Tudors Dynasty - RedTop Media / Rebecca Larson

Latest Episodes:

Historical Superlatives: Medieval Edition Oct 04, 2026

Show notes

We’re handing out medieval superlatives! Think of the titles in a school yearbook: a superlative singles someone out as the “most” or “best” in a particular category.

This time, we’re choosing people from medieval history, comparing our answers, and discussing the personalities, relationships, and reputations behind them. Some choices might seem obvious; others may surprise you. Listen along and see whether you agree—or have someone else in mind!

If you like this podcast and want to either support it or join our growing community of history lovers, please head over to my Patreon page: https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty

Co-Host: Rebecca Larson & Amy McElroy

Mapping Margaret of Austria Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

Margaret of Austria’s life took her from the Burgundian court to France, Spain, and the Netherlands. Along the way, she faced a broken betrothal, two marriages, and the demands of a powerful family. She also became one of the most capable political figures of her time.

In this episode of Dr. Emma and Me, Dr. Emma Cahill Marrón joins me again to follow Margaret’s travels and explore how the places she lived shaped her. We talk about her role in raising the future Charles V, her negotiations with Louise of Savoy, and the remarkable church and tomb she commissioned at Brou.

Where did Eleanor of Aquitaine’s life take her, and what can those places tell us about her? Join me and Dr. Emma Luisa Cahill Marrón for Traveling with Eleanor of Aquitaine, a five-part course following her journey across medieval Europe. Click the link for course details and registration! https://travelwitheleanor.eventbrite.com

Join my growing community of history lovers over on Patreon! https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty--

Co-Hosts: Rebecca Larson & Dr. Emma Cahill Marrón.

Holbein, Anne Boleyn, and a Tudor Revenge Plot Sep 29, 2026

Show notes

Hans Holbein painted some of the most familiar faces of the Tudor court. But what did he think of the people sitting for him—and could a portrait reveal more than its subject intended?

I’m joined by bestselling author Wendy Holden to discuss The Queen’s Painter, her historical novel that places Holbein at the center of a plot to avenge Anne Boleyn. We talk about his imagined alliance with Thomas Wyatt, Henry VIII’s search for a fourth wife, and the portraits of Christina of Denmark and Anne of Cleves that helped inspire the story. Wendy also shares her intriguing interpretation of The Ambassadors and explains why she wanted to look beyond Holbein’s genius to the man who had to make his way through a dangerous court.

After this conversation, you may find yourself looking at those familiar Tudor portraits a little differently.

A free article I wrote about it: https://bit.ly/4z3bk2t

https://www.wendyholden.net/

Buy The Queen's Painter on Blackwells (free shipping)

Like this podcast? Consider joining our growing community of history lovers and get COMMERCIAL-FREE episodes, EARLY ACCESS, and EXCLUSIVE CONTENT: https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty

Host: Rebecca Larson

Guest: Wendy Holden

Historical Superlatives: Tudor Edition Sep 27, 2026

Show notes

Who would you want at your side in a Tudor court—and who would make you regret walking through the door?

In this episode of Off the Record, Amy and Rebecca hand out superlatives to some of history’s most memorable figures. There are strong opinions, a few difficult choices, and plenty of reasons to argue with us. Listen in, then tell us who you would have picked.

We can't wait to hear your answers!

Join the community over on Patreon! Not only will you join a great group of history lovers, but you'll also receive COMMERCIAL-FREE episodes, EARLY ACCESS, and EXCLUSIVE CONTENT! https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty

Co-Hosts: Rebecca Larson & Amy McElroy

William the Conqueror: From Bastard Duke to King of England (Norman Kings Series) Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

Rebecca and historian Matthew Lewis launch a new series exploring the Norman kings, beginning with the man who changed England forever: William the Conqueror.

Born the illegitimate son of the Duke of Normandy, William survived a childhood filled with violence, betrayal and political uncertainty. Those early experiences helped shape the ruthless ruler who would eventually cross the Channel and claim the English throne.

Rebecca and Matt follow William from his rise in Normandy and his complicated relationship with Harold Godwinson to the disputed oath that helped ignite the succession crisis of 1066. They examine the Battle of Hastings, William’s chaotic Christmas Day coronation and the brutal methods he used to secure his new kingdom—including castle building, the destruction of the Anglo-Saxon elite and the devastating Harrying of the North.

Was William a brilliant military leader, a calculating propagandist or simply a conqueror willing to destroy anyone who stood in his way?

Do you enjoy this podcast? Join other history lovers over on my Patreon page - https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty

Host: Rebecca Larson

Guest: Matt Lewis

Finding Richard III and the Evidence That the Princes Survived Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

Philippa Langley became internationally known for leading the search that discovered the remains of King Richard III beneath a Leicester car park. Now she is challenging another of history’s most enduring mysteries: what really happened to the Princes in the Tower?

Philippa joins Rebecca to discuss her remarkable search for Richard III, the evidence that led to the excavation of Greyfriars, and what the king’s remains revealed about the man behind Shakespeare’s infamous portrayal. She also shares the findings of the Missing Princes Project, a ten-year international investigation involving more than 350 researchers.

Could Edward V and Richard, Duke of York, have survived into the reign of Henry VII? Philippa explains the archival discoveries supporting her controversial argument that the Yorkist claimants known as Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck were actually the missing princes. The conversation also examines Elizabeth Woodville’s actions, the destruction of records under Henry VII, and why Philippa believes the bones preserved at Westminster Abbey should undergo modern scientific testing.

