Renaissance English History Podcast: A Show About the Tudors

In this episode, we turn from the famous princes in the Tower to their lesser-known sisters... the daughters of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. From Elizabeth of York, the Tudor queen who united two warring houses, to Cecily's scandalous second marriage, Anne's unhappy union with the Howards, Catherine's children who would one day alarm Henry VIII, Bridget's quiet life in a convent, and Mary's early death, these women shaped the Yorkist legacy in very different ways.Tudorcon From Home tickets at https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not every Tudor marriage ended in disaster. In this episode, we look at the rare good guys of Tudor England: from William Cecil's partnership with Mildred Cooke to Thomas More educating his daughters, Gilbert Talbot's affectionate letters, and Philip Sidney's romantic poetry. Even in the sixteenth century, some women didn't have to settle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, outlasted Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Mary I. a feat few could match in Tudor England. In this episode, we trace how he survived plots, imprisonment, and shifting regimes to die in power instead of on the scaffold. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with another This Week in YouTube where we highlight some recent content from my YouTube channel. This week: The Disturbing Fate of Katherine Parr's Body; Tudor Body Image - How the Tudors Saw Weight Gain & Loss. Make sure you're subscribed at https://www.youtube.com/@hteysko so you don't miss all the content we put out!Support the podcast for even more exclusive contenthttps://www.patreon.com/englandcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grammy-nominated lutenist Ronn McFarlane and Richmond guitarist Andrew McEvoy join me ahead of their Tudorcon2025 concert to talk Tudor music, the surprising ties between rock, folk, and the lute, and why court musicians were sometimes accused of being spies. I could have chatted with them for hours - this was such a fun conversation. Check out Ronn McFarlane's website at https://ronnmcfarlane.com/Andrew McEvoy at https://www.youtube.com/@andrewmcevoy7332Tudorcon tickets at https://www.englandcast.com/Tudorcon or streaming tix at https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode explores the forgotten women of the Yorkist dynasty - the sisters of Edward IV and Richard III. Anne of York, Elizabeth of York (Duchess of Suffolk), and Margaret of York (Duchess of Burgundy) each lived through the turbulence of the Wars of the Roses and the rise of the Tudors, but their fates were far from simple. From disastrous marriages and confiscated inheritances to sons who defied the Tudors and foreign alliances that reshaped Europe, their stories reveal how dynastic bloodlines continued to haunt Henry VII and Henry VIII long after Bosworth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lady Dorothy Jocelyn isn't a household name, but her life sheds light on what it meant to be a Tudor courtier. From serving queens like Jane Seymour and Catherine Howard to supplying garments for Catherine Parr, she moved between ceremony, politics, and business in a world that rarely remembered women's contributions. This episode was originally released as a members-only minicast in 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1568, Mary, Queen of Scots escaped her island prison at Lochleven Castle with the help of loyal supporters. Within days she was leading an army, but defeat at Langside forced her to flee into England where her freedom ended for good. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with another This Week in YouTube where we highlight some recent content from my YouTube channel. This week: Did the Tudors Fear Friday the 13th; Why Edward IV's Marriage to Elizabeth Woodville Shocked the English Court. Make sure you're subscribed at https://www.youtube.com/@hteysko so you don't miss all the content we put out!Support the podcast for even more exclusive contenthttps://www.patreon.com/englandcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tudor England… and Florida? In this episode, I chat with Misty Biruk about the surprising Elizabethan connections to the American Southeast; from Protestant forts near Jacksonville to the legend of a Welsh prince in Alabama. It's a side of Tudor history you've probably never heard before.Grab your Tudorcon From Home ticket at https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome to enjoy all our Tudorcon talks live from anywhere in the world! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paris, August 1572: the bells ring before dawn, and by nightfall thousands of Huguenots are dead. The St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre shocked Europe, hardened Elizabethan England's view of Catholic powers, and left Francis Walsingham with scars and convictions that would shape his career.Tudorcon From Home tickets: https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Cliffords ruled northern England for 500 years through loyalty, lawsuits, and superior castle-building skills. From the legendary "Shepherd Lord" who hid in the Lake District for 24 years to Lady Anne Clifford, who fought a 40-year legal battle to inherit four castles and rebuilt them all to prove her point. When neighbors joined rebellions, the Cliffords chose the crown, and it paid off spectacularly.Tudorcon from