Best Medieval Archives Podcasts (2025)

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MAP97: Hunger Games: The Great Famine of 1315 29:10

Play Pause

12d ago29:10

29:10

🌾Hunger Games: The Great Famine of 1315🌾 Executive Producers wanted: ⭐YOUR NAME HERE; Thank you to all the listeners! 💰Become a Producer! DONATE to the show via PayPal, or use Venmo You can also donate with Stripe 📜Sign Up for our newsletter The 14th century opened with a nightmare beginning a period called the Crisis of the Late Middle Ages, which…

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BONUS: Trick or Terror: The Halloween Candy Scare of the 1980s 22:19

14d ago22:19

22:19

🎃Trick or Terror: The Halloween Candy Scare of the 1980s🍬 ⭐This is a Bonus episode from Dragon Moon Media. We have launched another 'Archives' podcast, this one focusing on the late 20th century. If you have no interest in 20th century history you could skip this episode. However, I say give it a chance. You never know what new knowledge you may ga…

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MAP96: Tales of Medieval Revenge by Edgar Allan Poe 44:17

26d ago44:17

44:17

🎃Tales of Medieval Revenge by Edgar Allan Poe🎃 Executive Producer: ⭐Lilac Square Antiques & Books 💰Become a Producer! DONATE to the show via PayPal, or use Venmo You can also donate with Stripe On this Medieval Archives Halloween Special we're listening to two tales of revenge by the the master of gothic horror, Edgar Allan Poe. This isn't the firs…

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MAP95: John the Fearless and the Bloody Fight for France 29:49

1M ago29:49

29:49

🇫🇷 John the Fearless and the Bloody Fight for France 🇫🇷 Executive Producer: ⭐Two Anonymous Producers (Thank you! you know who you are) 💰Become a Producer! DONATE to the show via PayPal, or use Venmo You can also donate with Stripe John the Fearless (1371-1419) 14th century France was in utter turmoil, torn apart by an insane king, multiple assassin…

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The SpokenWeb Symposia Retrospective: Celebrating Sound Studies 1:03:43

4M ago1:03:43

1:03:43

Summary This "farewell" podcast episode was recorded live at the SpokenWeb Institute on May 17, 2025, at the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus, Kelowna, BC. Producers Nick Beauchesne and Chelsea Miya, with host Maia Harris, lead an audio-visual journey exploring the roots and evolution of SpokenWeb's Symposia and Institutes from 2019 t…

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Recording Without a Trace: The Forgotten Legacy of Kurtis Vanel 23:18

5M ago23:18

23:18

Summary In this episode, we reflect on the life of Kurtis Vanel, SFU's longtime audio engineer, and a fixture of Vancouver's music scene in his own right. Featuring archive recordings of Vanel, as well as an interview with SFU alumni Dr. Deanna Fong, we uncover the interesting relationship between the archive and those who helped build it. Intervie…

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Listening on the Radio 1:03:42

5M ago1:03:42

1:03:42

Sonic Lit: A SpokenWeb Radio Show is a bi-weekly radio show on CJLO, the campus radio station of Concordia University (Tiohtià:ke/Montreal, Canada). On air since September 2024, the show features “sound recordings from 1888 to the present that document times when people have whispered, spoken, howled and screamed literature out loud” (“Sonic Lit”).…

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Sound & Seconds: A Roundtable on Timestamping for Literary Archives 57:01

6M ago57:01

57:01

How does timestamping shape the preservation and curation of literary sound? This roundtable episode brings together four SpokenWeb researchers––Jason Camlot, Tanya Clement, and Mike O’Driscoll in conversation with moderator Michael MacKenzie––to explore this deceptively simple yet profoundly complex question. What emerges is a layered, multidiscip…

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MAP94: Papal Conclave: Medieval Origins of the Modern Election 39:10

7M ago39:10

39:10

🇻🇦The Papal Conclave🇻🇦 💰Become a Producer! DONATE to the show via PayPal, or use Venmo You can also donate with Stripe Pope Francis died on 21 Apr 2025 starting a process established in the Middle Ages. Learn all about the Medieval origins of the Papal Conclave and watch as it unfolds in modern Italy during the Papal Conclave of 2025. Once a Pope d…

