Best Western Heights Podcasts (2025)

1
Supplemental 12: Grand Dukes of the Center Part 4 - The House of Habsburg Part 2: AEIOU 31:41

2d ago31:41

31:41

After the Kingships of Rudolf and Albert, the Habsburg's fortunes on the Imperial Stage diminished, but the family was still one of the leading Houses in the Holy Roman Empire, and their story is far from over. Time Period Covered: 1290-1440 Notable People: Albert II of Habsburg, Rudolf IV of Habsburg, Leopold III of Habsburg, Frederick of the Empt…

1
Supplemental 11: Grand Dukes of the Center Part 3 - The House of Habsburg Part 1: From Hawk Castle to Vienna 31:24

1M ago31:24

31:24

When the Electors of the Holy Roman Empire chose Rudolf of Habsburg to be the new King of Germany, they were hoping that he'd be someone they could control. But Rudolf, despite being a minor Count from Swabia, would prove to be nobody's puppet, and over the course of his reign he transformed the fortunes of his family, and the Empire as a whole. Ti…

1
Supplemental 10: The Hanseatic League 46:25

2M ago46:25

46:25

The Hanseatic League was a major player in Northern Europe for centuries, it dominated trade in the North and Baltic Seas, fought wars with rival powers, and dictated terms to princes. But the League was not a state, proto-state, or quasi-state, it was a collection of Merchants, Guilds, and Towns. Time Period Covered: 1143-1441 Notable Events/Devel…

1
Episode 53: Bourbon on the Rocks 32:28

3M ago32:28

32:28

Throughout the later 1430s, Charles I Duke of Bourbon found his influence at the court of Charles VII falling day after day. Bourbon was not content to take his sidelining laying down, and so he began to plot, and when that failed he plotted again, and when that failed... Time Period Covered: 1435-1442 Notable People: Charles VII of France, Charles…

1
Episode 52: Friends and Foes 43:16

4M ago43:16

43:16

When Philip the Good signed the Treaty of Arras, he hoped that he would be able to put all the years of war and strife behind him. However, the ill will built up over the years of Anglo-Burgundian alliance would be hard to surmount and the Duke of Burgundy is now on the lookout for allies at the French Court. Thank you to Emmanuel Dubois from the L…

1
Episode 51: A Terrible Wednesday 49:51

5M ago49:51

49:51

As Philip the Good retreated from Calais, he found himself going out of the frying pan and into the fire. The militias of Flanders had mutineed and the county was on the brink of rebellion. Time Period Covered: 1432-1438 Notable People: Philip the Good, Isabella of Portugal Duchess of Burgundy, Roland d'Uutkercke, Jan Van Hoorn, Simon de Lalaing, C…

1
Episode 50: Reorientation 39:33

6M ago39:33

39:33

As soon as the ink was dry on the Treaty of Arras, the military situation in France was turned on it's head. The English position is now in free fall, and as they struggle to regain control, their former allies the Burgundians are only adding to their troubles. Time Period Covered: 1435-1437 Notable People: Philip the Good, Jean de Villiers Lord of…

1
Episode 49: The Congress of Arras 39:19

6M ago39:19

39:19

In mid-1435 delegates from England, France, and Burgundy converged on Arras to discuss ending the Hundred Years War. Time Period Covered: 1435 Notable People: Philip the Good, Cardinal Niccolo Albergati, Charles I Duke of Bourbon, Cardinal Hugh de Lusignan, Cardinal Henry Beaufort Notable Events/Developments: The Congress of Arras, The Treaty of Ar…

1
Episode 48: The Road to Arras 33:01

7M ago33:01

33:01

Philip the Good is tired of the Hundred Years War. He's tired of the destruction, he's tired of the death, and he's tired of his ally's inability to defend his lands. But the Duke of Burgundy finds himself trapped by an oath not to make a separate peace with the increasingly powerful French Court of Charles VII. Time Period Covered: 1431-1435 Notab…

1
Episode 47: Allies and Enemies 36:40

7M ago36:40

36:40

In the years after the capture of Joan of Arc, the French continued their resurgence while the English struggled to hold on to what they had. As the tables began to turn, the Duke of Burgundy began to worry that he had chosen the wrong side in the Hundred Years War. Time Period Covered: 1430-1434 Notable People: Philip the Good, Charles VII of Fran…

