Throughout history, women have used their own ways to establish credibility and exercise influence. In the sixteenth century, two women took this to high art: Catherine de Medici and Bess of Hardwick. In different countries and using different techniques, these two women demonstrate how the public performance of marriage and motherhood could change history.

Carol Ann Lloyd
www.carolannlloyd.com
@shakeuphistory
patreon.com/carolannlloyd 
The Tudors by Numbers
Courting the Virgin Queen

Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/carolannlloyd]

History shows us what's possible.



Catherine de Medici & Bess of Hardwick: Wives & Mothers of Power

Joanna Plantagenet, daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II, was a princess and a pioneer. Author and historian Catherine Hanley takes us through her exciting life and shares insights from her book, Lioness Heart.

Carol Ann Lloyd
www.carolannlloyd.com
@shakeuphistory
patreon.com/carolannlloyd
The Tudors by Numbers
Courting the Virgin Queen 

Catherine Hanley
@catherinehanley_author
Lionessheart: The Life and Times of Joanna Plantagenet
Nemesis: Medieval England's Greatest Enemy
1217, The Battles that Saved England 
and more!

Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/carolannlloyd]

History shows us what's possible.



Heart of a Lioness with Catherine Hanley (ep 238)

Happy 2026! I believe studying history is more important now than ever! Join me for a discussion about the power of history, one of my favorite historical moments (1399), and how history is showing us what's possible.

Show Notes:



Carol Ann Lloyd
www.carolannlloyd.com
@shakeuphistory
patreon.com/carolannlloyd
The Tudors by Numbers
Courting the Virgin Queen 

Book mentioned in podcast: The Eagle and the Hart, by Helen Castor

History shows us what's possible.



Kicking Off 2026 with Carol Ann (ep 237)

Rosemary Griggs is an author, researcher, and presenter who shares the often unknown stories of Tudor women.

Show Notes: 

Carol Ann Lloyd
www.carolannlloyd.com
@shakeuphistory
patreon.com/carolannlloyd
The Tudors by Numbers
Courting the Virgin Queen 

Rosemary Griggs
rosemarygriggs.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/ladykatherinesfarthingale
https://www.instagram.com/griggs6176/
https://bsky.app/profile/ragriggsauthor.bsky.social
Substack Notes from Devon's Tudor Time Traveler coming in January!
Mistress of Dartington Hall
The Dartington Bride
A Woman of Noble Wit
and more!



History shows us what's possible.



Tudor England Through Women's Stories with Rosemary Griggs (ep 236)

In what can be considered a companion piece to her wonderful Secret Voices: A Year of Women's Diaries, Sarah Gristwood's Celebrating Women is a joyful exploration of firsts, feasts, friends, family, and more!

Carol Ann Lloyd
www.carolannlloyd.com
@shakeuphistory
patreon.com/carolannlloyd
The Tudors by Numbers
Courting the Virgin Queen 

Sarah Gristwood
www.sarahgristwood.com
sarahgristwood.substack.com
Facebook: sarah.gristwood.1
Instagram: sarah.gristwood
Celebrating Women
Secret Voices: A Year of Women's Diaries
Tudors in Love
Game of Queens
Blood Sisters: Women of the Wars of the Roses
And more!





History shows us what's possible.



Celebrating Women & Their Voices with Sarah Gristwood (ep 235)

We can see Shakespeare's plays on stage, but can we "see" Shakespeare? A new uncovered portrait dating from the late sixteenth century might give us a way way to see Shakespeare? Steve Wadlow, the owner of the portrait, and filmmaker Madoc Roberts join us to share the journey of discovery as we try to picture Shakespeare.

Carol Ann Lloyd
www.carolannlloyd.com
@shakeuphistory
patreon.com/carolannlloyd
The Tudors by Numbers
Courting the Virgin Queen 

Steve Wadlow
Madoc Roberts
www.isthiswilliamshakespeare.com
@bardsportrait





History shows us what's possible.



How Do We "See" William Shakespeare (ep 234)

Scotland's Medieval Queens were at the heart of power struggles, threatened with murder and imprisonment, and at the center of the royal family. Sharon Bennett Connolly helps us appreciate their important contributions to history.

Show Notes:

Carol Ann Lloyd
www.carolannlloyd.com
@shakeuphistory
patreon.com/carolannlloyd
The Tudors by Numbers
Courting the Virgin Queen 

Sharon Bennett Connolly
historytheinterestingbits.com
A Slice of Medieval podcast
@thehistorybits
@sharonbennettconnolly
Scotland's Medieval Queens
Women of the Anarchy
King John's Right Hand Lady: Nicholaa de la Haye
Heroines of the Tudor World
AND MORE!

History shows us what's possible.



Medieval Queens of Scots with Sharon Bennett Connolly (ep 233)

The death of Elizabeth I marked the end of the Tudor dynasty. But how did James VI of Scotland become the next English monarch? Historian Tracy Borman shares the hidden story.

Show Notes:

Carol Ann Lloyd
www.carolannlloyd.com
@shakeuphistory
patreon.com/carolannlloyd
The Tudors by Numbers
Courting the Virgin Queen 

Tracy Borman, OBE
tracyborman.co.uk
Twitter: @tracyborman
Insta: @tracy.borman
FB: @TracyBorman
The Stolen Crown (now available in US and UK!)
Holbein: The Ambassadors
Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I: The Mother and Daughter Who Changed History
Crown and Sceptre
AND MORE!

History shows us what's possible.



The Truth Behind the Stolen Crown with Tracy Borman (ep 232)

While navigating the expectations of women's work in the sixteenth century, some women created works that have lasted hundreds of years. Ramie Targoff shares how women's words help us understand the Renaissance.

Show Notes:

Carol Ann Lloyd
www.carolannlloyd.com
@shakeuphistory
patreon.com/carolannlloyd
The Tudors by Numbers
Courting the Virgin Queen 

Ramie Targoff
ramietargoff.com
Shakespeare's Sisters: How Women Wrote the Renaissance
The Life of Vittoria Colonna: Renaissance Woman
Posthumous Love
Poems of Womanhood
John Donne, Body and Soul

History shows us what's possible.



The Women Who Wrote the Renaissance with Ramie Targoff (ep 231)

Two cousins, both descended from Edward III. Both would become King of England. Helen Castor explores the epic battle between Richard II and Henry IV--the causes and the implications.

Show Notes:

Carol Ann Lloyd
www.carolannlloyd.com
@shakeuphistory
patreon.com/carolannlloyd
The Tudors by Numbers
Courting the Virgin Queen 

Helen Castor
helencastor.substack.com
@hrcastor
The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV
Elizabeth I: A Study in Insecurity (Penguin Monarchs)
Joan of Arc: A History
She Wolves: The Women Who Ruled Before Elizabeth
Blood and Roses

History shows us what's possible.



Crown Divided: Richard II and Henry IV with Helen Castor

Weekly podcast, British History: Royals, Rebels, and Romantics, available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. Meet famous and infamous characters, walk with playwrights and peasants, and wander through castles and cathedrals. New episodes every Wednesday. Have a question about British history, something you’ve always wanted to know? Just ask! Let’s explore history together.

Carol Ann Lloyd

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