Shows
Rearview Mirror ChroniclesThe Congo - The Nightmare Begins - Part OneSend us a textIt is one of the darkest chapters in human history, and yet—astonishingly—one of the least known. At the turn of the 20th century, deep in the uncharted heart of Africa, a vast swathe of land nearly eighty times the size of Belgium was transformed into a private slaughterhouse. Not by an empire. Not by a government. But by a single man, King Leopold II of Belgium.This is not just a tale of colonial greed. It’s a story of terror disguised as civilisation. Of rubber quotas enforced with severe...
2025-08-031h 12Rearview Mirror ChroniclesThe Mitfords Revisited: Saints, Sinners, and ScandalSend us a textLast year, our deep-dive into the wild world of the Mitford sisters ruffled a few aristocratic feathers and sparked a torrent of listener emails. The question that echoed through every message was simple, but loaded: Were they all bad?In this follow-up episode, Keith peels back the layers of myth, gossip, and public outrage to look at the whole Mitford clan, this time, including the much-overlooked brother, Tom, and their delightfully eccentric parents. We venture beyond the headlines about fascists and communists, parties and poultry, to ask if it’s possible fo...
2025-06-1919 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesMaster of Shadows: The Ruthless World of Robert CecilSend us a textLet’s begin in the shadows. London, 1603. The city is thick with smoke, secrets, and the scent of betrayal. Beneath the grand stone facades of Elizabethan power, a network of spies weaves through taverns, palaces, and plague-ridden streets. In this world, trust is a luxury—and survival depends on knowing what others don’t.At the heart of it all: Robert Cecil. Hunchbacked, sharp-eyed, and more dangerous than any blade in the night. Cecil isn’t just Elizabeth I’s spymaster—he’s the spider at the centre of the web, pulling the st...
2025-06-0747 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesNicholas Flamel: The Immortal AlchemistSend us a textThey say he died in the fourteenth century. But his tomb was empty. No body. No bones. Just silence.Nicholas Flamel—a name etched into dusty grimoires and whispered in secret circles. A medieval scribe who, legend claims, unlocked the secrets of the Philosopher’s Stone. Gold from lead. Life from death. Immortality.For over six centuries, he’s been spotted across Europe—unchanged. Ageless. Watching. Join Keith as he opens the ancient doors and steps into the shadows, where fact and fable bleed together. Was Flamel just a clever m...
2025-04-1640 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesThrones of Blood: Rome’s Darkest EmperorsSend us a textHow monstrous were Rome’s emperors? Was Caligula truly mad enough to declare war on the sea? Did Nero really watch Rome burn while playing his lyre? And were these men depraved by nature—or crafted that way by the sharpened pen of Suetonius?In his Lives of the Caesars, written in 121 AD, Suetonius offers a series of intimate autopsies on power—twelve rulers, stripped bare. From Julius Caesar to the tyrant Domitian, we’re shown men unhinged by absolute control, consumed by paranoia, cruelty, lust, and madness. But how much of it wa...
2025-04-0130 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesMalta - The Greatest Siege in HistorySend us a textPicture this: A sun-scorched island in the heart of the Mediterranean. A desperate band of knights, vastly outnumbered, stands against the might of an empire. It is the year 1565, and the Ottoman war machine—30,000 strong—has arrived on the shores of Malta, determined to wipe the Knights of St. John off the face of the earth. But what follows is not just a battle—it is one of the most ferocious and awe-inspiring sieges in history. For four months, against impossible odds, the defenders of Malta held firm, fighting tooth and nail for surviv...
2025-03-0647 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesBanking Collapses: When Empires Eat ThemselvesSend us a textMoney builds empires. But when it dies, it drags entire civilizations down with it.From the marble halls of ancient Rome to the glass towers of modern Wall Street, financial collapse has haunted humanity like a recurring nightmare. In this episode of Rearview Mirror Chronicles, we open the vault on three devastating meltdowns: a liquidity crisis in 33 AD that brought the Roman elite to their knees, the South Sea Bubble of 1720 that turned speculation into madness, and the 2008 fall of Lehman Brothers—the spark that set the global economy on fire....
2025-02-1835 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesThe Madman’s Library: Bound in Flesh, Written in BloodSend us a textWelcome to the Madman’s Library—a place not of learning, but of unraveling.Here, books do not enlighten. They whisper. They bleed. They rot. Grimoires etched in rust-black ink speak in tongues never meant for human mouths. Manuscripts stitched from flayed skin stare back with hollowed faces. Blood-written ravings of prophets long dead pulse with delusion, disease, and dread.This is a collection shaped not by reason, but by obsession. By the need to conjure, to control, to curse. Each spine cracked open reveals anot...
2025-02-1145 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesPanama Canal: A Corridor of CorpsesSend us a textThe Panama Canal wasn't built, it was bled into existence.What began in the 1880s as a grand French dream quickly unraveled into a nightmare. Led by Ferdinand de Lesseps, the man who conquered the Suez, workers fell by the thousands, claimed by malaria, yellow fever, and the jungle itself. The earth collapsed. The money vanished. And the dream rotted in the heat.Then came the Americans. But they didn’t just dig—they schemed. With silent backing, Panama was carved off from Colombia in a staged revolution. In 1904, with...
2025-02-0134 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesGreatness Demands BloodSend us a textWhat does it mean to be great—truly great? Once, the title was thundered through history: Alexander the Great, Catherine the Great, Peter the Great. It meant something vast, undeniable—power, vision, audacity, and impact that bent the world.But today? The word feels… dusty. Loaded. Hesitant.In this episode, Keith asks the uncomfortable questions: What really defines greatness? Is it conquest, cultural legacy, or something deeper? Have we moved beyond the age of towering individuals—or are we simply afraid to name greatness when we see it?From a...
2025-01-3031 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesAlexander: The Shadow Before the Storm – Part TwoSend us a textAs Alexander the Great marched into the scorched lands of India, his ambition had become something more than hunger, it was obsession. At the banks of the Hydaspes, he faced King Porus and a wall of war elephants, beasts bred for terror and destruction. The battle was brutal, primal—thunder, blood, and chaos. But Alexander won. He always won.Porus, broken but unbent, became his ally. Yet even as Alexander looked east, dreaming of the Ganges and empires beyond, his men—worn, blood-soaked, and hollowed by years of conquest, refused to go a...
2025-01-2455 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesThe Great Fire of London - The Ashes of 1666Send us a textIn the early hours of September 1666, a single spark in a baker’s shop ignited an unstoppable force—one that would consume the very soul of London. Within days, fire swallowed over 13,000 homes, St. Paul’s Cathedral crumbled in flames, and the sky above the Thames burned red.But this was more than a fire. It was judgment. It was reckoning. It was rebirth.What began in the glow of a dying oven became a storm of smoke and terror—panic in the streets, whispers of conspiracy, and the collapse...
