Shows / Tudors Dynasty & Beyond
Tudors Dynasty & Beyond
Welcome to Tudors Dynasty & Beyond, the podcast where history comes alive through stories of royalty, rebellion, and resilience. Hosted by independent researcher Rebecca Larson, each episode dives into the Tudors and beyond—Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Katherine of Aragon, forgotten queens, rebels, and adventurers. Enjoy Sunday storytelling (or interviews), engaging historian chats, and the popular Thursday series Dr. Emma & Me, with Dr. Emma Cahill Marron. Discover love, power, intrigue, and…
Episodes
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondJohn Skelton: Poet, Tutor, and Troublemaker
John Skelton is one of the most fascinating figures of the Tudor age - and somehow, one of the most overlooked. Poet, scholar, tutor to the future Henry VIII…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondThe Daughters of King Stephen
Finally, Matt Lewis took the hint and didn't show up today! Just kidding - he was busy this week but will be back next week to chat about Henry V with me…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondWomen's Networks in Medieval England
What happens when we stop looking at medieval queens as isolated figures and start looking at the women around them? In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Lacey…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondJohn Cheke: Scholar of Kings, Prisoner of Queens
John Cheke is often remembered as one of the greatest scholars of Tudor England, but his story is about far more than books and learning. In this episode, I'm…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondHenry IV: The Vanilla Milkshake of Kings
Well… here it is. What did you think about the show open this week? Let me know in the comments! This week, Matt Lewis and I turn our attention to Henry IV —…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondThe Queen's Husband: Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
In this second to last episode of our The Queen’s Husband series, I’m joined once again by the wonderful Dr. Linda Porter as we turn our attention to one of…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondHistorical TV Series: Part Three
Yeah, you read that right, we are on Part Three (and the last for now) on historical TV series. This episode we look at one of my favorites - House of the…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondRichard II: The King with a God Complex
Richard II’s story is honestly one of the wildest royal rises and falls in English history, and in this episode I’m joined once again by Matt Lewis to untangle…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondPhilippa Gregory on Mary Boleyn, Tudor Women & Revisiting History
She has sold over 30 million copies of her books worldwide, and she is likely the most recognizable name in historical fiction. Today, I’m sharing the…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondHistorical TV Series - Part Two
Here we are again, yet another Sunday chatting about historical TV series... Let's be honest, there are so many to discuss that we could do this forever, but…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondEdward III: Life, Death, and Everything In Between
In the second half of Edward III’s reign, he begins to shift into something far more complicated. Joined once again by Matt Lewis, we follow Edward through the…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondThe Illegitimate Daughters of King Henry I
In this episode, I’m joined by historian and author Sharon Bennett Connolly to explore the fascinating lives of the women featured in her new book, Princesses…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondHistorical TV: Brilliant… or Absolutely Bonkers?
From lavish costumes and dramatic romances to wildly inaccurate timelines and completely unhinged plot twists, historical television gives us plenty to talk…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondEdward III: The Crown's Bright New Hope
I'm joined once again by the brilliant historian Matt Lewis to hear the end of the story of Edward II, and then we move onto his son Edward III. As with all of…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondMary Boleyn: Slandered, Seductive...or Simply Misunderstood?
Mary Boleyn - the “great whore” of Tudor history…or the victim of a bad translation? In this episode, we dig into one of the most misunderstood women of the…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondEdward II: A King Out of Place
Edward II has often been remembered as a king who simply didn’t fit the role he inherited. In this episode, we trace his reign from the shadow of his…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondKatherine Swynford: From Mistress to Duchess
In this episode, I’m joined by historian Sharon Bennett Connolly to explore the life of Katherine Swynford - her relationship with John of Gaunt, the scandal…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondHenry VII: What Ifs & Misconceptions
What if Henry Tudor never made it out of England? What if Bosworth had gone differently? And how much of what we think we know about Henry VII is actually…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondEdward I: Tyrant or Mastermind?
Was Edward I of England a brilliant reformer—or a ruthless tyrant? In this episode, we dig into the life and reign of one of England’s most formidable kings…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondMyths & Misconceptions: Elizabeth Boleyn
In this episode, I’m joined by Sophie Bacchus-Waterman to challenge everything you think you know about Elizabeth Boleyn. If you’ve ever wondered whether…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondWomen Behaving Badly: Tudor Style
Welcome back to Off the Record! Today, Amy and I dive into women “behaving badly”…or at least, that’s how history chose to remember them. And yes—we’re fully…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondThe King No One Talks About: Henry III
What do you do when your father is one of the worst kings in English history? This week, I’m joined by Matt Lewis to unpack the life of Henry III of England—a…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondThe Queen's Husband: George of Denmark (Series)
After exploring the husbands of Mary, Queen of Scots, Mary I of England, and Mary II of England, we now arrive at the final Stuart queen—Queen Anne—and the…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondMen Behaving Badly: Tudor Style
What does bad behavior really look like in Tudor England? In this episode, we take a sharp look at the men who pushed ambition, ego, and survival just a little…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondThe Runaway Nun & the Exiled Princess
What happens to the daughters of a king after everything falls apart? In this episode, we step into the turbulent aftermath of 1066 and follow the…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondThe Complicated Rule of Mary, Queen of Scots
This week, I’m joined by historian Dr. Steven Veerapen for a deep dive into one of history’s most fascinating—and controversial—figures: Mary, Queen of Scots…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondMarriage Edition: Good, Bad, and the Ugly
What makes a marriage work - especially in a world where love was often optional and politics were everything? In this episode of Off the Record, Amy and I…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondKing John & His Brilliant Sisters
My brother from another mother, Matt Lewis, is back—and we’re continuing the story of the children of Henry II of England (and Eleanor of Aquitaine). But since…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondThe Scandalous Wives of Edward Seymour
Edward Seymour is often remembered as the powerful Lord Protector who ruled during the minority of Edward VI—but what about the women behind him? In this…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondWhat If Thomas More Chose Exile Over Execution?
