60 acast.com The Court Jester https://www.patreon.com/CourtJesterPodcast en Kleio Pethainou comedy,medieval,storytelling,humour Kleio Pethainou Medieval comedy is wild… and we’re here for it! 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.

]]> 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.

]]> true Kleio Pethainou klio.pethenou@gmail.com 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-court-jester https://anchor.fm/s/7a1c1d74/podcast/rss episodic https://assets.pippa.io/shows/65202d608e657c001133f7cd/show-cover.jpg https://www.patreon.com/CourtJesterPodcast The Court Jester https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/65202d608e657c001133f7cd Tristan and Iseult, Part Two Tristan and Iseult, Part Two Sat, 28 Feb 2026 11:00:00 GMT 53:57 69a0e923519334f049b3a04d false https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/tristan-and-iseult-part-two 69a0e923519334f049b3a04d 65202d608e657c001133f7cd tristan-and-iseult-part-two full 3 4 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.

]]> 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.

]]> Tristan and Iseult, Part One Tristan and Iseult, Part One Fri, 20 Feb 2026 11:00:00 GMT 40:26 69965568435569254b00f9ad false https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/tristan-and-iseult-part-one 69965568435569254b00f9ad 65202d608e657c001133f7cd tristan-and-iseult-part-one full 3 3 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.

]]> 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.

]]> The Two Peasants The Two Peasants Sun, 01 Feb 2026 11:00:00 GMT 7:23 697d3cebf1dd68ab365d38b1 true https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/the-two-peasants 697d3cebf1dd68ab365d38b1 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-two-peasants Or, The Ass That Answered Back. full 3 2 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.

]]> 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.

]]> Constant du Hamel and his good wife Constant du Hamel and his good wife Mon, 26 Jan 2026 23:00:00 GMT 29:59 6976a5ec9252830699467791 true https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/constant-du-hamel-and-his-good-wife 6976a5ec9252830699467791 65202d608e657c001133f7cd constant-du-hamel-and-his-good-wife A tale of lust, blackmail and a couple that hits back full 3 1 A priest, a magistrate and a gamekeeper decide they can get what they want by squeezing a household and weaponising everything they have. What follows is a story about leverage, revenge, and the sheer tactical value of a maid who can run messages like a menace.

Follow 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.

]]> A priest, a magistrate and a gamekeeper decide they can get what they want by squeezing a household and weaponising everything they have. What follows is a story about leverage, revenge, and the sheer tactical value of a maid who can run messages like a menace.

Follow 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.

]]> Sir Cleges and the Christmas Cherries Sir Cleges and the Christmas Cherries Thu, 25 Dec 2025 11:51:00 GMT 12:30 694d252230165a956d5325e4 false https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/sir-cleges-and-the-christmas-cherries 694d252230165a956d5325e4 65202d608e657c001133f7cd sir-cleges-and-the-christmas-cherries A Medieval Christmas Story full 2 19 A knight ruined by his own kindness. A king who has forgotten him. One impossible Christmas gift that might change everything.


In this festive episode of The Court Jester, I bring you the story of Sir Cleges, a medieval knight whose reckless generosity collides bad gatekeepers and a Christmas miracle. A Middle English Christmas tale with feasting, cherries, and a payoff that is far more satisfying than pious.


🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

📲 Updates & other things: @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.

]]> A knight ruined by his own kindness. A king who has forgotten him. One impossible Christmas gift that might change everything.


In this festive episode of The Court Jester, I bring you the story of Sir Cleges, a medieval knight whose reckless generosity collides bad gatekeepers and a Christmas miracle. A Middle English Christmas tale with feasting, cherries, and a payoff that is far more satisfying than pious.


🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

📲 Updates & other things: @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.

]]> The Ballad of a Dead Brother — Halloween Special The Ballad of a Dead Brother — Halloween Special Wed, 29 Oct 2025 22:30:18 GMT 9:55 6902957bfc950e90d2e17172 false https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/the-ballad-of-a-dead-brother 6902957bfc950e90d2e17172 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-ballad-of-a-dead-brother full 2 18 Happy Halloween, friends of the Jester.

This year’s special comes from deep in the shadowed corners of the Balkans — a 9th-century ballad known in Greece as The Song of the Dead Brother, with haunting cousins in Serbia and Bulgaria. Nothing sets the Halloween mood quite like Balkan folklore — mournful, gothic, and just a little too close to the bone. It isn’t funny. It isn’t light.

It’s a tale about oaths and the ruin they bring, and how a mother’s grief can shake the dead.

This is also the first ever Court Jester episode told entirely on video. You can watch it on YouTube or Patreon.

If you like your medieval tales with a touch of the macabre, this one’s for you.

Happy haunting!

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

]]> Happy Halloween, friends of the Jester.

This year’s special comes from deep in the shadowed corners of the Balkans — a 9th-century ballad known in Greece as The Song of the Dead Brother, with haunting cousins in Serbia and Bulgaria. Nothing sets the Halloween mood quite like Balkan folklore — mournful, gothic, and just a little too close to the bone. It isn’t funny. It isn’t light.

It’s a tale about oaths and the ruin they bring, and how a mother’s grief can shake the dead.

This is also the first ever Court Jester episode told entirely on video. You can watch it on YouTube or Patreon.

If you like your medieval tales with a touch of the macabre, this one’s for you.

Happy haunting!

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

]]> The Chaplain’s Goose: Holy Appetite, Saucy Trickery The Chaplain’s Goose: Holy Appetite, Saucy Trickery Mon, 29 Sep 2025 20:00:00 GMT 7:12 68d98c0d2552b72c20d41f26 true https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/the-chaplains-goose 68d98c0d2552b72c20d41f26 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-chaplains-goose full 2 17

And we're back to naughty priest territory!

In this fabliau from the banks of the Sèvres, a fat goose becomes the prize in a battle of wits, appetites, and shameless audacity. Expect blasphemous pranks, roasted birds, and a reminder that medieval comedy loved nothing more than making the clergy look foolish.


📜 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.

]]>

And we're back to naughty priest territory!

In this fabliau from the banks of the Sèvres, a fat goose becomes the prize in a battle of wits, appetites, and shameless audacity. Expect blasphemous pranks, roasted birds, and a reminder that medieval comedy loved nothing more than making the clergy look foolish.


📜 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.

]]> God Owes Me Thirty Shillings God Owes Me Thirty Shillings Sun, 31 Aug 2025 15:41:20 GMT 11:17 68b31dcee9dcbdcab99b1e3c false https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/god-owes-me-thirty-shillings 68b31dcee9dcbdcab99b1e3c 65202d608e657c001133f7cd god-owes-me-thirty-shillings full 2 15 What happens when a medieval peddler entrusts his horse to God and the local lord? And what happens if said horse goes missing? You take God to court. I give you the Poor peddler, a fabliau full of divine debts, violent threats, and a monk who really should’ve stayed in the cloister.


📜 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.

]]> What happens when a medieval peddler entrusts his horse to God and the local lord? And what happens if said horse goes missing? You take God to court. I give you the Poor peddler, a fabliau full of divine debts, violent threats, and a monk who really should’ve stayed in the cloister.


📜 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.

]]> Jouglet: The Dirtiest Medieval Wedding Tale Jouglet: The Dirtiest Medieval Wedding Tale Mon, 11 Aug 2025 19:00:00 GMT 16:51 6898e96bc6d7c56cda329fc0 true https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/jouglet 6898e96bc6d7c56cda329fc0 65202d608e657c001133f7cd jouglet full 2 14 A sly minstrel tries to ruin a clueless groom’s wedding night...but he didn't account for the bride. What follows is a night of escalating revenge, as the bride takes charge, the groom gets creative, and the prankster finds himself in a very literal mess.

Content note: This episode contains medieval toilet humour in all its glory — plus sexual innuendo, crude jokes, and more filth than dignity.

📜 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.

]]> A sly minstrel tries to ruin a clueless groom’s wedding night...but he didn't account for the bride. What follows is a night of escalating revenge, as the bride takes charge, the groom gets creative, and the prankster finds himself in a very literal mess.

Content note: This episode contains medieval toilet humour in all its glory — plus sexual innuendo, crude jokes, and more filth than dignity.

📜 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.

