Talking Tudors

Host Natalie Grueninger speaks with Dr Sean Cunningham about Henry VII’s unlikely path from exile to king, the political alliances and myths he used to secure power, and the major challenges of his reign, including rebellions and pretenders.

They explore Henry’s strategies for legitimacy, his marriage to Elizabeth of York, the role of Margaret Beaufort, and how Tudor symbolism and governance shaped the dynasty’s future.

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https://www.nataliegrueninger.com

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Author Jo Harkin joins Talking Tudors to discuss her novel 'The Pretender', which imagines the life of Lambert Simnel — a farm boy thrust into Yorkist plots, crowned in Dublin, and swept through courts from Oxford to Burgundy and Ireland.

Jo explains her five-year research process, the vivid locations and powerful women who inspired her, and her approach to balancing historical fact with imaginative storytelling.

She also shares reading and viewing recommendations, a glimpse of her next project set in Spain, and practical insights into writing historical fiction.

Find out more about your host:

https://www.nataliegrueninger.com

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In this episode of Talking Tudors, host Natalie Grueninger speaks with historian Dr Natalie Donnell about the life and career of Margaret of Austria. Born in Burgundy and raised at several European courts, Margaret was the long-serving regent of the Netherlands.

The conversation covers Margaret’s education under powerful women, her role raising and supporting Charles V, her diplomatic success in the 1529 'Ladies' Peace', her patronage of the arts, and her legacy as a capable and influential female ruler until her death in 1530.

VISIT DR DONNELL'S WEBSITE

https://www.nataliedonnell.com/

SUBSCRIBE TO FEMINIST HISTORIES https://feministhistories.substack.com/

TAKEAWAY

'The Theatre of the World' by Abraham Ortelius

Find out more about your host at

https://www.nataliegrueninger.com

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Host Natalie Grueninger interviews Mexican author Sofia Robleda about her new novel, The Other Moctezuma Girls. They explore the life and legacy of Isabel Moctezuma, the identity of her daughters, and the complex world of 16th‑century Mexica society before and after Spanish contact.

The conversation covers conquest, cultural exchange, women’s roles, Robleda’s research and personal connection to the history.

Visit Sofia's official website

https://sofiarobleda.com/

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Find out more about your host at

https://www.nataliegrueninger.com

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In this episode Natalie Grueninger interviews manuscript specialist Sienna Wells about illuminated medieval and Renaissance manuscripts. They discuss how manuscripts were made, who produced and owned them (including women), how the printing press changed book culture, and what physical traces of use reveal about past readers' lives and emotions.

The conversation highlights personal stories like birthing girdles and the intimacy of Books of Hours, offering listeners insights into the human connections preserved in these remarkable objects.

Follow Sienna on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/sienna_a_wells/

Takeaway

'Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts' by Christopher de Hamel

Find out more about your host at

https://www.nataliegrueninger.com

Support Talking Tudors on Patreon!