Spill the Mead

On October 12, 1537, at around 2am. Jane Seymour gave birth to the son England had waited decades for.

In the final chapter of our Jane Seymour series, we step inside the celebrations surrounding Edward’s birth and christening before everything begins to change. We explore Jane’s prolonged labor, childbed fever, and what she may have experienced in her final days.

Because saying “Jane died in childbirth” does not begin to capture what she endured... she deserves more. And we will try our best to understand her story fully, even when it gets hard.

We then...

In this record-breaking episode, we begin with a deep dive into Tudor medicine, conception, pregnancy, and the complicated ways sixteenth-century people understood the female body. Then we return to Jane herself following the timeline of her life during her last days outside the chamber walls.

We reconstruct the world of Tudor confinement: its protocols, preparations, rituals, rooms, rules, and the women who inhabited them. We meet the midwives and examine the knowledge and experience they brought into a space from which men were largely excluded... until now.

And finally, after months of waiting, Jane Seymour...

When you hear “Henry VIII” a few key words may come to mind, and “athlete” may not be one of them.

In this episode of Spill the Mead: Uncorked, I’m joined by Jackson Van Uden to look at this key aspect of Henry’s personality that often gets overlooked.

Sport wasn’t simply something Henry did for fun. It was a huge part of his identity, until one day it was all suddenly ripped away.

We explore what that loss may have meant for Henry, the impact of living with chronic pain, and whether th...

In Part B of the Pacificator, Mary is alive, but still absent from court. It feels like the moment to pay her a visit, so we open this episode with Jane and Henry doing exactly that. Jane (and the rest of us) hold our breath to see whether Henry will finally invite her back.

What if we told you that none of what has happened so far has been considered by historians the greatest political crisis of Henry’s reign? Not Catherine. Not Anne. Not Mary.

But the events of this episode.

Buckle up...

Anne Boleyn is dead. Jane Seymour is queen. And everyone expects England's problems to disappear.

Whoops.

As plans for Jane's coronation move forward, Henry VIII grows increasingly unpredictable, his health deteriorates, and the future of the Tudor dynasty remains uncertain. Meanwhile, Jane is tasked with an impossible mission: helping to reconcile Princess Mary with the father who declared her illegitimate. With imperial ambassadors watching, political factions maneuvering, and whispers that Mary's very life may be in danger, Jane finds herself carrying the burden of a peace that is fragile beyond all belief.

In...

Was Jane Seymour trapped? Was she used? Or was she playing the game all along?

In Part Two of our Jane Seymour series, we follow Jane from Anne Boleyn's household to the threshold of queenship. Along the way, we explore the role of Elizabeth Seymour, trace the royal progress of 1535, examine Henry VIII's life-changing injury, and uncover what Jane's place at court may have really looked like.

Then we turn to the question at the heart of the episode: the scheme.

Was Jane a pawn in someone else's game, a woman caught in...

Before the court, there was the country.

Episode 1/5 begins at Wolfhall, where ongoing archaeological excavations are still uncovering the world that Jane would have known. We talk about the fascinating (and not to be dramatic - but groundbreaking) finds they have uncovered as we attempt to understand the elusive Jane Seymour.

Meanwhile at court, Catherine of Aragon’s marriage begins to fracture under the growing influence of Anne Boleyn. Jane will eventually arrive to a household increasingly defined by tension, uncertainty, and divided loyalties. Themes that would prove to be ongoing in her life.

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In this episode, Dr. Emerson returns to Spill the Mead to revisit the captivating Capturing a Queen exhibit at Hever castle and discuss some of the details he couldn’t fully speak on during our first conversation. We talk more about the exhibit itself, the portraits on display, and the stories surrounding Anne Boleyn.

Then, naturally, things descend slightly into chaos as we play a game assigning personalities to different Anne Boleyn portraits — including which Anne would have ACTUALLY worn yellow that day (IYKYK), and which Anne would be the most fun to get a drink with.

This week on Uncorked, Dr. Erica Canela joins us to dive into the wild, weird, and unexpectedly chaotic world of Quaker history. Yes, the Quakers were unhinged, and yes, they’ve had a major glow up.

We break down the evolution from radical early Quaker antics to the modern-day Friends, some of whom are kind of attractive. Naturally, this leads to a very serious scholarly exercise we call “Quaker Hot or Not.”

And don’t miss the story of the MOST unhinged Quaker woman of them all... a legend of pure, unfiltered “mad whimsy.”

If you tho...

