Weird Medieval Guys

Olivia and Aran take on their greatest challenge to date: two bags of doritos. We attempt to answer with as much rigour as possible the question of whether a medieval peasant would be knocked dead by a taste of the delightful snack. Then, we explore why medieval people loved spices so much that they took over half the world looking for them. Also discussed are the secrets to good soup, the ports and gals of Portugal, and where Italians go when they die. For more information about what we cover,

Aran and Olivia cover one of the most iconic parts of medieval warfare: the siege. Learn more about the wacky weapons and machines that were used in medieval sieges plus the even wackier people who invented them. Also discussed are giant eggs, wizards, and unbeatable strategies for rock paper scissors. For more information about some of what we cover, check out:Orban and his giant cannon, Basilichttps://www.camrea.org/2017/09/11/orban-the-man-who-brought-down-the-walls-of-constantinople-part-i/A

Olivia and Aran explore three guys from the Middle Ages who gained fame, power and notoriety through their wives. At a time when husbands were expected to exercise complete control over their spouses, these men's stories are inextricably linked with their affection and respect for their wives. Also discussed are the true nature of Parisians, how Grimace came to be, and historical parallels with the Joker and Harley Quinn.For more information about some of what we cover, check out:A rundown of the

Olivia and Aran take on five common modern-day misconceptions about the Middle Ages and dig into what makes them so prevalent. These myths are, in order:The medieval world wasn't colourful (0:45)Most people in the Middle Ages were illiterateMedieval knights followed a strict chivalric codeMedieval communities were largely homogeneousMedieval peasants worked less than modern peopleAlso discussed are appropriate names for baby boys, the Breaking Bad "Mexico" filter, and the beneficial relationship

In this inaugural episode of the Weird Medieval Guys podcast, Olivia and Aran discuss why medieval art is so intriguing to modern viewers and what makes so much of it so weird. Also discussed are Galaxy Quest, Mel Gibson's crimes against the Middle Ages, and the future historic legacy of explicit images of Garfield the cat.For more information about some of what we cover:Listen to Ira Glass and Michael Camille at Medieval TimesAmusing Ourselves to Death by Neil PostmanRead more about visual puns in