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That Shakespeare Life

Cassidy Cash
William Shakespeare
Shakespeare
Early Modern England
Elizabethan England
Elizabeth I
Macbeth
Anne Hathaway
Tudor England
Golf
Legal History
Eels
Travel In Shakespeare's England
London
Hamlet
Food History
16th Century England
Paracelsus
Medicine
Shakespeare's Works
Cultural Exchange

Hosted by Cassidy Cash, That Shakespeare Life takes you behind the curtain and into the real life of William Shakespeare.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes441Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureHistory

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Artwork for That Shakespeare Life

Latest Episodes

Elaborate theatrical performances in Shakespeare's lifetime presented before the reigning monarch were known as court masques.

These intricate and complex stories were presented in grand fashion, sparing no expense on costumes, props, and special ... more

In Shakespeare's play, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Puck has a line that says "And now they never meet in grove or green, By fountain clear, or spangled starlight sheen..." In Taming of the Shrew, Petruchio uses this term again saying, "What stars do s... more

Christopher Marlowe is one of the most fascinating—and mysterious—figures of Shakespeare's lifetime. A university-educated playwright at a time when that alone set him apart, Marlowe rose quickly through London's theater world, dazzling audiences wit... more

YouTube

In Shakespeare's England, the middle of summer was a time of celebration. While the summer season begins at May Day, the longest day of the year, from June 23 into the 24th, was celebrated as the holiday of Midsummer, and Christianized as St. John's ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Bill Petro
Independent historian specializing in early modern England
billpetro.com
Episode: How was Midsummer and St. John's Day Celebrated in Elizabethan England?
SarahJane Downing
Author and freelance journalist specializing in the history of fashion and beauty
Fashion in the Time of William Shakespeare; other works cited in episode
Episode: Doublets, French Hose, and Plunging 16th Century Necklines
Spencer Weinreich
Author of Thinking with Crocodiles, An Iconic Animal at the Intersection of Early Modern Religion and Natural Philosophy in Early Science and Medicine
Author, Thinker
Episode: Shampoo: How to wash your hair in Shakespeare's England
Hannah Marples
Historic costume maker, embroiderer and author
Nottinghamshire-based historian and author of Experimental Archaeology
Episode: The History, Design, and Fashion Culture of Gauntlet Gloves
Nathalie Vienne-Guerrin
Professor in Shakespeare studies, expert on Shakespeare's insults
Université de Montpellier Paul Deroy; IRCL; Cambridge Shakespeare on Screen projects
Episode: How to Insult Someone Like Shakespeare
Sarah Jane Downing
Historian and author on fashion and cosmetics in Renaissance England
Author of Beauty and Cosmetics from 1550 to 1950
Episode: Painting Your Lips, Bleaching Your Skin, and Other Cosmetic Treatments for Renaissance Women
Shannon McSheffrey
Distinguished research professor, Concordia University (Montreal)
Concordia University
Episode: Evil May Day and Sir Thomas More
David Hitchcock
Reader in Early Modern History, Canterbury Christ Church University
Canterbury Christ Church University
Episode: Homelessness and Vagrancy in Shakespeare's England
Lee Raye
Author of Creatures of Story and Song; associate lecturer at the Open University; research officer at Bangor University
Open University, Bangor University
Episode: Starlings in Shakespeare's England

Host

Cassidy Cash
Host of That Shakespeare Life

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 83 ratings
  • What a great show!

    What a great show! It’s a 360 degree tour of Shakespeare’s era - excellent guests and host!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hellstromuser
    Canada2 years ago
  • Great concept, annoying delivery

    Love this concept and the content is fascinating. However, the delivery - the showbiz theme tune, very American vibe, and repetitive introduction - are quite annoying, at least to me (a British listener). They seem very detached from the genuinely interesting subject matter which is a shame - but maybe that’s just me. Why not have a more Shakespearean theme tune?

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    TM195
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • ROUND OF APPLAUSE!

    Let’s give a huge round of applause to this remarkable show. Entertaining, so well researched, informative, fun & unique! I love this host, as as a fellow American Shakespearean scholar I’m always stunned by how much I learn from these episodes… this, coming from a woman who has studied this man professionally/academically! She blows me away with her knowledge and most of all passion that oozes from the presentation in each episode. Never stop this series. Thank you!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cinderelochka
    United States3 years ago
  • Love the show!