Home reservations: https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHomeUse code EARLYBIRD to join the Privy Council Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mary I's household wasn't just filled with courtiers... it was a circle of allies who had stood by her through years of disgrace, danger, and political uncertainty. In this episode, we meet the women who served England's first queen regnant: fools, noblewomen, governesses, and lifelong companions whose loyalty came at a cost.Tudorcon From Home tickets: https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with another This Week in YouTube where we highlight some recent content from my YouTube channel. This week: The Mob That Hunted Anne Boleyn, Margaret Clifford - The Tudor Heiress Who Was Too Close to the Throne? Make sure you're subscribed at https://www.youtube.com/@hteysko so you don't miss all the content we put out!Support the podcast for even more exclusive contenthttps://www.patreon.com/englandcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From jilting one fiancée for her aunt's fortune, to pocketing a ring from Margaret of Austria, to arranging marriage to an eight-year-old heiress, Henry VIII's best friend had a talent for mixing romance with ambition. This is the story of the gambles he took before his most dangerous move: secretly marrying the king's sister.Tudorcon From Home tickets: https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They were royal... sort of. From John of Gaunt's scandalous affair to Margaret Beaufort's political genius, the Beaufort family shaped the Wars of the Roses and put the Tudors on the throne, despite being banned from it themselves.In this episode, we follow their rise, fall, and unexpected revival - all the way to the present-day Dukes of Beaufort.Tudorcon tickets at https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

hey sailed to France as children with Mary, Queen of Scots, four noble girls, all named Mary.Mary Beaton, Seton, Fleming, and Livingston became her closest companions, and they stayed with her through marriages, murders, imprisonment, and rebellion.This is the story of the Four Marys, the women behind the Queen.Englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome for your Tudorcon From Home tickets, and to join the Privy Council! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're looking at a royal scandal you've probably never heard of: in 1419, Joan of Navarre - the Dowager Queen and stepmother to Henry V - was arrested for witchcraft. Not because she was guilty, but because the king needed cash. In this video, we dug into why Henry turned on her, what the accusation actually meant, and how Joan ended up imprisoned in luxury… with silk gowns and nineteen grooms.Remember Tudorcon from Home tickets - get yours early and join the Privy Council! https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome for all the details. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with another This Week in YouTube where we highlight some recent content from my YouTube channel. This week:What Happened to Anne Boleyn's Mother?; Did Henry VIII Ever Regret the Executions of Anne Boleyn, Cromwell, or Thomas More? Make sure you're subscribed at https://www.youtube.com/@hteysko so you don't miss all the content we put out!Support the podcast for even more exclusive contenthttps://www.patreon.com/englandcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I chat with Tudorcon speaker Kendra Drown Pitts about the complex legacy of Mary I. We cover her dramatic rise to power, her marriage to Philip of Spain, the phantom pregnancies, Wyatt's Rebellion, and yes—the burnings. But we also explore Mary as a human: shaped by trauma, driven by duty, and desperate for love and legacy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For centuries, sharing a bed with friends, family and even strangers was totally normal. From royal sleepovers to flea-bitten inn beds, this episode dives into the forgotten history of communal sleep.Tudorcon tickets will go up in price for in person spaces after tomorrow - https://www.englandcast.com/tudorcon to reserve your space and join us in Richmond this October! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You know Lady Jane Grey, but what about her sisters?In this episode, we explore the hidden lives of Katherine and Mary Grey: two Tudor women caught between love and loyalty, royal blood and royal punishment. From secret marriages to imprisonment, childbirth in the Tower, and years of house arrest, the Grey sisters lived lives as dramatic as any queen's; just without the crown.Remember, Tudorcon tickets are at https://www.englandcast.com/Tudorcon to come in person and https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome to come online! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final weeks of Henry VIII's reign, one of England's most powerful nobles was executed (not for rebellion, but for tweaking his coat of arms).This episode tells the story of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, and how Tudor paranoia, court politics, and a bit of heraldry sealed his fate.Early bird pricing on Tudorcon tickets ends Thursday: https://www.englandcast.com/tudorcon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do you do when your parent loses their head? This video looked at the children of traitors, from Gregory Cromwell to the young Poles, and how some survived, and even thrived, after scandal.

