Best Royal Studies Podcasts (2024)

1
Interview with Stephanie McCarter: Women in Power in the Classical World 26:10

5h ago26:10

26:10

In this episode, host Ellie Woodacre interviews Stephanie McCarter about her new book Women in Power: Classical Myths and Stories from the Amazons to Cleopatra (Penguin Books, 2024). As we discuss in the episode, this work brings together excerpts from Classical texts which discuss the life and rule of a variety of women, from mythical figures like…

1
Roundtable Feature: Buddhist Monarchy in Asia 1:04:53

12d ago1:04:53

1:04:53

In this roundtable episode, host Ellie Woodacre is joined by a panel of five experts on monarchy in premodern Asia--including the Indian subcontinent, China and Southeast Asia. This episode captures a vibrant discussion on the impact of Buddhism on the ideals and practice of monarchy in the region, drawing on their respective research. Speaker Bios…

1
Conference Feature: Interview with the organizers of Kings & Queens 14 17:46

26d ago17:46

17:46

In this episode, Ellie Woodacre interviews three members of the organizing committee for next year's Kings & Queens 14 conference: Manuela Santos Silva, Maria Dávila and Inês Olaia. We talk about the conference theme, plans for the conference (including the much loved excursions), celebrating the anniversary of Leonor de Lencastre's death and tips …

1
Project Feature: Polish Queens 44:58

1M ago44:58

44:58

In this episode, Magdalena Biniaś-Szkopek and Darius von Güttner join host Susannah Lyon-Whaley to discuss their Polish Queens project, which examines Polish queens' roles as spouses, mothers, and queens. The project is also interested in looking into the emotional side of queenship and the emotions of the individual women themselves. Guest Bios: M…

1
Exhibition Feature: Untold Lives 32:55

2M ago32:55

32:55

In this episode, host Ellie Woodacre interviews Dr Mishka Sinha, co-curator of the Untold Lives: A Palace at Work exhibition at Historic Royal Palaces (running until 27 October 2024). In the interview we discuss how the development of the exhibition. the ways it which it reveals the hidden histories of palace courtiers and servants and the unexpect…

1
Exhibition Feature: Six Lives (National Portrait Gallery, London) 21:04

2M ago21:04

21:04

In this episode, host Ellie Woodacre interviews Charlotte Boland, the curator of the Six Lives exhibition currently running at the National Portrait Gallery, London. In this interview we discuss the inspiration behind the exhibition, new approaches to the history of the Six Lives and the unusual and diverse selection of visual and material culture …

1
Interview with Alexandra Forsyth on Medieval French Dauphines 33:48

3M ago33:48

33:48

CONTENT WARNING: Please be aware that there are brief discussions of infant and child mortality in this episode. In this episode Susannah Lyon-Whaley interviews Alexandra Forsyth on her fascinating research on the dauphines of late medieval France. Guest Bio: Alexandra is a doctoral candidate in History at the University of Auckland. Her doctoral t…

1
Royal Studies Journal Feature: Special Issue on Aristocracy (part 1: English version) 27:21

3M ago27:21

27:21

To celebrate the release of the Royal Studies Journal special issue 'Defining Aristocracy' (issue 11.1: June 2024), we have two roundtable episodes with the guest editor, Cathleen Sarti, and her contributors--one in English and another in German: a first for our podcast! This episode (in English) is hosted by Ellie Woodacre and features Cathleen Sa…

1
Royal Studies Journal Feature: Special Issue on Aristocracy (part 2: German version) 54:58

3M ago54:58

54:58

To celebrate the release of the Royal Studies Journal special issue 'Defining Aristocracy' (issue 11.1: June 2024), we have two roundtable episodes with the guest editor, Cathleen Sarti, and her contributors--one in English and another in German: a first for our podcast! This episode is the German version, hosted by Erik Liebscher and featuring Cat…

1
Interview: Winner of the 2024 Royal Studies Journal Book Prize 31:40

4M ago31:40

31:40

In this episode, host Ellie Woodacre interviews the winner of the Royal Studies Journal Book Prize 2024--Matthew Fitzpatrick. In the interview, we discuss his prize winning book The Kaiser and the Colonies: Monarchy in the Age of Empire (Oxford University Press, 2022), including the inspiration behind the project, the character of Kaiser Wilhelm II…

