Ever wonder how Japanese tattoos went from sacred symbols to signs of crime—and back again? Grab your matcha and settle in, because we’re diving deep (and painfully) into the history of Yakuza tattoos. From ancient fishermen warding off sea monsters to the full-body masterpieces of Edo Japan, this episode of For the Love of History gets under your skin—literally.

TK takes us on a wild ride through Japan’s criminal ink, exploring the ancient roots of irezumi, the artistry behind traditional hand-tapped tattoos, and how Japan’s obsession with “purity” turned body art into a mark of shame. Spoiler: chisels were involved. (Yes, chisels.)

You’ll learn how:

Ancient fishermen believed tattoos could protect them from giant man-eating fish 🐟

Edo-era criminals were branded with tattoos as punishment

The Yakuza transformed those same marks into breathtaking full-body art as a badge of loyalty and endurance

Ukiyo-e artists shaped the style, color, and symbolism of Japanese tattoo design 🎨

The Meiji government banned tattooing in a bid to appear “civilized” to the West

And one daring pathologist preserved tattooed skin to save this outlawed art for future generations (gross but fascinating!)

By the end, you’ll never look at a dragon-and-tiger tattoo the same way again.

💡 Big Takeaway:

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What if surfing wasn’t just a sport—but a sacred form of healing, power, and rebellion led by women? 🏄‍♀️✨

In this archive episode of For the Love of History, we’re diving into the ancient Hawaiian origins of surfing, uncovering how it began not as a beach pastime but as a deeply spiritual practice rooted in Polynesian tradition. From volcano goddess Pele, the world’s first surfer, to Princess Kelea of Maui, who surfed her way to freedom, we explore the legendary surfing medicine women of Hawaii—women who used the waves as both therapy and resistance.

Discover how:

Surfing (nalu) was a religious ritual in pre-contact Hawaii 🌊

Women, not men, were the first to master and teach surfing 🩵

Surfing was used to heal sickness, heartbreak, and even death

Colonialism tried to erase these women’s stories—and how their legacy still lives on

Join us as we ride the waves of mythology, medicine, and feminist power through the history of Hawaiian surf culture. This episode is part myth, part history, and 100% proof that women have always ruled the waves. 🌴

🌺 Hawaii Peoples Fund 🌺

hawaiipeoplesfund.org

Historians of traditional Hawaiʻi

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Happy Spooky Season, dear one! This week, in our Season 11 Finale, we are exploring a question that has been on my mind for quite some time. What is the history of Halloween costumes?! 🎃 👻 When October 1st hits, my FYP gets flooded with creepy vintage photographs of Halloween’s gone by. They are honestly nightmare fuel, and every time I see one, I wonder, "Why are they so gosh darn creepy?!" That question led me down a path of 2,000 years of costume history, and against my better judgment, some Victorian Halloween History.

In this episode, we'll explore:

👻 The history of Halloween costumes

🫀 The origin of Halloween

🎃 Why vintage Halloween costumes are so creepy

🧟 The evolution of the Halloween costume

💀 How seriously the Victorians took Halloween

So what are you waiting for?! Let's get our spooky on and learn all about Halloween history, and maybe you can get some Halloween historical costume inspiration

💙💛History BFF Census💙💛

✨ If you enjoyed this episode and want to watch how I made the Victorian witch costume, you can head over to Patreon to watch the full creation vlog!

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#halloweenhistory #halloween #costumehistory #historyofhalloween #victoriancostumes #halloweencostumes

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In this powerful episode of For the Love of History, we travel through time to uncover the history of breast cancer — from ancient Egyptian surgery manuals and Hippocrates’ wild “humor” theories to the modern breakthroughs that save lives today.

Host TK shares the deeply personal story of her best friend’s diagnosis and remission, explores how breast cancer appeared in Renaissance art, and highlights women who changed how we see the disease — from Audre Lorde’s The Cancer Journals to trailblazing researchers like Dr. Jane Wright.

With humor, empathy, and the occasional swear, this episode reminds us that while the past was often brutal, the present is full of hope — and the future even brighter.

✨ You’ll learn:

How the ancient Egyptians documented breast cancer 3,000 years ago.