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Did You Know the UK’s Ambulance Service Started in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent? 23:09

8M ago23:09

23:09

Did you know the UK’s first civilian ambulance service didn’t start in London, but right here in Burslem? In this episode, discover the incredible true story of Hiram Syson – a Crimean War veteran turned town hall caretaker – who quietly made medical history from the heart of the Potteries. Long before flashing lights and sirens, Hiram was carrying…

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The Terrifying Tale of Thomas Meakin, Buried Alive in Staffordshire 32:33

8M ago32:33

32:33

In 1781, 21-year-old Thomas Meakin from Rushton Spencer was declared dead and buried in the canal town of Stone. A year later, his coffin was reopened – and what they found inside became one of North Staffordshire’s most disturbing legends. Did his employer, a respected apothecary, murder him? Did jealousy and social status play a role? And was Tho…

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Secrets of Stone, Staffordshire: Exploring the Hidden Underground Remains of a Medieval Priory 28:00

8M ago28:00

28:00

Hidden underneath a large house in Stone, Staffordshire is what remains of Stone Priory. It is a significant historical monument, embodying the complex interplay of legend and historical fact. For more details information, check out my blog post on the priory - https://www.theredhairedstokie.co.uk/secrets-of-stone-exploring-the-underground-ruins-of…

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MAP93: Robin Hood: Prince of Movies 1:07:04

8M ago1:07:04

1:07:04

Executive Producer: ⭐Helle Hagenau 🏹 Robin Hood 🏹 in the Movies The story of Robin Hood is over 600 years old. An Outlaw from English folklore and a hero to the people, Robin Hood has inspired countless poems, books and movies. Robin Hood first appeared in the poem Piers Plowman, written around 1377. His band of Merry Men, Will Scarlett, Little Joh…

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MAP92: Canterbury: A Modern Day Pilgrimage 39:01

9M ago39:01

39:01

Executive Producer: ⭐Helle Hagenau A day trip to Canterbury is a a popular choice for tourists visiting England and London and for good reason, it's a great city! During our European vacation in the Summer of 2024 we had a free day and decided to take a modern day pilgrimage to Canterbury and Canterbury Cathedral. We decided not to walk the Pilgrim…

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Sounding New Sonic Approaches – A Podcast of A Live Recording Session of A Journal Issue Located in Multiple Spaces and Temporal Dimensions 58:19

9M ago58:19

58:19

Episode Summary This podcast episode performs a sound-media meditation on a live event based on a collection of printed scholarly articles. In May 2023 a triple-issue of English Studies in Canada (ESC) was published on the topic of “New Sonic Approaches in Literary Studies.” Edited by Jason Camlot and Katherine McLeod. The issue, designed to explor…

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Bisexuality is Freedom 18:35

9M ago18:35

18:35

What does it mean to say 'bisexuality is freedom'? Host Mel Reeve explores the origins of this slogan for the Bi History project, as well as the personal and evolving journey of self-discovery. Mel reflects on the intersectionality of identity and activism, drawing inspiration from activist and writer June Jordan's work. We also hear personal stori…

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Social Media and LGBTQ+ Digital Heritage 15:06

9M ago15:06

15:06

We're getting into the complexities of social media as a tool for engaging with our community's heritage. Your host Mel Reeve, highlights the precarious nature of these platforms, the ethical dilemmas surrounding their use, and the importance of preserving bisexuali+ histories. We hear community stories from a range of bi+ people, in their own word…

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Queerness in Medieval Spirituality 17:13

9M ago17:13

17:13

In the final episode of this season, Mel explores representations of queerness in medieval spirituality, exploring the lives of LGBTQ+ monks, nuns, and saints. We begin with a journey to an isolated, ruined island priory and uncover intimate descriptions of same-gender love and intimacy in early Christianity, as well as non-gender conforming figure…

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How Can It Be Bisexual+ History If No One Is Bisexual? 18:27

10M ago18:27

18:27

Let's talk about the complexities of bisexual+ identity and its historical context! We explore how to identify bisexual+ history, the evolution of language and identity, and the importance of recognising fluidity in historical narratives. Personal stories from the bi+ community highlight the significance of representation and the interconnectedness…

