Category: Featured

336 – The End Is The Beginning Is The End

on By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Christmas is old. Older than Christianity, in fact.

As a consequence, there’s a lot to it. Symbols and traditions that come from all over the world, and from all across time. It’s a complex event that, predictably, can provoke a complex set of emotions from people.

But when you look past the trees, and the logs, and the stockings, and the manger, and the guy in red, and the scary monsters punishing kids, and all the other things that have been added to it… when you boil it down to it’s essence what you find is that ancient root of the holiday. A very simple and clear root.

It’s a winter feast. And like any good feast, we don’t just eat and drink. We celebrate our lives and we celebrate each other.

Members can login to view the full transcript.

335 – Acts of Spasmodic Violence

on By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Morcar and Sigeferth were under a lot of stress.

These two noble brothers from the North had only just managed to join the Wulf dynasty through Sigeferht’s marriage to Ealdgyth, the niece of the powerful Ealdorman AElfhelm of York and Wulfric Spot. And that really should have been a smart move, given how powerful that family was.

Members can login to view the full transcript.
Support the Show

333 – The Conquest of England

on By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

England in 1013 was a Kingdom begging to be conquered. Decades of bad decisions have eroded its foundations and now it sat as a mere shadow of its former glory. It had none of the military prowess established by King AEthelstan. None of the political stability enjoyed under King Edgar. And none of the smart planning created by King Alfred.

Rather than being a focal point of European politics and a well governed island fortress this new England was decadent, weak, and dangerously vulnerable.

Members can login to view the full transcript.
Support the Show

330 – The Purge

on By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

The Court of AEthelred had turned over three times during his reign. First, there was his regency council.  Then, when he took full power he replaced his regency council with his young friends and corrupt enablers. Then the old guard reasserted itself, along with the powerful Wulf dynasty of the midlands in the 990s.  And now, at 1006 it was turning over for a forth time. The old guard, having returned in what looks like an attempt to get the kingdom back on track, was now …legitimately really old. Queen AElfthryth’s faction was now dying out, and Uncle Ordwulf, Cousin AEthelweard, even Wulfric Spot are now dead and gone.

Members can login to view the full transcript.
Support the Show

327 – Sail Away Sail Away Sail Away

on By 4 Comments

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Now that we’ve checked in with the rest of the world, let’s get back to our story…which lately hasn’t been going so well. In the space of 70 years the Kingdom went from a preeminent power in the West to little more than a viking hunting preserve.

By the year 1000, things had become so bad that the Viking armies were now just wintering on the island. The English nobles, unable to oust them, were essentially paying for the invader’s room and board via danegelds. Which were pulled from local peasantry. Essentially, the English rulers were so incompetent, they were pillaging their own countryside.

Members can login to view the full transcript.
Support the Show

326 – The Year 1000

on By 3 Comments

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

It’s so easy to lose the forest for the trees. This show is a show about one small island which, even at this part of the story, is still at the edge of civilization. It is very easy to forget that there is a whole other world out there… and, it is a world that keeps turning and the events that are happening at this point in history all over the world shaped who we are today.

It’s the year 1000. And before we return to our story, we are going to check in briefly with the rest of the world. What follows isn’t comprehensive, but it is intended to help place the events of our story in the context of the bigger, human, story.

Sign in as a Member to view the full transcript
Support the Show

325 – From Bad to Worse

on By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

When we left off, England was reforming its legal structure.

Now, law isn’t known for being a sexy subject…neither are lawyers for that matter. But law shapes our societies in ways that are so fundamental that they are often invisible to us. And these reforms are no exception. These codes go on to transform English life.