Why Renaissance paintings might be hiding medical secrets.

How Audre Lorde fought stigma and redefined survivorship.

The amazing modern advancements changing breast cancer treatment today.

💗 Support breast cancer research: All proceeds from Bad Bitches Cry merch go to MetaViva and metastatic breast cancer nonprofits.

⁠metavivor.org

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In this powerful episode of For the Love of History, we travel through time to uncover the history of breast cancer — from ancient Egyptian surgery manuals and Hippocrates’ wild “humor” theories to the modern breakthroughs that save lives today.

Host TK shares the deeply personal story of her best friend’s diagnosis and remission, explores how breast cancer appeared in Renaissance art, and highlights women who changed how we see the disease — from Audre Lorde’s The Cancer Journals to trailblazing researchers like Dr. Jane Wright.

With humor, empathy, and the occasional swear, this episode reminds us that while the past was often brutal, the present is full of hope — and the future even brighter.

✨ You’ll learn:

How the ancient Egyptians documented breast cancer 3,000 years ago.

Why Renaissance paintings might be hiding medical secrets.

How Audre Lorde fought stigma and redefined survivorship.

The amazing modern advancements changing breast cancer treatment today.

💗 Support breast cancer research: All proceeds from Bad Bitches Cry merch go to MetaViva and metastatic breast cancer nonprofits.

metavivor.org

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Ever wonder how cats went from desert hunters to divine house gods? In this episode of For the Love of History, host TK digs her claws into the fascinating history of cats — from their mysterious beginnings in the Fertile Crescent to their worship in ancient Egypt and beyond.

Meet Bastet, the Egyptian goddess of cats who went from lioness warrior to goddess of home, music, and pleasure. Sail down the Nile to the ancient city of Bubastis, where people once threw wild festivals in her honor (think: ancient Coachella with more fur and fewer rules).

Then, follow the whiskers east to Japan to meet Maneki Neko, the lucky cat statue that isn’t Chinese at all, but a beloved Japanese symbol of prosperity with a legend that began during the Edo period.

You’ll also meet Crimean Tom, a war hero tabby who saved lives during the Crimean War, and Tomiu, the first-named cat in recorded history — a fur baby so loved that she received her own limestone sarcophagus.

Whether you’re a lifelong cat devotee or just tolerate your feline overlord’s 3 a.m. zoomies, this episode will convince you that cats have always been — quite literally — divine.

You’ll Learn:

When and where cats were first domesticated (hint: not Egypt!)

Why Bastet ruled ancient Egypt as both warrior and nurturer

The real history behind Japan’s beckoning Maneki Neko

The heroic and heartwarming tales of real-life historical cats

As Carl Van Vechten wrote in The Tiger in the House, “I do not wonder that some people love cats. I am only surprised that all people do not love cats.”

After this episode, you might just agree.

🐾 Love what you heard?

💌 Support the “Bad Bitches Cry” fundraiser or join Patreon for exclusive content like the Thai Cat Poem Collection bonus episode

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Step aside, Gregorian chants—there’s a new nun in town. In this episode of For the Love of History, we uncover the wild, visionary life of Hildegard von Bingen, the 12th-century nun who defied expectations to become a composer, mystic, healer, and all-around medieval rock star.

You’ll hear how Hildegard went from being entombed in a convent as a child to dropping musical bangers that shook up church music, writing radical medical texts on women’s health (yes, she even touched on abortion in the 1100s!), and preaching across Europe well into her 60s.

From her dazzling visions to her groundbreaking music to her bold writings on medicine and women’s health, Hildegard wasn’t just holy—she was revolutionary. And she proves that sometimes the most unexpected women in history leave the loudest echoes.

✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Who was Hildegard von Bingen and why she still matters

How her visions transformed medieval mysticism

Why her music broke rules and made her one of the first recognized female composers in history

Her surprising work in medicine and women’s health

How Hildegard became a symbol of women in medieval history who refused to stay silent

If Hildegard could go on tour in her 60s, you can definitely hit that subscribe button! Don’t miss more stories of women in history who bent the rules, rewrote the script, and changed the world.