1
Publication Feature: Intercultural Explorations at the Court of Henry VIII 22:22

4M ago22:22

22:22

This episode is an interview with Nadia van Pelt about her new book, Intercultural Explorations and the Court of Henry VIII which came out with OUP in December 2023. In this episode Dr Ellie Woodacre asks the author about the inspiration behind the book, the role of the fool at the Tudor court and about an exciting document that Nadia discovered wh…

1
Project Feature: Roundtable with Henry on Tour Project Team 46:07

5M ago46:07

46:07

This episode, hosted by Dr Ellie Woodacre, features another roundtable with members of the Henry on Tour project team--we discuss the progresses of Henry VIII and the big themes of the project including kingship & queenship, logistics, legacy and performance. About the project: This exciting three-year venture brings together a cross-disciplinary t…

1
Project Feature: Interview with Matthieu Mensch on “Reines en images” 26:46

5M ago26:46

26:46

In this episode we feature a project which aims to collect all known images of queens and royal women, called “Reines en images”. Host Ellie Woodacre interviews the project's creator, Matthieu Mensch, discussing the genesis of the project, plans for future expansion and the relevance to images of royal women today. If you are interested in getting …

1
Project Feature: Roundtable with e-Reginae Project Team 26:38

6M ago26:38

26:38

This episode features e-Reginae, an exciting project in the field of queenship studies, based at the University of Lisbon. This roundtable includes three members of the project team: project leader Professor Ana Maria S.A Rodrigues, Inês Olaia and Pedro de Sousa. We'll be discussing the project aims, the inspiration behind e-Reginae and their plans…

1
Marie Antoinette's Gardens: Rethinking Female Agency - Interview with Susan Taylor-Leduc 30:59

6M ago30:59

30:59

In this episode, Susannah Lyon-Whaley is joined by Susan Taylor-Leduc to discuss her latest book and ongoing research on Marie Antoinette and gardens. Susan's 2022 book on Marie Antoinette - Marie Antoinette's Legacy: The Politics of French Garden Patronage and Picturesque Design, 1775-1867 - is available from Amsterdam University Press here. More …

1
Part Two of Egyptian Rulership: Interview with Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones on The Cleopatras 27:02

7M ago27:02

27:02

In this episode, Ellie Woodacre interviews Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones on his new book The Cleopatras. The Forgotten Queens of Egypt, published by Wildfire/Basic Books in May 2024. We discuss the need for this book which looks at all seven of the Cleopatras who were dynamic and fascinating co-rulers of Ptolemaic Egypt. We also discuss the particular dyna…

1
Part One of Egyptian Rulership: Interview with Caleb Hamilton on Egyptian kingship 37:54

7M ago37:54

37:54

In this episode on Egyptian kingship we are speaking to Dr Caleb R. Hamilton (Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Kāi Tahu). Caleb is the Pouārahi, Principal Advisor Environmental Outcomes for Houkura, the Independent Māori Statutory Board. He was previously an Aporei Mātai (Principal Anaylst) at Te Puni Kōkiri and was Pou Matua Taonga Tuku Iho (Principal A…

1
Roundtable Feature: Notions of Privacy at Early Modern European Courts 36:13

7M ago36:13

36:13

In this episode, we have a roundtable with the lead editor and three contributors to the new collection, Notions of Privacy at Early Modern European Courts: Reassessing the Public and Private Divide, 1400-1800 (AUP, 2024). We discuss whether the term 'privacy' is problematic in terms of early modern court life and what expectations monarchs themsel…

1
Book Series Feature: New 'Monarchy, History & Culture' series at AUP 18:10

8M ago18:10

18:10

This episode features a new book series 'Monarchy, History and Culture' at AUP. The series seeks to publish studies on monarchy, both individual and comparative, from the ancient world to the French Revolution. In this episode, we interview two of the series editors to discuss what kind of work they are hoping to feature and tips for authors who wo…

