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'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesThe medieval papal conclave: starving cardinals into consensusSend us a textI finally saw the movie "Conclave," an really enjoyed it. As probably you know, it is about the contentious election of a pope in a conclave of the college of cardinals. The movie, however, never explains what the word conclave actually means or how and why that papal electoral procedure began. This episode will remedy that omission.The intro music is from the Academy Awarded nominated overture to the movie "Conclave" by the composer Volker Bertelmann Listen on Podurama https://podurama.com Intro and e...2025-04-1629 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesFrom Bishop of Rome to the Papal Monarchy, Part 2: The Early Middle AgesSend us a textIn this second episode of a three part series, my favorite cohost Ellen and I survey the development of the papacy from the eighth through the early eleventh century. Among the topics we discuss are who and what the Merovingian and Carolingian dynasties of Francia were; Pope Zacharias' legitimization of Pepin the Short's deposition of a puppet Merovingian king and his elevation to the throne; the "donation of Pepin" that created the papal states; the "Donation of Constantine," forged in the papal chancery to justify the donation of Pepin; the partnership between Charlemagne...2025-04-091h 32'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesFrom Bishop of Rome to the Papal Monarchy: the early centuriesSend us a textIn this first episode of a three part series, my favorite cohost Ellen and I survey the development of the papacy over its first seven centuries. I have to confess that along the way I got somewhat off topic talking about the Roman persecution of the Christians. But it is an interesting subject in itself and worth exploring, and as 31 of the first 32 popes are venerated as martyrs--some with more reason than others--it seems relevant to a discussion of the first centuries of the papacy. In this episode Ellen and I also talk...2025-03-261h 23'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesEl Cid, From History to LegendSend us a textIn this episode I interview Professor Nora Berend of the University of Cambridge about her new book El Cid; The Life and Afterlife of a Medieval Mercenary (Pegasus Books, 2025). We discuss how the historical Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, a ruthless and ambitious mercenary who served both Christian and Muslim rulers in the violent and chaotic political world of late eleventh-century Iberia was transformed into the national hero of Francoist Spain and the hero of the 1961 movie starring Charlton Heston.This episode includes the audio track from the theatrical trailer to the 1961...2025-02-261h 03'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesTne Norman Conquest (with Dr. Jennifer Paxton), part 2Send us a textThis is the second of our two part series on the Norman Conquest. In it Jenny and I discuss the military challenges faced by King Harold Godwinson and Duke William of Normandy and the battles of Fulford Gate and Stamford Bridge, before turning to look closely at the Battle of Hastings (which did not actually take place at Hastings). I hope you will join us.There is a host of books on the Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest, both academic and popular. I would glad to recommend some. Feel...2025-02-151h 01'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesThe Norman Conquest, part one: From Cnut to the Death of Edward the ConfessorSend us a textThis is the first half of a two part series on the Norman Conquest of England. My cohost for both parts is a veteran of this podcast, Dr. Jennifer Paxton of the Catholic University of America. Jenny is one of the very best historians of Anglo-Norman England, so this is a subject right up her alley. In this episode we explore the historical background leading up to the Norman Conquest and the claims of the three rivals who fought for the English throne in 1066: Earl Harold Godwinson, King Harald Hardrada of Norway, and...2025-01-301h 06'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesFall of the Roman Republic, part 3: From Octavian to AugustusSend us a textYes, I know that Octavian IS Augustus, but this episode is about how Gaius Octavius became Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus, and in doing so replaced the old Roman Republic with a military autocracy masquerading as a republic. This is the conclusion of our three part series on the fall of the Roman Republic. My cohost for all three episodes has been my good friend Dr. Jennifer Paxton of the Catholic University of America.This episode includes two audio snippets:Mark Antony's funeral oration for Caesar, from the 1953 film version...2024-12-2348 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesFall of the Roman Republic: From Sulla's March on Rome to Caesar's AssassinationSend us a textThis is the second of a three part series about the fall of the Roman Republic. My cohost for all three episodes is Dr. Jennifer Paxton of the Catholic University of America. We actually had been planning only two episodes, but the story is long and detailed, so we thought that three would be best. In episode one, Jenny and I explained the workings of the Roman Republic and the military, economic, and cultural factors that undermined its stability in the late second and first century B.C.. In it we examined how...2024-12-201h 25'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesThe Fall of the Roman Republic, Part 1: The Late Roman Republic in Theory and PracticeSend us a textFor the fiftieth (!) episode of this podcast, I'm taking a few centuries detour from the Middle Ages to talk about the fall of the Roman Republic. In this episode, the first of a two part series, my cohost Dr. Jenny Paxton and I talk about the political and cultural institutions of the Roman Republic in the late second and first centuries B.C.E.*. We explain how and why a republic designed to govern an Italian city-state fell victim to its own success as Rome rose to empire, despite all of its built i...2024-12-151h 12
