Joe Vaughan
@joevaughan.net
Social media/content lead at The Museum of English Rural Life. Co-host & producer of Absolute Units. also fledgling standup
https://joevaughan.net (he/him)
https://joevaughan.net (he/him)
Pinned
Joe Vaughan
@joevaughan.net
· Jun 28
my official unofficial leaks account has now posted its first reel of me doing standup comedy. specifically: my origin story
getting the chance to speak with the wonderful @georgemonbiot.bsky.social has been one of the highlights of my year. I hope you enjoy this episode!
New Absolute Units is here!
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
November 13, 2025 at 4:46 PM
getting the chance to speak with the wonderful @georgemonbiot.bsky.social has been one of the highlights of my year. I hope you enjoy this episode!
Reposted by Joe Vaughan
Interested in art? Join @unirdg-artcol.bsky.social tonight for a free online talk!
Print historian Martin Andrews will dive into the work of Allen W. Seaby (1867-1963), ornithological painter, printmaker, and former professor at the University of Reading.
merl.reading.ac.uk/event/conver...
Print historian Martin Andrews will dive into the work of Allen W. Seaby (1867-1963), ornithological painter, printmaker, and former professor at the University of Reading.
merl.reading.ac.uk/event/conver...
Closer Look: Conversations with a Curator - The Museum of English Rural Life
Join us for our second season of exciting free online talks, where you’ll get the chance to dive deep into the world of art with our expert curators, conservators and scholars. Discover the stories be...
merl.reading.ac.uk
November 6, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Interested in art? Join @unirdg-artcol.bsky.social tonight for a free online talk!
Print historian Martin Andrews will dive into the work of Allen W. Seaby (1867-1963), ornithological painter, printmaker, and former professor at the University of Reading.
merl.reading.ac.uk/event/conver...
Print historian Martin Andrews will dive into the work of Allen W. Seaby (1867-1963), ornithological painter, printmaker, and former professor at the University of Reading.
merl.reading.ac.uk/event/conver...
it was a total dream to have the chance to speak with @georgemonbiot.bsky.social! very excited to share this with you
Absolute Units returns next Thursday with a very special guest: the author, journalist and environmentalist @georgemonbiot.bsky.social!
Join us then as we explore links between people & land, urban and rural, & connect George's work to our collections.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Join us then as we explore links between people & land, urban and rural, & connect George's work to our collections.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
November 6, 2025 at 9:35 AM
it was a total dream to have the chance to speak with @georgemonbiot.bsky.social! very excited to share this with you
Reposted by Joe Vaughan
in short:
if you're looking for love, get your nuts out by the fire.
if you're looking for love, get your nuts out by the fire.
November 5, 2025 at 2:30 PM
in short:
if you're looking for love, get your nuts out by the fire.
if you're looking for love, get your nuts out by the fire.
Reposted by Joe Vaughan
fun fact: Halloween in the north of England used to be known as nut-crack night.
people would mark nuts with the names of lovers and place them around a fire.
nuts that sizzled, spat or jumped indicated romantic incompatibility. nuts that burned together suggested peaceful, happy partnerships.
people would mark nuts with the names of lovers and place them around a fire.
nuts that sizzled, spat or jumped indicated romantic incompatibility. nuts that burned together suggested peaceful, happy partnerships.
November 5, 2025 at 2:30 PM
fun fact: Halloween in the north of England used to be known as nut-crack night.
people would mark nuts with the names of lovers and place them around a fire.
nuts that sizzled, spat or jumped indicated romantic incompatibility. nuts that burned together suggested peaceful, happy partnerships.
people would mark nuts with the names of lovers and place them around a fire.
nuts that sizzled, spat or jumped indicated romantic incompatibility. nuts that burned together suggested peaceful, happy partnerships.
Reposted by Joe Vaughan
In case you missed it: last week, we released two new episodes of our podcast, Absolute Units!
Learn about tracing queer rural history in our archives with @timjerrome.bsky.social. And/or explore the history of Halloween with @folklorepod.bsky.social.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Learn about tracing queer rural history in our archives with @timjerrome.bsky.social. And/or explore the history of Halloween with @folklorepod.bsky.social.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
November 4, 2025 at 10:50 AM
In case you missed it: last week, we released two new episodes of our podcast, Absolute Units!
