We discover Iona was called Hii; dear Walter Scott woos our hearts; and Pepys ruefully clocks the severed limbs of ‘traytors’
Dear friends. I’m on a huge wave of happiness tonight thanks to an afternoon spent with a friend. Friends are SO important are they not? People who are on our side and hurt for our hurts.
Thank you for joining me as ever, including to dear Gretchen for her kind email. I will read some out tomorrow. It’s fascinating to hear about people’s lives.
Happy Monday! 🌷🫖🕯️
Love Gretel 🌝
Gretel le Maître Ponders, with Bede & other guests
Gretel le Maître likes to look for the beauty and curiosities in life, one day at a time. She shares with you snippets from books about history, art and literature and regularly takes you on adventures to new locations, to explore churches, cathedrals and architecture.
Gretel invites you to accompany her as she navigates the world a day at a time; the podcast is unscripted, it’s ad-free, and you’re invited to join in. There’s space in the warm tent for everyone; there’s tea in the pot 🫖. It’s super unpolished and Gretel would be grateful for you to forgive her for that. Polish would be too time-consuming 🤓
Gretel loves the world and history, architecture, literature and people. And so is determined to walk this path with light footsteps and with humour and warmth. 🌞
Please follow me on X @gretellemaitre. 🌳Or email me: [email protected]
“Gretel le Maitre is a podcaster and host of the series Gretel Pod-Ponders Life and Loss with Bede and Other Guests. The podcast explores themes of grief, life transitions, and introspection, particularly focusing on her experiences as she anticipates the loss of her mother. In the series, she combines historical reflections—often inspired by the works of the Venerable Bede, an English monk and historian—with her own musings on architecture, literature, and the natural world. Gretel approaches these deep topics with warmth and humor, aiming to provide listeners a comforting space to explore complex emotions .If you’re interested, you can listen to her podcast on platforms like Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music, where she shares her reflections in episodes filled with gentle insights and an invitation to journey with her through challenging times .”
In a fast-paced world, Gretel Pod-Ponders Life and Loss provides a much-needed pause and sanctuary for those navigating life’s transitions and searching for deeper meaning. Hosted by Gretel Le Maitre, this unique podcast blends personal storytelling with historical insights from figures like the Venerable Bede, offering listeners an inspiring journey of healing and hope.
With themes of grief, transformation, and spirituality, the podcast has earned praise for its calming tone, authenticity, and ability to connect on a deeply human level. As one listener shared, it feels like sitting down with a trusted friend who understands.
Perfect for audiences seeking introspection, comfort, or simply a quiet moment of reflection, Gretel Pod-Ponders Life and Loss is available now on all major platforms.
Please note, I get daily ad offers that I turn down to keep this an ad-free podcast. So I’d be delighted if you could subscribe to help with my pot of tea and cake on my church crawls 🙋♀️
- No. of episodes: 246
- Latest episode: 2025-06-07
- History Health & Fitness Mental Health
Where can you listen?
