Beyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's Podcast
Welcome to Beyond the Text, a podcast series dedicated to delving into intellectual history with depth and context. In a world saturated with quick takes, Beyond the Text goes the extra mile. Paying homage to Skinner's insights on the importance of context, this podcast unveils overlooked aspects of historical and intellectual narratives.
Co-hosted by Samuel Woodall and Jack Thomson, Beyond the Text explores the profound impact of thought and ideas throughout human history—forces that have driven change, shaped societies, and sparked revolutions. Beyond the mere words on the page, this podcast unravels the layers surrounding pivotal concepts and moments. Each episode meticulously examines the connections, influences, and societal currents that contribute to their evolution.
Join us on this journey to grasp the true significance of intellectual history. Whether you're an enthusiast, a curious mind, or someone intrigued by the myriad forces shaping our world, Beyond the Text provides a space for nuanced exploration. Tune in and venture beyond the surface to understand the rich tapestry of our intellectual heritage.
Samuel Woodall is a PhD candidate in Intellectual History at the University of Buckingham. He previously earned an MLitt in Intellectual History from the University of St. Andrews and a BA (Hons) in History and Politics from the University of Exeter.
Jack Thomson holds an MA in Philosophy from the University of Buckingham and brings a philosophical lens to the exploration of ideas, ensuring each discussion is both rigorous and thought-provoking.
Beyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's Podcast
Latest Episodes
Thomas More 1 | Who Was Thomas More, and Why Did He Imagine Nowhere?
Who was Thomas More before he became a martyr — and why did a man at the heart of Tudor government imagine a society called “nowhere”?Samuel Woodall and Jack Thomson begin a new Beyond the Text series on More and Utopia. We explore the ...
Can Persecution Produce Toleration?
Can remembering persecution teach people to tolerate beliefs they think are wrong?In the final episode of this three-part series, Samuel Woodall explores John Foxe’s appeal for the Dutch Anabaptists condemned in 1575, Protestant exile, ...
Did Foxe Create English Anti-Catholicism?
Did John Foxe’s Book of Martyrs create English anti-Catholicism—or give an existing conflict its most enduring stories?In the second of three solo episodes, Samuel Woodall examines the image of “Bloody Mary”, the changing editions of Ac...
Foxe’s Book of Martyrs and the Making of Protestant England
John Foxe’s Acts and Monuments was one of the most influential books of the English Reformation. In the first of three solo episodes, Samuel Woodall explores how Foxe transformed persecution, exile and martyrdom into a history of Protestant Eng...
Who Had the Right to Rule? England and the Crisis of Authority
Was seventeenth-century England travelling inevitably towards constitutional liberty? Samuel Woodall explores a century in which monarchy, Parliament, religion and conscience repeatedly collided, from James VI and I to the Civil Wars and the Gl...
Fan Mail
Gentleman, love the show. Very insightful discussion! Please however, fix Jack’s microphone/recording set up - he’s extremely hard to hear most of the time and nearly inaudible other times.
Richmond, Virginia
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