]]> The Miller of Arleux: How to Lose a Pig and Your Pride The Miller of Arleux: How to Lose a Pig and Your Pride Sun, 27 Jul 2025 14:00:00 GMT 14:26 6884d15a3781311f917860d2 true https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/the-miller-of-arleux-how-to-lose-a-pig-and-your-pride 6884d15a3781311f917860d2 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-miller-of-arleux-how-to-lose-a-pig-and-your-pride A miller. A girl. A very inappropriate pig deal. full 2 13 In this fabliau by Enguerrant d’Oisy, we meet a miller who tries to seduce a girl, only to end up sued over livestock. Based on Le maunier d'Aleus, this is a story of bed swaps and a perfect courtroom ending. Justice never tasted so porky.

📜 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.

]]> In this fabliau by Enguerrant d’Oisy, we meet a miller who tries to seduce a girl, only to end up sued over livestock. Based on Le maunier d'Aleus, this is a story of bed swaps and a perfect courtroom ending. Justice never tasted so porky.

📜 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.

]]> The Woman of Orléans and the Merchant in the Dung Heap The Woman of Orléans and the Merchant in the Dung Heap Sun, 13 Jul 2025 10:00:00 GMT 13:14 686e7a519af244138c7bb355 true https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/the-woman-of-orleans 686e7a519af244138c7bb355 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-woman-of-orleans full 2 12 Or, How to Spy on Your Wife and End Up in a Ditch.

A merchant thinks he’s outwitting his wife. She’s five steps ahead. This fabliau has it all: deception, seduction and medieval sass. 

Apologies for the sound quality, and for my utter inability to contain the cat - you will hear him mewing early in the episode.


📜 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.

]]> Or, How to Spy on Your Wife and End Up in a Ditch.

A merchant thinks he’s outwitting his wife. She’s five steps ahead. This fabliau has it all: deception, seduction and medieval sass. 

Apologies for the sound quality, and for my utter inability to contain the cat - you will hear him mewing early in the episode.


📜 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.

]]> Boivin de provence: How to Scam a Brothel and Live to Tell the Tale Boivin de provence: How to Scam a Brothel and Live to Tell the Tale Sun, 29 Jun 2025 10:00:00 GMT 16:46 685d28637cd58072a5d4bed2 false https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/boivin-de-provence-how-to-scam-a-brothel-and-live-to-tell-th 685d28637cd58072a5d4bed2 65202d608e657c001133f7cd boivin-de-provence-how-to-scam-a-brothel-and-live-to-tell-th A peasant, twelve pennies, a fake name and a plan. full 2 11 Meet Boivin, a trickster who walks into a brothel,  cons everyone and causes a riot so messy they called the magistrate. Which was, of course, his ticket to fame. 

📜 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.

]]> Meet Boivin, a trickster who walks into a brothel,  cons everyone and causes a riot so messy they called the magistrate. Which was, of course, his ticket to fame. 

📜 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.

]]> Green Knight Rising: Sir Gawain, Storytelling, and a Legendary Head Game Green Knight Rising: Sir Gawain, Storytelling, and a Legendary Head Game Sun, 15 Jun 2025 14:00:00 GMT 19:41 684d8f12b903c43b042d93f4 false https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/green-knight-rising 684d8f12b903c43b042d93f4 65202d608e657c001133f7cd green-knight-rising full 2 10 Put your hands together for medievalist, actor and writer Debbie Cannon, who brings the tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight to life in a special guest performance. Debbie shares an excerpt from her celebrated one-woman show Green Knight, a bold and lyrical retelling that’s been captivating audiences for nearly a decade.

We talk knighthood, decapitation, and the challenges of telling medieval stories on modern stages. Our extended chat—featuring behind-the-scenes insight into Debbie’s creative process—will be available later this month on Patreon.

Find Debbie's work and more about it at https://debbiecannon.org/

🎵 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.

]]> Put your hands together for medievalist, actor and writer Debbie Cannon, who brings the tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight to life in a special guest performance. Debbie shares an excerpt from her celebrated one-woman show Green Knight, a bold and lyrical retelling that’s been captivating audiences for nearly a decade.

We talk knighthood, decapitation, and the challenges of telling medieval stories on modern stages. Our extended chat—featuring behind-the-scenes insight into Debbie’s creative process—will be available later this month on Patreon.

Find Debbie's work and more about it at https://debbiecannon.org/

🎵 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.

]]> Who Duped Him Best? A Contest in three acts Who Duped Him Best? A Contest in three acts Mon, 02 Jun 2025 10:00:00 GMT 12:08 683c2b22e7563becbf692172 true https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/who-duped-him-best-a-contest-in-three-acts 683c2b22e7563becbf692172 65202d608e657c001133f7cd who-duped-him-best-a-contest-in-three-acts Three wives. One ring. Zero morals. full 2 9 Based on Du Con de la Ringue (Three women who found a ring), this episode features the kind of antics that only medieval literature could get away with. The moral? Trust no one, and especially not your spouse.


📜 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

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]]> Based on Du Con de la Ringue (Three women who found a ring), this episode features the kind of antics that only medieval literature could get away with. The moral? Trust no one, and especially not your spouse.


📜 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

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]]> Medieval Shenanigans: Meet Dane Hew of Leicester Medieval Shenanigans: Meet Dane Hew of Leicester Sun, 18 May 2025 14:10:00 GMT 23:48 682898f4696b5d12324d2fae false https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/medieval-shenanigans-meet-dane-hew-of-leicester 682898f4696b5d12324d2fae 65202d608e657c001133f7cd medieval-shenanigans-meet-dane-hew-of-leicester full 2 8 Guest storyteller Maber Slattery brings the house down, medieval-style.

Join us as we discover the misadventures of Dane Hew, the monk who was "hanged once and four times slain"!

And join us over on Patreon for the second half, where we talk about medieval humour, storytelling medieval stories, and we throw in a couple of real medieval tales (straight from the archives) for good measure.


Find Mabel on all socials @slateroo

🎧 Extended conversation: patreon.com/CourtJesterPodcast

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

☕ Fuel the nonsense: ko-fi.com/thecourtjesterpodcast

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

]]> Guest storyteller Maber Slattery brings the house down, medieval-style.

Join us as we discover the misadventures of Dane Hew, the monk who was "hanged once and four times slain"!

And join us over on Patreon for the second half, where we talk about medieval humour, storytelling medieval stories, and we throw in a couple of real medieval tales (straight from the archives) for good measure.


Find Mabel on all socials @slateroo

🎧 Extended conversation: patreon.com/CourtJesterPodcast

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

☕ Fuel the nonsense: ko-fi.com/thecourtjesterpodcast

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

]]> “Three Blind Men Walk Into an Inn…” (and it just gets worse) “Three Blind Men Walk Into an Inn…” (and it just gets worse) Sun, 04 May 2025 10:00:00 GMT 14:19 6814bce9cea6682986f31ca9 false https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/three-blind-men-walk-into-an-inn 6814bce9cea6682986f31ca9 65202d608e657c001133f7cd three-blind-men-walk-into-an-inn Medieval Ethics 101: Trick the Poor, Lie to a Priest, Skip the Bill full 2 7 This fabliau has it all: trickery, fine dining, and a wildly escalating prank that ends with gospel readings, public humiliation, and a very confused innkeeper.

I give you Cortebarbe’s Li trois avugles de Compiègne (The three blind men of Compiègne).

Content note: includes period-typical ableism.


📜 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

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]]> This fabliau has it all: trickery, fine dining, and a wildly escalating prank that ends with gospel readings, public humiliation, and a very confused innkeeper.

I give you Cortebarbe’s Li trois avugles de Compiègne (The three blind men of Compiègne).

Content note: includes period-typical ableism.


📜 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.

]]> Impostures, or Maqamat al-Hariri, with Peter Konieczny Impostures, or Maqamat al-Hariri, with Peter Konieczny Sun, 20 Apr 2025 10:00:00 GMT 21:51 67fc0230a4e5cd8ebabaeb0f false https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/impostures-or-maqamat-al-hariri-with-peter-konieczny 67fc0230a4e5cd8ebabaeb0f 65202d608e657c001133f7cd impostures-or-maqamat-al-hariri-with-peter-konieczny full 2 6 This Easter Sunday, the Court Jester has a special treat usually reserved for Patreon supporters—a full bonus episode, free for all listeners!


Join me and the brilliant Peter Konieczny of Medievalists.net as we dive into the witty, sharp, and delightfully clever world of the Maqamat al-Hariri, one of the greatest collections of medieval Arabic trickster tales. Peter is brining one of these clever stories to life, and then we chat about the Maqamat, and about humour in translation, and about humour through time.


