Media-eval: A Medieval Pop Culture Podcast

Sarah and guest Molly Likovich get into CW’s Reign, aka Gossip Girl meets 16th-century France. Join us as we talk about some of the strangest choices made in a historical adaptation—from the invented illegitimate son of the King of France to the Forever 21-inspired costumes—as well as the real stories of Mary, Queen of Scots, François II, and Catherine de’Medici. CW: Discussions of sexual assault...

TikTok celebrity and fellow medievalist Mireille Pardon is back to talk with Sarah about medieval misinformation and conspiracy theories on TikTok as we do a deep dive into Momllennial’s “Rome didn’t exist” theory. Join us for an extended debunking and a foray into the wide array of sources historians use to study the medieval past! Book Recommendation: The Inheritance of Rome: Illuminating the Da...

It's Christmas so we decided to talk about the most Christmas-y of all movies- The Green Knight. We talk about pretension, confusion and whether Barry Keoghan is attractive or not. Its a long episode but then again, its a movie that lasts for several years, or feels like it does at least!

This is the one where Sarah gets unreasonably infuriated about the Magna Carta and Anglo-American exceptionalism - but also gets the chance to talk about King John’s troubles with Pope Innocent III. Elizabeth Bonnemann is back to talk Doctor Who serial “The King’s Demons,” where two Time Lords battle it out over (allegedly) the future of democracy in England, 1215. Social Media: Find Elizabeth on...

Media-eval ventures into the Discworld! Sarah and guest Bridget Kennedy discuss two of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels, Wyrd Sisters and Small Gods. Join us as we get into the Inquisition, witch persecution, and medievalism in the Discworld series. Social Media: Twitter @mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Rate, review, and subscribe!

Is it a Lady? Is she a hawk? Why not both? A hawk, a wolf, and a bishop meet in a medieval Italian city—and Sarah is joined by living history reenactor Ari Ryan Ailin, aka “The Turnip of Terror,” to discuss 1985 film Ladyhawke. Join us as we get into synth scores, strange helmets, possibly stranger bishops’ croziers, French presence in late medieval Sicily, and what Caroline Walker Bynum has calle...

Red, Black, and Periwinkle Deaths! Digressions Galore! Upside-down crosses! David Baxter of Thank You Five Podcast joins Sarah to discuss Vincent Price film The Masque of the Red Death (1964). Celebrate Halloween with us as we get into medieval horror, plague, and the real history of Satanism. Social Media: Twitter @mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find David’s podcast Thank You Five o...

What if a movie was about two men falling in love and restoring each others honor? It would be called The Eagle and of all the movies that fail the Ifft Decker test, it would fail it the most.

Medieval art historian Maeve Doyle returns to talk with Sarah about The Secret of Kells (2009), a gorgeous reimagining of the creation of the Book of Kells. Join us to learn about medieval visual culture, book production, and the real medieval origins of the film’s heroic cat Pangur Ban. This episode is dedicated to the memory of Producer Carmen, Sarah’s own heroic cat companion. She will be very...

Medieval Iberia September on Media-eval continues! Want to hear what two historians of medieval Barcelona think about Netflix miniseries Cathedral of the Sea? Join Sarah and fellow medieval historian Marie Kelleher as we delve into the Jewish community of Barcelona, host desecration, and legal history - and remind listeners once again that the ius primae noctis wasn’t a real thing. CW: The series...

This September, universities are back up and running - and Media-eval will be featuring conversations between specialists of the medieval Iberian Peninsula! In this episode, Sarah and fellow medieval historian Dana Wessell Lightfoot explore interfaith contact and conflict in The Lions of al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay, a novel set in a world inspired by medieval al-Andalus. Join us as we delve into...

Sarah and guest Rachel Aanstad (Twelfth Night Podcast) tackle another example of Disney medievalism - 1937 film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Join us as we get into medievalism in architecture, religious references, and the history of the wicked stepmother. CW: Discussions of ableist, racist/anti-Semitic, and misogynist tropes Book Recommendation: Christians Klapisch-Zuber, Women, Family, and R...

With help from guest Erica Desautels, Sarah argues a) that The Little Mermaid DEFINITELY takes place in the late 17th century and is therefore a legitimate subject for this podcast and b) that it is clearly the best Disney movie. Join Sarah and Erica as we get into fish consumption, French cooking, costumes and material culture, and why contracts mattered in the medieval Mediterranean. 

