Browse the Episodes - Cassidy Cash

Come inside Kronborg Castle, Known to Shakespeare as Elsinore

Sep 7, 2026

In 1605, a commemorative coin was struck in the Dutch Republic to honor the events of the Gunpowder Plot in England. This is that story.

Turkeys, Pelicans, Falcons, and more! Birds of Shakespeare

Aug 31, 2026

Come inside the world of birds for Shakespeare’s plays to explore early modern science and Missy Dunaway’s project to illustrate every single bird mentioned in the plays of the bard.

Elizabethan Cats and Their Connection to Witches

Aug 24, 2026

Cats were often the primary familiar associated with witches, but the life of a cat in Elizabethan England extended far beyond just being an image of witchcraft. Cats were useful in the 16th century, working a variety of jobs for their human counterparts, and even on occasion, landing themselves in a house as a pet. Explore some of the work, play, and superstitions associated with cats for Shakespeare England, with our guest, Helen Parish.

Housewifery: What it Was Like to Be A Housewife in 16th Century England

Aug 17, 2026

As an essential part of daily living in Shakespeare’s England, I wanted to track down exactly what was involved in being a 16-17th century housewife, and there was no one better suited to give us the details than Jane Whittle, author of Women’s Work in Rural England, 1500-1700.

New Discovery About the Blackfriars with Lucy Munro

Aug 10, 2026

This episode traces the history of Shakespeare’s Blackfriars property after his death, following its passage from his daughter Susanna Hall to his granddaughter Elizabeth Barnard. Newly identified legal records—including a 1639 settlement, Elizabeth’s sale of the property in the 1660s, and a later Close Roll conveyance—help clarify the disputes over its ownership and preserve a direct documentary link back to William Shakespeare.

Find out what it’s like inside a Tudor Home

Aug 3, 2026

Come inside a typical Tudor home with our guest, Bethan Watts as she shares about the happenings, objects, and people we would find inside.

Tankards and Trouble: Alehouses in Shakespeare’s England

Jul 27, 2026

This week, we’re joined by Mark Hailwood, author of Alehouses and Good Fellowship in Early Modern England, to step through the tavern door and into the noisy, smoky world of 16th- and 17th-century alehouses.

Together, we’ll explore the people who ran these establishments, the customs and rules that governed them, the drinks poured across the bar, and the colorful realities behind Shakespeare’s tavern scenes. Was Mistress Quickly inspired by real alehouse keepers? How accurate were Shakespeare’s depictions of tavern life? And what details from the plays ring true—or delightfully false—when held up against the history of early modern England?

Let’s find out!

Barbary Pirates, Captivity, and “Turning Turk” in Shakespeare’s England

Jul 20, 2026

Barbary pirates, English captives, ransom, conversion, and Mediterranean trade all played a surprising role in Shakespeare’s world. In this episode, Daniel Vitkus and Abdulhamit Arvas explain what happened when English sailors were seized, why some Britons chose to remain in North Africa, and how England’s complicated relationship with the Muslim world helped shape the culture and drama of Shakespeare’s time.