Ok, yes, it's a football episode BUT DISCLAIMER: you do NOT have to be familiar with or like football for this episode! As long as you like a WIDE range of historical figures, people fighting for their lives to make a case over an imaginary scenario, and Nicholas Cage... you're in the right place.

Madi & Chris choose their historical dream team with potential "legends of the line" like Julius Caesar, Elizabeth I, Genghis Khan, and an absolute legendary woman with a cooking pot on her head (cheers to you if you know based off of just that!) <...

"Ra-Ra-Rasputin, love of the of the Russian Queen!" Except he probably wasn't.

In this episode, we really get to know Rasputin. From what he preached, to his alleged healing abilities, to a trip to his apartment for tea... we give you the nitty gritty of all of the gossip surrounding the man who helped bring an end to the House of Romanov.

We also look at an alternate theory to what happened on the night of this murder.

The book used for this Episode is called "Rasputin, The Last Word" by Edvard Radzinsky<...

Welcome to our brand-new segment: Movies & Mead

In this series, Madi & Gabby watch a listener-chosen historical film and break down the real historical context, the key players, the cast, the gossip, and of course all the behind-the-scenes drama. We wrap it up by handing out our very official AcadeMEAD awards and rating the movie.

For our first episode, we’re diving into The VVitch — a spooky tale set in 1630s New England. We hope you also like to live deliciously HoneyBees, because we give this one 5/5!

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Imagine growing up surrounded by the harsh beauty of wild moorlands. A gothic, windswept, haunting landscape right outside - and a few steps from your front door is a church graveyard that you watch slowly fill up with members of your own family. Welcome to growing up Bronte!

Let Coco take you on a journey through the Bronte childhood experience, where hardship and loss were in no short supply and fierce sibling bonds formed through imagination and a love for literature.

Coco and Madi chat about formative experiences that translate right into the books these...

Part two of our season opener finds us in the middle of France during the Hundred Years War, where we meet a young but capable man with knighthood in his blood.

Boucicaut’s name struck fear into the hearts of men - a legend from a young age. His determination and dedication to training made him fast, fearless and impossibly strong. Losing a duel to this man was a mark of prestige.

Though not known as “the Greatest Knight” as Marshall was, Boucicaut was certainly one of the greatest knights in history. Let Coco t...

Welcome to a new season! And our new annual series, where we research 2 historic knights and give you all the information you need to decide who would win in a duel today!

First up is William Marshal, they one who they call "the world's greatest knight".

Madi goes over all of details you need to know to make your decision: the armor, the sword, the fighting style of William Marshal. We also hear about several highlights of his knightly career, and give you a peak into levels of loyalty we have yet to see on...

Be sure you check this episode out on YouTube!

Welcome to our first ever episode of Uncorked with the legendary Dr. Owen Emmerson.

Watch Madi live out her dream, and finally be able to ask him all the questions she's been dying to know:

1.) Where/what at Hever Castle would Anne still be able to recognize today?

2.) Was the tragic (and suspicious in our opinion) death of Purkoy Boleyn-Tudor an accident or conspiracy?

3.) Did Anne wear yellow on "the day"?

4.) How different did the tower look in...

Listen to (and watch this episode on YouTube!) Chris Riley raw dog 22 kings of England in our SEASON FINALE!!

From Edwards the Confessor to Henry VIII, Chris will describe each king with one single word (don't get too hung up on that part), stopping to elaborate on kings chosen by YOU, HONEYBEES! You voted on social, and we listened. We think you're going to love this one.

We will see you NEXT YEAR for Season 4!

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In this episode we will be covering the stories of not one, not two, but THREE archers who were SO GOOD that they were actually written into their culture's mythology.

Decide for yourself how much of their stories are true, and how much is just hot gossip.

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TRIGGER WARNING ON ALL THIS! It's a scary one... well, except for the absolute DELIGHT of a story at the very end. Get there.

Tale 1(ish): SKINWALKER TALES. Yes, that is right. Gabby found us a collection of modern day Skinwalker stories, which is reeeaaally just some modern-day folktales if you really think about it. She begins by giving a run down on just what a Skinwalker is, and then we go through a few CHILLING sightings of these creatures. We also learn a lot about Native American Culture along the way!

Tale 2: Grimm's the...

The modern vampire is depicted as sophisticated, sexy, dangerously charming - a masterful seductive force of superhuman strength, thirsty for blood.

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But did you know vampires didn’t start out this way? From ancient soul-sucking succubi to hopping spirits that drained your life force, to grotesque plague spreaders and dead men walking, the vampire legend has evolved from the truly disgusting to the downright sparkling.

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Come with Madi and Coco as they trace the vampire myths and legends back through time. Learn a little bit about Bram Stoker and his affinity fo...

