Podcasts about Thomas More

Host Natalie Grueninger interviews historian Amy McElroy about Desiderius Erasmus, exploring his mysterious early life, education, travels across Europe, and key works such as 'Praise of Folly' and his Greek-Latin New Testament. The conversation covers Erasmus's influence on Tudor education and humanism, his relationships with Thomas More and Martin Luther, and his complex legacy as a Catholic reformer and leading Renaissance scholar. This episode of Talking Tudors was made possible by 'Simply Tudor Tours'. Check out their new Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I Tour! https://simplytudortours.com/anne-boleyn-and-elizabeth-i-tour Visit Amy's Substack! https://amymcelroy.substack.com/ JOIN 365 DAYS IN ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND https://www.nataliegrueninger.com/2026/05/17/365-days-in-elizabethan-england/ Learn more about your host: https://www.nataliegrueninger.com Support Talking Tudors on Patreon!

What if Thomas More had just signed the Oath of Supremacy? He could have. Plenty of people did. Cranmer signed it. Cromwell signed it. So why didn't More, and what would have changed if he had? In this week's What If Thought Experiment, we're looking at one of the Tudor period's most interesting counterfactuals. Henry VIII didn't need More's signature legally, he wanted it because More was the gold standard of European humanist credibility. Getting More to sign meant something. And More refused to give him that. We talk about what a living More might have meant for the trajectory of the English Reformation, whether Mary I's reign might have looked different without the brutal martyrdoms of the 1530s setting the tone, and the woman at the center of it all: Margaret Roper, who bribed a guard, lied to the King's Council, and was buried holding her father's pickled head nine years later. I have complicated feelings about Thomas More. Come have them with me.

This week Beau continues his chat all about the English monarchy, focusing again on the middle reign of Henry VIII; the rise of Thomas Cromwell and Thomas Cranmer, the fall and disgrace of Thomas More and Bishop Fisher, the break with Rome, and the final ascendancy of Anne Boleyn to the throne.

In this special live episode from the HETMA Roadshow in Mechelen, Belgium, Joe Way wraps up HETMA's first European Roadshow with conversations from the show floor at Thomas More University of Applied Sciences. The episode captures the energy, lessons, and excitement of a milestone event that brought higher education AV professionals, university leaders, and manufacturer partners together to build community, share challenges, and explore the future of learning spaces in Europe.Joe opens the episode by reflecting on the success of the two-day Roadshow and the clear desire across the European higher ed AV community for more opportunities like this. While HETMA has built a proven Roadshow model in North America, this event showed that the same need for connection, collaboration, and shared problem-solving exists across Europe, even as the format must be adapted to fit regional culture, expectations, and community dynamics.The first conversation features Darta from Catchbox, who shares how Catchbox has grown beyond its iconic throwable microphone into a broader microphone and audio system for education spaces. She discusses the value of simple, teacher-friendly technology, including the Catchbox Cube, Clip microphone, handheld microphone, receiver, and built-in DSP capabilities. The conversation highlights how reducing complexity for instructors also reduces support tickets for AV teams.Joe then sits down with Tom from Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, one of the key leaders behind hosting the Roadshow. Tom reflects on the intentional design of the university's newest building, explaining that technology should enhance learning rather than force teachers to adapt to technology. The discussion centers on purposeful design, student comfort, long-term thinking, and the impressive retractable LED wall that became one of the standout features of the campus tour.Next, Kenny from Thomas More joins the conversation to talk about the behind-the-scenes work required to make the event successful. He shares how the university's AV team supports multiple campuses while maintaining a shared vision and strong internal trust. Kenny emphasizes that events like the Roadshow create the rare opportunity for peers to step away from their daily work, compare challenges, and learn directly from one another.Joe also speaks with Mia, Director of Infrastructure and Facilities at Thomas More, following her keynote on the university's approach to educational infrastructure. She explains the guiding principles behind their learning spaces, including community, ease of learning, desire to learn, sustainability, and innovation. Her perspective reinforces one of the strongest themes of the episode: the best learning spaces begin with the student and teacher experience, not the technology.The episode continues with conversations from several manufacturer partners, including Sennheiser, Crestron, Biamp, and Extron. Across these conversations, recurring themes emerge around ease of use, stability, security, inclusiveness, audio quality, hybrid learning, room consistency, USB-C integration, standardization, and the importance of long-term manufacturer support. Each partner reflects on the value of being able to meet directly with higher education professionals in a community-centered environment rather than a traditional sales-first setting.A major theme throughout the episode is that higher education institutions across regions face many of the same challenges. Whether in North America or Europe, AV teams are working to create frictionless rooms, support hybrid and active learning, stretch technology investments over longer lifecycles, reduce support complexity, and make spaces more inclusive and sustainable. The Roadshow format gives these professionals a place to compare notes, share ideas, and build relationships that continue after the event ends.The episode closes with Joe reflecting on the overall success of the first European HETMA Roadshow. The conversations, campus tour, vendor showcase, keynote sessions, and networking moments all point toward a clear conclusion: the spark has been lit. The European higher ed AV community is ready for more connection, more collaboration, and more opportunities to come together through HETMA.Guests FeaturedDarta, CatchboxDiscusses Catchbox's expanding microphone ecosystem, including the Cube, Clip microphone, handheld microphone, receiver, and built-in DSP.Tom, Thomas More University of Applied SciencesReflects on hosting the first European HETMA Roadshow and the intentional design of Thomas More's newest learning spaces.Kenny, Thomas More University of Applied SciencesShares the behind-the-scenes perspective on organizing the event and the value of bringing peers together.Mia, Thomas More University of Applied SciencesExplains the educational infrastructure strategy behind Thomas More's learning spaces, with a focus on student and teacher experience.Stefan, SennheiserHighlights the importance of education as a vertical, along with ease of use, stability, inclusiveness, acoustics, and listening fatigue.William, CrestronDiscusses the importance of networking, understanding customer needs, and supporting the future of educational environments.Peter, BiampTalks about frictionless rooms, consistent user experiences, post-pandemic AV maturity, and long-term technology quality.Leon Klinger, ExtronShares insights on USB-C standardization, BYOD and BYOM applications, signal switching, and the importance of early manufacturer engagement.Key TakeawaysThe first European HETMA Roadshow demonstrated a strong need for regional higher ed AV community-building.Technology should support teaching and learning in a seamless way, not become the center of the experience.Simple, reliable, teacher-friendly systems reduce support burden and improve classroom outcomes.European institutions are facing familiar challenges around hybrid learning, room standardization, USB-C, sustainability, and long-term support.The most successful learning spaces begin with students, teachers, pedagogy, and intentional design.Manufacturer partnerships are strongest when they are built on trust, support, training, and long-term relationships.The HETMA Roadshow model has strong potential to grow across Europe when adapted through local leadership and cultural understanding.Episode ThemesHigher ed AV community-buildingEuropean learning space designHETMA Roadshow expansionStudent-centered infrastructureTeacher-friendly technologyUSB-C and classroom standardizationHybrid learning and BYOD/BYOM spacesAudio quality and listening fatigueSustainability and long-term planningManufacturer and university partnerships

durée : 00:40:23 - Les Matins de France Culture - par : Guillaume Erner - Avocat, académicien et romancier, François Sureau poursuit les aventures de son détective Thomas More dans "Loin de Salonique". Un polar dont l'action se déroule dans les Balkans de 1913 et qui interroge le mal, la justice et le pouvoir, résonnant étrangement avec notre présent. - réalisation : Félicie Faugère, Yoann Duval, Marie-Lys de Saint Salvy, Emma Lichtenstein, Mathilde Thon-Fourcade, Alice Deschamps, Carolina Sousa - invités : François Sureau Avocat, écrivain, poète, membre de l'Académie française Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France

Surprisingly, the forces that drove the most dramatic changes in England, were born, cultivated and found expression within London. The Story reaches a moment of grand political crisis- Chancellors fall, parliament flexes its muscles, the capricious King makes up arguments as he goes along, and London carries on, providing intellectual and emotional fuel for it all. And while this happens, Thomas More, the judge from Milk Street, ascends the highest position in all the land, while still presiding over cases of London criminality, and being the face of the kings sudden desire to start killing heretics… welcome to the open salvos of the Reformation.Cover includes a detail of the portrait of Sir Thomas More, by Hans Holbein the Younger (1527),

Lately it's pretty hard to zero in on what we have in common as a people. It often feels like we're living in alternate realities with completely different sets of values and priorities. What would it take for us to more widely agree on a national narrative, and what are the dangers of failing to do so? God Squad will make a valiant attempt to wrestle some transcendent principles out of the partisan mud pit—principles that stand a chance of leading us into a better time. This program will be moderated by Liz Joyner of The Village Square, who will be joined by God Squad regulars Father Tim Holeda of Co-Cathedral at St. Thomas More, Rabbi Paul Sidlofsky of Temple Israel, and Joseph Davis Jr. of Truth Gatherers Community Church. Check out the panel and more info about this program here. Catch up on past God Squad programs here. Interested in our topic of America's 250th? We've talked about it all year in our UNUM series in partnership with Florida Humanities. Check it out here. __________   Village SquareCast is funded in part by the Federation of State Humanities Councils with support from the Mellon Foundation and Florida Humanities. 

