Fortune's Wheel: A Podcast History of Our Medieval Story

What can a 12th-century English monk teach us about ghosts? That they’re real—and part of everyday life. In this episode, we explore chilling medieval accounts where the spiritual and secular worlds collide, and the dead are never too far from the living.

⚠️ Content warning: Some spooky material may not be for the faint of heart.

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What. can a 12th-century English monk teach us about ghosts? Well, for one, they exist. They exist right alongside the goings-on of the kingdom. Also, they cannot be separated from everyday life. A 12-century monk can teach us that, to the medieval mind, the secular and the spiritual realms coexist and those ethereal entities who visit us in the dead of night are just as real as the person sleeping next to you. Enjoy these tales of ghostly encounters from the 12th century!

WARNING: This show may have a few moments that our more squeamish or sensitive listeners may want to consider avoiding.

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And...Happy Halloween!

Welcome to the darker corners of the Middle Ages. In this special series, we explore the myths, fears, and supernatural forces that haunted medieval minds. Today’s tale takes us to the frozen north, where winter nights brought more than cold—some believed they brought the dead, riding with Odin’s ghostly host.

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Welcome to the first episode in a short series about the stranger side of the Middle Ages. In this series, we will explore the culture and events that were everyday parts of a person's life throughout Europe during this medieval period of history. This was a time in which the world was still full of magic and mystery and, yes, terror.

Today, we climb into the minds of those intrepid and hardy folks who peopled the unbelievably hard lands in the north and who feared, in the bleakest hours of the night during the bleakest time of the year, their ancestor's return as part of the retinue of Odin's Army. Myths and legends appear in everything from collections of folklore to historical texts, such as The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles. These stories simply cannot be discounted in any study of the time period, because the people who told these stories were shaped by these stories. Their behaviors were results of this belief and, after today's episode, one can see why one toiled the fields during the warmer months so that leaving the house and venturing out into the icy forests was an absolute last resort.

I hope you enjoy the show.

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SEASON 2: Here Come the Normans!

EPISODE 15: Normandy Stirs

Normandy has been dismissed, mocked, and underestimated—until now. In this episode, we explore how Robert of Normandy steps out of the long shadow of his Viking past to demand respect among the great powers of Europe. The age of Norman hesitation is over.

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SEASON 1: The Danish Conquest of England

EPISODE 14: Emma of England...Again

Emma of Normandy doesn’t break—she adapts. In this episode, we watch her become queen again, this time to a Danish conqueror ruling the same kingdom her late husband once did. She is power in motion—always forward, always surviving. Keep your eye on Emma.

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If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app Buy Me A Coffee! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!

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SEASON 1: The Danish Conquest of England

EPISODE 13: Emma of England

Emma of Normandy steps onto the English throne—and into the storm. In this episode, we follow her journey from duke’s sister to queen consort of a fractured kingdom, watching the chaos of the 1000s and 1010s unfold through her sharp and steady eyes.

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If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app Buy Me A Coffee! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!

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SEASON 1: The Danish Conquest of England

EPISODE 12: Emma of Normandy

We rewind to the chaotic year of 1002 to meet a teenage girl thrown into the storm of Aethelred’s England—Emma of Normandy. In this episode, we begin the story of one of the most extraordinary women of the Middle Ages… a queen who outlasted kings, chaos, and conquest.

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If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app ⁠Buy Me A Coffee⁠! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!

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SEASON 1: The Danish Conquest of England

EPISODE 11: Cnut (Not Quite) the Great

Edmund Ironside is dead. Long live King Cnut. In this episode, we witness the brutal, brilliant rise of England’s new ruler—a man who once mutilated his enemies but now shows surprising skill as king. It’s the start of something unexpected… and maybe even beautiful.

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If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app Buy Me A Coffee! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!

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SEASON 1: The Danish Conquest of England

EPISODE 10: Because Aethelred

Aethelred gets a second chance to rule—so naturally, he does the most Aethelred thing possible: he listens to Eadric Streona. Again. In this episode, we explore the tragically on-brand decisions of England’s least-ready king and the chaos that follows.

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If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app Buy Me A Coffee! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!

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