Not many names invoke as much fear and/or dread as Vlad the Impaler - and this guy had TWO super sick nicknames. Why is a lame title like “The Handsome” when you could terrify people with “The Impaler”?

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But how exactly does one earn such a name? Well unfortunately Coco is going to tell you in very specific detail EXACTLY how this particular Wallachian prince did, and a whole lot of other things about a guy who led a fascinating and terrible life.

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From the palaces of the Ottoman Empire, to the f...

Here is an example of what is just sitting on Patreon, waiting for you! For only $5 a month! We loved this series so much, we NEEDED to share it with the world. Enjoy a Patreon experience.

Part Two of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow finds us back in the bosom of Tarry Town, and introduces us to pretty coquette Katrina, Bad Boy Brom Bones, and an insane amount of birds.

Form your own conclusions on this silly love triangle (should be NO CONTEST, but ok)

Ichabod Crane is giving Coco the full ick...

Here is an example of what is just sitting on Patreon, waiting for you! For only $5 a month! We loved this series so much, we NEEDED to share it with the world. Enjoy a Patreon experience.

Part Three of Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is HERE - and hitting harder than Ichabod's nasally psalmodies right in your bosom.

Meet us at old Balty Van Tassel's farm for the party of the season. Eat your way through tables toppling with tempting treats. Listen to the titillating tales of old-timers. Dance daringly with Dutch damsels...

Here is an example of what is just sitting on Patreon, waiting for you! For only $5 a month! We loved this series so much, we NEEDED to share it with the world. Enjoy a Patreon experience.

Ok so, this one proooobably starts off with a little more Squatch talk than you would expect for a Sleepy Hollow episode, but oh boy do we get there.

We get there, to Sleepy Hollow, where the bosoms of the mountains merge with the bosoms of the valley... none of that takes away from the supple bosom of the...

This is an episode of paranoia, jealousy, desperation, and self-fulfilling-God-given-prophecy. This is the story of King Saul and the Witch of Endor. What could have led the first king of Israel to the decision to visit a necromancer (that he himself banished)? Was it a mistake or a sin? Where is the line? Don't ask Saul, he has no idea.

Stay tuned for a VERY happy ending with Betsy, where we share our joy over our friend's wedding we attended over the weekend!

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Well, our girl did it. She became part of that power couple, and they joined forces, had lots of babies, and lived happily ever after: the end.

Nope. It’s so much more than that. We’re talking her new husband and ex-husband meeting face to face, her sons starting a literal rebellion against their father the king, and being a prisoner for literal years… the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine is not for the weak.

She is the true Medieval Queen, and the legacy she leaves behind is loud. Long Live Queen Eleanor.

Join...

Well HoneyBees, it's time. After literal YEARS of waiting, Chris Riley is FINALLY giving us the story of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Blessed day.

In part one, we discuss the origins of Eleanor (the name and the woman) and her life through her first marriage. So you know, just becoming the queen of France, the Crusade, the pirate kidnapping, and the INSANE rumors started about this women.

And this is just the first half of her life.

We also get a Happy Ending with Betsy where we go over the scary movies coming out...

The Madams of the Wild West were some of the richest people in the entire country. In this episode, we explore what life would have been like for "soiled doves" of the gold rush era.

The west was lawless and DANGEROUS. These women were brave, intelligent, and just as hard (no pun intended) as the men. We not only look at what life would have been like for the Good-Time-Girl in the Old West, but the legacy they left behind. The biggest cities in the Western USA today were funded by the charities, fines, fees, and good...

Come one, come all... Come big, come small... Just come, come for Folktales.

Three absolute BANGERS for this week from all over the world, AND WITH A NEW FORMAT. So listen up!

Story 1: The Knight of Fishes - Spain

Listen, don't get attached to the cobbler in the beginning, but DO get ready for an EPIC tale featuring 2 hot twins (hiiiiii....) What do you name your fish-knight? We went with Lance Bass, but if you've got something equal or better, write us and we'll send you a sticker! Anyways, this one is long...

We are sure you know the story of Snow White. The fairest in the land, crazy step-mom, seven short kings and a prince who fell in love with a corpse. But you haven’t heard Coco read you the Brother’s Grimm version, and you don’t want to miss it.

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We start with a brief history of the Snow White story, discussing several different versions from different countries, even an origin story (dubiously) rooted in truth! Then we dive right into the tale of a no-talent, inefficient evil queen he’ll-bent on murdering a seven ye...

The prophecies (PLURAL) foretold it all. And he believed it. And then... he made them ALL believe it.