In 1509, England went from a dying paranoid king to a golden coronation to a deadly plague in about eight months. This is a Year in the Life episode, where we slow down and live inside 1509, not just at court but in the guild halls and households of ordinary Londoners who had nowhere to run when the sweating sickness arrived while Henry VIII fled to Windsor. Thomas More wrote some of the most joyful poetry of his life about a king who would later execute him. A Cornish servant woman rode through London on a blue velvet saddle. And a Scottish baby named Arthur was a political provocation in swaddling clothes. This is Henry VIII at seventeen, before everything went wrong. The 2027 Tudor Planner crowdfunder preorder link is here: https://tudorfair.com/products/2027-tudor-planner-crowdfunder Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Uma conversa com a escritora Carol Chiovatto sobre uma mulher que se atreveu a misturar ficção e ciência numa época marcada pela caça às bruxas.*Apoie o podcast: alinevalek.com.br/apoieParticipe do Clube de Leitura Bobagens Imperdíveis: alinevalek.com.br/clubedeleituraAssine nossa newsletter: alinevalek.substack.com*Links ComplementaresAcompanhe a Carol Chiovatto: https://www.instagram.com/carolchiovatto/Livro “Porém Bruxa”, de Carol Chiovatto: https://amzn.to/4uBIa8oLivro “Árvore Inexplicável", de Carol Chiovatto: https://amzn.to/42jv97kLivro “Senciente nível 5", de Carol Chiovatto: https://amzn.to/4dsqZA6Livro “O Mundo Resplandecente", de Margaret Cavendish: https://amzn.to/4d6BO9MQuem foi Margaret Cavendish? https://alinevalek.com.br/2025/12/03/rica-atrevida-e-inventiva-quem-foi-margaret-cavendish/Sobre a Utopia na obra da Duquesa: https://alinevalek.com.br/2025/12/16/do-que-sao-feitas-as-utopias/“Utopia", de Thomas More, livro de 1551: https://amzn.to/4so9wx8Episódios RelacionadosA baronesa dadaísta: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7cvXG9j0WYi9mJVKmMlVMY?si=stD3BNTxQoq7DXLLGQqWLQ

Thomas More lived by the mantra, 'I am the King's good servant, but God's first'. He would also die by it. His defiance at Henry VIII's break with Rome would be his salvation, and his destruction.  In this episode of our series on Henry VIII's ministers, Tracy Borman is joined by historian Dr Joanne Paul to examine the truth behind Thomas More's legacy.   Was he a saintly man of conscience in a court filled with grasping politicians, or a self-righteous heretic hunter? And what does his story tell us about Henry VIII?  Watch this episode on YouTube to see Tracy and Joanne in the Great Hall of Hampton Court Palace.  Read more about Sir Thomas More's life and legacy. 

Two young princes vanished inside the Tower of London, and history has never agreed on what happened next. In 1483, Edward V and his younger brother Richard, Duke of York, disappeared from public view after their uncle seized the throne as King Richard III. Were they murdered? If so, who was responsible? For centuries, suspicion has fallen on Richard III, but was the case really that simple? In this video, I explore: • the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower • Richard III and the evidence against him • the role of Buckingham, Henry VII, and Margaret Beaufort • medieval politics and rival claimants • Thomas More and the James Tyrell confession story • the mystery of Perkin Warbeck and survival theories • the bones discovered in the Tower of London • what contemporary sources actually tell us Was this a royal murder, a political conspiracy, or one of history's greatest misunderstandings? Let me know your theory in the comments. #PrincesInTheTower #RichardIII #WarsOfTheRoses

The mid-1520's was an era where London was witnessing events both strange and tumultuous; Thomas More was leading armed raids into the homes of German merchants; the war with the Holy Roman Empire against France, suddenly became a war with France against the Holt Roman Empire; where Christmas pageants saw the careers of senior lawyers left in ruins and where a rich young northerner got into trouble for falling in love with an English girl with French style.This was a few years where the cities life was following a simple trajectory, carrying on as it always did, with new livery halls, and wild bonfires and celebrations and jousts at good news… but behind the mask of the era, something terrible was coming.Cover includes detail from portrait of Martin Luther, by Lucas Cranach the Elder, c.1525

À quel âge aborder les sujets politiques avec ses enfants ? Comment leur expliquer les enjeux de société sans les influencer ? La politique fait partie intégrante de notre quotidien, mais son introduction auprès des plus jeunes soulève de nombreuses questions. Entre éducation citoyenne, développement de l'esprit critique et respect de leur innocence, où se situe la juste mesure ? Découvrez dans cette émission En quête de sens comment faire pour initier vos enfants à la politique de manière adaptée et constructive.Faut-il familiariser nos enfants à la politique ?Clotilde Brossolet, éditrice et éditorialiste, mère de trois enfants. Elle accompagne et forme des candidats et des élus et a créé l'école de formation politique Thomas More. Elle est aussi l'auteur du livre Catholiques de tous les partis, engagez-vous ! (Ed. Mame, 2021).Fanny Destenay, conseillère en communication pour les élus et auteure de Arthur Et Lola, Les Aventuriers Citoyens - : Skatepark municipal en danger ! (Ed. Baribal) Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Homily given at St. Thomas More in Troy, MI.

Au cœur du divorce le plus célèbre de l'histoire anglaise, un roi attend l'adhésion d'un homme qu'il estime. Mais face à lui, Thomas More oppose un silence qui va tout faire basculer.En 1527, le roi d'Angleterre Henri VIII et son ami Thomas More, un homme de loi respecté dans toute l'Europe, se promènent dans les jardins du palais de Greenwich. Deux hommes aux destins opposés, liés par une solide amitié. Mais leurs chemins vont bientôt se séparer de manière tragique.Franck Ferrand retrace pour vous l'incroyable histoire de cette relation entre le roi et son conseiller, qui va mener l'un d'eux à la mort. Alors qu'Henri VIII souhaite divorcer de sa femme Catherine d'Aragon pour épouser Anne Boleyn, Thomas More refuse catégoriquement de reconnaître la suprématie du roi sur l'Église, fidèle en cela à ses convictions catholiques. Malgré les pressions, les menaces et les stratagèmes d'Henri, Thomas More reste inébranlable dans son silence, incarnant une forme de conscience morale face au pouvoir absolu du monarque. Ce bras de fer entre les deux hommes, qui furent autrefois si proches, va conduire inexorablement Thomas More à l'échafaud, au grand désarroi d'un roi pourtant à l'origine de sa chute.Plongez dans les méandres de l'histoire anglaise du XVIe siècle, où la foi, la politique et l'amitié se mêlent pour donner naissance à un drame d'une rare intensité. Découvrez comment la décision d'Henri VIII de rompre avec l'Église de Rome a profondément marqué son règne et sa relation avec son ancien ami. À travers ce passionnant épisode des Grands dossiers de l'Histoire, Franck Ferrand vous invite à explorer les enjeux géopolitiques, religieux et humains qui ont façonné cette période troublée de l'histoire anglaise. Un récit captivant à ne pas manquer !Plongez dans l'histoire des grands personnages et des évènements marquants qui ont façonné notre monde ! Avec enthousiasme et talent, Franck Ferrand vous révèle les coulisses de l'histoire avec un grand H, entre mystères, secrets et épisodes méconnus : un cadeau pour les amoureux du passé, de la préhistoire à l'histoire contemporaine.Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Plongez dans l'histoire des grands personnages et des évènements marquants qui ont façonné notre monde ! Avec enthousiasme et talent, Franck Ferrand vous révèle les coulisses de l'histoire avec un grand H, entre mystères, secrets et épisodes méconnus : un cadeau pour les amoureux du passé, de la préhistoire à l'histoire contemporaine.Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

What does it take to stand firm when everything in you wants to fold — not just on the battlefield, but in the garden at Chelsea, in the courtroom, at the kitchen table with someone you love? In this episode we look at fortitude, what Adam Smith called "the uniquely splendid quality of man," through the eyes of Thomas Aquinas, Aristotle, and some of the most vivid moments in Scripture, literature, and film. We start where the Church starts us this week — with the apostles, sprung from prison by an angel, walking straight back to the temple at dawn to keep preaching. That is fortitude in its purest form. From there we explore why only the vulnerable can be truly brave, why Aquinas says endurance is a harder and nobler act than attack, and why most of what the world calls courage is actually one of five convincing counterfeits. We spend time with Thomas More, standing quiet and unshakeable before the most powerful man in England, and we ask what his daily courage demands of us — not the grand martyrdom, but the ordinary refusal to smile and nod at what is false. Because there is no automatic victory in human affairs. The victory of truth depends, to some considerable extent, on your defense of it.

The story re-focuses itself on the city over the next few years; quiet ones in the chronicle of the place, and yet ideal to look over London and its sense of place. By the end of this decade it was to undergo massive changes, so now is a perfect time to remind ourselves of how it looked and felt; from the rise of the booksellers of St Paul's Churchyard, to the blatant militancy of the Guilds towards foreigners regardless of the Kings fury at the rioters in last chapter; from the curious case of the murder of a tailor whose death started a debate that was to have huge implications in the years to come, to how its houses were built- this is an episode about its sounds, its smells, its people and more. The city was poised between two ideas of itself- the mythic Troynovant, ancient, unchanging, defined by its traditions; and the imaginary Amaurotum, its dark mirror as reflected in Thomas More's bestseller, Utopia. And of the event in distant Germany which was to herald in the new age…Cover features photograph of The London Wall.

