History Is Sexy

By History Is Sexy

What's History Is Sexy about?

History is Sexy is a podcast presented by historian Dr Emma Southon and writer Janina Matthewson answering listener questions about history. What did the Romans do for us? Where did marrying for love come from? What was world war one all about? Produced and edited by Oliver Kealey. Theme music by Ketsa.

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History Is Sexy episodes:

04.19.2024
Episode #86 - Napoleon III
How big of a dickhead was Napoleon III, anyway?
03.30.2024
Episode #85 - What Did The Romans Eat?
Dormice? Sow's Uterus? What on earth did the Romans eat? Join Emma and Janina for a culinary odyssey through the world of Roman Food.
02.21.2024
Episode #84 - Badass Saints
Who are some of the most badass saints? What were their lives like? What's a "desert father"? Find out all of this and more!
02.06.2024
Episode #83 - The Borgias
The most devious, murderous cut-throat family of renaissance Italy.. or misunderstood victims of slanderous propaganda? Emma and Janina take a look at one of Italy's most infamous families, their rise, and fall.
01.24.2024
Episode #82 - What Makes The Dark Ages "Dark"?
... and were they really so dark? Listener survey link: https://forms.gle/78wMyX42uQvpHf1Y8 Show notes: https://historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-82-what-makes-the-dark-ages-dark
12.20.2023
Episode #81 - History is Rexy! Anne Boleyn (feat. Rex Factor)
Graham and Ali from Rex Factor are here and we're talking about England's most consequential Queen Consorts, and all the skulduggery she got up to! ⚠ Listener survey! ⚠ We want to get to know our wonderful audience (that's you) a little...
11.30.2023
Episode #80 - What's The Deal With Empress Elisabeth?
Willkommen in Österreich! Emma is joined by History Is Sexy producer and Austria Correspondent Oliver to have a look at a story that's captured Austrian hearts for a hundred years, the life of Empress Elisabeth. ⚠ Listener survey! ⚠ We want to...
11.15.2023
Episode #79 - The Ptrouble With Ptolemys - Part 2! (Feat. HR Owen)
Emma is joined by HR Owen once again to discuss the most dramatic family in Classical Egypt! ⚠ Listener survey! ⚠ We want to get to know our wonderful audience (that's you) a little better, and find out how we can improve...
11.04.2023
Episode #78 - The Ptrouble With Ptolemys, Part 1 (feat. HR Owen)
Janina's on a bit of a break, but history never sleeps, so Emma is joined by acclaimed podcaster HR Owen for a deep dive into perhaps one of the most dramatic families in history, the Ptolemys. ⚠ Listener survey! ⚠ We want...
09.21.2023
Episode #77 - Why Is The UK "United"?
How did the various states that've existed on the British Isles/North Atlantic Archipelago coalesce, fracture, and coalesce over and over until it became the country we know today? A thousand years of history, all in just over an hour! ⚠ Listener...
09.06.2023
Episode #76 - The Story of Boudica
In 60CE, Boudica, Queen of the Iceni, led a violent uprising of unprecedented scale that tore across the southeast of Britannia, burning London and shocking the Roman world. But what's the real story? Was she real? Was she a literary...
08.16.2023
Episode #75 - On Debutantes, Balls, and "The Season"
Put on your gown and get ready to enter high society, as Emma and Janina walk you through the bizarre world of Debutantes, Balls, and "The Season"
07.28.2023
Episode #74 - What's The Deal With Matriarchal Societies In History?
This time, Dr Emma Southon and Janina Matthewson take a deep dive into matriarchal societies in classical and pre-history, did they really exist?
07.04.2023
Episode #73 - Caligula (1979)
Caligula is a 1979 film made by pornographers, starring Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren, Sir John Gielgud, and Peter O'Toole. It's also completely bananas. Join Emma (seen it dozens of times) and Janina (not seen it before) as they discuss this...
06.08.2023
Episode #72 - What Was So Great About Alexander?
And why was he so special?
05.25.2023
Episode #71 - What's the Deal with Wild Children?
Emma and Janina investigate the mystery of wild children, and whether any of them were actually raised by olves.
05.10.2023
Episode #70 - When Did Men's Clothes Get So Boring?
What's "The Great Masculine Renunciation?" Who was Beau Brummell? Why are men's clothes so boring now?
04.26.2023
Episode #69 - What's The Deal With Vikings, Part 2
Emma and Janina are back behind the mast of the longship! This time, we're discussing sagas, eddas, and other various mythological titbits. www.historyissexy.com
04.13.2023
Episode #68 - What's the Deal with Vikings, Part 1
We're back, and better than ever! This time, Emma and Janina will be answering a few questions about everyone's favourite nordic seafaring pirate raiders, the Vikings! Were the Vikings the ISIS of the 9th century? Were the Vikings criminal outcasts from...
08.29.2022
A Small Update
A quick update to promise you that we are not dead and encourage you to stop giving us money. Please stop giving us money until 2023! <3
05.26.2022
Episode #67 - Why Do We Think The Victorians Were Prudes?
Where did the idea that Victorians were all repressed weirdos come from? Is it true? Did they cover their piano legs for modesty? What's going on? Show notes and links and get in contact at www.historyissexy.com
02.03.2022
Episode #66 - Did the Illuminati Cause the French Revolution?
Who were the Illuminati? Did they cause revolutions all over the world, or were they just a bunch of nerds? Are philosophers to blame for everything? And did the French make books out of the skins of those they guillotined?...
01.13.2022
Episode #65 - What's the History of Petra?
What's the history of Petra? Why was it considered lost for so long? Why aren't Bedouin people allowed to live there any more, and other things colonialism has ruined. Show notes at https://historyissexy.com/
11.25.2021
Episode #64 - What's the History of Alchemy?
This week we explore the weird and wonderful world of alchemy, from ancient China to Isaac Newton. Show notes https://historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-64-whats-the-history-of-alchemy
10.28.2021
Episode #63 - "Did A Girl From Cork Become a Moroccan Empress?" And Other Stories
People who's lives turned out to involve things no one could have predicted. Show notes: historyissexy.com/show-notes/cqcz3d5vh0ftaryie0kdkbw8s5ht7g
10.14.2021
Episode #62 - Where Did The Idea Of Human Rights Come From?