2025-01-0440 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesChristmas: A Spell Cast in TimeSend us a textFrom humble beginnings in a Bethlehem stable to the firelit pages of Dickensian London… from the legend of a gift-giving bishop who became Santa Claus to the thunderous silence of the trenches on Christmas Day 1914, where enemies became men and played football in no-man’s-land—we uncover the heart of a holiday that refuses to be forgotten.We'll delve into sacred stories, centuries-old traditions, and the bold reforms that tried to reshape them. Discover how a single ghost story reignited the spirit of giving, and how myth, memory, and meaning turned Decemb...
2024-12-2734 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesKipling’s Shadow: The Dark Wisdom of 'If—' and 'The Two-Sided ManSend us a textRudyard Kipling’s If— and The Two-Sided Man aren’t just poems—they’re survival guides wrapped in verse. Fierce, honest, and deeply human, they capture the struggle to stay balanced in a world constantly pulling us apart.In this episode, Keith dives into the raw beauty of these two masterworks—and shares why they’ve stayed with him through life’s storms. These aren’t just words on a page; they’re mirrors, provocations, and quiet companions for when the world gets loud.Join him for a deeply personal journey int...
2024-12-0408 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesSliding Doors of HistorySend us a textWhat if history didn’t have to end the way it did?What ifs, those tantalising counterfactuals, are more than thought experiments. They’re portals into the unknown, where a single decision, a missed arrow, or a failed winter campaign could have rewritten the world. What if Alexander the Great had lived just ten more years? What if Napoleon had turned back before the snows of Russia swallowed his army whole?This isn't just speculation. It's storytelling with the brakes off. It’s history on a knife’s edge.Joi...
2024-11-2855 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesSea Wolf Rising – Part ThreeSend us a textIn the fading light of empire, Lord Thomas Cochrane stood not as a relic—but as a scar that refused to fade.Once branded a traitor, imprisoned, and cast into disgrace, Cochrane should have disappeared into the margins of history. Instead, he became something more dangerous: unbound. Exiled from the Royal Navy, he sailed for foreign shores—not to rest, but to ignite revolutions. In Chile, Brazil, and Greece, he unleashed fire on the sea, toppling tyrants and outwitting navies with a fury sharpened by betrayal.Decades later, battered by t...
2024-11-2153 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesSea Wolf Rising – Part TwoSend us a textIt was nightfall when hell was unleashed on the sea.In 1809, Thomas Lord Cochrane—brilliant, reckless, and already feared—led a fleet of fire and bomb ships into the mouth of the Basque Roads. The French fleet lay anchored and complacent. Within moments, they were in chaos.Cochrane’s infernal vessels, packed with explosives and flame, tore through the darkness like phantoms. The French, blind with panic, cut their anchor lines and scattered. Many ran aground on the shoals—helpless, burning, broken.It should have been a total an...
2024-10-2359 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesPompeii: Where the Living Turned to StoneSend us a textIt happened in an instant. A roar from the earth, the sky turned black—and then silence.The ancient city of Pompeii was buried alive in 79 AD beneath a tidal wave of ash and fire, its people frozen in their final, desperate moments. Some cowered. Others ran. None escaped. The pyroclastic surge hit at 400 miles per hour—incinerating, suffocating, and sealing a vibrant Roman world in a tomb of volcanic ash.Two thousand years later, the city still stands—walls whispering stories, shadows etched into stone. Loaves of bread still...
2024-10-1048 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesThe Crown’s Forgotten GhostSend us a textAphra Behn wasn’t just the first Englishwoman to earn a living with her pen—she was a spy, a subversive, and a survivor in a world that wanted women silent. Behind her Restoration comedies and daring satires was a double life of danger and deception, as she slipped across borders and between allegiances, working as an agent for the Crown.Born in mystery, raised in defiance, Aphra navigated the male-dominated underworld of both politics and literature with sharpened wit and quiet fury. She seduced, she provoked, she vanished into coded lett...
2024-09-2935 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesRubicon: The Death of the Republic – Part OneSend us a textThe year is 49 BC, and Rome is rotting from within—gripped by corruption, paranoia, and the brittle illusion of order.On the banks of the Rubicon, beneath a grey, cold sky, one man stands poised to tear the Republic apart. Julius Caesar—general, statesman, would-be saviour or tyrant—knows that crossing this shallow river means one thing: civil war. The Senate has ordered him to surrender. His enemies wait in Rome, knives drawn and oaths broken.But Caesar does not blink.With one step into the water, he mak...
2024-09-1534 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesEchoes in the Silence: Poetry for When the World Feels HeavySend us a textKeith has a cold this week (cue the tiny violins), so the deep-dive history episode will have to wait. But don’t worry—he’s not leaving you empty-handed. Instead, he’s taking you on a thrilling poetic detour through eight of the most powerful poems ever written. Think of it as soul fuel for stormy days.From the raw defiance of Invictus to the quiet thunder of The Road Not Taken, from the unstoppable fire of Still I Rise to the urgent rage of Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Nig...
2024-09-0731 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesBloomsbury: Art, Obsession, and RuinSend us a textThey shattered convention with every stroke of the pen and brush—and tore through each other’s lives in the process.The Bloomsbury Group wasn’t just a circle of intellectuals—it was a volatile mix of writers, artists, and thinkers who lived and loved on the edge of propriety. Virginia Woolf haunted the edges of genius and madness. Her sister, painter Vanessa Bell, reimagined beauty on her own terms. Economist John Maynard Keynes rewrote the rules of capitalism by day—and defied societal norms by night. Lytton Strachey, Duncan Grant, E.M. Forst...
2024-08-3043 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesFreemasons: Cloaks, Daggers, and Awkward HandshakesSend us a textThey’ve been blamed for everything from world domination to hiding the Ark of the Covenant—yet they still can’t agree on who brings the biscuits to the meeting.The Freemasons: part medieval guild, part secret society, part boys’ club with an obsession for aprons, compasses, and handshakes that no one outside the lodge is supposed to understand. For centuries, they’ve operated behind closed doors, fueling suspicion, fascination, and enough conspiracy theories to fill a Dan Brown novel... or twelve.From stonemasons to statesmen, George Washington to Mozart, th...
2024-08-241h 02Rearview Mirror ChroniclesNapoleon - The Greatest Art Thief of All TimeSend us a textNapoleon Bonaparte wasn’t just a military genius; he was also one of history’s most audacious art thieves. During his campaigns across Europe, he systematically looted countless masterpieces, amassing an unparalleled collection of art for France. His most notorious haul came from Italy, where he plundered treasures like the "Laocoön and His Sons" and "The Wedding at Cana," transporting them back to Paris. These works filled the Louvre, which Napoleon envisioned as the grand “Musée Napoléon,” a symbol of his empire's cultural dominance. His legacy in the art world is a double...
