Gretel le Maître Ponders Beauty, with Bede & other guests

By Gretel le MaîtreSociety & Culture Arts Books History Places & Travel

Gretel le Maître Ponders Beauty, with Bede & other guests episodes

May 12, 2025 Winston Churchill tells of the build-up the The Anarchy after an Old King loses his beloved teenage son; We ponder the possible suppression by Lanfranc of unorthodox Celtic Saints; and Pepys discovers beautiful Delft
Listener mail is warmly welcomed 🙋‍♀️

Support the show
Gretel le Maître likes to look for the beauty and curiosities in life, one day at a time. She shares with you snippets from books about history, art and literature and regularly takes you on adventures to new locations, to explore churches, cathedrals and architecture. We’ve reached over 80,000 downloads.
Don’t try to listen in order, unless you’re very committed. Dip in and out, choosing an episode based on the title information. Whether you are interested in history, literature, poetry or one-to-one chatting, I try to give you something that will interest you. This is a podcast for the curious, the kind and - possibly - the suffering or lonely.
Historian Tom Holland is the Honorary Patron of this podcast. Thank you Tom🙏
Gretel invites you to accompany her as she navigates the world a day at a time; the podcast is unscripted, it’s ad-free.

Gretel loves the world and history, architecture, literature and people. And so is determined to walk this path with light footsteps and with humour and warmth. Let’s gather up the beautiful things and ponder them in our hearts.
Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. I would be so grateful if you would spare the time to give me a kind review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 😬☺️🥴
Previous guests include historian Tom Holland; Sir Richard Eyre; Actors Guy Henry and Enzo Cilenti; Art historian Philip Mould; Writer David Willem; Author Nicola Cornick; Composer Matthew Coleridge; Vicar Angela T...
41 min
May 11, 2025 Pepys organises the painting of the new King’s Arms
Listener mail is warmly welcomed 🙋‍♀️
The obsessing over signage by all people and institutions in May of 1660 is so fascinating and so relatable and explains why so many English pubs are the King’s Arms. What quicker, surer way to reassure people of your loyalty to the new King? Signs and symbols matter because we use them to be noticed by others who we know will know what we meant by them. They are equivalent to the nod of the head from one local to another as he enters the pub. Bonne nuit et grands mercis 🕯️

Support the show
Gretel le Maître likes to look for the beauty and curiosities in life, one day at a time. She shares with you snippets from books about history, art and literature and regularly takes you on adventures to new locations, to explore churches, cathedrals and architecture. We’ve reached over 80,000 downloads.
Don’t try to listen in order, unless you’re very committed. Dip in and out, choosing an episode based on the title information. Whether you are interested in history, literature, poetry or one-to-one chatting, I try to give you something that will interest you. This is a podcast for the curious, the kind and - possibly - the suffering or lonely.
Historian Tom Holland is the Honorary Patron of this podcast. Thank you Tom🙏
Gretel invites you to accompany her as she navigates the world a day at a time; the podcast is unscripted, it’s ad-free.

Gretel loves the world and history, architecture, literature and people. And so is determined to walk this path with light footsteps and with humour and warmth. Let’s gather up the beautiful things and ponder them in our hearts.
Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. I would be so grateful if you would spare the time to give me a kind review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 😬☺️🥴
Previous guests include historian Tom Holland; Sir Richard Eyre; Actors Guy Henry and Enzo Cilenti; Art historian Philip Mould; Writer David Willem; Author Nicola Cornick; Composer Matthew Coleridge; Vicar Angela T...
20 min
May 10, 2025 Fascinating Irish Saints and a happy May Day in 1660 London
Listener mail is warmly welcomed 🙋‍♀️
A second episode, so we keep our momentum going with dear Pepys and his diary. The photo here is the beautiful parish church of Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds, where I am staying for the weekend.

A very good evening to you.

Support the show
Gretel le Maître likes to look for the beauty and curiosities in life, one day at a time. She shares with you snippets from books about history, art and literature and regularly takes you on adventures to new locations, to explore churches, cathedrals and architecture. We’ve reached over 80,000 downloads.
Don’t try to listen in order, unless you’re very committed. Dip in and out, choosing an episode based on the title information. Whether you are interested in history, literature, poetry or one-to-one chatting, I try to give you something that will interest you. This is a podcast for the curious, the kind and - possibly - the suffering or lonely.
Historian Tom Holland is the Honorary Patron of this podcast. Thank you Tom🙏
Gretel invites you to accompany her as she navigates the world a day at a time; the podcast is unscripted, it’s ad-free.

Gretel loves the world and history, architecture, literature and people. And so is determined to walk this path with light footsteps and with humour and warmth. Let’s gather up the beautiful things and ponder them in our hearts.
Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. I would be so grateful if you would spare the time to give me a kind review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 😬☺️🥴
Previous guests include historian Tom Holland; Sir Richard Eyre; Actors Guy Henry and Enzo Cilenti; Art historian Philip Mould; Writer David Willem; Author Nicola Cornick; Composer Matthew Coleridge; Vicar Angela T...
18 min
May 10, 2025 Tom Holland talks Podcasts, Donald Trump, and the joys of cricket
Listener mail is warmly welcomed 🙋‍♀️
Good evening and welcome to tonight’s episode where, after talking to an enthusiastic audience about his book Suetonius, historian Tom Holland spared me ten minutes to chat about this, that and cricket. 🏏

I’m so grateful to him for his time.