Running to the NoiseSecond Acts and Arias with Limmie PulliamLimmie Pulliam made his debut at Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Opera at the age of 47, an improbable achievement for a man who left the opera world in his early 20s, disheartened by an industry that prioritized image over talent, Pulliam spent years working as a debt collector and security guard—rarely singing at all.In this episode, Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar speaks with the dramatic tenor about his inspiring return to music, including the serendipitous moment in 2007 that reignited his career. From his transformative years at the Oberlin Conservatory with legendary vocal pedagogue Richard Mi...2024-11-2741 min
Quiet ImpactThe Psychology of Sales: Building Trust and Reducing Fear with Richard AbelsIn this episode, Nathan interviews the legendary Richard Abels, a seasoned sales professional with nearly 50 years of experience. From starting out in car sales to leading teams and advising business owners, Richard shares invaluable insights into what makes a salesperson truly exceptional.Key Topics Covered:The Foundations of Sales Success: How Richard's early days in car sales shaped his consultative approach and taught him the importance of focusing on customer needs.The Power of Active Listening: Why listening—not talking—is the most critical skill for any salesperson.Overcoming Fear in the Sales Process: Strategies for reducin...2024-11-1653 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesA medieval electionSend us a textI know. Just what everyone needed, an episode about an election. To take a break from reading and watching election postmortems, I decided to return to one of my favorite teaching texts, the monk Jocelin of Brakelond’s Chronicle of the Abbey of Bury St. Edmunds. This is more of a personal memoir of what Jocelin saw and experienced as a monk than it is the standard monastic chronicle. It contains the fullest account of the process by which English monasteries in the High Middle Ages elected an abbot, and I thought that wo...2024-11-1150 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesCon games, scams, and deceits of the medieval Near East exposed: "The Book of Charlatans"Send us a textThis episode is devoted to a truly unique and pretty weird Arabic text, The Book of Charlatans by an obscure early thirteenth-century Arabic scholar, Jamal al-Din 'Abd al-Rahim al-Jawbari, commonly known simply as al-Jawbari. At the behest of a Turkman sultan, al-Jawbari composed an encyclopedic guide to the scams, con games, and trickery practiced in the cities of the medieval Middle East. Al-Jawbari not only catalogues the various scams and trickery but also explains how they were pulled off. The book warns its readers to be vigilant against these scams, but it also r...2024-10-1955 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesCrusaders and Settlers in the Holy Land: Who Went and WhySend us a textIn this episode I talk with the distinguished historian of the crusades Dr. Steven Tibble about the motivations of crusaders and of those Europeans who settled in the Crusader states of Outremer. Steve is the author of five books dealing with the crusades, the most recent of which is Crusader Criminals: The Knights Who Went Rogue in the Holy Land (Yale University Press, 2024). We examine the roles played by religious zeal, the promise of remission of sin, feudal obligation, the hope of material gain, and the benefit of temporal privileges in motivating those wh...2024-08-031h 04
Skywalking Through Neverland: A Star Wars / Disney / Marvel Fan PodcastTHE ACOLYTE Series Breakdown with Mike CelestinoOur ACOLYTE breakdown continues! THE ACOLYTE marks the 5th live-action Disney+ Star Wars series. We’ve seen the entire first season, so now it’s time to share our educated review. We invited Mike Celestino (Laughing Place/ Who’s the Bossk) to join us in sharing our favorite moments, surprises, and cameos. What is Qimir’s relationship with Darth Plagueis? Should season 2 be R-rated? Will there be a season 2? And did the soundtrack by Michael Abels stand the test of time? Tell us if you agree with our assessment. If you haven't already, listen to Part 1 of...2024-07-241h 11Skywalking Through Neverland: A Star Wars / Disney / Marvel Fan PodcastTHE ACOLYTE Series Breakdown with Mike CelestinoOur ACOLYTE breakdown continues! THE ACOLYTE marks the 5th live-action Disney+ Star Wars series. We’ve seen the entire first season, so now it’s time to share our educated review. We invited Mike Celestino (Laughing Place/ Who’s the Bossk) to join us in sharing our favorite moments, surprises, and cameos. What is Qimir’s relationship with Darth Plagueis? Should season 2 be R-rated? Will there be a season 2? And did the soundtrack by Michael Abels stand the test of time? Tell us if you agree with our assessment. If you haven't already, listen to Part 1 of...2024-07-241h 11
Geeksplained PodcastBook Club: Bendis' New Avengers Part 18 (SECRET INVASION FINALE)THE BEST BOOK CLUB IN THE MULTIVERSE!
The End is Nigh. But what is an ending… but an opportunity for a new beginning? Join the Book Club Bois as they discuss the ending to SECRET INVASION!
ALL. OUT. WAR. The Invasion was successful, and the Skrulls took over. But the rebellion of Earth’s superheroes has culminated in a final battle to decide the fate of the planet. And when the dust settles… who will be left standing?
