A podcast bringing to life the history of renaissance festivals through interviews with the performers, vendors and participants who created it.
Episode 5
Premiered Feb 23, 2023
Meet Carl Asch who performs at Renaissance Festivals as Giacomo the Jester in Tip the Velvet, Ooops! Comedy Knife Throwing Show and Empty Hats. This episode is part one of an exclusive chronicling of Carl Asch’s life, as interviewed by Jonathan Crocker. Hailing from New Jersey, Carl Asch has studied classical guitar at The American Institute of Guitar, Languages at SUNY-New Paltz, and the art of street and stage performance by travelling the world with nothing more than a guitar and a set of juggling clubs. He has performed at the Sterling Renaissance Festival, Hoggetowne, Ohio Renaissance Festival, Tennessee Renaissance Festival and many more.
Episode 4
Streamed live on Nov 28, 2022
Host Jonathan Crocker interviews the charismatic Christopher Buehlman. Buehlman is known in his festival career as Christophe the Insulter; Verbal Mercenary. His biting, raunchy and hilarious insults roasting members of his audience for money, has captivated audiences across the country for over two decades. In more recent years, Chris has turned his focus towards fantasy and horror novels, having published six to date, and appearing in person for readings and signings.
Episode 3
Streamed live on Sep 21, 2022
Meet Lloyd and Rosie of Theatre of Fools and The Wacky Chiken Show! On the renaissance festival circuit since the late 70’s, this clown duo have brought their absurdity to festivals across the country, while creating outside projects in Theatre of Fools such as the Emergency Clown Nose (https://emergencyclownnose.com/) and raising a family on the road. Learn more about their life and career with our enigmatic host Jonathan Crocker (of The Wyld Men and Theatre in the Ground),
Episode 2
Premiered Jul 21, 2022
What was it like touring the nation before Google maps? Listen in for personal anecdotes from those who lived it! The Ren Faire History podcast aims to record and preserve stories from the past, experiences from the early days of the faire and provide a peek into our unconventional way of living through interviews with the veteran performers of our renaissance festival community. This episode features musician and vendor Misti Bernard, and actor/writer/educator Jonathan Crocker.
Episode 1
Premiered Jun 23, 2022
The Ren Faire History podcast aims to record and preserve stories from the past, experiences from the early days of the faire and provide a peek into our unconventional way of living through interviews with veteran renaissance faire performers. This episode features musician and vendor Misti Bernard, and actor/writer/educator Jonathan Crocker.
If you have visited a renaissance or medieval faire in the United States, you have seen but one side of the show. Behind the burlap curtain there is wonder and majesty, travel and hardship. We wish to share with you some of the stories from those who make the events happen.
The renaissance festivals found in America are a wild and complicated conglomerate of moving parts. They run the gamut from small independent ventures to large corporate undertakings.
Within the gates, there exists a unique group of people who create, vend and perform while living their lives travelling from festival to festival. They come from different backgrounds, have incredibly different skillsets and are of all ages. These individuals come together to manifest a themed event intending to evoke magic and awe in the visitors to their festival.