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 women wrote, and discuss the part that the moors play in the books - almost a character themselves.

Follow that up with a summary of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, and Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Yes Honeybees - spoiler alerts for both, but we think you’ll agree the spoilers are so worth it.

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Music is composed by Nicholas Leigh nicholasleighmusic.com

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 tell you why this man, who literally wrote the book on knightly chivalry and also the ultimate hardcore training manual for knights, could absolutely square up with Marshall.

Then settle in for a little story time as Madi and Coco set the scene for a grand duel between these two legendary knights. Take notes, keep score and be ready to place your bets on the knight you think would win!

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Music is composed by Nicholas Leigh nicholasleighmusic.com

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 this podcast.

We also give you a peak into the world of Buhurt, the sport of modern-day armored combat.

This man is a KNIGHT! But how will he hold up to his hypothetical opponent?

Listen to Part 2 to find out! And stay tuned for an expert analysis from our very own in-house-knight soon!

GOD FOR THE MARSHAL!

Please leave us a 5 star review! It helps us expand our reach!

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Music is composed by Nicholas Leigh nicholasleighmusic.com

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 the 1530's?

5.) Who is your favorite on-screen Anne?

We also get a first-hand look at the EXCITING new exhibit coming to Hever Castle in February 2026!

More to come from Dr. Emmerson & Madi in the future! Until then, be sure to check out drowenemmerson.com for more on Anne!

Follow his instagram @drowenemmerson for even more Tudor content, and to keep up with exciting future research.

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Music is composed by Nicholas Leigh nicholasleighmusic.com

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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Music is composed by Nicholas Leigh nicholasleighmusic.com

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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Music is composed by Nicholas Leigh nicholasleighmusic.com

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 Rober Bridegroom. In this story, a young maiden travels to visit her (wealthy) groom-to-be's house for the first time. She followed a trail of ashes into the dark forest only to stumble upon the most BRUTAL scene and get a glimpse into her own fate. With the help of a new friend (and her entire family eventually) they escape and bring this man to justice... literally.

Tale 3: How Corn Came into the World. *PLEASE IGNORE THE OUTDATED LANGUAGE IN THIS ONE!!!! This is the sweetest story, which we need to be ok after this episode. It tells of the sweetest young man, and his journey to help feed his people for generations to come. Through a test of strength, he leaves us with a golden sweet story to end on.

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Music is composed by Nicholas Leigh nicholasleighmusic.com

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 for the occult, and the random travel guide that inspired the classic novel Dracula. Compare and contrast the real life Vlad the Impaler with the fictional character Bram created. Discover how scientific developments shifted the myth of the vampire into the sexy creature we now love AND fear.

Also rehash some 90’s childhood movie trauma with us because what even were those frogs in Thumbelina all about, you guys?!

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Follow that up with a Happy Ending with Betsy… which is arguably darker than the episode content as she discusses a real life monster.

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Music is composed by Nicholas Leigh nicholasleighmusic.com