When we think of Elizabethan seafarers and privateers, our minds invariably head straight for Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Francis Drake, but what of Thomas Cavendish? Cavendish became famous for his incredible voyage around the world, but his journey wasn’t just about exploration. It was filled with danger, stolen treasure, risky encounters at sea and...the potatoe. So, how did a young Englishman become one of the most feared sailors of his time? And what happened during his final voyage? Well to discuss just that, I am pleased to welcome historian Iain Gately onto the podcast for the first time, for a discussion based on his book, The Queens Pirate, so join us as we uncover the adventures, achievements, and mysterious fate of Thomas Cavendish!

Across nearly five centuries, Richard Rich has acquired a reputation as the consummate opportunist: a man who appeared to possess few genuine principles beyond his own advancement, who accumulated immense wealth through the destruction of the monasteries, and who played pivotal roles in sending two of England's most revered martyrs—Bishop John Fisher and Sir Thomas More—to the scaffold. To many historians, Rich epitomises the darker side of Tudor government, where ambition eclipsed conscience and political expediency routinely trumped morality, so, what was his actual story?

The Wars of the Roses produced some of England’s most ruthless and intriguing figures, but few have left behind a darker mystery than Sir James Tyrell. A trusted servant of Richard III, Tyrell rose through the ranks to become a powerful and influential figure at the Yorkist court. Yet his name, thanks to the writings of Sir Thomas More, would become forever associated with one of English history’s greatest unsolved mysteries: the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower. But who was the man behind the legend? Was he a loyal soldier, a political opportunist, or a ruthless killer? And how did a man who survived the downfall of Richard III ultimately find himself on the scaffold under Henry VII? Well to discuss all of this and more, I am pleased to welcome back historian Richard Anderton onto the podcast, whose upcoming book, The Boar and the Peacock, The Rise and Fall of Sir James Tyrell acts as the basis for our conversation.

What happens when two of the most powerful women of sixteenth-century Europe meet across the political and religious divides of their age? Elizabeth I of England and Catherine de Medici, Queen Mother of France, never had a simple relationship. Separated by borders, faith, and competing political interests. In this episode, I’m joined by historian Dr Estelle Paranque to explore the fascinating relationship between these two formidable figures. What did Elizabeth and Catherine think of one another and what can their encounters tell us about the ways women could exercise political influence in Renaissance Europe?

Governess, confidante and fiercely loyal companion, Kate Ashley was an almost constant presence throughout the life of Queen Elizabeth I, from her early days as a princess, to the most dangerous years, to the very height of her powers but who was the woman behind this extraordinary reign and friendship, who actually was Kate Ashley, who were her court relations, what links did she possess to royalty itself and what can her story tell us about female friendship, loyalty and survival in Tudor England? Well to find out, I am pleased to welcome historian Rosemary Griggs onto the podcast for the first time, for a discussion based on her book, Queen Elizabeth’s Governess, The Real Kate Ashley.

Childbirth in Tudor England was a moment of extraordinary danger, uncertainty, and hope, but what really happened behind the closed doors of a Tudor birthing chamber? Who were the midwives entrusted with delivering babies, and what remedies, rituals, and techniques did they use? To discuss all of this and more, I'm pleased to welcome back historian and midwife Brigitte Barnard to explore the fascinating and often overlooked world of Tudor childbirth and midwifery. Together, we'll uncover the realities of pregnancy and birth, but also unpick some of the facts that have come down the centuries about Tudor royal births that Brigitte is adamant have been presented incorrectly.

The stories of the many men and women who, as far back as the 10th century, have been the earls and countesses of Warwick, are among the most infamous, stimulating and shocking figures from across England’s rich history, and so to discuss this fascinating dynasty with me, I am pleased to welcome onto the podcast for the first time, historian Aaron Manning, who’s first book, England’s Bears, The Blood and Glory of the House of Warwick acts as the basis for our conversation.

What was life really like for women in the Middle Ages? From princesses and queens, to noblewomen all the way down to peasants, their lives were shaped by work, family, faith, law and the communities around them. But how much do we actually know about their experiences, and what can medieval sources tell us about the choices, challenges and opportunities they faced? Well to discuss just that, I am thrilled to welcome back Dr Catherine Hanley, onto the podcast, for a discussion based around her book, The Family Lives of Medieval Women. Together, we’ll look beyond the stereotypes of the “medieval woman” and discover the remarkable variety of women’s lives during this period.