Uma análise sobre o fantástico e o utópico presente nas letras e na obra de Raul Seixas.Apoie o podcast: alinevalek.com.br/apoieParticipe do Clube de Leitura Bobagens Imperdíveis: alinevalek.com.br/clubedeleituraAssine nossa newsletter: alinevalek.substack.comLinks ComplementaresPlaylist com as músicas do Raul Seixas citadas no episódio: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5lGoQghRdxhwHkxX8xCYVo?si=809da3d5ace4449dEntrevista com a Lis Villas Boas: https://lis-vilas-boas.beehiiv.com/p/filhas-de-ursula-7Entrevista do Raul Seixas para o Pasquim, em 1973: http://memoria.bn.gov.br/docreader/124745/7479Entrevista do Paulo Coelho para a Rolling Stone: https://rollingstone.com.br/noticia/paulo-coelho-o-que-matou-raul-seixas-e-a-unica-droga-liberada-o-alcool/Filme “O dia em que a terra parou”, 1951: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh8P4MIaZBA&Série “Raul Seixas: Eu Sou”, de 2025: https://globoplay.globo.com/raul-seixas-eu-sou/t/BDgyHRLrSw/Quadrinhos “A Fundação de Krig-Ha”, de 1973: https://fondationpaulocoelho.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/pc-altsoc-1973-a-fundacao-krig-ha.pdf“Utopia", de Thomas More, livro de 1551: https://amzn.to/4so9wx8Episódios RelacionadosLiteratura e Racionais MCs: https://alinevalek.substack.com/p/literatura-e-racionais-mcsA ascensão de Itamar: https://alinevalek.substack.com/p/a-ascensao-de-itamarTeoria Belchior: https://alinevalek.substack.com/p/23-teoria-belchior-454Trilha sonora: “Greaser” - TrackTribe • “Numb Sky”, Mark Karan, Scott Guberman, Angeline Saris e Jeremy Hoenig • “Orange Sunset” - Quincas Moreira • “Spooked" - Mini Vandals • “Dangerous Toys” - SefChol • “Minor Lament for Solo Bass”- John Patitucci • “Bike Sharing to Paradise” • “Red Hot Sun" - JR Tundra • “Orange Sunset” - Quincas Moreira • “fall of source” - mobygratis

Full Text of Readings Saturday in the Octave of Easter Lectionary: 266 The Saint of the day is Saint Stanislaus Saint Stanislaus' Story Anyone who reads the history of Eastern Europe cannot help but chance on the name of Stanislaus, the saintly but tragic bishop of Kraków, patron of Poland. He is remembered with Saints Thomas More and Thomas Becket for vigorous opposition to the evils of an unjust government. Born in Szczepanow near Kraków on July 26, 1030, he was ordained a priest after being educated in the cathedral schools of Gniezno, then capital of Poland, and at Paris. He was appointed preacher and archdeacon to the bishop of Kraków, where his eloquence and example brought about real conversion in many of his penitents, both clergy and laity. He became bishop of Kraków in 1072. During an expedition against the Grand Duchy of Kiev, Saint Stanislaus became involved in the political situation of Poland. Known for his outspokenness, he aimed his attacks at the evils of the peasantry and the king, especially the unjust wars and immoral acts of King Boleslaus II. The king first excused himself, then made a show of penance, then relapsed into his old ways. Stanislaus continued his open opposition in spite of charges of treason and threats of death, finally excommunicating the king. Enraged, the latter ordered soldiers to kill the bishop. When they refused, the king killed Stanislaus with his own hands. Forced to flee to Hungary, Boleslaus supposedly spent the rest of his life as a penitent in the Benedictine abbey in Osiak. Reflection Saints John the Baptist, Thomas Becket, Thomas More, and Stanislaus are a few of the prophets who dared to denounce corruption in high places. They followed in the footsteps of Jesus himself, who pointed out the moral corruption in the religious leadership of his day. It is a risky business.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Sir Thomas More is one of the most famous men of the 16th century. A figure of colossal significance at the court of King Henry VIII, a figure who stood up to the king, always remaining loyal but unable to accept the royal supremacy, a decision which would cost him his life. Today, I am pleased to welcome back onto the podcast historian Dr Joanne Paul for a discussion on Thomas More, following the recent release of Joanne's incredible book, Thomas More, A Life and Death in Tudor England. From Thomas's early life to his own involvement in the torture and burning of protestants through to his trial and how he was set up by Richard Rich, all will be discussed, so settle in as we explore the life of the man who's last words were "I die the kings good servant and gods first".

What do our children need most from us in the unsteady years of middle school? First, says Head of Middle School Andy Reed, they need our availability. But making ourselves fully and honestly available runs contrary to so many modern patterns of life, from work demands and short schedules to the ever-tempting screen. In fact, Mr. Reed calls it the Mount Everest of Modern Parenting: replacing frenetic patterns with quiet, contemplative patterns for our own mental management, so that we can be available to the boy who needs us at unexpected times. Chapters: 1:35 Middle school's rough reputation 6:39 A boy in search of his role 9:30 Attention shouldn't be sourced in worry 11:44 How to trust the boy 22:54 A family culture of availability 26:27 Parenting spectrum: from buddy to manager 28:57 The golden mean: accompaniment 31:13 Quiet patterns over frenetic ones 42:28 How to deliver advice Also on the Forum: Parenting: Patience or Optimism featuring Andrew Reed There Is No Manual by Alvaro de Vicente What Parents and Teachers Need to Know about The Male Brain by Dr. Joseph Lanzilotti Educating Leaders with Thomas More featuring Dr. Stephen Smith Featured Opportunities: Parents' Conference at The Heights School (April 25, 2026) – link coming soon The Art of Teaching Boys Conference at The Heights School (May 6-8, 2026) – waitlist Teaching Essentials Workshop at The Heights School (June 22-26, 2026) Convivium Conference for Teaching Men at The Heights School (November 2026) – link coming soon

Continuing the fascinating tale of the early lives of two of London's most infamous residents of the time- Thomas More and Thomas Cromwell. Picking up with More a trainee barrister in Lincolns Inn, with a growing academic reputation, and Cromwell being a soldier in a French army invading Italy, we follow the two men as they ride the waves of passion of the age, and complete their journeys to bring them to the centre of their story… the city of London.Cover features ‘Portrait of a man in a red cap' by Titian (c.1510)

We take a pause in our narrative to go back a few years to look at the childhoods, and backgrounds of two men from London- both called Thomas, both growing up in and around London (even if their experiences were very different) and both would go onto have huge impacts into the story of the city and the politics of Henry VIII.This then is the story of Thomas More, and Thomas Cromwell, whose stories were to illuminate life in the city; its passions, its shadows, the smallness of it all, and also how experiencing it could shape a young mans life. This then is the tale of the two Toms…Cover shows ‘A laughing boy', by Guido Mazzoni, c.1498.