2024-08-1737 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesRobin Hood - The Wolf of SherwoodSend us a textDeep in the tangled heart of Sherwood Forest, beneath the canopy of ancient oaks and whispered rebellion, a shadow moved—swift, silent, and merciless to the powerful.Robin Hood. Outlaw. Hero. Ghost.With his band of hardened men—Little John, Will Scarlet, and Friar Tuck—they didn’t just defy the Sheriff of Nottingham… they waged a brutal, guerrilla war against a world rotten with injustice. And beside him stood Maid Marian—not a delicate damsel, but a fierce force in her own right, bound by loyalty, love, and blood.
2024-08-081h 02Rearview Mirror ChroniclesBlack Lei: The Death of the Hawaiian KingdomSend us a textIt was a coup masked as diplomacy, a theft veiled in legality, and the death knell of a kingdom.In 1893, Queen Liliʻuokalani, Hawaiʻi’s first and last reigning queen—was overthrown not by her people, but by a cabal of American and European businessmen who hungered for land, sugar, and power. Backed by U.S. Marines and cloaked in false legitimacy, they moved swiftly, ruthlessly. The queen was forced to surrender her throne under threat of violence, believing justice would prevail. It didn’t.Her appeals to Presiden...
2024-08-0354 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesNelson’s Last Command: Blood and Glory at TrafalgarSend us a textOctober 21, 1805. The sea churns red off the coast of Spain. Smoke coils through the rigging. The air is thick with fire, splinters, and screams.This is Trafalgar.In a daring break from tradition, Admiral Horatio Nelson orders his ships into two columns—charging headlong into the heart of the Franco-Spanish fleet. It’s a suicide maneuver. But it works. Chaos erupts. Hulls are smashed, decks drenched in blood, and the ocean becomes a floating graveyard.At the center of it all, aboard HMS Victory, stands Nelson—undaunted, expose...
2024-07-2657 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesAgatha Christie - The Missing Eleven DaysSend us a textShe vanished into the night—leaving behind a crashed car, a fur coat, and silence.In December 1926, Agatha Christie, the most famous mystery writer in the world, became the center of a chilling mystery of her own. Her car was found abandoned on the edge of a quarry. Her belongings were still inside. For eleven days, there was no sign of her—no note, no clues, no trail. Just a growing sense of dread.A nationwide manhunt unfolded. Police. Bloodhounds. Public hysteria. Was she dead? Kidnapped? Or hiding from some...
2024-07-1833 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesThe Kaaba: Where Heaven Meets EarthSend us a textAt the heart of Mecca, encircled by millions of footsteps and centuries of devotion, stands a structure like no other.The Kaaba—draped in black silk, inscribed with threads of gold—radiates a quiet majesty. Revered as the most sacred site in Islam, it draws pilgrims from every corner of the globe in a powerful, unifying act of faith known as Tawaf. But beyond its physical form lies a profound spiritual legacy.Believed to have been built by the Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail, the Kaaba is not just...
2024-07-1243 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesGeorge Orwell - 1984 Wasn’t Fiction!Send us a textGeorge Orwell didn’t just write about dystopias—he saw them forming in real time.British writer, journalist, and relentless truth-teller, Orwell carved his legacy not with idealism, but with unflinching clarity. His time in colonial Burma taught him the mechanics of imperial cruelty. The Spanish Civil War showed him how ideologies rot from within. And the grinding poverty of England stripped away any romanticism about the working class struggle.What emerged from that crucible were stories that cut like blades—Animal Farm, a deceptively simple fable that ends in bet...
2024-07-0757 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesThe Ninth: Legion of the VanishedSend us a textThey marched into the mists of the north—and were never seen again.The Ninth Legion, or Legio IX Hispana, was once the pride of Rome. Hardened in the blood-soaked fields of Hispania, forged in the fire of conquest, they carved their legacy across the Empire. But it was on the savage frontier of Britain—cold, wild, and seething with rebellion—that their story took a darker turn.By AD 117, they had vanished. No final dispatch. No battlefield account. Just silence.Had they been slaughtered in a brutal...
2024-06-3037 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesLetters of Note - Letters that Changed the WorldSend us a textThey’re whispers from the past—intimate, raw, and sometimes explosive.Historical letters aren’t just dusty pages in an archive—they’re secret windows into the minds of people who shaped the world. From declarations of love to calls for war, from quiet confessions to bold provocations, these handwritten messages capture the heartbeat of history in a way no textbook ever could.In this lively and eye-opening episode, Keith opens up a treasure trove of rare and revealing letters—Mark Antony’s passionate words about Cleopatra, Gandhi’s shockingly polit...
2024-06-2531 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesAmelia Earhart - The Woman Who Flew Into a LegendSend us a textShe soared where few dared to fly—and vanished without a trace.Amelia Earhart wasn’t just an aviator. She was a global sensation, a trailblazer who defied gravity, convention, and the limitations placed on women of her time. In 1932, she crossed the Atlantic alone, battling ice, storms, and a failing aircraft to land in a windswept Irish field—and land herself in the pages of history.But it wasn’t just her record-breaking flights that captivated the world—it was her courage, her charisma, and the tantalizing mystery that would...
2024-06-1950 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesThe Book ForgerSend us a textIn the smoky corners of 1930s London, where rare books changed hands like secret treasures, one man fooled them all.Thomas Wise wasn’t just a collector—he was a con artist of the highest order. Charming, cultured, and utterly ruthless, Wise forged "lost" literary masterpieces with such precision and flair that even the most seasoned bibliophiles were dazzled. First editions appeared out of thin air. Forgotten pamphlets took on priceless value. And no one suspected a thing—until it was far too late.His forgeries didn’t just fetch fo...
2024-06-1641 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesRudyard Kipling - The Voice of Empire & The Jungle BookSend us a textHe was the voice of empire, the spinner of jungle-born myths, and the poet who gave generations a blueprint for stoic manhood. Rudyard Kipling wasn’t just a writer—he was a force.From the dense, dangerous wilds of The Jungle Book to the espionage-laced backstreets of Kim, Kipling's stories pulsed with adventure, wonder, and the uneasy rhythms of colonial rule. His words carried the grandeur—and the weight—of the British Empire. He celebrated it. He questioned it. He embodied it.In this episode, Keith dives into the life of...
2024-06-1046 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesSilk and Scars: The Untold Darkness of Lady Mary Wortley MontaguSend us a textIn a world where women were meant to be silent, she chose to write. In an age of obedience, she chose to wander. And in a time of fear, she chose to challenge death itself.Lady Mary Wortley Montagu was no ordinary aristocrat. With a razor-sharp pen and a defiant heart, she stormed through the Ottoman Empire in the early 18th century, piercing the veil of the harem, chronicling a hidden world, and scandalising the salons of Europe with her fearless observations. Her letters dripped with intelligence, wit, and fire—and be...
