HistoryFFS

The burning of Birmingham in July 1791 wasn't just a riot, it was the moment dissent and nonconformity became forces that would shape Britain forever.Sarah Dowd is joined by Chris Smith, Chair of the Historic Chapels Trust, and Steve Pilcher, longtime champion of historic chapels across England. Together they unravel what nonconformity really meant: centuries of struggle for religious freedom, communities building chapels for themselves, and the surprising legacy these "dangerous outsiders" handed to modern British society. Expect radical architecture, Quaker leases stretching five millennia, and a case for why these now-empty chapels matter more than ever.Dedicated to Sarah Dowd's Aunt Sandra, in honour of 60 years of Songs of Praise.Highlights:00:00 Birmingham burns & the birth of dissent: Joseph Priestley’s story 00:45 Chapels as spaces for democracy, debate, & imagining new worlds 01:40 Songs of Praise and the journey of nonconformity 02:20 The hard question: what becomes of empty chapels? 03:15 Chris Smith, the Historic Chapels Trust and the battle for funding 06:10 Steve Pilcher on life in conservation and a 13-year “secondment” 09:16 What is nonconformity, historically and now? 10:28 Building Preservation and the line between activism and conformity 13:30 Steve Pilcher’s Quaker upbringing17:00 1791, why dissent threatened power and why it kept going 25:39 The stories of St. George’s German Lutheran Church26:11 Chapels as sites of anti-Nazi resistance 29:10 The wild diversity of chapels35:37 Can a building hold memory, spirit, and community? 42:04 What’s next for chapels, and why being nonconformist still matters Tune in next week for Part 2, chapels that challenged society, why regulation matters, and how to be nonconformist in heritage today.About Chris Smith:Chris Smith is Chair of Historic Chapels Trust and a lifelong heritage professional with extensive experience in conservation, planning and historic environment management. Formerly a Director at Historic England, he became Chair in 2019 and has since focused on securing sustainable futures for chapels through community ownership and adaptive reuse. Chris is passionate about heritage as a tool for shaping the future, not simply preserving the past.About Steve Pilcher:Steve Pilcher is a heritage specialist and former Deputy Director of Historic Chapels Trust, where he worked from 2003 to 2016. Before that, he spent two decades with English Heritage across industrial archaeology, conservation and policy. A building conservation specialist, Steve continues to support heritage projects and volunteer-led initiatives today.About Sarah Dowd: I’m Sarah Dowd - writer, speaker, heritage and arts consultant, producer, and all-around nerd - here to share the stories of our past that make us laugh, gasp, and mutter: It’s History… For F***k’s Sake.For 25+ years I’ve created immersive, inclusive experiences that bring history alive, from rallying Second World War convoys through London to staging performances between Pearly Kings and Gen Z creatives. My work spans museums, cathedral crypts, pop-up theatres, global brands, and community projects across the UK and beyond.As a Canadian living between the UK and France (with a late ADHD diagnosis that fuels my curiosity and creativity), I zigzag through culture, history, and big ideas, but never boring ones.Every week on HistoryFFS, we explore how history echoes through today, make sure you are following the show so you don’t miss an episode.Connect with Sarah:Website: www.historyffs.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahdowd/https://www.linkedin.com/company/historyffs-pod/ Substack: @historyffsYouTube: @HistoryFFSPod Instagram: @historyFFSPodTikTok: @historyffspodX: @HistoryFFSPod Bluesky: @historyffs.bsky.social

How much can a scent tell us about history, memory, identity and even rebellion? Host Sarah Dowd is joined by Valerie Sadoh, playwright and founder of House of Mahogany, for an evocative deep dive into the scented stories of the last century.From the roaring 1920s release of Guerlain’s Shalimar (the "flapper’s fragrance" that changed perfume forever) to the creative resurgence after World War II, this episode explores how perfume is more than luxury or self-expression. Scent is a time machine – linking us across generations, cultures, and continents.Valerie shares her personal journey from playwright to scent curator, weaving storytelling and nostalgia into immersive sensory experiences. Learn how the House of Mahogany came about, and why scent transports us so powerfully to other times and places, and how fragrances can spark dialogue across identity, migration, and history.Together, Sarah and Valerie dig into the upcoming Windrush 80 immersive experience: marking the anniversary of the Empire Windrush’s arrival and honouring the Afro-Caribbean stories too often left untold. Hear why “to be educated is to be enraged” when confronting the gaps in collective memory  and how immersive, multi-sensory storytelling helps us feel history in three dimensions.What’s inside this episode:The wild history of Shalimar and the rise of the modern womanHow scent shapes memory, identity, and even social changeValerie’s creative process fusing storytelling and fragranceThe power of immersive and multi-sensory history experiencesWindrush 80: reckoning with community, migration, and the complexities of British historyWhy museums and heritage spaces need to embrace ALL the sensesAbout Valerie Isaiah Sadoh:Valerie  is a British playwright, producer, and community consultant whose work explores identity, race, feminism, and personal history through sharp, immersive storytelling. Her debut play Pussy Liberty