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The Court Jester

The Court Jester

Written by: Kleio Pethainou
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About this listen

The Court Jester is a storytelling podcast that dives into the sauciest, funniest, and most outrageous stories of the Middle Ages. Hosted by medievalist and humour scholar Kleio Pethainou, each episode brings you a real tale from medieval literature—fabliaux, fables, legends, and more—featuring scandal, fart jokes, sex, tricksters, and chaotic peasant drama.

Think rude jokes, wild mishaps and the messiest love triangles you’ve never heard of (but absolutely should).

⚔️ Based on real medieval texts

📜 Translated and adapted with historical context

🎭 Told with flair, irreverence, and dark humour


If you're into medieval history, historical comedy, uncensored storytelling, or want to laugh at the weirdest things humans used to do—this one’s for you.

🔔 New episodes every other week.

Support the show on Patreon for bonus content and medieval mischief.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kleio Pethainou Art Entertainment & Performing Arts World
Episodes
  • Tristan and Iseult, Part Two

    Tristan and Iseult, Part Two
    Feb 28 2026

    The second part of the story is an almost hour-long episode that has everything. Oaths that sound right but aren't, deception, more deception, lover's vows, and an unhappy ending.

    The old poets tell this for lovers and so do I. I hope you'll like it as much as I do.

    Follow on socials for more medieval stories and for medieval folklore wisdom straight from The Distaff Gospels.


    🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

    📲 Updates & mischief: @kpethainou.bsky.social | @thecourtjesterpodcast on Facebook

    🃏 Bonus content:patreon.com/CourtJesterPodcast

    ☕Buy me a coffee https://ko-fi.com/thecourtjesterpodcast

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    54 mins
  • Tristan and Iseult, Part One

    Tristan and Iseult, Part One
    Feb 20 2026

    Many people know the names. Not many people have heard the story from beginning to end.

    It's a story about love and loyalty colliding. it has everything: desire, devotion, beauty, loyalty, drama. It's one of those who taught Europe how to imagine romance. It is the quintessential medieval love story.

    So I did my best to tell it, and like the author who put it on paper, I am telling it "for lovers and none other."

    I hope you'll enjoy. Part two is coming soon.

    🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

    📲 Updates & mischief: @kpethainou.bsky.social | @thecourtjesterpodcast on Facebook

    🃏 Bonus content: patreon.com/CourtJesterPodcast

    ☕Buy me a coffee https://ko-fi.com/thecourtjesterpodcast

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    40 mins
  • The Two Peasants

    The Two Peasants
    Feb 1 2026

    Two exhausted peasants bed down for the night and one wakes up starving. His friend sneaks off to fetch leftover gruel, takes a wrong turn in the dark and makes a series of disastrous assumptions.

    I give you Gautier le Leu’s De deus vilains, a medieval fabliau packed with mistakes, toilet humour, and the usual fabliau flair.

    Follow The Court Jester on socials for more medieval stories and for medieval folklore wisdom straight from The Distaff Gospels.

    📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

    🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

    📲 Updates & mischief: @kpethainou.bsky.social | @thecourtjesterpodcast on Facebook

    🃏 Bonus content: patreon.com/CourtJesterPodcast

    ☕Buy me a coffee https://ko-fi.com/thecourtjesterpodcast

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    7 mins
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