Medieval podcast episodes

Seán Duffy answers listener questions on Irish life, language and culture during the Middle Ages

Broadcaster and academic Professor Alice Roberts explores what the study of human bones can tell us about disease and violence in medieval Britain

Hannah Skoda considers how breastfeeding was seen and understood during the Middle Ages

Elma Brenner answers listener questions on the strange world of medieval medicine

Keep fit was a surprisingly big deal in the Middle Ages. Professor Carole Rawcliffe explains who was exercising, and why

With the release of a new Netflix drama based on Boccaccio's The Decameron, Rebecca Bowen explains why this text was a medieval bestseller, which helped people come to terms with the horrors of the plague

Anthony Bale takes us on a guided tour of the medieval travel experience

Dan Jones chronicles the brutal siege of Calais, an overlooked campaign in the Hundred Years’ War, and the focus of his new novel

Karen Smyth delves into the rich archive of the Paston family to reveal what the story of one aristocratic dynasty can tell us about love, life and death between the 14th and 18th centuries

Paul Dryburgh tells the story of the man who broke out of the Tower of London, and masterminded Edward II’s downfall

Brett Whalen answers popular questions on the medieval papacy, from the exploits of anti-popes to an infamous trial of a pope's corpse

Danièle Cybulskie cracks open the medieval rulebook to reveal the top dos and don'ts of the Middle Ages – including why you should never sneeze in the direction of a lord or lady

Christopher de Hamel introduces an extraordinary cast of historical characters, all of whom shared a burning passion for manuscripts

Lydia Zeldenrust tells the story of the first book ever printed in the English language

Mark Pegg explores why Christianity came to dominate in Europe as the Roman empire disintegrated

James Freeman discusses a new project that’s investigating medieval medicinal recipes to uncover how people coped with illness and ailments

Gillian Adler and Paul Strohm explore the complex methods of timekeeping in the medieval period – from burning candles and sundials, to water clocks and the astrolabe

Danièle Cybulskie takes a closer look at the medieval monastic lifestyle and explores whether it can offer any lessons for today

Professor Christopher Dyer answers listener questions about the daily life of medieval peasants, from diets and dentistry to leisure and life expectancy

Eleanor Janega busts popular myths surrounding women in the Middle Ages, revealing how society was more open-minded than we might initially expect

Michael McCarthy tells the story of the real-life Lord Mayor of London who inspired the famous pantomime character

Dr Gabrielle Storey investigates what Richard I can reveal about medieval concepts of masculinity, and why whispers about the crusader king’s sexuality might not be all they seem

Felicity Hill explores what it meant to be excommunicated in Christian-dominated medieval Europe

Mary Wellesley uncovers the hidden stories of the artisans and authors behind medieval manuscripts