Pop Medieval Ep 8: The St Nick Sucker Punch

Pop Medieval Ep 8: The St Nick Sucker Punch

Author: Pop Medieval December 29, 2019 Duration: 21:47
Blīþe Gēol! In this very special episode of Pop Medieval, Doc tells Nina about two legends of Saint Nicholas. The first is the legend of St. Nicholas of Myra, who allegedly attended the Council of Nicaea and punched a heretic in the face. The second is the story of St. Nicholas resurrecting two butchered and pickled children from a vat. Finally, we hear Doc do a dramatic reading of Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer translated from modern English into Old English and back into modern English. Also, Nina reveals her plans to return to a "traditional" Christmas. Show Notes Did St Nicholas of Myra / Santa Claus punch Arius at the Council of Nicaea? (Roger Pearce) St Nicholas and the story of the three schoolboys murdered by an inn-keeper and stashed in a pickling cask (Roger Pearce) Hrodulf, the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Old English to Modern English, by Philip Craig Chapman-Bell (Bakersfield College) Nina's Recommendations Chaucer's Mead for All Seasons (chaucerswine.com) [h/t - Eric from the Wine Dads podcast] Doc's Recommendations Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, or Sword of the Valiant (IMDB)

Ever wondered why medieval history feels like a dusty textbook but the movies set in that era are so thrilling? Pop Medieval bridges that gap with a sense of adventure and a lot of laughs. Hosted by Dr. Richard Scott Nokes and his co-conspirator Nina MacNamara, this podcast digs into the real stories behind our fascination with the so-called dark ages. Each episode feels like a quest, whether they’re tracking down historical treasures, unraveling the complexities of events like the Black Death, or dissecting the monstrous creatures that haunt medieval lore and modern screens. The conversation is lively, accessible, and packed with insights you won’t find in a lecture hall. It’s for anyone who’s ever loved a medieval film or game but wanted to know where the fantasy ends and history begins. By blending rigorous education with genuine curiosity and humor, this series makes the distant past feel immediate and wildly entertaining. Tune in to Pop Medieval for a fresh take that proves learning about the past doesn’t have to be a chore-it can be an absolute blast.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 59

Pop Medieval
Podcast Episodes
Pop Medieval Ep 45: Degrees of Deadness in Valheim [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:48
Doc and Nina play the popular viking-themed video game, Valheim. They’ll discuss the meaning of the game and get into the finer aspects of the world. Topics covered: being dead, naked and afraid; rewarding cooperative ga…
Pop Medieval Ep 44: An Interview with Professor Awesome [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:59
In this very special episode of Pop Medieval, Nina rescues Doc from a bicycle repair man's refrigerator and interviews him about his latest book, "The Watch of Traxis." She asks the important questions like, is this book…
Pop Medieval Ep 43: Boning With Chaucer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:20
Doc and Nina are back from their January break and have a new episode. In this Valentine’s Day episode, they’re gushing, cooing, and preening about Geoffrey Chaucer’s “Parliament of Foules” — birds, that is. Ca-CAAA! Top…
Pop Medieval Ep 42: Eat Me(dieval) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:22
Doc sends Nina to cooking school for Christmas (no, this episode is NOT late — technically we’re still within the Christmas season). She recounts her experiences with the hits and misses from her week of feasting. Topics…
Pop Medieval Ep 40: “There Can Be Only One, SpongeBob!” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:44
Doc and Nina take on a beloved camp classic for Movember: Highlander. Guess what — it’s also from 1986! And Sean Connery is back, doing his Scottish non-Scot thing again. Topics covered: what exactly the Prize is, Christ…
Pop Medieval Ep 38: Garrrrrn and his Laduh [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:06
Doc and Nina kick off Mov-ember with The Green Knight. Spoilers abound. Topics discussed: knighthood, Gawain’s confusing heritage, the fox’s identity, Gawain becoming unstuck in time, the Trojan War, the color green, who…
Pop Medieval Ep 37: The Tears of St. Erkenwald [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:19
Doc tells Nina the spooky tale of St Erkenwald, the 13th century bishop who found an incorruptible corpse of a 6th century pagan king, resurrected him, and sent him to heaven with his holy tears. Topics covered: sacramen…
Pop Medieval Ep 36: Some Games are Good, Others are Halatafl [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:31
Shall we play a (board) game? Doc shows Nina a board game featuring a raging Geat and Fairytale Femme Fatale. Topics of discussion: Beowulf, Little Red Riding Hood, asymmetrical games, board games, metaphors, fox and gee…