1
Episode 46: Imperial Machinations 34:20

8M ago34:20

34:20

As Philip the Good expanded his reach into the Holy Roman Empire, some Imperial Princes greeted him as a new ally, but others saw Burgundian expansion as a threat. Sigismund of Luxembourg, the Holy Roman Emperor, fell into the latter category, and throughout his long career he was a determined, if mostly ineffective opponent of Burgundy. Time Perio…

1
Episode 45: Bickering Bishops and Papal Politics 43:59

8M ago43:59

43:59

Philip the Good was a prince of a European stature, and as such he interacted with the Church in a number of ways and on a number of levels. The Duke of Burgundy did his best to control the Church in his lands, influence the Bishoprics which neighbored his territories, and make his voice heard in Rome and in the emerging Council of Basel. Time Peri…

1
Episode 44: All That Glitters 36:45

8M ago36:45

36:45

1430 was a banner year for Burgundian magnificence. Philip the Good's marriage to Isabella of Portugal and his founding of the Order of the Golden Fleece demonstrated the wealth, influence, and power of Burgundy. Time Period Covered: 1430 Notable People: Philip the Good, Isabella of Portugal, John of Luxembourg, Hugh de Lannoy, Antoine de Croy, Jan…

1
Episode 43: The Burgundian Union 44:46

9M ago44:46

44:46

The late 1420s and early 1430s saw the rapid expansion of the Burgundian State. In this episode we'll trace the course of that expansion and explore just how the Duke of Burgundy was able to unite these disparate territories. Time Period Covered: 1430-1433 Notable People: Philip the Good, Jacqueline of Bavaria, Frank van Borselen, Philip of Saint-P…

1
Supplemental 9: Joan of Arc Part 4 - The Myth 19:57

10M ago19:57

19:57

Joan of Arc is gone, but she certainly is not forgotten. In this episode we'll explore the legend of Joan of Arc as well as the legacy of the Maid.

1
Episode 42: Joan of Arc Part 3 - The Martyr 46:18

10M ago46:18

46:18

Joan of Arc's run of uninterrupted successes stalled before the walls of Paris in September 1429. Now there were those in the Court of Charles VII who wanted to sideline the Maid, but Joan was determined to continue the fight. Time Period Covered: 1429-1431 Notable People: Joan of Arc, Charles VII, Georges de la Tremoille, Pierre Cauchon Bishop of …

1
Episode 41: Joan of Arc Part 2 - The Militant 39:08

11M ago39:08

39:08

Joan of Arc had arrived at the Dauphin's court claiming that she would relieve the Siege of Orleans and lead the prince to Reims to be crowned. After successfully chasing the English away from Orleans, it was time to get Charles VII his crown. Time Period Covered: 1429 Notable People: Joan of Arc, Charles VII, John II of Alencon, La Hire, Poton de …

1
Episode 40: Joan of Arc Part 1 - The Maid 36:56

11M ago36:56

36:56

The fortunes of the Dauphin were at a low point, Brittany had capitulated to the English, Maine had been conquered, and now Orleans was under threat. The collapse of Charles' cause seemed imminent, but he would receive a second wind when a peasant girl named Joan arrived at his court claiming to be sent by God. Time Period Covered: 1429 Notable Peo…

1
Episode 39: Meanwhile Back in France 37:27

12M ago37:27

37:27

While Philip was occupied in Hainault, Holland, and Zeeland the Hundred Years War still raged in France. The steady advance of the English continues while the Dauphinists, consumed by internal conflict, attempt to stem the tide. Time Period Covered: 1424-1429 Notable People: Arthur de Richemont, Yolande of Aragon, Charles VII, Jean Louvet, Tanneguy…

1
Episode 38: The Battle for Holland 39:39

1y ago39:39

39:39

Philip the Good and his cousin Jacqueline of Bavaria are locked in a struggle for the Counties of Holland and Zeeland. But this conflict between cousins is only one part of the partisan clash between the Hook and Cod Factions which has been going on for decades. Now the dynastic and factional strife has combined and a brutal civil war is being foug…

