Gretel le Maître Ponders Beauty, with Bede & other guests

Gretel le Maître
  • 5.0 (13)
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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.   Honorary Podcast Patron: Tom Holland  Guests in the future (all being well) Dr Francis Young  Philippa Langley (again) Tom Holland (again) Eleanor Parker Hedley Thorne (again) Philip Mould (again) Nicola Cornick Laura Karim Durotriges Dig Laura Cumming Aidan Ridyard Clair Crawford 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.  It’s super unpolished and Gretel would be grateful for you to forgive her for that.   🤓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.  Let’s treasure up the beautiful things and ponder them in our hearts.Please follow me on X @gretellemaitre. 🌳 Or email me: gretellem@yahoo.com Guests on this show include: Tom Holland,  Philip Mould,  Bijan Omrani,  Sir Simon Jenkins,  Matthew Coleridge,  The Revd Canon Angela Tilby,  David Willem,  Philippa Langley,  Hedley Thorne,  Enzo Cicenti.  We have now passed 58,000 downloads.  #1 in the Top 100 Reflection All time chart  #1 in the Top 100 Kindness Monthly chart “The podcast combines historical reflections and extracts from literature 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 historical and literary  insights.   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 le Maître Ponders is available now on all major platforms. In the global top 10% of podcasts according to Listen Notes.  58,000 downloads as at the end of April 2026. GoodPods Leaderboards, March 2026; #37 in the Top 100 Nature All time chart #2 in the Top 100 Peace All time chart #2 in the Top 100 Curiosity All time chart  #2 in the Top 100 Hope All time chart #3 in the Top 100 Beauty All time chart

  1. Simply Villette 🥀

    22H AGO

    Simply Villette 🥀

    Send us Fan Mail Good evening and thank you so very much for joining me.  Without you I really wouldn’t do this, and it’s a blessed existence, living, enfin, as I actually wish to live: rooted in a warm home, but wandering about learning, absorbing and reading.  There is no greater pleasure for me than learning things: new nuggets of deliciousness of etymology, of history, of language, art or music.  Everything, truly, can be interesting and I finally have the space in my life to wander, like a minstrel of old, from church to church, city to city, meeting lovely and inspiring people, and experiencing new things.  All I don’t have is my mother, my sister and brother in my life; all else is well.  Key to my happiness, which has bloomed over the course of these past few months, is the warm support many of you have sent my way.  I feel snugly settled into a niche of time’s making.  The suffering and soreness of grief, bewilderment and loss, to the gentle appreciation of the world about me.  The birds, our pets, my family, my garden and this beautiful world, are all about me.  Losses are to be borne, for it would be surprising were a woman in her fifties not to have sorrowful cupboards in her life, which contain stark facts that cannot be moulded to my liking.   So if you are suffering, or lonely, or bear a cross that weighs miserably upon you, reach out to this podcast, or make contact, if you can possibly bear it, with groups or organisations that care and will respond.  The great benefit of modern technology is the ability to connect with other human beings.  Let the deriders cast their derision: face to face connections are not always possible, or not always wanted.   A very good night from me to you.   Love Gretel x 🌖 Support the show 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. 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.  Let’s gather up the beautiful things and ponder them in our hearts. Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes.  I would be so grateful if you would spare the time to give me a kind review and possibly 5 stars (for effort as I realise it’s not deserved for achievement)🥴 Previous guests include  historian Tom Holland; Actor Enzo Cilenti; Art historian Philip Mould; Writer David Willem; Composer Matthew Coleridge; Vicar Angela Tilby; Author Bijan Omrani; Journalist and Historian Sir Simon Jenkins; Dorset garden hedgehog family, the Venerable Bede and other guests.   Future guests (all being well) are Tom Holland, John Simpson, Eleanor Parker, Philippa Langley and Katie Channon.   Unpolished and unscripted but no ads and no requests for anything but your company.  Trying to make the world a gentler place with literature, history and nature.  Please don’t expect to find a...

    33 min
  2. Bonus Episode: St Augustine wins over the King of Kent while Gretel visits Sherborne Abbey

    1D AGO

    Bonus Episode: St Augustine wins over the King of Kent while Gretel visits Sherborne Abbey

    Send us Fan Mail Support the show 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. 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.  Let’s gather up the beautiful things and ponder them in our hearts. Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes.  I would be so grateful if you would spare the time to give me a kind review and possibly 5 stars (for effort as I realise it’s not deserved for achievement)🥴 Previous guests include  historian Tom Holland; Actor Enzo Cilenti; Art historian Philip Mould; Writer David Willem; Composer Matthew Coleridge; Vicar Angela Tilby; Author Bijan Omrani; Journalist and Historian Sir Simon Jenkins; Dorset garden hedgehog family, the Venerable Bede and other guests.   Future guests (all being well) are Tom Holland, John Simpson, Eleanor Parker, Philippa Langley and Katie Channon.   Unpolished and unscripted but no ads and no requests for anything but your company.  Trying to make the world a gentler place with literature, history and nature.  Please don’t expect to find a...