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From Me to You, A Sonic Glimpse at Proprioception 44:42

10M ago44:42

44:42

Episode Summary A proprioception-enthusiast and a thespian walk into a podcast booth. Together, they engage with scholars from three different fields outside of those traditionally working with and through the sense of proprioception. From spatial music mixing, to arts education, to English literature, our hosts learn how these scholars understand …

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Why Does Bisexual+ History Matter? 17:59

10M ago17:59

17:59

Host Mel Reeve explores the significance of bisexual+ history and its role in validating identity and fostering community connections. She unpacks the challenges faced in documenting bi+ stories and the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusivity in heritage work. Personal stories from community members showcase the impact of understanding bi+ history on indi…

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What Happened to Seighford Hall? A Staffordshire Estate’s Rise and Fall 12:57

11M ago12:57

12:57

Seighford Hall, a Grade II-listed building near Stafford, is a treasure trove of history. Its story spans more than 450 years, encompassing Tudor craftsmanship, ghostly encounters, industrial magnates, and even a stint as a nightclub. Today, the hall lies abandoned, but its legacy endures through its remarkable past. Read more and watch the video h…

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Announcement: 2024 Holiday Update from Rusty Towers 3:26

11M ago3:26

3:26

Holiday announcement from CEO Alexander J Newall wrapping up an exciting 2024 ahead of an exciting 2025! We hope you have an excellent New Year! Transcript Links: Merch masterlist: www.rustyquill.com/support Jon and Martin perfume: https://sucreabeille.com/collections/all/products/jon-and-martin Ex Altiora perfume: https://sucreabeille.com/products…

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The Overlooked History of Providence Independent Churchyard in Upper Tean 5:57

12M ago5:57

5:57

Hidden in the heart of Upper Tean, Staffordshire, the Providence Independent Churchyard is a quiet but deeply significant historical site. I explore its fascinating story, from its roots in the late 18th-century nonconformist movement to its role as a community hub in the industrial era. Discover the history of the Providence Independent Chapel, bu…

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Sound Box Signals Presents – "Sharon Thesen's reading at the Bowerings'" 46:36

12M ago46:36

46:36

Episode Summary This month, the SpokenWeb Podcast is happy to showcase an episode from our sister podcast, the SoundBox Signals Podcast from SpokenWeb at UBC Okanagan. SoundBox Signals is hosted and co-produced by Karis Shearer. In this episode, from Season 2, Episode 1 of the SoundBox Signals Podcast, University of Exeter undergraduates Sofie Drew…

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Virtual Pilgrimage: Where Medieval Meets Modern 51:52

1y ago51:52

51:52

SUMMARY From medieval itineraries to modern livestreams, Christian pilgrimage is often, if not always experienced through an imaginative transposal from a physical reality to a spiritual truth. In this episode, hosts Lindsay Pereira and Ella Jando-Saul explore the concept of virtual pilgrimage through conversations with two guests: Michael Van Duss…

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MAP91: Codex Gigas: The Devil's Bible 25:17

1y ago25:17

25:17

It's time for our 🎃Halloween🎃 episode! This year we are looking at... The Devil's Bible Codex Gigas "Giant book" lives up to it’s name measuring over 3 feet long, 2 feet wide, 9 inches thick, over 300 fully illuminated pages and weighing in at 170 pounds! Legend has it the book was written in one night, by a single monk condemned to death, who sold…

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Invitation to Sonic Poetry: Demarcations, Repositories, Examples 50:24

1y ago50:24

50:24

SUMMARY In this first episode of Season 6, producer Andrew Whiteman invites listeners to step into an arena of collaboration between poetry and sound. We all know it when we hear it, and we have mixed feelings about it. Why does the archaic meeting place of music and poem hit such a nerve? Is this art form literature or is it music? Surely, it’s no…

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Welcome to Season 6! 4:44

1y ago4:44

4:44

Hold onto your hats, because the SpokenWeb Podcast is back! This season, we'll continue to bring you episodes exploring the archive and the ever-changing landscape of literary sounds with all new stories from researchers across the SpokenWeb network. Subscribe to The SpokenWeb Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. …

