Rephonic
Artwork for After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

History Hit
Henry VIII
Black Death
French Revolution
Victorian Era
Jack the Ripper
Samuel Pepys
Ancient Egypt
London
Plague
Christianity
Stonehenge
Charles II
Titanic
Easter Rising
Thomas Cromwell
Salem Witch Trials
Witch Trials
Women's Rights
Anne Boleyn
Russian Revolution

This is After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds and the Paranormal. The podcast that takes you to the shadiest corners of the past, unpicking history’s spookiest, strangest, and most sinister stories.

Join historians Anthony Delaney and Maddy Pelling, every Monday and Thursday to take a look at the darker side of history. From haunted pubs and Houdini, to witch trials and weird UFO sightings.

After Dark: Myth... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes315Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryTrue Crime

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

Latest Episodes

This week we're revisiting a favourite episode set in New York at the end of the 20th century.

The year is 1897, and this murder case has it all: a villain, an incredibly useless police force, and a duck who saves the day.

The incredible Dr Cat Bye... more

The Magdalene Laundries existed throughout Ireland up until the late 20th century. Women and young girls were sent to these institutions that were run by orders of nuns. They were told they could not leave, and were forced to work - all because they ... more

Today we're delving back into the After Dark vaults to revisit our classic episode on the death of the short-lived Tudor queen.

In 1540 Henry VIII was getting old, and his eyes turned to teenager Catherine Howard.

He fell hard and fast for Catherin... more

The Chevalier d’Éon was one of France’s most daring spies... until they began making headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Armed with explosive state secrets and at the centre of a very public scandal over their identity, d’Éon went from trusted agen... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Paddy Melling
Author and historian, co-author of Queer Georgians
History Hit
Episode: 18th Century France's Most Outrageous Spy
Clare Mulley
Award-winning public historian and author
Author of Agent Zo, The Untold Story of a Fearless World War II Resistance Fighter
Episode: The Spy Who Fooled The Nazis
Jenny Benham
Professor of Medieval History at Cardiff University
Cardiff University
Episode: How To Be A Medieval Spy
Dr. Eleanor Baraclough
Historian; author of Embers of the Hands, Hidden Histories of the Viking Age
Self-identified historian; author
Episode: What Did The Vikings Do With Their Dead?
Estelle Paranque
Associate Professor of History at Northeastern University London; author
Northeastern University London
Episode: Murder In The Medici Court
Tim Harford
Host of the Cautionary Tales podcast, invited guest to discuss the R101
Cautionary Tales / BBC History
Episode: Britain's Worst Airship Disaster
Dr. Kate Lister
Author and researcher featured on the episode
Betwixt the Sheets; History Hit podcast
Episode: The Woman Who Had Sex With Ghosts
Rose Wallis
Professor of British Social History, University of the West of England Bristol
University of the West of England Bristol
Episode: The Tragic Execution of a Victorian Murderess
Ashley Douglas
Author of With My Own Hand, expert on Marie Maitland
Author, History Hit affiliate
Episode: The Secret Lesbian Affair under Mary Queen of Scots

Hosts

Anthony Delaney
Host of After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal
Maddy Pelling
Co-host of the show
Kate Lister
Guest co-host, Betwixt the Sheets; History Hit podcast

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 6.5k ratings
  • Amazing!

    Omg I love this podcast so much! I found it recently, and now it is literally all that I listen to. It is so well researched and they set the scene so well. I have a suggestion for something to talk about on the podcast, which is the Green Children of Woolpit, and I think it is something worth looking into.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Crazyhistorynerd
    United States22 days ago
  • Pronunciation

    Truly shocked at the number of pronunciation errors from historians.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    profch
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Moby Dick FYI

    LOVE LOVE LOVE your podcast! I’ve been listening about 8 months and I’m so hooked! Fabulous topics. Usually excellent guests. I particularly appreciate how well both of you expertly set the scene on so many with the atmosphere descriptions and superbly written narratives. I also appreciate how you often point out alternative interpretations to yours. Thats balance! FYI on Moby Dick since neither of you have read it. I believe you will be as pleasantly surprised as I was. Give it a go and let us ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    L Goche
    United Statesa month ago
  • No more lip smacking

    I love that Maddy is beck but can she stop snacking her lips or at least edit that out, such a misophonia trigger

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    PBalla84
    United Statesa month ago
  • Annoying

    Started out so promising and interesting! So much chattering on and diving down off topic rabbit holes and talking over each other that I started to learn more about the hosts’ book preferences and museum jaunts than about the actual history that I was there for. Couldn’t make it through an episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    RaisedinLA
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

High regard for scholarly guests and rigor in source discussion.
Guests are well researched and the hosts bring engaging, accessible storytelling.
Positive feedback on engaging narrative style and humor balancing heavy topics.
Some listeners note strong opinions and banter; a few prefer fewer interruptions.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Brutal Murder of Catherine Howard
Q: How did Catherine navigate the dangers of the Tudor court?
She used her social visibility, alliances with trusted ladies-in-waiting, and her own sense of agency to maneuver through court politics, though personal relationships and past scandals created vulnerabilities that were exploited by rivals and husbands alike.
The Brutal Murder of Catherine Howard
Q: Tell us who Catherine Howard was at this point in Tudor history.
Catherine was the younger daughter of a noble family who rose rapidly to become Henry VIII's wife and queen, renowned for her beauty, charm, and political acumen within a court full of intrigue, before being sidelined and ultimately executed amid accusations and a volatile power struggle.
The Spy Who Fooled The Nazis
Q: When did the moniker Agent Zo come into use, and why was it chosen?
Zo adopted multiple wartime noms de guerre, but Agent Zo stuck because it carried personal significance; it honored two close women in her life and embodied a tribute to female comrades who served alongside her.
The Secret Lesbian Affair under Mary Queen of Scots
Q: Who was Marie Maitland and why is her poetry significant?
Marie Maitland was a 16th-century Scottish poet and secretary to her blind father, Sir Richard Maitland. Her work, especially the Maitland Quarto Manuscript, includes lesbian love poems attributed to women and showcases bold female self-expression in a repressive Calvinist context.
Most Famous Murder In Ancient Egypt
Q: How did the conspiracy unfold and who stood to gain from it?
The plot appears to have centered on Tea and her allies at court, attempting to position Pentawer as heir over Ramesses IV, with a broad network of officials and household members implicated in a staged coup.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

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

A history-focused show that pairs enthusiastic hosts with scholarly guests to unpack the darker corners of the past. Episodes cover Viking death rituals, shipwrecks and maritime disasters that inspired classic literature, mutinies and naval leadership, high-profile murders and political intrigues, as well as lesser-known episodes in witch trials, sex education history, and royal intrigue. The tone blends rigorous analysis with accessible storytelling, humor, and vivid scene-setting, often bringing on subject-matter experts to ground debate in archival sources and archaeology. A notable strength is its habit of balancing primary sources, secondary scholarship, and engaging counterpoints, which can spark thoughtful conversations for listeners... more

Where can I find podcast stats for this podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to this podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does this podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for this podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for this podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for this podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does this podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers this podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Not Just the Tudors
2. Gone Medieval
3. Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society
4. Dan Snow's History Hit
5. The Ancients

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 3 years ago and published 315 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact this podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for this podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for this podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for this podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of this podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Paddy Melling
2. Clare Mulley
3. Jenny Benham
4. Dr. Eleanor Baraclough
5. Estelle Paranque
6. Tim Harford
7. Dr. Kate Lister
8. Rose Wallis

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days