Covers Secret Invasion (2008) #7-8, New Avengers #47 and Mighty Avengers #20 by Brian Michael Bendis, Leinil Francis Yu, Billy Tan, Richard Gaydos, Lee Weeks, Jim Ch...2024-06-282h 46'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesThe Battle That Destroyed the Military Forces of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem: Hattin (1187)Send us a textOn 3-4 July 1187 the Sultan of Egypt and Syria Saladin enjoyed the greatest military victory of his career. The Battle of Hattin, a two-day battle fought along the road leading to the town of Tiberias and, on the following day, on the Horns of Hattin, an iron-age hillfort above that road, is one of the few decisive battles of the Middle Ages. (In this episode, Richard explains why there were so few battles.) The battle pitted a Muslim force of about 30,000, comprised largely of Turkish cavalry, against the largest military force ever raised...2024-06-191h 06'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesNorway's highest-grossing film: Liv Ullmann's Kristin Lavransdatter (1995)Send us a textYes, Kristin Lavransdatter is the highest-grossing Norwegian film of all time. That isn't as impressive as it might sound, as the movie only brought in $3.7 million in box office receipts, but virtually all of that came from domestic sales. Pretty much unknown outside Scandinavia, the movie was a sensation when released in Norway in 1995. An estimated two-thirds of the country's population have viewed it. The movie is based on the first volume of Sigrid Undset's trilogy about the life of an ordinary woman in fourteenth century Norway, which won her the Nobel Prize in...2024-06-0623 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesMedieval Adultery in the Movies (with Kat Tracey)Send us a textThis is the final episode--sort of*--of a multi-part series about medieval adultery in literature, history, and popular culture. My co-host Professor Larissa 'Kat' Tracey and I review how adultery has been dealt with in movies about the Middle Ages. We begin with three Hollywood medieval epics, "The Kingdom of Heaven," "Braveheart," and "The Last Duel," and then turn to the focus of our previous episodes, movies about Lancelot and Guinevere and Tristan and Iseult.*I will be posting a short episode on the film adaptation of Sigrid Undset's Nobel Prize...2024-06-051h 09'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesMedieval Adultery in Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Opera and Literature (with Kat Tracey)Send us a textThis is the third of a multi-episode series in which I chat with Dr. Larissa ‘Kat’ Tracey about literary representations of medieval adultery and its reality. In this episode Kat and I survey and discuss the major nineteenth- and twentieth-century literary treatments of medieval adultery, focusing on the stories of La(u)ncelot and Guinevere and of Tristan/Tristram and Isolde/Isolt/Iseult The episode begins with an opera, Richard Wagner’s extremely influential retelling of the tale, Tristan und Isolde. Although composed between 1857 and 1859, the opera did not premiere until 1865, because it was dee...2024-05-251h 21'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesMedieval adultery, part 2 (with Kat Tracy): Tristan and Iseult and a late twelfth-century "National Enquirer" storySend us a textThis is the second of a three part series with my very special co-host, Dr. Larissa 'Kat' Tracy, about adultery in the Middle Ages. In the previous episode, Kat and I talked about the Lancelot and Guinevere story. In this episode, we tackle the other great medieval tale of adulterous love, Tristan and Iseult. We begin, however, with a possible contemporary historical analogue, a scandal involving Countess Elizabeth of Vermandois, wife of Count Philip of Flanders, and a very unfortunate household knight. If true, the adultery of the countess and the vengeance taken b...2024-05-071h 08'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesJerusalem in the Twelfth Century (with Dr. John Hosler)Send us a textIn this episode, my very special guest Dr. John Hosler draws upon the research he undertook for his book Jerusalem Falls: Seven Centuries of War and Peace (Yale University Press, 2022) to discuss what Jerusalem meant in the thought and imagination of Christians and Muslims in the twelfth century, and the role the city played in the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. As John is a professor at the Army's Command and General Staff College, we also chat a bit about teaching military history to military officers. This episode contains a short sound b...2024-04-161h 03'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesCrusader Jerusalem in the Twelfth Century (with Dr. John Hosler)In this episode, my very special guest Dr. John Hosler draws upon the research he undertook for his book Jerusalem Falls: Seven Centuries of War and Peace (Yale University Press, 2022) to discuss what Jerusalem meant in the thought and imagination of Christians and Muslims in the twelfth century, and the role the city played in the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. As John is a professor at the Army's Command and General Staff College, we also chat a bit about teaching military history to military officers. This episode contains a short sound bite from the movie "Kingdom of H...2024-04-161h 03'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesSt. Thomas Becket, 2: the MartyrdomSend us a textIn this episode my co-host Dr. Jennifer Paxton and I explain the principles and personal grievances that led to the martyrdom of St. Thomas Becket and the significance of that event for Church-State relations in medieval England. We also talk about T.S. Eliot’s and Jean Anouilh’s plays about Thomas’ martyrdom, and the movies based on those plays. This is the second of a two part series. If you haven’t already done so, you might want to listen to the first episode in which Jenny and I talk about Becket’s backgrou...2024-04-021h 08'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesMedieval Adultery (with Kat Tracy), part 1: Lancelot and GuinevereSend us a textThis is the first of a three part series about adultery in the Middle Ages. My co-host for both is Dr. Larissa 'Kat' Tracy. Last month Kat and I talked about my favorite medieval romance, Chretien de Troyes' late twelfth-century French poem "Yvain: The Knight with the Lion." Unlike the more famous medieval romances of Lancelot and Guinevere and Tristan and Isolde, "Yvain" celebrated marital love. That led me to ask Kat about attitudes toward adultery in medieval literature. In this episode we focus on the evolution of the Lancelot and Guinevere story, and...2024-03-261h 11