The Tudor court was one of the most glamorous, exciting, and genuinely terrifying places in the world. And the people who lost their heads there were not stupid. Thomas More was a legal genius. Cromwell basically invented modern bureaucracy. Wolsey ran England for fifteen years. So what went wrong? Today we're building the actual survival guide. The real unwritten rules that separated the people who died in their beds from the people who died on Tower Hill. Spoiler: it is more complicated than "don't annoy the king." Topics covered: why being the most powerful person in the room will get you killed, how information could be currency or a death sentence, why your religion was a political decision you had to remake every few years, and why loyalty was sometimes the most dangerous thing you could offer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, I take a historical digression to look at the four major Thomases of the English Reformation - Thomas Wolsey, Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, and Thomas Cranmer. This coupon code will get you 25% off the ebooks in the Dragonskull series at my Payhip store: QUEST25 The coupon code is valid through March 9 2026. So if you need a new ebook this winter, we've got you covered! TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Introduction and Writing Updates Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 292 of The Pulp Writer Show. My name is Jonathan Moeller. Today is February 27th, 2026. Today we are taking a digression into history by looking at the four Thomases of the English Reformation (with one bonus Thomas). We'll also have Coupon of the Week and a progress update on my current writing and publishing projects. First up, let's do Coupon of the Week. This week's coupon code will get you 25% off the ebooks in the Dragonskull series at my Payhip store. That coupon code is QUEST25 and as always, the links to the store and the coupon code will be available in the show notes of this episode. This coupon code is valid through March 9th, 2026. So if you need a new ebook this winter, we have got you covered. Now for an update on my current writing, publishing, and audiobook projects. I am very nearly done with Cloak of Summoning. As of this recording, I am 35% of the way through the final editing pass. This episode should be coming out on, let's see, March the 2nd. I'm hoping Cloak of Summoning will be available a few days (hopefully like one or two days) after this episode goes live, but we'll see how things go. In any event, it should be out in very early March, which is not far away at this point. I'm also 14,000 words into Blade of Wraiths, the fourth book in my Blades of Ruin epic fantasy series. Hopefully that will be out in April, if all goes well. That's my secondary project right now, but once it gets promoted to primary project once Cloak of Summoning is available, my new secondary project will be Dragon Mage, which will be the sixth book in the Rivah Half-Elven Thief series. I'm looking forward to that since it is going to bring to an end a lot of ongoing plot threads. So it should be quite a fun book to write and hopefully to read. That should hopefully be out in May or possibly June, depending on how things go. In audiobook news, Cloak of Titans, the audiobook narrated by Hollis McCarthy, should be available in more audiobook stores than it was this time last week, though it's still not on Amazon, Audible, or Apple. Brad Wills is working on recording Blade of Storms and I think the first six chapters are done. Hopefully we should have those audiobooks available to you before too much longer. So that is where I'm at with my current writing, publishing, and audiobook projects. 00:02:18 Main Topic: The Four Thomases of the English Reformation Now without further ado, let's get to our main topic and it's time for another of my favorite topics overall, a digression into obscure points of history. I've mentioned before that Wolf Hall (both the TV show and the book) is a lot easier to understand if you are at least passingly familiar with the key figures of the English Reformation, which happened during the reign of King Henry VIII. But who were these key figures? I had a history professor who said that to understand the English Reformation, you need to know about the four Thomases of the English Reformation: Thomas Wolsey, Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, and Thomas Cranmer, since each one of them altered events in a major way. Fun fact: only one of the four died from natural causes and right before he was about to go on trial for treason, which would have likely ended with his execution. The English Reformation was a tumultuous time and the Tudor court was not a place for the faint of heart or the morally scrupulous. So let's talk about the four Thomases and one bonus Thomas today. But first to understand them, we should look at three background trends that converged and boiled over during their lifetimes. #1: Henry VIII needs an heir. King Henry VIII was quite famously married six times and executed two of his wives in his quest for a male heir. To the modern era, this sounds odd and chauvinistic, but one of the errors of studying history is assuming that the residents of the past had any interest in 21st century standards of behavior. By the standards of Henry's time, having a male heir to assume the kingdom after his death was absolutely vital. In fact, an argument could be made that Henry was attempting to act responsibly by going to such lengths to father a male heir, though naturally he went about it in a spectacularly destructive and self-absorbed way. Remember, Henry's father, Henry VII, came to the throne after a 30-year civil war, and there were noble families that thought they had a better claim to the throne than Tudors and would be happy to exercise it. A good comparison is that the lack of a male heir for Henry VIII was as serious a crisis as a disputed presidential election in 21st century America would be. You can see evidence for this in Henry's famous jousting accident in 1536. For a few hours, people were certain that he was dead or was about to die, and this incident caused a brief constitutional crisis. If Henry died, who would rule? His daughter, Mary, who he had just declared a bastard? His young daughter Elizabeth from Anne Boleyn? His bastard son, Henry FitzRoy? A regent? One of the old families who thought they had a claim to the throne? Now, these are the sort of questions that tend to get decided by civil wars, which nobody wanted. So Henry needed a male heir and it weighed on him as a personal failure that he had been unable to produce one, which was undoubtedly one of the reasons he concluded that several of his marriages had been cursed by God and needed to be annulled. Though, of course, one of Henry's defining traits was that his self-absorption was such that nothing was ever his fault, but a failing of those around him. #2: The Reformation is here. At the same time Henry was beginning to have his difficulties, the Protestant Reformation exploded across Europe. The reasons for the Reformation were manifold. There was a growing feeling across all levels of society that the church was corrupt and more concerned about money than tending to Christ's flock, a feeling not helped by the fact that several of the 15th and 16th century popes were essentially Renaissance princelings more interested in luxury, money, and expanding the power of the papal states than in anything spiritual. Many bishops, archbishops, abbots, and other high prelates acted the same way. The situation the early 16th century church found itself in was similar to American higher education today. Many modern professors and administrators go about their jobs quietly, competently, and diligently, but if you want to find examples of corruption, folly, and egregious waste in American higher education, you don't have to try very hard. Reformers could easily find manifold examples of clerical and papal corruption to reinforce their arguments. Additionally, nationalism was beginning to develop as a concept, as was the idea of the nation state. People in England, Scotland, Germany, and other countries began to wonder why they were paying tithes to the church that went to build beautiful buildings in Rome and support the lavish lifestyle of the papal court when that money might be better spent at home. For that matter, the anti-clericalism of the Reformation was not new and had time to mature. At the end of the 14th century, Lollardy was a proto-Protestant movement in England that challenged clerical power. In the early 15th century, the Hussite wars in Bohemia following the teachings of Jan Hus were a preview of the greater Reformation to come. Papal authority had been severely damaged by the Great Schism at the end of the 14th and the start of the 15th century when two competing popes (later expanded to three) all tried to excommunicate each other and claim control of the church. In the aftermath, Renaissance Humanists had begun suggesting that only the Bible was the proper source and guide for Christianity, and that papal authority and many of the church's practices were merely human traditions that had been added later and were not ordained by God. A lot of the arguments of the Reformation had their earliest form from the writers of the 15th century. Essentially, the central argument of the Reformation was that the believer's personal relationship with God is the important part of Christianity and doesn't need to be mediated through ordained priests in the official sacraments of the church, though such things were still important. Of course, all the various reformers disagreed with each other about just how important and what the nature of that relationship was, how many sacraments there should be, and what the precise relationship between the individual, the church, and the state should be (and that argument got entangled with many other issues like nationalism), but that was a central crux of the Reformation. So all these competing pressures have been building up, and when Martin Luther posted his statements for debate on church reform in October of 1517, it was the equivalent of lighting a match in a barn that had been stuffed full of sawdust and was suffering from a natural gas leak. #3: The printing press. So why did Luther's action kick off the Reformation as we know it and not the other proto-Protestant movements we mentioned? I think the big part of that is the printing pass, perhaps the biggest part. The printing press did not exist during the early proto-Protestant movements, which meant it was a lot harder for the ideas of reform to spread quickly. The Lollards in particular wanted to translate the Bible into English instead of Latin, but the Bible is a big book and that is a lot of copying to do by hand. In 1539, after a lot of encouragement from Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII decreed that an English Bible should be placed at every church in England. In 1339, that would have been an impossible amount of copying by scribes. In 1539, thanks to the printing press, it was essentially on the scale of the government embarking on a mid-sized industrial project, perhaps a bit of a logistical and organizational challenge and you have to deal with contractors, but by no means impossible. The printing press made it possible for the various arguments and pamphlets of the Reformers to spread quickly throughout Europe. Luther published tracts on a variety of religious and political topics for the rest of his life, and those tracks were copied, printed, and sold throughout Europe. In fact, he had something of a flame war with Thomas More over Henry VIII's "Defense of the Seven Sacraments". Kings and governments frequently tried to suppress printers they didn't like, but the cat was out of the bag and the printing press helped drive the Reformation by spreading its ideas faster than had previously been possible. AI bros occasionally compare modern large language model AIs to the printing press as an irreversible technological advancement, but one should note that the printing press of the 16th century did not require an entire US state's worth of electricity and an unlimited supply of water. So those were some of the undercurrents and trends leading up to the English Reformation. With that in mind, let's take a look at our four Thomases. #1: Thomas Wolsey. Cardinal Thomas Wolsey was Henry's right hand man during the first 20 years of his reign and essentially the practical ruler of England during that time. He started his career in Henry's reign as the almoner, essentially in charge of charity, and it ended up becoming the Lord Chancellor of England. Since Henry was not super interested in actually doing the hard work of government, Wolsey ended up essentially running the country while Henry turned his full enthusiasm towards the more ceremonial aspects of kingship. Wolsey was an example of the kind of early 16th Century church prelate we mentioned above, more of a Renaissance princeling than a priest. However, as Renaissance princelings went, you could do worse than to have been ruled by someone like Wolsey. And if you were a king, you would be blessed to have a lieutenant as diligent in his work as the Cardinal. Granted, Wolsey did amass a large fortune for himself, but he frequently patronized the arts, education and the poor, pursued some governmental reforms, and deftly maintained England's position in the turbulent diplomacy of the time. He was also much more forgiving in questions of religious dissent than someone like Thomas More. Wolsey was the most powerful man in England at his apex, and the nobility hated it for him because his origins were common. So long as he had Henry's favor, Wolsey was untouchable and the nobility couldn't move against him. But the royal favor came to an end as Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon was unable to produce a son. Since Catherine had previously (and briefly) been married to his older brother Arthur before Arthur's death, Henry became convinced (or succeeded in convincing himself) that his marriage was cursed by God for violating the prohibition against sleeping with your brother's wife in the book of Leviticus. His eye had already fallen on Anne Boleyn and Henry wanted an annulment and not a divorce in his marriage with Catherine. In the eyes of God, he would never have been married at all, and then he could marry Anne Boleyn with a clear conscience. Here, Wolsey's gift for diplomacy failed him, but perhaps it was an impossible task. Catherine of Aragon was the aunt of Emperor Charles V, who at the time was the most powerful man in Christendom. All of Wolseley's efforts to persuade the pope to annul the marriage failed, partly because the pope had already given Henry VIII dispensation to marry his brother's widow. Wolsey's failure eroded his support with the king. Anne Boleyn likewise hated Wolsey partly because she believed he was hindering the annulment, and partly because he had blocked her from marrying the Earl of Northumberland years before she had her eyes set upon Henry. Finally, Henry stripped Wolsey of his office of Lord Chancellor, and Wolsey retired to York to take up his role as archbishop there. Wolsey's popularity threatened Henry and Anne, so Henry summoned him back to London to face treason charges. Perhaps fortunately for Wolsey, he died of natural causes on the journey back to London. His replacement as Lord Chancellor was Thomas More, the next of our major for Thomases. #2: Thomas More. More was an interesting contrast-a Renaissance Humanist who remained a staunch Catholic, even though Renaissance Humanists in general tended towards proto-Protestantism or actual Protestantism. He was also in some ways oddly progressive for his time. He insisted on educating his daughters at a time was considered pointless to educate women about anything other than the practical business of household management. Anyway, More's training as a lawyer and a scholar led him to a career in government. He held a variety of posts under Henry VIII, finally rising to become the Lord Chancellor after Wolsey. In the first decades of his brain, Henry was staunchly Catholic and despised Protestantism, in particular, Lutheranism in general and Martin Luther in particular. In 1521, Henry published "Defense of the Seven Sacraments" against Luther, and More helped him write it to an unknown degree. In their dislike for all forms of Protestantism, More and Henry were in harmony at this point. More was involved in hunting down heretics (i.e. Protestants) and trying to convince them to recant. During his time as the Lord Chancellor, More ended up sending six people to be burned at the stake for heresy, along with the arrest and interrogations of numerous others. This rather clashes with his "humanist man of letters" aspect, but More was undoubtedly convinced he was doing the right thing. And while he might have believed in education, he most definitely did not believe in freedom of conscience in several areas. To be fair to More, in the view of many at the time, Protestants, especially Anabaptists, were dangerous radicals. Likely More viewed hunting heretics in the same way as some modern politicians view hunting down covert terrorist cells or surveilling potential domestic terrorists. Harsh measures true, but harsh measures allegedly necessary for the greater good of the nation. However, the concord between More and Henry would not last. Henry wanted to set aside Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn, which More staunchly opposed. More especially opposed Henry breaking away from Rome and becoming head of an independent English Church. At first, More was able to save himself by maintaining his silence, but eventually Henry required all of his subjects take an oath affirming his status as head of the church. Thomas Cromwell famously led a deputation to try and change More's mind, but he failed. More refused, he was tried on specious treason charges, and beheaded in 1535. Later, the Catholic church declared him the patron saint of politicians. This might seem odd given that he oversaw executions and essentially did thought police stuff against Protestants, but let's be honest-it's rare to see a politician even mildly inconvenience himself over a point of principle, let alone maintain it until death when he was given every possible chance to change his mind. Probably the most famous fictional portrayals of More are A Man For All Seasons and Wolf Hall. I would say that A Man For All Seasons was far too generous to More, but Wolf Hall was too harsh. #3: Now for the third of our four Thomases, Thomas Cromwell. After Wolsey's fall and More's refusal to support Henry's desire to either annul his marriage to Catherine or to make himself head with the church so he couldn't annul the marriage, Thomas Cromwell rose become Henry's new chief lieutenant. Cromwell is both a fascinating but divisive figure. For a long time, he was cast as the villain in Thomas More's saga, but Hillary Mantel's Wolf Hall really triggered a popular reevaluation of him. Like A Man For All Seasons was too generous to More, I would say Wolf Hall was too generous to Cromwell. Nonetheless, I suspect Cromwell was and remained so divisive because he was so effective. He got things done on a scale that the other three Thomases of the English Reformation never quite managed. Cromwell's origins are a bit obscure. It seems he was either of non-noble birth or very low gentry birth and his father Walter Cromwell was a local prosperous tradesman in a jack of all trades with a reputation for litigiousness. For reasons that are unclear, Cromwell fled his birthplace and spent some time in continental Europe, possibly as a mercenary soldier. He eventually made his way to Italy and started working for the merchant families there, gaining knowledge of trade in the law, and then traveled to the Low Countries. When he returned to England, he became Cardinal Wolsey's right hand man. After Wolsey's fall, Cromwell went into Parliament and defended his master whenever possible. This loyalty combined with his significant talent for law and administration caught the eye of Henry and he swiftly became Henry's right-hand man. Amusingly, Cromwell never became Lord Chancellor like More or Wolsey, but instead accumulated many lesser offices that essentially allowed him to carry out Henry's directives as he saw a fit. Unlike More and Wolsey, Cromwell had strong Protestant leanings and he encouraged the king to break away from the Catholic Church and take control of the English Church as its supreme head. Henry did so. His marriage to Catherine of Aragon was nulled. The rest of Europe never accepted this until Catherine died of illness and it became a moot point. In 1533, he married Anne Boleyn. Like Cromwell, Anne had a strong Protestant bent and began encouraging reformers to take various offices and began pushing Henley to make more reforms than he was really comfortable doing. For example, Cromwell was one of the chief drivers behind the English Bible of 1539. This, combined with Anne's inability to give Henry a son, contributed to Anne's downfall. Unlike Catherine, she was willing to argue with Henry to his face and was unwilling to look the other way when he wanted a mistress, and this eventually got on Henry's nerves. Events are a bit murky, but it seems that Henry ordered Cromwell to find a way he could set aside Anne and Cromwell complied. Various men, including her own brother, were coerced and confessing to adultery with Anne on charges that were most likely fabricated and Anne's "lovers" and Anne herself were executed for treason in 1536. Cromwell had successfully used a technique that many modern secret police organizations and dictatorships employ- if you want to get rid of someone for whatever reason, accuse them of a serious crime, coerce them to a confession, and then have them executed. Joseph Stalin did basically the same thing when he purged the Old Bolsheviks after Lenin's death. Henry married Jane Seymour shortly after Anne's execution, and she finally gave Henry his long-waited son, though she died soon afterwards of postpartum complications. Cromwell also oversaw the dissolution of the English monasteries in the 1530s. Monasticism had become quite unpopular even before the Reformation, especially among humanist writers. The concentration of property in the hands of monasteries made for a ripe target. Using Parliament and with Henry's approval, the monasteries of England were dissolved, the monks and nuns pensioned off, and the various rich properties held by the monasteries were given to the king and his friends. Cromwell himself profited handsomely. This was essentially legalized theft, but there was nothing the monasteries could do about it. Cromwell pushed for more religious reforms, but that combined with the dissolution of the monasteries caused "The Pilgrimage of Grace" in 1537, a rebellion that Henry was able to put down through a combination of lies, stalling, outright bribery, and brutal repression under the Duke of Norfolk (more about him later). Cromwell was at the zenith of his power and influence, but his reformist bent and made him a lot of enemies. For that matter, Henry was increasingly uncomfortable with further religious changes. He wanted to be head of his own church, but essentially his own Catholic Church, not his own Reformed or Lutheran one. Cromwell's alignment with the reform cause gave his more traditionalist enemies a tool to use against him. Cromwell's foes had their chance in 1540 when Henry married his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. Cromwell had heavily pushed for the match, hoping to make an alliance with the Protestant princes of Germany against the Catholic Holy Roman Emperor. For whatever reason, Henry took an immediate dislike to Anne and never consummated the marriage, which was swiftly annulled and Anne pensioned off. Henry blamed Cromwell for the failed marriage and Cromwell's enemies, particularly Duke of Norfolk and Bishop Gardiner of Winchester, were able to convince Henry to move against him. Cromwell was arrested, stripped of all the titles and property he had amassed, and executed in July of 1540. The sort of legal railroading process he had born against Anne Boleyn's alleged lovers and numerous other enemies of Henry's was used against him. This was one of the very few executions Henry ever regretted. Within a year, the French ambassador reported that Henry was raging that his counselors had misled him into putting to death the most faithful servant he had ever had. Once again, nothing was ever Henry's fault in his own mind. The fact that Henry allowed Cromwell's son Gregory to become a baron and inherit some of his father's land shows that he likely changed his mind about the execution. For once in his life, Henry was dead on accurate when he called Cromwell his "most faithful servant". He never again found a lieutenant with Cromwell's loyalty and skill. The remaining seven years of Henry's reign blundered from setback to setback and all the money Henry obtained from the dissolution of the monasteries was squandered in indecisive wars with France and Scotland. I think it's fair to say that the English Reformation would not have taken the course it did, if not for Cromwell. As ruthless and as unscrupulous as he could be, he nonetheless did seem to really believe in the principles of religious reform and push such policies whenever he could do so without drawing Henry's ire. #4: Now the fourth of our four major Thomases, Thomas Cranmer. If Thomas Cromwell did a lot of the political work of the English Reformation, then Thomas Cranmer wrote a lot of its theory. Cranmer was a scholar and something of a gentle-minded man, but not a very skillful politician. He seemed happy to leave the politicking to Cromwell. I think Cranmer would have been a lot happier as a Lutheran pastor in say, 1950s rural Nebraska. He could have married a farmer's daughter, had a bunch of kids, and presided at weddings, funerals, and baptisms where he could talk earnestly about Jesus and Christian virtues, and he probably would have written a few books on obscure theological points. But instead, Cranmer was destined to play a significant part in the English Reformation. He started as a priest and a scholar who got in trouble for marrying, but when his wife died in childbirth, he went back to the priesthood. Later, he became part of the team of scholars and priests working to get Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled. While he was at university and later in the priesthood, he became fascinated by Lutheran ideas and became a proponent of reform. As with Cromwell, Henry's desire to marry Anne Boleyn gave Cranmer his great opportunity. Anne's family were also in favor of reform, and they arranged for Cranmer to become the new Archbishop of Canterbury. The new archbishop and the like- minded clerics and scholars laid the legal and theological groundwork for Henry to break with Rome and become head of the English church with Cranmer and the rest of the reform faction wanted to be used to push for additional church reforms. He survived the tumults of Henry's reign by total loyalty to the king – he mourned Anne Boleyn, but didn't oppose her execution (though he was one of the few who mourned for her publicly), did much the same when Cromwell was executed, and personally sent news of Catherine Howard's adultery to the king. Because of that, Cranmer had a great chance to pursue the cause of reform when Henry died and his 12-year-old son Edward VI became King. Edward's uncle Edward Seymour acted as the head of the King's regency council, and Seymour and his allies were in favor of reform. Cranmer was at last able to steer the English church in the direction of serious reform, and he was directly responsible for writing the Book of Common Prayer and several other key documents of the early Anglican church. But Cranmer's of luck ran out in 1553 when Edward VI died. Cranmer was part of the group that tried to put the Protestant Lady Jane Grey on the throne, but Henry's daughter Mary instead took the crown. Mary had never really wavered from her Catholicism despite immense pressure to do so, and she had last had a chance to do something about it. She immediately brought England back to Rome and started prosecuting prominent reform leaders, Cranmer among them. Cranmer was tried for treason and heresy and sentenced to be burned, but that was to be commuted if he recanted his views in public during a sermon, which he did. However, at the last minute, he thunderously denounced his previous recantation, asserted his reformist faith, and vowed that he would thrust the hand that signed the recantation into the flames first. Cranmer was immediately taken to be burned at the stake, and just as he promised, he thrust his hand into the flames, and his last word is that he saw heaven opening and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Cranmer had spent much of his life trying to appease Henry while pushing as much reform as possible, but in his final moments, he had finally found his defiance. When Mary died and Elizabeth took the throne, she returned England to Protestantism. Elizabeth was much more pragmatic than her half siblings and her father ever were, so she chose the most expedient choice of simply rolling the English church back to as it was during Edward VI's time. Cranmer's Book of Common Prayer and religious articles, lightly edited for Elizabeth's sensibilities, became the foundational documents of the Anglican church. So these four Thomases, Thomas Wolsey, Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, and Thomas Cranmer were central to the events of the English Reformation. However, we have one bonus Thomas yet. Bonus Thomas: Thomas Howard, the Duke of Norfolk. Thomas Howard was a powerful nobleman during the reign of Henry, and the Duke of Norfolk was frequently Henry's lieutenant in waging various wars and putting down rebellions. He was also the uncle of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, Henry's second and fifth queens. He was also involved in nearly every major event of Henry's reign. So with all that, why isn't Norfolk as remembered as well as the other four Thomases of the English Reformation? Sometimes a man would be considered virtuous by the standards of the medieval or early modern age, yet reprehensible in ours. For example, for much of the Middle Ages, crusading was considered an inherently virtuous act for a knight, whereas in the modern age, it would be condemned as war mongering with a religious veneer. However, by both modern standards and Tudor standards, Thomas Howard was a fairly odious character. For all their flaws and the morally questionable things they did, Wolsey, More, Cromwell, and Cranmer were all men of conviction in their own ways. More and Cranmer explicitly died with their faith. Cromwell's devotion to the Protestant cause got him killed since he insisted on the Anne of Cleves match. Even Wolsey, for all that he enriched himself, was a devoted servant of Henry after his downfall never betrayed the king. By contrast, Norfolk was out for Norfolk. This wasn't unusual for Tudor nobleman, but Norfolk took it to a new level of grasping venality. He made sure that his daughter was married to Henry's bastard son, Henry FitzRoy, just in case FitzRoy ended up becoming king. He used both his nieces, Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard, to gain power and lands for himself, and then immediately turned against him once he became politically expedient. In fact, he presided over the trial where Anne Boleyn was sentenced to death. After the failure of the Anne of Cleve's marriage, Norfolk made sure to bring his young niece Catherine Howard to court to catch Henry's eye, and to use the Anne of Cleve's annulment as a lever to get rid of Thomas Cromwell. Both stratagems worked, and he attempted to leverage being the new Queen's uncle to bring himself to new power and riches, as he had with Anne Boleyn. Once Henry turned on Catherine Howard, Norfolk characteristically and swiftly threw his niece under the bus. However, as Henry aged, he grew increasingly paranoid and vindictive, and he had Norfolk arrested and sentenced to death on suspicion of treason. Before the execution could be carried out, Henry died, and Norfolk spent the six years of Edward VI's reign as a prisoner in the Tower of London. When Edward died and Mary took the throne, she released Norfolk since she was Catholic and Norfolk had always been a religious traditionalist suspicious of reform. He spent the remaining year of his life as one of Mary's chief advisors before finally dying of old age. As I often say, history can be a rich source of inspiration for fantasy writers, and the English Reformation is full of such inspiration. Wolsey, More, Cromwell, and Cranmer can all make excellent inspirations for morally ambiguous characters. For that matter, you can see why the reign of Henry VIII has inspired so many movies, TV shows, and historical novels. The real life events are so dramatic as to scarcely require embellishment. So that's it for this week. Thank you for listening to The Pulp Writer Show and thank you for listening as I went on one of my little historical digressions. I hope you found the show enjoyable. A reminder that you can listen to all the back episodes on https://thepulpwritershow.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stay safe and stay healthy, and we'll see you all next week.

