Peter Konieczny Podcasts

This week, Danièle speaks with Shahzad Bashir about the absolutely massive tradition of medieval Persian poetry, what it has in common with modern hip-hop, and its impact on Persian culture from the Middle Ages to today. You can support this podcast and Medievalists.net on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists…

This week, Danièle speaks with James Flexner about how, why, and just how far Oceanic peoples explored in the Middle Ages, as well as the ways in which we can learn about the rich history of this region. Thank-you to all of Medievalists.net’s patrons on Patreon.com for your support each month. You can also join by going to https://www.patreon.com/m…

Survivors of time, neglect, and sometimes disasters, medieval manuscripts are the work of countless authors, scribes, artists, and craftspeople, many of whom remain anonymous. This week, Mary Wellesley shares the stories behind some of the most famous manuscripts of the Middle Ages and the hidden hands behind them. Thank-you to all of Medievalists.…

In the Middle Ages, warfare meant tactics, strategy, and a hefty dose of cunning. This week, Danièle speaks with James Titterton about the place of deception in medieval warfare and the morality of tricking your enemies.By Medievalists.net

This week, Danièle speaks with Hana Videen, an author who introduces Old English to new audiences through the lens of everyday life. Find out what makes Old English different, what makes it beautiful, and which words really deserve a comeback.By Medievalists.net

Just like us, medieval people wanted to step out looking (and smelling) their best. This week, Danièle shares some hygiene and beauty advice from the Middle Ages.By Medievalists.net

This week, Danièle and Peter Konieczny report back on the 57th International Congress on Medieval Studies, affectionately known this year as "Kalamazoom". Here are some favourite papers, some of the exciting new research going on in medieval studies and how the field is changing for the better.By Medievalists.net

This week, Danièle reflects on medieval court cases, body language, and the ways in which both have shaped today's modern trials - including the celebrity ones.By Medievalists.net

Material goods are a rich and fascinating source for finding out more about the ordinary lives of the people of the Middle Ages. This week, Danièle speaks with Katherine French about what Londoners’ homes were like both before and after the Black Death, what they filled them with, and how we know. Sign up for Danièle Cybulskie's Medieval Masterclas…

This week, Danièle and Peter Konieczny give their takes on Hollywood's latest foray into medieval movie-making: The Northman. Sign up for Danièle's Medieval Masterclass at https://medievalmasterclass.thinkific.com/By Medievalists.net

This week, Danièle celebrates 150 episodes of The Medieval Podcast by looking back at the top ten episodes, as chosen by you. Join Danièle's Masterclass at https://medievalmasterclass.thinkific.com/By Medievalists.net

This week, Danièle speaks with Barbara Newman about the self in the Middle Ages, how others could shape and transform a person inside and out, and how a medieval person's idea of self reflected their relationship to other people and the world around them, both physical and spiritual. (TW: infant death)…

This week, Danièle recommends some newly-released books on the Middle Ages, covering essay collections, a standout new sourcebook, some primary sources, and a biography of one of her favourite medieval writers.By Medievalists.net

For this week's medieval storytime, Danièle reads a collection of descriptions, fables, and poems all featuring animals. From venomous toads to proud peacocks and malicious whales, the Middle Ages shares its moral worldview through the animal kingdom. You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists…

This week, Danièle speaks with Peter Konieczny about one of her favourite medieval books: The Distaff Gospels. Full to the brim with wit and wild advice for timeless problems, this is a book that reminds us of the full picture of life in the Middle Ages. You can support this podcast and Medievalists.net on our Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.co…

In the Middle Ages, demons were a well-known threat to even the most devout Christians. This week, Danièle speaks with Renate Blumenfeld-Kosinski about the strange case of Ermine de Reims, a late medieval woman plagued by demonic visitations. You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists…

This week, Danièle dishes on some of the ways medieval monks could be silly, petty, clever and compassionate. Here are some of the fun facts that made it - and didn't make it - into her new book, How to Live Like a Monk.By Medievalists.net

Just how dirty was medieval Paris? And what did people do with their waste? This week, Danièle speaks with Emily Hutchison about sanitation in the Middle Ages. You can visit Emily's story map at https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/7abaf1f956d541cd8834a292efd6edb5 You can find Danièle's Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzW-ZEw6By…