Knowledge is power!E28 Onze Kleine Vlinder (De Schildklier)Onze schildklier is een belangrijk orgaan binnen ons lichaam. Vanuit de schildklier wordt zoveel geregeld. Een krachtig orgaan maar toch ook kwetsbaar "het is net een vlinder". Wil jij meer te weten komen over wat de schildklier doet en welke problemen/klachten optreden wanneer deze niet goed zijn werk doet? Luister dan zeker mee met onze therapeuten!Richard Smit & Ralf Abels Website Richard Smit: 2024-03-1648 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesSt. Thomas Becket, part 1: King Henry II and his Chancellor, Thomas BecketSend us a textThis is the first of two episodes on the career, historical context, and "afterlife" of England's most famous--and controversial--saint and martyr, St. Thomas Becket. My co-host for both is a veteran of this podcast, Dr. Jennifer Paxton of the Catholic University of America. In this episode we set the historical scene for Becket's martyrdom. Among the topics that Jenny and I discuss are Becket's childhood and family, his service as a cleric in the household of Archbishop Theobald of Canterbury, and the legal and administrative reforms undertaken by Henry II to restore--and enhance--royal...2024-03-101h 08'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesWhat Was A "Crusade"?Send us a textIn this episode Ellen and Richard talk about what a "crusade" was in the Middle Ages. Richard explains what modern historians mean by the term "crusade"--and why there is so little agreement. He also offers a response to a question posed by Nicholas Morton in the previous episode: How did the medieval Church reconcile its doctrine of love of enemy and its pacifistic underpinnings with papal sponsorship of crusades?Recommended reading:Western Historiography of the Crusades Riley-Smith, Jonathan. What Were the Crusades? 4th edition, Ignatius P...2024-03-0248 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesCrusading Warfare in the East, 1099-1187Send us a textMy guest for this episode is Dr. Nicholas Morton, whom you may remember from our first episode about the Mongols. Today Nick and I will be talking about crusading warfare, in particular, about the military activities and challenges faced by the Crusader States established in the Levant by the First Crusade. Among the topics we will discussing are the different approaches to warfare practiced by the European Crusaders and their Turkish and Fatimid adversaries; how the crusaders and the leaders of the Latin Crusader states adjusted--or failed to adjust--to the novel challenges presented b...2024-02-261h 09'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesMedieval Romance: The Knight with the LionSend us a textIn this episode my guest host Professor Larissa 'Kat" Tracy and I discuss my favorite medieval romance, Chrétien de Troyes' late twelfth century poem, "Yvain, the Knight with the Lion." We place the poem within its historical context--the first European industrial and commercial revolution, and the emergence of a courtly society and culture--and analyze what it reveals about aristocratic values and conceptions of love, gender relations, and chivalry in the late twelfth century.The translation I used for the quotations is by Carleton W. Carroll (Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Rom...2024-02-111h 39'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesThe Mongol Conquest of Baghdad (1258)Send us a textLast May, I spoke with Professor Nicholas Morton about the Mongols and their impact upon the medieval Near East. This episode digs deeper into that subject, focusing on the Mongol conquest and destruction of Baghdad in February of 1258. The Mongol sack of Baghdad is notorious for its brutality. Estimates of the number killed range from 90,000 to the 200,000 claimed by the leader of the Mongol army, Hulegu Khan. Much like Alaric's sack of Rome in 410, the Mongol conquest of Baghdad, the seat of the Abbasid caliphate, had a symbolic significance beyond its political and mil...2024-01-271h 07
Mægtige Middelalder1066, Knud den Hellige og prinsesse GunhildI årets sidste afsnit dykker vi ned i historien om den angelsaksiske kong Harold Godwinsons søster, Gunhild og hendes liv efter den normanniske invasion af England i 1066. Vi kommer vidt omkring og taler om Gunhild, de dansk-engelske forbindelser og om Knud den Hellige. Og så løfter vi sløret for noget af det 2024 bringer.Glædelig jul og godt nytår!Elisabeth van Houts "King Harold’s Sister Gunhild (d. 1087), a Royal Exile in Flanders" https://academic.oup.com/ehr/article/138/590-591/1/7197513Richard Abels om Beowulf https://tis-but-a-scratch-fact-and-fiction-about-the-middle-ages.buzzsprout.com/19251...2023-12-241h 04'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesBeowulf (2): translations, adaptations, and movies!Send us a textIn this episode, the second of a two part series, Dr. Chrissy Senecal and I continue our discussion of the Old English epic poem Beowulf. In it we talk about the challenges of translation and look at literary and cinematic adaptations of the poem.Sound clips in this episode:“The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” soundtrack (composer: Ennio Morricone) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOl73VQOS9MTrailer for “Beowulf” (1999) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOrfinPSqyQBeowulf seduced by Grendel’s mother: “Be...2023-12-231h 20'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesBeowulfSend us a textThis is the first of a two-part series on the most famous monster story in pre-modern literature, the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf. My co-host for both is Dr. Christine Senecal of Shippensburg University. In this episode Chrissy and I talk about the poem itself. We begin with the story of the hero Beowulf and how as a youth he kills two monsters ravaging the mead-hall of King Hrothgar, the fearsome Grendel and his even more fierce mother, and how as an aged king he fights and kills a fire-breathing dragon, saving his kingdom...2023-12-1452 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesHanukkah and Christmas in the Middle Ages, and the Puritan War on ChristmasSend us a textThis is a revised--and a lot longer--version of our twenty-first episode ("Some thoughts about Hanukkah by a (secular) Jewish medieval historian"). That episode was just what the title said, some thoughts about the role of Hanukkah in contemporary America and the Middle Ages. In it Ellen had a throwaway line about the Puritan war on Christmas. I thought that our listeners might be interested in why the Puritans objected to and tried to suppress Christmas, and, related to that, how Christmas, as well as Hanukkah was celebrated in the Middle Ages. I know th...2023-12-0146 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesThe Medievalists' "F-Word": FeudalismSend us a text“Feudalism” was once accepted by academic and popular historians alike as a defining, if not the defining, feature of medieval society. For military historians, the High Middle Ages, the period from around 1050 to 1300, was once the Age of the Feudal Knight. This is no longer the case. If academic historians use it at all in their writings or classrooms, it is usually to dismiss it. For most medieval historians, feudalism has joined Viking horned helmets and “the right of the first night” in the ranks of myths about the Middle Ages. Richard...2023-11-1746 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesAlfred the Great, Part 3: A Chat with Professor Ryan LavelleSend us a textIn our third and final episode of the series, Richard talks with Professor Ryan Lavelle of the University of Winchester in the U.K. about Alfred the Great. Dr. Lavelle is a leading expert on Anglo-Saxon and Viking warfare. He is also the historical consultant for the BBC/Netflix television series "The Last Kingdom," based on the Saxon Chronicle novels of Bernard Cornwell. In this episode, Richard again poses the question whether Alfred deserves to be called "the Great." He and Dr. Lavelle then