What do Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke and Japanese yokai have in common? A whole lot of wild spirits, messy gods, and deeper cultural roots than you might think.

In this episode of For the Love of History, we dive into the myth and magic behind Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpiece. From the terrifying boar demons to the haunting kodama, Princess Mononoke isn’t just fantasy—it’s drawing on centuries of Japanese yokai folklore, Shinto beliefs, and the eternal clash between nature and industry.

We’ll explore:

🌟 How yokai and kami inspired Ghibli’s most iconic creatures.

🌟 Why the Forest Spirit feels straight out of Shinto myth.

🌟 Lady Eboshi, San, and the complicated women of Mononoke.

🌟 The historical context of Japan’s Muromachi period and its spiritual anxieties.

🌟 What Princess Mononoke teaches us about living with (and fighting against) nature.

✨ Whether you’re a die-hard Ghibli fan, a yokai nerd, or just love history told through animation, this episode will change the way you watch Princess Mononoke.

🌟 Calm History⁠ 🌟

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

♥️ Want to support FTLH?! Check out Patreon! ♥️

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Keywords: Studio Ghibli, Princess Mononoke, yokai folklore, Japanese mythology, Shinto spirits, Ghibli history, women in Ghibli, Lady Eboshi, San Princess Mononoke, history podcast

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What happens when a troll on the internet calls you a “bleached hippo”? You make it your brand.

After my first viral video came with its fair share of hate comments, one insult changed everything—it sparked my love affair with hippos. Today, that pettiness has come full circle as we dive into the myth, magic, and chaos of the Egyptian hippo goddesses Ammit and Taweret.

In this episode of For the Love of History:

How one hate comment turned into a hippo tattoo and this episode.

The truth about Ammit, the so-called “devourer of hearts” who wasn’t evil but essential to cosmic balance.

The power of Taweret, the pregnant hippo goddess who protected mothers and babies through amulets, wands, and prayers.

The dangers of hippos in everyday Egypt (yes, they really were deadly).

Why Marvel’s Moon Knight got these fierce goddesses all wrong.

The emotional reality of life, death, and survival for women in ancient Egypt.

🌟 Calm History 🌟

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

✨ Don’t forget: rate, review, and share the podcast so more history nerds can join the hippo cult—ahem club.

www.fortheloveofhistorypod.com

Keywords: Egyptian mythology, Ammit goddess, Taweret goddess, hippo goddesses, Egyptian underworld, women in ancient Egypt, history of childbirth, history podcast

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Was Queen Ranavalona I really the “Mad Queen of Madagascar”… or just a brilliant ruler smeared by colonial propaganda?

In this episode of For the Love of History, we dive headfirst into one of the most misunderstood figures in African history—and it gets spicy. Queen Ranavalona has long been labeled a tyrant, a murderer, even a monster. But when you follow the paper trail (and by paper, we mean wildly biased missionary records), it becomes clear that the real madness was colonialism.

You’ll hear about:

The actual history behind her so-called reign of terror

How Eurocentric historians rewrote her legacy with a misogynist, colonialist pen

Her fight to protect Malagasy sovereignty during the height of European imperialism

And why context is everything when judging historical figures (especially women)

So grab a bevvy, hop in the time machine, and prepare to rethink everything you thought you knew about Queen Ranavalona I.

👑 Was she ruthless? Sure. But was she wrong? That’s up for you to decide.

Key Moments

00:00 – Intro: Rewriting the Story of Queen Ranavalona I

03:30 – Colonial Myths vs. Historical Truth

10:00 – How Ranavalona Took Power (and Why It Matters)

16:00 – Her Own Words: The Queen’s Letter to Europe

22:00 – The Fight for Sovereignty and Cultural Survival

29:00 – What Happened After She Died

33:00 – Final Thoughts: She Wasn’t Mad—She Was Misrepresented

📚 Find Resources Here 📚

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Ever been killed by coffee? Poisoned by pepper? Drowned by molasses?!

In this delightfully unhinged episode of For the Love of History, we're diving into the sticky, deadly, and downright absurd world of food disasters in the early 1900s. From lead-laced milk to spice-rack murder, we explore how everyday foods became instruments of death — all thanks to lack of regulation, industrial negligence, and profit-hungry robber barons.

🎙️ You’ll learn about:

The horrific ingredients hiding in 1900s food (hello, formaldehyde coffee!)

Why the Great Molasses Flood of 1919 turned Boston’s North End into a syrupy war zone

How molasses killed 21 people and the industrial greed behind it

The real reason the FDA even exists (spoiler: it wasn’t to help you)

And yes, the Dublin Whiskey Fire of 1875, aka flaming boot whiskey that killed 13 drunk dudes

This episode is part true crime, part food safety horror story, and 100% historically bonkers. If you love weird history, food disasters, and a sarcastic trip through the past — this one’s for you.

