Conjuring Curiosities

By Clara and Sabrina

A historical seamstress tells her witchy friend about the most macabre aspects of the Victorian era. A new topic focusing on the 1800s every week, as well as a collective tarot reading and spiritua

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FAQs about Conjuring Curiosities:

How many episodes does Conjuring Curiosities have?

The podcast currently has 61 episodes available.

Conjuring Curiosities episodes:

March 28, 2024 Terror, Doom, and an Icy Tomb
Grab your parkas and your tainted canned meat, this episode Clara and Sabrina are voyaging into the Arctic abyss! We’re hopping aboard Sir John Franklin’s doomed expedition through the Northwest Passage. When the ships got hopelessly stuck in the ice, everyone aboard was slowly overcome by bone-chilling cold, hunger, and desperation. We’ll discuss theories on why the crew made so many bizarre decisions, and solve the mystery that was never actually a mystery, but was “solved” over 150 years later, no thanks to colonial arrogance. If you’re drawn in by the allure of the Arctic Archipelago, The Franklin Expedition is waiting for you, although it certainly isn’t going anywhere either way…

See photos discussed in this episode on our instagram
Follow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!

SOURCES:
Wikipedia - Franklin's lost expedition

Discovering The Arctic - The Northwest Passage – the Arctic Grail

Royal Museums Greenwich - What happened to HMS Erebus and Terror?

Canadian History Ehx - The Inuit and the Franklin Expedition

New York Times - Artifacts of a Doomed Expedition

National Library of Medicine - Sir John Franklin's last arctic expedition: a medical disaster

History.com - What Happened to the Doomed Franklin Expedition? These Are the Clues

Fandom - Timeline of the Franklin Expedition

Government of Canada - Update on the words “Inuk” and “Inuit”

Wikipedia - Northwest Passage
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56min
March 21, 2024 Spice and Disease on the High Seas
Get your sea legs ready, we’re sailing through a convoluted mess of trade routes and accidental discoveries! In this episode, Clara tells Sabrina about the Europeans' ravenous thirst for spices they mostly no longer use in modern day, and all the inefficient things they did to make the trip to Asia more efficient. Also, we break the news to Christopher Columbus that he did not, in fact, find India. He didn’t even find America either, actually. And once we navigate our way to the Panama canal, we’ll explain how the cure for malaria also created happy hour. So grab your tonic water, and prepare to have your preconceptions shaken like a gin and tonic in the hands of a clueless explorer. It's gonna be one heck of a voyage!

See photos discussed in this episode on our instagram
Follow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!

SOURCES:
History.com - Panama Canal

Wikipedia - Christopher Columbus

Wikipedia - Austronesian peoples

Slate - The Imperial Cocktail

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37min
March 14, 2024 Overly Flirtatious Fans
In this episode, we’re decoding the hidden messages that the Victorians sent one another - with practically any accessory that was accessible! Clara and Sabrina delve into the secret signals hidden in the flutter of a fan, the delicate touch of a glove, and the subtle tilt of a parasol. Through newspapers from the early 1800s, we try to make sense of the nuances in gestures and symbols that spoke volumes in an era where discretion was paramount. But were these codes really as prevalent as some articles would lead you to believe? Listen to find out!

See photos discussed in this episode on our instagram
Follow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!

SOURCES:
Alexander Meddings - The Weird and Wonderful World of Victorian Dating

Friends of Dalnavert - Date Like a Victorian: Courtship and Romance in the Victorian Era

Sothebys - The Secret Language of Fans

Fashion History Museum - Myth Information: The Fan Code

Medium - A Brief History Of The Victorian Era Dating Rituals
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45min
March 07, 2024 Mischievous Mongeese
Get your hands and feet ready everyone, this week Clara introduces Sabrina to her favourite weasel, Gef the talking Mongoose! In the early 20th century, the Isle of Man became the unlikely setting for one of the most perplexing paranormal phenomena in history. We delve into the first hand accounts of interactions with this strange ghost of a creature, and discuss what, or who, Gef really could have been, with some of the best quotes ever spoken by talking mongeese. Let us make our case on why you should join the cult of Gef!

Vanisheddddddddd……

See photos discussed in this episode on our instagram
Follow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!

SOURCES:
Atlas Obscura - The Bizarre, True Story of Gef the Talking Mongoose

Weird Historian - Things Said About the Talking Mongoose of the Isle of Man

Mental Floss - The Strange Story of Gef The Talking Mongoose

Wikipedia - Gef

University of Lodon School of Advanced Study - Christopher Josiffe
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54min
February 29, 2024 Misunderstood Unmentionables
In this episode, Clara tells Sabrina about Victorian undergarments. From crinolines to drawers, and chemises to petticoats, we'll undress the secrets of each undergarment and its role in shaping the silhouette of the era. Join us as we examine how these garments were worn, why they were necessary, and the surprising ways they influenced Victorian fashion. But wait, weren't all those layers unbearably hot? And why is it that vintage and antique clothes always seem so tiny? Listen to this episode to find out!

See photos discussed in this episode on our instagram
Follow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!

SOURCES:
Kate Tattersall - Early Victorian Undergarments Part 1

Vintage Dancer - Victorian Stockings, Socks, Hosiery, Tights & History

Lancaster History - How Victorian Women used the Privy in Multiple Layers of Clothing

Historical Sewing - Passionate About Petticoats

Recollections - The Victorian Skirt – from Petticoats to Bustle: Part 1

Wardrobe Shop - THE COMPLEX HISTORY OF HOOP SKIRTS

Victoria and Albert Museum - Corsets, crinolines and bustles: fashionable Victorian underwear

Victorian Underwear - The Victorian Gentleman Undressed

Sustainable Rookie - Your Clothes Are Probably Made Of Plastic: What Fabrics To Avoid

Victoria and Albert Museum - Collections
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37min
February 22, 2024 Controversial Corsets - Part 2
In part 2 covering corset controversy, we dive deeper into the history of corsets. Clara tells Sabrina about their role in maternity wear, children's corsets, and the evolving dynamics of gender and fashion. We also cover the propaganda that men used to claim corsets were harmful, in response to the growing Suffragette movement. We explore the multifaceted reasons behind the shift away from corsets, acknowledging women's agency and the broader cultural shifts that influenced fashion choices.

See photos discussed in this episode on our instagram
Follow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!

VIDEO MENTIONED:
How Victorian Men Taught Us to Hate Corsets: The Biggest Lie in Fashion History

SOURCES:
Lemelson Mit - Mary Jacob Brassiere

The Wildcat Tribune - The history behind corsets: how a piece of clothing sparked controversy, criticism and empowerment

NEXUS - Effects of Long Term Corseting on the Female Skeleton: A Preliminary Morphological Examination

Wikipedia - Corset controversy

Lancaster History - Make No (Whale)Bones About It: Debunking those Corsetry Myths

MD History - Victorian Image of Pregnancy through Corsetry

TWO NERDY HISTORY GIRLS - Teeny Tiny Corsets

Lives & Legacies - Stay Informed About Historical Undergarments

Victoria and Albert Museum - Collections (Photos)

Katherine Sewing - I Wore a Corset During my Entire Pregnancy and Here's What I Learned

Fashion History Timeline - 1800-1809

Smithsonian Magazine - What ‘Bridgerton’ Gets Wrong About Corsets

Lara Corsets - About anti-corset propaganda....
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50min
February 15, 2024 Controversial Corsets - Part 1
This episode, Clara can no longer contain her corset knowledge! She tells Sabrina about the intricate history of corsets, and debunks the myths surrounding these iconic garments. Contrary to popular belief, corsets were not always the suffocating torture devices depicted in period dramas. In fact, they served a multifaceted purpose in Victorian society, offering support, shaping silhouettes, and even promoting better posture.

See photos discussed in this episode on our instagram
Follow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!

VIDEO MENTIONED:
I Grew Up in a Corset. Time to Bust Some Myths.

SOURCES:
Victoria and Albert Museum Collections

Lemelson Mit - Mary Jacob Brassiere

Messy Nessy - Men Wore Corsets, History Says

The Wildcat Tribune - The history behind corsets: how a piece of clothing sparked controversy, criticism and empowerment

NEXUS - Effects of Long Term Corseting on the Female Skeleton: A Preliminary Morphological Examination

Wikipedia - Corset controversy

Lancaster History - Make No (Whale)Bones About It: Debunking those Corsetry Myths

Lives & Legacies - Stay Informed About Historical Undergarments

Victoria and Albert Museum - Collections (Photos)

Fashion History Timeline - 1800-1809

Smithsonian Magazine - What ‘Bridgerton’ Gets Wrong About Corsets

Lara Corsets - About anti-corset propaganda....

