Pledge $2 per month
$2 or more per month • 85 patrons
You will be filled with a warm fuzzy glow in the knowledge that you have helped the podcast and joined the Privy Council! Plus, we'll give you an on-air thanks and free access to the Privy Chamber bonus podcasts (recordings we now do after each normal episode with some extra material we couldn't fit in, post-review reflections and reading out messages), which are exclusive to Privy Councillors.
GET $2 REWARDPledge $5 per month
$5 or more per month • 405 patrons
A warm fuzzy glow, an on-air mention and comment/question read out, access the Privy Chamber podcasts AND free access to all our special episodes which normally cost $2 each.
GET $5 REWARDPledge $10 per month
$10 or more per month • 81 patrons
The rewards are building up! At $10 you get a warm fuzzy glow, an on-air mention and comment/question, access to the Privy Chamber podcasts and special episodes PLUS a Privy Councillor mug!
GET $10 REWARDPledge $15 per month
$15 or more per month • 27 patrons
At $15 you get a warm fuzzy glow, an on-air mention and comment/question, access to the Privy Chamber podcasts and special episodes, a Privy Councillor mug AND to commission a blog on the subject of your choice.
GET $15 REWARDRex Factor is a free podcast reviewing all the kings and queens of England and Scotland.
Rex Factor is a free and podcast reviewing all the kings and queens of England and Scotland by a number of factors and deciding which ones have that special quality that we call 'the Rex Factor'. The podcast has been running for a number of years and will always be free to listen to, but we do incur a number of costs in producing the podcast (hosting fees, sound equipment, books, etc.) and we would love to be able to work full-time on Rex Factor. By pledging to us, you will be helping us to keep going and one day, hopefully, to work full-time on Rex Factor, and in return you will gain access to special bonus features and episodes.
Latest Episodes
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Ali's Pennance for Edgar the Peaceable
By far the most controversial moment on Rex Factor was Ali's decision not to award Edgar the Peaceable the Rex Factor, for which he has received complaints ever since. One listener suggested, in the style of Henry II for Thomas Becket, that Ali do pennance for his crime but rather than being flayed by monks Ali should row a representative of Edgar the Peaceable, recreating Edgar's famous ceremony in 973 when he was rowed by various sub-kings. If we reach the donation target, Ali will do pennance and the video will be shared!
Graham's New Microphone
The sound quality has been a common source of feedback for where we can improve the podcast, and while we have made improvements we'd really like to invest in some quality microphones that will make a significant difference to our recordings and make Rex Factor even better to listen to! The new microphone will cut out background noise and make Graham's voice clearer and richer!
Ali's New Microphone
The new microphones will just pick up one person rather than the whole room (and police sirens!) so in order to hear Ali, he will need a microphone as well or else his "Crikey Moses"s will go unheard!
Complicated thing that makes the new microphones work!
The new microphones need an audio interface so that they can link into the computer, otherwise neither Graham nor Ali will be heard!
Ongoing Support
I've been advised by Podbean that the 'goals' system is going to be removed in the next update to the site, so I'm not going to add any new ones on here. However, we may continue to do something similar on an informal basis via the podcast but ultimately all the money donated will go towards meeting our costs, improving our recording technology and hopefully expanding into other exciting areas!
Account Upgrade
We recently launched premium podcasts but found our account was limited to a small number which has caused a lot of problems for people purchasing the episode and left unable to access it without us sending manual links. To solve this problem, we need to upgrade our account but this will be a pretty big jump (effectively paying in a month almost what we used to pay for the whole year!) so your donations will help us cover this cost and allow us to continue to produce more bonus episodes (possibly commissioned by you if you go for the top reward!)
Video Cameras
We are hoping to add another level to their podcasting in future with videos on location at some of the historic sites that we discuss in the podcasts and so we're saving up for a nice one with decent sound that will work outdoors so you can both see us and hear us at the same time!
Ongoing Support
We've got some exciting plans for doing more with Rex Factor, including video episodes, additional audio stuff and many more exciting things besides, so it's really a huge help for us to fund all of this with your support.
Full-Time Rex Factor
We would love to be able to dedicate even more time to the podcast and make Rex Factor our full-time occupation so that we can do even more podcasting and branch out into other areas.