Host | Matthew S Williams For more podcast Stories from Space with Matthew S Williams, visit: https://itspmagazine.com/stories-from-space-podcast ______________________Episode Notes Asteroid Mining: The Promise, the Problems, and the Philosophy Asteroid mining is one of those ideas that cycles in and out of public fascination — generating enormous excitement, then fading when people realize it won't happen within the next news cycle. But the concept never truly disappears, and for good reason. Near-Earth asteroids, numbering in the millions, contain staggering quantities of precious metals, rare earth elements, and water ice. Ironically, those same materials — iron, gold, platinum, nickel, and dozens of others — were originally delivered to Earth by asteroids during the Late Heavy Bombardment period some four billion years ago. We're essentially talking about going back to the source. The three main asteroid types — carbonaceous (C-type), silicate (S-type), and metallic (M-type) — each offer distinct resources. Beyond metals, the abundance of water ice in the solar system could relieve pressure on Earth's increasingly stressed freshwater supply and fuel deep-space missions. Philosophically, the implications are profound. Thomas More and Nietzsche both wrestled with why scarcity drives human value systems. Flood the market with space-borne metals and the entire economic architecture built on scarcity begins to crumble. Orwell saw it too — abundance erodes hierarchy. The first trillionaires born from asteroid mining might find their wealth meaningless almost immediately after making it. But the darker scenarios deserve equal attention. Redistributing consumption off-world doesn't eliminate it. Space debris, environmental degradation beyond Earth, and the very real risk of exploitative labor structures in off-world operations — echoes of colonialism and indentured servitude — are not science fiction. They're logical extensions of human patterns. The enthusiasm may ebb and flow, but asteroid mining remains an inevitable chapter in humanity's story. The real question is what kind of story we choose to write around it. ______________________ Resources   ______________________ For more podcast Stories from Space with Matthew S Williams, visit: https://itspmagazine.com/stories-from-space-podcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host | Matthew S Williams For more podcast Stories from Space with Matthew S Williams, visit: https://itspmagazine.com/stories-from-space-podcast ______________________Episode Notes Asteroid Mining: The Promise, the Problems, and the Philosophy Asteroid mining is one of those ideas that cycles in and out of public fascination — generating enormous excitement, then fading when people realize it won't happen within the next news cycle. But the concept never truly disappears, and for good reason. Near-Earth asteroids, numbering in the millions, contain staggering quantities of precious metals, rare earth elements, and water ice. Ironically, those same materials — iron, gold, platinum, nickel, and dozens of others — were originally delivered to Earth by asteroids during the Late Heavy Bombardment period some four billion years ago. We're essentially talking about going back to the source. The three main asteroid types — carbonaceous (C-type), silicate (S-type), and metallic (M-type) — each offer distinct resources. Beyond metals, the abundance of water ice in the solar system could relieve pressure on Earth's increasingly stressed freshwater supply and fuel deep-space missions. Philosophically, the implications are profound. Thomas More and Nietzsche both wrestled with why scarcity drives human value systems. Flood the market with space-borne metals and the entire economic architecture built on scarcity begins to crumble. Orwell saw it too — abundance erodes hierarchy. The first trillionaires born from asteroid mining might find their wealth meaningless almost immediately after making it. But the darker scenarios deserve equal attention. Redistributing consumption off-world doesn't eliminate it. Space debris, environmental degradation beyond Earth, and the very real risk of exploitative labor structures in off-world operations — echoes of colonialism and indentured servitude — are not science fiction. They're logical extensions of human patterns. The enthusiasm may ebb and flow, but asteroid mining remains an inevitable chapter in humanity's story. The real question is what kind of story we choose to write around it. ______________________ Resources   ______________________ For more podcast Stories from Space with Matthew S Williams, visit: https://itspmagazine.com/stories-from-space-podcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As complex figures go, you can't get much more complex than Sir Thomas More. Was he a Saint? Was he a Sinner? Was he simply a man of his time? Dr Joanne Paul seeks to answer these questions in her book ‘Thomas More. A Life and Death in Tudor England' which explores More's roles as a statesman, scholar, and martyr, and understand how his beliefs, actions, and the historical context shaped his enduring reputation.(WE WILL BE COVERING JOANNE'S BOOK IN BOOK CLUB ON 24TH MAY - JOIN IN AT PATREON.COM/BRITISHHISTORY)In my interview with Joanne, filmed at the Harvington History Festival 2025, I asked her about Thomas More's multifaceted identity, his role in Henry VIII's court, his religious beliefs and persecution of heretics, and his influence on political and religious history.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Thomas More and his significance01:45 Different ways people encounter Thomas More02:40 Was Thomas More as complex as his legacy suggests?03:46 The importance of understanding his life in context05:46 More's family and personal beliefs07:53 The roots of his religious fervor and fear08:54 His stance on heretics and persecution10:53 His beliefs about society and community12:55 The impact of the Reformation on his views13:46 Where to find more about Joanne Paul and her workBuy the book at Blackwells for Worldwide Delivery - Click Here If you've enjoyed this please follow and rate this podcast.Hi! I'm Philippa, welcome to the British History Channel. Thank you for listening to this episode, I hope you enjoyed it. There are many more here for you to browse through including over 50 fantastic historian interviews with people such as Tracy Borman OBE, Gareth Russell, Helen Carr and many more. Buy books from these incredible historians, shipped worldwide from Blackwells - click here (This is an affiliate link. I get a commission on books sold via this link but they are at no extra cost to you).Join my Patreon - click here and enjoy ad-free extended interviews with bonus content, Historical Book Club, early access to content, exclusive blogs, discounts on British History Events and more for all for £5/month.You can also give me one off support by donating at www.buymeacoffee.com/PhilippaYou can support me for free by commenting and rating this episode. Visit British History Tours for full details of history tours and events.⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️About PhilippaPhilippa is a Historian and the founder of British History Tours and British History Events.Receive weekly history news (including links to new historian interviews) from Philippa by subscribing to my Substack I'd really appreciate your help in making this show the best it can be. I know time is precious but if you do have 10 minutes you can spare to fill out this anonymous listener survey, I'd be really grateful - http://bit.ly/britishhistorypodcast-surveyPhilippa founded award-winning Historic Tour Operator British History Tours in 2014. Find out about these luxury, fully-escorted, immersive historical experiences at BritishHistoryTours.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Good morning! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell welcome Deacon Nathan Biersdorfer to continue our series on Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales. Other guests include Karlo Broussard from Catholic Answers on relics and superstition, and canon lawyer Fr. Philip Michael Tangorra on the latest regarding the intent of the SSPX to consecrate bishops without permission from the Holy See. Plus news, weather, sports, and more… ***** St. Thomas More’s Prayer for Good Humor Grant me, O Lord, good digestion, and also something to digest.Grant me a healthy body, and the necessary good humor to maintain it.Grant me a simple soul that knows to treasure all that is goodand that doesn’t frighten easily at the sight of evil,but rather finds the means to put things back in their place.Give me a soul that knows not boredom, grumblings, sighs and laments,nor excess of stress, because of that obstructing thing called “I.”Grant me, O Lord, a sense of good humor.Allow me the grace to be able to take a joke, to discover in life a bit of joy,and to be able to share it with others. Amen. ***** Cincinnati Right to Life is online at cincinnatirighttolife.org. Full list of guestsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does a talented person have a duty to serve others? What do leading citizens really need to live well, freely, impactfully—even greatly? How do we, parents and educators, order the educational goods? "When I think of Thomas More's life, writings, and example, I think: here are the materials we need to answer those questions." So says Dr. Stephen Smith, professor at Hillsdale College and co-director for the Center for Thomas More Studies. St. Thomas More not only provided a robust theory of education and duty in his writings, but also a praxis of that education by his heroic actions at the Tower of London in 1535. Dr. Smith joins us this week to discuss how More's life and education can be a pattern for our one-day leading citizens. Chapters: 2:32 The living image of a great man 8:49 More's philosophy of learning 12:50 Virtue in the first place 16:25 Love of good advice 18:48 Leading citizenship: skill and integrity 24:51 Pride as the enemy 29:32 On modern times: "Do not abandon the ship" 35:14 Mentorship: time and attention 46:39 Hope and humor 54:21 Thomas More as a father Links: The Center for Thomas More Studies, featuring video courses, teaching resources, and the written works of Thomas More The Last Riddle: Advice on Living and Dying Well by Stephen Smith, pre-order for June 2026 The Essential Works of Thomas More edited by Gerard Wegemer and Stephen Smith A Thomas More Sourcebook edited by Gerard Wegemer and Stephen Smith On Duties by Cicero Thomas More: A Portrait of Courage by Gerard Wegemer "Letter to William Gonell, 1518" by Thomas More Young Thomas More and the Arts of Liberty by Gerard Wegemer "A Dialog of Comfort against Tribulation" by Thomas More "Erasmus on Thomas More" by Erasmus Also on the Forum: Elon Musk and Mother Teresa Schools by Nate Gadiano Teaching the History of our "Strange New World" featuring Michael Moynihan and Austin Hatch Learning for All Seasons: What We Owe to Thomas More by Dr. Matthew Mehan The Arts of Liberty – Part I featuring Dr. Matthew Mehan Featured Opportunities: The Art of Teaching Boys Conference at The Heights School (May 6-8, 2026) – sold out Teaching Essentials Workshop at The Heights School (June 22-26, 2026) Conference for Teaching Men at The Heights School (November 2026) – link coming soon

