Talking Tudors

In this episode of Talking Tudors, host Natalie Grueninger welcomes Dr James Taff to discuss his book 'Accounting for Anne' and how Anne of Cleves' household accounts reveal the daily workings of her short queenship. They examine the blended German and English household, Anne's wardrobe and rewards, myths about her appearance, the aftermath of the annulment, and the research challenges that bring this overlooked queen into sharper, more sympathetic focus. Follow Dr Taffe on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tudortaffe/?hl=en Join Natalie Grueninger and Dr Owen Emmerson's new online event: 'Rethinking Anne Boleyn' https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rethinking-anne-boleyn-tickets-1981325385564?aff=oddtdtcreator Find out more about your host at https://www.nataliegrueninger.com Support Talking Tudors on Patreon!

In this episode, Natalie Grueninger speaks with historian Lauren Johnson about Margaret Beaufort — a child bride turned survivor whose political skill, marriages, and networks helped secure Henry VII’s rise. They trace her early life, complex role during the Wars of the Roses, and her close but often-misunderstood relationship with her son and Elizabeth of York. The conversation also busts long-standing myths, explores Margaret’s religious patronage and use of early printing, and highlights her cultural legacy. Lauren discusses her new biography, Margaret Beaufort’s Survivor Rebel Kingmaker, and why Margaret’s story matters today. Visit Lauren Johnson's official website http://www.lauren-johnson.com/ Join Natalie Grueninger and Dr Owen Emmerson's new online event: 'Rethinking Anne Boleyn' https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rethinking-anne-boleyn-tickets-1981325385564?aff=oddtdtcreator Find out more about your host at https://www.nataliegrueninger.com Support Talking Tudors on Patreon!

In this episode, host Natalie Grueninger speaks with Dr Mary Hollingsworth about the life of Catherine de' Medici. They explore her Italian roots and convent upbringing, her marriage to Henry II, regency for her sons, and efforts to navigate the Wars of Religion. They discuss Catherine's cultural patronage, her complex relationships with contemporaries like Elizabeth I, and the origins of her notorious reputation, including the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. Visit Dr Hollingsworth's official website https://mary-hollingsworth.com/ Learn more about the sponsor of this episode, Simply Tudor Tours https://simplytudortours.com/ Find out more about your host at https://www.nataliegrueninger.com Support Talking Tudors on Patreon!

Host Natalie Grueninger speaks with historian Ella Brook Muir about how queenly clothing in 16th‑century England and France acted as political communication, conveying magnificence, legitimacy, loyalty and cosmopolitan identity through fabrics, colours and emblems. The episode examines case studies (Katherine of Aragon, Claude of France, Anne Boleyn, and Eleanor of Austria), the makers and household staff who produced these garments, the impact of global trade on materials, and the scarcity and mystery of surviving textiles. Visit Ella's official website https://www.ellabrookmuir.co.uk/ Learn about our sponsor! https://simplytudortours.com/ Find out more about your host at https://www.nataliegrueninger.com Support Talking Tudors on Patreon!

Host Natalie Grueninger speaks with Dr Melissa Shiels about New Year's gift-giving across 16th-century England and Ireland, and how material gifts expressed political messages at the Tudor court. They discuss typical gifts (money, clothing, jewellery, horses, hawks), differences across reigns, examples of gifts that reveal diplomacy or tension, and the distinction between public gift exchange and bribery. Find out more about Dr Shiels https://www.instagram.com/dr.melissashiels/ The Greensleeves Project https://greensleevesproject.uk/ Find out more about your host at https://www.nataliegrueninger.com Support Talking Tudors on Patreon!

Host Natalie Grueninger speaks with Dr Michelle Seah about the economic lives of medieval and late 15th-century English queens, focusing on Margaret of Anjou, Elizabeth Woodville, and Elizabeth of York. They explore how queens raised and managed income—through lands, cash allowances, port customs and the tradition of “queen’s gold”—how their households were organised, and how financial resources shaped their public role, patronage and power. Learn more about Dr Seah https://www.newcastle.edu.au/profile/michele-seah Find out more about your host at https://www.nataliegrueninger.com Support Talking Tudors on Patreon!

Host Natalie Grueninger speaks with Kate McCaffrey of Hever Castle about Anne Boleyn’s books of hours, the hidden inscriptions they contain, and the Kentish women who preserved Anne’s memory after her fall. The episode explores female networks, the material life of devotional books, and how these discoveries challenge the lonely, male-focused myth of Anne Boleyn, plus a preview of Hever Castle’s upcoming exhibition "Capturing a Queen." Learn more about Kate McCaffrey https://kateemccaffrey.wordpress.com/ Capturing a Queen: The Image of Anne Boleyn Exhibition https://www.hevercastle.co.uk/whats-on/capturing-a-queen/ Find out more about your host at https://www.nataliegrueninger.com Support Talking Tudors on Patreon!