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…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondThe Idiotic Sons of Henry II
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…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondMental Health in Late Medieval England
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…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondWas Anyone Safe Under Henry VIII?
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…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondThe Life of a Medieval Princess
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…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondMyths of the Six Wives: Part Two
Today I’m joined again (Part Two) by historian and friend Sylvia Barbara Soberton to dig into some of the most famous - and widely repeated - myths about the…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondWhat If Henry VII HAD Remarried?
It's time for another historical WHAT IF, and today we are looking at Henry VII and what if he had remarried after the death of Elizabeth of York in 1503. This…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondHenry II & Eleanor of Aquitaine: Medieval Power Couple
In this episode of Rebecca & Friends, I’m joined by historian and author Matt Lewis to explore one of the most powerful—and complicated—couples of the Middle…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondMyths of the Six Wives: Part One
Today I’m joined by historian and friend Sylvia Barbara Soberton to dig into some of the most famous - and widely repeated - myths about the six wives of Henry…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondMarriage Edition: Love & Lust (Off the Record)
Welcome to another Sunday Funday of Off the Record with Amy & Rebecca! This time I take the lead (forgive me - I’m still getting used to that 😅) as we dive…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondThe Queen Who Never Was: Empress Matilda
When people think of the English civil war known as the Anarchy, one name often stands at the center: Empress Matilda, the daughter of Henry I and the woman…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondThe Queen's Husband: William III (Series)
It’s been a little while since our last installment in this series - and Dr. Porter begins by explaining the reason for the delay. In today’s episode, we turn…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondWhat If James IV and Margaret Tudor Left No Living Child?
There are big “what-ifs” in history… and then there are the ones that quietly change everything. In this episode, we ask: What if Margaret Tudor had no…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondThe Lost Princes...and the Daughter No One Knew
Today would normally be a Dr. Emma & Me episode, but as many of you know from the last show and the notes here on Patreon, the series is on a brief hiatus…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondBlood, Birth, and the Crown: Royal Childbirth in the Middle Ages
In this episode, I’m joined by the wonderful Michèle Schindler to explore one of the most dangerous - and politically charged - experiences in medieval life…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondWhat If Queen Mary I Had a Son? (Off the Record)
There are so many “what ifs” in history - but this one may have reshaped the world. What if Mary I had given birth to a healthy son who survived? In this…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondThe Making of Spain: From the Romans to the Catholic Monarchs
Dr. Emma & Me is pressing pause for now as Emma takes some time for herself. We appreciate your kindness and respect for her privacy during this season, and…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondHenry Wotton: Wit, Secrecy, and the Art of Diplomacy
In this episode, I’m joined by Professor Carol Rutter to explore the fascinating life of Henry Wotton - diplomat, poet, wit, and master of survival in the…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondWhat If Henry VIII Had Died in 1513?
What if Henry VIII had died while campaigning in France? This episode started with what felt like an obvious answer—but quickly turned into a far more…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondParallel Lives: Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I
In this episode of Dr. Emma & Me, we explore one of history’s most iconic mother - daughter pairings: Anne Boleyn and her daughter, Elizabeth I. Elizabeth was…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondA Life She Never Chose: Mary of Modena and the Courage to Endure
In this episode, we step into the glittering yet deeply unstable world of the Restoration court through the life of Mary of Modena - a woman whose destiny…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondWhat-If Elizabeth I HAD Died From Smallpox? (Off the Record)
In the autumn of 1562, England held its breath. Queen Elizabeth I lay gravely ill with smallpox, her life uncertain, her kingdom unprepared for what might come…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondParallel Lives: Anna of Cleves & Katherine of Aragon
Two queens. Two foreign brides. Two marriages to Henry VIII—yet wildly different legacies. In this episode of Parallel Lives, Dr. Emma and I place Anna of…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondThe Greatest Tudor Villain: Sir Richard Rich
Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich, rose from relatively modest beginnings to become one of the most powerful - and controversial - figures of the Tudor age. A…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondWhat-If Richard, Duke of York Had Become King?
We know him best as the father of Edward IV and Richard III, and as the husband of Cecily Neville. But in October 1460, everything changed. The Act of Accord…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondParallel Lives: Philip IV of Spain & Diego Velázquez,
One ruled one of the most powerful empires of the seventeenth century. The other shaped how that power would be seen - then and now. In this episode of…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondThe Human Cost of Power: Women, Blood, and Legacy
Why are we still so obsessed with the Tudors after five centuries? In this week’s Tuesday Historian Chat, I’m joined by historian and author Elizabeth Goff to…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondWhat-If Mary, Queen of Scots Had Not Been Executed? (Off the Record)
What if Elizabeth I had never signed Mary, Queen of Scots’ death warrant? On this episode of Off the Record, we dive into the political chaos, succession…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondParallel Tinders: Mary I & Elizabeth I (Dr. Emma & Me)
In this episode of Parallel Tinders, we’re putting England’s most famous sisters side-by-side -Mary I and Elizabeth I - to explore how two women raised in the…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondAnglo-Saxon Women: Power, Reputation, and Choice
In this episode, I’m joined by historian Annie Whitehead to explore the women of the Anglo-Saxon world and the many ways they shaped early medieval England. We…
Tudors Dynasty & BeyondOff the Record: What If Jane Grey Had Remained Queen?
What if Lady Jane Grey had outwitted Mary Tudor and stayed Queen of England? In this Off the Record episode, we follow the most fascinating “what if” in Tudor…