Episodes
April 28, 2025
188 - The Italian Wars 10: Medici at home, Milan back and forth and kings and emperors dying
In this episode, we pick up the story of the Medici family as they return to Florence, armed with the great news of Giovanni de' Medicibecoming Pope Leo X. We dive into: How the Medici family subtly regained power in Florence...
April 28, 2025
187 - The balls are back in town - the Medici return
Among the many casualties of the battle of Garigliano was Piero de Medici , son of Lorenzo the Magnificent . Piero, previously exiled from Florence for his poor leadership during the invasion of Charles VIII in 1494, drowned ...
March 25, 2025
God's banker - the Roberto Calvi affair - interview with Nicolò Majnoni
After the release of the series " Secret Kingdom - God's banker " we talk with the podcast creator Nicolò Majnoni about the Roberto Calvi affair and talk about Italy in the early 80's, the Vatican, the Cold War, Freemasons a...
March 18, 2025
Regional Italy episode 06 - Sicily
In this episode, we dive into a personal story that kicks off with a Christmas party invitation and an unexpected wardrobe choice — a kilt . From this quirky start, we delve into the historical significance of Sicily , a land...
March 12, 2025
Julius II changes his mind and some spanking (1509 - 1512)
Venice is reeling from the defeat at Agnadello , but immediately starts the comeback egged on by doge Lorenzo Loredan . After some promising victories they suffer another defeat at the hands of the League of Cambra i at Polis...
March 4, 2025
Regional Italy episode 05 - Campania
From the Roman fast food joints in the marvel that is Pompei, to the buzzing historical streets of Naples and the witches of Benevento, we're going off, thanks to Explore Worldwide, to explore the southern Italian Region of ...
Feb. 25, 2025
185 - Clouds over Vernice - Julis II and Cambrai (1500 - 1509)
After following the adventures of Julius II we go and visit with Venice , who is having ups and downs, losing influence as the attentipn of the world turns to the Atlantic, losing colonies to the Turks and starting to make en...
Feb. 18, 2025
Regional Italy 04 - Tuscany
We start from Siena , with the story of how I almost got beaten up and why there is an extra bit of Siena cathedral added on and incomplete. The it's up to Florence to visit with the Medici, Da Vinci, Botticelli and Simonetta...
Feb. 11, 2025
184 - Julius II: Warrior pope rising (1503 - 1508)
Giuliano della Rovere, after trying for more than a decade, finally manages to become pope Julius II in 1503. He gets to work breaking the last resistance of Cesare Borgia, then has to sort out his Papal States, gobbled up by...
Feb. 4, 2025
Recap 08 episodes 161 - 183
We stop and take a look back at the episodes that cover the late 1400's as Italy completed her transition from the middle ages to the Renaissance and the lead up to the Italian Wars after the death of Lorenzo the Magnificent....
Feb. 4, 2025
Regional Italy episode 03 - Lombardy
We take a little trip around the region of Lombardy , going beyond the financial and fashion capital Milan , to explore the beautiful nature of lake Como and hear all about the lake, monster that resides there. On the way, we...
Jan. 21, 2025
Regional Italy episode 02 - Veneto
Which is the Italian region that can drink you under the table? Tradition would say it's Veneto and with wines such as Amarone della Valpolicella and Prosecco , it's not gard to believe. We start our journey trying not to tal...
Jan. 14, 2025
183 - The fall of the Borgias (1503 - 1507)
Just when the Borgias seem at the top of their game and that nothing could possibly stop them, in August of 1503 pope Alexander VI , after a dinner party at a cardinal's house, becomes seriously ill and died after two weeks. ...
Jan. 7, 2025
Regional Italy episode 01 - Emilia Romagna
In our first episode of the Regional Italy miniseries we explore the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna , travelling initially along the ancient Roman road created by Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. We start from the beautifu...
Dec. 31, 2024
Regional Italy launch and Buon Anno!
While wishing you a "Buon Anno" (Happy New Year" we are also excited to announce the launch of our new miniseries on the Italian regions: Regional Italy! Thanks to the support of our friends at Explore Worldwide, we'll be loo...
Dec. 24, 2024
Seasons greetings: A Visit from Alaric
Just a quick one to wish you a happy whatever you are celebrating, or not celebrating and give you the gift of my rendition of the famous poem "a visit from Alaric" also known as "T'was the night before Saturnalia".
Dec. 10, 2024
182 - Cesare Borgia: Betrayal and vengeance (1502 - 1503)
People in Italy are getting very nervous about Cesare Borgia's successes, at times reached with treachery, and some of the unhappy party are actually Il Valentino's captains. When rebellion breaks out they see their chance an...
Dec. 4, 2024
Autumn 2024 update - episode, sketches, Italian schools and politics
Just a quick update to apologise for a publishing delay and tell you a little about our sketches, the Italian school system and the current political situation in Italy
Nov. 19, 2024
181 - Cesare Borgia flying high (1501 - 1502)
After doing his part for the French in the second Italian War Cesare Borgia heads back to Rome to concur with his father pope Alexander VI. They take care of some internal business with the Colonna, Orsini and Savelli and Ces...
Nov. 5, 2024
180 - The Challenge of Barletta (1503)
We first follow the life of the military captain Ettore Fieramosca (Hector Proudfly) and his troubled love story with Ginvenra da Monreale which ended tragically after the intervention of Cesare Borgia. We then move to the le...
Oct. 22, 2024
179 - Italian Wars 9: The Fall of Naples and France vs Spain
Naples once again falls to the French of king Luis XII, but once again they can't hold on to it for long as the delicate agreement with the Spanish of Queen Isabella and king Ferdinand quickly melts away and the legendary gen...
Oct. 8, 2024
178 New triumphs for Cesare and Naples under three (again) 1500 - 1501
We follow Cesare Borgia as he continues his conquest ousting Giovanni Sforza from Pesaro, Pandolfo Malatesta from Rimini and Astorre Manfredi from Faenza. We are also introduced to one of his most important generals, Vitelozz...
Sept. 24, 2024
177 - Italian Wars 8 - Il Moro back in Milan… for a bit (1500 - 1508)
With the French hold on Milan looking weak, Ludovico il Moro sees his chance to take his duchy back, but only manages for a while before he is defeated at the Battle of Novara, made prisoner and taken to France where he will ...
Sept. 10, 2024
176 - Cesare the conqueror (1499 - 1500)
As we set the scene for the start of Cesare Borgia's military campaign, we start to observe the ominous signs of what is to come in Rome with the arbitrary accusation and confiscations of the Roman nobility. Then we go explor...