Ren Talks Podcast

Ever wonder what it’s like to work at a Ren Faire?

Join cohosts and national touring Renaissance Faire performers Victoria Van Arnam, Olivia Harding and Nicole Skelly as they interview professionals in the Ren Faire industry.

Episode 12 – More Magnolia Strange

Premiered Oct 20, 2022

Favorite festivals, 13th Centry music and new albums! Ren Talks hosts Victoria Van Arnam and Olivia Harding interview Magnolia Strange of Judas and Magnolia. Family friendly renaissance festival variety act Judas and Magnolia are a husband and wife team of escape artists and illusionists who have performed some of the world’s most dangerous escape stunts such as being locked inside burning boxes, chained and submerged underwater, and straitjacketed while dangling upside down over spikes.

Episode 11 – Magnolia Strange

Premiered Aug 25, 2022

Ren Talks hosts Victoria Van Arnam and Olivia Harding interview Magnolia Strange of Judas and Magnolia. Family friendly renaissance festival variety act Judas and Magnolia are a husband and wife team of escape artists and illusionists who have performed some of the world’s most dangerous escape stunts such as being locked inside burning boxes, chained and submerged underwater, and straitjacketed while dangling upside down over spikes.

Episode 10 – Hypnotized Jousting

Premiered Jan 19, 2022

Interview with professional hypnotist Amye Scharlau about performing at renaissance festivals, hypnosis and slow-motion action sequences.
Amye performs at the Colorado Renaissance Festival and the Pittsburg Renaissance festival as Lady Amyelia.
Hosted by Olivia Harding from Music the Gathering, Nicole Skelly from The Gwendolyn Show, Victoria Van Arnam of The Lady Victoria.

Episode 9 – Chats and Q&A

Premiered Oct 21, 2021

Life on the road and Random Questions from the Audience!
Join the home team for this episode! Olivia Harding from Music the Gathering, Nicole Skelly from The Gwendolyn Show, Victoria Van Arnam of The Lady Victoria.

Episode 8 – The Flying Grovel ft. Dr. Tony Korol-Evans

Premiered Apr 17, 2021

In this episode of Ren Talks, our hosts are joined by Dr. Kimberly Tony Korol-Evans, author of “Renaissance Festivals: Merrying the Past and Present”.

Episode 7 – Weirdos with Animals ft. Melissa Arleth

Premiered Mar 20, 2021

Melissa Arleth of Cirque du Sewer returns to RenTalks to chat about America’s Got Talent, the plague pivot, and the resilience of rennies with Olivia Harding from Music the Gathering, Nicole Skelly from The Gwendolyn Show, Victoria Van Arnam of The Lady Victoria.

Episode 6 – Skill Junkie ft. Melissa Arleth

Premiered Feb 27, 2021

Melissa Arleth of Cirque du Sewer is our featured guest on the sixth episode of Ren Talks, where she will chat about rodents, felines, and martians with Olivia Harding from Music the Gathering, Nicole Skelly from The Gwendolyn Show, Victoria Van Arnam of The Lady Victoria.

Episode 5 – Toot Some Doodles ft. Kaitlin Chin

Premiered Jan 30, 2021

Kaitlin Chin from Draiku and Cirque du Nuit returns to Ren Talks to discuss weirdest performances, bizarre audience moments, and what it’s like to be a performer in quarantine with Olivia Harding from Music the Gathering, Nicole Skelly from The Gwendolyn Show, Victoria Van Arnam of The Lady Victoria.

Episode 4 – Glitter Everywhere ft. Kaitlin Chin

Premiered Nov 28, 2020

Join Olivia Harding from Music the Gathering, Nicole Skelly from The Gwendolyn Show, Victoria Van Arnam of The Lady Victoria, and special guest Kaitlin Chin as they discuss mud, mermaids, creepy bugs, and many other topics!

Episode 3 – Trying to REACH THE YOUTHS

Premiered Nov 7, 2020

Join Olivia Harding from Music the Gathering, Nicole Skelly from The Gwendolyn Show, and Victoria Van Arnam of The Lady Victoria as they discuss some of their favorite patron interactions, why Student Days sometimes devolve into “Old Town Road” covers, and how to build a “golden circuit”.

Episode 2 – Drinky Dinky Kinda Program

Premiered Oct 10, 2020

Olivia, Nicole, and Victoria chat about alternative professions, the struggles of online performance, and some of their scariest performance nightmares in the second episode of Ren Talks!

Episode 1 – If there’s a renaissance faire in the woods and there’s no one to visit it…

Premiered Sep 26, 2020

Join Olivia Harding from Music the Gathering, Nicole Skelly from The Gwendolyn Show, and Victoria Van Arnam of The Lady Victoria as they discuss the best way to herd drunkards at a faire, the concept of a “renaissance man,” and the moments when they realized they had to run off and join the renaissance festival.