💬 When we think of fools or jesters, we often imagine a peculiar Medieval entertainer in a funny hat. But court jesters aren’t confined to one timeline - they appear around the world, throughout history.
Far from being silly entertainers, they were often highly intelligent figures who could mock kings, challenge their decisions and wield surprising political power.
âš¡ In this episode we hear from Beatrice Otto, author of Fools Are Everywhere, who has uncovered the extraordinary history of jesters across the world, from Medieval Europe to Ancient China and even the Aztec Empire.
Discover how jesters could influence royal decisions, why rulers valued their brutal honesty, and what happened when a fool took a joke too far!
Check out Beatrice’s book: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Fools-Are-Everywhere-by-Beatrice-K-Otto-author/9780226640921Â
Discover more at: https://www.foolsareeverywhere.com/Â
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About the podcast:
What We Did Before is a podcast exploring the history of everyday life, from how we kept food fresh before fridges, to how we survived without shoes and what came before AI.
About your host:
Ollie Guillou is an award-winning podcast producer and broadcaster. He's co-founder of OG Podcasts, working with the likes of New Scientist, Dr Karan and Lessons From Our Mothers.
Connect with Ollie:
Website: www.ogpodcasts.co.ukÂ
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-guillouÂ
Email: hello@ogpodcasts.co.uk
Learn more about the ArtMuse podcast here: https://www.artmusepodcast.com/
Thanks to Grace Anna for partnering with us!
