Media-eval: A Medieval Pop Culture Podcast

It's a movie set in 1986 but its heart is medieval. Ollie is back and he introduces Sarah to one of his all time favourite movies- Highlander!

Is it good? some would say no but sometimes being wildly entertaining is more important than being good!

It’s just past Halloween, and Media-eval has an episode with an unusual take on the thriller genre! Join Sarah and returning guest Morgan Morales for a discussion of Firebrand, a 2023 film about the harrowing end to the relationship between Henry VIII and Katherine Parr - or a version of it, at least. We get into Tudor portraiture, religion and politics in early modern England, and of course the real story of Katherine Parr.

CWs: sexual assault; miscarriage

Social Media:
Twitter: x.com/mediaevalpod


E-mail: [email protected]


Find Morgan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgansaysohballs/

Its 2004 and you are the biggest movie star on the planet but you can't get no respect, so what do you do?

Easy! make a historical epic that stars an incredible cast and you will surely win an oscar! Just make sure there is no way anyone thinks your character is gay.

Join Sarah and Ollie as they breakdown a movie that is somewhat hated by the common people in the world but one of the hosts actually loves...we wont tell you which.

Is this truly an episode of Media-eval? Yes! Sarah and fellow medieval historian Mireille Pardon delve into identity, legal culture, and microhistories in the 1982 film The Return of Martin Guerre.

Social Media:
Twitter: x.com/mediaevalpod


E-mail: [email protected]


Find Mireille on TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@pardon_mi?lang=en) and Twitter (https://x.com/pardon_mi?lang=en)

Sarah is back with a big announcement and a new episode about the movie that is oft requested- 2004's King Arthur starring Clive Owen and Kiera Knightley. A movie that questions whether all historians can agree on one thing and if its possible to tell the "true" story of something if your version is also made up!

Ollie is back too.

Media-eval is back with a bonus episode inspired by our discussion of 1935 film The Crusades! Did you want to hear more about Berengaria of Navarre and why she matters? Sarah brings on expert Dr. Gabrielle Storey, author of a new biography about Berengaria, to tell us more.

We’ll be back with regular episodes every other week starting September 22nd!

Social Media:
Twitter: x.com/mediaevalpod


E-mail: [email protected]


Find Gabrielle Storey on Twitter: https://x.com/gabbystorey

And check out the book! https://www.routledge.com/Berengaria-of-Navarre-Queen-of-England-Lord-of-Le-Mans/Storey/p/book/9781032121475?srsltid=AfmBOorGx-nLZgf4jIO77HqtiF74BIJ13TxavHKGyZ0HToZSgOfDovQP

Media-eval is going on a summer hiatus! New episodes will resume in September.

In the meantime, check out our back catalog and the Media-eval facebook group!

Join Sarah and returning guest - and classic film correspondent - Morgan Morales for the 1935 film The Crusades. Is it kind of offensive? Yes. Is it good? Not particularly. Should you watch it? Probably not. But should you listen to this episode? Yes!

Join Sarah and returning guest - and classic film correspondent - Morgan Morales for the 1935 film The Crusades. Is it kind of offensive? Yes. Is it good? Not particularly. Should you watch it? Probably not. But should you listen to this episode? Yes!

This is the last regular episode before Media-eval’s summer hiatus - see you in September!

CW: We discuss both actor Loretta Young’s reported experience of sexual assault and sexual harassment/assault played for comedy in the film. We also discuss the film’s rampant Islamophobia.

Social Media:


Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod


E-mail: [email protected]


Find Morgan on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/morganrmorales.bsky.social

This week, Media-eval explores premodern China with anime series The Apothecary Diaries! Join Sarah and returning guest (and Media-eval anime correspondent) Peter Konieczny as we explore the lived experiences of women in medieval China, from servants to courtesans, concubines to apothecaries.

CW: The series includes depictions of suicide/suicidal ideation and sexual harassment and assault, which we discuss in the episode.

Social Media:
Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod


E-mail: [email protected]


Find Peter at www.medievalists.net

Magic and mystery are part of their history … and now they’re featured on Media-eval! Join Sarah and returning guest Mabel Slattery as we tackle Disney animated series Adventures of the Gummi Bears. What you might expect: discussions about knightly culture and medievalism for children. What you might not expect: discussions about expulsions and refugee crises in the medieval world.

Social Media:
Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod


E-mail: [email protected]

Find Mabel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slatteroo/ and stream her comedy, featured on: https://www.twitch.tv/blizzardcomedy

Buy Sarah’s award-winning book The Fruit of Her Hands: https://www.psupress.org/books/titles/978-0-271-09330-7.html. Use promo code KZO24 for a 40% discount!