What the Austen? Podcast

Did Regency gentlemen really fight duels to defend a woman's honour? Was Colonel Brandon the gallant hero we often imagine, or was his challenge to Willoughby driven by anger, revenge, and a deeply ingrained code of masculine honour?In this episode of What the Austen? I'm joined by Paul Bavill from History Rage to separate fact from fiction as we explore the fascinating world of Regency duelling. Together, we unpack why gentlemen really challenged one another, the strict rituals that governed these deadly encounters, and why many duels weren't intended to end in bloodshed.Using Colonel Brandon's notorious, yet only briefly mentioned, duel with Willoughby in Sense and Sensibility as our case study, we ask whether Austen presents Brandon as a romantic hero or subtly critiques the culture of honour that drove men to risk their lives over reputation.Expect plenty of myth-busting, surprising historical facts, and a fresh perspective on one of Austen's most admired gentlemen.Whether you're an Austen fan, a history enthusiast, or simply curious about the real Regency era, this episode is sure to challenge what you thought you knew about pistols at dawn.As I mentioned in the episode, be sure to check out Paul's podcast and hop aboard the Rage Train! History Rage is a weekly podcast where historians of every flavour and period come together to answer one simple question: "What's the one historical 'fact' you wish everyone would just stop believing?" From there, the sparks really do fly!Follow @historyrage for more historical myth-busting, and @whattheausten for all things Jane Austen... and, occasionally, me. 😂London NootropicsIf you'd like to try adaptogenic mushroom coffee, you can use my code IZZYMEAKIN for 20% off at checkout:https://londonnootropics.com/IZZYMEAKINThe blend I'm drinking in this episode is Flow, which combines speciality coffee with adaptogenic mushrooms to help support focus and calm.Wilsons Pet Food: Delicious, fresh dog food designed by nutritionists to give your dog everything they need to thrive. Packed with wholefoods, prime cuts of meat and vibrant veg. https://www.wilsonspetfood.co.uk/discount/whattheausten Code: whattheausten for 20% off AD Disclaimer: What the Austen? is a true passion project that I produce alongside my full-time job. Brand partnerships and sponsorships help cover the costs of keeping the podcast running, from recording software and equipment to editing and hosting. If you choose to use one of my affiliate codes, thank you! Every purchase helps support the podcast and allows me to keep creating free Jane Austen content.

In this episode, I’m joined by historian, author, and Austen expert Jackie Herring as we step inside Bath Abbey, home to over 1,500 memorials, each with its own story. Amongst the stones, we uncover not only the world Jane Austen knew, but the real people who may have shaped her writing and world in ways we are still discovering today.

Jackie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, having previously served as Director of the Jane Austen Festival, leading tours in Bath and the Abbey for many years, and now working as Editor of Jane Austen’s Regency World Magazine. Together, we explore the rich and often surprising connections between the Abbey and Austen’s life.

From a royal governess connected to Queen Charlotte’s household, to an innkeeper whose name echoes through Emma, to an ambitious entrepreneur who revolutionised the postal system, these lives, memorialised in the Abbey, offer fascinating glimpses into the society Austen observed so closely. We also explore more personal connections, from the apothecary who cared for Austen’s family, to the grief surrounding her father’s death, and a family friend whose story hints at the complex realities behind novels like Mansfield Park.

Jane Austen lived in Bath from 1801 to 1806, and while the Abbey would have looked different in her time, its walls and floors still hold echoes of her world. This conversation invites us to slow down, to look closer, and to remember that history is not just written in books-it is set in stone.

