Best Wessex Podcasts (2024)

1
Wessex Ways With Linleys 360 1:42:33

3d ago1:42:33

1:42:33

Welcome to this weeks Wessex Ways Podcast in visual format! This week we talk to the legend that is Warren from https://www.youtube.com/@UCW35mCpyfrEolmRuy_fBMYw Social Media: Paul Twitter and Instagram: @ PaulWhitewick Hedley @ Thorneh @ Hedley_Thorne

1
Rise of Wessex 42:49

20d ago42:49

42:49

In Gone Medieval’s special series exploring some of Anglo-Saxon Britain’s most influential kingdoms, we reach Wessex - the last kingdom left to stand against the Great Heathen Army. Under the command of Alfred the Great, Wessex achieved what no other kingdom could before it: victory against the Vikings. In this episode, Eleanor Janega is joined by …

1
The Viking Age: What Discoveries Reveal 32:21

20m ago32:21

32:21

The Vikings continue to fascinate us because their compelling stories connect with universal human desires for exploration and adventure. But recent advances in excavation and archaeological science, coupled with a re-evaluation of oral traditions and written sources, are furthering our understanding of the Viking Age. In this episode of Gone Medie…

1
Writing Across Genres with Gareth L Powell 1:02:17

6h ago1:02:17

1:02:17

In this edition of the Writers' Gym podcast we are joined by the award-winning novelist Gareth L Powell to talk about his work across several genres. Known primarily as a science-fiction author, Gareth has also written thrillers and fantasy. His guide for writers "About Writing : A Field Guide for Aspiring Authors" (Gollancz 2022) was described as …

1
Women Crusaders 35:20

39m ago35:20

35:20

The image we usually associate with a Crusader - of a dashing nobleman on a mighty steed heading out for Holy War - often obscures all of the other medieval people who went to the Holy Land, especially the countless women. In this edition of Gone Medieval, Dr. Eleanor Janega talks to Dr. Natasha Hodgson - author of Women, Crusading and the Holy Lan…

1
Genghis Khan to Tamerlane: Mongol Empire Reborn 28:25

3d ago28:25

28:25

The Mongol Empire that rose in the early 13th century was fractured and in crisis by the mid-14th. But then a new warlord arose who sought to rebuild what had once been the most powerful empire in the world. Operating in Genghis Khan’s shadow, Tamerlane deliberately drew parallels between himself and his great precursor. And as a Muslim, Tamerlane …

1
Music and Writing 53:47

5d ago53:47

53:47

In this edition of the Writers' Gym Podcast with Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen we'll look at the relationship between music and writing. We'll explore music as inspiration and motivation, music as a creator of moods and as an accompaniment to your work and books inspired by or suggested by music. Artists mentioned in this podcast include Thomas…

1
Origins of the Normans 43:42

13d ago43:42

43:42

Because of William the Conqueror’s victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, the Normans have remained a familiar and important name in British history. But who were they? And how did they come to change culture across the European continent? In this explainer episode of Gone Medieval, Dr. Eleanor Janega tells the fascinating story of the rise of …

1
The Witan: England's First Parliament? 41:26

10d ago41:26

41:26

Athelstan, grandson of Alfred the Great, was a great king who united what was once a collection of petty Anglo-Saxon kingdoms into one vast English domains. Having brought together rival polities with a history of fractious relations into a unified whole, Athelstan needed to centralise government if he was going to keep the crown on his head and ho…

1
Character Building 59:04

12d ago59:04

59:04

In this episode of the podcast we’ll be looking at the art of generating characters for your fiction. We’ll look at the secrets of creating believable and authentic characters that can drive your story forward. Emily and Rachel will talk about their own characters, the inspiration behind them and the ways in which they have shaped events in their f…

1
Medieval Italy 40:24

13d ago40:24

40:24

The huge peninsula of what we today call Italy saw waves of invasions and sweeping changes over the course of the Medieval period, with huge differences between, say, Milan in the north stretching to Sicily in the south. They spoke different languages, had different rulers, and were settled by very different groups of people. In this episode of Gon…

1
The Outdoors one! Wessex Ways Podcast - Episode 26 25:56

17d ago25:56

25:56

Welcome to this weeks Wessex Ways Podcast in visual format! This week we talk North Hampshire Downs, Boudica and Welsh Mountains. Social Media: Paul Twitter and Instagram: @ PaulWhitewick Hedley @ Thorneh @ Hedley_Thorne

