Best Footnoting History Podcasts (2025)

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The Pendle Witches 28:38

Play Pause

1h ago28:38

28:38

(Host: Kristin) In 1612, nine-year-old Jennet Devize accused her mother in court of witchcraft. Her testimony led to the conviction of 11 people, 10 of whom were sent to the gallows. Find out about the most famous witchcraft event in English history that you may never have heard about in this episode of Footnoting History! For further reading sugge…

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Appendix vii - Tailor a Jacket With Colette Geise 6:33

2h ago6:33

6:33

Want to get into slow fashion? Colette's here to help! Transcript Link Written by Meg Molloy Tuten Cast in order of appearance- Blythe Renay - Colette Socials: Twitter Bluesky Youtube Patreon InstagramBy Meg Molloy Tuten

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"He Was No Arthur": The Footnote That Forged a Crown 1:04:00

8d ago1:04:00

1:04:00

Send us a text What makes some stories transcend time while others fade away? King Arthur's legend has captivated audiences for over 1,500 years, morphing with each retelling while somehow maintaining its essential power. This fascinating deep dive traces the evolution of Arthurian legend from its misty origins to its modern interpretations. We beg…

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Playing War: The Development and Early Use of Kriegsspiel 18:26

11d ago18:26

18:26

(Host: Samantha) Games are amazing. They teach us how to engage with the world through play. They’ve also been used to train some of the greatest military minds. Chess is notoriously the game of the aristocracy, used to teach strategy and forward thinking. In the 19th century, a Prussian father and son, George Leopold von Reisswitz and Georg Heinri…

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From Meditation to Mass Murder: The Lethal Path of Aum Shinrikyo 56:30

15d ago56:30

56:30

Send us a text How does a yoga studio transform into a terrorist organization? The story of Aum Shinrikyo offers a chilling glimpse into the dark evolution of what may be history's most scientifically sophisticated doomsday cult. Through our exploration of this Japanese cult's transformation, we track founder Shoko Asahara's journey from a partiall…

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From Kriegsspiel to Killstreaks: Simulating Strategy Across Centuries 1:01:14

22d ago1:01:14

1:01:14

Send us a text The desire to practice life's significant moments before they happen is deeply human. What if we could rehearse our wedding, our parenting decisions, or even our next international conflict? This fascinating tension between preparation and authentic experience anchors our discussion as we explore HBO's "The Rehearsal" and what it rev…

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A Brief History of Napoleon Bonaparte’s Sisters 25:18

27d ago25:18

25:18

(Host: Christine) One of Napoleon Bonaparte’s favorite methods of expanding control was to place his siblings in positions of power. Here, Christine takes a look at the lives of Napoleon’s three dynamic sisters (Elisa, Pauline, and Caroline), their rise to imperial prominence, and how they were impacted by the fall of their brother. For further rea…

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Recommended Listening v - Travelling Light 16:08

25d ago16:08

16:08

Hello, dear listeners. Despondent that the Kingmaker Histories isn't currently releasing? Of course you are. But luckily, there's an easy fix for that. During our between-season break, we're going to be sharing a few audio dramas with you that we think you'll really, really love. This week we're sharing Travelling Light by Monstrous Productions. Tr…

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Chernobyl: Pride Goeth Before the Fallout 1:07:42

29d ago1:07:42

1:07:42

Send us a text What happens when national pride collides with nuclear disaster? The Chernobyl catastrophe of April 26, 1986 stands as a haunting reminder of technological hubris and the devastating consequences of prioritizing image over human safety. When Reactor 4 exploded at 1:23 a.m., it released more radiation than any other accident in histor…

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Recommended Listening iv - Greater Boston 11:50

1M ago11:50

11:50

Hello, dear listeners. Despondent that the Kingmaker Histories isn't currently releasing? Of course you are. But luckily, there's an easy fix for that. During our between-season break, we're going to be sharing a few audio dramas with you that we think you'll really, really love. This month we're sharing Greater Boston by Third Sight Media. Greater…

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Wills, Wombs, and Wagers: The Great Stork Derby 1:04:22

1M ago1:04:22

1:04:22

Send us a text When Charles Vance Miller died on Halloween 1926, few could have predicted the bizarre legacy this childless Toronto lawyer would leave behind. Born to humble farming parents, Miller had built an empire through shrewd investments in breweries, silver mines, and racehorses, becoming one of Canada's wealthiest bachelors. But without he…

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Simon de Montfort Revisited 25:20

1M ago25:20

25:20

(Host: Christine) In the 13th century, nobleman Simon de Montfort led an infamous and bloody rebellion against his brother-in-law, King Henry III of England. Simon’s fight against royal power (and controversial life!) caused him to be a focus of one of Footnoting History’s earliest episodes. Now, over a decade later, we are revisiting his story for…

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Clark's Confrontations, Popeye's Punches, and Betty's Boops: Max Fleischer’s Masterpieces 1:02:16

1M ago1:02:16

1:02:16

Send us a text Max Fleischer might be the most influential animator you've never heard of. While Disney and Looney Tunes dominate our cultural memory of early animation, this Polish immigrant who came to New York in 1887 was quietly revolutionizing the art form with groundbreaking techniques that still influence creators today. Through sheer determ…

