The Medieval Podcast

Tight hose caused the Black Death, licking a bear into existence, and the Ordeal of Water. In this episode, Danièle tells us about some of the stranger ideas that came up in the Middle Ages. To sign up for Danièle's masterclass, go to https://medievalmasterclass.thinkific.com /  You can listen to the first episode of Bow and Blade at https://www.medievalists.net/2021/09/battle-hastings-bow-blade/...

Much ink has been spilled on Geoffrey Chaucer, but there’s another Chaucer that should be showing up on our radar, as well. This week, Danièle speaks with Michèle Schindler about the life and times of Alice Chaucer. Join up with Danièle's Masterclass at https://medievalmasterclass.thinkific.com/ This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find out how to help sp...

It’s back to school time. This week, Danièle tells us about life in the medieval university. What did students learn, what was expected of them, and how they really behaved. You can help support this podcast on our Patreon - go to   https://www.patreon.com/medievalists This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find out how to help spread the joy of medieval hi...

A new documentary follows the lives of women who fight in an extreme and full-contact sport, Medieval Armored Combat. This week, Danièle talks with filmmaker Adrian Cicerone about his new film Steel Song. You can watch the documentary on iTunes and AppleTV starting August 31st. Click here to learn more. This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find out how to...

It’s medieval storytime! This week, a story from the ancient world is translated into the Middle Ages in the tale of Sir Orfeo. This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find out how to help spread the joy of medieval history, please visit patreon.com/themedievalpodcast

The Green Knight has just been released in the cinemas. Danièle is joined by Peter Konieczny to talk about the film and how it compares to the 14th-century story Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.  You can support this podcast and Medievalists.net on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/medievalists This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find out how to help sp...

The roots of some important English traditions and political institutions began in one of those historical pockets of huge change but scarce written material in the centuries after the Romans left and the Normans arrived, making it challenging to find answers. Enter Dr. Marc Morris. You can support this podcast through Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com /medievalists  This podcast is made pos...

Imagine yourself going on a one-way trip to medieval England. What items would you bring back with you? In this episode of The Medieval Podcast, Danièle prepares to go to the 14th century and has a list of modern things she would take back into the Middle Ages. You can support The Medieval Podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists This podcast is made possible by the generous...

One of the world’s most well-known and beloved medieval saints is, of course, St. Francis, a man who faced many tribulations in the form of physical illness and disability. This week, Danièle speaks with Donna Trembinski about what we can learn about the person behind the saint by studying how his physical life affected his spiritual life. You can sign up for Danièle's Medieval Masterclass at http...

One of the things medieval and modern people definitely have in common is an interest in preventing unwanted pregnancies. This week, Danièle speaks with Eleanor Janega to get all the details on medieval contraception. You can support this podcast and Medievalists.net on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you!...

This week, Danièle speaks with Marie Favereau about the myths and truths surrounding the Golden Horde, how nomadic people tend to be misunderstood, and how the Mongols changed the world. You can support this podcast on Patreon - go https://www.patreon.com/medievalists to learn more. This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find out how to help spread the joy...

Among the most popular folk heroes of the Middle Ages is one who hails not from a traditional kingdom, but from the animal kingdom. This week, Danièle speaks with Anne Louise Avery about the charming, troubling, and evergreen trickster, Reynard the Fox. You can support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/medievalists This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners...

In honour of the 20th anniversary of the publication of The Trotula, Danièle speaks with editor and translator Dr. Monica Green about this astonishing collection of medieval medical and cosmetic advice for women. You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find out how to help s...

It’s a fun episode for this week’s edition of The Medieval Podcast. Danièle is joined by Peter Konieczny to talk about which three people we would invite for a dinner party. If you enjoy the podcast, and would like to support it, you can do so at https://www.patreon.com/medievalists This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find out how to help spread the joy...

Among the most powerful kingdoms in the medieval period was Solomonic Ethiopia, a Christian kingdom that sought out contact with Western Europe in the Late Middle Ages. This week, Danièle speaks with Verena Krebs about contact between Solomonic Ethiopia and Western Europe, how historians have misconstrued Ethiopian interests in the past, and what we can learn when we dig into primary sources. Plea...

This year's version of the International Congress on Medieval Studies was held online. This week, Danièle is joined by Peter Konieczny to discuss their highlights from the conference. You can learn more about the congress at https://wmich.edu /medievalcongress  To learn more about our Patreon, please go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists This podcast is made possible by the generous support o...

An uplifting episode of fun medieval poetry! This week, Danièle reads nine of her favorites poems, which tell of a student who wants to enjoy the day, a priest and a wolf, pet peeves about courtly love, a goliard's feast, and more. If you want to support this podcast and Medievalists.net, you can do so at https://www.patreon.com /medievalists  Sign up for Danièle's Medieval Masterclass at https://...

The Art of Courtly Love by Andreas Capellanus is a twelfth-century guide to the ins and outs of medieval love affairs, from how to find love to how to keep it - and why maybe it’s best to avoid it altogether. This week, Danièle speaks with Peter Konieczny about this fascinating book, and why it’s probably time to ditch some of its outdated dating advice. If you want to support this podcast and Med...

When it came to power in medieval Europe, much of it rested in the hands of kings and popes. But what happened when they decided not to share it? This week, Danièle speaks with Blair Apgar about the dramatic clash of emperor versus pope at Canossa in 1077. To learn more about our Patreon, please visit https://www.patreon.com/medievalists To learn more about Danièle's Medieval Masterclass, please v...

Diplomat, soldier, prince, adulterer. This week, Danièle speaks with Helen Carr about one of the most colourful and powerful figures of the late Middle Ages: John of Gaunt. To learn more about our Patreon, go to https://www.patreon.com /medievalists  This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find out how to help spread the joy of medieval history, please visit...

This week, Danièle reveals the answers to some questions asked by authors taking her Medieval Masterclass for Creators, including such varied topics as breastfeeding, shaving in the army, and how long it takes to make an arrowhead. You can join Danièle’s Medieval Masterclass at  www.medievalmasterclass.com You can also help support the podcast and Medievalists.net through our Patreon – go to https...

If there’s one thing the medieval period is known for, it’s warfare. But to get the full picture, it’s important that we push past stereotypical ideas and listen to the words that medieval people left behind. This week Danièle speaks with Michael Livingston and Kelly DeVries about medieval warfare and how it was seen by the people who actually lived through it. You can find their book on our Amazo...

A common myth about the medieval period is that no one traveled anywhere, but stayed in the place they were born until they died. This week, Danièle speaks with John F. Romano to find out what travel was really like in the Middle Ages. Check out our Amazon storefront at https://www.amazon.com/shop/medievalists This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find out...

Beer: it’s delicious, it’s nutritious, and it’s inseparable from ideas of the Middle Ages. This week, Danièle speaks with Dr. Noëlle Phillips about medieval beer: who was making it, who was drinking it, and how the brewing industry leans on the medieval world for its marketing today. See our Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/medievalists This podcast is made possible by the generous support...

In celebration of the 100th episode of The Medieval Podcast, it’s a podcast party with all sorts of special guests from the first 100 episodes stopping in to tell us what they’ve been up to, and what they’ve learned since we last heard from them. Check out our bookshop at https://www.amazon.com/shop /medievalists  This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find...