If you’ve ever wondered what made medieval Arabic audiences laugh, or just love a good con artist with a flair for words, this one’s for you.

If you enjoy it, consider supporting the Court Jester on Patreon for more episodes like this—normally behind the curtain!


🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

📖 Manuscript: Maqamat al-Hariri, 1237. BnF, MS Arabe 5847, fol. 138v.

📲 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.

]]> This Easter Sunday, the Court Jester has a special treat usually reserved for Patreon supporters—a full bonus episode, free for all listeners!


Join me and the brilliant Peter Konieczny of Medievalists.net as we dive into the witty, sharp, and delightfully clever world of the Maqamat al-Hariri, one of the greatest collections of medieval Arabic trickster tales. Peter is brining one of these clever stories to life, and then we chat about the Maqamat, and about humour in translation, and about humour through time.


If you’ve ever wondered what made medieval Arabic audiences laugh, or just love a good con artist with a flair for words, this one’s for you.

If you enjoy it, consider supporting the Court Jester on Patreon for more episodes like this—normally behind the curtain!


🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

📖 Manuscript: Maqamat al-Hariri, 1237. BnF, MS Arabe 5847, fol. 138v.

📲 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.

]]> Glow Up or Blow Up? Glow Up or Blow Up? Sun, 06 Apr 2025 02:00:00 GMT 7:43 67f12736e0f1f8da270df878 true https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/the-three-girls 67f12736e0f1f8da270df878 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-three-girls A Fabliau of Girls, Powder, and Petty Chaos full 2 5 Three girls. One magical cosmetic powder. A high-stakes prep session before a big tournament. What could possibly go wrong?

In the fabliau of Les .iii. meschines (The Three Girls), you decide should pay for the lost powder!


📜 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.

]]> Three girls. One magical cosmetic powder. A high-stakes prep session before a big tournament. What could possibly go wrong?

In the fabliau of Les .iii. meschines (The Three Girls), you decide should pay for the lost powder!


📜 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.

]]> Gombert Gombert Sun, 23 Mar 2025 17:00:00 GMT 9:38 67dee451c5a382306ebac919 true https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/gombert 67dee451c5a382306ebac919 65202d608e657c001133f7cd gombert Medieval Couch-Surfing, Now With Petty Crime full 2 4 Ever wondered what medieval students got up to?

In this episode, we follow two broke university lads who find themselves lodging with a peasant named Gombert. From sneaky bed swaps to stolen cookware, this tale has everything: deception, seduction, and a host who really should have locked his doors.

Listen now for a lesson in why letting students stay at your house has never been a good idea. 


📜 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.

]]> Ever wondered what medieval students got up to?

In this episode, we follow two broke university lads who find themselves lodging with a peasant named Gombert. From sneaky bed swaps to stolen cookware, this tale has everything: deception, seduction, and a host who really should have locked his doors.

Listen now for a lesson in why letting students stay at your house has never been a good idea. 


📜 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.

]]> The Tale of Jaufre with Anne Lister The Tale of Jaufre with Anne Lister Sun, 09 Mar 2025 12:00:00 GMT 14:43 67cc3ecea890beb52e322143 false https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/the-tale-of-jaufre-with-anne-lister 67cc3ecea890beb52e322143 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-tale-of-jaufre-with-anne-lister full 2 3 Give a warm welcome to The Court Jester's first guest storyteller!

Anne Lister, medievalist, storyteller, musician and overall expert in everything there is to know about the Tale of Jaufre, joins us today and shares with us an episode from the Tale. I sat down with Anne for a very interesting interview afterwards, and you can find that on Patreon later this month.


If you want to hear Anne's adaptation of the full Tale of Jaufre, you can find it here:

https://open.spotify.com/show/1oTegctc66f6UT8HhDJff8?si=67737f205d714ed7

Anne has also written extensively on the subject, and you can find her work below. The illustration for this episode's cover is from her book, and it's a scene from today's story.

https://trivent-publishing.eu/home/169-tale-of-jaufre-pack.html


Join me on @kpethainou.bsky.social and follow @thecourtjesterpodcast on Facebook for updates and more medieval mischief.

If you enjoy the podcast, consider supporting it on Patreon or send a one-time donation via Ko-fi: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/thecourtjesterpodcast⁠. Every contribution helps keep the stories coming!


Title song, as usual, is Celebration by Alexander Nakarada.

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

]]> Give a warm welcome to The Court Jester's first guest storyteller!

Anne Lister, medievalist, storyteller, musician and overall expert in everything there is to know about the Tale of Jaufre, joins us today and shares with us an episode from the Tale. I sat down with Anne for a very interesting interview afterwards, and you can find that on Patreon later this month.


If you want to hear Anne's adaptation of the full Tale of Jaufre, you can find it here:

https://open.spotify.com/show/1oTegctc66f6UT8HhDJff8?si=67737f205d714ed7

Anne has also written extensively on the subject, and you can find her work below. The illustration for this episode's cover is from her book, and it's a scene from today's story.

https://trivent-publishing.eu/home/169-tale-of-jaufre-pack.html


Join me on @kpethainou.bsky.social and follow @thecourtjesterpodcast on Facebook for updates and more medieval mischief.

If you enjoy the podcast, consider supporting it on Patreon or send a one-time donation via Ko-fi: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/thecourtjesterpodcast⁠. Every contribution helps keep the stories coming!


Title song, as usual, is Celebration by Alexander Nakarada.

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

]]> The priest and the woman The priest and the woman Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT 8:28 67ba1b98c665638d47aa2e32 true https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/the-priest-and-the-woman 67ba1b98c665638d47aa2e32 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-priest-and-the-woman A Story of Seduction, Deception, and One Humiliated Husband full 2 2 A wild story of deception, wit and wicker baskets, Le prestre et la dame proves once more that some women know exactly how to get what they want.


📜 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.

]]> A wild story of deception, wit and wicker baskets, Le prestre et la dame proves once more that some women know exactly how to get what they want.


📜 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.

]]> Dead to Her Dead to Her Sun, 09 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT 8:42 67a771aa6e8f17b90f6dc940 true https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/the-peasant-of-bailleul 67a771aa6e8f17b90f6dc940 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-peasant-of-bailleul A Medieval Tale of Gaslighting, Grave Talk, and Bedroom Betrayal full 2 1 The Court Jester was selected by FeedSpot as one of the Top 20 Medieval History Podcasts on the web!

What an absolute surprise! And what excellent motivation for me to tell you a story of a medieval married man and his unlikely affliction.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is Le vilain de Bailleul (The peasant of Bailleul).

Warning: not suitable for actual relationships or souls with dignity.


📜 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.

]]> The Court Jester was selected by FeedSpot as one of the Top 20 Medieval History Podcasts on the web!

What an absolute surprise! And what excellent motivation for me to tell you a story of a medieval married man and his unlikely affliction.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is Le vilain de Bailleul (The peasant of Bailleul).

Warning: not suitable for actual relationships or souls with dignity.


📜 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.

]]> Sex Education, Medieval Style Sex Education, Medieval Style Mon, 29 Apr 2024 16:25:48 GMT 15:37 662fca0df1e606001346a477 true https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/the-stupid-knight 662fca0df1e606001346a477 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-stupid-knight He learned to screw. Everyone else learned to run. full 38 A knight so dim he didn’t know where to put it. A mother-in-law who steps in to help. Two houseguests who suffer... a lot. And one red-hot awl that should’ve stayed in the drawer.

Le sot chevalier (The stupid knight) is a fabliau about sex, stupidity, and why medieval hospitality was a high-risk activity.


📜 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.

]]> A knight so dim he didn’t know where to put it. A mother-in-law who steps in to help. Two houseguests who suffer... a lot. And one red-hot awl that should’ve stayed in the drawer.

Le sot chevalier (The stupid knight) is a fabliau about sex, stupidity, and why medieval hospitality was a high-risk activity.


📜 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.

]]> How to Get Rid of Your Mother (Legally, and with Profit) How to Get Rid of Your Mother (Legally, and with Profit) Sun, 14 Apr 2024 17:00:25 GMT 10:37 661af7dc33026f001576d0c6 false https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/the-priest-who-had-a-mother-foisted-on-him 661af7dc33026f001576d0c6 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-priest-who-had-a-mother-foisted-on-him Family isn’t born. It’s aggressively reassigned. full 37 A mother wants more respect. A bishop wants to help. A random priest ends up financially and emotionally responsible for a complete stranger.