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Beauty and the Footnote: Universities and the Study of Literature 1:01:09

2M ago1:01:09

1:01:09

Stefan Collini, FBA. Professor Emeritus of Intellectual History and English Literature, University of Cambridge. The Donald Winch Lectures in Intellectual History.University of St Andrews. 11th, 12th & 13th October 2022. In the course of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, universities expanded to include a wide range of what came to be regarde…

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Pockets! And Why Women Don’t Have Them 13:41

2M ago13:41

13:41

(Host: Samantha) Ladies, do you ever feel frustrated by the lack of pockets in your clothes? Gentlemen, have you ever heard a woman friend complain about her pockets or been asked to stow a phone or a wallet for a companion? This phenomenon isn’t new. Since the introduction of the three-piece suit in the seventeenth century, men have had a near mon…

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Archive Episode - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) (with Simran Hans) 1:05:33

2M ago1:05:33

1:05:33

For the final archive episode of 2025, Chris and Alex once again swing their way back into the superhero world of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey & Rodney Rothman, 2018), revisiting their discussion of Sony Pictures Animation’s computer-animated film that featured special guest Simran Hans, film critic and culture w…

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Beauty and the Footnote: Universities and the Study of Literature 54:04

2M ago54:04

54:04

Stefan Collini, FBA.Professor Emeritus of Intellectual History and English Literature, University of Cambridge. The Donald Winch Lectures in Intellectual History.University of St Andrews.11th, 12th & 13th October 2022. In the course of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, universities expanded to include a wide range of what came to be regarded …

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Beauty and the Footnote: Universities and the Study of Literature 1:06:10

2M ago1:06:10

1:06:10

Stefan Collini, FBA. Professor Emeritus of Intellectual History and English Literature, University of Cambridge. The Donald Winch Lectures in Intellectual History. University of St Andrews. 11th, 12th & 13th October 2022. In the course of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, universities expanded to include a wide range of what came to be regard…

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Beyond Sad Gruel: Food and Diet in Medieval Europe 15:06

2M ago15:06

15:06

(Host: Lucy) Seasonal eating and regional eating were the variables responsible for the most widespread differences in what people ate, although then as now, wealth and class played a significant role in what was available to and prized by diners. Contrary to Hollywood myth, though, sad gruel was not the norm. This episode explores cooking, eating,…

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Archive Episode - Wizards (1977) (Live @ Cinema Museum) 56:57

2M ago56:57

56:57

Chris and Alex go all the way back to 2020 for the penultimate archive episode of the podcast for this summer, remembering their discussion of Ralph Bakshi’s high fantasy animated epic Wizards (Ralph Bakshi, 1977), which was originally recorded in front of a live audience at the Cinema Museum in Kennington, London in January 2020. Released first ti…

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Recommended Listening iii - Fireside Folktales 18:16

3M ago18:16

18:16

Hello, dear listeners. Despondent that the Kingmaker Histories isn't currently releasing? Of course you are. But luckily, there's an easy fix for that. During our between-season break, we're going to be sharing a few audio dramas with you that we think you'll really, really love. This month we're sharing Fireside Folktales by Dallas Hawthorn. Seaso…

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Archive Episode - Inside Out (2015) (with Eric Herhuth) 1:03:27

3M ago1:03:27

1:03:27

To coincide with the release of Pixar’s science-fiction computer-animated feature Elio (Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi & Adrian Molina, 2025) this summer, Chris and Alex take listeners back a decade to 2015 and the emotional worlds created by the studio’s earlier Inside Out (Pete Docter, 2015). Originally recorded at the 33rd annual Society for Anim…

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Recommended Listening ii - Give Me Away 33:21

3M ago33:21

33:21

Hello, dear listeners. Despondent that the Kingmaker Histories isn't currently releasing? Of course you are. But luckily, there's an easy fix for that. During our between-season break, we're going to be sharing a few audio dramas with you that we think you'll really, really love. This month we're sharing Give Me Away by Gideon Media. Graham Shapiro…

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Archive Episode - Sub-Saharan African Animation (1966-2013) (with Paula Callus) 1:08:10

3M ago1:08:10

1:08:10

For this second archive episode, Chris and Alex revisit Episode 81 of the podcast that gave listeners a quickfire journey through Sub-Saharan African animation with Paula Callus, a Professor in the National Centre for Computer Animation at Bournemouth University and an expert in Sub-Saharan African animation. The films covered in this instalment we…

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Archive Episode - Space Jam (1996) (with Paul Wells) 1:25:00

4M ago1:25:00

1:25:00

To mark the return of the Fantasy/Animation archive instalments, Chris and Alex once more delve into the podcast’s back catalogue for this relisten of Episode 70 and their discussion of Space Jam (Joe Pytka, 1996), which featured very special guest Professor Paul Wells, Director of the Animation Academy at Loughborough University. Listen again at t…

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Footnote #65 - Pervasive Animation 12:22