    34 min
  3. Pepys enjoys his Sliding Rule; Lucy Snowe enjoys a Thunderstorm; and Madame Neroni enjoys needling a Bishop’s wife

    2D AGO

    Pepys enjoys his Sliding Rule; Lucy Snowe enjoys a Thunderstorm; and Madame Neroni enjoys needling a Bishop’s wife

    Send us Fan Mail Support the show 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. 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.  Let’s gather up the beautiful things and ponder them in our hearts. Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes.  I would be so grateful if you would spare the time to give me a kind review and possibly 5 stars (for effort as I realise it’s not deserved for achievement)🥴 Previous guests include  historian Tom Holland; Actor Enzo Cilenti; Art historian Philip Mould; Writer David Willem; Composer Matthew Coleridge; Vicar Angela Tilby; Author Bijan Omrani; Journalist and Historian Sir Simon Jenkins; Dorset garden hedgehog family, the Venerable Bede and other guests.   Future guests (all being well) are Tom Holland, John Simpson, Eleanor Parker, Philippa Langley and Katie Channon.   Unpolished and unscripted but no ads and no requests for anything but your company.  Trying to make the world a gentler place with literature, history and nature.  Please don’t expect to find a...

    1h 10m
  4. The Hollow Tree by John Clare; Lucy Snowe is watchful, in Villette; and St Gregory’s Greatness

    3D AGO

    The Hollow Tree by John Clare; Lucy Snowe is watchful, in Villette; and St Gregory’s Greatness

    Send us Fan Mail Hello! There are 6 supporters whose addresses I don’t have, and I wanted to pop a thank you note in the post to you.  Please DM me your address if you are happy for me to send something.  The initials are: DW NL KT SS CG J Support the show 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. 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.  Let’s gather up the beautiful things and ponder them in our hearts. Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes.  I would be so grateful if you would spare the time to give me a kind review and possibly 5 stars (for effort as I realise it’s not deserved for achievement)🥴 Previous guests include  historian Tom Holland; Actor Enzo Cilenti; Art historian Philip Mould; Writer David Willem; Composer Matthew Coleridge; Vicar Angela Tilby; Author Bijan Omrani; Journalist and Historian Sir Simon Jenkins; Dorset garden hedgehog family, the Venerable Bede and other guests.   Future guests (all being well) are Tom Holland, John Simpson, Eleanor Parker, Philippa Langley and Katie Channon.   Unpolished and unscripted but no ads and no requests for anything but your company.  Trying to make the world a gentler place with literature, history and nature.  Please don’t expect to find a...

    40 min
  5. St Gennys, Samuel Pepys and an Old Saxon Lament; historian Tom Holland becomes our Honorary Patron

    4D AGO

    St Gennys, Samuel Pepys and an Old Saxon Lament; historian Tom Holland becomes our Honorary Patron

    Send us Fan Mail Support the show 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. 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.  Let’s gather up the beautiful things and ponder them in our hearts. Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes.  I would be so grateful if you would spare the time to give me a kind review and possibly 5 stars (for effort as I realise it’s not deserved for achievement)🥴 Previous guests include  historian Tom Holland; Actor Enzo Cilenti; Art historian Philip Mould; Writer David Willem; Composer Matthew Coleridge; Vicar Angela Tilby; Author Bijan Omrani; Journalist and Historian Sir Simon Jenkins; Dorset garden hedgehog family, the Venerable Bede and other guests.   Future guests (all being well) are Tom Holland, John Simpson, Eleanor Parker, Philippa Langley and Katie Channon.   Unpolished and unscripted but no ads and no requests for anything but your company.  Trying to make the world a gentler place with literature, history and nature.  Please don’t expect to find a...

