A philosopher walks into a palace—no, really. This week on History For Weirdos, we follow Plato from the Academy to the armored court of Syracuse, where his friend (and insider) Dion bets that good ideas can tame bad power. Meet the Elder-and-Younger Dionysius tag team, a fortress-city built for paranoia, and a very risky plan to educate a ruler into a philosopher-king—shadowed the whole time by the (contested) Seventh Letter and its “this is how it went down” vibe.

When ideals hit palace politics, bodies hit the floor. We track Dion’s return with mercenaries, the siege of Ortygia, and the assassination that blew up the reform—then zoom out to how the fiasco re-wired Plato’s own politics, from the starry-eyed Republic to the more legalistic, “second-best” Laws. Come for the philosopher-king experiment; stay for the receipts, the betrayals, and the uncomfortable lesson about teaching power to think.

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IG/Threads: @historyforweirdos

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠historyforweirdos.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Sources for this week:

Plutarch, Life of Dion

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Lives_of_the_Eminent_Philosophers/Book_III

https://classics.mit.edu/Plato/seventh_letter.html

https://ndpr.nd.edu/reviews/the-pseudo-platonic-seventh-letter/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/philosopher-king

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/plato-ethics-politics/

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In this week’s episode we crack open the glittering shell of HBO’s The Gilded Age to meet the real women who inspired its most delicious plotline: America’s “dollar princesses.” When cash-poor British dukes needed money and nouveau-riche American dynasties wanted pedigree, transatlantic marriages became a booming business deal—with Consuelo Vanderbilt as the era’s most famous case. Pushed by her formidable mother, Alva, Consuelo wed the 9th Duke of Marlborough in 1895, her immense dowry shoring up an old title while she wept behind the veil. No season spoilers here, but we’ll trace how families like the Vanderbilts (think: the inspiration behind the Russells) turned railroad fortunes into aristocratic alliances—and why those unions were anything but fairy tales.

We zoom out to the bigger picture Twain skewered as “gilded”: skyscrapers, electricity, and unimaginable wealth set against sweatshops, strikes, and Jim Crow repression. Within that contradiction, these brides were not just bargaining chips. Consuelo built hospitals, championed education and wartime relief, and later supported women’s suffrage; others—Jennie Jerome, Mary Leiter Curzon, and Nancy Astor—leveraged titles into political and social influence that outlasted their marriages.

From the Commodore’s $100 ferry to Blenheim Palace’s balance sheets, this is a story about how money tried to buy class—and how the women at the center of it sometimes rewrote the terms. It’s the strange, uncomfortable, and relentlessly entertaining heart of the Gilded Age: duty versus desire, spectacle versus reality, and the unexpected power of women who refused to stay ornamental.

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Thank you for listening Weirdos! Show the podcast some love by rating & subscribing on whichever platform you use to listen to podcasts.

Your support means so much to us. Let's stay in touch 👇

Email: [email protected]

IG/Threads: @historyforweirdos

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠historyforweirdos.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Sources for this week:

https://historyfacts.com/us-history/article/gilded-age-dollar-princesses/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consuelo_Vanderbilt

https://www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/2014/07/14/the-vanderbilts-how-american-royalty-lost-their-crown-jewels/

https://www.vogue.com/article/consuelo-vanderbilt-marriage-the-gilded-age-fact-vs-fiction

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In this special collab episode, Andrew dives deep into the fascinating life and military career of one of America's most legendary—and controversial—generals, George S. Patton. From his early exploits hunting Pancho Villa in Mexico, to his pioneering work in tank warfare during World War I, and his legendary leadership in World War II, Patton's aggressive tactics and fiery personality made him both revered and reviled. Andrew meticulously explores Patton’s triumphs, infamous controversies—including the soldier-slapping incidents—and his clashes with U.S. leadership during the tense post-war occupation of Germany.

