Episode ten is the final episode in Saint Podcast's Martyrs series. It’s an exploration of the legend of another virgin martyr: the patron saint of writers, sales people, Perugia, Malta, Syracuse in Sicily, and Pampanga in the Philippines. She's also the patron saint of the blind and of optometrists because she was famously tortured by having her eyes gouged out, although this horrific event is a later addition to the legend. This saint's name is a reference to light - both in a literal sense and figuratively as the light of faith. Her feast day used to fall on the Winter Solstice. Her light was invoked for protection on this darkest day of the year and links her with ancient gods, Medieval witches, and a dark figure who shares her name.  Through the centuries, ancient Solstice celebrations have merged with Christian rituals in her honour to influence the development of Santa Claus. This is the story of Saint Lucy the Pagan Spirit of Christmas.

This is a special Saint Podcast episode for the holiday season. It’s a two-part exploration of how Saint Nicholas evolved into Santa Claus. The story isn’t a straightforward one at all – and involves a truly motley crew of gift-givers, demons, humanoid helpers, witches, pagan legends, goddesses, gods, and animal sidekicks. The story begins with the first humans – our prehistoric ancestors – and proceeds through the first great civilisations, the birth of Christianity, the Reformation, and the advent of modern publishing and advertising. This is part I of Last Christmas: Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus, and Christmas Past.

This is part two of a special Saint Podcast episode for the festive holiday season, an exploration of how Saint Nicholas morphed into Santa Claus. In Part I, we met Saint Nicholas, a bishop that wasn’t a historic figure but has nevertheless had a tremendous impact. His feast day falls right at the beginning of pre-Christian Midwinter festivals. As his legend spread westwards from the Middle East and Asia Minor, the gift-giving saint merged with countless local gift-giving divinities and demons. Two Christianised traditions emerged: a Catholic tradition in which the bishop Saint Nicholas visited households, leaving presents for good children, whilst an enforcer companion - and sometimes demon - did the dirty work punishing bad children with imprisonment and beatings. The second was a Protestant tradition that transformed the Catholic saint into a secular wild man who wore a cloak or animal skins instead of episcopal vestments. Both existed side-by-side for centuries and began mixing and mingling in an unprecedented fashion once Europeans began colonising the Americas. It’s here in the North American British colonies of the 17th century where our story continues. This is part II of Last Christmas: Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus, and Christmas Past.

Halloween is upon us! The day was originally a Christian holy day, heavily influenced by ancient pre-Christian traditions, known as All Hallows Eve. This All Hallows Eve, we’re going to explore a bloody phenomenon that has afflicted – or perhaps blessed – the faithful for centuries. The phenomenon manifests as open wounds corresponding to Christ’s crucifixion. Over the last 700 years, the marks have appeared on the bodies of dozens of believers all over the world from saints to accountants. They've baffled medical professionals, scandalised communities, fortified devotees, and inspired Gothy artists since the 13th century.  Join us for a Saint Podcast Halloween exploration of stigmata and the bloody wounds of the Crucifixion.

Episode two of Saint Podcast's Martyr series is about Saint Sebastian, the patron saint of pandemics, athletes, archers, and outcasts. He's one of the most well-known saints. No other saint has as many works of art dedicated to them from paintings to films to books and pop songs. Tune in to learn more about this 3rd-century Roman warrior from Gaul who was famously shot full of arrows. And discover how a middle-aged Praetorian Guard became a Medieval protector against pandemics - then transformed into a shirtless, barely legal pin-up and queer icon.

Since this is the debut episode of Saint Podcast, it seems only appropriate to begin with the story of Saint Stephen, the protomartyr - or first martyr. Saint Stephen is one of the few saints whose story has a Biblical source, but his tale continues beyond the Bible in medieval legends, traditional celebrations, and even a French football club. Discover how the bones of a Roman citizen of Greek descent changed the face of Christianity. Find out why wrens are considered treacherous birds by Celts and Vikings.  And why many people around the world have Saint Stephen to thank for that public holiday on Boxing Day.

Episode six is about a saint whose name means little bear. She’s a British saint, a princess from Britannia, the name of the British Isles when England and Wales were part of the Roman Empire. Her legend is based around a pilgrimage that included an entourage of 11,000 virgins as well as an additional 15,000 hangers on. They met their end in modern-day Germany and inspired a movement among 13th-century women who rejected traditional female roles to live unmarried in communal groups without the influence of men! The saint's legend also gave birth to a monastic order of nuns whose chapter in Loudon, France, was scandalised by demonic possessions and a witch trial. This is the story of Saint Ursula the Leader of the 11,000 Virgins.

Episode 3 of Saint Podcast's Martyrs series is about Saint Margaret. She's one of the most popular saints globally, despite having been declared fictional by the Catholic Church in the 5th century. Nevertheless, her legend as a vanquisher of dragons has made her a perennial favourite. Tune in to hear the story of this gender-bending saint, known as Saint Marina/Marino to Eastern Christians - and find out what Saint Margaret has in common with Sleeping Beauty, Aphrodite, and margaritas.

This is I Am Milk, a special episode inspired by an exhibition at the Wellcome Collection in London entitled, Milk. It explores our relationship with milk and its place in politics, society, and culture. Judaeo-Christian legends are filled to the brim with stories about milk from lactating saints to a promised land of milk and honey and a Christian morality that developed around the symbolism of the white liquid. I Am Milk is a special Saint Podcast episode that delves into the link between saints’ legends and milk, featuring co-curators from the Wellcome Collection, Honor Beddard and Marianne Templeton.

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The second episode in Saint Podcast's Mystics series is about a 13th-century Dominican friar and inquisitor. His rulings against Cathar heretics made him many enemies, including a cabal of nobles in Milan who sent an assassin to kill him. Although not strictly speaking a mystic, many miracles are attributed to this saint. He’s a divine healer of sickness. He’s brought the dead back to life. He controls the weather. And it’s said that he cast out numerous demons from the bodies of the possessed.  This is the story of Saint Peter of Verona the Exorcist – and a history of exorcism in the Catholic Church.