2024-06-061h 02Rearview Mirror ChroniclesThe Scottish Wars of Independence - Part ThreeSend us a textThey were warriors, rebels, and legends—men who defied an empire and carved a nation’s destiny with steel and fire.William Wallace and Robert the Bruce stand as towering icons in Scottish history, their names etched in blood and glory. Wallace, the fearless outlaw with a mind for warfare and a heart that would not yield, led a ragtag force to a thunderous victory at Stirling Bridge—igniting a rebellion that would shake the very foundations of English power.His brutal execution in 1305 was meant to silence the cause...
2024-05-3053 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesThe Scottish Wars of Independence - Part TwoSend us a textThe Battle of Stirling Bridge wasn’t just a clash of armies—it was a calculated slaughter. Outnumbered and underestimated, the Scots—led by William Wallace and Andrew Moray—turned strategy into savagery. They didn’t just meet the English… they trapped them.As English troops marched blindly across the narrow wooden bridge, the Scots waited—silent, still, and merciless. Then, like a spring uncoiled, they struck. The bridge became a bottleneck, a death trap. Knights drowned in their armour. Soldiers were cut down in panic, one by one. There was nowhere to run...
2024-05-2632 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesThe Scottish Wars of Independence - Part OneSend us a textIt was a time of blood and betrayal, of kings and commoners rising in defiance.The Scottish War of Independence wasn’t just a battle for land—it was a roaring fight for identity, freedom, and survival. It all began in 1296, when Edward I of England—known as the Hammer of the Scots—marched north with fire and steel, determined to crush a nation that refused to bow.But Scotland was never going to go quietly.Join Keith as he unpacks the ruthless ambition behind Edward’s invasion a...
2024-05-2329 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesBarricades, Beatings, and Blood - Part TwoSend us a textHarry Potter may have cast a spell over millions—but the world that shaped it is far stranger, stricter, and darker than fiction lets on.Long before Hogwarts, there were other schools—real ones. Brutal, elite, and steeped in tradition. The British public school system, with its ancient rituals, rigid hierarchies, and often merciless discipline, shaped generations of boys… and inspired generations of stories. From The Hobbit to Narnia, from Tom Brown’s Schooldays to the corridors of Hogwarts, the line between fantasy and reality is thinner than it seems.In thi...
2024-05-221h 11Rearview Mirror ChroniclesThe Campbell's and the MacDonald's - The Massacre of GlencoeSend us a textThe snow fell silently on the morning of February 13, 1692—blanketing Glencoe in a cruel, deceptive peace. Inside the MacDonald homes, fires crackled, children slept, and the soldiers they had welcomed, fed, and trusted sharpened their blades.Then, just before dawn, the slaughter began.Under secret orders from the Crown, men who had eaten at MacDonald tables rose from their beds and turned on their hosts with cold, calculated violence. Muskets roared. Blades slashed. Families were butchered in their sleep. Those who escaped the carnage fled into the frozen wilderness—only...
2024-05-1928 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesPlagues and Pandemics - Does History Repeat Itself?Send us a textFrom the plague that tore through Athens during the Peloponnesian War… to the one that halved the Roman Empire… from the Black Death that turned medieval Europe into a graveyard… to the global chaos of the 1918 flu, and the modern shadows of SARS and COVID-19—pandemics have shaped the world far more than we like to admit.Far from being rare catastrophes, plagues are relentless visitors—toppling empires, collapsing economies, igniting fear, and rewriting the rules of society.In this powerful episode, join Keith as he traces the terrifying legacy of...
2024-05-1623 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesNapoleon - The Battle of WaterlooSend us a textJune 18, 1815 — the fields outside a quiet Belgian village erupted into one of the most decisive and brutal battles in history.The Battle of Waterloo wasn’t just the end of Napoleon’s reign—it was the moment Europe held its breath. Thunderous cannon fire, desperate cavalry charges, smoke-choked skies, and rain-soaked trenches set the stage for a final clash between destiny and downfall. On one side, the legendary Napoleon Bonaparte. On the other, the iron resolve of the Duke of Wellington and the relentless force of Blücher’s Prussians.What unfo...
2024-05-0639 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesRaiders of The Lost Ark - Where is The Ark of The Covenant?Send us a textFor thousands of years, it’s captivated prophets, kings, scholars—and treasure hunters.The Ark of the Covenant: part divine relic, part doomsday device, part unsolvable mystery. Was it a weapon of unimaginable power? A sacred chest holding the laws of God? Or a lost portal between the heavens and earth?From its thunderous presence in ancient battles to its eerie disappearance from history, the Ark has inspired fear, obsession, and awe. And no one truly knows where it is… or if it still exists at all.Join K...
2024-05-0559 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesBarricades, Beatings, and Blood - Part OneSend us a text“To be a boy at one of these schools was to be both tyrant and slave.”18th-century British public schools were meant to shape the leaders of empire—god-fearing, iron-willed, and unbreakable. But behind the ivy-covered walls lay something far darker.These were pressure cookers of violence, chaos, and cruelty. Students rebelled with barricades and pistols. They took hostages, fought off armed militias, and assassinated the headmaster’s pets. Hazing rituals were brutal. Teaching was often appalling. And somehow, it was all called character building.Even in the 20th...
2024-04-2559 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesLawrence of Arabia (T.E Lawrence) - Dreams in Sand and BloodSend us a textWho was Lawrence of Arabia—and why does his legend still burn so brightly more than a century later?Born Thomas Edward Lawrence, he was no ordinary soldier. Archaeologist, spy, warrior, and mythmaker, Lawrence plunged into the chaos of World War I and emerged a desert legend. With nothing but grit, vision, and a deep understanding of Arab culture, he united feuding tribes and waged a lightning war against the Ottoman Empire—turning the tide of history in the burning sands of the Middle East.But was he a hero...
2024-04-161h 02Rearview Mirror ChroniclesStories To Sleep By - Alana and The Secret Life of Trees at NightYou know how sometimes it's hard to fall asleep because you're thinking about all sorts of stuff? Well, stories help with that! They're like magic tricks for your brain. When you listen to a story, it makes your brain forget about the busy stuff and feel all cozy and relaxed. It's like a special signal to your body that it's time to get sleepy. So, when it's bedtime, listening to a nice story can help you feel calm and cozy, making it easier to close your eyes and drift off to dreamland."Stories to Sleep By" are...
2024-04-1118 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesThe East India Company - Part ThreeSend us a textIn 1857, the empire cracked.What the British called "The Indian Mutiny” was, to those who rose up, nothing less than the First War of Independence—a furious, bloody rebellion that turned fields into battlefields and cities into charnel houses. Sparked by long-simmering resentment and brutal injustices under East India Company rule, the uprising exploded into violence that would shake the very foundations of British imperial power.From sepoys refusing orders to civilians taking up arms, to the savage reprisals that followed, the revolt would end centuries of Company dominance and...
