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What We Did Before | Human Survival and Ancient Inventions

OG Podcasts - Pre Modern Life and Human History
Neanderthals
Migration
Refrigeration
Guernsey
Cleopatra
Agriculture
Smartphones
Showers
Bronze Age Mortuary Practices
Guernsey Deportees
Channel Islands
London
Bleach Packer
Music
Terracotta Army
Loch Ness Monster
Chemical Industry
Leblanc Process
Chocolate History
Jaynesian Consciousness

Before modern inventions and conveniences, humans had ingenious ways of solving problems. So how exactly did humans survive before fridges, without clothes or before surnames were invented? Find out the answers to these questions and more, right here. Hosted by Ollie Guillou.

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History

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Latest Episodes

šŸ’¬ Long before radar, armies relied on people with enormous metal trumpets strapped to their heads to listen for approaching aircraft. Aircraft listeners had the bizarre but vital job of detecting the sound of enemy planes, working in exposed positio... more

šŸ’¬ Herm island might just be home to the world’s smallest prison. And yet it’s not the world record holder - that title belongs to a very close neighbour. So why doesn’t Herm prison hold the record - and what was such a tiny jail used for?

⚔Herm is... more

šŸ’¬ Toshers had one of the most disgusting jobs of Victorian Britain. Searching the sewers of 19th century London, people would sieve through human sewage looking for discarded treasures. It’s a job that made them a lot of money - but came with many h... more

šŸ’¬ This is the deafening noise that powered Britain's Industrial Revolution. At its peak, thousands of men and women spent their days surrounded by the relentless clatter of weaving looms - a workplace so loud that many workers gradually lost their h... more

šŸ’¬ Shoes got a massive makeover 50 years ago, thanks to a boom in interest for running. A style that first emerged in the 1970s quickly became the dominant one - cushioned soles, elevated heels, narrow toes. And it’s the style we still see today. But... more

šŸ’¬ The Cumbria Clock Company has been home to many of Britain’s most famous and most historic clocks. In this workshop the likes of Big Ben, the Salisbury Cathedral Clock and the astronomical clock and Hampton Court Palace.

⚔ Keith Scobie-Youngs set... more

šŸ’¬ Archaeologists have found evidence of the oldest wooden handheld tools used by humans. Discovered in Greece, these ancient tools are around 430,000 years old.

⚔Dr Annemieke Milks is a palaeolithic archaeologist and part of the team which identifi... more

šŸ’¬ There’s a ruined archway sitting among the trees of my local park - but what grand building did it once belong to? A castle? A church? A grand manor house?

In this episode I take a trip to Worden Park in Leyland. Rich in history, this park was on... more

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Recent Guests

Korinne Le Page
Gold accredited Guernsey tour guide
Guernsey tour guide
Episode: Before Prisons: Local Justice & the World's Smallest Prison
Ian McKay
One of the people who runs Bancroft Mill Museum
Bancroft Mill Engine Museum
Episode: Before Cotton Left Britain: Inside Bancroft Mill Where The Weaving Looms Still Run
Steven Sashen
Founder of barefoot shoe company Xero
Xero Shoes
Episode: Before Cushioned Shoes: The 1970s Style That Changed Footwear Forever
Dr. Annemieke Milks
Paleolithic Archaeologist
Episode: Before Weapons: Unearthing Ancient Wooden Tools and Spears | Dr Annemieke Milks
Jason Monaghan
An archaeologist who has studied Guernsey's history in great detail and written books on the subject
Independent researcher / Author
Episode: Before Tax Havens: How Islands Have Reinvented Themselves For Millenia | Jason Monaghan
Judith Wilde
Heritage Manager at Catalyst Museum
Catalyst Museum
Episode: The Bleach Packer: One of the Worst Jobs of Victorian Britain | WWDB Highlights
Alicia Sanz-Royo
Lead researcher on the project discussed in the episode
Research team on Neanderthal tools
Episode: Before Tools: How Neanderthals Used Rhino Teeth, Vulture Bones and Deer Antlers
Natasha Solomons
Author of Cleopatra
Author
Episode: Before Social Media: How Cleopatra Turned Herself Into a Living God | Natasha Solomons
Mike Marshall
Guest expert on ancient human species
Author/Researcher on ancient humans
Episode: Before We Were The Last Human Species: When We Lived With Neanderthals

Hosts

Ollie Guillou
Host of What We Did Before | Human Survival and Ancient Inventions; main presenter and co-host
Matt
Co-host of What We Did Before

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Before Prisons: Local Justice & the World's Smallest Prison
Q: Why is Sark Prison considered the smallest functioning prison, and how does Herm Prison fit into that distinction?
Sark Prison is officially recognized as a functioning prison, which is why it holds the record, while Herm Prison wasn't used regularly as a jail and mostly served as a holding space during the quarrying era.
Before Chocolate: From Ritual Drink to Global Obsession | Spencer Hyman
Q: How did ancient people first consume cacao, and how did it evolve into modern chocolate?
Ancient people initially consumed cacao as a fermented pulp to make a light beer, then used the seeds to create drinks and later, with the discovery of grinding, conching, and the addition of ingredients like milk, chocolate transformed into the smooth, melt-in-your-mouth bars we know today.
The Bleach Packer: Your Questions Answered
Q: Why didn't they complain or push for better conditions?
Although well-paid for the time, the social and economic structure made it risky to complain; housing, employment, and community norms tied workers to their jobs, with some discussion of shared resentment among peers rather than formal opposition.
The Bleach Packer: Your Questions Answered
Q: How did workers protect themselves, and was PPE effective?
Protection was primitive—rag or fabric coverings, improvised goggles, and damp muzzles—designed more to reduce immediate exposure than to prevent long-term harm, indicating limited effectiveness by modern standards.
The Bleach Packer: Your Questions Answered
Q: What exactly was the toxic powder they were handling, and why was it so dangerous?
The powder came from the LeBlanc process to produce soda ash; it formed as a dust that could burn skin and eyes, necessitating improvised protection like damp fabric muzzles, goggles made from tins, and later, attempts at shielding the respiratory tract, all revealing the chronic exposure risk.

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Frequently Asked Questions About What We Did Before

What is What We Did Before about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program surveys the long arc of human history and pre-modern innovation through expert interviews and accessible storytelling. Episodes frequently center on archaeology, ancient civilizations, historical science, and the social meanings of material culture, often featuring researchers, museum professionals, and authors who bridge scholarship and public understanding. Notably, the show combines rigorous historical context with engaging narratives about how people lived, interacted, and adapted—from Bronze Age mortuary practices to the birth of industries and the evolution of ideas about the mind, migration, and technology. The format tends to balance scholarly depth with approachable storytelling, making it useful for listeners who enjo... more

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What We Did Before launched a year ago and published 43 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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Recent guests on What We Did Before include:

1. Korinne Le Page
2. Ian McKay
3. Steven Sashen
4. Dr. Annemieke Milks
5. Jason Monaghan
6. Judith Wilde
7. Alicia Sanz-Royo
8. Natasha Solomons

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