How did political and religious factions come to dominate Tudor politics? How did these factions contribute to our queens' triumphs and downfalls, shape their legacies?

In this episode, Kate and Cally continue the "Dynasty" series by delving into the complicated web of Tudor politics, the factions that arose during the "Great Matter," and how our queens were (willingly and unwillingly) made figureheads of dangerous causes.

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Kate and Cally are joined by author and "Tudor-adjacent" historian Heather Darsie to talk about her new book, "If Any Person Will Meddle of My Cause": The Judicial Murder of Anne Boleyn (2025). Darsie uses her legal and research backgrounds to investigate the downfall, trial, and execution of Anne Boleyn, bringing a fresh perspective to an often-told story. How does the book contextualize Anne as a powerful, intelligent, but often misguided queen? Does learning more about her background in Europe, especially France, allow us to make sense of what happened later? How did Anne break laws and push boundaries that may have angered the wrong people?

For their first installment in this new "Book Club" series, Kate and Cally are thrilled to welcome Darsie back to the podcast! You can find a list of her books and links to purchase them by clicking this link. Find her on Instagram @hdarsiehistory.

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Hang out with Kate and Cally as they celebrate the holiday season and keep up their tradition of watching Christmas films together. This time, Cally introduces Kate to the popular television show The Tudors (2007-2010), which has a rather infamous relationship with Tudor historians. The show follows the tumultuous reign of Henry VIII and features some of the most memorable depictions of our six queens ever seen on screen.

After hearing about the show for years, what are Kate's initial reactions upon seeing it for the first time? How does the show manage to depict personal and political drama for a popular audience? And how do they show the lavish Christmas celebrations at the Tudor court?

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"Honourable Mentions" is a series that honours the lives of Tudor women who knew, aided, and impacted the lives of our six queens. This season, Kate and Cally unpack the life of one of the most powerful women of fifteenth-century Europe: Isabel of Castile. In addition to being the mother of Katherine of Aragon, she was a queen in her own right, a conqueror with a complicated legacy, and the equal of any male ruler at the table.

How did Isabel's unique political situation influence her queenship and character? How did her family, especially her daughters, benefit from Isabel's unwavering, unquestionable power? And how did her dynastic legacy influence the Tudors?

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How did international alliances and connections strengthen the Tudor dynasty? How did the marriages of royal women, including two of our queens, contribute to the Tudors' power? And how did those women use their family ties to influence European politics and their own queenships?

Kate and Cally zoom out from Tudor England to show the complicated, interconnected web of European politics, and the ways in which Katherine of Aragon, Anne of Cleves, and Anne Boleyn used their international connections to advocate for their families and themselves.

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How did queens use portraiture to not only capture likeness, but to demonstrate political power? What can portraits tell us about the queens they represent?

Kate and Cally will discuss the importance of portraiture in understanding the political motives and legacies of our queens, especially Katherine Parr, whose surviving output is unique and impressive. Follow along by clicking these links and seeing the art for yourself: Katherine Parr by Master John (ca. 1545), National Portrait Gallery ; Katherine Parr by Lucas or Margaret Horenbout (ca. 1544), Sudeley Castle

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"Dynastic portraits," showing the royal family in group scenarios, are some of the most fascinating portraits of the Tudor era. What do they tell us about the politics of the monarchs who commissioned them? How do they seek to create certain narratives and, in some cases, rewrite history? And even if they're not depicted, how did our queens influence the art?

Kate and Cally will discuss four paintings that show Tudor propaganda at its finest: The Family of Henry VII with St. George and the Dragon; the "Whitehall Mural"; The Family of Henry VIII; and The Allegory of the Tudor Succession. Click on the links to follow along and view these paintings as they're discussed!

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How did our six queens use feminine ideals to create their public images? How did they define their personas and politics within society's patriarchal standards for women? And what happened when they failed to meet those standards?

In this episode, Kate and Cally discuss three important female archetypes and how our queens were defined by often unattainable expectations.

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