2024-03-2654 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesThe East India Company - Part TwoSend us a textWith the thunder of cannons at Plassey and Buxar, the East India Company didn’t just win battles—it seized a continent. Led by the cold and cunning Sir Robert Clive, a trading company became an empire in all but name.What followed was not just governance, but domination. The Company ruled with profit as its god and power as its weapon—its flag flying over a land it was draining dry.In this gripping episode, Keith dives into the brutal reality of Company Rule at its height in the ea...
2024-03-211h 00Rearview Mirror ChroniclesThe East India Company - Part OneSend us a textIt began as a scrappy Tudor startup—a handful of merchants chasing spice and fortune on the high seas. But what it became was something far more powerful... and far more dangerous.Join Keith as he unpacks the astonishing rise of the East India Company—how a modest trading venture grew into a corporate juggernaut that ruled over millions, commanded its own army, and reshaped the destiny of an entire subcontinent.This is the story of ambition without limits, profit without mercy, and how one company outgrew kings and empi...
2024-03-151h 07Rearview Mirror ChroniclesIs Trump Caesar or Nixon?Send us a textPower, paranoia, and the slow erosion of democracy—sound familiar?In this gripping episode, Keith asks a provocative question: Is Donald Trump a modern-day Caesar, hell-bent on holding power at any cost? Or is he merely walking in the disgraced footsteps of Richard Nixon?With sharp insight and a touch of irreverence, Keith draws uncanny parallels between the backrooms of the 1970s White House and the shadowy intrigues of ancient Rome—where ambition reigned, enemies vanished, and the line between politics and personal vengeance blurred to nothing.From...
2024-03-1037 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesLe Marquis de Sade - Philosopher of PleasureSend us a textHe was born into privilege but walked straight into darkness. The man who gave his name to sadism, the Marquis de Sade was more than just a libertine—he was a storm of perversion, philosophy, and pure chaos.Aristocrat. Writer. Monster. Prophet of a world stripped of morality.Sade had a strange, sinister talent: the power to corrupt. Those around him—servants, lovers, even jailers—were drawn into his orbit and dragged into his twisted games. He was too depraved for the monarchy, too dangerous for the revolutionaries, and too un...
2024-03-011h 00Rearview Mirror ChroniclesThe Furies - Goddesses of VengeanceSend us a textThe gods of Ancient Greece weren’t just worshiped, they were feared, loved, envied, and blamed. From the stormy heights of Mount Olympus, they toyed with mortals, changed destinies, and waged wars of passion and pride.But few were as terrifying, or as relentless, as the Furies.Born of blood and vengeance, these goddesses weren’t interested in prayers. They hunted the guilty, haunted the wicked, and exacted divine retribution with ruthless precision.In this episode, Keith dives deep into the shadowy realm of the Furies—who they w...
2024-02-2526 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesPythagoras - The Hypotenuse WhispererSend us a textWhen you hear the name Pythagoras, you probably think of triangles, theorems, and long-forgotten maths lessons. But behind the formulas was a far stranger figure—a mystical philosopher, a cult leader, and the founder of a secretive brotherhood that aimed to create nothing less than a Utopia on Earth.Pythagoreanism wasn’t just about numbers—it was about the cosmos, the soul, and a radical new way of living. Vegetarianism, reincarnation, sacred geometry, even a ban on beans—this was philosophy meets cult, with ambition on a cosmic scale.In today...
2024-02-2035 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesH. Rider HaggardSend us a textBefore Indiana Jones ever cracked a whip, there was Allan Quatermain—big-game hunter, reluctant hero, and the original explorer of darkest Africa in search of lost kingdoms and forbidden treasure.King Solomon’s Mines exploded onto the scene in 1885, igniting imaginations with its heady mix of danger, romance, ancient secrets, and thrilling adventure. It was one of the first English quest novels to plunge readers into the unknown heart of a continent—and it hasn’t stopped inspiring storytellers since.H. Rider Haggard’s vivid, pulpy prose laid the foundation...
2024-02-121h 08Rearview Mirror ChroniclesHaggis - Scotland's Mouth Watering National DishSend us a textPicture the Haggis, a culinary marvel and the heartbeat of Scottish feasts. It's like a poetic symphony of flavors dancing on your taste buds. Imagine a savory blend of minced sheep's heart, liver, and lungs, expertly mixed with oats, onions, and spices, all encased in a sheep's stomach, ready to be transformed into a dish that's as bold as the Scottish Highlands. As it cooks, the aroma wafts through the air, promising a journey into the heart of tradition. Once sliced open, the Haggis reveals its rich, hearty core, inviting you to embrace...
2024-01-2522 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesAlexander's Lost LibrarySend us a textIt was said to hold all the knowledge of the ancient world—a sanctuary of scrolls, secrets, and the minds of the greatest thinkers in history.The Library of Alexandria wasn’t just a building. It was a dream—a bold, impossible dream to collect everything ever known, to house the wisdom of empires under one roof. Built near the tomb of Alexander the Great, it became the beating heart of ancient scholarship, where mathematicians, poets, and philosophers shaped the future of civilisation.But was it truly the wonder we ima...
2024-01-181h 08Rearview Mirror ChroniclesThe Clans of ScotlandSend us a textThey weren’t just families—they were blood-bound tribes forged in loyalty, honour, and war. The Scottish clans ruled the Highlands for centuries, their names echoing across glens and battlefields, their tartans soaked in history—and sometimes in blood.Emerging in the shadowed mists of the 12th century, these kinship groups offered more than identity—they were a shield against a harsh world. Survival depended on allegiance, obedience, and, when called upon, vengeance. But as Scotland changed, so too did the fate of the clans.What began as a proud tr...
2024-01-1231 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesThe Parthenon (Elgin) MarblesSend us a textThey were taken in the shadows of empire—chiseled from sacred stone, packed into crates, and shipped across the sea under a veil of diplomacy and deception.Over 200 years later, the Parthenon Marbles still sit in the British Museum, far from the sunlit Acropolis where they were born. Were they rescued—or stolen? Preserved—or plundered?The debate over their return is more than a cultural squabble. It’s a reckoning with colonial legacy, historical theft, and the uneasy question: who owns the past?Join Keith, Georgia Nakou, a...
2023-12-2242 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesOscar Wild - Part TwoSend us a textIt’s 1895, and the theatre lights have dimmed.The libel case against the Marquess of Queensberry has collapsed—spectacularly. Now, Oscar Wilde stands alone, not on a stage, but in the dock, accused of “gross indecency.” The applause has turned to gasps. Former lovers are dragged from the shadows. Servants and chambermaids whisper secrets in courtrooms packed with voyeurs. And every evening, the newspapers bleed scandal, shame, and betrayal.The knives are out—and Wilde, once the darling of society, is now its sacrificial offering.In this second epi...
2023-12-1543 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesOscar Wilde - Part OneSend us a text“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” Oscar Wilde wrote those words as a joke. But they would come to define his life—and his downfall.He dazzled Victorian England with wit, charm, and brilliance. A literary star. A master of theatre. The toast of high society. But behind the glittering facade lay secrets, risks, and a love that would destroy him.Oscar Wilde is often remembered as the ultimate gay martyr—a genius crushed by a hypocritical system. But the truth is more complicated, and far more haunting...