This is Le prestre qui ot mere malgré sien (The priest who had a mother foisted on him) — a fabliau about guilt, identity fraud, and the medieval art of forced family.


📜 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.

]]> A mother wants more respect. A bishop wants to help. A random priest ends up financially and emotionally responsible for a complete stranger.

This is Le prestre qui ot mere malgré sien (The priest who had a mother foisted on him) — a fabliau about guilt, identity fraud, and the medieval art of forced family.


📜 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.

]]> Barrabam! A Good Friday Fabliau About Liturgical Chaos Barrabam! A Good Friday Fabliau About Liturgical Chaos Sun, 31 Mar 2024 19:28:14 GMT 5:15 6609b94e84d38a0016a3f248 false https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/how-the-priest-read-the-passion-story 6609b94e84d38a0016a3f248 65202d608e657c001133f7cd how-the-priest-read-the-passion-story One priest. Zero page markers. Eternal suffering. full 36

It’s Good Friday, the church is packed, and the priest has lost the Passion — so naturally, he just starts yelling things until someone stops him. “Barrabam!” echoes off the walls. “Crucifige eum!” sends peasants into breast-beating despair. And the clerk? He’s had enough.

Enter Le prestre qui dist la passion (How the priest read the passion story), a fabliau of liturgical nonsense, holy shouting, and the world’s most unwanted extended cut.


📜 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.

]]>

It’s Good Friday, the church is packed, and the priest has lost the Passion — so naturally, he just starts yelling things until someone stops him. “Barrabam!” echoes off the walls. “Crucifige eum!” sends peasants into breast-beating despair. And the clerk? He’s had enough.

Enter Le prestre qui dist la passion (How the priest read the passion story), a fabliau of liturgical nonsense, holy shouting, and the world’s most unwanted extended cut.


📜 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.

]]> The Fart That Changed the Afterlife The Fart That Changed the Afterlife Sat, 30 Mar 2024 14:03:46 GMT 6:00 66081bc3d821560016f84c40 true https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/the-peasants-fart 66081bc3d821560016f84c40 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-peasants-fart Medieval metaphysics meets gastrointestinal justice. full 35 A peasant falls ill. Hell prepares to receive him. A devil arrives with a soul-capturing bag… and instead collects something far, far worse.

Le pet au vilain (The peasant’s fart) is a fabliau about digestion, damnation, and the cosmic consequences of one peasant’s truly catastrophic fart.


📜 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.

]]> A peasant falls ill. Hell prepares to receive him. A devil arrives with a soul-capturing bag… and instead collects something far, far worse.

Le pet au vilain (The peasant’s fart) is a fabliau about digestion, damnation, and the cosmic consequences of one peasant’s truly catastrophic fart.


📜 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.

]]> When in Doubt, Bribe the Bishop When in Doubt, Bribe the Bishop Tue, 19 Mar 2024 20:14:05 GMT 9:26 65f9f2132201590017910e1b false https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/the-donkeys-legacy 65f9f2132201590017910e1b 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-donkeys-legacy A priest. A donkey. Twenty pounds of “charity.” full 34 A hardworking donkey dies. His priest gives him a saintly burial. The bishop is outraged — until twenty pounds appear, and suddenly the donkey's soul is forgiven, his sins are wiped clean, and divine justice looks... surprisingly flexible.

Le testament de l’asne (The donkey’s legacy) is a fabliau about bribery, holiness, and the most successful donkey in medieval France.


📜 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.

]]> A hardworking donkey dies. His priest gives him a saintly burial. The bishop is outraged — until twenty pounds appear, and suddenly the donkey's soul is forgiven, his sins are wiped clean, and divine justice looks... surprisingly flexible.

Le testament de l’asne (The donkey’s legacy) is a fabliau about bribery, holiness, and the most successful donkey in medieval France.


📜 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

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]]> How to Test Your Wife’s Love How to Test Your Wife’s Love Sun, 10 Mar 2024 18:00:30 GMT 11:40 65e0e4fdbe190800176b3167 true https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/the-fisherman-of-pont-sur-seine 65e0e4fdbe190800176b3167 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-fisherman-of-pont-sur-seine (With a Severed Penis and a Sack of Beans) full 33 When a fisherman’s wife claims she wouldn’t mind if he lost a certain... appendage, he decides to put her loyalty to the test. What follows involves a drowned priest, a strategic swap, a bag of beans, and one of the most awkward reunions in fabliau history.

Love is complicated. So are fishing trips.

Le pecheor de Pont-sur-Seine (The fisherman of Pont-sur-Seine): a tale of tricks, turnarounds, and anatomy-based emotional growth.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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]]> When a fisherman’s wife claims she wouldn’t mind if he lost a certain... appendage, he decides to put her loyalty to the test. What follows involves a drowned priest, a strategic swap, a bag of beans, and one of the most awkward reunions in fabliau history.

Love is complicated. So are fishing trips.

Le pecheor de Pont-sur-Seine (The fisherman of Pont-sur-Seine): a tale of tricks, turnarounds, and anatomy-based emotional growth.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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

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]]> The Belt - Or, How to Win Back Your Husband by Seducing Him as a Man The Belt - Or, How to Win Back Your Husband by Seducing Him as a Man Sun, 03 Mar 2024 18:00:46 GMT 20:03 65dfabbbecfa5700178dab81 true https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/the-belt 65dfabbbecfa5700178dab81 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-belt Magic, sex, revenge, and the most uncomfortable identity reveal in medieval literature. full 32 A noblewoman is seduced by a strange knight bearing magical gifts. When her husband finds out, he leaves her. So she gets even. Disguised as “Sir Henry,” she wins tournaments, her husband’s trust, and eventually… him. 

The Belt by Dietrich von der Glezze is a 13th-century German tale of trickery, transformation, and what happens when your wife becomes a better knight than you and outbids your libido - posted, appropriately, on International Women’s Day.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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]]> A noblewoman is seduced by a strange knight bearing magical gifts. When her husband finds out, he leaves her. So she gets even. Disguised as “Sir Henry,” she wins tournaments, her husband’s trust, and eventually… him. 

The Belt by Dietrich von der Glezze is a 13th-century German tale of trickery, transformation, and what happens when your wife becomes a better knight than you and outbids your libido - posted, appropriately, on International Women’s Day.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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]]> The Lombard Who Wanted Twelve Wives The Lombard Who Wanted Twelve Wives Sun, 25 Feb 2024 18:00:34 GMT 9:37 65da3bee1ca66500171660f2 true https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/the-fellow-with-a-dozen-wives 65da3bee1ca66500171660f2 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-fellow-with-a-dozen-wives The most exhausted man in Italy full 31 A young man boasts he could handle twelve wives. He marries one. She ruins him.

When the village captures a wolf, he suggests, “Give him a wife.”

Le valet aus .xii. Fames (The fellow with a dozen wives) is a fabliau about ego, endurance, and learning the hard way that marriage is not for amateurs.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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]]> A young man boasts he could handle twelve wives. He marries one. She ruins him.

When the village captures a wolf, he suggests, “Give him a wife.”

Le valet aus .xii. Fames (The fellow with a dozen wives) is a fabliau about ego, endurance, and learning the hard way that marriage is not for amateurs.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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

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]]> A Medieval Guide to Cheating Gracefully A Medieval Guide to Cheating Gracefully Sun, 18 Feb 2024 18:00:08 GMT 9:11 65d0d50b0247150016d3d9a0 true https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/thrice-around-the-church 65d0d50b0247150016d3d9a0 65202d608e657c001133f7cd thrice-around-the-church Nothing says “not guilty” like an improvised fertility ritual. full 30 A young wife meets her priest in the bushes. Her husband finds the bed empty. What follows is a knife, a near-confession, and a last-minute excuse involving fertility rituals, apostolic dirt, and walking barefoot around a church at midnight.

La damme qui fist .iii. tors entor le moustier (Thrice Around the Church) is a fabliau about adultery, audacity, and the spiritual power of thinking fast.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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]]> A young wife meets her priest in the bushes. Her husband finds the bed empty. What follows is a knife, a near-confession, and a last-minute excuse involving fertility rituals, apostolic dirt, and walking barefoot around a church at midnight.