Support the show
Gretel le Maître likes to look for the beauty and curiosities in life, one day at a time. She shares with you snippets from books about history, art and literature and regularly takes you on adventures to new locations, to explore churches, cathedrals and architecture. We’ve reached over 80,000 downloads.
Don’t try to listen in order, unless you’re very committed. Dip in and out, choosing an episode based on the title information. Whether you are interested in history, literature, poetry or one-to-one chatting, I try to give you something that will interest you. This is a podcast for the curious, the kind and - possibly - the suffering or lonely.
Historian Tom Holland is the Honorary Patron of this podcast. Thank you Tom🙏
Gretel invites you to accompany her as she navigates the world a day at a time; the podcast is unscripted, it’s ad-free.

Gretel loves the world and history, architecture, literature and people. And so is determined to walk this path with light footsteps and with humour and warmth. Let’s gather up the beautiful things and ponder them in our hearts.
Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. I would be so grateful if you would spare the time to give me a kind review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 😬☺️🥴
Previous guests include historian Tom Holland; Sir Richard Eyre; Actors Guy Henry and Enzo Cilenti; Art historian Philip Mould; Writer David Willem; Author Nicola Cornick; Composer Matthew Coleridge; Vicar Angela T...
17 min
May 09, 2025 Cerne Abbas, spilt wine and Pepys plays ninepins
Listener mail is warmly welcomed 🙋‍♀️

Support the show
Gretel le Maître likes to look for the beauty and curiosities in life, one day at a time. She shares with you snippets from books about history, art and literature and regularly takes you on adventures to new locations, to explore churches, cathedrals and architecture. We’ve reached over 80,000 downloads.
Don’t try to listen in order, unless you’re very committed. Dip in and out, choosing an episode based on the title information. Whether you are interested in history, literature, poetry or one-to-one chatting, I try to give you something that will interest you. This is a podcast for the curious, the kind and - possibly - the suffering or lonely.
Historian Tom Holland is the Honorary Patron of this podcast. Thank you Tom🙏
Gretel invites you to accompany her as she navigates the world a day at a time; the podcast is unscripted, it’s ad-free.

Gretel loves the world and history, architecture, literature and people. And so is determined to walk this path with light footsteps and with humour and warmth. Let’s gather up the beautiful things and ponder them in our hearts.
Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. I would be so grateful if you would spare the time to give me a kind review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 😬☺️🥴
Previous guests include historian Tom Holland; Sir Richard Eyre; Actors Guy Henry and Enzo Cilenti; Art historian Philip Mould; Writer David Willem; Author Nicola Cornick; Composer Matthew Coleridge; Vicar Angela T...
17 min
May 08, 2025 Pepys’ Progress and a Blackbird 🐦‍⬛
Listener mail is warmly welcomed 🙋‍♀️

Support the show
Gretel le Maître likes to look for the beauty and curiosities in life, one day at a time. She shares with you snippets from books about history, art and literature and regularly takes you on adventures to new locations, to explore churches, cathedrals and architecture. We’ve reached over 80,000 downloads.
Don’t try to listen in order, unless you’re very committed. Dip in and out, choosing an episode based on the title information. Whether you are interested in history, literature, poetry or one-to-one chatting, I try to give you something that will interest you. This is a podcast for the curious, the kind and - possibly - the suffering or lonely.
Historian Tom Holland is the Honorary Patron of this podcast. Thank you Tom🙏
Gretel invites you to accompany her as she navigates the world a day at a time; the podcast is unscripted, it’s ad-free.

Gretel loves the world and history, architecture, literature and people. And so is determined to walk this path with light footsteps and with humour and warmth. Let’s gather up the beautiful things and ponder them in our hearts.
Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. I would be so grateful if you would spare the time to give me a kind review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 😬☺️🥴
Previous guests include historian Tom Holland; Sir Richard Eyre; Actors Guy Henry and Enzo Cilenti; Art historian Philip Mould; Writer David Willem; Author Nicola Cornick; Composer Matthew Coleridge; Vicar Angela T...
21 min
May 07, 2025 A Sombre Wednesday; Painting for the first time as an Adult; and Pepys commemorates his Stone Operation
Listener mail is warmly welcomed 🙋‍♀️

Support the show
Gretel le Maître likes to look for the beauty and curiosities in life, one day at a time. She shares with you snippets from books about history, art and literature and regularly takes you on adventures to new locations, to explore churches, cathedrals and architecture. We’ve reached over 80,000 downloads.
Don’t try to listen in order, unless you’re very committed. Dip in and out, choosing an episode based on the title information. Whether you are interested in history, literature, poetry or one-to-one chatting, I try to give you something that will interest you. This is a podcast for the curious, the kind and - possibly - the suffering or lonely.
Historian Tom Holland is the Honorary Patron of this podcast. Thank you Tom🙏
Gretel invites you to accompany her as she navigates the world a day at a time; the podcast is unscripted, it’s ad-free.

