We've talked a lot about pirates over the last few episodes, so in this Unearthed special I chat to Alex Barker from the Be More Pirate movement, about what pirates and the Golden Age of Piracy can mean for you today.

He sailed the seas in search of pirates, but the world that he thought supported him, would turn against him - branding him a pirate instead. This episode examines the trial and aftermath of Scottish born pirate Captain William Kidd. Was he a notorious vi

Captain William Kidd is a name that permeates pirate lore, but what is less discussed are his Scottish routes. But was this man a terror of the high seas, or patriotic privateer? What's the difference between pirates and privateers anyway? Join me in the

What led Scottish born Allan Pinkerton to track down one of America's most notorious outlaws? Jesse James is a house hold name to many, but in this episode we unearth the legend of both Pinkerton and James, to find out what brought these two men on a mass

Did you know that the founder of the American secret service was from Glasgow? This week I take a look at the life of Allan Pinkerton, founder of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, and how he and his crew foiled a plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln

Who fired the starter gun for equality? Is there someone out there who pioneered centuries of furious debate for women's rights? This is the story of a Dundee born legend whose legacy resonates with us today - despite her being side-lined by history. How

In 1848, two naval ships went missing in the Arctic ice. The British Navy believed it was on the cusp of discovering the first navigable link in the Northwest Passage, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by traversing the roof of Canada. But, this

It's here - the third season of Unearthed! This time, I take a look at prominent Scots who fled the homeland to chase a better life in the New World - the good, the bad, and the mad.Episode one lands Wednesday 11th August, wherever you get your podcasts

Welcome to the History Sideshow! This week I take a look at Mary Slessor who sailed for Nigeria in 1876 - but should she be revered today in the light of damage caused by white-saviourism and voluntourism? I'll also address something quite personal to me

Welcome to the History Sideshow - my weekly podcast that runs in between the main Unearthed seasons.This week Ryan returns to the Covenanters Prison and the infamous Bluidy George Mackenzie, to sift out the poltergeist from the pretence, as well as high