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Open Door Listening, with Brandon LaBelle at Errant Bodies Press 21:34

1+ y ago21:34

21:34

ShortCuts as a series on The SpokenWeb Podcast feed is coming to an end. For the past five seasons, ShortCuts producer Katherine McLeod has been bringing you deep dives into the archives. Through this process, ShortCuts has asked the question of what it means to listen closely and carefully to short ‘cuts’ of audio. ShortCuts has become a sonic spa…

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Algo-Rhythms 42:01

1+ y ago42:01

42:01

SUMMARY How can artists harness algorithmic processes to generate poetry, music, and dance? And what can we learn from the longer history of creative coding and early experiments in human-computer collaboration? In this live episode recorded during June's 2024 SpokenWeb Symposium, producers Nicholas Beauchesne and Chelsea Miya venture into the root…

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ShortCuts Live! Talking about Listening with Moynan King, Erica Isomura, and Rémy Bocquillon 54:55

1+ y ago54:55

54:55

SUMMARY In this month’s episode of The SpokenWeb Podcast, ShortCuts is taking over the airwaves. ShortCuts is the monthly minisode that takes you on a deep dive into archival sound through a short ‘cut’ of audio. In this fifth season, ShortCuts producer Katherine McLeod has been presenting a series of live conversations recorded at the 2023 SpokenW…

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ShortCuts Live! Turning Our Bodies Toward Sound with Xiaoxuan Huang 25:58

1+ y ago25:58

25:58

This month, we’re back with another Shortcuts Live, talking with researchers in person and starting those conversations with a short ‘cut’ of audio. These ShortCuts Live conversations were recorded on-site at the 2023 SpokenWeb Symposium held at the University of Alberta. In this conversation, Xiaoxuan Huang talks about hybrid poetics (and more) wi…

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Notes from the Underground: Sex, Drugs, and Rock ‘n’ Roll at the Ultimatum Urban Poetry Festival 44:48

1+ y ago44:48

44:48

For most people, the “poetry reading” conjures stuffy intonation styles, cheap wine in plastic cups, and polite clapping. But for a riotous underground scene in 1980s Montreal, the poetry reading was the site for radical experimentation in artistic performance. At the Ultimatum Urban Poetry Festival, which first took place in 1985, literary all sta…

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Re-Listening to Improvisation in the Archives 7:02

1+ y ago7:02

7:02

As April is the month of poetry, we’ve taken a pause in this year’s ShortCuts Live conversations to listen back to one of the first episodes of ShortCuts, “ShortCuts 1.2 / Audio of the Month: Improvising at a Poetry Reading.” In the archival clip played in this episode, we hear Maxine Gadd pausing during a reading with Andreas Schroeder. She asks A…

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MAP90: The Black Hour: Solar Eclipse and the Medieval Mind 21:42

1+ y ago21:42

21:42

Have you ever seen an eclipse? I’ve seen numerous lunar eclipses and I’ve seen a few partial solar eclipse, but never a total solar eclipse. On 08 April 2024, Mexico, the United States and Canada will experience a total solar eclipse. It’s the first one in 7 years and the last one for 20 years. The next total solar eclipse in North America will be …

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They Do the Police in Different Voices: Computational Analysis of Digitized Performances of T. S. Eliot’s The Waste Land 41:32

1+ y ago41:32

41:32

T. S. Eliot’s poem The Waste Land is arguably not a poem at all. To some readers and critics, it’s more like a play: a collection of voices thrown together without quotation marks or speaker tags. That’s how Eliot himself saw it; his working title was He Do the Police in Different Voices. The work comes alive in performance, where each reader must …

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ShortCuts Live! Listening to Wide-Screen Radio with Brian Fauteux 15:02

1+ y ago15:02

15:02

This ShortCuts presents one of the ShortCuts Live! conversations recorded at the University of Alberta as part of the 2023 SpokenWeb Symposium. Recorded on site by SpokenWeb’s Kate Moffatt and Miranda Eastwood, the conversations often took place in spaces where the sonic environment of the symposium is audibly present. As always on ShortCuts, we be…

