Escape into Period Pieces

Latest Episodes:

AMC's Turn: Washington's Spies w/ Kimberly Phyfe Jul 13, 2025

Show notes

In today's episode uncover the fact, fiction, and folklore of the Culper Spy Ring in the AMC TV show Turn: Washington's Spies that ran for four seasons from 2014-2017.

Stephanie is joined by Revolutionary War Historian Kimberly Phyfe from the Three Village Historical Society (located in Setauket, NY). This episode was so much fun to record in person. Buckle up for a longer episode that is filled with passionate and enthusiastic historical discussion between two people who love period pieces.

Thank you to everyone who submitted thoughts on the show!

Thank you to the Sachem Public Library for recording in your booth!

No Zoom disclaimer today, just some loud flushing that could not be muted :(

Spoilers abound! Watch the show on AMC+, the first 2 seasons are available on the Philo app or for purchase.

Visit the Three Village Historical Society on social media @threevillagehistory & TVHS.org

Culper Spy Weekend: September 6 & 7, 2025

References:

AMC's Turn Washington's Spies (2014-2017)

Washington's Spies by Alexander Rose

Remember Liss by Clare Bellerjeau & Tiffany Yecke Brooks

Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales Graphic Novel series by Nathan Hale

Spy Ring by Sarah Beth Durst

The American Revolution: A Film by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt (Coming November 16, 2025 on PBS!)

Stay tuned for Kimberly's lecture: Who is 355? in 2026

Tri-Spy Tours: https://www.culper.com/

Long Island 250: https://www.discoverlongisland.com/longisland250/

Suffolk 250: https://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/Suffolk250

International Spy Museum in DC

Memoir of Col Benjamin Tallmadge: https://archive.org/details/memoirofcolbenja00tall/page/n7/mode/2up

Sherwood Jayne House

Outlander

Hamilton The Musical

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Thank you for listening and submitting your thoughts!

Please consider subscribing to the podcast!

Instagram: @escape.into.period.pieces

Email:

escape.into.period.pieces.podcast@gmail.com

Continue supporting PBS by visiting protectmypublicmedia.org and contact your senators for the next vote!

Visit your local library and discover the local history that's right in your backyard!

Please continue to take care of yourself and remember that period pieces can tell you a lot about our present and future. Till next time!

Miss Austen Jun 29, 2025

Show notes

In today's episode Stephanie looks at MISS AUSTEN which aired on PBS in May. The 4 episode mini-series is based on Gill Hornby's novel, "Miss Austen," which follows Cassandra Austen (Jane Austen's sister) in 1840 as she searches for the letters Jane wrote to her friends and family.

In history, Cassandra Austen is known for burning the majority of Jane's correspondence and it has been a mystery why ever since. Hornby creates a narrative that answers why she did this, and gets audiences to learn and appreciate Cassandra in the process.

Watch it now on PBS Passport, Amazon Prime Video, or by buying the DVD.

Time Stamps:

Historical Context 15:12

Jane Austen "Biopics" 27:49

Miss Austen Book vs Show 46:20

Closing 58:48

References:

Miss Austen mini-series (2025)

"Miss Austen" by Gill Hornby

Graphic Novel Biography--The Novel Life of Jane Austen by Janine Barchas and illustrated by Isabel Greenberg

Masterpiece Studio Podcast

What the Austen? (Podcast)

Jane Austen Investigates by Julia Golding

Miss Austen Investigates by Jessica Bull

Jane Austen Mysteries by Stephanie Barron

Becoming Jane (2007)

Miss Austen Regrets (2007)

Chawton House Instagram: @janeaustenshouse

Lucy Worsley's novel: Jane Austen at Home

JASNA article: https://jasna.org/austen/screen/other/becoming-jane-sorting-fact-from-fiction/

Instagram: @perioddramastyle

Swoonworthy podcast

Jo Baker's novel Longbourn

Persuasion

Discover Britain article: https://www.discoverbritain.com/history/icons/how-accurate-is-miss-austen/#:~:text=Miss%20Austen%20spoilers%20ahead.,fever%20and%20died%20in%201797.