This is a fascinating examination of Richard III, the Princes in the Tower, and the evidence that could transform one of the greatest mysteries in British history.

https://www.philippalangley.co.uk/bookshelf.html

Join other history buffs on Patreon for early access, commercial-free episodes, exclusive bonus content, live discussions, and more. Your support helps keep independent history content coming—and brings you even closer to the stories and people of the past. Join us at Patreon.com/TudorsDynasty.--Host: Rebecca Larson

Guest: Philippa Langley

Would You Rather: Medieval Edition Sep 20, 2026

Show notes

What would you choose: marry King John or Richard II? Follow Richard the Lionheart or Edward I into battle? Support Matilda or Stephen? Witness Bosworth or Hastings? And if you could solve one historical mystery, would you rather interview the people involved—or secretly watch the whole thing unfold?

This week on Off the Record, Amy and Rebecca are playing Would You Rather: Medieval Edition, and some of these choices are much harder than they sound.

From questionable royal husbands and medieval battlefields to the Anarchy, the Wars of the Roses, Cecily Neville’s household, and a day wandering the streets of medieval London, Amy and Rebecca debate where they’d go, whom they’d trust, and which moments in history they’d most like to witness firsthand.

Along the way, the conversation takes an unexpected turn into Rebecca’s research for her upcoming book on Thomas Seymour, including how historians piece together conflicting evidence, the frustrations of Tudor handwriting, and what happens when the surviving sources don’t quite tell the story historians have long assumed they do.

It’s medieval history with no script, plenty of opinions, and some surprisingly difficult choices.

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Co-Hosts: Rebecca Larson & Amy McElroy

The Spanish Travels of Katherine of Aragon Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

Long before Katherine of Aragon sailed for England, she had already traveled across kingdoms, witnessed conquest, encountered new cultures, and experienced life at the heart of an itinerant royal court.

In this episode, Rebecca is joined by Dr. Emma to retrace Katherine’s formative journeys through Spain—from her birth in Alcalá de Henares to Granada, Barcelona, Medina del Campo, Laredo, and finally La Coruña, where she departed for England in 1501.

Together, they challenge the familiar image of Katherine as an isolated princess and reveal a very different childhood: one spent on the road as a “nomad princess,” surrounded by royal ceremony, political negotiation, and the practical administration of her parents’ expanding monarchy. Katherine witnessed the surrender of Granada, experienced the extraordinary surroundings of the Alhambra, and was present in Barcelona when Christopher Columbus returned with reports and objects from across the Atlantic.

The conversation also explores Katherine’s surprising connections to the Americas and considers how the architecture and decorative traditions she encountered in Spain may later have influenced Tudor England.

Before she became Henry VIII’s queen, Katherine of Aragon had already been shaped by a childhood of movement, spectacle, cultural exchange, and political power.

💛 Love the show? Join me on Patreon for early, commercial-free episodes, exclusive history content, and more—all while helping Tudors Dynasty & Beyond continue to grow.

Join the court: https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty

--Co-Hosts: Rebecca Larson & Dr. Emma Cahill Marron

Dressed to Rule: How Elizabeth I Fashioned Power Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

Queen Elizabeth I understood that clothing was never simply decorative—it was a powerful political tool. In this episode, Rebecca Larson speaks with Sylvia Barbara Soberton, author of Dressed to Impress: Queen Elizabeth I and the Art of Fashioning Power, about how Elizabeth used gowns, jewelry, color, and carefully constructed imagery to communicate legitimacy, authority, purity, and royal magnificence.

They explore Elizabeth’s evolving style, from the restrained clothing of her youth to the spectacular wardrobe of the Virgin Queen. Sylvia also challenges some of the most persistent myths surrounding Elizabeth I, including claims that she covered her face with toxic white lead makeup and wore a steel breastplate during her famous speech at Tilbury.

The conversation also examines Elizabeth’s relationships with Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, and Catherine Howard; the possible meaning of the Chequers Ring; Tudor sumptuary laws; the symbolism of the Rainbow Portrait; and what happened to Elizabeth’s enormous wardrobe after her death.

Discover how Elizabeth I fashioned not only her appearance but one of the most recognizable royal identities in history.

You can also find Sylvia on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/cw/SylviaBSo/posts

Find book on Amazon

Join me and other history fans over on MY Patreon page, not only with you get COMMERCIAL-FREE episodes, but you'll also receive EXCLUSIVE CONTENT, and EARLY ACCESS! https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty

Host: Rebecca Larson

Guest: Sylvia Barbara Soberton

The Yorkist Who Survived Henry VIII Sep 13, 2026

Show notes

Rebecca and Amy explore the remarkable life of Reginald Pole—a Yorkist survivor who went from Henry VIII’s favored scholar to one of the king’s most outspoken opponents. They discuss Pole’s education in Oxford and Padua, his rejection of the royal supremacy, and the devastating consequences his resistance had for the family he left behind in England.

After years of exile, Pole returned under Mary I as her trusted confidant and the last Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury. His extraordinary story came to an end on November 17, 1558—just hours after Mary’s own death.

Join the conversation over on Patreon! https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty and you'll also get COMMERCIAL-FREE episodes over there! Join us!

Co-Hosts: Rebecca Larson & Amy McElroy

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