Lithium Jubilee

Episode 67 of Lithium Jubilee takes a look at the questionable decision-making skills of large crowds. Jon considers the consequences of banning a group’s only form of amusement in his discussion of the Lager Beer Riots. Erin ponders if the sky was, in fact, the limit due to the sheer number of riots caused by disappointing hot air balloon demonstrations. You know what they say: Big dresses, big emotions!

Today’s episode, Jon and Erin are lucky enough to be joined by tuberculosis expert, Kavita! She answers our most pressing questions: How does tuberculosis work? Is it the sexiest way to die? If so, how long are you DTF before you die? What treatments work? Will caves fix it? How about eating the heart of the family member who gave it to you? Take a couple of deep breaths, keep that sputum to yourself, and enjoy!

Minisode 17: Happy Halloween Jubilants! We know Halloween isn’t as fun this this year, so we carved a mini for you to enjoy! Jon’s got a couple of ideas for how to spend a more intimate holiday evening, while Erin’s costumes ideas are going straight from your ears to your vision board. Make sure you’ve got a surplus of salt and dead leaves so you can truly celebrate Halloween the Lithium Jubilee way!

The last full week of September is celebrated by the World Federation of the Deaf as International Week of the Deaf. We, belatedly, offer the stories of two aggressively Victorian gentlemen who didn’t need to hear to fight. Erin sets the stage for a biopic about badass, bare-knuckle pugilist James "Deaf" Burke. Jon explains why John Flournoy’s blows, delivered via academic journals and letters to the editor, never seemed to land. There’s nothing a mouth can say that these hands (or fists) can’t!

We made it to September! Lithium Jubilee celebrates this incredibly low bar by finding some fun September Victorian era events. (Spoiler Alert: The events are not fun.) Jon coaxes us to join him in the Mountain Meadows, all to lay hundreds of bodies at our feet. Erin introduces you to Emma Nutt and the cruel, sadistic practices related to her job as a...telephone operator? We’ve got surprises in store! Not good surprises, but surprises.

As Jon and Erin hole up in their respective shelters, perusing their Encyclopedia Victoriana, they couldn’t shake the feeling of deja vu. Then they realized, it was the news! Erin tries to make sense of America’s secular government holidays. Really, WTF Virginia? Jon shares his pandemic preferences, up to and including the hottest bacteriologist of the Victorian era (possibly of all time). Hunker down and remember, if the Victorians got through it, you can too!

Every so often, a political candidate comes in and dazzles the electorate. Then...they lose. Today’s episode shines a light on two of history’s lesser known Also-Rans. Jon elects Belva Lockwood, one of the first female candidates for president of the United States. Erin writes in Feargus O’Connor, an Irish Chartist whose party only lasted one election cycle. Special guest Dr. Pete tries to explain how the parliament works.

It’s St. Patrick’s day! Jon and Erin explore two of the least depressing facets of Victorian Ireland: Folklore and American celebrations! Erin breaks down some of the sillier myths documented in W.B. Yeats’ “Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry.” Jon fills us in on how some of the States paid tribute to the Emerald Isle. Don’t piss off any of the good people and remember, death is no escape from Lithium Jubilee!

Card Carrying Spinster Erin and “All the confirmed, none of the bachelor” Jon sift deeper into the shipwreck of singledom in their ongoing coverage of LEAP YEAR: hunting season. Erin relates to us some uncomfortably specific spinster lore, while Jon manages to find a couple of gents who let love guide them to shore. Jump in your diving suit, grab a couple pairs of gloves (mermaids have hands too), and come explore with us!