Best Literary Humour Podcasts (2025)

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Mr Birkin’s Anger for the Lost Sons; Mr Katt gets a Telling Off; and Gretel Rests by a River 33:58

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3h ago33:58

33:58

Send us a text Hallo hallo hallo! How are you this evening? Thank you so much for your wonderful messages of support and suggestions. So many lovely ideas. Oh and if you could spare the time, I would be so grateful if you would possibly give me a kind review and a high rating. It means a lot and I read every review. There are lots of platforms that…

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A Murmuration of Ponderings; Pepys visits Portsmouth & Southampton; A Note on Medieval Church Monuments; and The Great War Blights Families, Communities and the Minds of the Returning Men 1:09:35

1d ago1:09:35

1:09:35

Send us a text Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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A Teeny Witter or Interlude 7:40

14h ago7:40

7:40

Send us a text Hello, this is another recording that I couldn’t work out how to add to, but rather than delete it, here it is. I arrive at the beautiful driveway to Kelvedon Hall, where nuthatches, buzzards and coots abound. 😊 Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no s…

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The George and Dragon at Wargrave; Montmorency burns his Snout; and Gretel heads for Essex 37:34

1d ago37:34

37:34

Send us a text Good morning. Today Jerome K Jerome’s gentlemen (et chien) visit The George and Dragon at Wargrave and The Bull Inn at Sonning. Both pubs are still open and thriving and I’ve popped photographs onto social media. Isn’t it every English person’s dream to walk, row, cycle or chug along the Thames from source to tide? I’m heading to Kel…

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The Brothers York; Lolly Willowes; and the Tale of a Yorkshire Scallywag 36:06

2d ago36:06

36:06

Send us a text Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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An Unfortunate Bishop’s But(t) as Gretel sinks into A Month in the Country 50:39

4d ago50:39

50:39

Send us a text Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Montmorency Retreats from The Cat; Pepys is Revolted by a Floating Corpse; and Elgar ends our Ponder 🌝 33:15

5d ago33:15

33:15

Send us a text Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Montmorency does not like Cats 🐈‍⬛; The Knave of Knaresborough; and Exmoor is depicted to Perfection 40:03

6d ago40:03

40:03

Send us a text Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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The Joys of Marlow; the History of Cleeve Abbey; and JL Carr’s moving portrayal of a Dying Girl 45:52

7d ago45:52

45:52

Send us a text Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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The Wind is finally in the Boat’s Favour; A meandering Ponder in the Garden; and we celebrate Maurice and Matthew 33:08

8d ago33:08

33:08

Send us a text Thank you for joining me today. I am optimistic about the week ahead and I hope you are too. The cloud has finally shifted here in England and that makes an awful lot of difference. I’ll try to give a 🦔update soon. I’m putting food out for them every night and it completely disappears! 😄 Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings acc…

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Pavarotti, the Pearl Fishers and A Month in the County excavates one’s own heart 37:30

9d ago37:30

37:30

Send us a text How are you this blustery autumn day? There are so many forms of art that help peel off the scrub around one’s heart, apply a balm, then gently recoat with a protective layer. Unless we tend these sore, scarred spots, we cannot be well. Whether it’s words from a novel or poem, from a painting, or the harmonies of an aria, the arts al…

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Pepys Sings Gaze Not Upon Swans 🦢; Three Men and Their Boat; and we ponder the ancient Washing of Feet and Hands 🙌🏻 44:37

10d ago44:37

44:37

Send us a text A poem by Henry Noel (Elizabethan Courtier) Gaze not on Swans Gaze not on swans in whose soft breast A full hatcht beauty seems to nest, Nor snow which falling from the sky, Hovers in its virginity. Gaze not on roses though new blown Grac’d with a fresh complexion, Nor lilly which no subtle bee Hath rob'd by kissing chemistry. Gaze n…

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A Cut-short mini episode with Mr Katt and a Delightful lady in Dunster Museum 10:41

11d ago10:41

10:41

Send us a text Hello, I was unable to add to this episode, sadly, so in despair I’ll publish it as a mini-episode, like a tapas plate. Love Gretel 🦔🤗🙋‍♀️ Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time…

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Pomp & Circumstance; From Trenches to Moon’s Dug-out; and Romeo & Juliet’s terrible First Performance 38:48

12d ago38:48

38:48

Send us a text Hello and thank you so much for joining me. I hope you are well! I look forward to taking you to some Exmoor churches over the next few days. Thank you for your support and kind emails. Gretel x Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions requ…

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Finale of Butler’s Mystery of Becket’s Bones; and we meet Kind and Delightful Moon in JL Carr’s Sensitive Masterpiece 59:34

12d ago59:34

59:34

Send us a text Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Elgar, Wordsworth, Tracks, Midweek Music and Saints 32:34

13d ago32:34

32:34

Send us a text Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Wessex Woods; Good Saint Edith; and the Trail of Becket’s Bones 36:53

14d ago36:53

36:53

Send us a text Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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JL Carr and Jerome K Jerome Understand the Secret to finding Peace. 47:51

