logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2024
32m 10s

Laundry

NOISER
About this episode
In the Middle Ages, people source ingenious ingredients to tackle stubborn stains. Henry VIII’s laundry risks causing a scandal. The Ancient Romans use questionable substances to clean their clothes. And the first washing machines revolutionise life in the home… A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and ea ... Show More
Up next
Oct 2024
Sheds
The death of a woolly mammoth provides the building material for a prehistoric storage space. A tsunami in Japan puts a sturdy outbuilding to the test. And an American boy scout assembles parts for the nuclear reactor he’s building in his mother’s shed… A Noiser production, writt ... Show More
30m 38s
Oct 2024
Bins
A prehistoric pot from Japan inspires a fingerprinting technique used by modern detectives. A whole city is built from waste in Neolithic Turkey. The Maya celebrate the new year by throwing out everything associated with the old one. And in London’s King’s Cross, an army of scave ... Show More
33m 20s
Sep 2024
Neighbours
Vigilantes chase a thief through the streets of medieval Winchester. A French king creates one of the world’s first gated communities. Villagers across Europe turn on each other with dangerous accusations of witchcraft. And the human race meets its very first neighbours - 45,000 ... Show More
35m 35s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2025
Laundry
It's Laundry Day in this week's episode, and Jonathan is in ecstasy, treating William to a demonstration of his very executive - and very potent - detergent products. The two right some cleanliness wrongs, setting out what the proper amount and style of bedding is, and whether on ... Show More
41m 7s
Jul 2023
How To Dress in the Middle Ages
<p>What clothes would you have worn in the Middle Ages? What were the most fashionable hairstyles? How did your clothing denote social status? How did you wash your clothes?</p><br><p>In this episode of <em>Gone Medieval</em>, Matt Lewis puts these questions to Sarah Grace Heller ... Show More
29m 54s
Jul 2021
Vacuum Cleaners
Tracking the history of how we clean and why our cleaning needs have shifted also tells the story of human progress in a wider sense. How did we get from natural-fiber brooms to gasoline-powered vacuum cleaners and ultimately to the home-use models we know today? Learn more about ... Show More
41m 47s
Nov 2024
Medieval make do and mend
The medieval approach to sustainability was entirely different to ours today. In a world where the modern definition of 'waste' didn't even exist, the repair market boomed and building materials were rarely brand new. Speaking to Annette Kehnel, Lauren Good discovers what we migh ... Show More
26m 42s
Apr 2024
How to choose the best detergent?
In the days of yore, clothes were scrubbed with soap, brushes, and sheer elbow grease. But today, laundry detergents have revolutionized the way we clean our garments. These modern marvels remove stains without requiring Herculean effort. But navigating the overwhelming array of ... Show More
3m 55s
Apr 2020
Soap
We’re all probably using a lot more soap these days, but… what is it exactly? How does it work? Who invented it and how has it changed the world? Join Robert and Joe as they explore the invention of Soap. This episode marks the final installment of Invention as a standalone podca ... Show More
1h 8m
Sep 2020
Medieval Times [Part 1]
In this episode of The Brain Food Show, we are start out looking at why the toilet is called the “Crapper” and the “John”. Next up we have a brief message from our sponsor Skillshare. For a limited time, use the following link to get a free trial of Skillshare Premium Membership: ... Show More
51m 3s
Dec 2024
Tudor England | 2. Daily life
What was the most popular pastime of the Tudor age? Why was bathing even once a month considered dangerous? And how could living alongside your pets help save on your heating bill in the 16th century? In this second episode of our series Tudor England: the big questions, Emily Br ... Show More
40m 31s
Jun 2023
Medieval Trans Saints & Sex Workers
<p>In this episode of <em>Gone Medieval </em>for Pride Month, Matt Lewis takes a look at some transgender stories from the Middle Ages.&nbsp;Marinos was a 5th century monk mentioned in the trial of Joan of Arc.&nbsp;They shaved their head and changed into men's clothes to live in ... Show More
47m 7s