Weird Medieval Guys

The Middle Ages gave us one of the longest-lasting institutions of education: the university. And where there are universities, there are sure to be students sowing chaos and destruction. Olivia and Aran are joined by a special guest, Joe Mason, as they explore the medieval origins of universities and take a look at the lives and activities of those who studied at them. Also discussed are the dang...

The Weird Medieval Guys book is now out!!! Head to linktr.ee/weirdmedievalguys to pick up a copy! Florence and its residents appear in late medieval popular culture across Europe, particularly in jokes at their expense. So why was everyone so obsessed with Florence? In this episode, Olivia and Aran take a look at how this Tuscan city grew to become a thriving centre of arts, banking, and trade by...

In this special Halloween episode of the Weird Medieval Guys podcast, Olivia and Aran take a look at the confluence of fact, fable and fear that created the medieval vampire myth. We then explore how that myth developed into the modern image of vampires that most people think of today, most notably how the titular character of Bram Stoker's novel Dracula came to be. Also discussed are why Dracula...

Jesters. They're just funny little guys with bells who hang around their medieval king and make wisecracks, right? As it turns out, there's actually a bit more to it. Olivia and Aran trace the origins and development of jesters, minstrels, fools, and other entertainers in the wider context of humour in the Middle Ages. Along the way, we meet some of medieval europe's weirdest guys and crack plenty...

In the medieval world, divorce was illegal and marriage was forever. In most cases, at least. Olivia and Aran take on. the most pressing question of all, then: how can you leave your wife anyways? Starting in 8th century Wales and ending with post-medieval large boy Henry VIII, this is a casual jaunt through marital love and hatred in the Middle Ages. Also discussed are the goose in the room, the...

Olivia and Aran tackle the much-maligned subject of medieval historical artwork, seeking to understand and explain why medieval artists depicted historical figures such as Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great as looking very......medieval. Also discussed are Sharknado, Sharknado 2: The Second One, and subsequent installations in the Sharknado franchise.

Olivia and Aran take on their greatest challenge to date: two bags of doritos. We attempt to answer with as much rigour as possible the question of whether a medieval peasant would be knocked dead by a taste of the delightful snack. Then, we explore why medieval people loved spices so much that they took over half the world looking for them. Also discussed are the secrets to good soup, the ports a...

Aran and Olivia cover one of the most iconic parts of medieval warfare: the siege. Learn more about the wacky weapons and machines that were used in medieval sieges plus the even wackier people who invented them. Also discussed are giant eggs, wizards, and unbeatable strategies for rock paper scissors. For more information about some of what we cover, check out: Orban and his giant cannon, Basilic...

Olivia and Aran explore three guys from the Middle Ages who gained fame, power and notoriety through their wives. At a time when husbands were expected to exercise complete control over their spouses, these men's stories are inextricably linked with their affection and respect for their wives. Also discussed are the true nature of Parisians, how Grimace came to be, and historical parallels with th...

Olivia and Aran take on five common modern-day misconceptions about the Middle Ages and dig into what makes them so prevalent. These myths are, in order: The medieval world wasn't colourful (0:45) Most people in the Middle Ages were illiterate Medieval knights followed a strict chivalric code Medieval communities were largely homogeneous Medieval peasants worked less than modern people Also discus...

In this inaugural episode of the Weird Medieval Guys podcast, Olivia and Aran discuss why medieval art is so intriguing to modern viewers and what makes so much of it so weird . Also discussed are Galaxy Quest, Mel Gibson's crimes against the Middle Ages, and the future historic legacy of explicit images of Garfield the cat. For more information about some of what we cover: Listen to Ira Glass and...