EUROPHILE

Coucou everyone!

A Flamenco dancing, exiled Spanish noble (hmm?) who could charm the lederhosen off of kings - Lola Montez was a force to be reckoned with on-and-off the stage. We'll discuss her life story as a young girl from Ireland who finds her way to India, Germany, and beyond, leaving waves of controversy in her wake. Cat then tells us about the Irish Famine roads and their importance to Irish history. We cry, we laugh we take notes. Join us as we discuss the wild, wild, Lola Montez.

Main topic sources:

Another Mag: Lola Montez

Brittanica: Lola Montez

Irish Biography: Lola Montez

Lola Montez - Uncrowned Queen of Bavaria

Mini topic sources:

The Famine Roads of Ireland: Pathways to Nowhere 

Along the Famine Road

Poor Relief (Ireland) Act 1838 - Wikipedia

Kate's recommendation: Young Sherlock (2026)

Catherine's recommendation: "The Wind That Shakes the Barley," (2006) directed by Ken Loach

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Cover art and logo by Kate Walker

Mixed and edited by Catherine Roehre

Theme song by Lumehill

Thank you all - ciao!

Coucou everyone!

Catherine shares how a love for jazz and swing music turned a group of teens from fans into resistance members in Nazi Germany - and they called themselves the Swingjugend. To this day, jazz and swing symbolize freedom of expression, non-conformism, liberalism, independence, and internationalism, and that is exactly what these music genres symbolized to the Swing Youth. Then Kate shares the history behind the iconic German beer stein. Prost!

Main topic sources:

"Swing Heil": Swing Youth, Schlurfs, and others in Nazi Germany | The National WWII Museum | New Orleans 

Germany’s Real-Life “Swing Kids” - JSTOR Daily

The Anti-Nazi Teen Gang that Beat Up Hitler Youth and Danced to Jazz

Cultural Opposition in Nazi Germany: the Swingjugend 

The Edelweiss Pirates and the Swing Kids: Rejecting Nazism

Swingjugend - Wikipedia

Mini topic sources:

Steincenter

German Steins

Kate's recommendation: How to Get to Heaven from Belfast (Netflix)

Catherine's recommendation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Lover by Marguerite Duras

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Cover art and logo by Kate Walker

Mixed and edited by Catherine Roehre

Theme song by Lumehill

Thank you all - ciao!

Coucou everyone!

It's not a bag, It's a baguette!

Four generations of women comprise the Fendi legacy. Starting from a little leather goods and fur atelier in Rome, by a single woman who turned it into a multinational luxury fashion house and household name. Let's learn this week about the history of Fendi! We go a little more south on the Italian boot and visit Sicily and learn about the history of the cannoli. Vai! Andiamo! Off to Italy we go <3

Main topic sources:

WWD: Fendi History

Glam Observer: The History and Evolution of Fendi⁠

Another Mag: Fendi Sisters

System Magazine: It's Not a Bag, It's a Baguette

The History of Italian Fashion: Fendi

Mini topic sources:

Sicilian seduction: do you know the secret history of cannoli? | National Geographic

Cannoli - Wikipedia 

Kate's recommendation: The Night Manager TV Series (Prime)

Catherine's recommendation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love & Other Disasters (2006) dir. by Alek Keshishian

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Cover art and logo by Kate Walker

Mixed and edited by Catherine Roehre

Theme song by Lumehill

Thank you all - ciao!

Coucou everyone!

A mystery grounded in fact, Cat tells the story of the mythically wealthy alchemist, polyglot, musician, scientist, philosopher, and artist - the Comte de Saint-Germain. A friend to Marie-Antoinette, Volatire, Casanova, Mozart, and several kings, he was rumored to be hundreds of years old. Kate also shares the history and meaning behind the king cake - laissez les bons temps rouler!

Main topic sources:

The Life and Times of an Immortal Alchemist

Comte de Saint-Germain | Mystic, Alchemist, Occultist | Britannica 

Count of St. Germain - Wikipedia

Mini topic sources:

King Cake

Visit Lake Charles: King Cake

Kate's recommendation: The Piano Teacher Film (2001)

Catherine's recommendation: ⁠⁠⁠Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

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Cover art and logo by Kate Walker

Mixed and edited by Catherine Roehre

Theme song by Lumehill

Thank you all - ciao!

Coucou everyone!

In this episode we dive into the previously unknown histories of Black people living in Tudor England. Members of court, musicians, sex workers, adventurers, seamstresses, and even a deep-sea diver - their stories play a deeply important part of English history! Then we chat about a London icon - the black cab. Apologies in advance for going off the rails this episode - we are just so happy to be back!

Main topic sources:

Black Tudors: the Unknown Story 

Tudor, English and black – and not a slave in sight | Black History Month | The Guardian

The Black Presence in Tudor England - The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Ladies of Spayne

We have always been: a black Tudor story 🎬 — an upcoming film by PhD student Candace Scarborough

Mini topic sources:

History Hit: The History of the London Black Cab

All Cars with John Youtube: A Far Too Brief History of The London Black Cab

Kate's recommendation: Heated Rivalry (If you're late to this, just watch it!!)⁠

Catherine's recommendation: ⁠Outrageous (2025) - series about the Mitford sisters (listen to Episode 51 of the pod to learn more)

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Cover art and logo by Kate Walker

Mixed and edited by Catherine Roehre

Theme song by Lumehill

Thank you all - ciao!

Coucou everyone!

From faeries to selkies, Ireland is not one to shy away from the more mystical beliefs. The Irish believe The Cure is a sacred honor to have and in the responsibility to share and help heal the inflicted. The Cure can come in several forms; from a learned ritual, an acquired power, or a passed down familial privilege. The end is the same - to cure. For the mini, Cat tells us about he origins of the iconic Aran sweater. So pour yourself a pint, and let the healing in Ireland commence - don’t forget, Guinness is good for you!

Main topic sources:

RTE - The strange world of Irish folk cures, herbal remedies and faith healers

Medium - Old Irish Cures

Cures of Ireland: A Treasury of Irish Folk Remedies by Cecily Gilligan.

Mini topic sources:

Our History - The Story Of Aran

History of the Aran Sweater

Kate's recommendation: Italian Marble Journals⁠

Catherine's recommendation: Greek mountain tea

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Cover art and logo by Kate Walker

Mixed and edited by Catherine Roehre

Theme song by Lumehill

Thank you all - ciao!

Coucou everyone!

Europhile is 5 years old! We are so lucky to have this space, and to learn and share together - we are raising our coupes to many more episodes, experiences, and to growing this beautiful community that we cherish <3

We are back from our summer holiday in Greece, so humor us as we re-live Athens and the islands, life-changing food, unforgettable sights, and our bountiful shopping hauls. Then we chat what we've been reading and watching this summer. Let us know what you've been consuming!

Islands we travelled to: Sifnos, Folegandros, Milos

Honorable mention restaurants: Athens - Stani, Manari, Diporto, Taverna Oikonomou, Atlantikos; Sifnos - Loggia, Cantina; Folegandros - Irene's, Spina, O Psaromiligkas

Our favorite traditional Greek dishes and drinks we enjoyed (that were new to us): fava (pureed yellow split peas), eggplant imam, chorta, spoon sweets, kolokithopita (zucchini pie), portokalopita (orange cake), Fix beer with sea salt, freddo espresso/cappuccino

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Cover art and logo by Kate Walker

Mixed and edited by Catherine Roehre

Theme song by Lumehill

Thank you all - ciao!

Coucou everyone!

Before we step out on our 2 month vacanza, would you like to take a stroll through the gardens with us? More specifically, some French and English gardens in the 17th and 18th centuries? How capital! We explore the fads of the French - geometric garden beds, perfectly manicured trees, and man's triumph over nature, as well as the more romantic preferences of the Brits - winding paths, secret nooks, and faux-historic buildings. Kate then shares the Palestinian history behind the British tea time delicacy - the Jaffa cake. Free Palestine <3

Please donate to Palestinian families in need if you are able via Operation Olive Branch

Main topic sources:

French formal garden - Wikipedia 

The french formal garden - Gaia Ferro Forgiato

French Garden (The) | EHNE

HISTORY OF IDEAS - French & English Gardens

History of English Gardens - brief overview from Mike Bogatyrev

English landscape garden - Wikipedia

French Garden vs. English Garden: Which Is for You? | Airtasker US

Before the Garden Gnome, the Ornamental Hermit: A Real Person Paid to Dress like a Druid - Atlas Obscura

Mini topic sources:

JP McMahon: Jaffa Cakes: An Oblique History

Jaffa Cakes- Definitely not biscuits

Kate's recommendation: Akub - Palestinian restaurant, London

Catherine's recommendation: Victoria Beckham contour stylus

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Cover art and logo by Kate Walker

Mixed and edited by Catherine Roehre

Theme song by Lumehill

Thank you all - ciao!

Coucou everyone!

You’ve heard the Disney versions — but the original tales? Not quite the same. In this episode of Europhile, we dive into the haunting, bizarre, and surprisingly spiritual world of Hans Christian Andersen. From a mermaid who gives everything up and turns into sea foam, to a thumb-sized girl nearly forced to marry a mole, to a mysterious Snow Queen who’s more misunderstood than evil - these are not the stories you thought you knew. No happy endings. Just heartbreak, symbolism, and some of the darkest plots in European fairy tale history. Catherine then tells us about the Scandiavian concept of Logam. Listen now for a fairytale reframe you won’t forget!

Main topic sources:

Hans Christan Andersen's Fairy Tales

Mini topic sources:

Lagom: The Swedish Work-Life Balance Philosophy 

Lagom - Wikipedia

Kate's recommendation: Italian orzata/Latte di Mandorla syrup

Catherine's recommendation: Pimm's cup

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Cover art and logo by Kate Walker

Mixed and edited by Catherine Roehre

Theme song by Lumehill

Thank you all - ciao!

Coucou everyone!

Happy (belated) Pride! Let's chat about the iconic and controversial (to say the least) writer, journalist, actress, and mime - Colette. Whether it was causing a riot for kissing a woman on-stage at the Moulin Rouge, writing novels about women living under the patriarchy, or pioneering the face lift, Colette did things her own way. Kate then shares the history and etiquette of the delightfully cute French custom - la bise. Bisou bisou!

Main topic sources:

Colette: The most beloved French writer of all time

The Brilliance of Colette, a Novelist Who Prized the Body Over the Mind | The New Yorker

Colette at 150: why the scandalous 20th-century writer remains a revered literary figure in France

Colette - French Women & Feminists in History: A Resource GuideColette Revolutionized French Literature With Her Depictions of Female Desire

Colette | French Writer & Feminist Icon | Britannica

Merci, Colette: How the Legendary French Author Continues to Inspire

⁠Colette - Wikipedia⁠⁠

Mini topic sources:

Dimensions France: La Bise

Combien de Bise

My French Country Home

Kate's recommendation: "Thank You, Next" (2024) Turkish show on Netflix

Catherine's recommendation: Camille Aubray's novels

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Cover art and logo by Kate Walker

Mixed and edited by Catherine Roehre

Theme song by Lumehill

Thank you all - ciao!