2023-12-0956 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesThe Assassination of Julius CaesarSend us a textHe was trapped—pinned against the marble floor. Blood pooled beneath him. Shadows loomed. The faces were twisted, unrecognisable. The knives rose and fell, again and again. And then, through the blur of pain, he saw Brutus.The most infamous assassination in history wasn’t just murder—it was theatre. Cold. Calculated. Ritualistic. The end of Julius Caesar came not on the battlefield, but in the heart of Rome, at the hands of men he once called allies.But how did it come to this?From the brutal...
2023-11-3059 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesCapability Brown - Visionary or Vandal?Send us a textHe tamed nature—not with fences and walls, but with vision, water, and sweeping lines of earth and sky.Lancelot "Capability" Brown wasn’t just a gardener. He was the landscape whisperer of the 18th century, a man who ripped up rigid, geometric gardens and replaced them with something wild, flowing, and utterly revolutionary. Picture serene lakes that seem to appear by magic, rolling green hills sculpted with a painter’s eye, and perfectly placed trees that turned the English countryside into living theatre.But beneath that effortless beauty? Engine...
2023-11-2438 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesSir Christopher Wren - Polymath ExtraordinaireSend us a textEveryone knows Christopher Wren as the genius behind St Paul’s Cathedral—but that’s just the tip of the spire.Before he became Britain’s most celebrated architect, Wren was gazing at the stars as an astronomer, probing storms as a meteorologist, and dissecting bodies in his obsession with anatomy. He was a scientist, a visionary, and a master of reinvention. And while his dome still defines the London skyline, few realise he also ran the country’s largest architectural office—navigating egos, politics, and six royal reigns with remarkable finesse....
2023-11-1739 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesThe Beatles and The Reformation of 1520Send us a textThere will never be another band like them. From mop-top mania to mind-bending psychedelia, The Beatles didn’t just follow the times—they reinvented them.With each album, they shapeshifted: from the catchy charm of A Hard Day’s Night to the wild, technicolour swirl of Sgt. Pepper’s. And somehow, four lads from Liverpool ended up doing for music in the 1960s what Martin Luther did for religion in the 1520s. Radical. Disruptive. World-changing.Together, Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and Starr created something close to musical alchemy—where every track was...
2023-11-1048 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesThe First World War - The Crazy CausesSend us a textWhose fault was it? Does blame even matter when the world is burning?As Europe spiraled into chaos in 1914, empires collapsed, millions died, and the old world tore itself apart in trenches, barbed wire, and blood. But could it have been avoided? Should Britain have stood aside—or worse, chosen the other side?What if the British had turned their backs on France and Russia, and thrown in their lot with the Germans instead? Could the empire have been preserved? Would fewer lives have been lost—or would the dark...
2023-11-0244 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesThe Mitford Sisters - A Frivolity of EvilSend us a textThey were born into privilege, raised for balls and debutante seasons—but the Mitford Sisters would become something far more dangerous than society darlings.In the glittering 1920s, Diana Mitford was hailed as the most beautiful woman in England. But beneath the diamonds and designer gowns lurked a deadly fascination with power. She would marry Sir Oswald Mosley, leader of the British Union of Fascists, and throw in her lot with a man who dreamed of dictatorship.But it was her younger sister, Unity, who stepped off the edge en...
2023-10-281h 03Rearview Mirror ChroniclesShakespeare - Pure GeniusSend us a textFive centuries on, and no one has stolen the spotlight quite like him.William Shakespeare, lover, rebel, genius, upstart crow, remains the undisputed heavyweight of the literary world. But how did the son of a glove-maker from Stratford-upon-Avon rise to become the most quoted man in history? Why does his work still speak to us across time, language, and culture? And who exactly called him a “sexy poet”?In this thrilling episode, Keith Hockton dives headfirst into the myth and magic of the Bard—unraveling the scandals, the rivalries, the ti...
2023-10-2029 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesThe Bible - That Little BookSend us a textBible buffs and history lovers, brace yourselves—because Keith is about to turn scripture into a full-blown adventure in our very first Shorteas episode!Plucked from the podcast There’s Always Tea, this episode isn’t just about dusty scrolls and solemn sermons. It’s the thrilling tale of how the Bible evolved—from ancient Hebrew texts to the foundations of Christianity, all the way to the fierce debates of modern scholarship. Think prophets, politics, power struggles… and the odd translation disaster along the way.But wait, there’s divine comedy...
2023-09-2830 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesThe Taj MahalSend us a textIt began not with stone, but with love—and ended in heartbreak.The Taj Mahal, shimmering like a dream in white marble, is far more than a monument. It’s a love letter carved by an emperor into the fabric of time. When Mumtaz Mahal died giving birth to their 14th child, a grief-stricken Shah Jahan poured his sorrow and devotion into creating the most breathtaking mausoleum the world has ever seen, a palace for the dead, built by the living.But this story is no fairy tale. It’s a ta...
2023-09-1945 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesMen in Kilts - A Short History of Kilts and TartensSend us a textMen in kilts don’t just wear tartan—they weaponise it. With one bold swish, they defy the bitter winds of the Highlands, scandalise unsuspecting tourists, and liberate themselves from the tyranny of trousers. It’s part fashion statement, part ancient rebellion, and entirely unapologetic.How did this windswept warrior look become both iconic and, let’s be honest, slightly risqué? And is there really nothing worn under there?Join Keith as he lifts the veil (or rather, the kilt) on this proudly Scottish tradition—a tale of bravery, breeze, and...
2023-09-1533 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesThe French Foreign Legion - The ExpendablesSend us a textWhat do you see when you hear the words French Foreign Legion? Sun-scorched men marching through the Sahara in blue coats and white kepis? Criminals and fugitives seeking redemption through blood and bullets? Or maybe broken heroes dying in the jungles of Indochina as the last helicopter rises over the ruins of Dien Bien Phu?It’s a legend soaked in sweat, mystery, and myth. But the truth? It’s stranger, darker, and far more fascinating.Why does the Legion still pull in thousands of recruits every year — from every...
2023-09-0931 minRearview Mirror ChroniclesA History of ScotlandSend us a textScotland’s history doesn’t begin—it emerges, out of mist, blood, and war. The Romans came in 84 AD, pushing their empire to the edge of the known world, halting at the Antonine Wall. But even they couldn’t tame the land beyond. Because something older stirred there—something wilder.Who were the Picts, these shadowy, painted warriors who vanished from history but left their symbols carved in stone? Who were the Gaels and the Scotti, forging kingdoms in a land soaked in strife? And when the Vikings came—ruthless and relentless—h...
