A Couple, a Microphone and a Thousand Years of Venice

Venice is one of the most photographed cities in the world, yet its history is often reduced to a handful of familiar images: masked balls, gondolas, merchants, doges and palaces reflected in the canals.

Behind those images lies a far more complex story.

In this episode of Venice Talks, I speak with Simon and Jess, the creators and hosts of The History of Venice Podcast, a chronological journey through the people, politics, conflicts, myths and extraordinary events that shaped the Venetian Republic.

Their project is ambitious. Rather than selecting only the most famous episodes from Venetian history, Simon and Jess begin at the origins and follow the city’s development step by step. Through careful research and accessible storytelling, they explore how a scattered group of lagoon communities became one of the most powerful and influential republics in Europe.

How The History of Venice Podcast Began

The idea for the podcast grew from Simon and Jess’s shared fascination with Venice and with history.

They wanted to listen to a detailed podcast that followed the story of Venice in chronological order, but they could not find exactly what they were looking for. So they decided to create it themselves.

That decision opened the door to a vast historical landscape. Venice’s past stretches across more than a thousand years, from the uncertain origins of its early settlements to the growth of maritime trade, the rise of the Republic and the development of its distinctive political system.

Creating a podcast on such a scale requires patience, curiosity and a willingness to disappear down the occasional historical rabbit hole. Simon and Jess discuss how they plan each episode, organise the research and decide which details will help listeners understand the larger story.

Creating a Podcast as a Couple

Simon and Jess are not only co-hosts but also a married couple, which gives the podcast its own natural dynamic.

During our conversation, we talk about what it means to create something together and how they divide the different parts of the production process. Researching, writing and recording a history podcast involves more than simply collecting dates and facts. It requires editorial choices, discussion and the ability to turn complex information into a clear and engaging narrative.

Their different perspectives help shape each episode. One may notice a detail or question an interpretation that the other might have overlooked. This exchange gives the podcast warmth and movement, making the history feel like a conversation rather than a lecture.

There is also something wonderfully appropriate about two people working together to tell the story of Venice—a city built through negotiation, collaboration, rivalry and an extraordinary ability to adapt.

Separating Venetian History from Legend

Venice has always been surrounded by myths.

Some were created by the Republic itself to reinforce an image of stability, independence and divine protection. Others developed over time through literature, tourism and the romantic imagination.

For anyone telling the history of Venice, separating fact from legend can be difficult. Historical sources may contradict one another, while stories repeated for centuries can begin to feel true simply because they are familiar.

Simon and Jess explain how they approach these uncertainties and how they decide which sources to trust. They do not try to remove the mythology completely, because legends are also part of Venice’s identity. Instead, they examine where a story may have come from, why it became popular and what it tells us about the way Venice wanted to be seen.

This is one of the great strengths of a chronological podcast. By following events in sequence, listeners can understand how political institutions, traditions and myths developed over time rather than appearing fully formed.

Bringing the People of Venice to Life

History becomes memorable when we meet the people inside it.

The story of Venice includes doges, merchants, sailors, diplomats, clergy, soldiers, rebels and families competing for influence. Some figures are famous, while others have almost disappeared from popular memory.

Simon and Jess speak about the historical personalities who have surprised them during their research. These individual stories allow listeners to see Venice not as an abstract republic but as a city shaped by ambition, fear, loyalty, opportunity and personal choices.

The podcast also helps make complicated subjects—such as trade agreements, political reforms and military conflicts—more approachable. Simon and Jess place these events within a wider human story, explaining not only what happened but why it mattered.

Seeing Venice Differently Through Its History

Learning about Venice’s past inevitably changes the way we walk through the city today.

A quiet campo may once have been the centre of a powerful family’s influence. A church façade may reflect an old rivalry or a moment of political triumph. A street name may preserve the memory of a trade that disappeared centuries ago.

Simon and Jess discuss how producing the podcast has transformed their own relationship with Venice. Research gives new meaning to places that might otherwise be passed without a second glance.

This is also one of the central ideas behind Venice Talks: the city becomes richer when we listen to the people who study it, work in it and continue to tell its stories.

Venice is not frozen in the past. Its history is still present in its buildings, language, customs and social structure. Understanding that history allows us to move beyond the postcard and encounter a city that is layered, complicated and continually evolving.

What Venice’s Past Can Teach Us Today

The history of the Venetian Republic is not only a story of beauty and power. It is also a story of resilience, compromise, expansion, crisis and reinvention.

Venice survived because it repeatedly adapted to changing circumstances. Its political system was designed to control personal ambition, while its commercial networks connected the lagoon to a much wider world.

Of course, the Republic was never perfect. Its history includes inequality, conflict, censorship and difficult political choices. Looking at Venice honestly means accepting both its achievements and its contradictions.

Through The History of Venice Podcast, Simon and Jess invite listeners to explore this complexity and discover a city that is even more fascinating than its legends.

Their podcast is a reminder that history is not simply a collection of dates. It is a way of understanding how places become what they are—and how the choices of the past continue to shape the present.

Key Notes from This Episode

In this episode, we talk about:

• How Simon and Jess created The History of Venice Podcast
• Why they chose to tell Venetian history chronologically
• Their personal connection with Venice
• What it is like to produce a podcast together as a couple
• How they divide the research, writing and presentation
• The challenges of separating historical fact from legend
• How they make complex history accessible to listeners
• The Venetian personalities who have surprised them most
• Common misconceptions about the Venetian Republic
• How researching the past changes the way we experience Venice
• What Venice’s history can teach us about the city today

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