Learn about tracing queer rural history in our archives with @timjerrome.bsky.social. And/or explore the history of Halloween with @folklorepod.bsky.social.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Learn about tracing queer rural history in our archives with @timjerrome.bsky.social. And/or explore the history of Halloween with @folklorepod.bsky.social.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Reposted by Joe Vaughan
i don't throw around the word "hero" too often,
October 31, 2025 at 3:17 PM
i don't throw around the word "hero" too often,
Reposted by Joe Vaughan
The horrors! Two episodes of Absolute Units in one week. And an absolute shocker this time too, all about Halloween and folklore (with done discussion if Scooby Doo). This time, @joevaughan.net and I are joined by the amazing Mark Norman, host of @folklorepod.bsky.social. Enjoy!
the bravest podcast listeners are about to meet their mightiest match, for our extremely nefarious bonus Halloween episode has arrived.
candles out, headphones on, & listen now — if you dare!*
(*wherever you get your podcasts)
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
candles out, headphones on, & listen now — if you dare!*
(*wherever you get your podcasts)
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
October 31, 2025 at 3:52 PM
The horrors! Two episodes of Absolute Units in one week. And an absolute shocker this time too, all about Halloween and folklore (with done discussion if Scooby Doo). This time, @joevaughan.net and I are joined by the amazing Mark Norman, host of @folklorepod.bsky.social. Enjoy!
sound design is my passion!!!
the bravest podcast listeners are about to meet their mightiest match, for our extremely nefarious bonus Halloween episode has arrived.
candles out, headphones on, & listen now — if you dare!*
(*wherever you get your podcasts)
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
candles out, headphones on, & listen now — if you dare!*
(*wherever you get your podcasts)
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
October 31, 2025 at 3:41 PM
sound design is my passion!!!
Reposted by Joe Vaughan
Back again with the brilliant @timjerrome.bsky.social and the very finest of podcast co-presenters, @joevaughan.net. Latest episode of Absolute Units now out!
Absolute Units is back!
We continue our conversation with @timjerrome.bsky.social (University of Brighton; formerly, The MERL) about his research into queer rural life.
Discover what Tim has found in our archives to date & the research challenges he's faced.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
We continue our conversation with @timjerrome.bsky.social (University of Brighton; formerly, The MERL) about his research into queer rural life.
Discover what Tim has found in our archives to date & the research challenges he's faced.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
October 30, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Back again with the brilliant @timjerrome.bsky.social and the very finest of podcast co-presenters, @joevaughan.net. Latest episode of Absolute Units now out!
new pod! Tim is such a star, brilliant to have him back
Absolute Units is back!
We continue our conversation with @timjerrome.bsky.social (University of Brighton; formerly, The MERL) about his research into queer rural life.
Discover what Tim has found in our archives to date & the research challenges he's faced.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
We continue our conversation with @timjerrome.bsky.social (University of Brighton; formerly, The MERL) about his research into queer rural life.
Discover what Tim has found in our archives to date & the research challenges he's faced.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
October 30, 2025 at 4:17 PM
new pod! Tim is such a star, brilliant to have him back
Reposted by Joe Vaughan
Absolute Units is back!
We continue our conversation with @timjerrome.bsky.social (University of Brighton; formerly, The MERL) about his research into queer rural life.
Discover what Tim has found in our archives to date & the research challenges he's faced.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
We continue our conversation with @timjerrome.bsky.social (University of Brighton; formerly, The MERL) about his research into queer rural life.
Discover what Tim has found in our archives to date & the research challenges he's faced.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
October 30, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Absolute Units is back!
We continue our conversation with @timjerrome.bsky.social (University of Brighton; formerly, The MERL) about his research into queer rural life.
Discover what Tim has found in our archives to date & the research challenges he's faced.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
We continue our conversation with @timjerrome.bsky.social (University of Brighton; formerly, The MERL) about his research into queer rural life.
Discover what Tim has found in our archives to date & the research challenges he's faced.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Reposted by Joe Vaughan
Here is a brilliant new episode of Absolute Units with @timjerrome.bsky.social. Co-presented and very professionally produced by the inimitable @joevaughan.net, as always.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Absolute Units - The Museum of English Rural Life podcast
Come for the big animals. Stay for fascinating and surprising stories about England's rural past, as told by our collections.
merl.reading.ac.uk
October 16, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Here is a brilliant new episode of Absolute Units with @timjerrome.bsky.social. Co-presented and very professionally produced by the inimitable @joevaughan.net, as always.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Reposted by Joe Vaughan
Thank you to the eternally wonderful Joe and Ollie for guiding me through my first time on a podcast - if intense ramblings about finding queer snippets in rural archives is your thing, give it a listen! @themerl.bsky.social
🐏 New Absolute Units 🐏
Same-sex relationships have always been part of rural England, but they've been underrepresented in our collections.