La damme qui fist .iii. tors entor le moustier (Thrice Around the Church) is a fabliau about adultery, audacity, and the spiritual power of thinking fast.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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

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

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]]> Auberee - Mistress of the Needle, Queen of the Scheme Auberee - Mistress of the Needle, Queen of the Scheme Sun, 11 Feb 2024 18:18:11 GMT 20:41 65c7bdeae1309300166af846 true https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/auberee 65c7bdeae1309300166af846 65202d608e657c001133f7cd auberee She sews. She plots. She fakes divine intervention. full 29 When a young man falls in love with a newlywed, he hires a crafty old neighbor named Auberée to help. What follows includes a planted surcoat, a fake miracle, and one of the most elaborately staged reconciliations in medieval literature.

Auberée is a fabliau about lust, lies, logistics—and how to play everyone in town without ever breaking a sweat.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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]]> When a young man falls in love with a newlywed, he hires a crafty old neighbor named Auberée to help. What follows includes a planted surcoat, a fake miracle, and one of the most elaborately staged reconciliations in medieval literature.

Auberée is a fabliau about lust, lies, logistics—and how to play everyone in town without ever breaking a sweat.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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

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]]> Hot Bath, Cold Betrayal Hot Bath, Cold Betrayal Sun, 04 Feb 2024 20:00:00 GMT 14:04 65bea9b75424de0018e86438 true https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/the-two-moneychangers 65bea9b75424de0018e86438 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-two-moneychangers Love triangles are fun, until someone’s hiding under a wet towel regretting everything. full 28 Two moneychangers. One wife. A tub full of regret.

In Les .ii. changeors (The two Moneychangers), a clever woman turns the tables on her husband’s friend—who’s also her not-so-secret lover—with nothing but bathwater, bravado, and a flawless poker face.

It’s a cautionary tale about overconfidence, underbathing, and why you should never assume you’re the smartest one in the room—especially when you're naked.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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]]> Two moneychangers. One wife. A tub full of regret.

In Les .ii. changeors (The two Moneychangers), a clever woman turns the tables on her husband’s friend—who’s also her not-so-secret lover—with nothing but bathwater, bravado, and a flawless poker face.

It’s a cautionary tale about overconfidence, underbathing, and why you should never assume you’re the smartest one in the room—especially when you're naked.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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

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]]> Heaven’s Worst Day at the Office Heaven’s Worst Day at the Office Sun, 28 Jan 2024 16:20:28 GMT 11:24 65b67ed0912de900173d7d04 false https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/the-soul-that-argued-its-way-into-heaven 65b67ed0912de900173d7d04 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-soul-that-argued-its-way-into-heaven Or, How a Soul Argued his Way into Heaven full 27 When no angels or demons show up to claim his soul, a dead peasant takes matters into his own hands and walks straight into Heaven. Saint Peter tries to kick him out. So does Saint Thomas. Then Saint Paul. All three are verbally demolished by a man who’s had just about enough of sanctimonious gatekeeping. Even Christ Himself has to admit defeat.

L’arme qui guangna paradis par plait (The soul that argued its way into heaven) is wild fabliau about divine bureaucracy, celestial loopholes, and the power of a really, really solid argument.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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]]> When no angels or demons show up to claim his soul, a dead peasant takes matters into his own hands and walks straight into Heaven. Saint Peter tries to kick him out. So does Saint Thomas. Then Saint Paul. All three are verbally demolished by a man who’s had just about enough of sanctimonious gatekeeping. Even Christ Himself has to admit defeat.

L’arme qui guangna paradis par plait (The soul that argued its way into heaven) is wild fabliau about divine bureaucracy, celestial loopholes, and the power of a really, really solid argument.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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]]> A Crane for a f*** A Crane for a f*** Sun, 21 Jan 2024 17:39:52 GMT 10:03 65ad56e8d2ac210016d0dff8 true https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/the-crane 65ad56e8d2ac210016d0dff8 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-crane Or, The Market Value of Inexperience full 26 A cloistered girl sees a crane. She wants it. The young man carrying it names his price—one she doesn’t understand, but pays all the same. As the bird comes and goes, so too do questions of innocence, value, and the patience of overworked nurses.

La damoiselle de la grue (The Crane), a feather-light fabliau with a sharp beak.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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

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]]> A cloistered girl sees a crane. She wants it. The young man carrying it names his price—one she doesn’t understand, but pays all the same. As the bird comes and goes, so too do questions of innocence, value, and the patience of overworked nurses.

La damoiselle de la grue (The Crane), a feather-light fabliau with a sharp beak.


📜 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

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]]> The knight who heard his wife’s confession The knight who heard his wife’s confession Tue, 09 Jan 2024 22:31:56 GMT 14:10 659dc95d4fd40e0016487511 true https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/the-knight-who-heard-his-wifes-confession 659dc95d4fd40e0016487511 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-knight-who-heard-his-wifes-confession Or, How to Make Your Husband Regret Dressing Like a Monk full 25 When his sick wife asks for a priest, a knight gets curious. He dresses in robes, sneaks in as a confessor, and listens in. What he hears breaks his heart—or maybe just his pride.

Too bad she knew it was him.

Le chevalier qui fist sa fame confesse is a hilarious medieval tale of mischief, marriage, and one woman’s improv masterclass in “sins.”


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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

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]]> When his sick wife asks for a priest, a knight gets curious. He dresses in robes, sneaks in as a confessor, and listens in. What he hears breaks his heart—or maybe just his pride.

Too bad she knew it was him.

Le chevalier qui fist sa fame confesse is a hilarious medieval tale of mischief, marriage, and one woman’s improv masterclass in “sins.”


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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

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]]> The butcher of Abbeville The butcher of Abbeville Mon, 01 Jan 2024 15:26:13 GMT 18:22 6592d9950afafb0017fc62f3 true https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/the-butcher-of-abbeville 6592d9950afafb0017fc62f3 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-butcher-of-abbeville Or, How to Get Laid Twice and Still Leave with a Profit full 24 A weary butcher stops in a priest’s village with nothing but a stolen sheep and a lot of nerve. By morning, he’s seduced the maid, seduced the priest’s mistress, sold the priest his own animal’s hide, and left a house full of chaos behind him.

By Eustache d’Amiens, Le bouchier d’Abevile is a ferociously funny fabliau about hypocrisy, sex, revenge—and getting fleeced in more ways than one.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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

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]]> A weary butcher stops in a priest’s village with nothing but a stolen sheep and a lot of nerve. By morning, he’s seduced the maid, seduced the priest’s mistress, sold the priest his own animal’s hide, and left a house full of chaos behind him.

By Eustache d’Amiens, Le bouchier d’Abevile is a ferociously funny fabliau about hypocrisy, sex, revenge—and getting fleeced in more ways than one.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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

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]]> The Partridges The Partridges Mon, 25 Dec 2023 18:22:25 GMT 8:03 6589c8636fa7630016c93561 false https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/the-partridges 6589c8636fa7630016c93561 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-partridges Or, The Peasant, His Wife, the Priest, and a Tragedy in Two Courses full 23 On Christmas Day, the Court Jester brings you the story of two partridges, not on a pear tree, but in…a shrubbery!


A peasant roasts two perfect partridges. His wife eats them both. When the priest shows up for dinner, she sends him running and frames him for the theft.

Les perdris is a greasy little tale about appetite, improvisation, and how quickly a lie can run when it's got gravy on its chin.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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

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]]> On Christmas Day, the Court Jester brings you the story of two partridges, not on a pear tree, but in…a shrubbery!


A peasant roasts two perfect partridges. His wife eats them both. When the priest shows up for dinner, she sends him running and frames him for the theft.

Les perdris is a greasy little tale about appetite, improvisation, and how quickly a lie can run when it's got gravy on its chin.


📜 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

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]]> Christmas Special: The story of Grettir and Glamr Christmas Special: The story of Grettir and Glamr Sun, 24 Dec 2023 16:18:23 GMT 14:44 658859d0e0f62400176f1b60 false https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/christmas-special-the-story-of-grettir-and-glamr 658859d0e0f62400176f1b60 65202d608e657c001133f7cd christmas-special-the-story-of-grettir-and-glamr full 22 On the Christmas Special of The Court Jester, I bring you monsters for Christmas.

Grab your beverage of choice and let me take you to medieval Iceland, on a cold and stormy Christmas Eve. And to hear the rest of the Grettis saga, head over to Human Circus podcast.

The Court Jester is the labour of love of medievalist Kleio Pethainou, and if you like what you hear, consider supporting the podcast on Patreon, and join me on social media to talk about the stories. 

Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and until next time!


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]]> On the Christmas Special of The Court Jester, I bring you monsters for Christmas.