2023-08-2437 min
There's Always TeaShortea: The BibleJoin Keith in the first of our "shorteas" episodes where we take a humongous topic and make it a wee bit more fun and a wee bit more interesting. This episode is all about the history of the Bible. Keith traces its dissemination in Judaism and Christianity from Antiquity to the rise of modern biblical scholarship, and explains clearly how meaning has been drawn from the Bible and imposed upon it.He shares his own amusing stories including how he was thrown out of his Religious Education classes for asking too many questions! So pour yourself a cuppa an...
2023-07-0428 minThere's Always TeaScottish Haggis - Only For The Brave!Join Keith as he talks about Scotland's national dish, and shares his families 600 year old recipe, for the first time, for the Haggis. This controversial dish has been banned in countries around the world but it's beloved in Scotland, and a symbol of Scottish culture and tradition. Served on special occasions, such as Burns Night, this delicious dish should be eaten all year round! Well, that's Keith's view. So, kick back and join him for a cuppa as he waxes lyrical and gives an ode to Robert Burns, Scottish poet and lyricist, and the Haggis. Support the sho...
2023-04-2821 minThere's Always TeaFestive Christmas Fun From Around The World & Dickens!Our festive holiday cheer continues, and no challenge is too big for Keith and Nikki as they prove that There's Always Tea to save the day, no matter what! Nikki is serving up another delicious warming Christmas tea for you to try, which is just the ticket for meeting Charles Dickens and his family. Then we time travel forward to modern day to learn how the holiday season is celebrated in various countries around the world. So pour your favourite cuppa and join us as we bring Season 2 to a close with our heartwarming and comical Christmas stories. "Merry C...
2022-12-161h 02There's Always TeaDo Fish Drink Underwater?A line from one of our favourite 80's movies "Arthur" is the inspiration behind today's episode. Do fish drink? There's a lot more to this question than we first realised! As always Keith and Nikki bring their unique banter and laughter to the studio, and Keith is even making the tea today! So pour your favourite cuppa and take a time out from your life to join us for this entertaining episode.Support the showAnd if you're enjoying this podcast, please leave a review on your chosen podcast platform. This podcast takes...
2022-12-0920 minThere's Always TeaIan Fleming - The Beginning"The Name's Tea - There's Always Tea!" I think you will agree that James Bond 007 and his famous phrases make him one of the most iconic characters of our age. Suave, sophisticated, charming, intelligent, strangely brilliant at everything he tries and undeniably irresistible to those who meet him. But who created this larger-than-life character? Ian Fleming, that's who! And what a fascinating man he was. So interesting that we had to split our story into two parts. In this week's part one, we are weaving in and out of Fleming's surprising life, piecing together how he came up with h...
2022-09-1056 minThere's Always TeaFamous Egyptian Pharaohs - Bizarre And Funny Truths!For our first episode of Season 2, we are bringing to life the formidable Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt, including fan favourites Cleopatra, Tutankhamen, Nefertiti, Hatshepsut, and Rameses. Keith and Nikki love this topic and will bring you their Top 10 Pharaohs, and the craziest things that some of the Pharaohs did. My my - it was all happening back then - frivolity, superstitions, hanky panky, deception, paranoia, and - we are happy to add - an affinity to protect one of our lovable pets. So pour yourself your favourite cuppa and join us as we journey back in time to this p...
2022-09-0348 minThere's Always TeaSeason Two of There's Always Tea - HighlightsWe're back with Season 2 of There's Always Tea! The place to be to hear podcasts that showcase topics from history to the ethereal and everything in between. Keith and Nikki are back in the studio to entertain you with their eclectic repertoire of topics, and their comedic banter over several new and interesting teas. So put your feet up and join us as we travel the wild and wonderful world . . . and beyond!Support the showAnd if you're enjoying this podcast, please leave a review on your chosen podcast platform. This podcast takes s...
2022-08-3103 minThere's Always TeaBoudica - The Queen That Rome FearedWe have an explosive 3rd part to Keith's history series and one of the most iconic Queens in British history - Queen Boudica. Her label as being the "angriest woman in history" is tested in Keith's narrative and we will let you judge for yourself once you hear the facts of what happened. She was brave, resilient, wise, sharp-tongued and fearless and took on the Romans - for that she is a legend. So pour yourself a tea, sit back and join Keith for his eye-opening tale of this iconic Queen. Support the show...
2022-08-2032 minThere's Always TeaRob Roy - Highlander, Outlaw, LegendFor Episode 18, we have a history gem for you! This week, Keith and Nikki are talking about Rob Roy MacGregor. Yes there was also a movie made about him in the 90s with Liam Neeson playing Rob Roy. You'll have to tune into the podcast to see whether Keith's historical knowledge and fact checking agrees with the movie, or whether it too was embellished for audiences worldwide. So pour yourself your favourite cuppa, and settle in as we go back in time to the highlands and lowlands of Scotland and the strange goings-on with the clans and feuds that m...
2022-08-1335 minThere's Always TeaSir William Wallace - The True Story of BraveheartWith our esteemed historian, Keith Hockton - we are going back in time to hear the real story of Braveheart and William Wallace. Yes we all watched and loved the movie, but as entertaining as it was, it wasn't factually correct - at all! In this tale of bravado, honor, and allegiance (with doses of treachery thrown in of course - there are plenty of villains in this story), Keith enlightens us with his deep knowledge and fascinating insights about William Wallace and sets the record straight about this legendary man. Support the showAnd i...
2022-08-0634 minThere's Always TeaTrees Can Hear You!We are returning to the magical forests for more astonishing insights into the highly evolved sentient trees that live in your garden and around your home. In this much-requested sequel to part one, Keith and Nikki are using their deep understanding and love of trees to delve deeper into their secret lives, and uncover facts that show they are very similar to humans in more ways than you may realise. How is that possible? Well, among other things, we discover how trees communicate, how they taste, how they hear, why they suffer from sleep deprivation, and how they call for...
2022-07-301h 01There's Always TeaTwo Martinis And A Bottle of Rum 15 Feet UnderThe tea is brewing and we're off to the deepest blue oceans this week to share our favourite scuba stories. With Keith being a Master Dive Instructor, you are in for a treat as he shares his own experiences with sharks, a curious strobing cuttlefish, crocodiles and much more. So pour yourself a large cuppa, and settle in to join Keith and Nikki as they discuss what exactly is the "martini effect", and some great dive stories from famous authors who are also divers, plus some personal insights about how special diving actually is. All roads and more lead to...
2022-07-231h 06There's Always TeaThe British East India Company - The Bloody EndFollowing on from part 1....we continue our deep dive into the fascinating 274 year history of The British East India Company. We discover more heroes, villains, celebrities, and underdogs along with power, gluttony, deception, corruption, royal connections and unlikely global alliances. Plus who discovered the largest diamond in the world, and where it is now. The British East India company founded the cities of Calcutta, Bombay, Penang, Singapore, New York and Hong Kong; it hired Captain Kidd to combat piracy. It also created British India, caused the Boston Tea party and kept Napoleon captive. Our own Keith Hockton is the l...
