Real Fantastic Beasts: Recent Episodes

Alexa Sand & Ian MacInnes

Alexa Sand and Ian MacInnes explore the world of medieval and Renaissance animals, real, fantastic, and fantastically real.


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Beth Morrison, senior curator of manuscripts at the J. Paul Getty Museum, talks about medieval bestiaries, her favorite imaginary animal, and a new exhibition at the Getty Museum. Become a member of the Manticores club https://plus.acast.com/s/real-fantastic-beasts.


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Guest Sarah M. Guérin explains Medieval Europe's fascination with ivory and the differences between the early ivory trade and the savagery of modern Elephant poaching. Become a member of the Manticores club https://plus.acast.com/s/real-fantastic-beasts.


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We explore the Albatross, unknown until just before the modern era... or was it? Become a member of the Manticores club https://plus.acast.com/s/real-fantastic-beasts.


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Guest Alixe Bovey regales us with the perplexing history of the goose barnacle and the barnacle goose. Become a member of the Manticores club https://plus.acast.com/s/real-fantastic-beasts.


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In which we explore this beautiful and ancient non-binary creature. Become a member of the Manticores club https://plus.acast.com/s/real-fantastic-beasts.


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We explore the lore of cocks and hens from manuscript illustrations to the classic weathervane. Become a member of the Manticores club https://plus.acast.com/s/real-fantastic-beasts.


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Guest Brigitte Buettner explains how stones had living agency in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Become a member of the Manticores club https://plus.acast.com/s/real-fantastic-beasts.


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We trace the evolution of the werewolf from deliberate transformation to mental illness. Become a member of the Manticores club https://plus.acast.com/s/real-fantastic-beasts.


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Guest Karen Raber takes us through our paces as we explore horses and horse training in the European Renaissance. Become a member of the Manticores club https://plus.acast.com/s/real-fantastic-beasts.


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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 Become a member of the Manticores club https://plus.acast.com/s/real-fantastic-beasts.


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We explore the troubled history of the Lamia, from bloodsucking monster to romance heroine to corporate logo. Become a member of the Manticores club https://plus.acast.com/s/real-fantastic-beasts.


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Guest Laura Gelfand explains the pre-modern origins of our conflicted relationship with wolves. Become a member of the Manticores club https://plus.acast.com/s/real-fantastic-beasts.


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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. Become a member of the Manticores club https://plus.acast.com/s/real-fantastic-beasts.


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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. Become a member of the Manticores club https://plus.acast.com/s/real-fantastic-beasts.


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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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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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Guest experts Keith Botelho and Joe Campana regale us with fantastic tales of bees in the Renaissance.

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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.

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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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We investigate worms and caterpillars and discover them everywhere.

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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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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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From charismatic megafauna, like dragons, we descend to the small and distinctly uncharismatic.

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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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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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This our first of several planned episodes on the most famous of all fantastic creatures.

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We examine the Halcyon, which nests at the winter solstice with magical effect.

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Meet the English mastiff, the creature who made "dog" into the generic English term for all domestic canines.

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Guest expert Caitlin Mahaffy talks to us about Bearbaiting in Elizabethan London. Become a member of the Manticores club https://plus.acast.com/s/real-fantastic-beasts.


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Apes and Monkeys were present in households throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance as well as being represented in literature and art. Become a member of the Manticores club https://plus.acast.com/s/real-fantastic-beasts.


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Our first look at a truly fantastical hybrid creature as it moves from bestiary to natural history to art and literature. Become a member of the Manticores club https://plus.acast.com/s/real-fantastic-beasts.


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The tiger begins as the most real of all fantastic beasts and ends as the most fantastic of all real beasts. How and when did this happen? Become a member of the Manticores club https://plus.acast.com/s/real-fantastic-beasts.


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In this episode we take on sea monsters, monstrous fish, whales, and and sea fishing.


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Join us as we explore the world of medieval and Renaissance animals, real, fantastic, and fantastically real. We believe that learning about animals in history and literature and art helps us understand our place among our fellow creatures today.


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