*Reuploaded* This episode we talk political philosophy, chaos, revolutions and war crimes and the messy path to human rights theory. Show notes, merch and contact form at www.historyissexy.com
09.30.2021
Episode #61 - Did Jesus Really Exist?
Did a real human man called Jesus actually live and was he really crucified or did the church make the whole thing up? Show notes: https://historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-61-did-jesus-really-exist
09.02.2021
Episode #60 - How Smelly Was the Past?
Was the past stinky? Were medieval peasants covered in poo like Monty Python? Did people really piss out of windows like in Blackadder? Were the streets of medieval London rivers of animal guts and dung? Or were the people of...
08.19.2021
Episode #59 - How Big a Dickhead Was Oliver Cromwell?
We debate Oliver Cromwell and whether, massacres and puritanism aside, he was really such a bad guy. Show notes at historyissexy.com/show-notes/0pd9rhjo7tx1caqc6baqevdinck1y3
08.05.2021
Episode #58 - Were the Amazons Real?
Was there really an all female tribe of warrior women in the ancient world? Did they cut off one boob? Why would they do that? Emma and Janina discuss the evidence. Show notes: https://historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-58-were-the-amazons-real
07.22.2021
Episode #57 - History's Greatest Escapes
The greatest escapes in history, or; how we learned the most tried and true escape methods. Show notes and merch available at https://historyissexy.com/
07.08.2021
Episode #56 - What's The History of Timbuktu?
A continuation of the last episode on Arabic libraries and centres of learning, today we visit West Africa and learn how Timbuktu became a focus of Islamic scholarship and learning. Show notes historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-56-whats-the-history-of-timbuktu
06.24.2021
Episode #55 - Arabic Libraries
We talk about the great libraries of Baghdad and Cordoba. Includes a truly thrilling escape story that for some reason hasn't had a big budget HBO series made about it? Show notes and merch available at historyissexy.com/
06.10.2021
Episode #54 - What's the History of Malta?
Sieges, sieges and more sieges! Turns out there's more to Malta than just seiges, but there are a lot of them. Janina and Emma discuss knights, crusades, mother goddesses and endless, interminable wars. Show notes and links at www.historyissexy.com
05.20.2021
Episode #53 - Ra Ra Rasputin Part III
The final part of our Rasputin series features Boney M, Anastasia, and Rasputin's alleged dick! Show notes and merch available at https://historyissexy.com/
05.06.2021
Episode #52 - Ra Ra Rasputin, Part II
In part two of our Rasputin series, we talk about actual Rasputin! His life, his death, and our new favourite historical personage, his murderer. Show notes and merch available at https://historyissexy.com/.
04.22.2021
Episode #51 - Ra Ra Rasputin, Part I
It's a series! Part one of a three part look at that cat that really was gone, Rasputin. Show notes and merch available at https://historyissexy.com/.
04.08.2021
Episode #50 - The History of Banned Clothing (And Underwear)
*reupload to fix sound problems at the start!* This week, Emma and Janina talk about clothing laws, colonialism and pants! Show notes, contact details and merch are at www.historyissexy.com
03.25.2021
Episode #49 - What's The History Of Birth Control?
This week, Janina and Emma discuss the ways in which people mostly people with uteruses) prevented pregnancy in the past! Content warnings for miscarriage, abortion and a lot of horrible things gong into vaginal canals! For show notes and merch, see...
03.08.2021
Episode #48 - History's Greatest Poisons
Emma and Janina talk all things poison and unexpected methods of poisoning people throughout the ages. Sources at https://historyissexy.com/
11.16.2020
Episode #47 - The History of Pets
This time Emma and Janina take a look at the history of pets, where did dogs come from? Why were cats persecuted in the middle ages? What were the favourite pets of the Romans?
09.17.2020
Emma's Book Launch Live Episode
Emma's new book is OUT NOW! To celebrate the launch of A Fatal Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, we had a lovely Live Episode/Q&A event. Here is the unedited audio recording for you to listen to at...
09.14.2020
Live Episode Announcement! 17th September 7pm
Emma has a book out so we are having a live episode (on zoom) for free and we invite you to join us! Register here (for free) https://bit.ly/3itHqxb
09.11.2020
Episode #46 - How Long Has The Idea of Extraterrestrial Beings Existed?
06.06.2020
Episode #45 - The History of Wrestling
That's right folks, this time Emma and Janina step into the ring to examine the surprising history of everyone's favourite grappling-based sports entertainment, wrestling!
04.01.2020
Episode #44 - Women's Suffrage in New Zealand/Countess Markievicz/Switzerland
It's a three-in-one this time as Emma and Janina tackle three questions, all on the theme of Women's suffrage! Why did New Zealand grant universal suffrage so early? Who was the *real* first woman MP? Why is Switzerland so weird? Sources: https://historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-44-womens-suffrage Janina's Musical:...
03.16.2020
Episode #43 - Redheaded History
Join Emma and Janina as they take a look at the topic of redheads in history, and why something as simple as a hair colour has been consequential for so many people. Sources: https://historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-43-red-headed-history
02.13.2020
Episode #42 - More Quick Questions!
We're back! This time Emma and Janina tackle some quicker listener questions! Sources: https://historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-42-more-short-questions
12.08.2019
Episode #41 - Who Were The Coolest Women In Rome After 68CE?
We're back! This time we're taking a deep dive into the stories of the coolest Roman women from after 68CE! www.ko-fi.com/hispod www.twitter.com/sexyhistorypod Sources: https://historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-41-coolest-roman-women
10.17.2019
Episode #40 - Were Pirates Communists?
Yo ho me hearties! We're back with another swashbuckling episode for all you landlubbers. Emma and Janina answer another burning question: Were pirates communists? Did they also occasionally get married to each other? Just how good were they anyway? Sources: https://historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-40-were-pirates-really-communists