There’s one thing that seems common to humankind across time and space: we love a good origin story. This week, Danièle speaks with Amy Jeffs about some of the medieval origin myths and legends surrounding the British Isles and its peoples, and how she's retold them for a modern audience.By Medievalists.net

Although you'd find them in cities and on farms, serving in wars and taking part in religious services, we're not talking about people (or bottoms). This week, Danièle speaks with Kathryn L. Smithies about one of the medieval world's most hardworking creatures and symbols: the donkey.By Medievalists.net

A decade after The Black Death, French peasants rose up suddenly against the nobility in an unprecedented and remarkably coordinated revolt. This week, Danièle speaks with Dr. Justine Firnhäber-Baker about the rebellion that shocked the elites of Europe: the Jacquerie. You can support this podcast and Medievalists.net on Patreon - go to https://www…

Although it tends to be thought of as a time when people rejected technology, there were many new inventions met with enthusiasm in the Middle Ages, including one we might not be able to imagine living without: paper. This week, Danièle speaks with Dr. Orietta Da Rold about the many uses of medieval paper. You can support The Medieval Podcast on Pa…

This week, Danièle starts the new year with a fun episode exploring how real history can be used to add challenges to your Dungeons & Dragons games. (If you’re not into D&D, don’t worry - there’s lots of quirky information for history lovers of all stripes!) You can support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/medievalists…

As the new year approaches, it’s time to take a look back at the best parts of 2021: the medieval stuff. This week, Peter Konieczny returns for the third annual Medieval Podcast Year in Review, covering everything from new discoveries to movies to video games to our own adventures in 2021. You can support the podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.…

One of the great things about 2021 drawing to a close is that we can take a moment to think about all of the really amazing books we’ve read over the past twelve months. This week, Danièle speaks with Peter Konieczny about ten of our favourite books of the last year. You can find these books on the Medievalists.net Amazon shop at https://www.amazon…

For medieval historians, a large part of the job tends to be working against common myths, using research to push back especially against narratives that erase people or that oversimplify complex issues. This week, Danièle speaks with Matthew Gabriele and David M. Perry, who have teamed up to write a new history of the Middle Ages in counterpoint t…

Many medieval people were hugely invested in finding ways to organize and share what they knew about the world, including one influential translator from England. This week, Danièle speaks with Dr. Emily Steiner about John Trevisa and how his work on medieval compendia influenced history. You can get Danièle's book How to Live Like a Monk with a 20…

In the last decade or so, there’s been a rising tide of history books and articles that are written to meet the people where they are; public histories of the Middle Ages full of life and energy, that hook even more people and bring them into our world. This week, Danièle speaks with a writer who does it better than maybe anyone else in the world t…

Can medieval monastic practices, with their emphasis on a healthy soul, mind, and body, inspire us to live fuller lives today? This week, Danièle is the guest as she talks about her new book How to Live Like a Monk: Medieval Wisdom for Modern Life. You can find Danièle's new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3nrUGHH…

If you were suddenly transported back into Northern Europe in the latter part of the Middle Ages, a lot of the people you came across would be sporting something shiny on their clothes or hats. This week, Danièle speaks with Ann Marie Rasmussen about medieval badges, how they were made and used, and who was wearing them. You can support this podcas…

The Tudors are a fascinating and turbulent dynasty, but how were they shaped by medieval culture? In this episode, Danièle speaks with Sarah Gristwood about the courtly love traditions that heavily influenced the Tudors. To learn more about Danièle's Medieval Masterclass, please visit http://medievalmasterclass.com/ You can support this podcast on …

Traitors were the ones who suffered the most grisly executions in medieval Europe, but treason is in the eye of the beholder, changing over time along with culture, language, and ideas of nation. This week, Danièle speaks with Amanda McVitty about the changing face of treason in medieval England. You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to http…

The latest medieval movie has just dropped into theatres, and that means that Danièle was first in line with Peter Konieczny to bring you the goods. This week, they discuss Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel, starring Jodie Comer, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Adam Driver. You can support The Medieval Podcast on Patreon - go to www.patreon.com/medievalist…

