Real Fantastic Beasts

Guest Alixe Bovey regales us with the perplexing history of the goose barnacle and the barnacle goose.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which we explore this beautiful and ancient non-binary creature.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We explore the lore of cocks and hens from manuscript illustrations to the classic weathervane. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest Brigitte Buettner explains how stones had living agency in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We trace the evolution of the werewolf from deliberate transformation to mental illness. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest Karen Raber takes us through our paces as we explore horses and horse training in the European Renaissance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest animal archaeologist Alan Outram lays out the evidence for the size and appearance of medieval horses. Join the conversation or subscribe at realfantasticbeasts.com #horses #knights Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We explore the troubled history of the Lamia, from bloodsucking monster to romance heroine to corporate logo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guests Dr. Sara Petrosillo and falconer Kelly Martello of the Michigan Hawking Club join us in exploring these fantastic birds in the Middle Ages. Kelly's hawk Vesper joins us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From loveable companion for monks to toxic witch's familiar, we trace the fantastic history of the cat from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two expert guests, Jane Buckingham and Samayita Banerjee, help us understand the pre-modern tiger in India, with special attention to Bengal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The European Middle Ages witnessed the birth of an entirely new bird: the pelican. This is not the "water pelican" we all know but an entirely fantastic beast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest experts Keith Botelho and Joe Campana regale us with fantastic tales of bees in the Renaissance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We investigate the most fantastic bugs of all: kermes and cochineal. These little creatures not only gave us many of our words for red but also famous symbols from British redcoats to the U.S. flag. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In honor of International Unicorn Day, here's a chance to explore the search for the real unicorn, from the mystery in Middle Ages to its ultimate discovery in the seventeenth century. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We investigate worms and caterpillars and discover them everywhere. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest experts Asa Mitman and Holly Dugan explore two fantastic beast manuscripts, one from the Middle Ages, one from the Renaissance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We continue our exploration of dragons by learning about Chinese dragons from guest Winston Kyan, a historian of medieval Chinese art at the University of Utah. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From charismatic megafauna, like dragons, we descend to the small and distinctly uncharismatic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We extend our dragon-lore by chatting with Laura K. Nuffer from Colby College about dragons in medieval and early modern Japan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we begin the Year of the Rabbit in the East, we explore the fantastical history of the rabbit in the West, from jousting rabbits in manuscript illustrations to the Rabbit Woman of Godalming. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This our first of several planned episodes on the most famous of all fantastic creatures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We examine the Halcyon, which nests at the winter solstice with magical effect. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet the English mastiff, the creature who made "dog" into the generic English term for all domestic canines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest expert Caitlin Mahaffy talks to us about Bearbaiting in Elizabethan London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.