But the weirdness doesn't stop there! In the second half of the episode, Danielle from the Rabbit Hole: Conspiracy Theories podcast (check them out on Spotify here) joins the show to investigate the strange circumstances surrounding Patton’s mysterious death on December 21, 1945. Was the car accident that ended Patton’s life really just a tragic coincidence, or was there something darker at play? Danielle shares the most intriguing theories and unexplained details, making this an episode you definitely don't want to miss.

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Thank you for listening Weirdos! Show the podcast some love by rating & subscribing on whichever platform you use to listen to podcasts.

Your support means so much to us. Let's stay in touch 👇

Email: [email protected]

IG/Threads: @historyforweirdos

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠historyforweirdos.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Sources for this week:

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In this episode of History For Weirdos, we dive into one of the most bizarre conflicts in medieval history: the War of the Bucket. Set in 14th-century northern Italy, this seemingly ridiculous war between the city-states of Modena and Bologna is famously said to have started over a stolen wooden bucket—yes, a bucket. But as we peel back the layers, we uncover a much deeper story rooted in political rivalries, ideological warfare between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, and centuries of escalating tensions that finally exploded into open battle in 1325.

We explore how this short but brutal war culminated in the Battle of Zappolino, where Modena, despite being outnumbered, outmaneuvered Bologna in a decisive victory that left thousands dead and one wooden bucket as the war’s most enduring trophy. Along the way, we unpack the roles of major figures like Passerino Bonacolsi, Pope John XXII, and Cardinal Bertrand du Pouget, and examine how the absurdity of this conflict masks serious lessons about human pride, political symbolism, and the irrational causes of war. This is history at its weirdest—and most revealing.

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Thank you for listening Weirdos! Show the podcast some love by rating & subscribing on whichever platform you use to listen to podcasts.

Your support means so much to us. Let's stay in touch 👇

Email: [email protected]

IG/Threads: @historyforweirdos

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠historyforweirdos.com⁠⁠⁠

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Sources for this week:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Bucket

https://allthatsinteresting.com/war-of-the-bucket

https://www.historynet.com/what-we-learned-from-the-battle-of-zappolino-1325/

https://historyfacts.com/world-history/fact/war-of-the-bucket/

https://oddfeed.net/the-war-of-the-bucket-when-two-italian-city-states-fought-over-a-pilfered-pail/

https://www.historicmysteries.com/videos/war-of-the-bucket/39131/

https://www.slashlore.com/war-of-the-bucket-1325/

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Queen Christina of Sweden (King Christina?) wasn’t your typical monarch—she was crowned as a child king, educated like a prince, and swiftly turned Sweden into Europe’s unexpected cultural powerhouse. Fluent in multiple languages and a patron to thinkers like René Descartes, Christina shook up her court by rejecting marriage, embracing religious tolerance, and openly expressing love for noblewoman Ebba Sparre, scandalizing conservative 17th-century society. But just when everyone thought they'd figured her out, Christina shocked the continent once again by abdicating the throne and converting from Lutheranism to Catholicism—a dramatic move that echoed across Europe.

Yet, stepping down didn’t stop Christina from dreaming big. After her reign in Sweden, she ambitiously eyed not one, but two other crowns—Naples and Poland. Her adventurous (and controversial) plots ultimately fizzled, but her determination never did. Queen Christina spent her remaining years in Rome, hosting intellectual salons and accumulating vast collections of art and literature, leaving behind a legacy that defies categorization. Join us this episode as we dive into the remarkable life of Christina: queen, king, rebel, and above all, a true royal Weirdo.

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Thank you for listening Weirdos! Show the podcast some love by rating & subscribing on whichever platform you use to listen to podcasts.