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“Two girls recording literature”: Re-listening to Caedmon recordings 1:02:57

1+ y ago1:02:57

1:02:57

In February 1952, Barbara (Cohen) Holdridge and Marianne (Roney) Mantell, two recent graduates of Hunter college, founded Caedmon records, the first label devoted to recording spoken word. In this episode, producers Michelle Levy and Maya Schwartz revisit the early history of Caedmon records. They pay tribute to Holdridge and Mantell by re-listenin…

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MAP89: British Myths & Legends with Amy Jeffs 37:31

1+ y ago37:31

37:31

Medievalist and Art Historian Dr. Amy Jeffs joins the show to discuss her books Storyland: A New Mythology of Britain and Wild: Tales from Early Medieval Britain In Amy’s first book, Storyland she examines the origins of Britain from Noah’s flood to the Norman invasion. And there are some good stories to tell, including the incredible story of Albi…

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The Leopard, Burslem - A Rich History to a Bitter End - The Red Haired Stokie 23:07

2y ago23:07

23:07

In this episode, we shine a spotlight on the legendary Leopard Inn, Burslem, a once-thriving public house and hotel with a captivating past. As we embark on this journey through time, we diligently trace the Leopard Inn's history, unearthing records and anecdotes that date back over 300 years or more. However, tragedy struck this iconic establishme…

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MAP88: The Crusader States with Nic Morton 49:22

2y ago49:22

49:22

Professor and author Nicolas Morton joins the podcast to discuss his book, The Crusader States and their Neighbours. The Crusader States were founded during the First Crusade. The Crusaders conquered the land and claimed it as their own. There were four Crusader States established during the First Crusade; The County of Edessa, The County of Tripol…

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Medieval Tales Podcast: The Black Arrow Part 1 of 9 1:10:05

2y ago1:10:05

1:10:05

We are embarking on a new podcasting adventure! Medieval Tales Podcast will be released every Tuesday and Thursday and feature medieval themed classic novels. The first book in the series is: The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson The Black Arrow: A Tale of Two Roses is the 1888 historical adventure novel. Set in fifteenth century England during…

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FEED DROP: Medieval Tales Podcast Trailer 1:21

2y ago1:21

1:21

Welcome to the Medieval Tales podcast, well, to the trailer at least. Do you love reading classic novels set in the Middle Ages. Stories of brave Knights and epic battles, royal intrigue and life in a castle? Is it getting harder to find time to sit down and read a good book? With all the cooking and cleaning and commuting. Maybe you have the time …

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Announcement: 2023 Holiday News from Rusty Towers 7:34

2y ago7:34

7:34

This announcement from CEO Alexander J Newall includes RQ Network shows to check out, a review of RQ Originals, including the brand new Neon Inkwell and the now fully released Cry Havoc! Ask Questions Later, as well as a summary of the exciting new merchandise partnerships from this year (in case you need some last minute gifts!) There is also a Sp…

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Getting Lit with Linda Presents: The Languages & Sounds That Are Home: Kaie Kellough's Magnetic Equator 24:51

2y ago24:51

24:51

In this crossover episode (Episode 7, Season 2), Linda begins with the sound of her father's old espresso machine, to explain how she sees -- or hears -- sound working in Magnetic Equator (published by McClelland & Stewart) by international poet, novelist, and sound performer Kaie Kellough. You can hear a sample of his sound poetry here. This episo…

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ShortCuts Live! A Magical Audio Tour with Jennifer Waits 18:20

2y ago18:20

18:20

This ShortCuts presents the first of many conversations recorded at the University of Alberta as part of the 2023 SpokenWeb Symposium. Recorded on site by SpokenWeb’s Kate Moffatt and Miranda Eastwood, the conversations often took place in spaces where the sonic environment of the symposium is audibly present. As always on ShortCuts, we begin with …

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Listening in Uncertainty 45:22

2y ago45:22

45:22

This episode navigates this question using an associative method which links stories and sounds, forming a non-linear audio collage. Listeners are invited to tune in to their affective and embodied responses to end time stories including Lulu Miller’s podcast and Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s horror film, and stories of endurance, with Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner’s …