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021926.cfmFather Matthew Tomeny, MIC invites us to contemplate today's Gospel in light of the witness of St. Thomas More and St. Anthony the Great.Jesus warns, “Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Mt 16:24; NABRE). In the same breath He calls us to “pick up our cross daily and follow Me” (Lk 9:23; NABRE).The drama of Thomas More, who refused King Henry's demand for a divorce and chose fidelity to Christ above crown and comfort, illustrates the cost of true discipleship. When Rich perjured himself for worldly gain, the saint reminded him that “the whole world is fleeting; what truly matters is the kingdom of God.” This echoes the “Catechism”: “The Christian is called to die to self and live for God” (CCC 1033).Saint Anthony the Great taught the same radical love: “Die daily, if you wish to live eternally.” Our lives are like a house on fire — clinging to material treasures ensures our destruction, while abandoning them opens the path to everlasting life. As Moses declared, “I have set before you life and prosperity, death and doom” (Dt 30:15; NABRE).Thus, each day presents a choice: hold fast to the fleeting comforts of this world, or lay them down at the foot of the Cross. The cross is not a burden to be avoided; it is the gateway to the resurrection. By surrendering our will to God's will, we align ourselves with the divine plan and secure the promise of eternal life.Let us, like St. Thomas More, abandon pride, ambition, and fear, and like St. Anthony, practice the daily death to self. In doing so, we fulfill Christ's invitation: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (Jn 14:15; NABRE). ★ Support this podcast ★