We're back with another This Week in YouTube where we highlight some recent content from my YouTube channel. This week: Tudor Shipwrecks and Lost Royals, The Lollards Tried to Seize Church Land... 140 Years Before Henry VIII. Make sure you're subscribed at https://www.youtube.com/@hteysko so you don't miss all the content we put out!Support the podcast for even more exclusive contenthttps://www.patreon.com/englandcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we look at where the coup (with Lady Jane Grey as a figurehead) went so wrong. Jane had the army. Jane had the government. And yet Mary won. Why? Let's discuss!Tudorcon tickets at https://www.englandcast.com/Tudorcon to come in person or https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome to come from home! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this youtube video from today, we're looking at the forgotten illegitimate children of the Tudor world, from Charles Brandon's secret family to the rumored Tudor bloodline behind Bishop Stephen Gardiner. Let me know what you think about these YouTube drops! Leave a comment, or email help@tudorfair.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this video, we're exploring the secret spaces built into Tudor houses from hidden staircases to priest holes tucked behind fireplaces. These were survival tools in an age of religious persecution and political paranoia.What do you think about the extra episodes? Are we fans? Yay or nay? Let me know - help@tudorfair.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with another This Week in YouTube where we highlight some recent content from my YouTube channel. This week: Top 5 Tudor Mistakes: Blunders That Cost Lives, Crowns, and Countries; The Doomed Dukes of Buckingham. Make sure you're subscribed at https://www.youtube.com/@hteysko so you don't miss all the content we put out!Support the podcast for even more exclusive contenthttps://www.patreon.com/englandcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Tudorcon 2024 session, dress historian Samantha Bullat dives into the surviving wardrobe accounts from the final months of Anne Boleyn's life. From velvet and crimson to why she probably never wore a farthingale, this talk brings Anne's clothing, and her story, to life through fabric, color, and craft.

Espionage in Tudor England wasn't all Walsingham and coded letters. In this episode, we meet the undercover herald Roger Machado, the singing spy Petrus Alamire, John Dee and his angelic intelligence… and one sawyer who really shouldn't have been sent abroad.Related: My 2015 interview with David Skinner: https://youtu.be/VK2zFKXNvTkCome to Tudorcon - https://www.englandcast.com/Tudorcon to come in person or https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome to come from home. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm trying to make it easier for you to get my content in the way you prefer, so I'll be releasing most of my YouTube videos here on the podcast feed as well. Let me know if you like the format!Queen Elizabeth I's final days were filled with silence, sorrow, and symbolism. In this episode, I explore her decline at Richmond Palace—her refusal to lie down, the haunting removal of her coronation ring, and the quiet gesture that confirmed her successor. From the thick white makeup she wore to maintain her image, to the lavish funeral that closed the Tudor era, this is the powerful and human end of a remarkable reign. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I want to make it easier for you to get my content in the way you prefer, so I'll be releasing most of my YouTube videos here on the podcast feed as well. Let me know if you like the format!In this mini episode, meet Margaret Paston, the 15th-century Norfolk matriarch who juggled lawsuits, sieges, and so much family drama—all while writing letters that have survived for over 500 years. We'll look at her incredible story through her surviving correspondence: managing estates while her husband was away, getting caught in violent local feuds, and battling her in-laws in court.It's a snapshot of medieval life—and one woman's fierce determination to hold it all together. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with another This Week in YouTube where we highlight some recent content from my YouTube channel. This week: The House That Couldn't Stop Rebelling - The Percy Family's 200-Year War with the Crown; How the Tudors Celebrated Midsummer. Make sure you're subscribed at https://www.youtube.com/@hteysko so you don't miss all the content we put out!Support the podcast for even more exclusive contenthttps://www.patreon.com/englandcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tudor monarchs didn't just sit on thrones—they moved with them. In this special interview, historian Carol Ann Lloyd joins me to explore the world of Tudor progresses: the royal road trips that brought the court (and the mess) to towns across England. We chat about:Why Henry VII hit the road just months after becoming kingHow nobles went bankrupt trying to impress Elizabeth IThe epic disaster of Henry VIII's progress with Catherine HowardRobert Dudley's full-blown 1575 Kenilworth Proposal-palooza (mermaids! fireworks! matching portraits!)And yes—mud, plague, and poop logistics.It's part political strategy, part royal flex, and 100% fascinating. Don't miss it!

