Tudors Dynasty - RedTop Media / Rebecca Larson

Latest Episodes:

Parallel Lives: Anna of Cleves & Katherine of Aragon Feb 05, 2026

Show notes

Two queens. Two foreign brides. Two marriages to Henry VIII—yet wildly different legacies.

In this episode of Parallel Lives, Dr. Emma and I place Anna of Cleves and Katherine of Aragon side by side to explore what it really meant to arrive in England as a teenage bride, shaped by continental courts, dynastic expectations, and political pressure far beyond their control.

We look at their early lives before England, how each woman understood queenship, faith, duty, and survival - and how their personal strengths played out very differently once married to the same king. From Katherine’s long struggle as queen and defender of her marriage (and daughter Mary) to Anna’s remarkable ability to adapt, negotiate, and ultimately thrive after divorce, this is a conversation about power, perception, and female resilience.

Who had the better outcome? Who exercised more agency? And how much of what we think we know about these women is shaped by later myth rather than lived reality?

Join us as we rethink two of Henry VIII’s most fascinating queens - beyond portraits, politics, and caricature.

DON'T FORGET TO GET SIGNED UP FOR DR. EMMA'S MASTERCLASS ON IDENTIFYING HOLBEIN SKETCHES/PORTRAITS ON FEBRUARY 22ND!

Hosts:

Rebecca Larson

Dr. Emma Cahill Marron

The Greatest Tudor Villain: Sir Richard Rich Feb 03, 2026

Show notes

Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich, rose from relatively modest beginnings to become one of the most powerful - and controversial - figures of the Tudor age. A skilled lawyer and political operator, Rich prospered under Henry VIII and Edward VI, playing a key role in the Dissolution of the Monasteries and benefiting enormously from the redistribution of church lands. He is perhaps best remembered for his involvement in the prosecutions of Sir Thomas More and Anne Boleyn, acts that cemented his dark reputation. In this episode, we explore how Rich navigated the brutal world of Tudor politics - and why his name still provokes debate centuries later.

Sarah's article on Rich: https://thetudortravelguide.com/richard-rich-1st-baron-rich/

Leez Priory: https://thetudortravelguide.com/leez-priory/

Simply Tudor Tours: https://simplytudortours.com/

Host: Rebecca Larson

Guest: Sarah Morris

What-If Richard, Duke of York Had Become King? Feb 01, 2026

Show notes

We know him best as the father of Edward IV and Richard III, and as the husband of Cecily Neville. But in October 1460, everything changed. The Act of Accord named Richard, Duke of York, heir to the throne of Henry VI. Just two months later, he was dead - killed at the Battle of Wakefield.

In this episode, Amy and I step into the counterfactual and ask: what if Richard had survived? What would England have looked like if the Duke of York had lived to become king?

Rebecca's Substack: https://rebeccalarson.substack.com/

Amy's Substack: https://amymcelroy.substack.com/

Hosts:

Rebecca Larson

Amy McElroy

Parallel Lives: Philip IV of Spain & Diego Velázquez, Jan 29, 2026

Show notes

One ruled one of the most powerful empires of the seventeenth century. The other shaped how that power would be seen - then and now.

In this episode of Parallel Lives, we explore the intertwined lives of Philip IV of Spain and Diego Velázquez, king and court painter, patron and artist, subject and storyteller. Philip’s reign was marked by political strain, military decline, and a deep personal devotion to art. Velázquez, meanwhile, rose from modest beginnings to become not only the king’s favored painter but a trusted presence within the royal household itself.

Together, they created one of the most fascinating collaborations in European history - one where art became a tool of authority, intimacy, and legacy. From court portraiture to Las Meninas, we examine how Velázquez crafted Philip’s image, how Philip shaped Velázquez’s career, and how their relationship reveals the fragile balance between power, perception, and truth.

This is not just a story of a king and an artist—but of how history is framed, staged, and remembered.

Join Dr. Emma's Holbein Identification Masterclass on February 22nd! https://holbeinmasterclassONE.eventbrite.com

Hosts: Rebecca Larson & Dr. Emma Luisa Cahill Marrón

The Human Cost of Power: Women, Blood, and Legacy Jan 27, 2026

Show notes

Why are we still so obsessed with the Tudors after five centuries?

In this week’s Tuesday Historian Chat, I’m joined by historian and author Elizabeth Goff to explore the women, myths, and memories that continue to define Tudor history. From Penelope Devereux and Katherine Parr to the Grey sisters, we talk about which Tudor women stand out - and which have had their reputations unfairly flattened by history.

We dig into the lack of confirmed images for Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard, question whether the Tudors truly deserve their reputation for brutality, and ask who the real “Bloody” monarch actually was. The conversation turns to Elizabeth I’s carefully constructed legacy - including her relationship with clothing, image, and power - and the haunting afterlife of her gowns under James I.