1
Episode 37: Matrimonial Mayhem and Havoc in Hainaut 34:13

1y ago34:13

34:13

Jacqueline of Bavaria is back in the Low Countries with a new husband. While Philip the Good, John IV of Brabant, and John the Pitiless are all arrayed against her, the Countess of Hainaut-Holland-Zeeland is going to fight for her Counties and now she has the English backing her up...right? Time Period Covered: 1421-1425 Notable People: Philip the …

1
Episode 36: Bedford, Bourges, and Beyond 35:27

1y ago35:27

35:27

The King is dead, long live the King...whoever that might be. After the deaths of Henry V of England and Charles VI of France, the Duke of Bedford took the lead in continuing the Lancastrian conquest of France. Bedford's opponent, Charles VII, led a rump state in the south, known derisively as the Kingdom of Bourges. Philip the Good remained with t…

1
Episode 35: Disinherited 38:38

1y ago38:38

38:38

With the Treaty of Troyes, the English and Burgundians have come together to defeat the Dauphinists. But that's easier said than done, once the actual work of war and conquest began, difficulties popped up almost immediately. Time Period Covered: 1421-1422 Notable People: Philip the Good, Henry V of England, Charles VI of France, Charles VII of Fra…

1
Episode 34: The Treaty of Troyes 35:41

1y ago35:41

35:41

In the wake of the assassination of John the Fearless, the Burgundians came to the conclusion that no peace could be made with the Dauphin. Instead the Duke of Burgundy and his followers decided to throw their lot in with the English and sign the controversial Treaty of Troyes. Time Period Covered: 1419-1420 Notable People: Philip the Good, Henry V…

1
Episode 33: The Next Generation Season 2 36:11

1y ago36:11

36:11

Between 1415 and 1419, the third generation of Burgundians came to power in the Low Countries. In this episode we'll explore the early careers of the grandchildren of Philip the Bold: Philip the Good, Jacqueline of Bavaria, John IV of Brabant, and Philip of Saint-Pol. Time Period Covered: 1415-1421 Notable People: Philip the Good, Jacqueline of Bav…

1
Status Quo: Episode 2 13:29

1y ago13:29

13:29

It’s Black History month. As Black men, how are we perceiving each other and how are we being perceived? This week’s podcast tackles how we see ourselves and our role in society. How can we continue the conversation while exploring our points of view? Co-hosts Myles Middleton, Dale Young, Coy Booker and Elijah Gaines hope to spread knowledge and id…

1
Status Quo: Episode 1 17:21

1+ y ago17:21

17:21

Status Quo is a podcast designed to spark dialogue among students staff and faculty at WKU around topics that are often disregarded. Co-hosts Myles Middleton, Dale Young, Coy Booker and Elijah Gaines hope to spread knowledge and ideas through discussion and interviews with various figures on and off of campus. This program is a production of the Co…

1
College Height Huddle: Episode 1 17:31

1+ y ago17:31

17:31

College Heights Herald sports staffers Luke Edmonds and Michael Givner Jr. discuss the world of college basketball, the recent College Football Playoff change, EA College Football 25, the upcoming MLB season as well as Hilltopper and Lady Topper basketball. This program is a production by the College Heights Herald of Western Kentucky University.…

1
Supplemental 8: Hooks and Cods 24:09

1+ y ago24:09

24:09

Throughout the later Middle Ages, the County of Holland was consumed by partisan fighting. These factions, the Hooks and Cods, arose from a power struggle between Margaret of Avesnes and her son William I of Bavaria. The fight between mother and son would only last a few years, but the factional strife would continue for over a century. Time Period…

1
Supplemental 7: Grand Dukes of the Center Part 2 - The House of Wittelsbach 32:05

1+ y ago32:05

32:05

In the later middle ages, the House of Wittelsbach, rulers of Bavaria and the Palatinate, competed with the Houses of Luxembourg and Habsburg for land, power, and the Imperial Throne. Time Period Covered: 1273 - 1410 Notable People: Ludwig IV the Bavarian, Rupert of the Palatinate, Rudolph I of Bavaria, Frederick the Fair, Pope John XXII, Pope Clem…

