Behind The Glass: A Parsonage Podcast

Sam and Mia are joined by Dr Alessandra Pino, an expert on the intersections of the Gothic, food, and cultural memory. She co-authored The Gothic Cookbook , which digs into food themes and motifs in classic and contemporary novels from the 19th century to the present day. We look at how food is used in the Brontës' Gothic novels Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights , and why Margot Robbie's C...

Welcome to series 4 of the Brontë Parsonage Museum's podcast Behind The Glass ! For our first episode, Programme Officer Sam and Digital Engagement Officer Mia are joined by writer and scholar Deborah Lutz, to celebrate the publication of her new biography This Dark Night: The Life of Emily Brontë . Listen in as Deborah tells us about her research process and trying to unpick some mysteries b...

On this episode, Mia and Sam are joined by Professor Corinne Fowler. Corinne is an Honorary Professor of Colonialism and Heritage at the University of Leicester and author of Our Island Stories: Country Walks Through Colonial Britain. We chat about the Museum's 2026 exhibition, The Colonial Brontës, which Corinne has co-curated; discussing how Empire influenced the Brontës' writing and t...

Mia and Sam are joined by THE drag queen historian Elizabeth the Thirsty. We share our love for making history fun, imagine a Brontë-themed drag show and learn about a secret language used by the Georgians... Say hi! Let us know if you enjoyed the episode.

Mia and Sam are joined by their Museum colleague Elysia Brown! Elysia is part of the Visitor Experience team at the Parsonage, volunteers for the Publishing Post and recently completed a Master's degree in Nineteenth-century studies. Things get spooky as we chat vampires and how Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights inspired the Twilight saga... The portrait of Emily Brontë was on display at...

Hosts Sam and Mia are joined by Holly Ringland, best-selling Australian author of The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart and The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding .  Hear how Holly found herself walking in Charlotte's footsteps in Manchester, the importance of dogs in the Brontës' lives and works, and what it's like seeing Sigourney Weaver play one of your characters for TV... Say hi! Let us kn...

Mia and Sam are getting into the festive spirit with their colleague Isobel Hayward! We chat about what Christmas would've been like for the Brontës, our favourite traditions and how Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol influenced the Victorians... Say hi! Let us know if you enjoyed the episode.

On this episode, Mia and Sam are joined by Bradford Young Creative and poet Noor Afasa! Noor has been on placement at the Museum as part of her apprenticeship with Bradford 2025. We chat all things Bradford, celebrating its City of Culture status and the people who lived there during the time of the Brontës... Say hi! Let us know if you enjoyed the episode.

Mia and Sam are joined by historian and heritage practitioner Kit Heyam (author of 'Before We Were Trans').  We have lots of tea talk, dive into the fascinating gendered history of our chosen object and learn about Kit's rebellious school visit to the Museum... Say hi! Let us know if you enjoyed the episode.

Welcome back to Behind the Glass! We're here with series 3 of the podcast that takes you up close to Brontë items in the Museum's collection. Hosts Sam and Mia are joined by Charlotte Brontë's no.1 fan, Naomi (@bookish.naomi), to chat about Victorian weddings, our love for books and whether marriage changed Charlotte as a writer... Say hi! Let us know if you enjoyed the episode.

For our final episode of series two, we welcome Graham Watson, author of 'The Invention of Charlotte Brontë', the new, eye-opening take on Charlotte's last years. We discuss scandal and celebrity in the Brontë world, and ask the tantalising question: who really was Charlotte Brontë? Say hi! Let us know if you enjoyed the episode.

Episode six is all about Anne! We're joined by Yorkshire writer and theatre-maker, Nicole Joseph, to uncover what we know about the youngest Brontë sister - and what we didn't know... Inspired by Nicole's chosen object, we explore what makes Anne's work so relevant even today. Say hi! Let us know if you enjoyed the episode.

On this episode, we're joined by Ruby Granger, the digital creator and literary influencer making the classics more accessible to young people. We talk about creativity in childhood, escaping to the moors, and the extraordinary bond between the Brontë siblings. Say hi! Let us know if you enjoyed the episode.

For the fourth installment of our second series, we welcome Mia Ferullo. Artist, master's student, and part of the team at the Brontë Parsonage Museum, Mia joins us to shine a light on the Brontë sisters, guided by her chosen object from the collection... We cover everything from letter-writing to finding creative space - and ask how much has changed for women in the spotlight today. Say hi!...

This week, we're joined by literary and cultural historian, Dr Claire O'Callaghan - Senior Lecturer in English at the University of Loughborough and Editor-in-Chief of 'Brontë Studies'. We dive into representations of gender and fashion in the Brontës' work, exploring literary symbolism inspired by Claire's very special chosen object from the collection. Say hi! Let u...

Series two returns with our first guest of 2025, the Rev. Oli Preston of Haworth Parish Church.  We discuss 19th-century medicine, looking after ourselves and the environment, and what it's like stepping into Patrick Brontë's shoes in the parish he cared for. Stay till the end for some beautiful music - the first of the podcast! Say hi! Let us know if you enjoyed the episode.

Welcome back to Behind the Glass with this early-release first episode of series 2!  Sam and new co-host Connie talk to prize-winning poet Jenny Mitchell, in an episode that touches on interpretations of 'Jane Eyre', Britain's colonial past, and themes related to Black history for Black History Month this October.  We'll return in 2025 to showcase the rest of series 2 - for now...

It's our last episode of series 1!!! Expect ghost, ghouls and lots of laughs as we round off the series with  Adam Sargant, AKA Haunted Haworth. We'll be contacting spirits and discussing local folk lore connected to the Brontes...  Say hi! Let us know if you enjoyed the episode.

Sassy and Sam chat to poet and yoga teacher Emma Conally-Barklem. Emma has led yoga and poetry session in the Parson's Field, and joins us on the podcast to discuss all things meditation, tree poses and walking on the moors. Say hi! Let us know if you enjoyed the episode.

Sam and Sassy chat to Visitor Experience Assistant Ramlah Qureshi.  We'll chat all things paints, portraits and Doctor Who with our fantastic colleague Ramlah.  Say hi! Let us know if you enjoyed the episode.

Sam and Sassy chat to author and Bronte Society trustee Lucy Powrie.  We'll discuss fantasy worlds, diaries and neurodiversity. Say hi! Let us know if you enjoyed the episode.

Sassy and Sam chat to researcher and curator Bethany Turner-Pemberton. Bethany is PhD candidate in Textiles and Museum Studies at Manchester Metropolitan University, in collaboration with Science and Industry Museum and MMU Special Collections.   We'll discuss denim jackets and dodgy fashion, delving into textiles past and future. Say hi! Let us know if you enjoyed the episode.

Sassy and Sam chat to producer Piers Tempest, who produced the 2022 'Emily' film about Emily Bronte.  We'll take a peak behind the scenes of 'Emily', and discuss with Piers some of the iconic moments in the film. Say hi! Let us know if you enjoyed the episode.

Sam and Sassy chat to Visitor Experience Assistant Lizzy Newman.  We'll discuss death, doc martens, and what it was like living in Haworth in the Victorian Era. Say hi! Let us know if you enjoyed the episode.

In this first episode, Sam and Sassy introduce themselves and the podcast, before chatting to author Rowan Coleman. Rowan writes Bronte novels under pen name Bella Ellis, and joins the podcast to discuss all thing books, babes and beaches. Say hi! Let us know if you enjoyed the episode.