Not only does Madi tell you the story of how "The Lonely One" united the Hawaiian Islands in one lifetime (and ALL OF THE DRAMA that brings... you have no idea), but we also talk about Hawaiian warfare, the return of an ancient Hawaiian artifact, AND Hawaiian burial practices.

Kamehameha was a force, and his story deserves to be heard. Raised in isolation into a warring island nation, this man was put on this planet to bring...

Once upon a time, 2 c*nts sat down to read some folktales from around the world. These are these stories:

Tale 1: Tanuki's Gold (Japan)

A tanuki is a Japanese racoon dog that shape shifts from time to time and brings good fortune. Now we will say, the one in this story doesn't necessarily shape shift (that we know of anyways) but he does bring fortune and most importantly. FRIENDSHIP! This one is really sweet, you guys.

Tale 2: Horse-Dew and the Witch (Turkey)

Say it out loud before you listen: what do...

In our [record breaking length] finale of the Anne Boleyn series, we try to understand how Anne felt in those final days of life…

The emotional torture she went through is not for the faint of heart, so

TRIGGER WARNING for sensitive content.

Madi spills her heart and soul out in this one. From the trip to the tower to her final words, we experience the fragility and eventual breakdown of the human mind as Anne tries to make sense of what is happening to her.

This episode is a final at...

Don’t believe pop culture when it tells you Anne did nothing as Queen. She was on a MISSION. Three in fact:

1.) Poverty Relief

2.) Religious Reform

3.) Educational Advances

THIS was the reign of Anne Boleyn. And you will learn all about what she did specifically in each of these areas in this MASSIVE EPISODE!

She was a FORCE. And that’s the REAL reason they ’d her.

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Remember me when you do pray…

That Part 3 is here, oh what a day!

Eat your Wheaties HoneyBees. The fight is ON. And this BATTLE is going to put Anne Boleyn to the TEST for literal years.

In part 3, we cover so much information it seems as impossible as a commoner uprooting the beloved Queen of England. Topics include but are not AT ALL limited to:

-books of hours

-the English Sweat

-the fall of Wolsey

-the rise of Cromwell

-coronation rumors

...

Congratulations HoneyBees, you’ve made it to Part 2

In this episode, we dispel ONE MAJOR LIE about Anne Boleyn, and it’s debatably the BIGGEST LIE put forth in her story:

AnNe BoLEyN SEduCeD HeNRy tO bEcOMe QuEeN FoR tHe POWER AND GLORY AND WORLD DOMINATION!!!!!!!

False. False false false, so false it hurts.

Would YOU be brave enough to turn down the king of England? How long would you hold out before giving in to the relentless pursuit (borderline harassment) from the most powerful and dangerous man in the...

Well HoneyBees... the time has come. The Anne Boleyn series has arrived.

In part 1 of 5, we dispel two lies; first that Thomas Boleyn "pimped out his daughter to the king of England" and second the lie that Anne lived fLiRtAtiOuSLy in France.

We instead set the REAL scene:

The young daughter (how young? We don't know, please tell us your thoughts!) of an already successful diplomat lands a prestigious position in the court of a powerhouse female ruler, only then to be brought up in the radically religious courts of France, THEN to...

We are sure you know the story of Cinderella. Beautiful servant girl, fairy godmother, handsome prince, and tiny dainty feet - obviously. But you haven’t heard Coco read you the Brother’s Grimm version, and you don’t want to miss it.

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We start with a brief history of the Cinderella story, and we bet you can’t guess where the first recorded version comes from! Then we dive right into a very different telling than we’re used to. Disney really should have done more with those birds!

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Follow us to the...

Let us start off by saying: that Spill the Mead CoHost and Armored Combat World Champion Taylor Jones retracts EVERY STATEMENT ever made about him being on this boat… a claim he has made MANY MANY TIMES.

But after hearing this story, we totally understand not wanting to be affiliated with this bunch because good-Greek-gods these boys are exhausting

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This story should be called Hercules and the Golden Fleece since he’s the only person who seems to have any sense of urgency about retrieving it.. which is the ENTIRE MISSION here. But Jason...

Folktales Worldwide: Tales from Vikings & Portugal

14 PRINCES TOTAL IN THIS EPISODE!

It’s a lot. A LOT. But hear us out!

Story 1 from our Viking book:

The Giant With No Heart In His Body

The good news is the main characters name is Boots! The bad news is that Boots is pretty rude. But nonetheless he’s on quest and we’re rooting for him. This story has so many twists and turns that you really just have to listen to it to understand. The Wolf has trauma...