    This has become one of my favorite podcasts and I look forward to it each week.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bad at Thinking of Nicknames
    United States3 years ago
  • Fun and informative!

    This is exactly what I was looking for in my search for a Shakespeare podcast- an in-depth look at the history and culture of his time. The interview style makes for easy listening while still offering a lot of insight!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cpmnc
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Consistently well-researched and engaging, offering new angles on familiar topics.
A reliable, high-quality source for listeners curious about history and Shakespeare.
Great depth on historical sources and practical takeaways for further study.
Praises the host's knowledge and interview skills, though some note the theme music and intro could feel detached.
Informative and entertaining with expert guests that deepen understanding of Shakespeare's era.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#211
South Korea/History
Apple Podcasts
#244
Sweden/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How was Midsummer and St. John's Day Celebrated in Elizabethan England?
Q: When Shakespeare celebrated this, would he have called it Saint John's Day or Midsummer, and how did that naming reflect context?
He would have used both names depending on context—at church it was Saint John's Day, while in secular or festive contexts it was tied to Midsummer—reflecting the overlap of ritual and season.
How was Midsummer and St. John's Day Celebrated in Elizabethan England?
Q: What day of the year would have been celebrated as midsummer for Shakespeare's lifetime and is that date the same one that's considered midsummer in the 21st century?
Midsummer was celebrated on June 24th, the Saint John's Eve/Day connection ties it to the feast, and the astronomical solstice is around June 20th-21st, meaning the traditional date is a few days off from the solstice as observed today.
How to Insult Someone Like Shakespeare
Q: Are there gender differences in how insults are framed or received in Shakespeare?
Yes, the literature and treatises of the time show both men and women managing the tongue, with some plays portraying women as equal verbal sparring partners, though certain targets (like women) are often framed through familiar stereotypes such as shrew, whore, or witch.
The History, Design, and Fashion Culture of Gauntlet Gloves
Q: Who was actually wearing gloves that were this elaborate in Shakespeare's lifetime, and what did they signal about the wearer's wealth or social status?
These gloves were predominantly worn by elites and courtiers, produced in elite London workshops or perfumer collaborations, signaling status through expensive embroidery, metallic threads, and gemstones. They could act as a display of wealth and fashionable taste, especially in courtly settings.
The History, Design, and Fashion Culture of Gauntlet Gloves
Q: In your research, you examined surviving embroidered gauntlet gloves from both the Elizabethan and the Jacobean periods. To start us off, what exactly distinguishes a gauntlet glove from other types of gloves that would have been worn in Shakespeare's lifetime?
The gauntlet is defined by a hand section plus a long embroidered wrist cuff, often four inches deep, with heavy silk embroidery and sometimes leather hands. The style evolved from earlier gloves, with more elaborate decoration in the Elizabethan end and into the 17th century, signaling wealth and social status.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About That Shakespeare Life

What is That Shakespeare Life about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program consistently delivers deep historical context around early modern England, Shakespeare's world, and related cultural artifacts. Episodes showcase expert guests—historians, university scholars, and public historians—discussing topics from costume and cosmetics to law, timekeeping, travel, and performance in Tudor and Stuart periods. A standout feature is the host's knack for connecting archival sources and primary materials to contemporary understanding, offering practical resources and curated suggestions for further study. Notable strengths include rigorous scholarly insights delivered in an accessible interview format, a strong emphasis on artifacts and everyday life, and a willingness to explore how historical details illumi... more

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Which podcasts are similar to That Shakespeare Life?

These podcasts share a similar audience with That Shakespeare Life:

1. Folger Shakespeare Library: Shakespeare Unlimited
2. Renaissance English History Podcast: A Show About the Tudors
3. The Ancients
4. You're Dead to Me
5. Dan Snow's History Hit

How many episodes of That Shakespeare Life are there?

That Shakespeare Life launched 8 years ago and published 441 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on That Shakespeare Life?

Recent guests on That Shakespeare Life include:

1. Bill Petro
2. SarahJane Downing
3. Spencer Weinreich
4. Hannah Marples
5. Nathalie Vienne-Guerrin
6. Sarah Jane Downing
7. Shannon McSheffrey
8. David Hitchcock

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