The Exploress

Season 3, Episode 18. I enjoyed my chat with our special guest from Fashion with Anne Boleyn so much that I've decided to publish it in full. Natalie gives us such an interesting glimpse into what life was like for Anne Boleyn at the Tudor court, and into her ultimate downfall. So let's dive in. Find out more about Natalie's work and her upcoming book at her website, or On The Tudor Trail. Make sure to listen to Talking Tudors, too! You can find show notes, images and transcripts for all my episodes on Tudor times at The Exploress website.

Explore the significance of fashion in Tudor England, with a focus on Anne Boleyn's use of fashion as a form of expression and power. Discover the role of clothing in Henry and Anne's relationship and Catherine of Aragon's response. Learn about the importance of clothing in the Tudor court, including head coverings and jewelry. Delve into Queen Elizabeth I's symbolic clothing choices and Anne Boleyn's use of fashion to maintain her regal image.

Season 3, Episode 16. Religion lives at the heart of Catherine of Aragon's story, and at the center of Tudor life.  Let's continue our journey with our queen as she finds herself faced with a divorce crisis and the English Reformation. How will it change things for women in England? And how will Catherine of Aragon use her moral authority to fight for what she knows to be true? For show notes, suggested reading, a list of my sources, music/voiceover credits and more, go to my website. To explore the treasure trove of bonus materials, check out The Exploress Patreon. To find out more about Elizabeth Norton's fanstastic work, check out her website.

Season 3, Episode 15. Religion lives at the heart of Catherine of Aragon's story, and at the center of Tudor life.  Let's walk beside this regal queen and find out what role it played in her life and tumultuous times. These episodes aren’t going to be straight birth-to-death biographies. Instead, the six wives of Henry VIII are going to be our guides as we dive into different aspects of womanhood in the Tudor era.  For show notes, suggested reading, a list of my sources, music/voiceover credits and more, go to my website. To explore the treasure trove of bonus materials, check out The Exploress Patreon. To find out more about Elizabeth Norton's fanstastic work, check out her website.

I'm excited to announce the new podcast I'm making with my friend Amie Kaufman. It'll take you behind the scenes on the making of our books, The Isles of the Gods and Nightbirds, which are both coming out in 2023. Think of it as your backstage pass to our characters, our worlds, and all the stories of their making. I can't wait to introduce you to my debut novel full of magic and intrigue, historical inspiration, and - of course - powerful women.

Season 3, Episode 14. Ever wondered about the origin stories of the titles Mrs., Miss, and Ms.? They're more than likely to surprise you. This bonus episode come courtesy of my patrons. Patrons not only really help me keep the show going, but they also get access to exclusives bonuses like this one, as well as Q&As, sneak peeks, interviews with guests, early access to episodes, cool contests, and more. To find out more, just go to my website.

Season 3, Episode 13. For years, China's ancient Shang Dynasty was almost a myth, but its stories were lying in wait in the Yellow River plain, where it had been hiding for centuries. And at the heart of it all, an almost lost queen. Let's meet the Shang and their impressive warrior queen. This bonus episode come courtesy of my patrons. Patrons not only really help me keep the show going, but they also get access to exclusives bonuses like this one, as well as Q&As, sneak peeks, interviews with guests, early access to episodes, cool contests, and more. To find out more, just go to my website.

Season 3, Episode 12. This month, I'm pulling three bonus episodes from the Patreon vault to share with everyone. Happy holidays! I LOVE me some sequins. It’s hard to feel anything but celebratory when you’re sparkling like a mirror ball. The shiny plastic disc you’re picturing is a relatively new invention, but sequins have a surprisingly long and interesting history.  This episode is brought to you by my patrons. Patrons not only really help me keep the show going, but they also get access to exclusives bonuses like this one, as well as Q&As, sneak peeks, interviews with guests, early access to all episodes, cool contests, and more. To find out more, just go to my website.

Season 3, Episode 11. Between 1450 and 1750, some 100,000 Europeans were tried for witchcraft, and some of the most intense periods of witchy panic took place in Scotland and England. Most, but not all, of these so-called witches were women. During this special Halloween episode, we’ll be tracing the history of witch hunts, and talking about why King James VI was so fanatical about killing witches. We’ll learn about the Malleus Maleficarum (or the veritable Guide to Witch Hunting), and discover how to “spot” a witch. We’ll learn what types of women were in danger of being accused of witchcraft, why people thought women were especially susceptible to the Devil’s wily charms, and how the Church played a massive role in witch hunting. We’ll also discuss what happened when a supposed witch was caught – what torture techniques were used to extract confessions, what witch trials looked like, and what punishments awaited a guilty verdict. And we’ll try to answer the most important question of all… why were so many women viewed as such a threat to society that they had to be hunted down and killed? Please be advised that this episode has some dark themes, descriptions of torture, violence, and sexual acts. For show notes, suggested reading, a list of my sources and more, go to my website. To explore the treasure trove of bonus materials, check out The Exploress Patreon. The choral music in this episode comes courtesy of a choral group from New Zealand called The Tudor Consort.  

Season 3, Episode 10. This is one of my earliest Halloween-inspired bonus episodes, finessed and remastered, to get you warmed up for our Tudor-era Halloween special next week. It will take us from the ancient world into the Tudor and Victorian eras and beyond, exploring that age-old link between women and poison. It's a perfect companion to the spooky season! And it'll teach us some bizarre and fascinating things about the Tudor monarchs' paranoia about poison. For show notes, suggested reading, a list of my sources and more, go to my website. To explore the treasure trove of bonus materials, including more episodes about women and poison, check out The Exploress Patreon.