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That Shakespeare Life

Cassidy Cash
William Shakespeare
Shakespeare
Early Modern England
Elizabethan England
Elizabeth I
Tudor England
London
Hamlet
Macbeth
Anne Hathaway
Golf
Legal History
Eels
Travel In Shakespeare's England
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes451Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistorySociety & Culture

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Artwork for That Shakespeare Life

Latest Episodes

As you will know from listening to THat Shakespeare Life, there's a ruch history behind every small object from the life of William Shakespeare Whether it's clocks, clothes, pencils, or tablets, we love using the objects of Shakespeare' world to get ... more

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Immortalised as Elsinore in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet, Kronborg Castle is one of the most important Renaissance castles in Northern Europe. A real castle, and historical stronghold that sits in the town of Helsingør, Denmark. Kronborg is as f... more

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Shakespeare's plays and poems are filled with birds—from familiar crows, swans, and sparrows to species that would have seemed rare, exotic, or unusual in Renaissance England. But these birds are more than decorative details. They carry symbolism, re... more

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Shakespeare mentions cats over 30 times in his plays, including to talk about a gib cat, a musk-cat, cats chasing mice and even making perfume. It's obvious that cats were present for Shakespeare's lifetime, but what do these references in the plays ... more

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Recent Guests

Laura Kiel
Operations Coordinator at Kronborg Castle
Kronborg Castle
Episode: Explore Kronborg Castle: The Real-Life Elsinore of Shakespeare's Hamlet
Missy Dunaway
Artist and researcher showcasing Birds of Shakespeare project
Birds of Shakespeare
Episode: Turkeys, Pelicans, Falcons, and more! Birds of Shakespeare
Helen Parish
Professor of history at the University of Reading; author of Paltry Vermin, Cats, Mise, Toads, and Weasils, Witches, Familiars, and Human-Animal Interactions in the English Witch Trials
University of Reading
Episode: Elizabethan Cats and Their Connection with Witches
Jane Whittle
Professor of economic and social history
University of Exeter
Episode: What was the job of a housewife for Shakespeare's England?
Lucy Munro
Professor of Shakespeare in Early Modern Literature, King's College London
King's College London
Episode: New Discoveries About Shakespeare's Blackfriars with Lucy Munro
Mark Hailwood
Author of Alehouses and Good Fellowship in Early Modern England
Author and researcher
Episode: Tankards and Trouble: Alehouses in Shakespeare's England
Bethan Watts
Social historian specializing in childhood and domestic history
Royal Historical Society (member) / Children's History Society
Episode: Find out what it's like inside a Tudor Home
Daniel Vitkus
Editor of Piracy, Slavery and Redemption; Barbary captivity narratives expert
University of Pennsylvania (English)
Episode: Barbary Pirates, Captivity, and "Turning Turk" in Shakespeare's England
Abdulhamit Arvas
Associate professor of English; expert on Muslims, Barbary Pirates, and Shakespeare
University of Pennsylvania
Episode: Barbary Pirates, Captivity, and "Turning Turk" in Shakespeare's England

Host

Cassidy Cash
Host of That Shakespeare Life

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 84 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.

Thoughtful deep dives into Shakespearean context
A few listeners wish for more Shakespearean content connections to plays
Guests are well-chosen and bring archival heft
Engaging host with clear passion for the material

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#168
New Zealand/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Elizabethan Cats and Their Connection with Witches
Q: What sorts of cats were around in Shakespeare's lifetime and did they look different from modern breeds?
There were no formal cat breeds as we know them today; the population consisted of mixed-breed cats and wildcats, with appearances documented mainly through stylized images and literary references rather than standardized breed characteristics.
Elizabethan Cats and Their Connection with Witches
Q: Are there vocations for cats in 16th-century England beyond hunting vermin?
There were some documented cases of cats in working roles or as symbols within households and at court, but overall cats were not as systematically bred or employed as dogs for specific tasks; many cats lived feral or semi-domesticated lives with occasional roles as pest controllers or companions.
Elizabethan Cats and Their Connection with Witches
Q: Plague was a constant battle in Shakespeare's lifetime; how were cats involved in this relationship to plague?
Cats were blamed alongside dogs as potential carriers of disease due to limited understanding of how plague spread, leading to calls to cull vermin and even cats to curb the rat populations that carried fleas.
What was the job of a housewife for Shakespeare's England?
Q: Was being a housewife considered a respected position in the 16th and 17th centuries?
Yes, a good housewife was highly valued; reputation depended on careful resource management and efficient household leadership, which could elevate a woman's standing in the local community, though failure to meet expectations could harm family reputation.
What was the job of a housewife for Shakespeare's England?
Q: What were the typical duties of a housewife in Shakespeare's England?
A housewife managed a wide range of tasks including dairy work, poultry, vegetables, spinning, food processing, brewing and baking, preserving meat, cooking, and even making medicines for the family and workers, all while ensuring there was always enough food and resources.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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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?

The show offers in-depth explorations of life in Shakespeare's era, with episodes centered on archival discoveries, daily life, architecture, fashion, and the social context surrounding early modern England. Host Cassidy Cash guides interviews with scholars, curators, and specialists, unpacking archival finds, material culture, and historical practices—from Blackfriars housing and alehouse networks to Tudor domestic life and court fashion. The format blends rigorous research with accessible storytelling, often linking primary sources to broader urban, cultural, and theatrical networks. A notable strength is the multidisciplinary mix of guests, which keeps discussions both scholarly and vividly tangible for curious listeners.

What stands ou... 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. HistoryExtra podcast
3. In Our Time
4. Not Just the Tudors
5. The Rest Is History

How many episodes of That Shakespeare Life are there?

That Shakespeare Life launched 8 years ago and published 451 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. Laura Kiel
2. Missy Dunaway
3. Helen Parish
4. Jane Whittle
5. Lucy Munro
6. Mark Hailwood
7. Bethan Watts
8. Daniel Vitkus

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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