Leonardo da Vinci: The Renaissance Genius Unmasked

Leonardo da Vinci is often remembered for the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper—but he was so much more than a painter. In this episode, we uncover the Renaissance icon’s groundbreaking work in engineering, anatomy, and invention, as well as explore the quieter truths of his personal identity. We ask a powerful question: What might the world look like if everyone—regardless of gender or sexuality—could live and create as freely as Leonardo did, without fear of judgment? Join us as we journey through Leonardo’s notebooks, his unconventional relationships, and the brilliance he left behind—not just in paint, but in thought.   THREE KEY TAKE-AWAYS How Leonardo’s engineering and scientific contributions shaped modern innovations—from anatomy to flight. Insight into Leonardo’s personal life, including his relationships with Salaì and Melzi, and what modern historians believe about his sexuality. A broader question of what happens when people are allowed to live and create authentically—without fear of shame or suppression. Resources & References Walter Isaacson’s biography of Leonardo da Vinci: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Leonardo-da-Vinci/Walter-Isaacson/9781501139154 Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks (Codex Atlanticus): https://www.leonardodigitale.com Museum of Science, Leonardo DaVinci Leonardo da Vinci’s mother was a slave, according to new research Da Vinci's mother was an enslaved teenager trafficked to Italy, new documents suggest Leonardo’s letter to Ludovico Sforza 10 of Leonardo da Vinci’s Most Important Inventions Leonardo daVinci – by Walter Isaacson The Victoria and Albert Museum – Leonardo daVinci’s Codices   Explore more on our website: mathsciencehistory.com To buy my book Hypatia: The Sum of Her Life on Amazon, visit https://a.co/d/g3OuP9h Let’s Connect! Website: mathsciencehistory.com Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mathsciencehistory.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/math.science.history If you love Math, Science, History, here’s how you can help:🌟 Leave a review – It helps more people discover the show!📢 Share this episode with friends & fellow history buffs!🔔 Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform ☕ Support the Show: Coffee!! https://shorturl.at/bHIsc 🛍 Checking out our merch: https://www.mathsciencehistory.com/the-store 🎵 Music: All music is public domain and has no Copyright and no rights reserved. Selections from The Little Prince by Lloyd Rodgers 🎵 Audio: Mixed by David Aviles Until next time, carpe diem!