1
Supplemental 6: The Rapondi Company and Ducal Finance 31:02

1+ y ago31:02

31:02

The Rapondi were Philip the Bold and John the Fearless' favorite bankers. They funded everything from the day-to-day operations of the Burgundian Court to the Nicopolis Crusade to John's armies in the Civil War. For more on the Rapondi Company check out Bart Lambert's Book The City, The Duke, and Their Banker.…

1
Supplemental 5: Christine de Pizan and the Body Politic 33:21

1+ y ago33:21

33:21

Christine de Pizan was the favorite court writer of many of the most important Lords and Ladies of France in the early 1400s. She started her career writing Love Poetry before expanding to writing treatises on Politics, History, Gender, and Theology. In this episode I'll trace her political thought as the Armagnac-Burgundian civil war rages by focu…

1
Supplemental 4: The Civil War of Words - Burgundian Propaganda and Symbolism 29:04

1+ y ago29:04

29:04

I've been saying for a while that the Burgundians used propaganda and public relations much more effectively than their opponents. In this episode I'll explore how they did that and what it meant. For more on Burgundian Propaganda check out the work of Dr. Emily J. Hutchison. Time Period Covered: 1401-1419…

1
Episode 32: The Bridge of Montereau 38:35

1+ y ago38:35

38:35

After years of Civil War John the Fearless and Dauphin Charles met on a bridge over the Yonne River to make peace... Time Period Covered: 1418-1419 Notable People: John the Fearless, Charles VII of France, Henry V of England, Tanneguy du Chastel, Lady of Giac, Queen Isabeau, Jean Louvet, Nicolas Rolin Notable Events/Developments: English Conquest o…

1
Episode 31: The Manifesto 35:50

1+ y ago35:50

35:50

The Armagnac-Burgundian Civil War is at a fever pitch yet again. John the Fearless has launched a major expedition into the Ile de France while the Count of Armagnac struggles to maintain Armagnac control of Paris. Meanwhile, King Henry V of England has taken advantage of the chaos in France and launched another invasion of Normandy. Time Period Co…

1
Episode 30: Picking Up the Pieces 35:26

1+ y ago35:26

35:26

The Battle of Agincourt and death of Dauphin Louis upended many of the political arrangements of the past few years. The conflict between the Armagnacs and Burgundians continues, now without Louis of Guyenne to keep them in check. All the while the kings of England and Germany conspire to make their own advances at France's expense. Time Period Cov…

1
Episode 29: Agincourt 34:28

1+ y ago34:28

34:28

After years of rising tension between England and France, the ambitious new English King Henry V decided that an expedition to Normandy was the panacea for his domestic troubles. Meanwhile in France, the squabbles between Dauphin, the Armagnacs, and the Burgundians hamstrung efforts for a united defense of the kingdom. Time Period Covered: 1415 Not…

1
Episode 28: On the Outside Looking In 35:58

1+ y ago35:58

35:58

After the fall of the Cabochiens, John the Fearless fled Paris and left the city wide open for the Armagnacs to return. Now at the helm of government, the Armagnacs work to use France's resources to settle their scores with the Duke of Burgundy. Time Period Covered: 1413-1415 Notable People: John the Fearless, Louis of Guyenne, John Duke of Berry, …

1
Episode 27: Reform and Revolution 43:11

2y ago43:11

43:11

John the Fearless continues to be dominant in Paris, but with the Peace of Auxerre coming into effect, the Armagnacs are attempting to share in the Government of France once more. To ensure his power, John the Fearless courts the radicals of Paris and the Estates General, but soon the radicals develop a mind of their own and a medieval French Revol…

1
Episode 26: Armagnacs and Burgundians 44:08

2y ago44:08

44:08

After the first showdown with the League of Gien, John the Fearless managed to maintain his grip on power. But the Armagnacs are regrouping and the war is about to escalate as both parties court support from the King of England. Time Period Covered: 1410 - 1412 Notable People: John the Fearless, John Duke of Berry, Charles Duke of Orleans, John V D…