"The Elopement" by Gill Hornby

The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow

Other Bennet Sister News: https://www.tvinsider.com/gallery/the-other-bennet-sister-cast-premiere-date-trailer-book/

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Thanks for listening and to those who submitted their thoughts!

Please consider subscribing!

Next time: Turn Washington Spies with Kimberly Phyfe from the Three Village Historical Society

Support PBS by contacting your local representatives at protectmypublicmedia.org

Check out your local library!

Virtual Book Club: The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

Submit your thoughts by July 1st!

Instagram: @escape.into.period.pieces

Email:

escape.into.period.pieces.podcast@gmail.com

NEW Merch is available by visiting Spreadshirt.com. Search Escape into Period Pieces.

Till next time!

Mansfield Park (1999) w/ Brian Hicks Jun 15, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back to the podcast Brian Hicks as he joins Stephanie in discussing the 1999 film adaptation of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park starring Frances O'Connor, Jonny Lee Miller, Alessandro Nivola, Embeth Davidtz, and Harold Pinter.

This film differs a lot from the novel, and is controversial among Jane Austen purists. Just like, Persuasion (2022) Stephanie and Brian discuss it all and this time might tolerate it more... Listen to their thoughts on another Austen adaptation as well as comparisons to the past Jane Austen films covered on the podcast.

Mansfield Park 1999 is available for purchase and free on YouTube!

Thanks for always sticking through all the Zoom glitches

References:

Mansfield Park (the novel)

Mansfield Park 1999 (and behind the scenes featurette)

The rest of Jane Austen's novels

The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray

Note: Henry Tilney is a clergyman

Easy A

Elementary (CBS)

Manslaughter Park by Tirzah Price

Jane Eyre

Emma Thompson not Eleanor Thompson

Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Persuasion (2022)

Jane Austen The BBC Radio Drama Collection

Mansfield Park (2007)

Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa

Check out their last episodes: Emma (2020) & Persuasion (2022) from season 1

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Thanks for listening and please subscribe!

Next time Stephanie will be discussing the "Miss Austen" mini-series. Send in your thoughts on Instagram or by sending an email:

Instagram: @escape.into.period.pieces

Email: escape.into.period.pieces.podcast@gmail.com

Remember to support your local library and PBS station.

https://protectmypublicmedia.org/

For merch: Visit Spreadshirt.com and search Escape into Period Pieces!

Till next time :)

Mid-Year Thoughts-2025 Edition Jun 01, 2025

Show notes

Reminiscent to the Summer Highlights and End of Year Wrap Up (2024) episodes from season 1 of the podcast as well as the 'Mid-year Freak Out Tag' on Booktube, listen to Stephanie's highlights of the year so far. She breaks them down into categories like: Best Surprise of the Year, What Made You Cry, Longest Deep Dive, Best Sequels, Best of the Year (so far) and Anticipated Watches; just to name a few.

Check out some of what Stephanie references below!

The Count of Monte Cristo (2024)--Sam Clafin

The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)

Support and donate to your local PBS station:

https://protectmypublicmedia.org/

Jane Austen Wrecked My Life (debuting nationwide 5/30!)

Austenland

The Buccaneers (Apple TV)

Lessons in Chemistry

Lewis Pullman & The Thunderbolts*

The Lady's Companion on Netflix

The Empress on Netflix

Miss Austen (PBS Masterpiece)

Miss Austen by Gill Hornby

Masterpiece Studio Podcast

What the Austen Podcast

Becoming Jane (2007)

Miss Austen Regrets (2007)

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Wolf Hall: The Mirror & The Light (PBS Masterpiece)

The White Queen, White Princess, The Spanish Princess (STARZ)

Lucy Worsley Investigates: "Bloody Mary" episode

PBS Passport

Miss Scarlet

All Creatures Great and Small

Gladiator II

The Miracle Club (2023) on Netflix

(Remembered Kathy Bates miracle. She has breast cancer)

Vienna Blood season 4

Marie Antoniette on PBS

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Aggie Morton: Dead Man in the Garden (#3) by Marthe Jocelyn

The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love by India Holton

The Spectacular by Fiona Davis

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

Grantchester (returns 6/15)

The Gilded Age season 3 (6/22)

The Law According to Lidia Poet (Netflix)

Swoonworthy Podcast

Fetch the Smelling Salts (Podcast)

Call the Midwife

Murdoch Mysteries (Hulu)

Mansfield Park (1999)-available on Paramount +

The Jane Austen BBC Radio Drama Collection (2016)

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Thanks for listening and consider subscribing!