Trial by combat has captured people’s imaginations for centuries, which is exactly why it’s the focus Hollywood’s latest medieval film: The Last Duel. This week, Danièle speaks with Eric Jager, author of the non-fiction book that inspired the film. You can support this podcast and Medievalists.net on Patreon - check it out at https://www.patreon.co…

Want to party like it's 1399? This week, Peter Konieczny joins Danièle to walk back through the centuries to the medieval world of parties, from crashing a celebration in early medieval Baghdad to trying to impress your dining partner in late medieval England. You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists…

One of the things that’s unfortunately true about the Middle Ages is that there was a mistrust of difference, especially when it came to religion. But what caused a lot of anxiety, mistrust, and tension wasn’t always the differences: it was the similarities. This week, Danièle speaks with Adrienne Williams Boyarin about the ways in which Christians…

Tight hose caused the Black Death, licking a bear into existence, and the Ordeal of Water. In this episode, Danièle tells us about some of the stranger ideas that came up in the Middle Ages. To sign up for Danièle's masterclass, go to https://medievalmasterclass.thinkific.com/ You can listen to the first episode of Bow and Blade at https://www.medi…

Much ink has been spilled on Geoffrey Chaucer, but there’s another Chaucer that should be showing up on our radar, as well. This week, Danièle speaks with Michèle Schindler about the life and times of Alice Chaucer. Join up with Danièle's Masterclass at https://medievalmasterclass.thinkific.com/By Medievalists.net

It’s back to school time. This week, Danièle tells us about life in the medieval university. What did students learn, what was expected of them, and how they really behaved. You can help support this podcast on our Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalistsBy Medievalists.net

A new documentary follows the lives of women who fight in an extreme and full-contact sport, Medieval Armored Combat. This week, Danièle talks with filmmaker Adrian Cicerone about his new film Steel Song. You can watch the documentary on iTunes and AppleTV starting August 31st. Click here to learn more.…

It’s medieval storytime! This week, a story from the ancient world is translated into the Middle Ages in the tale of Sir Orfeo.By Medievalists.net

The Green Knight has just been released in the cinemas. Danièle is joined by Peter Konieczny to talk about the film and how it compares to the 14th-century story Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. You can support this podcast and Medievalists.net on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/medievalistsBy Medievalists.net

The roots of some important English traditions and political institutions began in one of those historical pockets of huge change but scarce written material in the centuries after the Romans left and the Normans arrived, making it challenging to find answers. Enter Dr. Marc Morris. You can support this podcast through Patreon - go to https://www.p…

Imagine yourself going on a one-way trip to medieval England. What items would you bring back with you? In this episode of The Medieval Podcast, Danièle prepares to go to the 14th century and has a list of modern things she would take back into the Middle Ages. You can support The Medieval Podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medieval…

One of the world’s most well-known and beloved medieval saints is, of course, St. Francis, a man who faced many tribulations in the form of physical illness and disability. This week, Danièle speaks with Donna Trembinski about what we can learn about the person behind the saint by studying how his physical life affected his spiritual life. You can …

One of the things medieval and modern people definitely have in common is an interest in preventing unwanted pregnancies. This week, Danièle speaks with Eleanor Janega to get all the details on medieval contraception. You can support this podcast and Medievalists.net on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists…

This week, Danièle speaks with Marie Favereau about the myths and truths surrounding the Golden Horde, how nomadic people tend to be misunderstood, and how the Mongols changed the world. You can support this podcast on Patreon - go https://www.patreon.com/medievalists to learn more.By Medievalists.net

Among the most popular folk heroes of the Middle Ages is one who hails not from a traditional kingdom, but from the animal kingdom. This week, Danièle speaks with Anne Louise Avery about the charming, troubling, and evergreen trickster, Reynard the Fox. You can support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/medievalists…

In honour of the 20th anniversary of the publication of The Trotula, Danièle speaks with editor and translator Dr. Monica Green about this astonishing collection of medieval medical and cosmetic advice for women. You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalistsBy Medievalists.net

It’s a fun episode for this week’s edition of The Medieval Podcast. Danièle is joined by Peter Konieczny to talk about which three people we would invite for a dinner party. If you enjoy the podcast, and would like to support it, you can do so at https://www.patreon.com/medievalistsBy Medievalists.net