1
Publication Feature: Floral Culture and the Tudor and Stuart Courts 42:33

8M ago42:33

42:33

Today’s episode celebrates the publication of Floral Culture and the Tudor and Stuart Courts, ed. Susannah Lyon-Whaley (Amsterdam University Press, 2024). These interdisciplinary essays engage with flowers as real, artificial, and represented objects across the Tudor and Stuart courts in gardens, literature, painting, interior furnishing, garments,…

1
Roundtable Feature: Royal Mistresses 37:28

9M ago37:28

37:28

In this episode, hosted by Susannah Lyon-Whaley, we have a roundtable highlighting recent research on royal mistresses and the important part they played in the French and English monarchies. Guest Biographies: Tracy Adams is a professor in European Languages and Literatures at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. She has also taught at the Uni…

1
Young Queens Feature (Part 2): Interview with Nicola Tallis 25:29

9M ago25:29

25:29

We are back with Part 2 of our feature on 'Young Queens', featuring Dr Nicola Tallis and her new book, Young Elizabeth! In this interview we discuss how important it is to examine Elizabeth's childhood in order to understand the great queen that she became. As a point of connection with the interview with Leah Chang on her Young Queens book, we dis…

1
Young Queens Feature (Part 1): Interview with Leah Redmond Chang 37:01

10M ago37:01

37:01

We open 2024 with a two-part feature on Young Queens, featuring two new books which look at young royal women in 16th century Europe. Our first interview is with Leah Redmond Chang, author of Young Queens (Bloomsbury, 2023). In this episode we talk about the three women featured in her book (Catherine de Medici, Elisabeth de Valois and Mary Queen o…

1
Interview with James Taffe: Christmas with the Tudors 31:27

11M ago31:27

31:27

This episode features Dr James Taffe speaking with Dr Johanna Strong about his latest publication, Christmas with the Tudors, out now! They discuss the book more generally as well as Christmas traditions of the Twelve Days of Christmas, gifts, and the role of queens in celebrations. To buy Christmas with the Tudors, head to Amazon UK, Amazon USA, A…

1
Interview with Valerie Schutte: Royal Studies Journal Cluster 15:43

12M ago15:43

15:43

This episode, we are joined by Dr Valerie Schutte for a conversation about her forthcoming Royal Studies Journal Cluster, due for publication next month. Valerie Schutte has published widely on royal Tudor women, book dedications, and queenship. She has published two monographs: Mary I and the Art of Book Dedications: Royal Women, Power, and Persua…

1
Interview with Eilish Gregory: Later Stuart Queens, 1660-1735 40:48

12M ago40:48

40:48

Later Stuart Queens, 1660–1735: Religion, Political Culture, and Patronage (edited by Eilish Gregory and Michael Questier) is part of Palgrave Macmillan’s Queenship and Power series and seeks to re-insert queens into the mainstream of Stuart and early Georgian studies. It will be published in December 2023. Today we are speaking with Dr. Eilish Gre…

1
Interview with Susan North: Dressed to Impress: Courtly Fashion in the V & A Collections 35:59

1y ago35:59

35:59

This podcast shines a spotlight on three items of dress in the V&A collections with a courtly or royal theme. Susan North, Curator of Fashion 1550-1800 at the Victoria & Albert Museum, speaks about their style, materials, where and when they would have been worn, and caring for them. In this podcast, we discuss: A resplendently embroidered mantua, …

1
Interview with Dr Sarah Bendall: The Women Who Clothed the Stuart Queens 31:41

1y ago31:41

31:41

Sarah A. Bendall is a material culture and gender historian at the Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, ACU. Her first book, Shaping Femininity, was published with Bloomsbury in 2021. It was shortlisted for the Society of Renaissance Studies (UK) biannual book prize in 2022 and awarded highly commended. She is co-investigator on the AHRC-f…

1
Interview with Dr. Erin Griffey: Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Early Modern Queens, Beauty, and Cosmetics 35:49

1y ago35:49

35:49

Dr. Erin Griffey is a specialist in early modern visual and material culture at the University of Auckland and a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. She has published widely on court culture, especially the early seventeenth-century British queen Henrietta Maria and the Stuart court. She has written On Display: Henrietta Maria and the Materials o…