discuss the portrayal of King Alfred in "The Last...2023-10-1443 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesAlfred the Great, Part 2: A Chat with Professor Barbara YorkeSend us a textThis is the second of a three part series about King Alfred of Wessex (reigned 871-899), the only English king to be called "the Great." In this episode Ellen and I chat with Dr. Barbara Yorke, Professor Emeritus at the University of Winchester in the U.K.. Professor Yorke is arguably the world's leading expert on Anglo-Saxon Wessex. She and I share the distinction of being among the host of biographers of King Alfred. The basic question I pose to her is whether Alfred deserves to be called "the Great." Her answer is a...2023-10-0544 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesKing Alfred: was he really all that 'great'?Send us a textAfter a hiatus we are back with the long promised episode about King Alfred of Wessex (871-899), the only English king to be called "the great." In this episode, Richard gives an overview of Alfred's reign and accomplishments and explains why the Victorians thought he was great--and why Richard does as well.The musical introduction is the opening of "Rule Britannia" from the masque "Alfred," performed by Jamie MacDougall, Jennifer Smith, Philharmonia Chorale, Nicholas McGegan & Philharmonia Baroque OrchestraFrom the album "The Last Night of the P...2023-09-281h 07
Raging Romantics#71 Cosplaying King Arthur and Other Fun Knight Things - Medieval pt. 2Content warning @ 26:21 - 30:24 for violence against women in the medieval and earlier time periods as part of military practices Why did chivalry get romanticized in medieval literature? And what values do we still hold to the title today? And did knights really think that they were part of King Arthur's court?Questions/comments/concerns/recommendations? Email us @ ragingromantics@nopl.org!Movies Jackie recommends:Knight's Tale (st. Heath Ledger)Robin Hood (st. Russell Crowe)King Arthur (st. Clive Owen and Keira Knightley)First Knight...2023-08-0449 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesMongolsSend us a textIn this episode I interview my special guest Dr. Nicholas Morton, author of The Mongol Storm (Basic Books, 2022), about the Mongols and their invasion of and impact upon the thirteenth-century Near East. Our discussion covers who and what the Mongols were; why they were so effective militarily; Mongol religion and religious 'toleration'; their reputation for horrific brutality; why the Mamluks of Egypt were able to defeat them in battle; and the economic and cultural impact of the so-called Pax Mongolica.Suggested reading:Abu-Lughod, Janet L. Before European Hegemony: The World...2023-05-261h 11'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesRobin Hood in Movies and TelevisionSend us a textThis is the second half of a two-part series about the legendary medieval outlaw Robin Hood. In the first episode, my co-host Dr. Jennifer Paxton and I discussed the evidence for a historical basis for the legend. In this one, we look at how Robin Hood has been portrayed in film and television from the silent era to the present--and how each generation has gotten (in Jenny's words) "the Robin Hood that you need in your particular time."Because there are so many films and television shows featuring Robin Hood, Jenny...2023-04-061h 35'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesRobin Hood: OriginsSend us a textIn this episode Richard and Dr. Jennifer Paxton of The Catholic University of America search for a historical Robin Hood and explore the medieval and Tudor stories about the heroic outlaw and his band of merry men. This is the first of a two-part series. The follow on episode will be on Robin Hood in movies and television.CreditsThe podcast's intro and exit music is composed by the talented and generous Alexander Nakarada (https://alexandernakarada.bandcamp.com/album/collection-celtic-medieval).The opening to the folksong "Lord Randall, My Son" is...2023-03-2355 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle Ages"The Northman"Send us a textIn this episode Richard and his special guest and co-host Dr. Christine Senecal of Shippensburg University discuss the 2022 Viking movie "The Northman." Director and co-screenplay writer Robert Eggers' avowed goal in making this movie was to recreate the material and mental world of the Vikings. Please join Richard and Chrissie as they assess how well he succeeded in accomplishing this.[My apologies to the 110 listeners who have already downloaded this, but I added five more minutes toward the end to cover some historical points that I left out in our discussion o...2023-02-151h 04'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesVikings!Send us a textIn this episode, Richard and Ellen discuss who and what vikings were historically, and how they were depicted in the Middle Ages and modern times. The episode focuses upon the first century of the Viking Age, roughly from the late eighth to the early tenth century. (This episode marks the first anniversary of 'Tis But A Scratch: Fact and Fiction About the Middle Ages. Ellen and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, our listeners. If you are enjoying the podcast, please let friends, family, and (if you ar...2023-01-271h 03'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesSome thoughts about Hanukkah by a (secular) Jewish medieval historianSend us a textThis is a short end of the year episode. It's exactly what the title says, just some thoughts about the role of Hanukkah in contemporary America and the Middle Ages. Happy Holidays from Ellen and me to you and yours!Listen on Podurama https://podurama.com Intro and exit music are by Alexander NakaradaIf you have questions, feel free to contact me at richard.abels54@gmail.com 2022-12-2524 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesWas King Æthelred Really Unready?Send us a textFew English kings have had a worse popular reputation than Æthelred the Unready (r.978-1016), the king who lost England (at least temporarily) to viking invaders. But does he deserve that reputation? Was King Æthelred really "unready"? My co-host for this episode is the person most qualified to answer that question, Dr. Levy Roach of the University of Exeter in the U.K, author of Æthelred the Unready (Yale University Press, 2016). Please join Levy and me as we explore the troubled reign of a much maligned king.Listen on Podurama https://podura...2022-12-211h 13'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle Ages"Wicked" Medieval Women and the Monks Who Loathed ThemSend us a textIn this episode Ellen and I discuss three "wicked" medieval women and the monastic authors who loathed them. We begin with the Anglo-Saxon Queen Ælfthryth, a champion of the Tenth-Century Benedictine Reform movement in England, who appears in the twelfth-century Liber Eliensis as a lascivious witch responsible for the murders of her stepson King Edward the Martyr and Byrhtnoth, the first abbot of Ely. We then turn to an early twelfth-century French countess, Sibyl of Porcien, a lascivious beauty whose adultery, according to Abbot Guibert of Nogent, caused a war between her first and...2022-12-071h 20
The Cosmic EggThe Cosmic Egg, Episode 21, Part 3Episode 21, Part 3
Season of the Witch
Review:
Halloween (Theme Song) 1978 movie – John Carpenter.
Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Welcome to my Nightmare – Alice Cooper.
Black Magic Woman – Fleetwood Mac.
Anthem – Michael Abels.
Cry Little Sister – Gerard McMahon.
Jeeper’s Creeper’s – Louis Armstrong.
Somebody’s Watching Me – Rockwell.
Fall of the House of Usher – Allan Parson’s Project.
Superstition – Stevie Wonder.
Boris the Spider – The Who.
The Time Warp – Neil Campbell, Patricia Quinn and Richard O’Brien.
Get Out of My House – Kate Bush.
Suspiria – Goblin (Dario Argento).
Spooky Scary Skeletons – Andrew Gold.
The Raven – Allan Parson’s Project.
Supe...2022-10-2920 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesKing Arthur in Literature and Popular Culture: From Sir Thomas Malory to the PresentSend us a textToday’s episode concludes our three part series about King Arthur in history, legend, and popular culture. Our jumping off point for this episode is Sir Thomas Malory’s late fifteenth-century Le Morte D’Arthur, the work most responsible for the popular conception of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. We then trace how the legend has been repeatedly reinterpreted down to the present day in literature, films, comics, and even video games. Listen on Podurama https://podurama.com Intro and exit music are by Alexander Nakarada2022-10-181h 02'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesKing Arthur in History, Legend, and Popular Culture, Part 2: The Middle AgesSend us a textIn this episode Ellen and I with the help of my longtime friend and colleague Dr. Jennifer Paxton of the Catholic University of America trace the development of the Arthurian legend during the Middle Ages, as Arthur was transformed from the chieftain of Welsh stories into the exemplar of medieval French and English chivalry.Listen on Podurama https://podurama.com Intro and exit music are by Alexander NakaradaIf you have questions, feel free to contact me at richard.abels54@gmail.com 2022-10-1058 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesKing Arthur in History, Legend, and Popular Culture. Part One: Was Arthur a Real Person?Send us a textThis episode features a guest co-host, my old friend and colleague Dr. Jennifer Paxton, director of the Honors Program at The Catholic University of America and one of the best historians of medieval Britain. Jenny, Ellen, and I examine the evidence for a historical Arthur in the aftermath of the Roman withdrawal from Britain in the fifth century. We begin with the historical context, the "Fall of Roman Britain" and the coming of Germanic mercenaries and migrants to the British Isles. If Arthur existed, he would have been a military leader in the...2022-09-061h 12'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesInquisitions, Jews, and the Formation of a Persecuting SocietySend us a textIn this episode Ellen and I compare medieval Inquisitions with the Spanish Inquisition, and both with the popular conception of the Inquisition. Among other subjects, we discuss what an inquisition was--and is--, how inquisitions served as a tool in the formation of a persecuting society, and why it is not quite accurate to see either the medieval or the Spanish Inquisition as targeting Jews--or, at least, Jews as Jews. Please join us!Listen on Podurama https://podurama.com Intro and exit music are by Alexander Nakarada2022-08-1455 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesHeresy and Crusade in Southern France: The CatharsSend us a textIn this episode Ellen and I talk about a dualist heresy that was widespread in twelfth- and thirteenth-century southern France and northern Italy. This heresy is generally known as Catharism. Its central tenet was that there are two gods, a good god who created the spiritual world and an evil god who created the visible world. The soul of man is good, but the flesh in which it is imprisoned is evil. Pope Innocent III regarded the heresy as a sufficient threat to Christendom to warrant a crusade. This was the so-called Albigensian Cru...2022-07-2358 min
eat.READ.sleep. Bücher für dich(65) Bakewell Tart und Cozy CrimeVery british geht es diesmal zu, mit Harmony-Tee und Geheimagentinnen im Ruhestand. Aber was, wenn plötzlich Steven Spielberg anruft?
Katharinas Backkünste gehen in die Literaturgeschichte ein: Der britische Bestsellerautor Richard Osman war von ihrer Bakewell Tart so begeistert, dass er versprochen hat, sie im nächsten seiner Krimis zu erwähnen. Die Tart, nicht Katharina. Bei einer Tasse Harmony-Tee sprechen die Hosts mit ihm darüber, wie es ist, plötzlich Steven Spielberg am Telefon zu haben und welche Schauspielerin am besten für die Verfilmung des Donnerstagsmordclubs geeignet wäre.