1
How the Plantagenets Built England 46:34

25d ago46:34

46:34

Six Plantagenet kings ruled between 1199 and 1399 - two centuries that witnessed civil war, deposition, the murder of kings and the ruthless execution of rebel lords. There was also international warfare, a devastating national pandemic, economic crisis and the first major peasant uprising in our history. Yet those two centuries and six kings were …

1
Beating the Blank Page 39:52

19d ago39:52

39:52

In this episode of the Writers’ Gym Podcast we will be thinking about starting to write. Writing the opening page of your story needn’t be a battle against that glaring white first page and all the psychological demons it implies. Rachel and Emily offer tips, advice and hacks for starting to write and share examples and anecdotes from their own wri…

1
Rise of Mercia 41:56

27d ago41:56

41:56

In Gone Medieval’s special series examining some of Anglo-Saxon Britain’s most significant kingdoms, we arrive at the kingdom of Mercia, which once enjoyed supremacy over not only Wessex but all of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. At its peak, Mercia controlled what is now Birmingham and London, but it ceased to be a kingdom when Alfred the Great came to …

1
Write What You Know: A Discussion 41:44

26d ago41:44

41:44

In this edition of the Writers’ Gym Podcast with Dr Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen we take a look at one of the most common pieces of advice offered to writers: “Write what you know” We examine this advice to consider what it means for our writing and consider how it works in the worlds of science fiction and fantasy as well as in general fictio…

1
Life on Crusade 45:57

27d ago45:57

45:57

Accounts of the Crusades were usually commissioned by wealthy and influential people about themselves, to make their piety and righteousness known to others. But what about the less glamorous people who went on Crusades? And what was life like when they did so? In this episode of Gone Medieval, Dr. Eleanor Janega finds out about ordinary crusaders …

1
The Dynasty that Made Medieval France 36:16

1M ago36:16

36:16

From Hugh Capet to Eleanor of Aquitaine, the Capetian dynasty considered itself divinely chosen to fulfil a great destiny. From an insecure foothold around Paris, the Capetians built a nation that stretched from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean and from the Rhône to the Pyrenees, founding practices and institutions that endured until the French Re…

1
Unreliable Narrators 39:48

1M ago39:48

39:48

In this episode Rachel and Emily look at unreliable narrators and how to create and use them in your writing. With examples from literature we look at the ways in which unreliable narrators can give your stories depth, authenticity and a plot-twist or two to keep your readers guessing. The references in today’s episode include Pale Fire by Vladimir…

1
Rise of Northumbria 40:53

1M ago40:53

40:53

In a time of in-fighting and tribal warfare, what did it take to form the politically dominant, culturally rich and geographically vast kingdoms that led to the creation of England? This month, over four episodes of Gone Medieval, we explore the rise and fall of the key kingdoms of the Heptarchy: Northumbria, Mercia, and Wessex, and the formation o…

1
#44 - NatureSpace Partnership and District Licensing with Sarah Garratt and Andy Buxton 57:53

1M ago57:53

57:53

In this insightful episode of the Ecology Academy podcast, we explore the fascinating world of district licensing in ecological conservation with Sarah Garratt and Andy Buxton from NatureSpace. We delve into Sarah's contribution to NatureSpace's strategic licensing approach and Andy's role in the conceptualization of district licensing. Additionall…

1
What is a Pilgrimage? 36:20

1M ago36:20

36:20

In medieval times, Britain was criss-crossed by pilgrim routes, that took in such world-famous sites as Canterbury and Lindisfarne as well as out-of-the-way locations along paths not so widely travelled. But why did people undergo pilgrimage? What were its benefits? And why did some send people in their honour? In this episode of Gone Medieval, fir…

1
Layout and Formatting 43:34

1M ago43:34

43:34

In this episode we look at the art and science of laying out and formatting your writing. We ask when you should begin to format your work, how you should go about doing it and explore a few good reasons for starting the process early …or indeed later. We look at some of the formatting skills and techniques you’ll need for getting your manuscript r…

1
Medieval Sex Work 39:45

2M ago39:45

39:45

Prostitutes were everywhere in the streets and neighbourhoods of medieval cities. In one and the same building, there might be a school upstairs, while downstairs prostitutes plied their nefarious trade. But how did such a situation come to pass? And how could such a world exist within the theoretical holy confines of medieval Christendom? In this …

1
King Henry II 49:29

2M ago49:29

49:29

One of the pivotal figures in Medieval history, King Henry II centralised royal power, instituted legal reforms and established common law. His marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine expanded his influence, as he became the ruler of a far-reaching European empire. But his demise was just as dramatic as his ascendancy. In this episode of Gone Medieval, Ma…