Your support means so much to us. Let's stay in touch 👇

Email: [email protected]

IG/Threads: @historyforweirdos

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠historyforweirdos.com⁠⁠

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Sources for this week:

Encyclopedia Britannica – “Christina (queen of Sweden)” britannica.com/biography/Christina-queen-of-Sweden

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Catholic Encyclopedia (1913) 

Video: History Tea Time with Lindsay Holiday - Queen Christina of Sweden

Video: Kristina the Girl King of Sweden: A Historical Profile by Jessica Kellgren-Fozgard

Wikipedia

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You asked, we answered! In this special Q&A episode, we’re diving into the weird, the wild, and the wonderfully random questions submitted by you—our beloved Weirdos. From revealing our favorite historical time periods to sharing some truly spicy hot takes, we’re pulling back the curtain and giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the minds behind the mic.

But that’s not all—we’re also answering the most unexpected, hilarious, and off-the-wall questions that had us cracking up mid-recording. Whether you’ve been with us since the early days or just joined the Weirdo crew, this episode is our way of saying thank you for being part of our strange little corner of the internet. So buckle up for a chaotic ride through time, opinions, and a whole lot of laughter!

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Thank you for listening Weirdos! Show the podcast some love by rating & subscribing on whichever platform you use to listen to podcasts.

Your support means so much to us. Let's stay in touch 👇

Email: [email protected]

IG/Threads: @historyforweirdos

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠historyforweirdos.com⁠

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Before ancient Egypt captivated Hollywood and inspired Art Deco masterpieces, a forgotten boy-king named Tutankhamun lay hidden beneath desert sands for more than three millennia. This week on History For Weirdos, we explore the short but impactful life of King Tut—from ascending the throne at just eight years old to his mysterious and debated death at eighteen. We also dive into the chaotic legacy left by his father’s radical religious experiment, and how this young Pharaoh helped restore Egypt’s ancient traditions.

But Tut’s story doesn’t end in the ancient past. In 1922, archaeologist Howard Carter and his patron Lord Carnarvon made a groundbreaking discovery, opening Tutankhamun’s nearly intact tomb and revealing priceless treasures that astonished the world. Yet, amid the global excitement emerged whispers of a deadly "Pharaoh’s Curse"—mysterious deaths, strange coincidences, and sensational headlines followed. Join us as we separate fact from fiction, examine recent scientific theories, and uncover how this discovery sparked “Tutmania,” transforming archaeology, global tourism, and pop culture forever.

Grab your excavation gear, fellow Weirdos, and step into one of history’s greatest mysteries: the discovery and enduring fascination with Pharaoh Tutankhamun!

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Get History For Weirdos merch ⁠here⁠!

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Thank you for listening Weirdos! Show the podcast some love by rating & subscribing on whichever platform you use to listen to podcasts.

Your support means so much to us. Let's stay in touch 👇

Email: [email protected]

IG/Threads: @historyforweirdos

Website: ⁠⁠⁠historyforweirdos.com⁠

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Sources for this week:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tutankhamun

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tutankhamun

https://www.pbs.org/articles/king-tutankhamun-life-death-family

https://www.biography.com/royalty/king-tut

https://www.ees.ac.uk/resource/tutankhamun.html

https://www.history.com/articles/king-tut-death-mystery

https://nypost.com/2024/04/27/lifestyle/king-tuts-mysterious-pharaohs-curse-solved-scientists-claim/

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Howard-Carter-Tutankhamun/

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/the-discovery-of-king-tuts-tomb

https://www.historytoday.com/archive/months-past/tutankhamuns-curse

https://books.google.com/books?id=hbQyUOLxa1wC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

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In this episode of History For Weirdos, Stephanie take a deep dive into the life of Elizabeth Cochran Seaman, better known by her fearless pen name, Nellie Bly. Born in rural Pennsylvania in 1864, she punched her ticket out of small-town life with nothing but grit, charm, and a typewriter. We trace her journey from broke journalist pounding out articles in Pittsburgh to her bold decision to feign insanity and storm New York City’s notorious Blackwell’s Island asylum. Along the way we uncover the societal constraints she shattered just by daring to dream of a world where women could write, investigate, and shake the very foundations of big institutions.