4M ago12:22

12:22

The current cultural “pervasiveness” of animated media and the medium’s durable status as a vital intermediary between ‘us’ and ‘the world’ is the focus of this latest Footnote episode, which tackles “Pervasive Animation” as it has been understood within Suzanne Buchan’s 2013 anthology of the same name. Chris takes Alex through the requisite method…

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Recommended Listening i - Eeler's Choice 31:13

4M ago31:13

31:13

Hello, dear listeners. Despondent that the Kingmaker Histories isn't currently releasing? Of course you are. But luckily, there's an easy fix for that. During our between-season break, we're going to be sharing a few audio dramas with you that we think you'll really, really love. This month we're sharing Eeler's Choice by Lou Sutcliffe and Daisy Mc…

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The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Patrick McKay & J.D. Payne, 2022-) (Live @ PCA 2025) 1:30:50

4M ago1:30:50

1:30:50

This podcast special was recorded live at the recent Popular Culture Association Conference in New Orleans, USA, April 2025, where Alex was delighted to be asked to participate in a roundtable discussion on Amazon’s prequel series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Patrick McKay & J.D. Payne, 2022-). In a detour from our usual format, Alex …

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William and Caroline Herschel, Astronomer Siblings 21:20

4M ago21:20

21:20

(Host: Christine) In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, siblings William and Caroline Herschel dedicated their lives to studying the stars. Among their accomplishments were discovering a planet (William) and comets (Caroline), causing them to leave their marks on the field of astronomy forever. This episode of Footnoting History explores their…

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Footnote #64 - The Golden Age of Animation 14:37

5M ago14:37

14:37

Fresh from last week’s discussion of Mickey Mouse, Chris and Alex are once again joined by Dr David McGowan (Lecturer in the Contextual and Theoretical Studies of Animation at the University of the Arts London) to map the mythology of the Golden Age of Animation, and in particular how this phase of the medium’s history has been framed in relation t…

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Mickey Mouse (with David McGowan) 1:30:18

5M ago1:30:18

1:30:18

For this new episode of the podcast, Chris and Alex try and do justice to the global stardom of perhaps the most famous animated character of them all - Mickey Mouse. They are joined by Dr David McGowan, who is Lecturer in the Contextual and Theoretical Studies of Animation at the University of the Arts London, as well as author of Animated Persona…

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Say ȝes to the Chausemles: Fashion in the Medieval West 26:40

5M ago26:40

26:40

(Host: Kristin) Medieval clothing was much more than simply a way to keep warm and decent: it was a statement about social class, wealth, and increasingly personal taste. Clothing meant something – and what people wore could change with a mood or the day or the family they were born into. Find out what medieval people were wearing, this week on Foo…

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Footnote #63 - The Censored Eleven 11:09

5M ago11:09

11:09

Chris and Alex take a look at animation’s historical and troubling relationship to race with this examination of the Censored Eleven, a collection of controversial Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons produced during the 1930s and 1940s removed from syndication since 1968 for their inclusion of harmful and offensive racist stereotypes. Topics …

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Chapter Thirty-One - Outfoxed 38:30

5M ago38:30

38:30

Telesphore finally comes clean. Content Warnings: drug use, needles, gore, cannibalism, sucking/slurping noises (32:13-32:20) Transcript Link Written by Meg Molloy Tuten Cast in order of appearance: David Ault - The Historian Taqi Nazeer - Eisen Josh Rubino - Telesphore Blythe Renay - Colette Ioana Adascalitei - Saga Zuwie LeFou - Liberato Addition…

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Rise of the Guardians (2012) 1:05:44

5M ago1:05:44

1:05:44

To mark the Easter break, Fantasy/Animation crack open Rise of the Guardians (Peter Ramsey, 2012), the 2012 computer-animated film produced by DreamWorks Animation studio and a Hollywood blockbuster adapted from the children’s book series by William Joyce. Something of a box-office failure and a film that prompted an $87 million loss for DreamWorks…

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Christianity and the Roman Empire: Jerusalem to Constantinople 17:20

5M ago17:20

17:20

(Host: Lucy) The second through fourth centuries C.E. saw a profound transformation, and profound upheavals, in the Roman world as a result of the rise of Christianity as a universal religion. Religion, flexible and syncretic, was a powerful source of identity for the Romans, from the temples of misty Britain to the mystery cults of the Middle East…

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Footnote iii - Finale Announcement plus Season 3 Bloopers 3:38

5M ago3:38

3:38

Transcript link Sorry for the delay- we'll be back with your regularly scheduled Kingmaker Histories this time next week! Featuring: Taqi Nazeer, Henry Galley, Liz Plant, David Ault, Zuwie Lefou, Addison Peacock, Gianni Matragrano, Josh Rubino, Blythe Renay, Ty Coker and Ben Rowe Music Used: Fooling - Odd Chap Socials: Bluesky Youtube Tumblr Patreo…

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Footnote #62 - Object Relations 12:13

6M ago12:13

12:13

The Fantasy/Animation Footnotes complete their unofficial ‘psychoanalysis trilogy’ with this look at object relations and a branch of psychoanalytic approaches to film that emerged as a competing way of thinking about cinema linked to the development of the conscious minds of children. Listen as Alex takes Chris through the contributions of the Bri…