We Need to Talk About the British Empire

Essential podcast for British people

Outstanding podcast. Fascinating stories and a huge eye opener to the realities of empire. 5 stars.

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4 people found this helpful

Very engaging

Gives a different perspective on the Empire in a way that is personal, engaging and non threatening.

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I hope one day people realise empire affected everyone

I loved the honesty of this first chapter I look forward to listening to the other chapters.

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1 person found this helpful

Insightful

Such a great look at the empire and the challenges it left in its wake, some good some bad. It’s a honest look back with some great presenters.

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Everyone needs to listen to this

An incredible delve into aspects of the empire that are just not talked about. I feel all the better for knowing this stuff now. Thank you, Afua.

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Powerful and hard hitting.

This is really powerful, hard-hitting writing and interviewing. Hirsch makes it clear that it is not about Empire-bashing, but of opening up untold stories from the British Empire and examining it from a more diverse perspective so that it becomes everyone’s history of Empire and not just the domain of a section of British society. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

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5 people found this helpful

A story led way into important part of history

This insight into the continuing impact of the British empire is centered around the personal stories of contributors. It’s a great way in to a large subject, and is giving me a sense of where I can go to learn more and where the gaps in my knowledge are.

It’s accessible, but it doesn’t skirt around the unpleasant facts of our colonial legacy. Which apparently some reviewers find a little difficult to come to terms with.

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2 people found this helpful

Brilliant balanced history

I really enjoyed this series. I read a lot of history - and studied history- but I learned a lot. It’s the history you don’t usually come across, told in a straightforward, balanced way with lots of personal stories which bring it to life. Do listen!

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Much needed wake up call

Some of the reviews on here are scary in their racism and ignorance. Wow.
“Most colonies would have been ruled by someone else if not us. We ended slavery.” Seriously??? WTF?

Britain created slavery and is responsible for some serious atrocities and wilful annihilation of local culture. Penal laws, atrocities and conflict that lasts to this day in Ireland, including causing the not-actually-a-famine famine - just one example.

Blaming indigenous people and this superior, arrogant attitude that somehow countries are better off having been colonised has got to stop. Hong Kong was taken over because of its successful port and intelligent people in Britain’s quest to drug China.

This podcast is the first step at opening eyes and hopefully creating some humility and understanding. If this was properly taught at school there would be far less ignorance and racism in this country.

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49 people found this helpful

What an amazing series! Wished there were more episodes!

Every episode was incredibly insightful and offers another view point of looking at the British Empire. Thank you so much for your hard work. Every negative comment is just another testament of why we need to talk about the BE! :) Good job and please make more.

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4 people found this helpful