In the first of 2 episodes, @timjerrome.bsky.social shares his work tracing queer rural lives in The MERL archives.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Same-sex relationships have always been part of rural England, but they've been underrepresented in our collections.
In the first of 2 episodes, @timjerrome.bsky.social shares his work tracing queer rural lives in The MERL archives.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
October 16, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Thank you to the eternally wonderful Joe and Ollie for guiding me through my first time on a podcast - if intense ramblings about finding queer snippets in rural archives is your thing, give it a listen! @themerl.bsky.social
we are live!
🐏 New Absolute Units 🐏
Same-sex relationships have always been part of rural England, but they've been underrepresented in our collections.
In the first of 2 episodes, @timjerrome.bsky.social shares his work tracing queer rural lives in The MERL archives.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Same-sex relationships have always been part of rural England, but they've been underrepresented in our collections.
In the first of 2 episodes, @timjerrome.bsky.social shares his work tracing queer rural lives in The MERL archives.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
October 16, 2025 at 9:36 AM
we are live!
Reposted by Joe Vaughan
This bound volume of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and volume I of The Ghost Seer by Friedrich Schiller is exactly what we need at this time of year! These illustrations depict iconic moments from the stories, though Schiller's tale remains unfinished…
October 13, 2025 at 1:46 PM
This bound volume of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and volume I of The Ghost Seer by Friedrich Schiller is exactly what we need at this time of year! These illustrations depict iconic moments from the stories, though Schiller's tale remains unfinished…
Reposted by Joe Vaughan
Our next free monthly gallery tour takes place tomorrow (14 October, 11.30 am)!
Join our very own Dr Ollie Douglas with @uniofreading.bsky.social's Associate Professor Jeremy Burchardt to learn about the history of fences, and why we divide and enclose the countryside.
No booking required!
Join our very own Dr Ollie Douglas with @uniofreading.bsky.social's Associate Professor Jeremy Burchardt to learn about the history of fences, and why we divide and enclose the countryside.
No booking required!
October 13, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Our next free monthly gallery tour takes place tomorrow (14 October, 11.30 am)!
Join our very own Dr Ollie Douglas with @uniofreading.bsky.social's Associate Professor Jeremy Burchardt to learn about the history of fences, and why we divide and enclose the countryside.
No booking required!
Join our very own Dr Ollie Douglas with @uniofreading.bsky.social's Associate Professor Jeremy Burchardt to learn about the history of fences, and why we divide and enclose the countryside.
No booking required!
Reposted by Joe Vaughan
🥳 Now open 🎉
Discover rarely-seen letters and artefacts from the personal archive of beloved author James Joyce in James Joyce: Enigmas & Puzzles.
Explore Joyce's social network of friends and artists, his family life, his inspirations, and the adjustments he made to work despite ill-health.
Discover rarely-seen letters and artefacts from the personal archive of beloved author James Joyce in James Joyce: Enigmas & Puzzles.
Explore Joyce's social network of friends and artists, his family life, his inspirations, and the adjustments he made to work despite ill-health.
October 7, 2025 at 9:19 AM
🥳 Now open 🎉
Discover rarely-seen letters and artefacts from the personal archive of beloved author James Joyce in James Joyce: Enigmas & Puzzles.
Explore Joyce's social network of friends and artists, his family life, his inspirations, and the adjustments he made to work despite ill-health.
Discover rarely-seen letters and artefacts from the personal archive of beloved author James Joyce in James Joyce: Enigmas & Puzzles.
Explore Joyce's social network of friends and artists, his family life, his inspirations, and the adjustments he made to work despite ill-health.
Reposted by Joe Vaughan
Never-before-seen papers from beloved author James Joyce, part of @uorspeccoll.bsky.social's remarkable new Solange and Stephen James Joyce Collection, will form the free exhibition, James Joyce: Enigmas and Puzzles.
Opens 7 Oct at @themerl.bsky.social
whatsonreading.com/venues/museu...