They crowned Henry VII, flirted with rebellion, backed Shakespeare, and somehow kept their heads through centuries of chaos. This week, we're diving into the story of the Stanley family, the ultimate survivors of Tudor and Stuart England.Related episode on Eleanor Clifford: https://youtu.be/wkRUjLpH0a0Go to https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome to come to Tudorcon from anywhere or https://www.englandcast.com/Tudorcon to come in person to Richmond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with another This Week in YouTube where we highlight some recent content from my YouTube channel. This week: Bad Tudor Bromances - When Powerful Friendships Went Very, Very Wrong; The 19-Day Spectacle - Robert Dudley's Ultimate Gamble to Marry Elizabeth I. Make sure you're subscribed at https://www.youtube.com/@hteysko so you don't miss all the content we put out!Support the podcast for even more exclusive contenthttps://www.patreon.com/englandcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I'm joined by historical fiction author and Tudorcon favorite Adrienne Dillard for a deep (and delightfully honest) dive into Anne Boleyn's rise, reign, and reputation. We chat about what made Anne so compelling, how much agency she really had, the angry Tudor mob that chased her down the Strand, and why modern labels like “feminist” don't quite fit. It's smart, funny, and refreshingly unfiltered, just how we like our history.Check out Adrienne at https://adrienne-dillard.com/Tudorcon From Home tickets athttps://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They made kings, married queens, and launched rebellions. The Nevilles were once the most powerful family in England—and then the Tudors made sure they vanished. In this episode, we trace their rise, their fall, and the long shadow they left behind.Love this kind of story? Join me for Tudorcon From Home this October—get your ticket at englandcast.com/tudorconfromhome and save $15 on your ticket by entering the code EARLYBIRD when you check out! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with another This Week in YouTube where we highlight some recent content from my YouTube channel. This week: Calais, How England Took — and Lost — Its Last Foothold in France; Henry VIII's Secret Mission to Rome –The Plot That Even Wolsey Didn't Know About. Make sure you're subscribed at https://www.youtube.com/@hteysko so you don't miss all the content we put out!Support the podcast for even more exclusive contenthttps://www.patreon.com/englandcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eleanor Brandon was Henry VIII's niece, nearly kidnapped in the Pilgrimage of Grace, and eighth in line to the throne. Here's the real story of a Tudor woman history mostly forgot.Tudorcon tickets are on sale at https://www.englandcast.com/Tudorcon - see you there, or online, October 3-5! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with another This Week in YouTube where we highlight some recent content from my YouTube channel. This week: Tudor Controversies That STILL Spark Debate - Jane Grey, Seymour, and Mary, Queen of Scots. Make sure you're subscribed at https://www.youtube.com/@hteysko so you don't miss all the content we put out!Support the podcast for even more exclusive contenthttps://www.patreon.com/englandcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What really happened to Tom Canty after he swapped places with Edward VI in Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper?In this conversation, I sit down with debut author Frederic Fahey to talk about his historical novel The Scoundrel's Son, a rich and imaginative continuation of Twain's classic tale—set in the heart of Tudor England. We chat about why Fred felt called to tell Tom's story, the real Tudor figures who make appearances (yes, including Lady Jane Grey!), and how a scientist-turned-author finds inspiration in friendship, identity, and loss.Also: the Wicked book cover connection, writing strong Tudor women, and the character who punches people in the nose when necessary. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So there I was, minding my own business, and I thought it would be fun to type "did the Tudors have..." into Google, and see what the Internet thinks the world wonders about Tudor history. This episode is the answer to the question you didn't know you had, and yet, here we are. I went down the Tudor Rabbit Hole so you don't have to. You're welcome. Related episode on Sugar: https://youtu.be/1KNmCoTzzSIRelated episode on Clocks: https://youtu.be/pKvtOrynRT8 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with another This Week in YouTube where we highlight some recent content from my YouTube channel. This week: The Men Who Survived Henry VIII; Did Henry VIII Have More Illegitimate Children? Make sure you're subscribed at https://www.youtube.com/@hteysko so you don't miss all the content we put out!Support the podcast for even more exclusive contenthttps://www.patreon.com/englandcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everyone knows about the Tower of London—but what about all the other places where Tudor prisoners slipped through the cracks?In this episode, we're diving into the boldest, weirdest, and most creative prison escapes from Tudor England that didn't happen in the Tower. You'll meet:A reformer who faked his own suicide to vanish across the seaAn Irish lord who lowered himself out of Dublin Castle with a ropeCatholic priests sneaking out of Wisbech Castle in disguiseAnd yes… one too-good-to-leave-out Tower escape involving orange juice ink and a midnight boat rideFrom bedsheet ropes to bribed jailers, it's a jailbreak tour of the 16th century—and the Tudor state was never quite as secure as it liked to think.Support the 2026 Tudor Planner https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/publishing-the-2026-tudor-planner/x/176575#/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with another This Week in YouTube where we highlight some recent content from my YouTube channel. This week: The Witching Hour- Why Tudors Feared Waking Up at Midnight; When Women Ruled- Queen Regents of England. Make sure you're subscribed at https://www.youtube.com/@hteysko so you don't miss all the content we put out!Support the podcast for even more exclusive contenthttps://www.patreon.com/englandcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode we discuss what childhood was like for Tudor children. Check out the book recommendation - Tudor Children by Nicholas OrmeOther related podcast episodes:Episode 24 - Pregnancy and Childbirth in Tudor EnglandEpisode 102: Education in Tudor EnglandSupport the 2026 Tudor Planner Indiegogo here:https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/publishing-the-2026-tudor-planner/x/176575#/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with another This Week in YouTube where we highlight some recent content from my YouTube channel. This week: Anne Boleyn's Final Hours; The Story Behind Katherine Howard's Execution. Make sure you're subscribed at https://www.youtube.com/@hteysko so you don't miss all the content we put out!Support the podcast for even more exclusive contenthttps://www.patreon.com/englandcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There were two Elizabeth Brookes at the Tudor court—and they've been confusing historians ever since. One was the estranged wife of the poet Thomas Wyatt, accused of adultery and rumored to have caught Henry VIII's attention. The other was her niece, the Marchioness of Northampton, who was nearly queen-like under Edward VI, fell from favor under Mary I, and became one of Elizabeth I's closest courtiers.In this episode, we untangle their stories, clear up the confusion, and explore how two women with the same name found themselves at the center of love affairs, political power plays, and court gossip in Tudor England.Reserve your 2026 copy of the Tudor Planner here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/publishing-the-2026-tudor-planner/x/176575#/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with another This Week in YouTube where we highlight some recent content from my YouTube channel. This week: Heather Reacts - Wolf Hall Recap on the Pilgrimage of Grace; The Heretic and the King - Henry VIII Debates John Lambert in Wolf Hall? Make sure you're subscribed at https://www.youtube.com/@hteysko so you don't miss all the content we put out!Support the podcast for even more exclusive contenthttps://www.patreon.com/englandcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.