15d ago47:51

47:51

Send us a text Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Could the Bones Have Survived? And Poor Shattered Ypres Veteran arrives at the Church 47:32

16d ago47:32

47:32

Send us a text Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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The Mystery of St Thomas A Becket’s Bones Continues; and The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles reaches AD 799 40:28

16d ago40:28

40:28

Send us a text Hello dear friends and welcome to newcomers. There are two episodes today: this first continues John Butler’s brilliant investigation into the mystery of Becket’s bones; the second episode this evening will also continue this theme, but we will also include our other familiar readings. Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings accor…

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A Month in the Country and Half a Dozen books tonight. Settle down and close your eyes 🤓 44:19

18d ago44:19

44:19

Send us a text Good evening, sorry a super-late episode today. After dedicating a whole episode to the delightful P Mould yesterday, I wanted to catch up on all our readings. I know we’ve taken on a lot, but it means there is hopefully something there for you. It’s all jolly ad hoc but I can’t think of anything worse than a fixed recording routine.…

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Philip Mould OBE, Art Historian and Lovely Chap, chats to Gretel about Art 47:08

19d ago47:08

47:08

Send us a text Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Chaucer’s England; we Close the St Gregory Chapter; and we Progress with dear Pepys 21:14

20d ago21:14

21:14

Send us a text Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Hardy’s Overlooking the River Stour; St Gregory gives Augustine advice; Pepys’ shows good Character; and Where are St Thomas’s Bones? 32:25

21d ago32:25

32:25

Send us a text Dear friends, thank you for your company and support. Nothing is asked of you with this half-baked endeavour than your company. Be patient with me regarding the amateur production and please don’t rate me with a one or two, though think it you might. I share with you this evening Dorset sounds, Hardy’s words, Mr Katt’s mischief, Jani…

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Visit to Church of St Candida and Holy Cross; and part three of Mystery of Becket’s Bones 37:12

22d ago37:12

37:12

Send us a text Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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The Mystery of Becket’s Bones; Sherborne Evensong; and Pepys Tends his Swollen Testicle 30:10

23d ago30:10

30:10

Send us a text Hello and a very warm welcome to this evening’s episode that starts with Doggo splashing in the clear chalk streams of Dorset and includes live Choral Evensong from Sherborne’s honey-hued Abbey. How are you today? Thank you Brendan, Aidan and Michele for your ideas. I will take every one of them on board. For those who live in German…

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The Mystery of Thomas Becket’s Bones:Christian spoons found in Sutton Hoo; and Pepys Buys his first Hogshead of Wine. 30:20

24d ago30:20

30:20

Send us a text Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Gretel aborts a launch into Egyptian Monasticism; and goes down a Sutton Hoo rabbit-hole 40:37

25d ago40:37

40:37

Send us a text Good evening and a very warm wishes to you this darkening Friday evening. Thank you for your support despite episodes that fail in part; such is the consequence of a daily podcast which means it’s more of a ‘blurt’ or ‘stream of consciousness’ with the aid of little-reconnoitred material. At some point do I move to one or two episode…

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Three Men and their Boat get to Walton; We ponder St Gregory’s Mission in Kent; and Mr Robin barks at the Magpies 36:47

26d ago36:47

36:47

Send us a text I’m so sorry this is so late. I forgot to press ‘publish’ ☺️ Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝…

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2 Dead Dogs and a Crushed Hat 14:45

28d ago14:45

14:45

2 Dead Dogs and a Crushed Hat There's a punchline at the end of life that makes it all funny? Right? Come on, indulge me! What a year. I'm laughing now. But then. Ouch. THIS IS A TRUE STORY OF LOSS AND OTHER BAD JOKES THE UNIVERSE TELLS US. Dirty Stupid Wisdom is a podcast written and read by Ben Keaton – actor, writer, Olivier Award-winner. Short,…

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A few gentle ponders and reads from a Dorset garden. The swifts are gone but the crows 🐦‍⬛ are filling the vacuum 🌳 33:26

28d ago33:26

33:26

Send us a text Hallo and thank you for joining me for this Tuesday bonus episode. With love, Gretel xx Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝…

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Poor Harris attempts his ‘Comic Song’; and Bede tells of Cuthbert’s shutting himself away, all in the delightful Dorset Drizzle 🌧️ 21:22

28d ago21:22

21:22

Send us a text Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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The Luidhard Medalet; How to deal with River Bandits; and Pepys embarks on the year 1662 30:15

29d ago30:15

30:15

Send us a text Hello and a very good afternoon. Thank you so much for joining me. Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝…

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Tiny Episode visiting St Andrews, Trent. 10:13

29d ago10:13

10:13

Send us a text Good afternoon. I’ve tried a number of times to add to this tiny episode, but all in vain, including the loss of fifteen minutes of pre-bed chitter-chatter last night. So I’ll publish this as it is and move on. There is an enormous amount of information online about this architectural and historic jewel, so please enjoy some moments …

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Hampton Court Maze baffles Harris; You mustn’t argue with an English Person’s comment on the Weather; and we Feast Saint Aidan 37:33