Grab your beverage of choice and let me take you to medieval Iceland, on a cold and stormy Christmas Eve. And to hear the rest of the Grettis saga, head over to Human Circus podcast.

The Court Jester is the labour of love of medievalist Kleio Pethainou, and if you like what you hear, consider supporting the podcast on Patreon, and join me on social media to talk about the stories. 

Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and until next time!


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]]> The Priest and Alison The Priest and Alison Sun, 19 Nov 2023 13:00:57 GMT 14:41 655912691a7d7e0012644db4 false https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/the-priest-and-alisonle-prestre-et-alison 655912691a7d7e0012644db4 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-priest-and-alisonle-prestre-et-alison How to Spend Fifteen Pounds and Still Get Beaten Naked in the Street full 21 And we’re back to pervert priest territory!

This one sets his sights—and his purse—on a young merchant’s daughter. But when a cunning mother swaps in a seasoned professional named Alison, things heat up fast. Add some fire, a butcher with a stick, and one mortified chaplain fleeing nude through town, and you’ve got Le Prestre et Alison, Guillaume le Normand’s cautionary classic of lust, deceit, and spectacular public humiliation.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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]]> And we’re back to pervert priest territory!

This one sets his sights—and his purse—on a young merchant’s daughter. But when a cunning mother swaps in a seasoned professional named Alison, things heat up fast. Add some fire, a butcher with a stick, and one mortified chaplain fleeing nude through town, and you’ve got Le Prestre et Alison, Guillaume le Normand’s cautionary classic of lust, deceit, and spectacular public humiliation.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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

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]]> Walter and Marion Walter and Marion Tue, 14 Nov 2023 19:34:40 GMT 3:58 6553cbd1af09e0001292f913 true https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/walter-and-mariongautheron-et-marion 6553cbd1af09e0001292f913 65202d608e657c001133f7cd walter-and-mariongautheron-et-marion The Virgin, the Fart, and the Wedding Night from Hell full 20 On their wedding night, Marion lets one rip—and Walter loses his damn mind.

Is she lying? Is she cursed? Is love even real when it smells like that? 

Gautheron et Marion is a medieval sex farce where purity meets flatulence and nothing sacred survives.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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

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]]> On their wedding night, Marion lets one rip—and Walter loses his damn mind.

Is she lying? Is she cursed? Is love even real when it smells like that? 

Gautheron et Marion is a medieval sex farce where purity meets flatulence and nothing sacred survives.


📜 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

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]]> The Blacksmith of Creil The Blacksmith of Creil Sun, 05 Nov 2023 19:10:25 GMT 10:41 6547e8a2a809bc001244b88a true https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/the-blacksmith-of-creille-fevre-de-creeil 6547e8a2a809bc001244b88a 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-blacksmith-of-creille-fevre-de-creeil Anvils, Adultery, and an Oversized Problem at the Forge full 19 A blacksmith’s wife wants a sample of the help’s famously gigantic tool—but the smith has other plans.

One of the raunchiest fabliaux ever forged, Le Fevre de Creeil is featuring a legendary penis described...at length, a suspiciously cooperative apprentice, and a wife who’s about to get hammered.


📜 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

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]]> A blacksmith’s wife wants a sample of the help’s famously gigantic tool—but the smith has other plans.

One of the raunchiest fabliaux ever forged, Le Fevre de Creeil is featuring a legendary penis described...at length, a suspiciously cooperative apprentice, and a wife who’s about to get hammered.


📜 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

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]]> Bisclavret Bisclavret Sun, 29 Oct 2023 21:10:20 GMT 12:32 653eca3dfa790d0011eb3ec3 false https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/halloween-special-bisclavret 653eca3dfa790d0011eb3ec3 65202d608e657c001133f7cd halloween-special-bisclavret Not All Monsters Live in the Forest full 18 He vanishes into the woods each week. She steals his secret and thinks she’s safe. But the beast comes back.

Marie de France's Bisclavret is a chilling Breton lai of love, loss, and the dark things that wear human faces.


No obscenity today. Just medieval monsters.

Happy Halloween!


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

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]]> He vanishes into the woods each week. She steals his secret and thinks she’s safe. But the beast comes back.

Marie de France's Bisclavret is a chilling Breton lai of love, loss, and the dark things that wear human faces.


No obscenity today. Just medieval monsters.

Happy Halloween!


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

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]]> A Trial by C*nt A Trial by C*nt Wed, 25 Oct 2023 19:01:18 GMT 9:38 65396600c7371a0012f4716b true https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/a-trial-by-cntle-jugement-des-cons 65396600c7371a0012f4716b 65202d608e657c001133f7cd a-trial-by-cntle-jugement-des-cons A medieval courtroom comedy of genitals and judgment full 17 Before The Bachelor, before Judge Judy, there was this: a courtroom drama, complete with witnesses, deliberation, and an uncle with a riddle about genitals. 

Le Jugement des cons is a medieval tale of law, lust and labial nuance.


📜 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

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]]> Before The Bachelor, before Judge Judy, there was this: a courtroom drama, complete with witnesses, deliberation, and an uncle with a riddle about genitals. 

Le Jugement des cons is a medieval tale of law, lust and labial nuance.


📜 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

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]]> <![CDATA[Bonus episode: We're Not So Different!]]> Sat, 07 Oct 2023 18:40:35 GMT 1:04:57 6521a62635acc0001191a89d true https://shows.acast.com/the-court-jester/episodes/bonus-episode-were-not-so-different 6521a62635acc0001191a89d 65202d608e657c001133f7cd bonus-episode-were-not-so-different A chat with Eleanor and Luke about the fabliaux and things medieval bonus On this bonus episode of The Court Jester, I met with Eleanor and Luke and we talk about things medieval, and about fabliaux and comedy old and new.

Give their podcast, We're Not So Different, a follow, and join me on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) @kpethainou to talk about the stories, and also follow @thecourtjesterpodcast on Facebook. We can talk about it there, too.

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]]> On this bonus episode of The Court Jester, I met with Eleanor and Luke and we talk about things medieval, and about fabliaux and comedy old and new.

Give their podcast, We're Not So Different, a follow, and join me on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) @kpethainou to talk about the stories, and also follow @thecourtjesterpodcast on Facebook. We can talk about it there, too.

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

]]> The mourner who got f*ucked at the grave site The mourner who got f*ucked at the grave site Mon, 25 Sep 2023 18:29:27 GMT 8:12 bc1464c4-05ec-42af-9904-6944cc623e35 false https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kleio-pethainou/episodes/The-mourner-who-got-fucked-at-the-grave-siteLa-dolente-qui-fu-fotue-sur-la-tonbe-e29ovtk 65202d687bacb40011424b8a 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-mourner-who-got-fucked-at-the-grave-site The most unhinged graveyard hook-up in the medieval canon full 13 A wandering squire made a bet he could seduce the sorrow right out of a grieving widow—and of course, he was right. This is the horniest act of grave desecration ever written down in medieval French.

Is it disrespectful? Absolutely. Is it funny? Tragically so. Is it a cautionary tale about the volatility of female desire and the limits of performative grief? Technically, yes.

But mostly, La dolente qui fu fotue sur la tonbe is about getting railed in a cemetery. You're welcome.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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

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]]> A wandering squire made a bet he could seduce the sorrow right out of a grieving widow—and of course, he was right. This is the horniest act of grave desecration ever written down in medieval French.

Is it disrespectful? Absolutely. Is it funny? Tragically so. Is it a cautionary tale about the volatility of female desire and the limits of performative grief? Technically, yes.

But mostly, La dolente qui fu fotue sur la tonbe is about getting railed in a cemetery. You're welcome.


📜 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

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]]> The girl who wanted to fly The girl who wanted to fly Mon, 18 Sep 2023 13:48:19 GMT 8:38 e8cb380e-0678-4231-a115-77bd4f4153cb false https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kleio-pethainou/episodes/The-girl-who-wanted-to-flyLa-damoiselle-qui-vost-voler-e29f98s 65202d687bacb40011424b8b 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-girl-who-wanted-to-fly She wanted to soar. He had other plans. full 15 In this fabliau, a starry-eyed young woman dreams of flight—and a cunning student offers to equip her with the necessary “tail.” What follows is a cautionary tale of misplaced trust, high aspirations, and what really happens when you try to take off without checking the fine print.

La damoiselle qui vost voleror is a story for everyone who’s ever wanted to fly... or at least get off the ground.