Weniger Harmonie herrscht...2022-07-081h 02'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesThe Saint Brice's Day Massacre of 1002: A Case of Medieval Ethnic Cleansing?Send us a textIn this episode Ellen and I talk about one of the more puzzling events in the history of England’s Viking Wars, the St. Brice's Davy Massacre. In the year 1002, King Æthelred "the Unready" issued an order that on St. Brice's Day all the Danes dwelling in England were to be killed in a "most just extermination." Writers from the late eleventh century to the present day--including the script writers for the recent Netflix series, "Vikings: Valhalla"--have depicted what occurred on 13 November 1002 as an indiscriminate slaughter of innocent men, women, and children. In t...2022-07-0633 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesSanctity, Heresy, and Superstition: Saint Francis, the Heresiarch "Peter" Waldo, and a Holy GreyhoundSend us a textIn this episode Ellen and I examine how Saint Francis became a saint and Waldo a heretic while following the same call to apostolic poverty, and why in the mid-thirteenth century it was heretical to deny that a consecrated communion wafer contains the actual body of Christ but not to venerate a dog as a saint with healing powers. Please join us!Listen on Podurama https://podurama.com Intro and exit music are by Alexander NakaradaIf you have questions, feel free to contact me at richard...2022-06-1559 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesA Crusader Murder Mystery: The Assassination of Conrad of Montferrat (By Real Assassins)Send us a textOn April 28, 1192 the newly elected king of Jerusalem Conrad of Montferrat was assassinated in the streets of the city of Tyre by two Assassins, the name by which the Crusaders knew the Nizari Isma'ili Shi'a sect in Syria. The killers had acted in obedience to the leader of the Assassins, the Old Man of the Mountain Rashid al-Din Sinan. That much is known. On whose behalf the Old Man of the Mountain acted, however, was and remains an open question. In this episode Richard and Ellen discuss the murder of Conrad of Montferrat, the...2022-05-2658 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesHow Saladin Took Jerusalem: Two Eyewitness Accounts and a MovieSend us a textSaladin's taking of Jerusalem, three months after the fighting forces of the Kingdom of Jerusalem were wiped out in the Battle of Hattin, precipitated the Third Crusade. Eyewitness accounts are rare for the Early and High Middle Ages. The siege of Jerusalem in 1187 is exceptional in having three. Two of these were by men with inside knowledge of the surrender negotiations, Saldadin's personal secretary Imad al-Din al-Isfahani, and Ernoul, the squire of Balian of Ibelin, the commander of Jerusalem's defense. The surrender and the events leading up to it are also the subject of...2022-05-1250 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesMagna Carta, Bad King John, and an English CrusadeSend us a textThis episode places Magna Carta in its historical context, explains why it really isn't the foundation of Anglo-American liberty, reaffirms John's status as a really bad king (and person), and discusses how the Magna Carta baronial rebellion led to the only Crusade to be fought on English soil.Listen on Podurama https://podurama.com Intro and exit music are by Alexander NakaradaIf you have questions, feel free to contact me at richard.abels54@gmail.com 2022-04-2552 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesAn Anglo-Saxon Murder Mystery: How King Edward Became Edward the MartyrSend us a textIn 978 the eighteen-year old English king Edward was murdered while traveling to visit his younger half-brother Æthelred and his stepmother Ælfthryth. The murder transformed a truculent teenager into a venerated martyr. This episodes explores the "martyrdom" of King Edward and offers explanations for why he was killed, who was responsible for the act, and why the killers were never punished.Listen on Podurama https://podurama.com Intro and exit music are by Alexander NakaradaIf you have questions, feel free to contact me at richard.abels54@gmail.com...2022-04-0317 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesMy Favorite Medieval Epic: A Tale of Violence, Vengeance, and BetrayalSend us a textThe late twelfth-century Frence epic poem Raoul of Cambrai is a tale of violence, vengeance, and betrayal in which the basic bonds of society--feudal loyalty, family, and friendship--come into conflict. The poem poses key questions for feudal society: which is the higher duty, loyalty to a lord or obligation to one's family? may a vassal rightfully renounce his oath of loyalty to a lord who has wronged him? is nobility a matter of birth or of character? are bravery and prowess sufficient to make a knight chivalrous? The result is a moral puzzle w...2022-04-0142 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle Ages"The finest knight in all the world, part 2: William Marshal, baron, earl, and regent of EnglandSend us a textIn the second half of “The finest knight in all the world: the practical chivalry of Sir William Marshal,” Ellen and I examine the career of William Marshal as baron, earl, and, ultimately, regent of England for a child king. The challenge William Marshal faced as a baron was to retain possession of all his lands while still preserving his vaunted reputation for loyalty, a seemingly impossible challenge under the rule of the mistrustful and vindictive King John. Episode 6 is on the long side because Marshal's life intersected with many key events...2022-03-2746 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle Ages"The finest knight in all the world": the practical chivalry of William Marshal, part 1 The life of Sir William Marshal reads like a medieval story book. Starting out as a landless squire whose only possession was family connections, Marshal rose from household knight to become one of the wealthiest and most powerful nobles in early thirteenth century England. Ultimately, he was chosen by his peers to be the guardian and regent of a boy king, during a French invasion abetted by a baronial revolt. William Marshal's remarkable rise was due to the qualities that made him, in the words of both friends and foes, “the finest knight in all the world,” his p...2022-03-1600 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle Ages"The finest knight in all the world": the practical chivalry of Sir William MarshalThe life of Sir William Marshal reads like a medieval story book. Starting out as a landless squire whose only possession was family connections, Marshal rose from household knight to become one of the wealthiest and most powerful nobles in early thirteenth century England. Ultimately, he was chosen by his peers to be the guardian and regent of a boy king, during a French invasion abetted by a baronial revolt. William Marshal's remarkable rise was due to the qualities that made him, in the words of both friends and foes, “the finest knight in all the world,” his...2022-03-1641 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle Ages"The finest knight in all the world": the practical chivalry of Sir William MarshalSend us a textThe life of Sir William Marshal reads like a medieval story book. Starting out as a landless squire whose only possession was family connections, Marshal rose from household knight to become one of the wealthiest and most powerful nobles in early thirteenth century England. Ultimately, he was chosen by his peers to be the guardian and regent of a boy king, during a French invasion abetted by a baronial revolt. William Marshal's remarkable rise was due to the qualities that made him, in the words of both friends and foes, “the finest knight in...2022-03-1641 min
