Life Lessons from History

Just get outside and enjoy some fresh air. That was a simple pleasure that our medieval forebears embraced, and it’ll do wonders for us today. That’s the view of medievalist Katherine Harvey, talking on this episode of Life Lessons from history, from HistoryExtra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sometimes things go your way, sometimes they don’t. That was the approach that many people in the Middle Ages took to life, because they had an understanding of time that was more cyclical than we tend to have today. You can channel this in your day-to-day by being patient, taking a breath, and waiting for the wheel of fortune to turn back your way again. In this special live episode of Life Lessons from History from HistoryExtra, recorded in front of an audience at the Gloucester History Festival in the autumn of 2025, David Musgrove chats to the great medieval historian and broadcast Janina Ramirez about what we can learn about time and patience from the Middle Ages Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a secret agent and throw yourself into life-or-death situations because if it doesn’t kill you, it’ll make you stronger. That’s not very helpful or practical advice for most of us, but if you do want to build your confidence, Roderick Bailey tells David Musgrove that we can take something from the experiences of WW2 SOE agents and how they grew as people from the challenging situations they found themselves in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you don’t think you can carry on with something, take a moment to consider the resilience of 17th-century patients. Sick people in the 1600s were remarkably resilient, even when the chances of them recovering from illnesses were slim. They still plugged on and kept trying cures to bring them round. In this episode of Life Lessons from History, from HistoryExtra, Alun Withey reveals to David Musgrove how he takes inspiration from that in his life today, when facing up to illness and in general life resilience. On an unrelated note, this conversation also includes advice on effective beard maintenance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Medieval Irish monks knew how to disagree respectfully. That’s a skill that we sorely need these days, as social media nudges us into binary anger. According to medievalist Elizabeth Boyle, in conversation with David Musgrove, we can learn a lot from the monastic habit of arguing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices