The Sultanate of Women 1/3: Hürrem Sultan
Ottoman Sultans kept a harem of hundreds of enslaved concubines to bear their children. But from 1533 to 1656 a handful of remarkable women bent the harem system to their wills and exercised extraordi...
3 Jan 202325min
A History of Names
A double header about the history of first names and last names. “What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet” As Romeo pondered the significance of the moniker ...
27 Dec 202227min
Henry VIII's Christmas Feast
King Henry VIII liked to live large and luxurious 365. But especially at Christmas. He and his wife of the moment enjoyed decadent feasts including classics we know today like mince pie and gingerbrea...
20 Dec 202231min
The 12 Days of Medieval Christmas
We’re familiar with the Christmas carol “The 12 days of Christmas” but in the middle ages, this extended holiday Christmas looked a bit different. There were plenty of lords-a-leaping and ladies danci...
13 Dec 202232min
Sons of King Christian IX of Denmark
The latest season of The Crown shows how Prince Philip provided the crucial DNA sample which identified the remains of his slain cousins, the Romanovs. Let's explore how the British, Russian and Greek...
6 Dec 202220min
Daughters of King Christian IX of Denmark
The latest season of The Crown shows how King George V failed to save his first cousin, Tsar Nikolai of Russia and his family from execution during the Russian revolution. Let's explore how the Britis...
29 Nov 202226min
Empress Elisabeth "Sisi" of Austria
Enjoying the Netflix romantic drama "The Empress"? Check out the real story of Empress Elisabeth "Sisi" of Austria. Elisabeth of Austria was a shy woman who’s beauty won the heart of Emperor Franz Jos...
22 Nov 202217min
A History of Menstruation
Periods. About 50% of the population gets them. But this natural process of shedding the uterine lining every month as part of fertility has long been shrouded in mystery, embarrassment and taboo. Let...
15 Nov 202226min
