Podcast – What We Did Before

Tax Havens: How Islands Have Reinvented Themselves For Millenia

I had the pleasure of being interviewed by podcaster Ollie Guillou for his series ‘What We Did Before’. It was an hour of off-the cuff conversation about the last 10,000 years of Guernsey’s history and how the tides of history have washed by the islands.

Edited down to 25 minutes it is available on Apple podcasts and Spotify but you can also listen here.

Episode notes

💬 Many islands all over the world are known for their finance industries – and especially for being “tax havens”. But this is just the latest ways islands have reinvented themselves over thousands of years. 

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.

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🎧 Stay tuned to learn about:

➡ Why islands became some of the most important trading hubs in the ancient world

➡ How Roman traders, Viking raiders and medieval merchants shaped island life

➡ Why Guernsey spent centuries caught between England and France

➡ How islands repeatedly reinvented themselves through trade, shipbuilding, quarrying, tourism and finance

➡ Why many modern islands ended up becoming financial centres and offshore jurisdictions

Check out Jason’s books on Guernsey:

Story of Guernsey; Glint of Light on Broken Glass; Occupation to Liberation; A Brush With Life; Roman Guernsey

About 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.uk 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-guillou 

Email: hello@ogpodcasts.co.uk