Hi!

It took longer than expected to recover from my Mexico trip, and I actually follow my own rules of putting health ahead of work, so I’m a bit behind on various projects. But that’s ok- it’s not like this year has been unproductive with four book launches so far (From Medieval Manuscript to Modern Practice: Wrestling; From Your Head to Their Hands; Get Them Moving; and The Swordsman’s Companion 20th Anniversary edition) and another one likely (see below). So I took the time I needed to lie about and read books rather than scurrying about writing more of them.

I’ve also been thinking a lot about the podcast. We’re coming up on episode 200, and it seems time to take stock and have a think about where to go from here. So far on the show we have had:

About 157,300 downloads (not counting streaming)

89 interviews with women

84 with men

Of the interviews, approximately:

115 are with HMA people.

6 are with novelists.

17 with historians

7 are with makers (smiths, armourers)

And 23 are with folk who don’t fit those categories (such as stage combat folk, museum professionals, living historians, etc.)

16 are non-interview shows, such as monthly challenges, book launch specials, etc.

Guests have been based in the USA, Canada, UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, Poland, Finland, Norway, Holland, Israel, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Chile, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Indonesia (I may have missed a country or two).

The single most-downloaded episode is the first one, with 2197 downloads, with Eleanor Janega’s first appearance coming in second with 1584.

The audience is 58% USA, 10% UK, 7% Canada, 5% Germany, 4.5% Australia, 2% Finland.

I think the original goal of the show, to showcase diversity in Historical Martial Arts, has been accomplished. And I also think I need a bit of a break between seasons (If a 4-year 200-episode run can be called a season!). So, oh wondrous Patrons of the show, when we hit 200, where should we go next?