The Horrifying Life of a Medieval Barber-Surgeon

Get early episodes & ad-free audio on Patreon: https://patreon.com/DrowsyHistorian Step into the dim, uneasy world of the medieval barber-surgeon — where the same razor that scraped a chin might, moments later, open a vein. In this slow, immersive descent, you’ll live through the life of an apprentice turned master of the trade, where grooming and crude medicine blurred into one grim routine. From sweeping up hair tangled with blood, to sawing through limbs on the battlefield, to returning home scarred and hollow, you’ll discover why the barber’s pole is striped with more than just barbering pride. This is not the neat history of universities and physicians — this is the weary, terrifying reality of the men who shaved, bled, and cut their way through the Middle Ages, only to be forgotten and replaced by the next trembling youth. 🛏️ Drowsy Historian’s Favorite Sleep Tools Looking to upgrade your nighttime routine? These are a few things I personally use or recommend: • Sleep Earbuds for Enhanced Immersion → https://amzn.to/4pVFoJy • Blanket Soft Enough to Make the Plague Feel Tolerable → https://amzn.to/3GSOq8f • Weighted Blanket for Pretending You’re a Mummified Pharaoh → https://amzn.to/4kVJCgE • Sleep Mask Headphones For Total Historical Escape → https://amzn.to/4nWsNVn • Book Light for Reading About Plagues at 2AM → https://amzn.to/4eSg0iu • White Noise Machine for Blocking Out the 21st Century → https://amzn.to/3GJ9jTw These are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them—at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the show while staying cozy. #medievalhistory #barbersurgeon #historyforsleep #asmrhistory #darkhistory #historicalstorytelling #sleepstory #medievalmedicine #drowsyhistorian