We also revisit some of the most devastating decisions of the age: the executions of Mary, Queen of Scots and Lady Jane Grey, the human cost of dynastic power, and what might have happened had Mary Stuart lived. Along the way, we confront Tudor execution practices, public violence, and the moment Elizabeth was told the truth about her mother’s death.

A thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about power, memory, and the women who lived - and died - in the shadow of the Tudor crown.

Bloody, Brilliant Tudors: 100 Tales of Gowns, Gossip, and Gory Ends

Elizabeth Goff on Instagram

Host: Rebecca Larson

Guest: Elizabeth Goff

What-If Mary, Queen of Scots Had Not Been Executed? (Off the Record) Jan 25, 2026

Show notes

What if Elizabeth I had never signed Mary, Queen of Scots’ death warrant? On this episode of Off the Record, we dive into the political chaos, succession drama, and international consequences of keeping England’s most dangerous prisoner alive—and whether mercy would have been far more dangerous than execution.

Hosts: Rebecca Larson & Amy McElroy

Parallel Tinders: Mary I & Elizabeth I (Dr. Emma & Me) Jan 22, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Parallel Tinders, we’re putting England’s most famous sisters side-by-side -Mary I and Elizabeth I -to explore how two women raised in the same dynasty could become such wildly different queens. From Mary’s deep devotion and desire for a traditional marriage, to Elizabeth’s sharp independence and preference for loyal companionship over a crown-sharing husband, we break down their personalities, priorities, and what they really wanted from the people around them.

And of course, we’ll dive into the fun part: the men who could have wed an English queen - the serious contenders, the political plays, and the match-making that could have changed Tudor history entirely.

Support the show over on Patreon and receive ad-free episodes, early access, and exclusive content!

Anglo-Saxon Women: Power, Reputation, and Choice Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, I’m joined by historian Annie Whitehead to explore the women of the Anglo-Saxon world and the many ways they shaped early medieval England.

We talk about education, influence, queenship, and legacy — and how women navigated power in a world that didn’t always preserve their voices. We also discuss how history has remembered these women: who becomes celebrated, who is criticized, and who is too often left out of the story altogether.

Annie's book list on her website: https://anniewhiteheadauthor.co.uk/about-me

Previous episodes:

Episode from 2021 on Aethelflaed

Episode from Jan 2025: Murder in Anglo-Saxon England

Host: Rebecca Larson

Guest: Annie Whitehead

Off the Record: What If Jane Grey Had Remained Queen? Jan 18, 2026

Show notes

What if Lady Jane Grey had outwitted Mary Tudor and stayed Queen of England?

In this Off the Record episode, we follow the most fascinating “what if” in Tudor history: a world where Jane’s reign doesn’t end after nine days - but becomes the start of something far bigger (and far more dangerous). Together we unpack what would have needed to change for Jane to keep the crown, why Mary’s victory depended as much on politics as it did legitimacy, and how quickly England could have transformed under a fiercely Protestant queen.

We also dig into one of the most important questions behind Jane’s claim: Edward VI’s Devise for the Succession. Was Parliament even in session when Edward began drafting it - and did he actually have time to legalize it before his death? The answer might surprise you… and it changes how we understand just how fragile Jane’s crown truly was.

A coup, a crisis of legitimacy, and a teenage queen at the center of a kingdom on the edge - this is Tudor alternate history at its most dramatic.

Medieval True Crime with Matt Lewis: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1978296660566?aff=oddtdtcreator. It's all online, and you have 60 days to watch at your own pace!

JOIN THE UPCOMING COURSE - 1st class posted January 26th.

Check out Rebecca's Substack! Original research revealed, and articles you won't find anywhere else. https://rebeccalarson.substack.com/

Check out Amy's Substack at: https://substack.com/@amymcelroy

Hosts: Rebecca Larson & Amy McElroy

Parallel Lives: Christine de Pizan & Beatriz Galindo (Dr. Emma & Me) Jan 15, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Parallel Lives, Dr. Emma and Rebecca explore the lives of two remarkable women who turned learning into influence.

Christine de Pizan became one of Europe’s first professional female writers, using her words to challenge the misogyny of her age and defend women’s intelligence. Meanwhile in Spain, Beatriz Galindo—known as La Latina—rose as a celebrated humanist at the court of Queen Isabella I, proving that education could be power.

Along the way, we dive into a fascinating portrait mystery—one that may be Elizabeth I rather than the sitter we’ve long been told it could be—and we also revisit a major Tudor assumption: was Kateryn Parr truly the first published Tudor queen consort… or is that title more complicated than we think?

CHECK OUT OUR MERCH! https://tudors-dynasty-podcast-merch.creator-spring.com/listing/historical-nicknames-tee

JOIN THE UPCOMING COURSE - Medieval True Crime with Matt Lewis: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1978296660566?aff=oddtdtcreator. It's all online, and you havve 60 days to watch at your own pace!

Hosted by: Rebecca Larson & Dr. Emma Cahill Marron

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