1
Interview with Kings & Queens 13 Host: Professor Kathleen Wilson-Chevalier 34:35

1y ago34:35

34:35

In this episode, we interview Professor Kathleen Wilson-Chevalier, the host of the upcoming Kings & Queens 13 conference in May 2024 at The American University of Paris. In this interview, Kathleen tells us all about the inspiration behind the theme "Gift-giving and Communication Networks". We also discuss the conference's commemoration of the 500t…

1
Exhibition Feature: Crown to Couture 26:03

1y ago26:03

26:03

This episode features an interview with Polly Putnam and Holly Marsden, two of the team responsible for Historic Royal Palaces' innovative 'Crown to Couture' exhibition which is running until 29 October 2023. To find out more about the exhibition, follow this link and most importantly, have a listen to this episode to hear more about the inspiratio…

1
Special Feature: RSJ Special Issue on Iberian Household's (IN SPANISH!) 35:34

1y ago35:34

35:34

This very special episode features Diana Pelaz Flores, guest editor of the current Royal Studies Journal special issue 'The Iberian Queen's Households: Dynamics, Social Strategies and Royal Power' (Vol 10.1, June 2023). Diana is the 'host' of this episode, in conversation with Lledó Ruiz Domingo and Paula Del Val Vales, who both contributed article…

1
Interview with Adriana Concin: Winner of the 2023 RSJ PGR/ECR Article Prize 18:39

1+ y ago18:39

18:39

This episode features an interview with the winner of the Royal Studies Journal 2023 Postgraduate/Early Career Scholar Article Prize. In this interview we'll be discussing her prizewinning article and the disastrous Medici/Habsburg marriage that inspired it! Guest Bio: Adriana Concin is the Assistant Curator of Paintings and Drawings at the Victori…

1
Interview with Rob Runacres: Fencing and Royal Education 54:41

1+ y ago54:41

54:41

In this episode, Rob Runacres (University of Winchester) speaks about aspects of his doctoral research on fencing and HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) in early modern European courts and royal education. Rob’s two translations from French primary sources are available from Fallen Rook Publishing (https://www.fallenrookpublishing.co.uk/). The…

1
Queens' Roles in Warfare, Conflict, and Military Life 39:55

1+ y ago39:55

39:55

Join us for this episode featuring postgraduate research students Louise Gay and Ashlee Johnson, who speak to Dr Johanna Strong about their research into queens' roles in warfare, conflict, and military life in medieval Europe. Louise is a PhD student at the Université Sorbonne Paris Nord examining thirteenth- and fourteenth-century French and Engl…

1
Interview with Dr Nicola Clark & Dr. Caroline Dunn: Ladies-in-waiting in the medieval and early modern English court. 53:35

1+ y ago53:35

53:35

In this episode we are joined by Nikki Clark and Caroline Dunn to speak about their work on the role of ladies-in-waiting in the medieval and early modern English court. We’ll hear their reflections on how the role changed over time and what life was like for these women as well as their thoughts about Queen Camilla’s decision to eliminate this pos…

1
Interview with Dr Alice Hunt: Coronation Special Part 2: A History Of Coronations In England & Britain. 20:36

1+ y ago20:36

20:36

This episode is the second of two episodes on the history of coronations in England and Britain in connection with the upcoming coronation of King Charles III. In this episode we are talking to Alice Hunt, author of The Drama of Coronation. We’ll be getting her thoughts on the legacy of the medieval and early modern ceremonies on the upcoming coron…

1
Interview with Dr José Manuel Cerda: Coronation Special Part 1: A History Of Coronations in England And Britain. 27:50

1+ y ago27:50

27:50

This episode is the first of two episodes on the history of coronations in England and Britain in connection with the upcoming coronation of King Charles III. In this episode we are talking to José Manuel Cerda about his new book Coronation: The British Monarchy in only one word (Coronación. La monarquía británica en una sola palabra) and his thoug…

1
Interview with Dr Cathleen Sarti: Deposing early modern European monarchs 32:12

1+ y ago32:12

32:12

In this episode, we continue this month's theme on deposed or deposing monarchs with an interview with Dr Cathleen Sarti about her work on this topic in early modern Europe. Below we have some recommendations from Cathleen if you would like to know more about the topic or follow up on some of the works she mentions in the interview: Sarti, Cathleen…

