Real Fantastic Beasts
Alexa Sand and Ian MacInnes explore the world of medieval and Renaissance animals, real, fantastic, and fantastically real.
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- Update frequency
- every 17 days
- Average duration
- 44 minutes
- Episodes
- 49
- Years Active
- 2022 - 2025
Why the phoenix can’t have sex
In which we explore this beautiful and ancient non-binary creature.
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00:46:34 |
Mon 15 Jan 2024
Chickens can see the future
We explore the lore of cocks and hens from manuscript illustrations to the classic weathervane.
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00:38:26 |
Sun 10 Dec 2023
Living Stones
Guest Brigitte Buettner explains how stones had living agency in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
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00:47:58 |
Sun 12 Nov 2023
The Likeness of a Wolf
We trace the evolution of the werewolf from deliberate transformation to mental illness.
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00:46:47 |
Tue 31 Oct 2023
How to fall off your horse
Guest Karen Raber takes us through our paces as we explore horses and horse training in the European Renaissance.
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00:55:18 |
Sun 15 Oct 2023
Knights on Ponies: The Warhorse of the Middle Ages
Guest animal archaeologist Alan Outram lays out the evidence for the size and appearance of medieval horses. Join the conversation or subscribe at realfantasticbeasts.com #horses #knights
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00:50:11 |
Sat 30 Sep 2023
I may be monstrous, but I'm not a monster: The Lamia
We explore the troubled history of the Lamia, from bloodsucking monster to romance heroine to corporate logo.
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00:40:18 |
Sat 16 Sep 2023
Hawks, Falconry, and Women in the Middle Ages
Guests Dr. Sara Petrosillo and falconer Kelly Martello of the Michigan Hawking Club join us in exploring these fantastic birds in the Middle Ages. Kelly's hawk Vesper joins us.
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00:55:29 |
Sun 25 Jun 2023
Good Cat - Bad Cat
From loveable companion for monks to toxic witch's familiar, we trace the fantastic history of the cat from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance.
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01:02:54 |
Sat 10 Jun 2023
Tigers in Bengal
Two expert guests, Jane Buckingham and Samayita Banerjee, help us understand the pre-modern tiger in India, with special attention to Bengal.
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01:04:30 |
Sat 27 May 2023
Pelican mothers
The European Middle Ages witnessed the birth of an entirely new bird: the pelican. This is not the "water pelican" we all know but an entirely fantastic beast.
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00:52:23 |
Sat 13 May 2023
Renaissance Bees
Guest experts Keith Botelho and Joe Campana regale us with fantastic tales of bees in the Renaissance.
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00:49:27 |
Sat 29 Apr 2023
A Bug of Another Color
We investigate the most fantastic bugs of all: kermes and cochineal. These little creatures not only gave us many of our words for red but also famous symbols from British redcoats to the U.S. flag.
…
00:49:06 |
Sat 15 Apr 2023
International Unicorn Day
In honor of International Unicorn Day, here's a chance to explore the search for the real unicorn, from the mystery in Middle Ages to its ultimate discovery in the seventeenth century.
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00:38:58 |
Sun 09 Apr 2023
Adam's Tape Worm
We investigate worms and caterpillars and discover them everywhere.
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00:46:24 |
Sat 01 Apr 2023
Marvels and Tranimals
Guest experts Asa Mitman and Holly Dugan explore two fantastic beast manuscripts, one from the Middle Ages, one from the Renaissance.
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00:56:00 |
Sat 18 Mar 2023
Chinese Dragons
We continue our exploration of dragons by learning about Chinese dragons from guest Winston Kyan, a historian of medieval Chinese art at the University of Utah.
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00:42:07 |
Sat 04 Mar 2023
Rats!
From charismatic megafauna, like dragons, we descend to the small and distinctly uncharismatic.
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00:39:05 |
Sat 18 Feb 2023
Japanese Dragons
We extend our dragon-lore by chatting with Laura K. Nuffer from Colby College about dragons in medieval and early modern Japan.
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00:58:05 |
Sat 04 Feb 2023
Not an Ordinary Rabbit
As we begin the Year of the Rabbit in the East, we explore the fantastical history of the rabbit in the West, from jousting rabbits in manuscript illustrations to the Rabbit Woman of Godalming.
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00:46:31 |
Sat 21 Jan 2023
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