Host Natalie Grueninger speaks with Professor Stephen Gunn about his research using 16th-century coroner's inquests to reveal how accidental deaths illuminate everyday Tudor life—covering hazards like animals, open water, mills, house collapses, seasonal work, and risky pastimes such as early football. They discuss patterns by age, gender and social status, surprising and bizarre cases, research challenges, and resources for further reading including Gunn’s book 'An Accidental History of Tudor England' and the project’s online dataset. LEARN MORE ABOUT EVERYDAY LIFE & FATAL HAZARDS IN TUDOR ENGLAND https://tudoraccidents.history.ox.ac.uk/?page_id=17 Find out more about your host at https://www.nataliegrueninger.com Support Talking Tudors on Patreon!

Host Natalie Grueninger speaks with Dr Christina Faraday about her new book, 'The Story of Tudor Art', a first-of-its-kind survey of 16th-century English art. They explore how Tudor art functioned as communication and status—covering portraits, miniatures, tapestries, household objects, royal effigies, patrons from kings to middling professionals, and artists such as Holbein, Hilliard, and lesser-known women makers. The episode also discusses imported art, surprising everyday objects that reveal court life, and an upcoming exhibition, Tudor Contemporary, which pairs modern responses with historical works. Visit Dr Faraday's official website https://www.christinajfaraday.com/ Find out more about your host at https://www.nataliegrueninger.com Support Talking Tudors on Patreon!

Host Natalie Grueninger interviews Dr Stephen Campbell about Leonardo da Vinci’s life, work, and the myths that surround him. They explore his early years in Florence, his Milanese network, anatomical studies, and his later years in France. The conversation examines common misconceptions, highlights key works such as 'The Last Supper' and the 'Sala delle Asse', and considers why Leonardo’s fragmented biography continues to captivate modern audiences. Learn more about Dr Campbell https://arthist.jhu.edu/directory/stephen-j-campbell/ By the book! https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691193687/leonardo-da-vinci Find out more about your host at https://www.nataliegrueninger.com Support Talking Tudors on Patreon!

Host Natalie Grueninger welcomes Dr Alanna Skuse to Talking Tudors to explore medicine in Renaissance England. They discuss humoral theory, the medical hierarchy of physicians, surgeons, apothecaries and midwives, and the lively marketplace of practitioners including itinerant bone-setters and domestic healers. The episode highlights women’s roles in care, real patient cases, early regulation of medical practice, and Alanna’s book 'The Surgeon, The Midwife, The Quack' — practical insights into how people sought treatment and survived in the Renaissance. NOT SHAKESPEARE LECTURES https://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/series/not-shakespeare-elizabethan-and-jacobean-popular-theatre VISIT DR SKUSE'S WEBSITE https://www.dralannaskuse.co.uk/ Find out more about your host at https://www.nataliegrueninger.com Support Talking Tudors on Patreon!

In this episode of Talking Tudors, host Natalie Grueninger is joined by Professor Anne Larson and Professor Steve Maiullo to explore the life, works, and legacy of Anna Maria van Schurman — a multilingual scholar, poet, and theological thinker famed across 17th‑century Europe. The conversation covers her exceptional education, advocacy for women’s learning, influential correspondence with leading intellectuals, and her later spiritual choices, offering a concise portrait of a pioneering and controversial figure. LINKS OF INTEREST https://projectvox.library.duke.edu/ https://digital.lib.sfu.ca/new-narratives BOOKS MENTIONED Anna Maria van Schurman, 'The Star of Utrecht': The Educational Vision and Reception of a Savante by Anne Larsen. 'Letters and Poems to and from Her Mentor and Other Members of Her Circle', edited by Anne Larsen and Steve Maiullo. 'Whether a Christian Woman Should Be Educated and Other Writings from Her Intellectual Circle' by Joyce Irwin. 'Republic of Women' by Carol Pal. CONNECT WITH NATALIE GRUENINGER! https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-grueninger-b5899254 Learn more about today's sponsor: Simply Tudor Tours! https://simplytudortours.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-anne-boleyn-giveaway-2026/

Host Natalie Grueninger speaks with Emma Rutherford and Dr Elizabeth Goldring about the freshly authenticated Nicholas Hilliard portrait miniature, likely depicting Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton. The episode covers stylistic and technical evidence, costume comparisons, family provenance, and the discovery of a defaced playing card on the reverse. Guests discuss the miniature’s emotional context, its possible ties to Shakespeare and the sonnets, and why this intimate find matters for Tudor art, patronage, and literary history. VISIT THE LIMNER COMPANY https://www.portraitminiature.com/ LEARN MORE ABOUT DR ELIZABETH GOLDRING https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/ren/centrestaff/elizabethgoldring/ Find out more about your host at https://www.nataliegrueninger.com Support Talking Tudors on Patreon!

