Podcast
Tudors Dynasty & Beyond
Hosted by RedTop Media / Rebecca Larson · EN
Welcome to Tudors Dynasty & Beyond, the podcast where history comes alive through stories of royalty, rebellion, and resilience. Hosted by independent researcher Rebecca Larson, each episode dives into the Tudors and beyond—Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Katherine of Aragon, forgotten queens, rebels, and adventurers. Enjoy Sunday storytelling (or interviews), engaging historian chats, and the popular Thursday series Dr. Emma & Me, with Dr. Emma Cahill Marron. Discover love, power, intrigue, and survival in early modern England and across Europe.
47episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Richard II: The King with a God Complex
6d ago01:10:59Tap to summarizeRichard II’s story is honestly one of the wildest royal rises and falls in English history, and in this episode I’m joined once again by Matt Lewis to untangle the life of the king who seemed determined to make everyone around him uncomfortable.We look at Richard becoming king as a child after the death of his grandfather, Edward III, and how surviving the Peasants' Revolt at just fourteen years old may have completely shaped the way he viewed kingship, rebellion, and power for the rest of his life.Richard wasn’t your typical medieval warrior king. He loved ceremony, art, and royal pageantry, and seemed to believe that kings should be treated as something almost sacred. The problem? England’s nobles very much disagreed. Matt and I talk about Richard’s favorites, his growing paranoia, revenge against the nobles who humiliated him, and how things spiraled so badly that he eventually lost his crown to his own cousin, Henry IV of England.Was Richard II a tyrant? A misunderstood visionary? A traumatized child king who never learned to trust anyone? Honestly…by the end of this conversation, I’m still not entirely sure what to think about him. Other than I don't like him.Link to the Wilton Diptych: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/english-or-french-the-wilton-diptych--Host: Rebecca LarsonGuest: Matt Lewis
Transcribe →
Philippa Gregory on Mary Boleyn, Tudor Women & Revisiting History
1w ago00:54:15Tap to summarizeShe has sold over 30 million copies of her books worldwide, and she is likely the most recognizable name in historical fiction. Today, I’m sharing the interview I recorded with not only Philippa Gregory, but also Sylvia Barbara Soberton - all thanks to History Press for arranging this for us.Together, Sylvia and Philippa explore the story of Mary Boleyn and discuss how each of them researched and wrote about her. We also look at Philippa’s latest Tudor novel, The Boleyn Traitor, and why she wanted the opportunity to revisit Jane Boleyn and give her a fairer portrayal.--Support the podcast on Patreon and you'll get commercial-free episodes, early access, and more! https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty--Host: Rebecca LarsonGuests: Philippa Gregory & Sylvia Barbara Soberton
Transcribe →
Historical TV Series - Part Two
1w ago00:51:25Tap to summarizeHere we are again, yet another Sunday chatting about historical TV series... Let's be honest, there are so many to discuss that we could do this forever, but today I have to find out if Amy watched My Lady Jane. After that we briefly talk about Reign before getting into some of our favorites - The Last Kingdom, Vikings, and more!--Support the podcast over on Patreon and get commercial-free episodes, early access, and so much more! https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty--Hosts: Rebecca Larson & Amy McElroy
Transcribe →
Edward III: Life, Death, and Everything In Between
2w ago00:58:24Tap to summarizeIn the second half of Edward III’s reign, he begins to shift into something far more complicated. Joined once again by Matt Lewis, we follow Edward through the first couple of decades of the Hundred Years’ War, his complicated relationship with France, and the astonishing story of the French king John II of France, whose son escaped English captivity - forcing John himself to voluntarily return to England as a hostage in order to preserve his honor.We also look at the devastating death of Edward the Black Prince, the heir Edward III had carefully prepared to inherit the throne, and how his loss changed the future of England forever. From there, we explore the growing unpopularity of John of Gaunt, political unrest, and the increasingly fragile final years of the old king.And then there is the drama surrounding Edward III’s death itself: his longtime mistress Alice Perrers, accused of stealing jewels as the king lay dying, and the priest who later claimed he burst into the chamber at the last moment to drive her away and save the king’s soul.It’s a story of war, grief, honor, scandal, and the slow end of one of England’s most fascinating reigns.--Support the podcast over on Patreon and you'll get early access, commercial-free episodes, and more! https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty--Host: Rebecca LarsonGuest: Matt Lewis
Transcribe →
The Illegitimate Daughters of King Henry I
2w ago01:03:31Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I’m joined by historian and author Sharon Bennett Connolly to explore the fascinating lives of the women featured in her new book, Princesses of the Early Middle Ages - with a special focus on the often-overlooked illegitimate daughters of Henry I of England.We dive into the life of Sybilla of Normandy and her marriage to Alexander I of Scotland, discuss Matilda of Normandy and her politically important union with the Duke of Brittany, and uncover the dramatic and tragic story of Juliana - the daughter who famously turned against her own father and attempted to kill the king.From royal marriages and dynastic politics to rebellion, family tension, and heartbreak, this episode shines a light on the remarkable daughters of Henry I and the roles they played in shaping the medieval world.Order Princesses of the Early Middle Ages from Blackwells: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Princesses-of-the-Early-Middle-Ages-by-Sharon-Bennett-Connolly/9781399091022Sharon's Website: https://historytheinterestingbits.com/--Host: Rebecca LarsonGuest: Sharon Bennett Connolly
Transcribe →
Historical TV: Brilliant… or Absolutely Bonkers?
