revolt, The Black and Tans, & Bomber Harris (Part 9)

Q: Can I ask you, Caroline, I mean, I don't know whether I'm just sort of seeing parallels where there are none, but to me, that's to say the Al-Husseini's and Al-Qassam, this is a dynamic which seems familiar in, again, the India-Pakistan context.

First of all, it's a wonderful historical parallel that you're drawing. We certainly see this not just in the case of India, but as we move forward, we're going to see this in Mongolia, we're going to see it in Kenya.

299. Gaza: The Palestinian Revolt, The Black and Tans, & Bomber Harris (Part 9)

Q: And give us a little bit history of the concentration camp. I think it begins in the Boer War, doesn't it?

Yes, and so the British are synonymous with the introduction of concentration camps within the Western Hemisphere for sure, and in general. First, it's introduced in South Africa.

299. Gaza: The Palestinian Revolt, The Black and Tans, & Bomber Harris (Part 9)

Q: Caroline, one thing that happens at a lower level, you've got the leadership being exiled or elements of it being co-opted. But at the lower level, at the village level, you have appearing in Palestine now, a word which is going to have very ominous echoes throughout the 1930s and 1940s, and that is the concentration camp.

The British are synonymous with the introduction of concentration camps within the Western Hemisphere for sure, and in general. First, it's introduced in South Africa. They then experiment with this in different ways with refugee camps. In India, we see this going on. We see experts being brought in as people are dying in mass in South Africa from disease, largely.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Empire

What is Empire about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A comprehensive exploration of the intricate narratives surrounding the rise and fall of empires and their lasting impacts on global history characterizes the content. The discussions often highlight notable empires like the British Empire, the Ottomans, and significant periods in Ancient India, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of imperial power struggles, revolutions, and their consequences on contemporary society. This content not only aims to inform listeners about historical events but also strives to illuminate how these past occurrences continue to shape modern geopolitical dynamics. Featuring expert guests and in-depth analysis, the exploration often weaves personal stories with broader historical themes, making the subject matter... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Empire?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Empire:

1. The Rest Is Classified
2. The Rest Is History
3. The Rest Is Politics
4. The Rest Is Politics: US
5. Journey Through Time

How many episodes of Empire are there?

Empire launched 3 years ago and published 376 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Empire?

Recent guests on Empire include:

1. Tim Wigmore
2. Anna Funder
3. Caroline Elkins
4. Eugene Rogan
5. Jonathan Phillips
6. Peter Sarris
7. Joe Quinn
8. Anirudh Kanisetti

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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