1
Interview with Alex Bescoby: The deposed monarchy of Myanmar--past & present 38:28

1+ y ago38:28

38:28

Alex Bescoby is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, writer and presenter from Manchester, UK, with a love of history, travel and storytelling. A Cambridge University history and politics graduate, he has written for BBC News, the Telegraph, National Geographic and Lonely Planet. His long- and short-form films have been shown by global broadcast…

1
Roundtable Feature: Representing Monarchy on Screen 55:45

1+ y ago55:45

55:45

This episode is a roundtable hosted by Johanna Strong featuring four scholars (Elena Woodacre, Sarah Betts, Lucy Coatman and Jessica Storoschuk) discussing representations of monarchy on the small and silver screen. Topics of discussion include Netflix's The Crown and The Empress, K-Dramas on the Joseon dynasty, Marie Antoinette in Sofia Coppola's …

1
New Directions: Dr Helen Newsome & 'The Queen's Post' 34:51

1+ y ago34:51

34:51

In connection with International Women's Day, we have a feature on the research of Dr Helen Newsome and her work on the letter writing of queens. In this episode we discuss her work on editing the impressive letter collection of Margaret Tudor, Queen of Scots and her new research project 'The Queen's Post'. To find out more about Dr Newsome's resea…

1
Interview with the Editors (Vols. 2 & 3)--English Consorts: Power, Inflence & Dynasty 27:36

1+ y ago27:36

27:36

In this special three part podcast, Ellie Woodacre discusses the English Consorts series with members of the editorial team. This is the third episode, featuring as a conversation with the editors of volumes 2 & 3, Dr Joanna Laynesmith and Dr Aidan Norrie, who is also the lead editor of the entire four-volume series. If you haven't already listened…

1
Interview with the Editors (Vols. 1 & 4)--English Consorts: Power, Influence & Dynasty 47:24

1+ y ago47:24

47:24

In this special three part podcast, Ellie Woodacre discusses the English Consorts series with members of the editorial team. This is the second episode, featuring a discussion with the editors of volumes 1 & 4, Dr Danna Messer and Dr Carolyn Harris (respectively). If you haven't already listened to our first episode on the English Consorts series, …

1
Author Interview: Nicola Tallis 32:41

2y ago32:41

32:41

In this episode we are speaking to Nicola Tallis, best-selling author and historian about her new book All the Queen's Jewels and her wider work on Tudor royal women. Find out more about Nicola and all of her publications on her website. If you enjoyed hearing about her book and want to learn more about the jewellry collection of queens and royal w…

1
Roundtable Feature: Team Queens Contributors 58:59

2y ago58:59

58:59

This episode features contributors from the Team Queens initiative, reflecting on their collective work on Team Queens and their own exciting research on queenship and royal studies. You can find out more about Team Queens and the work that the team produced together on their website--please note that as the active stage of the project has finished…

1
2022 Recap 5:11

2y ago5:11

5:11

Johanna Strong reviews the Royal Studies Network's 2022 and highlights the achievements of the field of royal studies this year. We also look ahead to 2023 and all that we have planned. Happy New Year!By RSN

1
Special Feature: RSJ 'Cluster' on Prince Philip 33:51

2y ago33:51

33:51

In this episode we're chatting with Sarah Betts, who has curated a 'cluster' of short pieces from various scholars in the field reflecting back on the life and legacy of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. After you have a listen to the episode, go check out the cluster in the December 2022 issue of the the Royal Studies Journal!…

1
English Consorts - Power, Influence and Dynasty. Part 1 34:15

2y ago34:15

34:15

In this special two part podcast, Ellie Woodacre discusses the English Consorts series with members of the editorial team. The English Consorts Series reveals the changing nature of English consortship from the Norman Conquest to the present day, through four volumes of innovative and authoritative biographies. Aidan Norrie is Lecturer in History a…

1
Monarchy and Money: Examining the Resources & Revenues of Royal Women in Premodern Europe 53:37

2y ago53:37

53:37

This week we talk to Cathleen Sarti and Charlotte Backerra, co-founders of the Queen's Resources international research project investigating the economic agency and activities of royal women in premodern Europe. In monarchies, power, law, finances, and economy were and are intertwined aspects of the royal household. Analysing the economic and fina…

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