The Medieval Podcast

The Medieval Podcast

Author: Danièle Cybulskie Language: English Episodes: 100
Step back in time without the dust and difficulty of old archives. The Medieval Podcast, hosted by Danièle Cybulskie, is your accessible gateway to a thousand years of human experience. This isn't a dry recitation of dates and battles, but a vibrant exploration of how people lived, thought, and created. Each week, Danièle brings her genuine curiosity and conversational style to interviews with leading scholars, uncovering the fascinating details that textbooks often miss. You'll find yourself immersed in discussions that might cover the economic significance of pigs, the beauty and complexity of Persian poetry, or the tumultuous drama of the Plantagenet dynasty. The scope is deliberately broad, touching on history, arts, literature, and the intricacies of daily culture and society, all through the medieval lens. Listening to this podcast feels like having a friendly chat with a knowledgeable guide who is just as excited to learn as you are. It’s designed for anyone with a spark of interest, whether you're a seasoned enthusiast or just wondering what daily life was really like between the fall of Rome and the Renaissance. The conversations are deep yet digestible, always aiming to connect the medieval world to our own in unexpected ways. Prepare to have your assumptions challenged and your curiosity ignited as Danièle and her guests illuminate the shadows of the past, one compelling story at a time.
Episodes
Inventing the Renaissance with Ada Palmer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:55
Given that the term literally means “rebirth”, the Renaissance throws some not-so-subtle shade on the period that comes before it. So, where did the idea of the Renaissance actually come from? And was it truly a golden a…
Saint Thomas Becket with Michael Staunton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:16
It's one of the most notorious political assassinations in history: the murder of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket. The story of two friends who became bitter enemies in a struggle between church and state tha…
Medieval Infancy with Julie Singer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:42
One of the most celebrated moments in childhood is when a person utters their very first words, stepping over a brand new threshold of communication. And from that moment on, all bets are off. This week, Danièle speaks w…
Prester John with Chris Taylor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:52
A mysterious figure ruling at the fringes of the known world, Prester John might be the most famous person you've never heard of. Like a medieval Carmen Sandiego, Prester John was a man people searched the globe for, fro…
El Cid with Nora Berend [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:39
In the centuries since his death, the famous El Cid has been the star of plays, romances, feature films, and even propaganda campaigns. But how does history compare to the hype? This week, Danièle speaks with Nora Berend…
Royal Women of Sweden with Caroline Wilhelmsson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:30
To get a fuller picture of medieval queenship, it's time to head to the heart of Scandinavia to learn about the lives of the lesser-known medieval women who found themselves - intentionally or unintentionally - ruling a…
Frederick Barbarossa with Graham Loud [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:28
When we look back to medieval Europe, there are a handful legendary figures who stand out above the rest. Richard the Lionheart. Charlemagne. El Cid. And Frederick Barbarossa. A powerful emperor, focused crusader, and st…
The Rise of Henry Tudor with Nathen Amin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:07
Though he’s remembered as the man who united the two royal houses of England, Henry Tudor was more than just the red rose of Lancaster: he was also the red dragon of Wales. This week, Danièle speaks with Nathen Amin abou…
Medieval Hospitals with Sarah Loose Guerrero [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:12
When we think about the joys of modernity, perhaps one of the images that comes to mind is hospitals. But, believe it or not, hospitals were also a fundamental part of the medieval world. Catering to the sick, the poor,…
The Medieval Writings of Jean Bodel with Lynn Ramey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:15
When it comes to influential writers of the Middle Ages, there are big names that are probably familiar to a lot of us. But who was it who influenced them? It’s time to get to the deep cut of medieval literature, and loo…