Tudors Dynasty & Beyond

In this episode, we spin off from our recent discussion on who was truly safe under Henry VII - and turn the spotlight on Thomas More. What if he had made a different choice? Instead of staying, what if he had fled into exile? Where would he have gone - and would he have taken his family with him? And perhaps most importantly… how would history remember him if he hadn’t died on the scaffold? We explore the possibilities, the risks, and the life Thomas More might have lived.
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Hosts:
Rebecca Larson
Amy McElroy

As a king, having “an heir and a spare” is ideal—but Henry II of England may have taken things a bit too far with four ambitious sons: Henry the Young King, Richard I of England, Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany, and John, King of England.
Join Matthew Lewis and me for a lively and unfiltered conversation about the unbelievable—and often chaotic—stories of the sons of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II. Rivalries, rebellions, betrayals…this family drama has it all.
It’s a wild ride (with a little swearing), so buckle up—Henry II certainly had to.
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If you haven't already, check out Matt's podcast: Gone Medieval
Matt's books: https://mattlewisauthor.com/
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Want to support the podcast? Head over to Patreon and become a patron! https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty
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Host: Rebecca Larson
Guest: Matt Lewis

What did people in medieval England really understand about mental health?
In this episode, I’m joined by Michèle Schindler, author of Mental Health in Late Mediaeval England, to explore a subject that is often misunderstood—and oversimplified. From the famous collapse of Henry VI to lesser-known noble case studies, we move chapter by chapter through her research to uncover how mental illness was recorded, interpreted, and treated in the late Middle Ages.
Were those suffering seen as “mad”… or simply unwell?
Did medieval society respond with cruelty—or with compassion?
And how did religion, law, and community shape the experience of mental illness?
We also dive into the difficult topic of suicide, challenging long-held assumptions about how strictly Church doctrine was applied in practice.
This conversation may change the way you think about the medieval mind—and the people who lived within it.
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Michèle's books through Pen & Sword
Michèle's books through Amberley
Michèle's books on Amazon US
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Want to support the show, please head over to Patreon to see what benefits you get by being a patron! https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty
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Host: Rebecca Larson
Guest: Michèle Schindler

In this episode of Off the Record, Amy and I dive into the grim realities of execution under Henry VIII. From Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, to Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, Lord Dacre, and others, we explore the stories behind their downfalls. Ambition, loyalty, and suspicion collide in a series of fates that reveal just how dangerous life at the Tudor court could be—each ending as tragic as it is telling.
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Hosts:
Rebecca Larson
Amy McElroy

In this episode, we go beyond the fairytale image to uncover the real expectations placed on royal daughters. Princesses were far more than ornaments of the court - they were political assets, diplomatic bridges, and the key to securing dynastic futures. As daughters, they forged alliances. As wives, they strengthened kingdoms. As mothers, they ensured survival.
But what happened when they stepped outside those expectations?
From Joan, the illegitimate daughter of King John and wife of Llywelyn the Great, whose scandal rocked Anglo-Welsh relations… to Eleanor de Montfort, a king’s sister caught up in rebellion… to Juliana, Henry I’s daughter, who allegedly tried to kill her own father - this episode explores the moments when royal duty clashed with personal ambition, loyalty, and survival.
Were these women simply reacting to impossible situations? Or were they exercising power in ways history has long misunderstood?
Join us as we explore the duties of a princess - and the consequences of defying them.
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Sharon's Books on Amazon
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Host: Rebecca Larson
Guest: Sharon Bennett Connolluy