Host Natalie Grueninger interviews Dr Erica Canela about her new book, 'Zealous: A Darker Side of the Early Quakers'. They explore how the English Civil Wars and the rise of print culture spawned a radical, disruptive Quaker movement led by George Fox, its beliefs in direct revelation and social equality, and the often violent reactions it provoked. The episode traces the movement’s early urgency—marketplace preaching, unlawful meetings, arrests—and follows its later transformation into a disciplined, influential community known for pacifism, business integrity, and social reform. VISIT DR CANELA'S OFFICIAL WEBSITE https://ericanela.co.uk/ TUDOR TAKEAWAY 'Thorns, Lust, and Glory: The Betrayal of Anne Boleyn' by Estelle Paranque Find out more about your host at https://www.nataliegrueninger.com Support Talking Tudors on Patreon!

Join Natalie Grueninger and expert guide Sarah Slater for a tour of Hampton Court Palace: its Tudor history, the spectacular Great Hall stained glass, and the spine-tingling ghost stories tied to Jane Seymour, Catherine Howard, Anne Boleyn and the Grey Lady, Dame Sybil Penn. They discuss eyewitness accounts, a mysterious CCTV figure, EMF readings in the Haunted Gallery, and the palace’s long social and architectural past—plus book recommendations and ways to learn more. LINKS MENTIONED https://britainsbestguides.org/ https://www.thehistoryguides.com/guides/ BOOKS MENTIONED 'The Palace' by Gareth Russell 'Private Lives of the Tudors' by Tracy Borman 'In the Footsteps of Anne Boleyn' by Natalie Grueninger & Sarah Morris 'A Tudor Christmas' by Alison Weir & Siobhan' 'Hampton Court: A Social and Architectural History' by Simon Thurley Find out more about your host at https://www.nataliegrueninger.com Support Talking Tudors on Patreon!

Host Natalie Greninger speaks with historian Sophie Bacchus-Waterman about her new biography, exploring Elizabeth Boleyn’s early life, marriage to Thomas Boleyn, and her long court career within the Howard and Boleyn networks. The episode highlights Elizabeth’s political astuteness, her close relationship with Anne Boleyn, fresh archival finds (including pay-books and household records), and how the book reshapes our understanding of the Boleyn family. Follow Sophie Bacchus-Waterman on Insta! https://www.instagram.com/sophiebwaterman/ TUDOR TAKEAWAY Digital Bodleian https://digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/ Find out more about your host at https://www.nataliegrueninger.com Support Talking Tudors on Patreon!

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!

In this episode of Talking Tudors, Natalie Grueninger talks with Leigh Wakefield about the infamous Pendle Witch Trials of 1612 and their legacy. They explore the rival families at the centre of the accusations, the role of witness testimony—especially that of children—the trial records by Thomas Potts, and the later 1634 case that questioned earlier verdicts. The conversation also considers how sources were shaped by contemporary agendas, what the evidence can and cannot tell us, and why Pendle remains a powerful part of local heritage and modern interest in witchcraft history. Follow Leigh on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/historic_leigh_speaking Find out more about your host at https://www.nataliegrueninger.com Support Talking Tudors on Patreon! TUDOR TAKEAWAY Pott's Discovery of Witches in the County of Lancaster https://archive.org/details/pottsdiscoveryof00pottrich

Host Natalie Grueninger interviews Dr Tabitha Stanmore about cunning folk in Tudor and early modern England — the everyday practitioners of practical magic who offered healing, fortune-telling, love spells and buried-treasure rituals. They discuss how cunning folk differed from accused witches, the rituals and sources used to study them, surprising historical cases, and the Seven-County Witch Hunt Project that uncovers the lives behind wartime witchcraft accusations. Visit Dr Stanmore's official website https://www.tabithastanmore.co.uk/ SEVEN COUNTY WITCH HUNT PROJECT https://medium.com/@Witches7Hunt TUDOR TAKEAWAY 'Mother Bombie' by John Lyly Find out more about your host at https://www.nataliegrueninger.com Support Talking Tudors on Patreon

Host Natalie Grueninger interviews Dr James Freeman about the Curious Cures exhibition at Cambridge University Library, exploring medieval and early Tudor medical manuscripts, household remedies and charms, and how knowledge moved from ancient texts to everyday practice. Highlights include the digitisation project, the role of physicians, surgeons and domestic healers, manuscripts linked to Elizabeth of York and Henry VII, and how visitors can view the exhibition and digital copies through the Cambridge Digital Library. Dr James Freeman https://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/research-institute/people/james-freeman Learn more about the 'Curious Cures' exhibition https://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/exhibitioncuriouscures University of Cambridge Digital Library https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/ Join Dr Owen Emmerson & Natalie Grueninger for 'The Rise of a Queen: Anne Boleyn, 1526-1533' https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-rise-of-a-queen-anne-boleyn-1526-1533-tickets-1363827166769?aff=oddtdtcreator Find out more about your host at https://www.nataliegrueninger.com Support Talking Tudors on Patreon