2w ago01:08:38Tap to summarizeFrom lavish costumes and dramatic romances to wildly inaccurate timelines and completely unhinged plot twists, historical television gives us plenty to talk about. In this episode of Off the Record, we dive into some of our favorite historical TV series and discuss what they get right, what they get terribly wrong, and the moments that leave historians everywhere screaming at their screens. From brilliant casting and unforgettable storytelling to scenes so ridiculous they deserve an award of their own, nothing is off limits in this chat about the best — and worst — of historical television.--Hosts: Rebecca Larson & Amy McElroy
Transcribe →
Edward III: The Crown's Bright New Hope
3w ago01:04:56Tap to summarizeI'm joined once again by the brilliant historian Matt Lewis to hear the end of the story of Edward II, and then we move onto his son Edward III. As with all of these stories there are so many twists and turns - I'm not sure if I like Edward III or not after this chat...what do you think about him?--Support this podcast over on Patreon! https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty--Host: Rebecca LarsonGuest: Matthew Lewis
Transcribe →
Mary Boleyn: Slandered, Seductive...or Simply Misunderstood?
3w ago00:55:01Tap to summarizeMary Boleyn - the “great whore” of Tudor history…or the victim of a bad translation?In this episode, we dig into one of the most misunderstood women of the Tudor court and start peeling back the layers of myth that have followed her for centuries. Was Mary really the scandalous figure history made her out to be, or has her reputation been shaped by misread words and repeated assumptions?We take a closer look at the infamous mistranslation that helped cement her notoriety, and ask a deceptively simple question: was it actually Mary - or Anne Boleyn - who served Margaret of Austria?From there, we explore Mary’s place within the powerful Boleyn family, her relationships, and what those dynamics might really have looked like behind the scenes. And then there’s the mystery that raises more questions than answers - why did Mary remain a widow for so long before secretly marrying William Stafford? Was it love, necessity…or something else entirely?This is Mary Boleyn as you’ve rarely heard her - complicated, sidelined, and long overdue a second look.--Get from Blackwell's (even US residents) now: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Mary-Boleyn-by-Sylvia-Barbara-Soberton/9781837051014--DON'T MISS OUT!!SPECIAL EVENT on May 9th with Dr. Steven Veerapon on the medical history of Henry VIII. All the information can be found here: https://henrythetyrant.eventbrite.com--Host: Rebecca LarsonGuest: Sylvia Barbara Soberton
Transcribe →
Edward II: A King Out of Place
4w ago01:06:31Tap to summarizeEdward II has often been remembered as a king who simply didn’t fit the role he inherited. In this episode, we trace his reign from the shadow of his formidable father, Edward I of England, through the controversies that defined his rule - his favoritism, his relationships, and his uneasy connection with the nobility. Why did his choices spark such intense opposition? And how did a king lose control of his own kingdom? As we follow Edward II’s story to his deposition, something unexpected emerges: a king increasingly aware of his own failures - offering, perhaps, a quiet kind of redemption at the very end.--Listen to Matt on Gone Medieval!--BIG ANNOUNCEMENT:SPECIAL EVENT on May 9th with Dr. Steven Veerapon on the medical history of Henry VIII. All the information can be found here: https://henrythetyrant.eventbrite.com--Host: Rebecca LarsonGuest: Matthew Lewis
Transcribe →
Katherine Swynford: From Mistress to Duchess
4w ago01:03:32Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I’m joined by historian Sharon Bennett Connolly to explore the life of Katherine Swynford - her relationship with John of Gaunt, the scandal that shook the royal court, and how her legacy would shape the future of the English throne.--Sharon's Website: https://historytheinterestingbits.com/author/sharonbennettconnolly/Sharon's Upcoming Events: https://historytheinterestingbits.com/forthcoming-events/Sharon's Books on Amazon US:https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B072156Z8V?ccs_id=2752d8c6-9e4d-4cca-b600-6046103545e6--BIG ANNOUNCEMENT:SPECIAL EVENT on May 9th with Dr. Steven Veerapon on the medical history of Henry VIII. All the information can be found here: https://henrythetyrant.eventbrite.com--Host: Rebecca LarsonGuest: Sharon Bennett Connolly
Transcribe →