NEW BOOK CLUB PICK: The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

Send in your thoughts by July 1st via Instagram or Email

Instagram: @escape.into.period.pieces

Email:

escape.into.period.pieces.podcast@gmail.com

Support your local library and PBS Station!

Do you like merch? Check out Spreadshirt.com and search Escape into Period Pieces

Thanks for being along for the ride :)

Miss Scarlet Season 5 w/ Dahlia Hamza Constantine May 18, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back to the podcast, returning guest, Dahlia Hamza Constantine as she and Stephanie discuss season 5 of the PBS Masterpiece Mystery series, "Miss Scarlet." This is a favorite show of the podcast and one that Stephanie and Dahlia have talked about at length, so it's bound to be an exciting deep dive.

Do you need to catch up on what happened in the previous seasons? Then listen to the "Miss Scarlet & the Duke" episode in season 1!

In season 5 of MISS SCARLET the show enters a new era with Eliza back in her office with her name above the door. Clarence works alongside her. Nash is in jail. Ivy and Mr. Potts are still engaged and the Duke "William Wellington" will not be returning for New York. This season also introduces Detective Inspector Alexander Blake who does not use private detectives...

Buckle up for spoilers and any zoom glitches

Featured Music: "Miss Scarlet" theme

References:

Miss Scarlet/Miss Scarlet & the Duke
The Spectacular by Fiona Davis
Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries
Grantchester
Support PBS!!
https://protectmypublicmedia.org/rsc-emails/
Doctor Who
Downton Abbey
When Calls the Heart
Pride & Prejudice/Mr. Darcy
Little Women
Frankie Drake Mysteries
Sandition (PBS Masterpiece)
Myrtle Hardcastle series by Elizabeth Bunce
Masterpiece Studio Podcast
Miss Austen
Anne of Green Gables (1985)
The Gilded Age
Bridgerton season 4
News on season 6 of "Miss Scarlet"
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/specialfeatures/the-cast-creator-hopes-for-season-6/
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/specialfeatures/miss-scarlet-renewed-for-season-6/#

NEW BOOK CLUB PICK!

Read "The Davenports" by Krystal Marquis by July 1st!!

Send in your thoughts on Instagram or by email

Instagram: @escape.into.period.pieces

Gmail: escape.into.period.pieces.podcast@gmail.com

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Thank you for listening and to those who wrote in with your thoughts!

Please consider subscribing!

Stay tuned next time for Stephanie's Mid-Year Thoughts

Support your local library and PBS Station!

Do you like merch? Check out Spreadshirt.com and search Escape into Period Pieces

Thanks for being along for the ride :)

Netflix's "The Lady's Companion" (2025) May 04, 2025

Show notes

In today's episode listen to Stephanie discuss the new Netflix show, "The Lady's Companion" or "Manual para Senoritas." This 8 episode Spanish Romantic Comedy Period Drama premiered March 28th and is a fun time (especially after recovering from all the Tudor Era content).

The Lady's Companion is set in 1880s Madrid and follows Elena Bianda who is a chaperone before girls get married. She's constantly looking for a new job as her turnover is so great. Then she thinks she hit the jackpot when she finds a home with three daughters who have recently lost their mother. She just didn't except to fall in love with one of their potential suitors...

If you like enemies to lovers, forbidden love, betrayal and lots of drama then look no further. You'll find yourself laughing one moment and then crying the next. The Lady's Companion is Spanish speaking and there is an English dub available. If you are a fan of Bridgerton and telenovelas, then this is for you!