📚 Resources here! 📚

https://www.fortheloveofhistorypod.com/episodes

🌟 Want to Support the Podcast?! Join us over on Patreon 🌟

Key words: Hildegard von Bingen, Hildegard von Bingen music, Hildegard von Bingen visions, medieval women in history, first female composer, Hildegard von Bingen medicine, history of women in medicine, women in church history.

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Step aside, Gregorian chants—there’s a new nun in town. In this episode of For the Love of History, we uncover the wild, visionary life of Hildegard von Bingen, the 12th-century nun who defied expectations to become a composer, mystic, healer, and all-around medieval rock star.

You’ll hear how Hildegard went from being entombed in a convent as a child to dropping musical bangers that shook up church music, writing radical medical texts on women’s health (yes, she even touched on abortion in the 1100s!), and preaching across Europe well into her 60s.

From her dazzling visions to her groundbreaking music to her bold writings on medicine and women’s health, Hildegard wasn’t just holy—she was revolutionary. And she proves that sometimes the most unexpected women in history leave the loudest echoes.

✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Who was Hildegard von Bingen and why she still matters

How her visions transformed medieval mysticism

Why her music broke rules and made her one of the first recognized female composers in history

Her surprising work in medicine and women’s health

How Hildegard became a symbol of women in medieval history who refused to stay silent

If Hildegard could go on tour in her 60s, you can definitely hit that subscribe button! Don’t miss more stories of women in history who bent the rules, rewrote the script, and changed the world.

📚 Resources here! 📚

https://www.fortheloveofhistorypod.com/episodes

🌟 Want to Support the Podcast?! Join us over on Patreon 🌟

Key words: Hildegard von Bingen, Hildegard von Bingen music, Hildegard von Bingen visions, medieval women in history, first female composer, Hildegard von Bingen medicine, history of women in medicine, women in church history.

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Pharmacy didn’t start with white coats and sterile counters—it began with beer, clay tablets, and a lot of very questionable ingredients.

In this episode of For the Love of History, we dive into the weird, messy, and fascinating history of pharmacy. From Neanderthals using flowers as medicine to the Egyptians prescribing crocodile dung in the Ebers Papyrus, the path to your neighborhood drugstore is packed with strange detours.

We’ll explore how our ancient ancestors shaped pharmacology with herbs and magic, why the gods were involved in medicine, and how Hippocrates sparked a medical revolution. Finally, we'll explore some of the oddest remedies you'll find in history's medicine cabinet!

Pharmacy history is full of odd cures, magic, and surprising innovations. By the end of this episode, you’ll never look at a prescription the same way again.

👉 Support For the Love of History on Patreon to keep the weirdest corners of history alive!

🌟 Calm History⁠ 🌟

Try the new podcast, Calm History: ⁠www.calmhistory.com

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What do crocodile poop, crushed beetles, and whale brain goo have in common? They’ve all been smeared across human lips in the name of beauty.

In this episode of For the Love of History, we dive into the wild, weird, and dangerous history of lipstick—from 5,000-year-old lip pigments in Iran to Cleopatra’s sparkling carmine concoctions, Roman crocodile dung gloss, Mayan beetle rouge, and Martha Washington’s questionable whale spermaceti balm.

But it’s not just gross ingredients. Lipstick has been outlawed as witchcraft, weaponized as a feminist symbol, and even accused of making pacts with the devil. From ancient Sumer to the Catholic Church to World War II lipstick feminism, this tiny cosmetic has carried big cultural meaning.

✨ Tune in to learn:

The world’s oldest lipstick discovery (and what color it was).

Why the Romans imported crocodile dung for beauty products.

How Cleopatra made her signature lip color sparkle.

The Catholic Church’s claim that lipstick = pact with Satan.

Lipstick’s role in feminism and protest movements.

By the end, you’ll never look at your favorite lip kit the same way again.

💄 Whether it’s status, seduction, survival, or resistance, lipstick has always been more than makeup—it’s a mirror of history itself.

👉 If you love weird women’s history, feminist icons, and the scandalous side of beauty culture, make sure to follow For the Love of History and leave a review!

Want to support the Podcast!?! Here's how you can!!

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