Visit Bath Abbey: https://bathabbey.digitickets.co.uk/event-tickets/62090?catID=59521& 

Jackie’s book Jane Austen's Bath Abbey: https://www.janeaustenmagazine.co.uk/books.php 

Jane Austen’s Regency World Magazine: https://www.janeaustenmagazine.co.uk/issues.php 

Ways to support the podcast, and yourself through things I use and love: 

BREW: Jane Austen House Rainbow Quote mugs: https://jane-austens-house.myshopify.com/products/quote-mug-2 

MUSHROOMS: Try London Nootropics with 20% off using code IZZYMEAKIN at the checkout or click this link: https://londonnootropics.com/IZZYMEAKIN 

DOGO: Wilsons Pet Food (Hoggle’s recommendation) https://www.wilsonspetfood.co.uk/discount/whattheausten 
Wilsons are offering 20% off when you use my code: whattheausten at checkout 🤍

Hoggle really struggled with his digestion when he was a puppy, and I tried so many different options, from raw food to fresh food. In the end, neither of them really suited us or our lifestyle and the storage alone was a nightmare. This has been such a good fit for us. It’s full of nutrients for your dog, gentle on digestion, incredibly easy to store, and so simple to use day to day. A natural, healthy dog food that genuinely takes the stress out of mealtimes 🐾🤍

From gifted products to sponsorships to commissions, everything I promote is something I use myself. If you also want to give it a try, using my links/codes helps keep the podcast going. This is my passion project, but I also work full-time, so part of monetising the podcast is to cover its own costs and enable me to keep creating and hopefully create more. 

What the Austen? is a cosy podcast hosted by Izzy Meakin, exploring the wit, charm, and quirks of Jane Austen’s novels through lively conversations with fellow enthusiasts. On YouTube and all podcasting platforms. @whattheausten

*Warning: some spoilers in this ep*
In this episode, I’m joined by screenwriter Sarah Quintrell to dive into the world of Mary Bennet and the brilliance of The Other Bennet Sister 💛
We talk about why Mary’s story feels so important, from comparison culture and beauty standards to that deeply relatable feeling of being overlooked or “not quite enough.” We explore how this adaptation brings Mary to the centre, giving her the respect and emotional depth she was never afforded in Pride and Prejudice.
We also discuss the idea that we all think we’re Lizzy but might actually be Mary, the power of perspective in reshaping characters like Mrs Bennet, and how themes like self-worth, female friendship, advocacy, and finding your people still resonate so strongly today. We also get into the challenges of adapting a book for screen, what gets left behind, the influence of Romanticism, and of course some of the Easter eggs and iconic moments woven in for Austen fans along the way 👀💛
As I mentioned in the episode, I loved Janice Hadlow's book The Other Bennet Sister, and I highly recommend people picking it up.

Follow @theotherbennetsister for everything about the show.
Follow @whattheausten for everything about me....😂
Supporting the podcast and the world of Jane Austen:
Jane Austen House - Rainbow Quote Mug Collection available from their online shop.

London Nootropics - Adaptageic mushroom coffee
Use code IzzyMeakin to get 20% off at checkout.
The blend I’m drinking in this episode is from MushLove.It combines the benefits of coffee and adaptogens in a perfectly balanced dose, designed to help you feel like the most elevated version of yourself.

Disclaimer (Jane Austen House): Please note that Jane Austen’s House often gifts me items, including visits and products from the gift shop. However, I promote them out of a genuine love for Jane Austen and her home in Chawton. I’m passionate about supporting the Jane Austen House team in keeping the cottage open for everyone to enjoy for years to come.
AD disclaimer (London Nootropics) : Hosting this podcast is very much a passion project that I run alongside my day job, and brand ambassador roles and sponsorships help me fund its upkeep. Anything you buy using my code goes directly towards supporting the podcast - covering things like production equipment, recording platforms, and all the behind-the-scenes bits that keep it running.

In this episode, we’re joined by pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason to explore Jane Austen’s creativity beyond the written word and through music. We talk about Jeneba’s recent project Jane Austen’s Piano EP (Available on Spotify and Apple Music now) and her extraordinary experience playing the Clementi pianoforte at Jane Austen’s House, reading directly from Austen’s own sheet music.
Together, we unpack the role of music in Austen’s novels, not merely as social decoration, but as a vital form of expression and emotional release. Consider music as a language Austen spoke fluently and something that's been captured by many adaptations over the years with some outstanding scores like the 2005 Pride and Prejudice. The conversation also draws surprising and delightful connections between Austen’s writing and the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, particularly the way her novels move like concertos: balanced, playful, and emotionally precise.I hope you enjoy this new reflection on an art form that was as special to Austen as writing itself, even if it was practised for personal pleasure and shared most often with those closest to her.

