FAN FAV: THE PAGANS, OLIVER CROMWELL, & CHARLES DICKENS
Pssst…it turns out Christmas is a super pagan holiday. On today’s episode we’re doing a brief overview of the origins of Christmas and how Charles Dickens brought the holiday back after Oliver Cromwell had Christmas canceled. For all those who think there’s a war on Christmas…just be glad Oliver Cromwell’s not still around.
STORICAL HALLOWEEN SPECIAL
Edgar Allan Poe had a mind for the macabre. But as it turns out, some of his most famous works were based on true tales of horror. Listen to the episode for the origin stories of 5 of Poe’s spookiest works.
LITERARY ROAD TRIP WITH EDGAR ALLAN POE
Edgar Allan Poe died in 1849, but there are still places standing that housed the author. This week, we’re traveling from Richmond to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston for a look at some of the most interesting places to visit on your very own Poe Pilgrimage.
STORICAL FOOTNOTES: THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF EDGAR ALLAN POE
Edgar Allan Poe died as he lived…mysteriously. It’s been more than 200 years and we still don’t know what killed Poe but there are theories. Today, we’re taking a look at the leading theories as to what killed the macabre author as well as the mysterious story of the Poe Toaster.
CHARLES DICKENS, EDGAR ALLAN POE, & GRIP THE RAVEN
Edgar Allan Poe’s masterpiece, The Raven, was inspired not by any ordinary raven, not by a harbinger of doom, it was a talking pet raven named Grip owned by none other than Charles Dickens. Tune in for the story of Grip…then go visit the real Grip who is still on display at the Free Library of Philadelphia!
STORICAL FOOTNOTES: MARY SHELLEY AND THE CALCIFIED HEART
When Percy Bysshe Shelley was cremated, Lord Byron and the others present noticed something odd… his heart wouldn’t burn. This week, we’re diving into the strange story of Mary Shelley and the calcified heart of her husband.
STORICAL FOOTNOTES: MOZART'S FORGOTTEN SISTER, NANNERL
Nannerl Mozart was Mozart’s older sister and a child prodigy herself. Today we’re taking a look at the life of the pushed aside sister.
STORICAL FOOTNOTES: MOZART VS SALIERI
The movie Amadeus solidified the belief that not only was Mozart murdered, but he was murdered at Salieri’s hand. That didn’t actually happen and the real story is a lot more complicated. Listen to the episode to learn more about Mozart’s “rival,” Antonio Salieri.
STORICAL FOOTNOTES: JOAN OF ARC FROM HERETIC TO SAINT
Bishops from the Catholic church were in charge of Joan of Arc’s trial and ended up condemning her to die. So if it was the church that burned her, why the change of heart and change of status to a saint? Today we’re looking at what happened during the 500 years after her death that led to her becoming the patron saint of France.
STORICAL FOOTNOTES: THE SAINTS WHO SPOKE TO JOAN OF ARC
We all know that Joan of Arc believed she heard the voices of saints sent by God on her mission to save France. But who were these saints and what were there stories? Today, we’re taking a look at the origin stories of St. Michael, St. Margaret, and St. Catherine and where they fit in to the politics of the time.
STORICAL FOOTNOTES: THE KING WHO WAS MADE OF GLASS
Charles VI believed he was made entirely of glass and that any small movement would cause him to shatter. Listen in for an exploration of the glass delusion (afflicted lots of nobles!) and how this French king’s fear that his body was glass set Joan of Arc’s mission in motion.
5 HISTORICAL PANDEMICS AND WHAT THEY TELL US ABOUT COVID-19
With the rapid spread of COVID-19, people across the globe are feeling anxious and uncertain. It’s important to remember that we’ve been here before. Many times. With less technology and less knowledge about health, medicine, and germs. So, before you rush out and buy more toilet paper, take a look at five of the worst pestilences in human history and how we got over them and changed the world.
STORICAL FOOTNOTES: MADAME TUSSAUD'S CHAMBER OF HORRORS
After you visited the museum, if you were brave enough and could afford the extra six pence admission, Madame Tussaud would allow you entry to her infamous Chamber of Horrors. An early version of The Chamber was created in the late 1700s and was the most popular exhibit until its demise in 2016. Today we’re looking at the gory appeal of Madame Tussaud’s Chamber of Horrors.
CHIQUITA THE DIAMOND COLLARED CHEETAH
The more Josephine Baker’s star rose, the more exotic her pets became. This week we’re taking a look at Josephine’s menagerie of wild animals including Albert, the perfumed pig, and Chiquita, the diamond collared cheetah.
STORICAL FOOTNOTES: JOSEPHINE BAKER'S LADY LOVERS
Josephine Baker is looked to as a historical example of a strong, successful, queer performer. Today, we’re looking at her relationships with women. From Colette to Frida Kahlo, Josephine had relationships with some of the most prominent artists of the day.
STORICAL FOOTNOTES: BFFS GRACE KELLY & JOSEPHINE BAKER
Just in time for the 92nd Academy Awards, here is a look at unlikely best friends Josephine Baker and Grace Kelly! The two women met when Grace Kelly stood up for Josephine who was being denied service at a New York club. They would remain friends for the rest of Josephine’s life, after which she would be buried in Monaco, near her friend.
STORICAL FOOTNOTES: ASSASSINS & STALKERS OF QUEEN VICTORIA
When you’re a person in power, a lot of people want you dead. Would-be assassins tried eight times to kill Queen Victoria, but luck was on her side. Far creepier were her obsessive stalkers. Today we’re looking at the men who tried to kill the Queen and the strange case of the Boy Jones who broke into the palace repeatedly…and stole her underwear.
STORICAL FOOTNOTES: THE KAISER, THE ROMANOVS, AND QUEEN VICTORIA
Queen Victoria had 9 kids and 42 grandchildren! It was hoped that by marrying off her descendants to the different houses of Europe that there would be a lasting peace….that’s not quite what happened. Tune in for a look at Victoria’s children and the role her two most famous grandchildren played in World War I.
STORICAL FOOTNOTES: QUEEN VICTORIA'S BELOVED DOG DASH
Queen Victoria had a lonely childhood thanks to the oppressive Kensington System her mother and Sir John Conroy set up to keep her dependent. All that changed when a cute little Cavalier King Charles spaniel named Dash came into her life. On this week’s episode, find out what happened to Victoria’s beloved dog, Dash.
GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST:
Pssst…it turns out Christmas is a super pagan holiday. On today’s episode we’re doing a brief overview of the origins of Christmas and how Charles Dickens brought the holiday back after Oliver Cromwell had Christmas canceled. For all those who think there’s a war on Christmas…just be glad Oliver Cromwell’s not still around.