What's History Is Sexy about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

History Is Sexy episodes:

Episode #86 - Napoleon III

Episode #85 - What Did The Romans Eat?

Episode #84 - Badass Saints

Episode #83 - The Borgias

Episode #82 - What Makes The Dark Ages "Dark"?

Episode #81 - History is Rexy! Anne Boleyn (feat. Rex Factor)

Episode #80 - What's The Deal With Empress Elisabeth?

Episode #79 - The Ptrouble With Ptolemys - Part 2! (Feat. HR Owen)

Episode #78 - The Ptrouble With Ptolemys, Part 1 (feat. HR Owen)

Episode #77 - Why Is The UK "United"?

Episode #76 - The Story of Boudica

Episode #75 - On Debutantes, Balls, and "The Season"

Episode #74 - What's The Deal With Matriarchal Societies In History?

Episode #73 - Caligula (1979)

Episode #72 - What Was So Great About Alexander?

Episode #71 - What's the Deal with Wild Children?

Episode #70 - When Did Men's Clothes Get So Boring?

Episode #69 - What's The Deal With Vikings, Part 2

Episode #68 - What's the Deal with Vikings, Part 1

A Small Update

Episode #67 - Why Do We Think The Victorians Were Prudes?

Episode #66 - Did the Illuminati Cause the French Revolution?

Episode #65 - What's the History of Petra?

Episode #64 - What's the History of Alchemy?

Episode #63 - "Did A Girl From Cork Become a Moroccan Empress?" And Other Stories

Episode #62 - Where Did The Idea Of Human Rights Come From?

Episode #61 - Did Jesus Really Exist?

Episode #60 - How Smelly Was the Past?

Episode #59 - How Big a Dickhead Was Oliver Cromwell?

Episode #58 - Were the Amazons Real?

Episode #57 - History's Greatest Escapes

Episode #56 - What's The History of Timbuktu?

Episode #55 - Arabic Libraries

Episode #54 - What's the History of Malta?

Episode #53 - Ra Ra Rasputin Part III

Episode #52 - Ra Ra Rasputin, Part II

Episode #51 - Ra Ra Rasputin, Part I

Episode #50 - The History of Banned Clothing (And Underwear)

Episode #49 - What's The History Of Birth Control?

Episode #48 - History's Greatest Poisons

Episode #47 - The History of Pets

Emma's Book Launch Live Episode

Live Episode Announcement! 17th September 7pm

Episode #46 - How Long Has The Idea of Extraterrestrial Beings Existed?

Episode #45 - The History of Wrestling

Episode #44 - Women's Suffrage in New Zealand/Countess Markievicz/Switzerland

Episode #43 - Redheaded History

Episode #42 - More Quick Questions!

Episode #41 - Who Were The Coolest Women In Rome After 68CE?

Episode #40 - Were Pirates Communists?