She Played and Sang: Jane Austen and Music by Gillian Dooley
I mention this book in the episode, and it’s one I thoroughly enjoyed and used while preparing for this discussion. It’s full of fascinating insights into Jane Austen’s relationship with music, some of which were completely new to me, alongside striking analysis of how music appears throughout her novels. I’d really recommend this read if you enjoyed the episode or if you’re a lover of music.
Ways to support the podcast, and yourself through things I use and love:
Tembo - Saving for a house?
I know that for many of us, saving to buy our own home can feel like a far-off dream. For the past few years, though, I’ve been using the Tembo app to help me save for my first home, and it’s made the process feel easier, more consistent, and genuinely enjoyable because I can see real progress month by month. The app also offers helpful advice and guidance on recent policy changes, along with recommendations for mortgage brokers, pricing, and interest rates. If you’re saving too, I really recommend giving Tembo a try.
And if you sign up using my link, you’ll get a joining bonus.
Wilsons Pet Food (Hoggle’s recommendation)
Wilsons are offering 20% off when you use my code: whattheausten at checkout 🤍
Hoggle really struggled with his digestion when he was a puppy, and I tried so many different options, from raw food to fresh food. In the end, neither of them really suited us or our lifestyle and the storage alone was a nightmare.This has been such a good fit for us. It’s full of nutrients for your dog, gentle on digestion, incredibly easy to store, and so simple to use day to day. A natural, healthy dog food that genuinely takes the stress out of mealtimes 🐾🤍

250th Birthday Edition: What Matters in Jane Austen? by John Mullan: ⁠https://amzn.to/4sA9fbG⁠ 
In this episode, I’m joined by John Mullan to explore the remarkable range of Jane Austen’s novels and the beauty of her unique literary style. We talk about how free indirect speech shapes our intimacy with characters like Emma Woodhouse, drawing us into her mind while quietly revealing her blind spots. We also explore why Mansfield Park feels so different from Austen’s other novels and yet has a lot of depth to unpack. 
Along the way, we reflect on the enduring magic of Pride and Prejudice: why it feels so alive and so perfectly balanced. From irony and voice to structure and silence, this conversation celebrates the many ways Austen writes. 
Whether you’re a lifelong Austen reader or returning to her novels with fresh eyes, this episode is an invitation to notice, to linger, and to fall in love with her work all over again 📖🤍

Ways to support the podcast, and you through things I use and love: 

What Matters in Jane Austen? by John Mullan on audible: https://amzn.to/4qkDe60

Like so many of you, I love listening to Jane Austen’s novels as audiobooks, so I wanted to share a few of my favourites that are currently available on Audible. It honestly helps me get through so many more books, and it’s especially brilliant when I’m rereading Austen yet again for the podcast. I’ve used Audible for many years now, and if you’d like to join, you can use my affiliate link below. You’ll get access to all these Jane Austen listens, and it helps support the podcast at no extra cost to you, which I’m always so grateful for.

PurePet Food (Hoggle’s recommendation) 

Get 75% off your first box! If you use Hoggle’s code: ISABELLE79097

Hoggle really struggled with his digestion when he was a puppy, and I tried him on lots of different options, from raw food to fresh food. Neither of them suited us or our lifestyle, and the storage alone was a nightmare.
He’s been on PurePet for two years now and absolutely loves it. I even took it with us when we walked the West Highland Way.

It’s full of nutrients for your dog, incredibly easy to store, and so simple to use. You just add water to rehydrate it, and you’re good to go. A natural, healthy dog food designed to take the stress out of mealtimes. Simply add water and stir to quickly rehydrate the food, creating a nutritious meal your pup will love.