won the Bread and Roses Theatre Company Award in 2017. She has since contributed to contemporary theatre through her involvement with esteemed institutions like the Almeida Theatre, the National Theatre, Bush Theatre’s Emerging Writers Group (2022), and the Gate Theatre. Valerie combines her dramatic craft with strategic cultural work through Les Raconteurs, leveraging her expertise in inclusive programming, audience engagement, and heritage interpretation.Alongside her artistic pursuits, Valerie co-founded House of Mahogany, a mother-daughter-led luxury, home fragrance brand that crafts scented candles, diffusers, and sprays inspired by nostalgia, memory, and personal narrative.Connect with Valerie:Website: https://houseofmahogany.co.uk/About Sarah Dowd: I’m Sarah Dowd - writer, speaker, heritage and arts consultant, producer, and all-around nerd - here to share the stories of our past that make us laugh, gasp, and mutter: It’s History… For F***k’s Sake.For 25+ years I’ve created immersive, inclusive experiences that bring history alive, from rallying Second World War convoys through London to staging performances between Pearly Kings and Gen Z creatives. My work spans museums, cathedral crypts, pop-up theatres, global brands, and community projects across the UK and beyond.As a Canadian living between the UK and France (with a late ADHD diagnosis that fuels my curiosity and creativity), I zigzag through culture, history, and big ideas, but never boring ones.Every week on HistoryFFS, we explore how history echoes through today, from Drag Race to prefab tiny houses, with voices from musicians to mischief-makers.Follow @HistoryFFS - because we’re all making history, one ridiculous, wonderful moment at a time.Connect with Sarah:Website: www.historyffs.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahdowd/Patreon: HistoryFFSYouTube: @HistoryFFSPod Instagram: @historyFFSPodTikTok: @historyffspodX: @HistoryFFSPod 

What does it take to transform a ‘crap town’ (I have never thought that!) into a cultural powerhouse? In this hopeful, hilarious, and sometimes hard-nosed episode of History for F**k’s Sake, host Sarah Dowd is joined by Simon Green, Hull’s longtime culture director, cultural regeneration strategist, and unrepentant champion of local pride to mark the 50th anniversary of the Northern Theatre Company and nearly a decade of the Maritime Hull vision.Sarah and Simon explore the extraordinary, unexpected story of Hull’s transformation from a post industrial docks town to a beacon for arts-led renewal. Blending tales of trawlermen, council wrangles, and world-famous nude art installations, Simon offers a first-hand account of how working-class pride, maritime heritage, and a “just do it our way” spirit turned civic shame into national celebration. From the Arctic Corsair’s Cold War secrets to the blue-painted bravado of the Sea of Hull, this is an episode for anyone who believes that art, history, and community can remake a city and a future.Here are the highlights:Simon’s journey from working-class roots to Hull’s top cultural job  How Hull went from national punchline to City of CultureThe unbreakable link between maritime history, civic pride, and the Hull identity Moving from “paternalistic” heritage to fearless co-creation with communities  The real power of cultureGentrification versus grassroots - can renewal lift up everyone?The Arctic Corsair’s secret Cold War mission, Icelandic friendships, and shared loss  Surprising outcomes like getting Hull on the BBC weather map!The good, the bad, and the “for f**k’s sake” moments Relentless storytelling, political reality checks, and why culture is not optional.About Simon Green:Simon Green recently retired as Managing Director of Hull City Council’s arms length  Culture Company after a thirty-year career leading culture, heritage,leisure as a driver of regeneration in one of the UK’s most misunderstood cities. An advocate for people-first cultural programming, co-creation, and daringly ambitious events, Simon’s legacy includes transforming Hull’s image locally and nationally, championing the working-class and maritime stories at its heart, and mentoring the next generation of culture leaders.Connect with Simon: Linkedin http://linkedin.com/in/simon-green-65783712X (Twitter): @srgreen13About Sarah Dowd: I’m Sarah Dowd - writer, speaker, heritage and arts consultant, producer, and all-around nerd - here to share the stories of our past that make us laugh, gasp, and mutter: It’s History… For F***k’s Sake.For 25+ years I’ve created immersive, inclusive experiences that bring history alive, from rallying Second World War convoys through London to staging performances between Pearly Kings and Gen Z creatives. My work spans museums, cathedral crypts, pop-up theatres, global brands, and community projects across the UK and beyond.As a Canadian living between the UK and France (with a late ADHD diagnosis that fuels my curiosity and creativity), I zigzag through culture, history, and big ideas, but never boring ones.Every week on HistoryFFS, we explore how history echoes through today, from Drag Race to prefab tiny houses, with voices from musicians to mischief-makers.Follow @HistoryFFS - because we’re all making history, one ridiculous, wonderful moment at a time.Connect with Sarah:Website: www.historyffs.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahdowd/Patreon: HistoryFFSYouTube: @HistoryFFSPod Instagram: @historyFFSPodTikTok: @historyffspodX: @HistoryFFSPod Produced by: winteraudio.co.ukFollow the show for new episodes exploring the objects, people, and moments that shaped our world. If you want the story AND the sound of the past, this is essential listening.