📜 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

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]]> In this fabliau, a starry-eyed young woman dreams of flight—and a cunning student offers to equip her with the necessary “tail.” What follows is a cautionary tale of misplaced trust, high aspirations, and what really happens when you try to take off without checking the fine print.

La damoiselle qui vost voleror is a story for everyone who’s ever wanted to fly... or at least get off the ground.


📜 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

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]]> The Peasant Doctor The Peasant Doctor Mon, 04 Sep 2023 16:57:07 GMT 18:54 6050dfb3-443b-4c19-811a-b0494c502fe3 false https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kleio-pethainou/episodes/The-Peasant-DoctorLe-Vilain-mire-e28tdu9 65202d687bacb40011424b8c 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-peasant-doctor How to treat illness using violence, nudity, and fear of fire. full 13 This poor guy just wanted to plow his field in peace. But one thing led to another—an unwanted marriage, a suspicious priest, a strategic beating—and suddenly he's the kingdom’s most celebrated doctor, despite knowing nothing about medicine except how to get hit with a stick until inspiration strikes.

In Le Vilain mire, medicine is just violence with better PR, and a man with zero qualifications ends up outwitting an entire kingdom. This is what happens when you lie confidently and commit.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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

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]]> This poor guy just wanted to plow his field in peace. But one thing led to another—an unwanted marriage, a suspicious priest, a strategic beating—and suddenly he's the kingdom’s most celebrated doctor, despite knowing nothing about medicine except how to get hit with a stick until inspiration strikes.

In Le Vilain mire, medicine is just violence with better PR, and a man with zero qualifications ends up outwitting an entire kingdom. This is what happens when you lie confidently and commit.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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

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]]> Black Balls Black Balls Sun, 27 Aug 2023 10:35:42 GMT 7:23 3d0c7d43-7d34-4ec4-9fc9-b0b97424bb36 false https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kleio-pethainou/episodes/Black-BallsLa-Coille-Noire-e28iu83 65202d687bacb40011424b8d 65202d608e657c001133f7cd black-balls When testicles become a matter of ecclesiastical law full 13 In La Coille Noire, a wife takes her husband to court over the scandalous discovery that his testicles are black.

Cue a trial full of confusion, comedy, and anatomical misunderstandings, as the bishop tries to make sense of it all. 


📜 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

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]]> In La Coille Noire, a wife takes her husband to court over the scandalous discovery that his testicles are black.

Cue a trial full of confusion, comedy, and anatomical misunderstandings, as the bishop tries to make sense of it all. 


📜 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

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]]> The Knight Who Made C*nts Talk The Knight Who Made C*nts Talk Mon, 21 Aug 2023 17:20:47 GMT 19:09 75faf58e-f0c0-4915-bbcf-f214fe7bfe9e false https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kleio-pethainou/episodes/The-Knight-Who-Made-Cnts-TalkLe-Chevalier-Qui-Fesoit-Les-Cons-Parler-e28bpsa 65202d687bacb40011424b8e 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-knight-who-made-cnts-talk Warning: private parts are about to go public. full 12 Warning: private parts are about to go public.

In Garin's infamous Le Chevalier Qui Fesoit Les Cons Parler, a down-on-his-luck knight is gifted the bizarre magical ability to make women's genitals (and if necessary, their anuses) speak the truth. As he travels from tournaments to courts, this strange power causes chaos, confession, and courtly mayhem. 


📜 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


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]]> Warning: private parts are about to go public.

In Garin's infamous Le Chevalier Qui Fesoit Les Cons Parler, a down-on-his-luck knight is gifted the bizarre magical ability to make women's genitals (and if necessary, their anuses) speak the truth. As he travels from tournaments to courts, this strange power causes chaos, confession, and courtly mayhem. 


📜 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


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]]> Brother Denise Brother Denise Sun, 06 Aug 2023 08:00:00 GMT 11:59 401be832-765c-43f6-bfe4-08954470dd08 false https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kleio-pethainou/episodes/Brother-DeniseFreire-Denise-le-cordelier-e270pjr 65202d687bacb40011424b8f 65202d608e657c001133f7cd brother-denise A Cloister, a Cross-Dressing Virgin, and a Friar Who Should Burn in Hell full 11 In Freire Denise le cordelier, Rutebeuf offers a poetic takedown of every dude who uses God to get laid. A teenage girl dreams of holy life; a Franciscan friar sees an opportunity. Disguised as “Brother Denise,” she enters the monastery—and his bed—until a sharp noblewoman spots the girl under the tonsure.

A darkly comic tale of religious abuse, drag, and divine retribution, this is one of the medieval period’s most brutal friar exposés.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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

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]]> In Freire Denise le cordelier, Rutebeuf offers a poetic takedown of every dude who uses God to get laid. A teenage girl dreams of holy life; a Franciscan friar sees an opportunity. Disguised as “Brother Denise,” she enters the monastery—and his bed—until a sharp noblewoman spots the girl under the tonsure.

A darkly comic tale of religious abuse, drag, and divine retribution, this is one of the medieval period’s most brutal friar exposés.


📜 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

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]]> The Beaten Path The Beaten Path Sun, 30 Jul 2023 08:00:00 GMT 7:40 8e4b2b93-f1fa-4426-b080-7ce832f415ae false https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kleio-pethainou/episodes/The-Beaten-PathLe-sentier-batu-e270pe2 65202d687bacb40011424b90 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-beaten-path A Tournament of Wits, and Some Below-the-Belt Blows full 10 In Le sentier batu, Jean de Condé tells the story of a knight who gets roasted at a party by the woman he once hoped to marry—and absolutely cooks her back. A lesson in why public shame is a blade that cuts both ways—and why some roads are better left untraveled.


📜 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

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]]> In Le sentier batu, Jean de Condé tells the story of a knight who gets roasted at a party by the woman he once hoped to marry—and absolutely cooks her back. A lesson in why public shame is a blade that cuts both ways—and why some roads are better left untraveled.


📜 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

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]]> The Knight of the Red Robe The Knight of the Red Robe Sun, 23 Jul 2023 08:00:00 GMT 12:07 cbc5721f-6704-4242-bdcd-02e6a888caca false https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kleio-pethainou/episodes/The-Knight-of-the-Red-RobeLe-chevalier-a-la-robe-vermeille-e270par 65202d687bacb40011424b91 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-knight-of-the-red-robe How to Lose Your Wife and Your Mind in One Morning full 9 When a well-dressed knight visits his lover while her husband is at court, all goes to plan—until the husband unexpectedly returns. What follows is a spiraling comedy of cover-ups, in which the lady spins a web of lies so convincing she not only protects her secret lover but manages to convince her husband that he’s possessed, demented, and in need of a religious pilgrimage.

In Le chevalier à la robe vermeille, Jean de Condé delivers a classic fabliau of adultery, gaslighting and proof that red really is the most dangerous color.


📜 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

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]]> When a well-dressed knight visits his lover while her husband is at court, all goes to plan—until the husband unexpectedly returns. What follows is a spiraling comedy of cover-ups, in which the lady spins a web of lies so convincing she not only protects her secret lover but manages to convince her husband that he’s possessed, demented, and in need of a religious pilgrimage.

In Le chevalier à la robe vermeille, Jean de Condé delivers a classic fabliau of adultery, gaslighting and proof that red really is the most dangerous color.


📜 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

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]]> Long Butthole Berengier Long Butthole Berengier Sun, 16 Jul 2023 12:20:48 GMT 15:46 1586dde6-cea2-4c77-bd77-6bdbb59cc05a false https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kleio-pethainou/episodes/Long-Butthole-BerengierBerangier-au-lonc-cul-e270fec 65202d687bacb40011424b92 65202d608e657c001133f7cd long-butthole-berengier The Fabliau Where Ass Kissing Is Literal full 8 In Berangier au lonc cul, Guérin (the creative mastermind behind this amazing story) delivers a humiliating farce about one man's lie, one woman’s vengeance, and one monumental butt.

This knight might wear armour, but his guts are all gone—literally scared into kissing what he thought was a man’s “long butthole.”

That’s right: the title is not a metaphor.


📜 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

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]]> In Berangier au lonc cul, Guérin (the creative mastermind behind this amazing story) delivers a humiliating farce about one man's lie, one woman’s vengeance, and one monumental butt.

This knight might wear armour, but his guts are all gone—literally scared into kissing what he thought was a man’s “long butthole.”

That’s right: the title is not a metaphor.