0:00--Intro & Period Piece Updates

8:58--Lady Companion's Overview

18:24--Non-Spoiler Section

38:32--Spoilers

1:03:03--Closing

*Hope you enjoy the spring sounds :)

References:

The Lady's Companion/Manual para Senoritas

Inkwell Threads

Grantchester season 10 premieres June 15th

The Gilded Age season 3 premieres June 22nd

Miss Austen premieres tonight! May 4th

Support PBS and Public Media!

https://protectmypublicmedia.org/

The Spanish Princess (Starz)

Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light

Marie Antoinette (PBS)

Jane the Virgin (CW)

Bridgerton

The Empress

The Law According to Lidia Poet

Nanny McPhee

Fetch the Smelling Salts Podcast

Swoonworthy (Podcast)

Emma (Austen)

Netflix's Persuasion

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Thanks for listening!

If you have thoughts on Miss Scarlet (season 5) share them with an email or reaching on Instagram.

Instagram: @escape.into.period.pieces

Email: escape.into.period.pieces.podcast@gmail.com

For merch: Spreadshirt.com and search Escape into Period Pieces

Support your local library and PBS Station

Take care of yourself and thanks for being along for the ride :)

All Creatures Great & Small: Season 5 w/ Drea Mayer Apr 20, 2025

Show notes

Journey back into the Yorkshire Dales and to Skeldale House with season 5 of "All Creatures Great & Small." Stephanie and returning guest, Drea Mayer, discuss their favorite and least favorite parts of the most recent season (that ended earlier this year) as well as predictions for season 6 and react to listener thoughts! Remember you can always submit your thoughts via Instagram or by sending an email!

References:

All Creatures Great & Small

Full House

Land Girls (TV show)

World on Fire (PBS Masterpiece)

Lovely War by Julie Berry

Marie Antoinette (currently on PBS)

Wolf Hall (The Mirror and the Light)

Miss Scarlet

American Pie

Downton Abbey

Call the Midwife

Rhys Bowen

The Molly Murphy Mysteries

Her Royal Spyness

The Last of Us

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries

Grantchester

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Do you have thoughts about "The Lady's Companion" on Netflix or the latest season of Miss Scarlet? Let me know!

Instagram: @escape.into.period.pieces

Email: escape.into.period.pieces.podcast@gmail.com

Thank you for listening and consider subscribing!

Support your local library and PBS Station

Would you like merch? Check out Spreadshirt.com and search Escape Into Period Pieces

Thanks for being along for the ride :)

"The Spectacular" by Fiona Davis w/ Dahlia Hamza Constantine Apr 06, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back to another Virtual Book Club episode! This time Stephanie and returning guest, Dahlia Hamza Constantine, are discussing "The Spectacular" by Fiona Davis.

"The Spectacular" is set primarily in 1956 New York City with some flashforwards to 1992. Main character, 19 year-old Marion Brooks is a dance teacher in Manhattan and when she loses her job, she tried out to be a Radio City Rockette much to the dismay of her father, sister, and boyfriend. There is also a mystery (crime thriller) element involving "The Big Apple Bomber" who has been terrorizing the citizens for 16 years.

Beware of spoilers in this episode, so be sure to read the book before if you don't want to be spoiled!

References:

The Spectacular by Fiona Davis
Lovely War by Julie Berry
Grantchester
The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray
Miss Scarlet
Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries
Agatha Raisin
The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis
Mad Men
D.E. Stevenson: Miss Buncle's Book (1934) & The Two Abbotts (1943)
British Library Women Writers
Tea Is So Intoxicating by Mary Essex
Chatterton Square by E.H. Young
Father by Elizabeth Von Arnium
We Are Not Free by Traci Chee
The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu
A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn
The Davenports by Krystal Marquis
In Want of a Suspect by Tirzah Price
Sugar Street-The Cairo Trilogy by Naguib Mahfouz
CJ Archer's Glass and Steele AND The Glass Library book series
Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
Beryl and Edwina Mystery Series by Jessica Ellicott
Jane Austen's Bookshelf: A Rare Book Collector's Quest to Find the Women Writers Who Shaped a Legend by Rebecca Romney
Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

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Thank you for listening and to those who wrote in with your thoughts!

To contribute in the future:

Instagram: @escape.into.period.pieces

Email: escape.into.period.pieces.podcast@gmail.com

^^Submit your thoughts on season 5 of All Creatures Great & Small AND Miss Scarlet and possibly be featured in a future episode!