📌 Chapters

🧭 Keywords

Great Molasses Flood 1919, food disasters 1900s, Boston molassacre, industrial accidents history, molasses tank explosion, historical food safety, dangerous food history, robber barons, Dublin Whiskey Fire, history of the FDA

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Ever felt so angry you could summon a lion-riding goddess with eight arms? Same. In this fiery episode of For the Love of History, we’re diving headfirst into the blistering mythologies of Durga and Kali—the Hindu goddesses of war, protection, destruction, and yes… unapologetic feminine rage.

TK unpacks why these powerful deities shatter the Western ideal of the “demure mother goddess,” and instead offer us a vision of womanhood that embraces chaos, power, and divine vengeance. From Ashura-slaying sagas to blood-soaked epiphanies, this is the episode to tap into your inner rage monster—for righteous reasons, of course.

Along the way, we also chat about the origins of goddess worship, comic books that decolonize history, and the question we all need to ask ourselves: What would Kali do?

📚 Resources Mentioned

⁠Open Source Comic: Durga⁠

⁠Article on Amar Chitra Katha’s Cultural Impact⁠

Join our free-tier Patreon for chats, bonus content, and ad-free episodes!

🎧 Call to Action

If you loved unleashing your metaphorical fire today, don’t forget to:

Subscribe to For the Love of History

Rate & Review us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Join us on Patreon for more goddess energy, sleepy history episodes, and behind-the-scenes goodies!

🔥 Let your rage be righteous. Let your history be herstory.

🧠 Keywords:

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Ever felt so angry you could summon a lion-riding goddess with eight arms? Same. In this fiery episode of For the Love of History, we’re diving headfirst into the blistering mythologies of Durga and Kali—the Hindu goddesses of war, protection, destruction, and yes… unapologetic feminine rage.

TK unpacks why these powerful deities shatter the Western ideal of the “demure mother goddess,” and instead offer us a vision of womanhood that embraces chaos, power, and divine vengeance. From Ashura-slaying sagas to blood-soaked epiphanies, this is the episode to tap into your inner rage monster—for righteous reasons, of course.

Along the way, we also chat about the origins of goddess worship, comic books that decolonize history, and the question we all need to ask ourselves: What would Kali do?

📚 Resources Mentioned

Open Source Comic: Durga (Link to be added)

Article on Amar Chitra Katha’s Cultural Impact (Link to be added)

Join our free-tier Patreon for chats, bonus content, and ad-free episodes!

🎧 Call to Action

If you loved unleashing your metaphorical fire today, don’t forget to:

Subscribe to For the Love of History

Rate & Review us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Join us on Patreon for more goddess energy, sleepy history episodes, and behind-the-scenes goodies!

🔥 Let your rage be righteous. Let your history be herstory.

🧠 Keywords:

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In this episode of For the Love of History, we dive into the dark and little-known history of the American Plan—a government-led campaign that led to the wrongful arrest, forced medical exams, and sterilization of thousands of women under the guise of “public health.”

Follow the story of Nina McCall, an 18-year-old girl caught in this web of injustice, and discover how race, class, and gender shaped who got targeted—and who fought back.

📚 Inspired by The Trials of Nina McCall by Scott Stern.

Keywords: American Plan, women’s history, forced sterilization, Nina McCall, eugenics, reproductive rights, hidden history

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Think Cinderella started with Disney? Think again. In this episode of For the Love of History, we’re diving deep into the ancient, magical, and sometimes slightly ridiculous world of fairy tales — and we’re going way past the Brothers Grimm.

✨ You’ll hear the oldest fairy tale ever recorded (hint: it involves the devil and a blacksmith), learn why stories like Beauty and the Beast and Jack and the Beanstalk are 4,000+ years old, and find out what ancient Egypt, medieval France, and Bronze Age China all have in common with your favorite bedtime stories.

We’ll also:

Whether you’re a folklore nerd, Disney skeptic, or just wondering why fairy tales won’t die — this episode is for you.

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Welcome to Season 11! In this episode, we’re diving into the truth behind Atlantis—no glowing crystals or ancient aliens here. Just mythology, philosophy, pseudoscience, and a wild detour into Nazi occultism (yep, really).

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Was Red Sparrow just a steamy spy thriller—or was it based on something real? In this episode, we dive deep into the Cold War’s most seductive secret: Russia’s alleged Sparrow School, where young agents were allegedly trained in sexpionage to seduce and spy on targets across the globe.

From blackmail, honey traps, and sparrows in sexy lingerie to real operations that reached as far as the Obama administration (allegedly 👀), this episode uncovers the history behind the world’s most infamous spy seduction school.

🔑 What You’ll Learn

What Sparrow School was and how it (allegedly) operated

How sexpionage became a Cold War weapon

The infamous case of Maurice Dejean and a “people liquidator”

Famous sparrows like Anna Chapman and Soviet opera stars

Why sex, spies, and power are still dangerously connected today

Based near Kazan, Sparrow School allegedly trained spies in seduction, blackmail, and emotional manipulation

Both men and women were trained—despite LGBTQ+ identities being criminalized in the USSR

Honey traps were used to turn diplomats and ambassadors into informants

Modern intelligence agencies still warn about Russian “sparrows” on dating apps today

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Subscribe & leave a review

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Share this episode with your James Bond-loving friend or your Tinder date (👀)

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