The heart of the story centers on Bly’s ten-day immersion in the asylum, where she endured starvation rations, filthy conditions, and the whims of guardians more interested in profit than people. Armed only with her wits and a small notebook, she chronicled abuses that would later spark one of the first major reforms in America’s mental health system. We break down her tactics for slipping past the front desk, her brush-ups with fellow patients and unhinged staff, and the explosive exposé that thrust her into the national spotlight. It’s a gripping reminder that good reporting can be as dramatic as any stage show.

In our final act we follow Bly’s globe-circling adventure that saw her beat Phileas Fogg’s fictional record and become the first woman to travel around the world alone in 72 days, all while drawing headlines and challenging gender norms. We also explore her later life as a war correspondent covering the Spanish-American War and her surprising pivot into industrial innovation, including a steam boiler patent that saved lives. By the end you’ll see how Nellie Bly’s restless curiosity and unbreakable spirit turned every assignment into an adventure, and why her legacy still inspires journalists and weirdos alike to chase the next big story.

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Thank you for listening Weirdos! Show the podcast some love by rating & subscribing on whichever platform you use to listen to podcasts.

Your support means so much to us. Let's stay in touch 👇

Email: [email protected]

IG/Threads: @historyforweirdos

Website: ⁠⁠historyforweirdos.com

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Sources for this week:

Kroeger, Brooke. Nellie Bly: Daredevil, Reporter, Feminist. Times Books, 1994.

Indiana University of Pennsylvania Archives (Nellie Bly educational history and records)

PBS American Experience: Nellie Bly

Library of Congress Digital Collections: Nellie Bly Collection

Ten Days in a Mad-House (1887) by Nellie Bly

Around the World in Seventy-Two Days (1890) by Nellie Bly

The Nellie Bly Collection (compiled editions available via Project Gutenberg and Internet Archive)

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In the heart of Tombstone, Arizona, a gunfight erupted that would echo across history, but the real story of the O.K. Corral is far messier, bloodier, and weirder than the Hollywood versions let on. This week, we dive deep into the tangled web of grudges, rivalries, and outright chaos that led to one of the most infamous shootouts of the American Wild West.

But the O.K. Corral wasn’t the end, it was just the beginning. In this episode, we unravel the bloody aftermath: the revenge killings, the manhunts, and the myth-making that would turn Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday into reluctant legends. We’ll explore how a dusty frontier town became the backdrop for a brutal power struggle, and why the real Tombstone story is far stranger (and far sadder) than you were ever taught.

So holster up, Weirdos! This isn’t your sanitized Wild West. This is Tombstone’s Bloody Reckoning.

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Thank you for listening Weirdos! Show the podcast some love by rating & subscribing on whichever platform you use to listen to podcasts.

Your support means so much to us. Let's stay in touch 👇

Email: [email protected]

IG/Threads: @historyforweirdos

Website: ⁠historyforweirdos.com

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Have you ever wondered what RoboCop has in common with Renaissance paintings and ancient Roman orators? In this epic episode of History For Weirdos, your hosts Andrew and Stephanie sit down with the legendary actor, historian, and fellow Weirdo Dr. Peter Weller. From his iconic role as RoboCop to his scholarly passion for Italian Renaissance art, Weller takes listeners on a whirlwind adventure through history, art, and pop culture, proving he’s a true Renaissance man himself.

Join us as we explore why Giotto di Bondone isn't just another painter: he's a revolutionary artist whose innovations changed visual storytelling forever. Alongside tales from the set of RoboCop and insights into ancient Rome’s enduring impact on today's world, Weller seamlessly connects the dots between seemingly unrelated topics, revealing a universe where art, history, and science fiction collide. This episode isn't just a conversation, it's a journey through the delightfully strange intersections of human history & creativity.

You can get Dr Peter Weller's book, "Leon Battista Alberti" here!

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Thank you for listening Weirdos! Show the podcast some love by rating & subscribing on whichever platform you use to listen to podcasts.

Your support means so much to us. Let's stay in touch 👇

Email: [email protected]

IG/Threads: @historyforweirdos

Website: historyforweirdos.com

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