What happens when Dracula trades gloomy castles for cul-de-sacs? In this special Halloween episode, host Sarah Dowd sinks her teeth into the modern vampire mythos with gothic horror expert, actor, director, and bona fide scream queen Megan Tremethick. Together, they trace the chilling lineage from the cynical, blood-soaked anthologies of Amicus Productions in post-war Britain to Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot and beyond.From small-town terrors and Cold War anxieties to British "scream queen" heritage and the resurrection of iconic UK horror studios, Sarah and Megan unravel how horror films and books help audiences cope with trauma, paranoia, and everyday dread. Don’t miss this spooky episode!Highlights:How post-war trauma in Britain and America inspired a new wave of horrorSalem’s Lot at 50: why Stephen King’s vampires hit differently in the suburbsThe rise, fall, and resurrection of Amicus Productions Megan’s path from Cats-obsessed schoolgirl to leading new British horror (via a fateful solo trip to Cannes)Why facing your fears on screen or in real life can be transformationalVampires as metaphorsBritish vs. American horror: what makes an Amicus or Hammer film so distinct How history, anxiety, and creative arts help us process collective fearsBehind the scenes of Amicus’s rebirth, and a sneak peek at Megan’s horror projects.Film Recommendations:The Blood on Satan's Claw, Tigon - 1971Asylum, Amicus Productions - 1972Dr. Terror's House of Horrors, Amicus Productions - 1965The Vault of Horror, Amicus Productions - 1973The Wicker Man - 1973Invasion of the Body Snatchers - 1978Witchfinder General, Tigon - 1968Dracula, Hammer - 1958Dead of Night - 1945About Megan Tremethick:Megan is a Cornish actress, filmmaker, writer, and producer, known for her roles in The Reign of Queen Ginnarra (2025) and Hex Studios’ The Slave and the Sorcerer (2024), as well as appearances in The Vance Institute, The Lockdown Hauntings, and Ghost Crew. As a filmmaker, she has directed several horror shorts inspired by Giallo and H.P. Lovecraft, including Slot, The Haunter of the Dark, and Revenge of Innsmouth. Her latest project, Spoiling You, explores the unsettling side of ASMR, and she also stars in Amicus Productions’ forthcoming anthology In the Grip of Terror (2025), paying homage to Britain’s classic horror roots. Her work has been featured in Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, The Guardian, Fangoria, and more.Connect with Megan:In the Grip of Terror, is available to pre-order on Backerkit. Support the Kickstarter for Mr Whispers. Patreon: British Horror Studio PatreonInstagram:  @megantremethickAbout Sarah Dowd: I’m Sarah Dowd - writer, speaker, heritage and arts consultant, producer, and all-around nerd - here to share the stories of our past that make us laugh, gasp, and mutter: It’s History… For F***k’s Sake.For 25+ years I’ve created immersive, inclusive experiences that bring history alive, from rallying Second World War convoys through London to staging performances between Pearly Kings and Gen Z creatives. My work spans museums, cathedral crypts, pop-up theatres, global brands, and community projects across the UK and beyond.As a Canadian living between the UK and France (with a late ADHD diagnosis that fuels my curiosity and creativity), I zigzag through culture, history, and big ideas, but never boring ones.Every week on HistoryFFS, we explore how history echoes through today, from Drag Race to prefab tiny houses, with voices from musicians to mischief-makers.Follow @HistoryFFS - because we’re all making history, one ridiculous, wonderful moment at a time.Connect with Sarah:Website: www.historyffs.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahdowd/Patreon: HistoryFFSYouTube: @HistoryFFSPod Instagram: @historyFFSPodTikTok: @historyffspodX: @HistoryFFSPod Produced by: winteraudio.co.uk

What do tie-dyed shirts, TikTok nostalgia cycles, and the hopeful chaos of Gen Z’s anxieties have in common? In this episode of History For F***k’s Sake host Sarah Dowd welcomes Louisa Rogers, assistant professor in Fashion Communications, creative entrepreneur, and youth culture decoder to step into the DeLorean and unravel the staying power of Back to the Future for its 40th anniversary.From Brussels to the North East, Louisa’s career arcs across fashion photography, failed start-ups (she almost invented Vinted!), and now, teaching the next generation of style-makers at Northumbria University. Sarah and Louisa dive into why Back to the Future keeps resonating in meme culture, what retrofuturism says about our hopes and hang-ups, and how today’s young people make sense of a history and a future that feels uncertain at every turn.Plus: Why fashion history is everyone’s history, why museums need to stop being so bloody boring, and whether Marty McFly would have gone viral on TikTok in 2025.Highlights:From creative Belgian roots to academia, Louisa’s unconventional pathway through fashionWhy fashion is a “speculative space” that helps us visualise the future (and the past) How Back to the Future offers a nostalgia fix for Gen Z & TikTok The power (and pitfalls) of recycling history: why our idea of “vintage” is often shaped by TV, not realityGen Z, anxiety, and doomscrolling: what does history education need to do for young people now?Retro tech, Y2K fever, and why cassette tapes are cool againWhy intergenerational friendships might be the missing secret to smashing stereotypes.