'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesIs (Medieval) Chivalry Dead?Send us a textIn this episode Richard distinguishes between the popular modern conception of chivalry, which originated in the romantic movement of the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and became the code of the gentleman, and medieval chivalry. Richard and his co-host, his wife Ellen, explore what medieval chivalry entailed, the role it played in protecting the social status of knights in a time of economic change, and the relationship between courtly love and martial prowess. Richard uses Ulrich von Liechtenstein’s The Service of Ladies as a window on chivalry as conceived by at least one...2022-02-2638 min
'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesThe Holy Grail: From Medieval Romance to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, by way of Nazis and The Da Vinci Code.Send us a textThe quest for the Holy Grail is among the most famous stories about King Arthur and the Round Table. This episode explores the origins and development of the idea of the Holy Grail in medieval romance and examines how the Grail was reconceived in modern times by Nazis, amateur historians, and novelists to support pseudo-historical conspiracy theories.Listen on Podurama https://podurama.com Intro and exit music are by Alexander NakaradaIf you have questions, feel free to contact me at richard.abels54@gmail.com 2022-02-1538 min
'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesMedieval Movies: The Good, the Bad, and the ..... Not so BadSend us a textIn this episode, Richard explains why there are so few movies set in the Middle Ages that are historically accurate, and gives examples of a good film (Eric Rohmer's "Perceval le Gallois"; a bad film, Ridley Scott's "The Kingdom of Heaven"; and a not so bad medieval film, Ridley Scott's most recent blockbuster, "The Last Duel." Richard and Carol devote most of the podcast to discussing what is historical and what is anachronistic about the last, as it is the most recent medieval blockbuster and is currently streaming on HBO. For those who h...2022-02-0329 min
'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesThere is more truth in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" than you might thinkThe title of our podcast ‘Tis But a Scratch: Fact and Fiction about the Middle Ages” is a tribute to one of Richard’s favorite “medieval” movies, “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” Richard was incredulous when Carol told him that she had never seen the movie. After she watched it, she was incredulous that he actually used parts of it in his medieval history classes. In this episode Richard explains how there is more historical truth in “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” than anyone would think—probably including the Monty Python troupe—and how he used it in his classes. Among t...2022-01-2227 min'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle AgesThere is more truth in “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” than you might think (remastered sound)Send us a textThe title of our podcast ‘Tis But a Scratch: Fact and Fiction about the Middle Ages” is a tribute to one of Richard’s favorite “medieval” movies, “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” Richard was incredulous when Carol told him that she had never seen the movie. After she watched it, she was incredulous that he actually used parts of it in his medieval history classes. In this episode Richard explains how there is more historical truth in “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” than anyone would think—probably including the Monty Python troupe—and how he used...2022-01-2227 min
TRILLOQUYOpus 122 - "So-Called Unknowns"The discussion of Beethoven's alleged Blackness has taken yet another turn, with one artist calling for his body to be exhumed so that a DNA test can be administered. Garrett and Scott break this down, and bring a few other ghoulish themes to this year's Halloween edition of TRILLOQUY. Bill Doggett returns as special guest to highlight what he sees as one of the biggest missteps in orchestral DEI following the murder of George Floyd, and the guys speak to the importance of platforming local perspectives when arts institutions attempt to speak to local issues.
Playlist:
Peter Tchaikovsky - Symphony...2021-10-271h 47
The Film ScorerBonus Episode: Scored to Death with J. Blake FicheraFellow film music fan and writer J. Blake Fichera joins The Film Scorer Podcast to discuss his new book "Scored to Death 2," in which Fichera interviews some of horror's greatest composers like Michael Abels, Richard Band, Bear McCreary, and more! "Scored to Death 2" is available for purchase everywhere and I highly recommend it!
Find out more about Fichera and his book at his website and check out his podcast "Scored to Death" in which he similarly interviews composers (albeit in an even longer format!)
2021-01-1749 min
Medieval Warfare podcastÆthelred the Unready and the Anglo-Saxon militaryWe talk Anglo-Saxon military history with Richard Abels, whose latest book, Æthelred the Unready: The Failed King, will be coming out later this year.2018-05-0333 min
Listen With Your Mind, Not Just Your Ears With Free AudiobookProdigal Daughter Audiobook by Jeffrey ArcherListen to this audiobook in full for free onhttps://hotaudiobook.com/freeID: 180080
Title: Prodigal Daughter
Author: Jeffrey Archer
Narrator: Lorelei King
Format: Abridged
Length: 03:48:00
Language: English
Release date: 07-01-04
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genres: Fiction & Literature, General, Sagas
Summary:
From international bestselling author Jeffrey Archer, The Prodigal Daughter, 'A page-turner' (The Washington Post).
HER FUTURE IS AMBITION.
With a will of steel, Polish immigrant Florentyna Rosnovski is indeed Abels daughter. She shares with her father a love of America, his ideals, and his dream for the future. But she wants more: to be the first female president.
HIS FUTURE IS...2004-07-013h 48