    30 min
  6. Strictly Literature: Charlotte Brontë, Anthony Trollope, and Cup of Exquisite Poetry

    6D AGO

    Strictly Literature: Charlotte Brontë, Anthony Trollope, and Cup of Exquisite Poetry

    Send us Fan Mail Support the show 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. 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.  Let’s gather up the beautiful things and ponder them in our hearts. Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes.  I would be so grateful if you would spare the time to give me a kind review and possibly 5 stars (for effort as I realise it’s not deserved for achievement)🥴 Previous guests include  historian Tom Holland; Actor Enzo Cilenti; Art historian Philip Mould; Writer David Willem; Composer Matthew Coleridge; Vicar Angela Tilby; Author Bijan Omrani; Journalist and Historian Sir Simon Jenkins; Dorset garden hedgehog family, the Venerable Bede and other guests.   Future guests (all being well) are Tom Holland, John Simpson, Eleanor Parker, Philippa Langley and Katie Channon.   Unpolished and unscripted but no ads and no requests for anything but your company.  Trying to make the world a gentler place with literature, history and nature.  Please don’t expect to find a...

    51 min
  7. Charlotte Brontë’s Villette, Hungry Hedgehogs; and Chatter

    APR 29

    Charlotte Brontë’s Villette, Hungry Hedgehogs; and Chatter

    Send us Fan Mail Support the show 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. 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.  Let’s gather up the beautiful things and ponder them in our hearts. Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes.  I would be so grateful if you would spare the time to give me a kind review and possibly 5 stars (for effort as I realise it’s not deserved for achievement)🥴 Previous guests include  historian Tom Holland; Actor Enzo Cilenti; Art historian Philip Mould; Writer David Willem; Composer Matthew Coleridge; Vicar Angela Tilby; Author Bijan Omrani; Journalist and Historian Sir Simon Jenkins; Dorset garden hedgehog family, the Venerable Bede and other guests.   Future guests (all being well) are Tom Holland, John Simpson, Eleanor Parker, Philippa Langley and Katie Channon.   Unpolished and unscripted but no ads and no requests for anything but your company.  Trying to make the world a gentler place with literature, history and nature.  Please don’t expect to find a...

    51 min
  8. Gretel pays her respects to the ANZACs at St Nicholas Church, Brockenhurst and sees a fox

    APR 27

    Gretel pays her respects to the ANZACs at St Nicholas Church, Brockenhurst and sees a fox

    Send us Fan Mail Support the show 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. 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.  Let’s gather up the beautiful things and ponder them in our hearts. Top 10 in Global Rankings according to Listen Notes.  I would be so grateful if you would spare the time to give me a kind review and possibly 5 stars (for effort as I realise it’s not deserved for achievement)🥴 Previous guests include  historian Tom Holland; Actor Enzo Cilenti; Art historian Philip Mould; Writer David Willem; Composer Matthew Coleridge; Vicar Angela Tilby; Author Bijan Omrani; Journalist and Historian Sir Simon Jenkins; Dorset garden hedgehog family, the Venerable Bede and other guests.   Future guests (all being well) are Tom Holland, John Simpson, Eleanor Parker, Philippa Langley and Katie Channon.   Unpolished and unscripted but no ads and no requests for anything but your company.  Trying to make the world a gentler place with literature, history and nature.  Please don’t expect to find a...

    22 min
See All (506)

5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

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.   Honorary Podcast Patron: Tom Holland  Guests in the future (all being well) Dr Francis Young  Philippa Langley (again) Tom Holland (again) Eleanor Parker Hedley Thorne (again) Philip Mould (again) Nicola Cornick Laura Karim Durotriges Dig Laura Cumming Aidan Ridyard Clair Crawford 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.  It’s super unpolished and Gretel would be grateful for you to forgive her for that.   🤓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.  Let’s treasure up the beautiful things and ponder them in our hearts.Please follow me on X @gretellemaitre. 🌳 Or email me: gretellem@yahoo.com Guests on this show include: Tom Holland,  Philip Mould,  Bijan Omrani,  Sir Simon Jenkins,  Matthew Coleridge,  The Revd Canon Angela Tilby,  David Willem,  Philippa Langley,  Hedley Thorne,  Enzo Cicenti.  We have now passed 58,000 downloads.  #1 in the Top 100 Reflection All time chart  #1 in the Top 100 Kindness Monthly chart “The podcast combines historical reflections and extracts from literature 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 historical and literary  insights.   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 le Maître Ponders is available now on all major platforms. In the global top 10% of podcasts according to Listen Notes.  58,000 downloads as at the end of April 2026. GoodPods Leaderboards, March 2026; #37 in the Top 100 Nature All time chart #2 in the Top 100 Peace All time chart #2 in the Top 100 Curiosity All time chart  #2 in the Top 100 Hope All time chart #3 in the Top 100 Beauty All time chart

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