2022-07-1635 minThere's Always TeaThe British East India Company - A Bright BeginningThe 274 year history of The British East India Company is incredible. There are heroes, villains, celebrities, and underdogs in the best stories and this is no exception. The extreme - power, gluttony, deception, corruption, royal connections and unlikely global alliances is unlike any other. Its corporate structure is the model for all joint stock companies to this day; it founded the cities of Calcutta, Bombay, Penang, Singapore, New York and Hong Kong; it hired Captain Kidd to combat piracy. It also created British India, caused the Boston Tea party and kept Napoleon captive. Our own Keith Hockton is the l...
2022-07-0939 minThere's Always TeaFortune Cookies - Fun Facts!We love to delve into topics that have sparked our curiosities over the years, and this week's topic is just that - the Fortune Cookie. When we looked into the humble origins of this pillow-shaped sweet treat and the wonderful reason behind how they started, we were hooked. Today it is a multi-million dollar business, but did they originate from China, Japan or the U.S? Do they contain messages from your future? How do they get the messages into the cookies? Join Keith and Nikki as they uncover fun facts in this light-hearted chat over a delicious cup...
2022-07-0218 minThere's Always TeaSigns From The Universe - Are You Seeing Yours?Are you seeing feathers, coins, repetitive numbers, or recurring dreams? We are venturing into the infinite Universe today to decode the meanings behind the signs that are being sent to you every single day. Nikki is a trained intuitive Transformation Coach and Alternative Therapist who has been interpreting signs and guidance for her clients for the past 20 years. She sees first hand that "Signs are being sent to us now more than ever before to guide us, warn us, and support us." So pour your favourite cup of tea and join Nikki and Keith to discover what your car...
2022-06-251h 07There's Always TeaWrite Your Book! - Tips From Two Authors And A PublisherIt's a magical feeling to see your book printed, and proudly displayed in a book shop. If you have been feeling the urge to write a book but have been unsure how to do it, then this podcast is for you. The most awesome books start with an unwavering belief in an idea. But how do you harness those ideas into a successful book and then publish it? Keith Hockton and Nikki Jordan are published authors, and they share their expert knowledge, (and pitfalls to avoid), to help you to do just that. Keith also owns a publishing house, and...
2022-06-181h 05There's Always TeaFamous PiratesStep aboard me hearties! We're heading out to the high seas and into the lives of the most notorious Pirates in history. For centuries, famous names like Blackbeard, Black Sam Bellamy, Ching Shih, Anne Bonny, Mary Reed, Captain Morgan and others have inspired treachery, magic and legends that will make your hair curl. But what is myth and what is truth? And who was the most successful pirate of all time? Clue - it's not who you may think. Even the tea is in character today and there is also a special cameo from two new, and unlikely Pirates. Ke...
2022-06-111h 06There's Always TeaDreams - Everything You Needed To Know But Didn't Know Who To Ask!Dreams can be entertaining, odd, uplifting, confusing or downright bizarre! But are they messages from the deep, or are your dreams actually giving you fascinating clues about your life? Can you remember them each day? And what do your dreams actually mean? To find all the answers, pour yourself a large cup of delicious tea, and join Keith and Nikki as they relay their comical stories. You may discover truths that surprise you - not everything is what it seems!Support the showAnd if you're enjoying this podcast, please l...
2022-06-041h 10There's Always TeaThe Best Place In The Universe To Have A Cup of Tea!You know we LOVE tea in all its glory on this channel. So this week, Keith and Nikki are sharing their favourite teas and travelling to the heart of the countries that produce these magical tea concoctions. All delivered with their enlightening personal stories, tea facts and comedic banter. So pour your favourite cuppa and join them for some "fun on the high teas" as we transport you to the Best Destinations on Earth to Have Tea - and that doesn't just mean the stuff you drink! Support the showAnd if you're enjo...
2022-05-2834 minThere's Always TeaIslands That Absolutely Will Kill You If You Visit Them!Ahoy there me hearties! This week we are taking you island-hopping around the world. But before you pack your swimsuit and sunnies, you might want to look deeper, because there are things on land and sea that will stop at nothing to make you their next meal. And if you are lucky enough to avoid those, the islands themselves will do their best to expel you from their shores. So grab a compass and your wits, and join Keith and Nikki as they brave the high seas to visit the World's Most Deadliest Islands!Support the show
2022-05-2155 minThere's Always TeaFamous Dogs And Awesome Stories!With over 900 million dogs in our world, there is a lot to discover about our sentient four-legged friends. Join Keith and Nikki as they share their personal stories, and some lesser-known secrets and tips on how you can understand, appreciate, and communicate with your magical pet. Prepare to have your mind expanded - this will take your dog knowledge to a whole new level!Support the showAnd if you're enjoying this podcast, please leave a review on your chosen podcast platform. This podcast takes so much effort and work to create, and...
2022-05-141h 07There's Always TeaThe World's Most Painful Insect Stings!Our world is full of creepy crawlies - some of which pack a deadly sting! Do you know which insects inflict symptoms that feel like electric shocks surging through your body, or being stuck inside an active volcano, or walking over hot coals with a 3 inch nail in your foot? Perhaps they live where you live?! Join Keith and Nikki as they sample a tea that most people wouldn't touch, while sharing their own amusing stories on a quest to find out which insect inflicts "The World's Worst Insect Sting."Support the showAnd if yo...
2022-05-0731 minThere's Always TeaThe Funniest Old Wives’ Tales!You've probably heard an Old Wives Tale or two, but do you know where they came from and what they actually meant? Giggle along with Keith and Nikki as they recall their favourite tales and share their stories from their youth in Scotland and Wales. Support the showAnd if you're enjoying this podcast, please leave a review on your chosen podcast platform. This podcast takes so much effort and work to create, and each review increases the possibility that this podcast can be seen by people who may need it. D...
2022-04-3039 minThere's Always TeaUniverses - How Many Are There?The fact that there are many different answers to this question is what makes this topic exciting! Join Keith and Nikki as they boldly go where they haven't gone before and discuss expanding parallel universes, String Theory, Klingons, and why physicists are finally excited about space. This fun romp through the galaxies may have you wondering if space really is the final frontier?Support the showAnd if you're enjoying this podcast, please leave a review on your chosen podcast platform. This podcast takes so much effort and work to create, and each...
2022-04-2525 minThere's Always TeaThe Secret Life Of TreesIn fairy tales we read about trees with human faces, trees that can talk, and sometimes walk. This enchanted forest is the kind of place that we dream about and yet the world is full of such forests, some of which are highlighted in the podcast. Nikki and Keith’s deep understanding of the lives of trees, reached through decades of careful observation and study, takes you into a behind-the-scenes tour of the secret life of trees. They reveal a world so astonishing that by listening to this podcast, we believe that forests will become magical places for you, to...
2022-04-2038 min