What We Did Before | Human Survival and Ancient Inventions
What We Did Before | Human Survival and Ancient Inventions

What We Did Before | Human Survival and Ancient Inventions

OG Podcasts - Pre Modern Life and Human History

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Episodes

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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.

Recent Episodes

Before Tax Havens: How Islands Have Reinvented Themselves For Millenia | Jason Monaghan
JUN 15, 2026
Before Tax Havens: How Islands Have Reinvented Themselves For Millenia | Jason Monaghan
šŸ’¬ Many islands all over the world are known for their finance industries - and especially for being ā€œtax havensā€. But this is just the latest ways islands have reinvented themselves over thousands of years.Ā As far back as the Stone Age, islands have served as stepping stones, trading hubs, military outposts and gateways between nations. ⚔ In this episode we use the island of Guernsey as a case study, showcasing just how varied - and incredible - its history has been. And guiding us is archaeologist and author Jason Monaghan.Don't miss an episode - subscribe now:https://podfollow.com/what-we-did-beforeĀ šŸŽ§ Stay tuned to learn about:āž” Why islands became some of the most important trading hubs in the ancient worldāž” How Roman traders, Viking raiders and medieval merchants shaped island lifeāž” Why Guernsey spent centuries caught between England and Franceāž” How islands repeatedly reinvented themselves through trade, shipbuilding, quarrying, tourism and financeāž” Why many modern islands ended up becoming financial centres and offshore jurisdictionsCheck out Jason’s books on Guernsey:Story of Guernsey; Glint of Light on Broken Glass; Occupation to Liberation; A Brush With Life; Roman GuernseyAbout the podcast:What We Did Before is a podcast exploring the history of everyday life, from how we kept food fresh before fridges, to how we survived without shoes and what came before AI.About your host:Ollie Guillou is an award-winning podcast producer and broadcaster. He's co-founder of OG Podcasts, working with the likes of New Scientist, Dr Karan and Lessons From Our Mothers.Connect with Ollie:Website: www.ogpodcasts.co.ukĀ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-guillouĀ Email: [email protected]
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25 MIN
The Terracotta Army & The Loch Ness Monster | A History Daily Special
JUN 12, 2026
The Terracotta Army & The Loch Ness Monster | A History Daily Special
šŸ’¬ ā€ŠOne March 29th 1974, a Chinese farmer was working the field as he always did - when suddenly his shovel struck something hard. Little did he know he had just stumbled upon one of the most important archaeological finds in history.⚔In this special episode we share two fantastic episodes from our friends over at History Daily. If you love them - subscribe to History Daily here: https://podfollow.com/history-dailyĀ The first is the discovery of China’s Terracotta Army - which turned a small Chinese village into a tourist hotspot. The second takes us to the Scottish Highlands and the first photograph ever taken of the Loch Ness Monster.šŸŽ§ Stay tuned to learn about:āž” Why villagers were suspicious about extracting pieces of the Terracotta armyāž” Why the ā€ŠTerracotta Warriors were first made, over 2000 years agoāž” How discovering the army felt more like a curse to the farm who found itāž” How the legend of the Loch Ness monster first caught mainstream attentionāž” The human story behind the famous ā€œSurgeon’s photographā€ of Nessieāž” The role the Daily Mail played in stoking the flames of the legendAbout History Daily:History Daily does history, daily. Every weekday, host Lindsay Graham takes you back in time to explore a momentous event that happened ā€˜on this day’ in history. A co-production from award-winning podcasters Airship and Noiser.About What We Did Before:What We Did Before is a podcast exploring the history of everyday life, from how we kept food fresh before fridges, to how we survived without shoes and what came before AI.About your hosts:Ollie Guillou is an award-winning podcast producer and broadcaster. He's co-founder of OG Podcasts, working with the likes of New Scientist, Dr Karan and Lessons From Our Mothers.Matt Pyle is a lead software developer and tech enthusiast with a keen interest in media, and a love for interesting conversation and learning.Connect with Ollie:Website: www.ogpodcasts.co.ukĀ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-guillouĀ Email: [email protected]
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33 MIN
Before Tools: How Neanderthals Used Rhino Teeth, Vulture Bones and Deer Antlers
JUN 10, 2026
Before Tools: How Neanderthals Used Rhino Teeth, Vulture Bones and Deer Antlers
šŸ’¬ Neanderthals have been shown to use many incredible tools - but none quite as surprising as this. After studying rhinoceros teeth from a cave chock full of them - researchers managed to figure out why they were covered in strange markings.⚔Alicia Sanz-Royo and her team of archaeologists examined the teeth that had remained a mystery for many years. By recreating ancient Neanderthal activities, they managed to reproduce the same markings - showing these rhino teeth were probably used as tools!In this episode we find out how they managed to finally figure out this mystery, how Neanderthals managed to hunt rhinos, and why they chose to use rhino teeth at all. We also delve into two other amazing animal tools used by Neanderthals - vulture bones and deer antlers.Don't miss an episode - subscribe now:https://podfollow.com/what-we-did-beforeĀ Read the paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0047248426000230Ā šŸŽ§ Stay tuned to learn about:āž” The ancient mystery hidden in dozens of rhino teethāž” Whether Neanderthals hunted or scavenged rhinocerosesāž” The surprising reason rhino teeth made great toolsāž” How deer antlers helped shape Stone Age technologyāž” The bizarre vulture-bone tools that changed our view of NeanderthalsAbout the podcast:What We Did Before is a podcast exploring the history of everyday life, from how we kept food fresh before fridges, to how we survived without shoes and what came before AI.About your hosts:Ollie Guillou is an award-winning podcast producer and broadcaster. He's co-founder of OG Podcasts, working with the likes of New Scientist, Dr Karan and Lessons From Our Mothers.Connect with Ollie:Website: www.ogpodcasts.co.ukĀ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-guillouĀ Email: [email protected] Credit:Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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22 MIN