Thomas More is best remembered as a martyr and a saint, but the circumstances of his death were just one facet of his controversial life. Historian and biographer Dr Joanne Paul speaks to Kev Lochun about More's many faces: the Lord Chancellor who refused to yield to Henry VIII; the writer who gave us Utopia, and the zealot who believed heretics deserved to be burned. Yet, she argues, he was none of these things of in isolation, but instead a complicated man whose life has lessons for us today. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Thomas More's Utopia is considered one of the most influential pieces of political philosophy today, but how did his contemporaries see it? Joanne Paul considers that thorny question for HistoryExtra: https://bit.ly/49IOYt6. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Into that street, that soundscape, that smellscape, comes Thomas More.

Rachel Bovard joins the show to challenge Josh in the filibuster debate. Meanwhile, the Washington Post announces massive layoffs, cutting a third of its newsroom. And finally, is Kamala Harris back? All this and more on the LOOPcast!00:00 Welcome to the LOOPcast01:20 Has Trump lost the Republican Party?13:12 Filibuster Debate36:34 WAPO Cuts58:12 Good News01:02:39 Twilight Zone01:11:28 Closing PrayerEMAIL US: loopcast@catholicvote.org SUPPORT LOOPCAST: www.loopcast.orgCheck out the LOOPcast on Zeale: https://zeale.co Subscribe to the LOOP today!https://catholicvote.org/getloop  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-loopcast/id1643967065 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/08jykZi86H7jKNFLbSesjk?si=ztBTHenFR-6VuegOlklE_w&nd=1&dlsi=bddf79da68c34744 FOLLOW LOOPCast: https://x.com/the_LOOPcast  https://www.instagram.com/the_loopcast/ https://www.tiktok.com/@the_loopcast https://www.facebook.com/LOOPcastPodcast Tom: https://x.com/TPogasic Erika: https://x.com/ErikaAhern2  Josh: https://x.com/joshuamercer We Pray O Lord, for the United States of America. We pray for our leaders, that they be inspired to lead according to your will. Most especially, we pray that every Catholic in America will be inspired to live out the truths of our faith in public life, and that it will lead to the renewal of our Church and country.St. Thomas More, Pray for us.St. Fidelis, Pray for us.Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.Amen.All opinions expressed on LOOPcast by the participants are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CatholicVote.

She wasn't a pawn — Lady Jane Dudley was shaped by power, politics and purposeFor centuries she has been remembered as Lady Jane Grey: the tragic, passive “Nine Days' Queen.” - But what if that story is wrong?In this episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill is joined by historian and author Dr Joanne Paul to rage against one of Tudor history's most persistent myths — the erasure of Lady Jane Dudley and the deliberate sidelining of the Dudley dynasty from her story.This conversation dismantles the idea of Jane as a helpless victim of ruthless men and instead reveals a highly educated, politically aware young woman who understood exactly what the Tudor succession crisis meant — and what it might cost her. Drawing on contemporary evidence, Dr Paul explores Jane's agency, intelligence and religious conviction, and explains why the Dudleys became convenient scapegoats once Mary I reclaimed the throne.As the discussion widens, the episode exposes the brutal realities of Tudor power: shifting loyalties, manufactured villainy, and the dangerous fiction of “legitimate” succession. From Edward VI's handwritten Device for the Succession to the execution of John Dudley and the astonishing rehabilitation of Robert Dudley under Elizabeth I, this is a deep dive into how dynasties rise, fall — and rise again.Crucially, this episode also restores women to the centre of the narrative. From Jane Dudley herself to Jane, Duchess of Northumberland, the Dudley women emerge as formidable political operators whose influence shaped events long after the axe fell.If you think you know the story of Lady Jane Grey, this episode will change your mind.Key themes exploredWhy “Lady Jane Grey” is a historical misnomerJane Dudley's education, intellect and political awarenessThe Dudley family's central role in the Tudor succession crisisEdward VI's intentions — and misconceptions — about successionScapegoating, propaganda and Tudor myth-makingThe power and resilience of Dudley womenRobert Dudley's improbable rise at Elizabeth I's courtWhat the Dudleys reveal about loyalty, ambition and survival in Tudor EnglandFestival Info:The Katherine of Aragon Festival Talks are on January 31st and February 1st 2026 at Peterborough Cathedral:Tickets are available at: https://peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/about/history/katharine-of-aragon/kofa_26/ About the guestDr Joanne Paul is a historian, writer and public historian specialising in Tudor politics, power and reputation. She is the author of The House of Dudley, a groundbreaking study of one of Tudor England's most misunderstood dynasties, and has consulted on major television productions including My Lady Jane.Follow & contact Dr Joanne PaulSocial Media: @drjoannepaulBook: The House of Dudley: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781405937191About History RageHistory Rage is the podcast where historians stop being polite and start getting angry — debunking myths, challenging lazy narratives and reclaiming complexity from centuries of oversimplification.Follow History RageWebsite: https://historyrage.comPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/historyrageSocial media: @HistoryRage (all major platforms)Support the podcastJoin Patreon for live episode recordings, exclusive content and the coveted History Rage mugListen ad-free via Apple Podcasts or PatreonLeave a review — it helps more people find the showShare the rage with a friend and grow the movementIf you enjoyed this episode, you might also like:Episode 252: Dr Joanne Paul on the myth of Thomas More's martyrdom: https://pod.fo/e/34939eEpisode 171: Joanna Strong rages against the “Bloody Mary” label: https://pod.fo/e/299de6Until next time — stay angry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, joins the LOOPcast to discuss breakthrough research and how we can save the American family. Next, SCOTUS takes on "What is a Woman?" And finally, there's an exciting update in Archbishop Fulton Sheen's path to sainthood. All this and more on the LOOPcast!00:00 Welcome to the LOOPcast04:20 Saving the American Family w/ Dr. Kevin Roberts26:10 SCOTUS and Trans in Women's Sports42:48 Good News51:18 Church Corner01:01:14 Twilight Zone01:18:27 Closing PrayerGet your FREE PHONE as a new Charity Mobile user with every new line plus a FREE power bank while supplies last, now through February 2, with promo code LOOPCAST at https://bit.ly/LOOPcast_CharityMobile EMAIL US: loopcast@catholicvote.org SUPPORT LOOPCAST: www.loopcast.orgSubscribe to the LOOP today!https://catholicvote.org/getloop   Saving the American Family Report: https://www.heritage.org/press/saving-the-american-family-heritage-releases-landmark-report-rebuilding-and-strengthening-us Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-loopcast/id1643967065 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/08jykZi86H7jKNFLbSesjk?si=ztBTHenFR-6VuegOlklE_w&nd=1&dlsi=bddf79da68c34744 FOLLOW LOOPCast: https://x.com/the_LOOPcast  https://www.instagram.com/the_loopcast/ https://www.tiktok.com/@the_loopcast https://www.facebook.com/LOOPcastPodcast Tom: https://x.com/TPogasic Erika: https://x.com/ErikaAhern2  Josh: https://x.com/joshuamercer We Pray O Lord, for the United States of America. We pray for our leaders, that they be inspired to lead according to your will. Most especially, we pray that every Catholic in America will be inspired to live out the truths of our faith in public life, and that it will lead to the renewal of our Church and country.St. Thomas More, Pray for us.St. Fidelis, Pray for us.Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.Amen.All opinions expressed on LOOPcast by the participants are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CatholicVote.

