Weird Medieval Guys

I get so excited whenever a new episode comes out. Aran and Olivia’s podcast style is casual and hilarious while still being very informative. They know how to go on a tangent that’s actually enjoyable and they also know how to bring it back in a timely manner. Every time a multi-part series gets longer or a cold open gets more complex and sound designed I get even more excited. This and Ologies are probably the two podcasts I recommend the most to people. Also my go-to podcast for relistening on a road trip or plane ride, very soothing to listen to if you’ve already heard it once or twice.

This podcast is like being in a history class section led by your favorite teaching assistant, where you can finally dive into the stuff that actually interests you, like how to deliver incendiary devices via cat during a siege. Olivia and Aran approach history with a true respect for the people who lived it, and that makes their discussions so much more engaging and rewarding than your average podcast. Each episode leaves you with so much to think about, both in terms of broad historical processes, and in terms of the everyday lives of people at the time. Love it.

These guys are knowledgeable and engaging, breaking down medieval Europe with humor and insight. Who woulda thunk that a multi-parted show on the Norman Conquest could be so scintillating? But it is!

I enjoy the podcast but I can’t help but feel kinda disappointed that the topics seem to have gotten a lot less “weird.” Of course it’s purely a matter of personal taste but I preferred the obscure niche stuff about bestiaries, astrology, and Prester John over the stuff about the 100 Years’ War and the Norman Conquest because while those topics are certainly important, they aren’t very weird and they already get a ton of coverage elsewhere. I’m still a fan of the podcast though and am very happy that it’s back after that extended hiatus. And huge props to the hosts for keeping it ad-free, it’s really hard to find a decent history podcast without obnoxious ads.