1
Worldbuilding 38:54

2M ago38:54

38:54

In this episode Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen look at the process of worldbuilding for fiction writers. Normally associated with science fiction and fantasy writers, world building skills can also be applied to real places adapted for fiction. In our conversation we mentioned the map creation services of Dewi Hargreaves who you can follow on tw…

1
The Power of Medieval Icons 42:36

2M ago42:36

42:36

In the Middle Ages, how did art - particularly Christian icons - serve to connect humanity with heavenly realms? How did such images spread from the Eastern Roman Empire to the rest of Europe? What did they represent and how could they sometimes be misused to justify war and imperialism? In this episode of Gone Medieval, Dr. Eleanor Janega explores…

1
#43 - Great Crested Newt Surveys Using Detection Dogs, with Nikki Glover at Wessex Water 40:36

2M ago40:36

40:36

Welcome to an enthralling episode of the Ecology Academy Podcast, where host Richard Dodd is joined by special guest Nikki Glover, a Senior Ecologist at Wessex Water renowned for her innovative newt detection techniques. Our dynamic conversation delves into Nikki's essential contributions to large-scale development infrastructure projects, her dive…

1
Peasants' Revolt 36:04

2M ago36:04

36:04

The Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 was a public rebellion that sent revolutionary ripples across the entire medieval world. In a new video series for History Hit, Matt Lewis has been looking beyond the ancient propaganda to reveal the previously unknown stories of the ordinary folk of the Peasants’ Revolt. Matt has been working closely with investigative…

1
"What's your Wessex?": Place, setting and location in fiction 41:42

2M ago41:42

41:42

In this episode Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen look at the role and influence of place in creative writing. We look at the ways in which setting can influence you as writers and affect your characters. As usual, we offer creative writing challenges to help you consider the influence of place in your own work. In this episode Rachel references “T…

1
Real Medieval Women with Philippa Gregory 39:47

2M ago39:47

39:47

When we think about women in the Middle Ages, we know about Eleanor of Aquitaine or Hildegard of Bingen, but we are a lot less likely to think about the alewives plying their trade in cities, or the noble ladies quietly running their estates, or even the nuns falling in love with each other and praising God. In this episode of Gone Medieval, Dr. El…

1
Wessex Ways with Mary-Ann Ochota 1:45:17

2M ago1:45:17

1:45:17

Welcome to this weeks Wessex Ways Podcast in visual format! This week we talk with Mary-Ann Ochota. All The links mentioned in The PodcastThe BBC Radio 4 episode on military veterans doing archaeology https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0006dthAnd signed copies of Mary-Ann's books! https://www.maryannochota.com/books/The charity behind the work: Brea…

1
Medieval Origins of Italian Food 36:21

2M ago36:21

36:21

For a thousand years, Italy’s cities have been magnets for everything that makes for great eating: ingredients, talent, money and power. Italian food is city food, and telling its story means telling the story of the Italians as a people of city dwellers. In this episode of Gone Medieval, Matt Lewis meets John Dickie, author of Delizia! The Epic Hi…

1
Editing 101 42:42

2M ago42:42

42:42

In this podcast we’ll talk about the art and techniques of editing. We’ll discuss approaches to editing, what you should take out and keep in and some of the best and worst editing advice we’ve received. Subscribe to The Writers’ Gym in your favourite podcast app to be notified of all new episodes as they are released. New episodes will appear ever…

1
How Not to Give Feedback 45:16

2M ago45:16

45:16

In this episode Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen discuss the art of giving and receiving feedback. We’ll have advice on how and who to ask for feedback, when feedback will be useful and how you should use feedback as part of your creative process. Subscribe to The Writers’ Gym in your favourite podcast app to be notified of all new episodes as the…

1
St. Thurstan: York's Rebel Archbishop 41:39

2M ago41:39

41:39

One of Medieval England’s most influential figures, Thurstan was the Archbishop of York from 1114 to 1140 who fought attempts by the Archbishop of Canterbury to assert his primacy over York. Eventually, Thurstan was consecrated by the Pope instead. Now English Heritage has discovered evidence in a 15th century manuscript that Thurstan was considere…

1
The Writers' Gym Trailer 1:23

2M ago1:23

1:23

This is our trailer for The Writers' Gym Podcast. We'll be releasing episodes weekly each Wednesday from 6th March and we'll cover topics such as How not to give feedback Editing 101 Unreliable narrators World building "What's Your Wessex" : A guide to place in fiction Layout "Write what you know" : A discussion Each episode features Rachel Knightl…