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Sarah is joined by fellow medievalist Marita (Miti) von Weissenberg to discuss the encounters between Vikings and indigenous peoples as seen in Pathfinder (2007). We delve into white savior narratives, trading vs. raiding, and, of course, shirtless Karl Urban. Thanks to our guest’s expertise, we have an excellent array of recommendations! Primary Texts: The Vinland Sagas, trans. Keneva Kunz, intro...

Sarah tricked Ollie into playing a video game and watching a movie. He then forgot he doesn't host the podcast anymore. Together they discuss the search for the "Apple of Eden" and whether or not a secret order can be secret if they keep announcing themselves to the world. P.S Ollie swears quite badly while talking about Columbus

Sarah is joined by returning guest Ally Pitts of Russophiles Unite! Movie Podcast to discuss the 1928 silent film The Passion of Joan of Arc. We talk Joan’s trial and posthumous retrial, Eucharistic devotion, and late medieval women’s mysticism in this intriguing representation of Joan of Arc—as well as why this film was banned in England, censored by French Catholics, and criticized by the French...

Mireille once again joins Sarah for a short bonus episode! We found out why Jonathan Banks agreed to do this movie in an ... interesting ... interview. We break down his discussion of the "Dark Ages" here. You can read the full interview here: http://frontrowfeatures.com/features/film-features/jonathan-banks-gets-medieval-redbad-24289.html Social Media: Twitter @mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@...

Sarah and fellow medieval historian Mireille Pardon tackle Redbad, the 2018 Dutch film that may or may not be Dutch right-wing propaganda. Join us as we get into the conversion of the Frisians, the real histories of Charles Martel and Redbad, and why in this film it looks like the Franks traveled back in time from the 14th century and the Frisians traveled forward in time from the 5th century. 

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Media-eval's resident Doctor Who expert Elizabeth Bonnemann returns to talk about 1982 serial The Visitation. You know, the one where the Doctor et. al. starts a pretty big fire. Join Elizabeth and Sarah as we get into theater, plague, and the Great Fire of London. This is a bit outside Sarah's usual period - so if you know something we don't, let us know! Social Media: Twitter @mediaevalpod E-mai...

That’s right - more Robin Hood! Sarah and returning guest Morgan Morales talk about the 1938 film The Adventures of Robin Hood. Join us as we talk Saxons and Normans, sex-positive ladies in waiting (#teambess), and the origins of the Robin Hood legend and our current Robin Hood tropes. Sarah would also like to acknowledge that she’s pretty sure she stole the “bad Guy” joke from former co-host Olli...

Sarah and guest Marisa Macias get into medievalism and archaeology in their discussion of 2021 Netflix release The Dig. Join us as we talk about Sutton Hoo, the practice of archaeology, and why you should think twice before using the terms "the Dark Ages" and "Anglo-Saxon." Social Media: Twitter @mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Please rate, review, and subscribe! Find Marisa on Twitte...

Sarah and guest Megan Sunday of Let's Get Weirding Podcast and The Spool talk about beloved teen slumber party favorite Ever After. Join us as we talk material culture, arranged marriages, the concept of the premodern fairy tale romcom, and the fact that unfortunately, King Henri II of France did not marry Cinderella. Is this episode noticeably longer than the movie? Yes. Does this movie deserve i...

Sarah talks with Meaghan and Elo of the podcast Modern Medieval about medievalism, fantasy, and comedy in Season 1 of Netflix series Disenchantment. Join us as we get into arranged marriages, lampreys, and the history of women and brewing! Book Recommendation: Judith M. Bennett, Ale, Beer, and Brewsters in England: Women's Work in a Changing World Social Media: Twitter @mediaevalpod E-mail: media....

Guests Matt Welsh and David Baxter of Thank You Five join Sarah to talk about Arthuriana and courtly love in the Middle Ages, the 1960s, and today as we delve into the movie musical Camelot. Social Media: Twitter @mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Please rate, review, and subscribe! Find David and Matt's podcast Thank You Five on Twitter @thankyoufivepod and on Facebook @TY5Podcast

Guest Elizabeth Bonnemann is back to talk with Sarah about 1976 Doctor Who serial The Masque of Mandragora, where we confront popular stereotypes about the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and scientific exploration. Also, some classic Media-eval rug history. Social Media: Twitter @mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Please rate, review, and subscribe! Find Elizabeth @LizzieStrider Book Reco...