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43min
February 08, 2024 Spiritualism: A Fox-y Beginning
This episode, Clara takes Sabrina on an exploration of the origins of Spiritualism and the remarkable story of the Fox sisters. Join us as we uncover the intriguing events that sparked a movement and forever changed the way we perceive the afterlife! Discover how the Fox sisters' alleged ability to communicate with the spirit world captured the public imagination, leading to the emergence of Spiritualism—a movement centred around the belief in the continuity of consciousness after death and the possibility of communication with the departed.

See photos discussed in this episode on our instagram
Follow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!

SOURCES:
Wikipedia - Fox sisters

Wikipedia - Spiritualism (beliefs)

Thecanadianencyclopedia.ca - Spiritualism

Smithsonian Magazine - The Fox Sisters and the Rap on Spiritualism

Center for Inquiry - A Skeleton’s Tale:The Origins of Modern Spiritualism

Friendsofdalnavert.ca - GABBING WITH GHOSTS: THE FOX SISTERS AND THE RISE OF SPIRITUALISM

The New Yorker - Why Did So Many Victorians Try to Speak with the Dead?

A Magician Among the Spirits - Harry Houdini

Medium.com - As Long As What You’re Saying Is True

ABC News - Psychic Who Said Amanda Berry Was Dead Silent After Berry Is Found Alive
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1h 13min
February 01, 2024 Dyeing For Green
Clara tells Sabrina about the vibrant green hue that took Victorian society by storm, adorning everything from wallpapers to dresses. But behind the allure of this captivating colour was a chilling tale of deception, danger, and death.

See photos discussed in this episode on our instagram
Follow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!

SOURCES:
Crosscut - Arsenic: Victorians' secret
Smithsonian Magazine - In Ancient Rome, Purple Dye Was Made from Snails
Racked.com - The History of Green Dye Is a History of Death
The Paris Review - Scheele’s Green, the Color of Fake Foliage and Death
Wikipedia - Scheele's Green
American Duchess - A Little History of Arsenic Green
Historic UK - Poison Panic
Wikipedia - 1858 Bradford sweets poisoning
Darthmouth Toxic Metals - The Facts on Arsenic
The Atlantic - When Poison Was Everywhere
Wikipedia - Carl Wilhelm Scheele
National Library of Medicine - Arsenic in medicine: past, present and future
Global Founders London - Dangerous Beauty: A Short History of Hazardous Cosmetics and Natural Alternatives
Wikipedia - Marie Lafarge
King 5 - This Washington study might make you think twice about your makeup choices
The Guardian - Elon Musk was once an environmental hero: is he still a rare green billionaire?
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1h 3min
February 01, 2024 Mummies as Medicine and Merriment
Clara takes Sabrina into the bizarre world of Victorian mummy unwrapping parties, and unearth the strange ways in which mummies were used in the 1800's. We discuss how ground-up mummies found their way into Victorian paintings, fertilizer, and even medicine.

See photos discussed in this episode on our instagram.
Follow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!

SOURCES:

A Bit About Britain - Periods in History
Historic UK - Kings and Queens of England & Britain
Wikipedia - Mummies of Guanajuato
National Geographic - These Mexican mummies draw crowds and controversy
Ksat.com - Origins of Mexico’s mysterious mummy museum and Day of the Dead connection
Travels with Talek - THE MUMMIES OF GUANAJUATO, MEXICO: SCREAMING CORPSES BURIED ALIVE
Ripleys - MUMMY UNWRAPPING PARTIES OF THE VICTORIAN ERA
Medium - The Victorians Were Mad for Mummies
Anchient Origins - Romans Drank Gladiator Blood as an Epilepsy Cure!
National Geographic - The gory history of Europe’s mummy-eating fad
Britannica - 7 Surprising Uses for Mummies
Burials & Beyond - The Weird World of Mummy Parties
The Conversation - Why did people start eating Egyptian mummies? The weird and wild ways mummy fever swept through Europe
Lapham's Quarterly - A Brief History of Medical Cannibalism
Wikipedia - Mummia
Dig It With Raven - We Used To Eat Mummies?!
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54min

FAQs about Conjuring Curiosities:

How many episodes does Conjuring Curiosities have?

The podcast currently has 61 episodes available.