“Protopia,” not dystopia: New ways creative industries and museums can help us actively imagine a better future and learn from the past.Factoid: Retrofuturism is a creative aesthetic that blends past visions of the future, often drawn from mid 20th century art, design, and pop culture, with modern or nostalgic elements - imagining the future as it was once dreamed to be.Spotify / Apple Music Playlists for this episode:SpotifyApple MusicAbout Louisa Rogers: Louisa Rogers is an assistant professor in fashion communication at Northumbria University with an interest in security studies, fashion and digital cultures. Her current research focus is on representations of surveillance, technology and militarism in fashion contexts.She runs Trendlistr Vintage, a retail e-commerce brand, and completed the Cambridge University Institute for Sustainable Leadership Accelerator programme in 2020. She is also a founding committee member of Colour Collective UK,Connect with Louisa:X(Twitter): @louisarogersWebsite: https://www.louisarogers.net/About Sarah Dowd: I’m Sarah Dowd - writer, speaker, heritage and arts consultant, producer, and all-around nerd - here to share the stories of our past that make us laugh, gasp, and mutter: It’s History… For F***k’s Sake.For 25+ years I’ve created immersive, inclusive experiences that bring history alive, from rallying Second World War convoys through London to staging performances between Pearly Kings and Gen Z creatives. My work spans museums, cathedral crypts, pop-up theatres, global brands, and community projects across the UK and beyond.As a Canadian living between the UK and France (with a late ADHD diagnosis that fuels my curiosity and creativity), I zigzag through culture, history, and big ideas, but never boring ones.Every week on HistoryFFS, we explore how history echoes through today, from Drag Race to prefab tiny houses, with voices from musicians to mischief-makers.Follow @HistoryFFS - because we’re all making history, one ridiculous, wonderful moment at a time.Connect with Sarah:Website: www.historyffs.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahdowd/Patreon: HistoryFFSYouTube: @HistoryFFSPod Instagram: @historyFFSPodTikTok: @historyffspodX: @HistoryFFSPod Produced by: winteraudio.co.uk

Did you ever wonder how we got here?How tiny pieces of history have shaped our lives in ways we barely notice?Or that every single day, we're making history, too?I'm Sarah Dowd, and this is History… For F***’s Sake – the podcast that dives into the untold stories that actually matter.My mission is simple: to get as many people as possible to love history.Our history.The big stuff, the overlooked stuff, even the moments we lived through just yesterday.Because history isn’t just something in textbooks. It's woven into our culture, our art, our films, our performances. It’s not boring. It’s our muse.I’ve spent over 25 years bringing history to life from Second World War convoys rumbling through London, to immersive performances between Pearly Kings and Gen Z creatives.I’m a writer, speaker, heritage and arts consultant, and producer who’s worked everywhere from cathedral crypts to pop-up theatres, museums to community spaces across the UK and beyond.I’m a Canadian living between the UK and France, with a late ADHD diagnosis that fuels my curiosity (and my chaos) and I believe history should be for everyone. Not just the experts. Not just the textbooks. Everyone.Each week, we’ll trace big themes through everyday experiences from actors breathing life into historical roles to authors rewriting the past for modern audiences.We’ll explore how film and TV reshape our view of what came before, even how our own failures become part of the bigger story.Yep, that’s history, too.If you’re into history, culture, and all the messy, meaningful stuff in between make sure you hit follow or subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!Because together, we’re all making history…for F***’s Sake.Make sure you follow the show so you don’t miss an episode!Connect with Sarah:Website: www.historyffs.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahdowd/Patreon: HistoryFFSYouTube: @HistoryFFSPod Instagram: @historyFFSPodTikTok: @historyffspodX: @HistoryFFSPod Produced by: winteraudio.co.uke3743c3d57371eca7bb02a65469a1857fc7135e6