📜 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

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]]> The Three Hunchbacks The Three Hunchbacks Sun, 02 Jul 2023 08:00:00 GMT 12:41 925a3660-e7c5-4b16-a849-179e8973de83 false https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kleio-pethainou/episodes/The-Three-HunchbacksLes-iii-bous-e26e8h9 65202d687bacb40011424b93 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-three-hunchbacks A Merchant’s Wife, a Bed with Drawers, and One Very Tired Porter full 7 When a miserly hunchback marries far above his station, his obsession with control meets its match in his wife's quick wits and a sturdy bed with three drawers. In Les iii boçus, bodies pile up, a porter loses his mind, and a husband learns (posthumously) that money can’t buy loyalty. One of the fabliaux’s tightest murder farces, this is slapstick with a corpse count.


📜 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

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]]> When a miserly hunchback marries far above his station, his obsession with control meets its match in his wife's quick wits and a sturdy bed with three drawers. In Les iii boçus, bodies pile up, a porter loses his mind, and a husband learns (posthumously) that money can’t buy loyalty. One of the fabliaux’s tightest murder farces, this is slapstick with a corpse count.


📜 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

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]]> <![CDATA["Amen to That"! The C*nt Blessed by a Bishop]]> Sun, 25 Jun 2023 16:46:01 GMT 9:40 07e1e71a-d358-4b81-ae26-b4450fea9593 false https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kleio-pethainou/episodes/The-Cnt-Blessed-by-a-BishopLevesque-qui-bene-le-con-e265ta8 65202d687bacb40011424b94 65202d608e657c001133f7cd amen-to-that-the-cnt-blessed-by-a-bishop One Priest’s Revenge, Signed and Sanctified full 6 In L’evesque qui beneï le con, the bishop of Bayeux learns the hard way that abusing power for sex can blow up in your face—especially when the woman’s husband is hiding behind the bed, waiting to say Amen. 

God sees everything, and so does the guy behind the curtain.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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

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]]> In L’evesque qui beneï le con, the bishop of Bayeux learns the hard way that abusing power for sex can blow up in your face—especially when the woman’s husband is hiding behind the bed, waiting to say Amen. 

God sees everything, and so does the guy behind the curtain.


📜 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

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]]> Trollops and Troupers Trollops and Troupers Sun, 18 Jun 2023 13:20:26 GMT 7:33 926d1b3a-79c8-40cf-a342-5c3651c889dc false https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kleio-pethainou/episodes/Trollops-and-TroupersDes-putains-et-des-lecheors-e25shcj 65202d687bacb40011424b95 65202d608e657c001133f7cd trollops-and-troupers The Forgotten Freeloaders of Christendom full 1 5 When God made the world, He gave jobs to knights, peasants, and priests—and forgot the whores and the entertainers. So they complained. The result? Harlots got Church patronage, jugglers got tossed some bones, and the moral order of the universe got pantsed in public.

Jean de Condé’s Des putains et des lecheors is divine bureaucracy at its pettiest.


📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada

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

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]]> When God made the world, He gave jobs to knights, peasants, and priests—and forgot the whores and the entertainers. So they complained. The result? Harlots got Church patronage, jugglers got tossed some bones, and the moral order of the universe got pantsed in public.

Jean de Condé’s Des putains et des lecheors is divine bureaucracy at its pettiest.


📜 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

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]]> Father Got Nailed Father Got Nailed Sun, 11 Jun 2023 19:28:24 GMT 7:18 9ef5565d-fb82-4857-8ce4-04738b7cb978 false https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kleio-pethainou/episodes/The-Crucified-PriestLe-Prestre-crucefi-e25jakc 65202d687bacb40011424b96 65202d608e657c001133f7cd father-got-nailed On Devotion, Dishonor, and the Removal of Holy Equipment full A master woodcarver leaves his wife alone for one afternoon, and she decides it’s open season for clergy. Unfortunately for the priest, her husband’s home early and his hands are very good with a blade.

Le Prestre crucefié (The Crurcified Priest) is a righteous tale of cuckold rage, divine justice, and testicles left at the foot of the cross.


📜 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

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]]> A master woodcarver leaves his wife alone for one afternoon, and she decides it’s open season for clergy. Unfortunately for the priest, her husband’s home early and his hands are very good with a blade.

Le Prestre crucefié (The Crurcified Priest) is a righteous tale of cuckold rage, divine justice, and testicles left at the foot of the cross.


📜 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

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]]> The C*nt Made with a Spade The C*nt Made with a Spade Sun, 04 Jun 2023 10:03:05 GMT 6:06 8684feb0-ba06-4dd1-a986-1dcd90290208 false https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kleio-pethainou/episodes/The-Cnt-Made-with-a-SpadeDu-con-qui-fu-fait-a-la-besche-e256pjn 65202d687bacb40011424b97 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-cnt-made-with-a-spade An Origin Story No One Asked For full God made man from dust, woman from bone—and then promptly forgot a key anatomical detail. Luckily, the Devil had a spade, a fart, and a very strange sense of customer service.

Du con qui fu fait a la besche explains why women talk so much and why you should always check who's handling the divine blueprints.


📜 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

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

]]> God made man from dust, woman from bone—and then promptly forgot a key anatomical detail. Luckily, the Devil had a spade, a fart, and a very strange sense of customer service.

Du con qui fu fait a la besche explains why women talk so much and why you should always check who's handling the divine blueprints.


📜 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

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]]> The Squirrel The Squirrel Sun, 28 May 2023 16:00:19 GMT 7:26 d52de08a-157f-4d11-943e-a1bd511b8d34 false https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kleio-pethainou/episodes/The-SquirrelLEscuiruel-e24q91d 65202d687bacb40011424b98 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-squirrel A Tale of Curious Girls and Curious Creatures full When a sheltered young lady learns the forbidden word for a man's genitals, things quickly get nutty. Robin, a strapping lad with a wild imagination and an even wilder metaphor, offers her a lesson in squirrel-taming that starts with mischief and ends in a mess.

L' Escuiruel is a fabliau of slippery language and more slippery morals, where talking about sex is dangerous—but doing it is absolutely unhinged.


📜 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.

]]> When a sheltered young lady learns the forbidden word for a man's genitals, things quickly get nutty. Robin, a strapping lad with a wild imagination and an even wilder metaphor, offers her a lesson in squirrel-taming that starts with mischief and ends in a mess.

L' Escuiruel is a fabliau of slippery language and more slippery morals, where talking about sex is dangerous—but doing it is absolutely unhinged.


📜 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

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]]> The Bishop and the Boner Curse The Bishop and the Boner Curse Sun, 21 May 2023 11:39:44 GMT 6:11 95879518-0606-4c98-a62b-3e4916061e5a false https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kleio-pethainou/episodes/The-ring-that-controlled-erectionsLanel-qui-faisoit-les-viz-grans-et-roides-e24e5cf 65202d687bacb40011424b99 65202d608e657c001133f7cd the-bishop-and-the-boner-curse A fabliau in which everyone loses their dignity and gains perspective. full Warning: Wearing strange jewellery found by a river may lead to catastrophic boners. Ask your medieval doctor if this fabliau is right for you.

I give you L’anel qui faisoit les viz grans et roides (The ring that controlled erections), by Haiseau.


📜 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.

]]> Warning: Wearing strange jewellery found by a river may lead to catastrophic boners. Ask your medieval doctor if this fabliau is right for you.

I give you L’anel qui faisoit les viz grans et roides (The ring that controlled erections), by Haiseau.


📜 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.

]]> Coming Soon! Coming Soon! Mon, 31 Jan 2022 22:35:55 GMT 3:19 4859fd9e-9000-43f7-92f6-6c849a9b2af2 false https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kleio-pethainou/episodes/Coming-Soon-e1dnqn0 65202d687bacb40011424b9a 65202d608e657c001133f7cd trailer Hosted by Kleio Pethainou, the Court Jester brings you saucy stories from the Middle Ages.

Join Kleio on twitter @kpethainou, and talk about each week’s story. 

Become a patron and get bonus episodes, additional material and other perks at patreon.com/CourtJesterPodcast.

Or you throw some coins to your jester at ko-fi.com/thecourtjesterpodcast.

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

]]> Hosted by Kleio Pethainou, the Court Jester brings you saucy stories from the Middle Ages.

Join Kleio on twitter @kpethainou, and talk about each week’s story. 

Become a patron and get bonus episodes, additional material and other perks at patreon.com/CourtJesterPodcast.

Or you throw some coins to your jester at ko-fi.com/thecourtjesterpodcast.

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

]]>