Opens 7 Oct at @themerl.bsky.social
whatsonreading.com/venues/museu...
October 3, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Never-before-seen papers from beloved author James Joyce, part of @uorspeccoll.bsky.social's remarkable new Solange and Stephen James Joyce Collection, will form the free exhibition, James Joyce: Enigmas and Puzzles.
Opens 7 Oct at @themerl.bsky.social
whatsonreading.com/venues/museu...
Opens 7 Oct at @themerl.bsky.social
whatsonreading.com/venues/museu...
Reposted by Joe Vaughan
Latest episode folks. With thanks to @katrinanavickas.bsky.social and @joevaughan.net for general awesomeness!
New Absolute Units is live!
Join us and @katrinanavickas.bsky.social as we explore resistance to enclosure in the modern era: from riots, to raves, to Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Listen below, or search 'Absolute Units' wherever you get your podcasts!
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Join us and @katrinanavickas.bsky.social as we explore resistance to enclosure in the modern era: from riots, to raves, to Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Listen below, or search 'Absolute Units' wherever you get your podcasts!
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
October 2, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Latest episode folks. With thanks to @katrinanavickas.bsky.social and @joevaughan.net for general awesomeness!
Reposted by Joe Vaughan
New Absolute Units is live!
Join us and @katrinanavickas.bsky.social as we explore resistance to enclosure in the modern era: from riots, to raves, to Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Listen below, or search 'Absolute Units' wherever you get your podcasts!
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Join us and @katrinanavickas.bsky.social as we explore resistance to enclosure in the modern era: from riots, to raves, to Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Listen below, or search 'Absolute Units' wherever you get your podcasts!
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
October 2, 2025 at 4:23 PM
New Absolute Units is live!
Join us and @katrinanavickas.bsky.social as we explore resistance to enclosure in the modern era: from riots, to raves, to Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Listen below, or search 'Absolute Units' wherever you get your podcasts!
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Join us and @katrinanavickas.bsky.social as we explore resistance to enclosure in the modern era: from riots, to raves, to Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Listen below, or search 'Absolute Units' wherever you get your podcasts!
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Reposted by Joe Vaughan
This aircraft worker from WW2 was photographed for the Ministry of Information at Miles Factory in Woodley. The factory made 5000 new aircraft during the war and repaired damaged fighter planes. Thousands of women were employed in this industry in Reading.
1946.52.63 🖼️
Reading Museum 📷
#FridayFinds
1946.52.63 🖼️
Reading Museum 📷
#FridayFinds
September 26, 2025 at 9:13 AM
This aircraft worker from WW2 was photographed for the Ministry of Information at Miles Factory in Woodley. The factory made 5000 new aircraft during the war and repaired damaged fighter planes. Thousands of women were employed in this industry in Reading.
1946.52.63 🖼️
Reading Museum 📷
#FridayFinds
1946.52.63 🖼️
Reading Museum 📷
#FridayFinds
Reposted by Joe Vaughan
some good content wot I saw in the last couple of weeks which is in my newsletter
September 19, 2025 at 1:08 PM
some good content wot I saw in the last couple of weeks which is in my newsletter
Reposted by Joe Vaughan
This one’s a good one. I would say that, of course, but @katrinanavickas.bsky.social is brilliant and her new book is a must read! Thanks as always to the brilliant @joevaughan.net.
New Absolute Units is live!
Join special guest @katrinanavickas.bsky.social as we delve into the commons: the history of shared resources, the historical forces that encroached upon them, and the fight to get them back.
Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Join special guest @katrinanavickas.bsky.social as we delve into the commons: the history of shared resources, the historical forces that encroached upon them, and the fight to get them back.
Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
September 18, 2025 at 2:45 PM
This one’s a good one. I would say that, of course, but @katrinanavickas.bsky.social is brilliant and her new book is a must read! Thanks as always to the brilliant @joevaughan.net.
thrilled to combine my 2 greatest research interests - UK rural history and Goose
New Absolute Units is live!
Join special guest @katrinanavickas.bsky.social as we delve into the commons: the history of shared resources, the historical forces that encroached upon them, and the fight to get them back.
Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Join special guest @katrinanavickas.bsky.social as we delve into the commons: the history of shared resources, the historical forces that encroached upon them, and the fight to get them back.
Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
September 18, 2025 at 1:04 PM
thrilled to combine my 2 greatest research interests - UK rural history and Goose