1M ago37:33

37:33

Send us a text Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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New Technology turns Gretel Professional 🤓; a Return to Milborne Port in a Thunderstorm; and Delicious Readings 40:02

1M ago40:02

40:02

Send us a text Hallo and a very warm welcome to this ridiculous endeavour known as Gretel Le Maître Ponders. How are do and what are you up to? Please do feel free to email me and let me know about who you are, where you live and what your interests are. Love Gretel 🤗🙋‍♀️👣 Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your d…

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English Rules of Conversation; and how Cuthbert ruled his monks at Lindesfarne 39:10

1M ago39:10

39:10

Send us a text Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Episode Two: English Pub Etiquette, and Three Men climb aboard their Boat 40:23

1M ago40:23

40:23

Send us a text Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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The first of Two Episodes today: a Visit to St John the Evangelist, Milborne Port 30:01

1M ago30:01

30:01

Send us a text Hallo! There are two episodes today and this one is purely my visit to the beautiful parish church of Milborne Port with is Saxon wall in the chancel and its many Romanesque features. For those who are interested in following the readings, they will be in the second episode which I will publish in a few hours. With very best wishes, …

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I Yam what I Yam - Tattoo Crazy 15:09

1M ago15:09

15:09

I Yam what I Yam – Tattoo’s Crazy Popeye, the spinach eating cartoon sailor of the 1930s and 40s said it best. He knew who he was and had the tattoos to prove it. Identity emerges. Some know day one and can’t wait to get going. This is one of those days. THIS IS A TRUE STORY INKED ON SKIN AND MEMORY. Dirty Stupid Wisdom is a podcast written and rea…

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A Monkish Fraud Exposed; Good Bishop Wilfred; and Three Men Prepare to go ABoating 36:34

1M ago36:34

36:34

Send us a text Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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A visit to the 14th Century Fiddleford Manor; while we continue accompanying Pepys and Jerome on their Progress 30:48

1M ago30:48

30:48

Send us a text Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Three Men in a Boat 🛥️; The Diary of Samuel Pepys; and The Private Lives of the Saints. Absolutely root-tootingly random…yet delicious 🤓 47:08

1M ago47:08

47:08

Send us a text Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Join me as we read by the beautiful Somerset church of Corton Denham; then proceed to Sherborne Abbey to catch up with Three Men and are encouraged to throw out life’s lumber! 34:17

1M ago34:17

34:17

Send us a text Is it time to throw out the lumber? Have we too much in our life? Too much of what we don’t need, weighing us down and hindering us from journeying lightly through our lives. What is it we need? And what is it we don’t need? If you manage to throw out some lumber, do let me know. For every day there’s a sunrise and sunset to enjoy. W…

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A Bit of Bede; A Pinch of Pepys; A Sliver of Saints and a Jot of Janina; in the Company of a Host of Hedgehogs 🦔 37:28

1M ago37:28

37:28

Send us a text Helloo and thank you for honouring me with your time and company. It’s wonderful to have you with me in my garden late on a Thursday night for some gentle readings and companionship. It is by learning that we understand that we don’t know it all; and therefore not only do we enjoy having our curiosity piqued and then satisfied, but w…

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Three Men Prepare to go A-boating; The French and Spanish Ambassadors Fight over Precedence; and a Ponder over Tricky Familial Relationships 29:11

1M ago29:11

29:11

Send us a text Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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If I Were Me 15:52

1M ago15:52

15:52

Those self-help gurus must live perfect lives, right? So why do they look like they just came out of rehab? Knowing the right thing to do and doing it are not the same thing at all. That’s why bakeries sell out by 2pm. THIS IS THE STORY OF HUMANITY Vs COMMON SENSE Dirty Stupid Wisdom is a podcast written and read by Ben Keaton – actor, writer, Oliv…

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Montmorency isn’t keen on The Idea 🚤 🐕; B Omrani ponders the effect of Christianity on the English landscape 🪦; and Gretel is finding a Positive Path through Grief 56:59

1M ago56:59

56:59

Send us a text Good evening dear friends, subscribers and new listeners: welcome! This podcast seeks to rejoice in the world about us. Please join me on this journey of gentleness, compassion, curiosity and the absence of greed, negativity and monetary profit. Share your thoughts, ideas, ponders with me and let me know if I have permission to share…

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The Saxon Shore Fort and Monastery of Reculver; and Pepys eats Grapes and Melons (millons) for the first time 26:14

1M ago26:14

26:14

Send us a text Erratum: I say it’s Monday which……. it isn’t 😬🥴 Support the show Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. Your daily dose of calm. Episodes daily, no ads, no subscriptions required. 😊 #1 GOODPODS PODCAST OF THE WEEK: 32,000 All-time Downloads since October 2024 🥳 Love Gretel 🌝…

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Wuthering Heights, seasoned with a little Pepys 🤓 55:41

1M ago55:41

55:41

Send us a text Good evening and welcome to this episode where we conclude looking at E Brontë‘s startling novel, that takes an evening to read and a lifetime to digest. Like the clouds above the moors, like her brother, father, sisters and friends, Emily understands perhaps that we human animals are creatures of ever shape and time-shifting forms. …