So much Shakespeare!
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Henry Wotton and the Invention of Diplomacy
This episode explores the extraordinary life of Sir Henry Wotton, a diplomat whose career unfolded alongside Shakespeare’s greatest plays and reveals how diplomacy, danger, and performance shaped early 17th-century Europe. From humanist education and risky travel to high-stakes negotiations in Venice, we trace how Wotton’s experiences illuminate the political world that informed Shakespeare’s stage.
Much Ado About Cooking
Explore recipes and dishes from the life of William Shakespeare inside a new cookbook that shows you how to prepare them at home today!
The Real Rosenkrantz and Gyldenstierne
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were real people who were in England a the time Shakespeare immortalized them in Hamlet. Find out their history.
Ep 180: Travelling Libraries with Michael Brennan Detailed Show Notes
Detailed Show Notes for our interview with Michael Brennan on Travelling Libraries. See archival images, photographs, & more. (Members Only)
What Did “Weird” Mean to Shakespeare?
Shakespeare writes about “the Weird sisters” in Macbeth, but what did “weird” really mean for the 16th century? Let’s explore.
New Year’s Gifts at the Court of Elizabeth I
Discover how New Year’s gift giving shaped power, loyalty, and ambition at the court of Elizabeth I. This episode explores the objects recorded in the New Year’s Gift Rolls—jewels, textiles, money, food, and personal gifts—and how they were used to manage relationships in Shakespeare’s England.
“What Masque? What Music?” Ben Jonson & the Art of Court Spectacle
Discover Ben Jonson’s court masques, why they mattered, & how they differed from Shakespeare’s theater, with scholar Martin Butler.
A Royal Christmas: King James’ first Christmas in England
Explore James I’s lavish Christmas of 1603, the King’s Men’s first royal season, and how theater, politics, and magnificent masques shaped Shakespeare’s world.
Anna of Denmark: Masques, Power, and the Making of the Stuart Court
Explore how Anne of Denmark transformed early modern performance, reshaped royal image-making, and helped define the theatrical, political, and artistic landscape of Shakespeare’s England.
“You dissentious rogues…” The Language of 16thC Thieves
Explore the hidden world of 16th-century rogue cant and how Shakespeare and his contemporaries used this secret criminal slang on the early modern stage.
Arthurian England: How the Tudors Used Myth to Build a Nation
From the sea to someone’s table, eels were a staple food at all levels of society. Learn how they were caught and cooked, and why Shakespeare though they were “ingenious.”
Wampanoag, Pilgrims, & the 1621 Thanksgiving Feast
From the sea to someone’s table, eels were a staple food at all levels of society. Learn how they were caught and cooked, and why Shakespeare though they were “ingenious.”
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