From love spells to enthral the object of your desires, to charms to influence the outcome of a trial, people turned to cunning folk for all kinds of practical magic in medieval and Tudor England. Speaking to Ellie Cawthorne, historian Tabitha Stanmore reveals the amount of power these magical people could have within their communities, and explores some of ... Show More
Oct 5
Ancient explosives and the philosopher's stone: a history of alchemy
Think of alchemy, and you likely imagine bubbling vials of strange potions and molten metals. But how close is this popular perception to the truth? That’s the question behind historian and adventurer Kit Chapman’s latest book, The Age of Alchemy, which was recently announced as ... Show More
35m 46s
Nov 2024
Practical Magic: Spells, Prayers & Cunning Folk
<p>Long before witch trials, magic was the domain of ‘cunning folk’ who were part of the fabric of medieval and early modern life. Their charms, filters and spells - for personal advancement, aiding fertility, predicting the future, even exacting revenge - offered people sol ... Show More
33m 59s
Sep 2023
How to Spot Magic in Medieval Buildings
<p>In the Middle Ages, people made marks and concealed many objects in their buildings to protect themselves from harmful magic. Dead cats, horse skulls, hidden shoes, written charms and protection marks were all used widely as methods of repelling, diverting or trapping negative ... Show More
32m 1s
Oct 2025
How to Spot a Witch: The Origin of Witches, Witch Hunts, and…Demon Sex?
Join Kendyl and Delaney as they explore the origins of witches and witch hunts across early modern Europe when bad weather, curdled milk, or a cranky neighbor could get you accused of serving the devil. We unpack what actually made someone a “witch,” who decided that, and how it ... Show More
1h 16m
Aug 2023
Superstitions: Witch Marks, Touching Wood & Lucky Pants
Many of them pre-date modern religions and defy what science tells us about the world - from saluting magpies, to wearing lucky pants. Yet why do superstitions still have such a strong hold on our lives?Today we’re joined by Sally Coulthard, author of Superstition - the History o ... Show More
40m 11s
May 2023
Episode 168: Witches, Demons and Fairies
In this episode, we explore the Elizabethan fascination with witchcraft and mysterious creatures like fairies and demons. Those subjects feature prominently in the literature of the period, and they reveal a lot about the world view of the people who lived in England in the late ... Show More
1h 56m
Apr 2022
174. Merlin, Magic and the British
Richard II, Prince Charles, and Tony Blair. From Merlin, to the middle ages, to the modern day, the mysterious world of magic, necromancy and the occult has had a notable presence in the lives of British monarchs, politicians and members of high society.
Tom and Dominic are joi ... Show More
55m 37s
May 2019
Harry Potter A History of Magic Part 1 of 2
The history of magic is as long as time and as wide as the world. In every culture, in every age, in every place and, probably, in every heart, there is magic.
Harry Potter: A History of Magic reveals some of the hidden stories behind real-world magic and explores some of J.K. R ... Show More
6h 11m