Fans of podcasts and rural history may want to check out a new episode of Absolute Units, the official podcast of the Museum of English Rural Life in Reading, England.
The show usually explores the stories behind countryside collections — but in this episode, titled “Queer Rural Lives: Searching the Archives,” hosts Ollie Douglas and Joe Vaughan sit down with researcher Tim Jerrome to uncover the often-overlooked history of same-sex relationships in rural England.
The discussion dives into how queer stories can be found — or sometimes hidden — in farm records and museum archives, and how institutions can better represent those lives today. It’s a fascinating look at the intersections of identity, history, and the countryside.
You can listen to Absolute Units on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