Gretel loves the world and history, architecture, literature and people. And so is determined to walk this path with light footsteps and with humour and warmth. Let’s gather up the beautiful things and ponder them in our hearts.
Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. I would be so grateful if you would spare the time to give me a kind review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 😬☺️🥴
Previous guests include historian Tom Holland; Sir Richard Eyre; Actors Guy Henry and Enzo Cilenti; Art historian Philip Mould; Writer David Willem; Author Nicola Cornick; Composer Matthew Coleridge; Vicar Angela T...
25 min
May 07, 2025 National Treasure and priest Angela Tilbury chats about grief and her new book; and author Andrew Heavens discusses his fascinating book The Prince and the Plunder
Listener mail is warmly welcomed 🙋‍♀️
Welcome to a second episode today where I have two informal conversations with fascinating people I met at the book launch of Bijan Omrani’s ‘God is an Englishman’ yesterday. I also take you round parts of Temple Church in London. Back to Pepys’ diaries tomorrow 🤓
The best things in life are unscripted 🌝

Support the show
Gretel le Maître likes to look for the beauty and curiosities in life, one day at a time. She shares with you snippets from books about history, art and literature and regularly takes you on adventures to new locations, to explore churches, cathedrals and architecture. We’ve reached over 80,000 downloads.
Don’t try to listen in order, unless you’re very committed. Dip in and out, choosing an episode based on the title information. Whether you are interested in history, literature, poetry or one-to-one chatting, I try to give you something that will interest you. This is a podcast for the curious, the kind and - possibly - the suffering or lonely.
Historian Tom Holland is the Honorary Patron of this podcast. Thank you Tom🙏
Gretel invites you to accompany her as she navigates the world a day at a time; the podcast is unscripted, it’s ad-free.

Gretel loves the world and history, architecture, literature and people. And so is determined to walk this path with light footsteps and with humour and warmth. Let’s gather up the beautiful things and ponder them in our hearts.
Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. I would be so grateful if you would spare the time to give me a kind review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 😬☺️🥴
Previous guests include historian Tom Holland; Sir Richard Eyre; Actors Guy Henry and Enzo Cilenti; Art historian Philip Mould; Writer David Willem; Author Nicola Cornick; Composer Matthew Coleridge; Vicar Angela T...
25 min
May 06, 2025 Spontaneous Chat with national treasure priest Angela Tilby and author Andrew Heavens
Welcome to my second episode tonight, where I take you round the legendary Temple Church in London and I chat with the delightful Angela Tilby and the journalist and author Andrew Heavens.

HOWEVER!! A gremlin has played around with this episode so that the last 5 minutes need to be ignored. I really need to work out how to do this stuff properly…. I hang my head in shame 😭
Support the show
Love Gretel 🌝

26 min
May 06, 2025 An Interview with Author Bijan Omrani who discusses his book God is an Englishman: Christianity and the Creation of England
Listener mail is warmly welcomed 🙋‍♀️
Good evening. Thank you for joining me as I chat to Bijan Omrani about the vital importance of Christianity in the development of England.

Thank you Bijan for your time as we perched in the nippy wind outside Temple Church in London.

Support the show
Gretel le Maître likes to look for the beauty and curiosities in life, one day at a time. She shares with you snippets from books about history, art and literature and regularly takes you on adventures to new locations, to explore churches, cathedrals and architecture. We’ve reached over 80,000 downloads.
Don’t try to listen in order, unless you’re very committed. Dip in and out, choosing an episode based on the title information. Whether you are interested in history, literature, poetry or one-to-one chatting, I try to give you something that will interest you. This is a podcast for the curious, the kind and - possibly - the suffering or lonely.
Historian Tom Holland is the Honorary Patron of this podcast. Thank you Tom🙏
Gretel invites you to accompany her as she navigates the world a day at a time; the podcast is unscripted, it’s ad-free.

Gretel loves the world and history, architecture, literature and people. And so is determined to walk this path with light footsteps and with humour and warmth. Let’s gather up the beautiful things and ponder them in our hearts.
Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes. I would be so grateful if you would spare the time to give me a kind review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 😬☺️🥴
Previous guests include historian Tom Holland; Sir Richard Eyre; Actors Guy Henry and Enzo Cilenti; Art historian Philip Mould; Writer David Willem; Author Nicola Cornick; Composer Matthew Coleridge; Vicar Angela T...
31 min

About Gretel le Maître Ponders Beauty, with Bede & other guests

From the publisher's feed

Gretel le Maître likes to look for the beauty and curiosities in life, one day at a time. She shares with you snippets from books about history, art and literature and regularly takes you on…