Jousting in the Middle Ages with Emma Levitt
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Dr. Emma Levitt about tournaments and the joust in the Middle Ages. Dr. Levitt tells us all about how to score a joust, how the tournament changed over time, and how jousting was used to mend fences during the Wars of the Roses.
Taking Care of Babies in the Middle Ages
When it comes to taking care of babies in the Middle Ages, this meant swaddling them and rocking them in cradles.
Isabella of France, Queen of England
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle tells the story of one of her favourite queens, Isabella of France, who went from being a child bride to storming England and toppling an anointed king.
Five Myths about Medieval Peasants
This week, Danièle takes on five common myths about medieval peasants.
The Story of the Dog whose Eyes led to Adultery
Once upon a time, there was a knight who was called away on business, and in what might be the heaviest bit of foreshadowing ever, said…
The Pulse: A Medieval Lie-Detector?
Although there was quite a lot that medieval people hadn’t yet discovered about the human body, their keenness of their observation shouldn’t be underestimated.
Getting Away with Adultery in the Middle Ages
Although adultery wasn’t sanctioned by the church, it made for some of medieval Europe’s most beloved stories, from romance to fabliaux.
Castles in the Middle Ages
This week on The Medieval Podcast Danièle talks about castles: what they were like, what they were for, and where we get some of the everyday words we use to describe them.
A Five-Minute Guide to the Cathars
Here is a quick, five-minute guide to one of the most popular spiritual movements of the Middle Ages.
Three funny tales from the 14th century
This week on The Medieval Podcst, Danièle shares three funny tales by Franco Sacchetti, written to entertain Italians during the tough times they experienced in the fourteenth century.
When did the Middle Ages start? When did it end?
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Peter Konieczny joins Danièle to talk about some dates and events that historians have used to define the start and the end of the Middle Ages, and the mysterious few centuries that some people actually believe didn’t exist.
Earning Your Badge: Mementos of Pilgrimage in the Middle Ages
The interesting thing about wearing your pilgrim’s badge on your hat is that you can’t see it yourself: it won’t be a visual reminder for you of your spiritual journey, but it will be a visual reminder for everyone else.
Medieval Video Games with Alicia McKenzie
This week on The Medieval Podcast, it’s game on with Alicia McKenzie. Danièle and Alicia talk about the world’s love affair with medieval-themed video games, what some of the ups and downs are, and which games Alicia recommends for medieval fans staying at home.
The Middle Ages for Kids – Questions and Answers
Kids have many questions about the Middle Ages. In this video, Danièle Cybulskie answers 16 questions that kids are asking about the medieval world.
The Black Death and COVID-19 with Winston Black
This week on The Medieval Podcast, with headlines turning once again to stories of the plague, Danièle catches up with Winston Black to talk about The Black Death and COVID-19, what’s different about them, and what we can learn today from looking back on the biggest pandemic in human history.
Sacred Marginalia: The Gargoyles and Buttresses of Gothic Cathedrals
There are few things which signal medieval architecture quite like buttresses. Those long, arching supports that give cathedrals like Notre Dame de Paris their distinctive silhouettes appeared on many medieval cathedrals across Europe from the twelfth century on
Anchorites: Life in Spiritual Self-Isolation
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle talks about anchorites, men and women who enclosed themselves for life to contemplate their religious beliefs. She also explores some of the work of Julian of Norwich, perhaps the most famous anchorite of the Middle Ages.
Living and Loving in Sin: The Remarkable Relationships of Margaret de Gatesden
One exceptional case bears out not only that marriages might not last, but that separation can indeed lead to a happy ending.
Medieval Drama
This week, Danièle gets dramatic with a look at medieval drama, how it changed and evolved, and how it influenced later forms of theatre.
Carnival vs. Lent: A Food Fight of Epic Silliness
During Lent, medieval Christians were meant to live simply and eat simply, with an emphasis on seafood instead of red meat and treats. And this, friends, is where the fun begins.
Beguines with Tanya Stabler Miller
Often, people think of the women of medieval Europe as either wives or nuns: women whose lives and property were under the control of someone else. But what tends to be forgotten is that for some women there was a third option: to become a beguine. This week, Danièle speaks with Dr. Tanya Stabler Miller about who the beguines were, and what medieval society thought of them.
Murder by Poison: A Crime from 15th century Valencia
In medieval Europe, arsenic was stocked as a matter of course along with other medicines. As with other medicines, the poisonous nature of arsenic is a matter of dosage and administration.
Doing Laundry in the Middle Ages
This week, Danièle gets down and dirty on medieval laundry. Who washed the clothes in the Middle Ages? How did they do it? And why was it so dangerous?
Five Medieval Tricks to Make You Luckier in Love
The Distaff Gospels is a fifteenth-century collection of pseudo-serious advice given by fictional women, and it covers a wide range of the topics we can’t seem to get enough of, love and lust included.