1
#42 - Diving Deep into Newt Conservation with Specialist Jon Cranfield 55:23

2M ago55:23

55:23

Welcome to the Ecology Academy podcast hosted by Richard Dodd. In this episode, we delve into the transformative journey of Jon Cranfield, a herpetofauna specialist and director of Herpetologic Limited. Starting from his childhood passion for ecology, we journey through his extensive experience dealing with protected species and examine his commitm…

1
#41 Series Special (1) - Great Crested Newt 1:31

2M ago1:31

1:31

Welcome to a special series of the Ecology Academy podcast, dedicated entirely to understanding the fascinating world of great crested newts. As spring arrives, we delve into in-depth discussions with leading experts to shed light on this unique species. Over the upcoming weeks, we'll be presenting interviews with established authorities in the fie…

1
Medieval Ireland: Death & Politics 26:48

2M ago26:48

26:48

Court records of naked, murderous monks, tavern brawls, robberies gone wrong, tragic accidents and criminal gangs reveal how the English in medieval Ireland governed and politicised death. In this episode of Gone Medieval, Matt Lewis meets Dr. Joanna MacGugan, whose research focuses on how the English legal system in Ireland relied on collective me…

1
The Real Braveheart 33:17

3M ago33:17

33:17

This episode contains strong language, graphic scenes of torture and sexual content The chances are, when we think of William Wallace, we think of Mel Gibson in Braveheart, charging down a hill in a kilt with his face painted blue. Maybe we're fascinated in Wallace’s trial and grisly death and its influence on our understanding of war crimes? But…

1
How to Cook Like a Medieval Chef 32:02

3M ago32:02

32:02

Preparing, serving and sharing food has always played a critical role in human history. But what did people in the Middle Ages like to eat and what did their food say about their social status? What was the haute cuisine of medieval Bagdad or Moorish Spain? Victoria Flexner and Jay Reifel have recreated classic dishes for their book, A History of t…

1
Sweyn Forkbeard: First Viking King of England 39:01

3M ago39:01

39:01

Sweyn Forkbeard was the first Viking King of England, however you'd be forgiven for potentially forgetting who he was given he was only King for five short weeks, being declared King on Christmas Day 1013, and ruling till his death on 3rd February 1014. Part of a distinguished line of Viking rulers, he was the son of Harald Bluetooth, King of Denma…

1
Medieval Mass Murdering Monk: Malmesbury Abbey 27:11

3M ago27:11

27:11

Malmesbury Abbey in Wiltshire was an institution of national significance from the late seventh century until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539. It was home to eminent writers and had strong royal connections. It housed the tomb of Æthelstan, first king of all England, and Queen Matilda, wife of Henry I, took a close interest in its affair…

1
Wessex Ways - Maiden Castle - Episode 024 1:28:53

3M ago1:28:53

1:28:53

Welcome to this weeks Wessex Ways Podcast in visual format! This week we talk Maiden Castle, Hampshire Downs and Plaques. We also waffle about Allotment Fox: https://www.youtube.com/c/AllotmentFox You can check out his channels here: Social Media: Paul Twitter and Instagram: @ PaulWhitewick Hedley @ Thorneh @ Hedley_Thorne…

1
Medieval Apocalypse 29:15

3M ago29:15

29:15

In the early 12th century, when England was suffering wave after wave of Viking invasions, many wondered how God could allow their kingdom to be ravaged by pagans? The Archbishop of York Wulfstan had an answer: the apocalypse was coming. What did that mean to people in the Middle Ages? In this episode of Gone Medieval, Dr. Eleanor Janega talks to P…

1
#40 - Navigating Change: Adapting to New Ecological Guidance 31:42

3M ago31:42

31:42

Join us in this informative episode of the Ecology Academy podcast, hosted by Richard Dodd, as we explore the complexities of the rapidly changing world of ecology. We delve deep into recent ecological developments, updated guidelines, new regulations, and the impact of technological advancements on the field. This episode aims to inspire listeners…

1
Justinian: Greatest Byzantine Emperor? 40:04

3M ago40:04

40:04

The Eastern Roman Emperor from 527 to 565, Justinian was a ruler who infused even the most mundane tasks with spiritual and religious significance. The challenges he faced - climate change, battles over culture and identity, the first recorded global pandemic - and many of the solutions he found to address them still resonate with us today. His leg…

1
How Everyday People Built Medieval Japan 41:16

3M ago41:16

41:16

When it comes to Japan in the Middle Ages, we think mostly of stories of the Shogun, samurai and ninjas. But for a society dominated by the court and military elite, much was dependent on the labour of skilled people. In this episode of Gone Medieval, Dr. Eleanor Janega talks to Dr. Paula Curtis, to find out more particularly about Japan’s metal ca…