Support your local library and PBS Station!!

Would you like merch? Check out Spreadshirt.com and search Escape Into Period Pieces

Thanks for being along for the ride :)

Deep Dive Into The Tudor Reign on Screen w/ Stephanie Rekowicz Mar 23, 2025

Show notes

Tudor March continues with today's Deep Dive on the Tudors on Screen as Stephanie and her returning guest, Stephanie Rekowicz, discuss and rank their favorites as well as explore why people are obsessed with this time period. With PBS Masterpiece's latest series: "Wolf Hall: The Mirror & The Light" premiering March 23rd, get prepared with a look at the first series and other adaptations that handle this popular reign.

For more historical context on the Tudors, check out last episode, 'Who are the Tudors?' first!

Editing Stephanie here! What I remembered is that the White Queen (Elizabeth Woodville) calls Prince Richard my Perkin and Perkin Warbeck is historically the imposter, so what a cool Easter Egg :)

Correction: Kate Phillips plays Jane Seymour and Miss Scarlet; not Kate Bishop.

Featured Music: "Theme of Wolf Hall" Debbie Wiseman

References:

"Wolf Hall" (2015)

"Wolf Hall: The Mirror & The Light" (out now!)

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (novel)

"My Lady Jane" (2024) Prime Video

Anne Boleyn Opera: Anna Bolena (first performance in 1830)

Merlin BBC TV show

Showtime's "The Tudors" (2007-2010)

Costuming Accuracy--Frock Flicks (podcast & website)

Game of Thrones

1923, A Yellowstone Prequel (Paramount)

Noble Blood Podcast (hosted by author Dana Schwartz)

William Shakespeare

"Richard III"

Philippa Gregory

The White Queen (2013) Starz

The White Princess (2017) Starz

The Spanish Princess (2019-2020) Starz

SIX The Musical

Becoming Elizabeth (2022) Starz

Lady Jane (1986)

CW's "Reign" (2013-2017)

"The Lost King" - 2022 film about Richard III's remains found on Hulu

Firebrand (2023)

John Adams (2008)

Where the Heart is (2000)

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Thanks for listening! Please consider subscribing!

Instagram: @escape.into.period.pieces

Email:

escape.into.period.pieces.podcast@gmail.com

Merch: Spreadshirt.com & search Escape Into Period Pieces

Support your local library!

Please take care of yourself and remember there are times we need to escape from reality, but that period pieces can tell us a lot about our present and future.

Who Are The Tudors? Mar 09, 2025

Show notes

What better way to get prepared for the new PBS Masterpiece Series "Wolf Hall: The Mirror & The Light" then having a history deep dive episode about The Tudors! Henry VIII may be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about this reign, but there's so much more to it!

Join Stephanie in a "Crash Course" on this time in history (1485-1603) as she explores this famous family line. Listen to this episode before the next one to understand the context of upcoming discussion on how the Tudors are portrayed in the media (TV and movies, etc.)

Hope you enjoy!

References:

"Wolf Hall: The Mirror & The Light" premieres 3/23

The Yorks and the Lancasters

The War of the Roses

The Plantagenets

William Shakespeare's History Plays

"The Hollow Crown" (2012)

Starz series: The White Queen, The White Princess, The Spanish Princess (based on Phillipa Gregory's novels)

"War of the Roses: The Yorks vs. the Lancasters" YouTube Video by History Mapped Out

https://youtu.be/2OVrddCnihc?si=lLkoYxYzKg-_zzlX

George R.R. Martin: Game of Thrones

The Kings and Queens of England by Ian Crofton (book)

Richard III

Romeo & Juliet

My Lady Jane (Prime Video)

SIX the Musical

Showtime's "The Tudors"

"The Other Boleyn Girl" (2008)

"Wolf Hall" (2015)

"Miss Scarlet"

"The Crown"

"The Empress"

Mary Queen of Scots (2018)

CW's "Reign"

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See you next time and thank you for listening!

Instagram: @escape.into.period.pieces

Email: escape.into.period.pieces.podcast@gmail.com

Merch: Spreadshirt.com & search Escape into Period Pieces

Support your local library

Be kind to yourself :)

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