Tudors Dynasty & Beyond

Tudor Would You Rather: Bad Choices, Worse Consequences

What would you rather do: survive a bout of sweating sickness, have an affair with Henry VIII, or serve as his Groom of the Stool? And believe it or not, those aren't eve

Henry I: Clever, Cunning, and Cruel (Norman Kings Series)

Henry I was the cleverest of William the Conqueror’s sons—or at least, he always seemed to be a step ahead of his brothers. But intelligence and ambition came with a ruth

Royal Witch: The Forgotten Women of Medieval England

What happens when ambition becomes more powerful than loyalty, love, or even fear? Bestselling historical novelist Philippa Gregory returns to the podcast to discuss her

Medieval Superlatives: A Royal Mess

Who would survive just about anything? Who could talk their way out of an execution? And which medieval figure would be an absolute disaster if left in charge of a rebell

William Rufus: Rebellions, Rivalries, and the Fatal Hunt (Norman Kings Series)

William Rufus is often remembered as a difficult king who fell out with the Church—and died when an arrow struck him in the New Forest. But there was far more to his reig

The Women Behind William the Conqueror

William conquered England, but what about the women who helped shape his dynasty? Rebecca Larson welcomes historian Sharon Bennett Connolly to explore Matilda of Flanders

Who Would Survive Tudor Court - and Social Media? (Superlatives)

What’s a superlative? It’s a playful way of asking who is most likely to do something—and the Tudor court gives us plenty of possibilities. In this episode of Off the Re

William the Conqueror: Rebels, Rule, and Legacy (Norman Kings Series)

William the Conqueror’s reign was marked by both ruthless force and careful efforts to secure his rule. In this episode, we look at the Harrying of the North, the resista

The Real Elizabeth I: Image, Power, and Legend

What was Elizabeth I really like—and how much of the queen we think we know was carefully created? Historian Dr. Carole Levin joins Rebecca Larson to explore Elizabeth’s

Historical Superlatives: Medieval Edition

We’re handing out medieval superlatives! Think of the titles in a school yearbook: a superlative singles someone out as the “most” or “best” in a particular category. Th

Mapping Margaret of Austria

Margaret of Austria’s life took her from the Burgundian court to France, Spain, and the Netherlands. Along the way, she faced a broken betrothal, two marriages, and the d

Holbein, Anne Boleyn, and a Tudor Revenge Plot

Hans Holbein painted some of the most familiar faces of the Tudor court. But what did he think of the people sitting for him—and could a portrait reveal more than its sub

Historical Superlatives: Tudor Edition

Who would you want at your side in a Tudor court—and who would make you regret walking through the door? In this episode of Off the Record, Amy and Rebecca hand out supe

William the Conqueror: From Bastard Duke to King of England (Norman Kings Series)

Rebecca and historian Matthew Lewis launch a new series exploring the Norman kings, beginning with the man who changed England forever: William the Conqueror. Born the i

Finding Richard III and the Evidence That the Princes Survived

Philippa Langley became internationally known for leading the search that discovered the remains of King Richard III beneath a Leicester car park. Now she is challenging

Would You Rather: Medieval Edition

What would you choose: marry King John or Richard II? Follow Richard the Lionheart or Edward I into battle? Support Matilda or Stephen? Witness Bosworth or Hastings? And

The Spanish Travels of Katherine of Aragon

Long before Katherine of Aragon sailed for England, she had already traveled across kingdoms, witnessed conquest, encountered new cultures, and experienced life at the he

Dressed to Rule: How Elizabeth I Fashioned Power

Queen Elizabeth I understood that clothing was never simply decorative—it was a powerful political tool. In this episode, Rebecca Larson speaks with Sylvia Barbara Sobert

The Yorkist Who Survived Henry VIII

Rebecca and Amy explore the remarkable life of Reginald Pole—a Yorkist survivor who went from Henry VIII’s favored scholar to one of the king’s most outspoken opponents.

England's Version of Dance of the Dragon

What does House of the Dragon have in common with some of the bloodiest succession struggles in medieval history? Historian Matt Lewis joins Rebecca Larson to explore th