1
Episode 25: The League of Gien 28:23

2y ago28:23

28:23

When John the Fearless left Paris for Liege in 1408, his position was shaky, but his return as a conquering hero quickly established his dominance over the capital. However, his enemies and rivals are beginning to unify, and the League of Gien poses a significant threat to his continued mastery of France. Time Period Covered: 1408 - 1410 Notable Pe…

1
Episode 24: The Fearless and the Pitiless 26:32

2y ago26:32

26:32

John the Fearless controls Paris, but his brother-in-law John of Bavaria is in the process of losing control of his territory, the Prince-Bishopric of Liege. To save John of Bavaria's skin, John the Fearless will team up with his other brother-in-law William of Bavaria and leave France to his domestic enemies in order to secure Burgundian influence…

1
Episode 23: Le Morte d'Orleans 36:02

2y ago36:02

36:02

The Duke of Orleans is dominant in Paris and he takes every opportunity to exclude his cousin John the Fearless from power. Seeing every opportunity vanish before his eyes, the Duke of Burgundy decides to take drastic steps and arranges for Louis of Orleans to be assassinated. But once the breach has been opened, can it ever be mended? Time Period …

1
Episode 22: A Cousins' Quarrel 29:44

2y ago29:44

29:44

After Philip the Bold's death, Louis of Orleans took no time establishing his dominance in Paris. But Philip's son John wasn't willing to cede the Burgundian position. Shortly after coming into his inheritance he headed to Paris in order to claw back a share of power. Time Period Covered: 1404 - 1406 Notable People: John the Fearless, Louis Duke of…

1
Episode 21: The Next Generation 32:25

2y ago32:25

32:25

Philip the Bold is dead and now a new generation steps into the spotlight. His sons have taken over the vast Burgundian complex of territories while Louis of Orleans works to expunge the vestiges of Burgundian influence from Paris. Today we'll focus on how John and his brothers consolidated power in the Low Countries and Burgundy. Time Period Cover…

1
Episode 20: Uncle and Nephew 45:16

2y ago45:16

45:16

Louis of Orleans grows more powerful by the day. The Duke of Burgundy had been out of Paris in mid-1401 dealing with affairs in his own territories, and in that time Orleans had taken control of the capital. In order to reestablish his hold on the French Government, Philip the Bold now has to turn to arms. The rivalry between Uncle and Nephew is co…

1
Episode 19: To the Brink 30:19

2y ago30:19

30:19

In 1396 Philip the Bold was the most powerful man in France, but his nephew Louis Duke of Orleans was coming for his position. The turn of the 15th century saw a number of political upheavals in Europe and Louis hoped that the new political landscape would favor him over his uncle. While over the past few years Philip's dominance was unchallenged, …

1
Supplemental 3: Grand Dukes of the Center Part 1 - The House of Luxembourg 28:31

2y ago28:31

28:31

Over the course of the 14th Century the lords of a small county on the border between France and the Holy Roman Empire became the Kings of Bohemia, Hungary, and Germany and the lords of dozens of smaller principalities. The House of Luxembourg began its rise when the Count of Luxembourg was put forward as a compromise candidate for Holy Roman Emper…

1
Episode 18: The Nicopolis Crusade Part 3 - The Last Crusade 34:52

2y ago34:52

34:52

The Crusaders have reached Nicopolis! But as the Crusaders settle in and prepare for a siege the Ottoman army led by Sultan Bayezid the Thunderbolt is making it's way north. Time Period Covered: 1396-1398 Notable People: John the Fearless, Sigismund of Luxembourg, Mircea the Elder, Bayezid the Thunderbolt, Engeurrand de Coucy, Philip of Artois Coun…

1
Episode 17: The Nicopolis Crusade Part 2 - A Holy Mission 25:22

2y ago25:22

25:22

In 1396, Count John of Nevers, son of Duke Philip the Bold of Burgundy, led a Crusade against the Ottoman Empire. In this second part of three on the Crusade of Nicopolis we will explore the legacy of the Crusades in Late Medieval Europe and begin our march towards Nicopolis. Time Period Covered: ~1300 - 1396 Notable People: John the Fearless, Phil…

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