This talk was recorded live at Tudorcon 2025.In this lecture, Mallory Jackson explores the work of Hans Holbein the Younger, the artist whose portraits defined how we visualize the Tudor court. Focusing on key paintings from Holbein's years in England, she looks at how symbolism, material culture, and political change shaped portraits of figures such as Henry VIII, Thomas More, and Thomas Cromwell.This is a detailed, art-driven discussion of Holbein's most famous works, including The Ambassadors, and what they reveal about power, belief, and uncertainty in Tudor England. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Kindergarten class at St. Thomas More share the true reason for the Christmas season.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.

Vanity Fair goes inside the White House and delivers a piece that has us all wondering, "Why?" Meanwhile, a controversial “Lost Generation” essay ignites debate over merit, identity, and who's been left behind in modern America. And finally, the Church enters a pivotal moment as a new bishop is named for New York. All this and more on the LOOPcast.Get your FREE PHONE as a new Charity Mobile user with every new line plus a FREE power bank while supplies last, now through February 2, with promo code LOOPCAST at https://bit.ly/LOOPcast_CharityMobileTimestamps:00:00 Welcome to the LOOPcast05:25 Vanity Fair “Inside the Trump Admin”18:10 The Lost Generation56:02 Good News1:05:29 New Bishop for NY1:10:50 Twilight Zone1:21:19 Closing PrayerEMAIL US: loopcast@catholicvote.org SUPPORT LOOPCAST: www.loopcast.orgSubscribe to the LOOP today!https://catholicvote.org/getloop   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-loopcast/id1643967065 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/08jykZi86H7jKNFLbSesjk?si=ztBTHenFR-6VuegOlklE_w&nd=1&dlsi=bddf79da68c34744 FOLLOW LOOPCast: https://x.com/the_LOOPcast  https://www.instagram.com/the_loopcast/ https://www.tiktok.com/@the_loopcast https://www.facebook.com/LOOPcastPodcast Tom: https://x.com/TPogasic Erika: https://x.com/ErikaAhern2  Josh: https://x.com/joshuamercer We Pray O Lord, for the United States of America. We pray for our leaders, that they be inspired to lead according to your will. Most especially, we pray that every Catholic in America will be inspired to live out the truths of our faith in public life, and that it will lead to the renewal of our Church and country.St. Thomas More, Pray for us.St. Fidelis, Pray for us.Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.Amen.All opinions expressed on LOOPcast by the participants are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CatholicVote.

Talk given at St. Thomas More in Troy, MI, on December 3.

Vince Gilligan's new show, “Pluribus,” opens with an unconventional apocalypse. A benevolent alien hive mind descends on Earth, commandeering the bodies of all but a handful of people who appear to be immune, including a curmudgeonly writer named Carol Sturka. Though the world that the “joined” are building seems ideal—no more crime, efficient resource distribution, an end to discrimination—it doesn't leave much room for Carol's messy humanity. Is it worth it? On this episode of Critics at Large, Vinson Cunningham, Naomi Fry, and Alexandra Schwartz discuss “Pluribus” and other perfect societies imagined and enacted by artists and thinkers, from Thomas More's 1516 satire, “Utopia,” to the Shaker movement and beyond. They reflect on why these experiments have rarely held up to scrutiny or benefitted more than a select few, and why we keep coming back to them anyway. “I'm not the most optimistic person,” Fry says. “But if you're stuck in pessimistic, dystopic thinking, are you foreclosing on greater promise or greater potential of imagination?” Read, watch, and listen with the critics:“Pluribus” (2025–)“Breaking Bad” (2008-13)“Better Call Saul” (2015-22)“The X-Files” (1993-2002)“The Giver,” by Lois Lowry“Utopia,” by Thomas More“Les Guérillères,” by Monique Wittig “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977)“The Testament of Ann Lee” (2025)“The Hunger Games,” by Suzanne Collins“Utopia for Realists,” by Rutger Bregman“Ragtime” (1996)New episodes drop every Thursday. Follow Critics at Large wherever you get your podcasts.Critics at Large is a weekly discussion from The New Yorker which explores the latest trends in books, television, film, and more. Join us every Thursday as we make unexpected connections between classic texts and pop culture. Please help us improve New Yorker podcasts by filling out our listener survey: https://panel2058.na2.panelpulse.com/c/a/661hs4tSRdw2yB2dvjFyyw Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Henry VIII's commanding gaze, Thomas More's intellect, Anne of Cleves' cautious poise; Hans Holbein's portraits didn't just depict the Tudors, they defined them. His astonishing realism gave us not just faces but personalities. But how do we truly know the artist behind the art?Professor Suzannah Lipscomb welcomes back Dr. Elizabeth Goldring, whose groundbreaking research using cutting-edge technology and scientific analysis has uncovered the secrets beneath Holbein's paint layers, revealing hidden colours, lost details, and radical working methods.Shakespeare's Male Muse: A Mystery Solved?A Tudor Mystery: The Girl Who Could Be QueenPresented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Max Wintle, audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcastSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Merchant of Venice; Act 3, Scene 1 ShylockNovember 10, 2025 The villainy you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction.” Actor and storyteller Saul Rubinek takes us inside his one-man show Playing Shylock, now on stage at the Polonsky Shakespeare Center in New York City. Rubinek explores Shylock's confounding genesis and reveals why one of Shakespeare's so-called “minor” roles continues to be one of the most groundbreaking, misunderstood and controversial characters in theater history. Click here to see the Folio Version. Click here for a Modern Version of the Text. Click here for more information about Playing Shylock. Click here for Saul's book, All in the Telling. Click here for a transcript of "The Stranger's Case" by Thomas More.

In this episode Natalie Grueninger interviews Dr Elizabeth Goldring about her new biography 'Holbein: Renaissance Master'. They trace Hans Holbein's journey from Augsburg and Basel to Tudor England, his key patrons including Erasmus and Thomas More, his role at Henry VIII's court, and his lasting impact on portraiture and Tudor culture. The conversation also highlights archival discoveries, Holbein's workshop practices, the Greenwich revels, and the painter's remarkable ability to adapt politically and artistically through changing times. Learn more about Dr Goldring https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/ren/centrestaff/elizabethgoldring/ The Tudor Heart Appeal https://www.britishmuseum.org/tudor-heart-appeal Find out more about your host at https://www.nataliegrueninger.com Support Talking Tudors on Patreon!  

King Henry VIII is best known for his tempestuous marriages and his penchant for cutting off people's heads. But where does fiction meet fact?In this special episode, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by a panel of experts to discuss Henry on screen and what those portrayals got right or wrong. Who gave the most convincing performance? Was it Damien Lewis in Wolf Hall, Robert Hardy in A Man for All Seasons, Jude Law in Firebrand, or Charles Laughton in The Private Life of Henry VIII?Dr Joanne Paul, Jessie Childs and Alex von Tunzelmann join Suzannah to explore why this towering figure continues to fascinate us more than 500 years after he came to the throne.More:Thomas More on Film: The Historians' Verdict Mary Queen of Scots on Film: The Historians' Verdict Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The audio editors are Alex Elkins and Amy Haddow and the producers are Fiona Turnock and Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit to see Suzannah and her guests debate Henry VIII on film, and for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For nearly 1000 years, the tower of London has been the site of the bloody executions of some of England's most famous historic figures. And many of the tower's victims were laid to their final rest within the walls, never to escape the prison where they met their tragic end. A King, 3 Queens, A Prince, 5 dukes and many more noble men and women were buried here. Let's meet them and learn how they met their doom at the tower of London. King Edward V & Prince Richard, Duke of York (1483) Gerald FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Kildare (1534) Thomas More (1535) Cardinal John Fisher (1535) Queen Anne Boleyn (1536) George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford (1536) Thomas Cromwell (1540) Margaret Plantagenet, Countess of Salisbury (1541) Queen Catherine Howard (1542) Jane Boleyn, Viscountess Rochford (1542) Thank you to the Yeoman Warders and Historic Royal Palaces for giving us permission to film and so much excellent information. Join me every Tuesday when I'm Spilling the Tea on History! Check out my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/lindsayholiday Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091781568503 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyteatimelindsayholiday/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@historyteatime Please consider supporting me at https://www.patreon.com/LindsayHoliday and help me make more fascinating episodes! Intro Music: Baroque Coffee House by Doug Maxwell Music: Funeral March by Chopin #HistoryTeaTime #LindsayHoliday Please contact ⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠ if you would like to advertise on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, the conversation centered on the launch of Thomas More Classical School in Anchorage, set to open in 2026. The guest, Headmaster Sarah Spaulding, explained the school's mission to bring classical education to Alaska and described how the model emphasizes forming both intellect and character. The discussion highlighted what sets classical education apart: its grounding in the seven liberal arts, its reliance on teacher-led classrooms, and its emphasis on virtue, truth, and beauty. Spaulding explained that the school is supported by Hillsdale College's K–12 Education Office, which provides training and curriculum guidance, while the school itself remains locally governed and tuition-funded. Listeners also heard about practical details, including the timeline for opening, the application process starting in October 2025, and the plan to begin with 120 students in kindergarten through sixth grade before expanding into a full K–12 program. Spaulding described how extracurricular activities will grow with enrollment and emphasized the school's commitment to keeping tuition accessible with financial aid options. A portion of the conversation explored the history of Thomas More, the school's namesake, and how his devotion to education, integrity, and faith mirrors the school's mission. The episode closed with encouragement for Anchorage families to learn more, visit the school's website, and consider whether classical education is the right fit for their children.