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Rewards
Pledge $2 per month
$2 or more per month • 85 patrons
You will be filled with a warm fuzzy glow in the knowledge that you have helped the podcast and joined the Privy Council! Plus, we'll give you an on-air thanks and free access to the Privy Chamber bonus podcasts (recordings we now do after each normal episode with some extra material we couldn't fit in, post-review reflections and reading out messages), which are exclusive to Privy Councillors.
GET $2 REWARDPledge $5 per month
$5 or more per month • 405 patrons
A warm fuzzy glow, an on-air mention and comment/question read out, access the Privy Chamber podcasts AND free access to all our special episodes which normally cost $2 each.
GET $5 REWARDPledge $10 per month
$10 or more per month • 81 patrons
The rewards are building up! At $10 you get a warm fuzzy glow, an on-air mention and comment/question, access to the Privy Chamber podcasts and special episodes PLUS a Privy Councillor mug!
GET $10 REWARDPledge $15 per month
$15 or more per month • 27 patrons
At $15 you get a warm fuzzy glow, an on-air mention and comment/question, access to the Privy Chamber podcasts and special episodes, a Privy Councillor mug AND to commission a blog on the subject of your choice.
GET $15 REWARDTop patrons
wellgoodmornin 6 days ago
Love the podcast. Thank you guys for what you do.The nicbonds's Podcast 26 days ago
Hello! One of my greatest friends recommended your podcast to me and I've been a huge fan for years now. Listening to you guys helped me cope with moving from a small town in Texas to Boston for law school, and kept me sane through the bar exam. I am stoked to finally be joining the Privy Council, and cannot wait to listen to even more of your stellar content. Keep up the spectacular work!The mh3rm's Podcast 28 days ago
Hi Ali & Graham I've subscribed to your podcast because it was on my daughter Evie's list of things she wanted for her 16th birthday. She listens to you and loves history and your take on it.Keep up the good work. MonicaThe flyingmags's Podcast 29 days ago
I found your podcast during the lockdown period and have been listening almost non-stop. Thanks for making history fun and interesting, and for inspiring (and generously allowing) other similar podcasts! Keep safe and keep up the good work! MaggieThe lynnepsly's Podcast 2 months ago
Hello there,I came to the podcast having reading the intriguingly underwhelming recommendation in the WI magazine. What a find - it’s been with me throughout lockdown, and I couldn’t resist becoming a Privy Councillor to hear all the extra bits My favourite ’Ali moment’ - an dying Charles II asks to be ‘propped up to see dawn‘ - ‘Who’s Dawn?’ Asks Ali 😂😂
The saschauer's Podcast 2 months ago
One question torments me: does Ali really regularly forget all the facts he must have heard 5 or 6 times by now or is he just a brilliant actor, who again and again shines with superior performances at feigning surprise? Anyway I love your work, Servus aus WienThe rsbornt's Podcast 2 months ago
Have kept meaning to join the Privy Council and have finally done it! Thank you for keeping me entertained on my work commutes and long walks. Impressed with Graham's in-depth knowledge of the subject and love Ali's humor. Looking forward to catching up on the special episodes now.The evejeffery's Podcast 2 months ago
Salutations!I've only started listening to Rex Factor over lockdown but it has fast become my favourite podcast. I was really chuffed that you awarded one of my favourites Edward IV the Rex Factor - what a guy!
Keep up the great work :-)
Eve
The jennyscollen's Podcast 2 months ago
Thank you both for the many hours of entertainment you’ve provided during lockdown! Your podcast has truly helped me through some very boring and very tough times!Growing up near Stirling the Battles of Stirling Bridge and Bannockburn were a large part of my education. I really enjoyed your Edward I episode as it taught me a lot about a king who I had only learnt about in a negative light. Still think the right side won in the end, but really interesting to hear about him in a different light.
The kennedyblaise's Podcast 2 months ago
Hello Graham and Ali,Just wanted to say how much I love the podcast and enjoy listening any chance I get. I am almost caught up on the latest season having recently raced through the Scottish series and am looking forward immensely to the special episodes. Thanks for all the great work and podcasting!
A RexFan
P.S. Constantine II should've won the Scottish series, this is the hill I will die on.