Queens Podcast

Hey, y'all! We are on summer break, so we asked our dear friends at Ancient History Fangirl to hook us up with a great episode for your listening pleasure. And they did not disappoint.

Ancient Rome was full of rich, ambitious social climbers in a cutthroat political environment—people who had enemies to get rid of, and deep pockets to pay for the service.

Poison assassins were in high demand—and one of the most notorious was a woman named Locusta the Poisoner. Learn her story--and get a crash course on poison and poisonings in the ancient world.

Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our Patreon, check out our merch store and follow us on Instagram!

Our awesome new intro music is thanks to @1touchproduction !

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Hey, y'all! Yes, we are on our summer break, but wanted to keep some content coming your way. So, here's an episode from our private Patreon feed from 2018 about three LGBTQ+ pioneers or... Pioneresses!

First up we're talking Christine Jorgensen, a trans trailblazer. Then, we'll jump to a badass bi actress from the Hollywood golden age that just did not give a single f*ck, Marlene Dietrich. And lastly, we can't really have a pride episode that doesn't dive into the life of the one and only Marsha P Johnson.

You can hear more from our Patreon feed here https://www.patreon.com/QueensPodcast

Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our Patreon, check out our merch store and follow us on Instagram!

Our awesome new intro music is thanks to @1touchproduction !

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We last left Christina as she was finally coming into her role as queen of Sweden. Join us as we get into the wild ride that is the rest of her life. And y'all. There is never a dull moment in this life.

Here are some sources we used to research this episode:

https://www.kungligaslotten.se/english/articles-movies-360/ulriksdal-palace/2018-04-13-historys-grandest-coronation-procession.html

https://headstuff.org/culture/history/queen-christina-of-sweden-lesbian-troublemaker/

https://www.jta.org/2020/03/06/global/europes-modern-anti-semitic-carnivals-are-carrying-on-a-centuries-old-tradition

https://www.romeing.it/women-saint-peters-basilica-vatican/

Want more Queens and/or ad-free episodes? Head to our Patreon.

Our awesome new intro music is thanks to @1touchproduction !

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Christina of Sweden, aka the Girl King, is one of the most famous monarchs of Sweden. Her memory lives in both fame and infamy. She was... complicated.

Is it a boy or a girl? Initially, Christina was mistaken for a male at birth, causing her Mom (Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg) to take some really drastic steps to communicate her frustration with her. But it wasn't all trauma. Dad (King Gustavus II Adolphus), on the other hand, loved and adored her and eventually had her educated and trained as a male heir would be, setting Christina up for success as the Queen of Sweden.

Christina of Sweden was a progressive woman of the people who fought for equality among her subjects, as best one could in the 1600s. She ended the 30-Year War with Poland that killed her father while having a romantic relationship with her female Bedfellow, a relationship still debated to this day. 

Pairs best with the Christina of Sweden Cocktail (we invented this one ourselves, and we love it! [00:02:00] for the recipe).

Queen Christina’s story includes:

Must listen Moments:

[00:23:00] He finally was like, look, you have a daughter. Apparently, what he said is, she's tricked us all. She's gonna be really clever. I love this about him. I love that. That is so cool. That is so refreshing that he was just like, this, this is my daughter.

[00:24:00] Yeah. Her mother, again, like her mother just resents her and it's just this bad look, so her mother may have. Tried to kill her once or twice. 

[00:55:30] I think they were definitely lovers. That's a Queen's podcast official statement - that we think they were lovers. A lot of people have speculation one way or the other, letters between the two survive, that feel like love letters.

A fun source we used:

https://headstuff.org/culture/history/queen-christina-of-sweden-lesbian-troublemaker/

Want more Christina of Sweden? Listen to part 2.

Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our Patreon, check out our merch store and follow us on Instagram!

Our awesome new intro music is thanks to @1touchproduction !

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Messy Messalina has not gone down in history with the tidiest reputation. In fact, we may even say her reputation is kind of messy.

Empress Messalina was the wife of Roman Emperor Claudius, who ruled from AD 41 to 54. She is infamous for her promiscuity and extravagance. But, was she really all that extra? Or did she just do what every single Roman man was doing? Messalina was born in AD 17 to a wealthy family and became a powerful influence on the Roman court during her brief reign. She was known for her love of luxury and excess, and was said to have engaged in extravagant parties and sexual liaisons with multiple partners.

Messalina aka Messy is the Roman empress with the nastiest reputation. But does she deserve it? TL;DR: we actually don't know, but probably not. But we can't wait to hear what you think. If you enjoyed this episode and want more trashy ancient Roman marriages, check out our Agrippina the Younger series. Here's part 1.

Some sources we used for this episode:

Digital commons

https://ancientromanhistory31-14.com/home/claudius/claudius-and-his-women/messalina/

https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/JuvenalSatires6.php#anchor_Toc282858857

Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our Patreon, check out our merch store and follow us on Instagram!

Our awesome new intro music is thanks to @1touchproduction !

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Madame de Montespan is most famous for being the longtime mistress of Louis XIV of France. Last episode we discussed how the queen of Versailles got there, but what happened once she was on top?

Our awesome new intro music is thanks to @1touchproduction !

Some sources we used:

https://partylike1660.com/francoise-athenais-de-rochechouart-de-mortemart-marquise-de-montespan/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgdmDURB--0&t=185s

https://www.historyextra.com/period/stuart/scandal-conspiracy-and-the-affair-of-the-poisons-inside-the-court-of-louis-xiv/

https://thisisversaillesmadame.blogspot.com/2015/12/madame-de-montespan-real-queen-of-france.html

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Born into bougie-ness via one of the oldest noble families in France, Francois-Athenais de Rochechouart de Mortemart (say that three times fast) felt right at home at court. Known for having a great sense of humor and voluptuous curves to boot, it’s no surprise she caught the eye of one of the biggest f-boys in history.  

But Franny didn’t always have her eyes set on Louis XIV and was actually married with a kid before she stole the role of his official mistress. Learn what led her to Louis’ bed, besides the not-so-secret entrance from the apartment he gave her, and mix up a French Martini to help set the scene. Combine an ounce and a half of raspberry vodka, half an ounce of Shaul, two ounces of cranberry juice, and then half an ounce of blackberry liqueur. A votre sante!  

In this episode, you’ll also hear:

Must-listen moments: 

[00:06:21] Her dad was a Duke and her mom was a lady in waiting to the current Queen Anne of Austria, so our girl knew life at court from a pretty young age.

[00:32:28] His brother-in-law Charles the Second of England…they both had a shitload of mistresses and Louis the 14th was called the Sun King during his reign, so he was fairly popular. And the same with Charles II, he brought Christmas back to England, so he was popular. 

[00:54:06] It was over the top of the palace…this was a huge passion project for Louis and subsequently a passion project for Madame de Montespan. They both wanted to expand Versailles and she actually even designed one of the fountains up there. 

Find out more about Madame de Montespan in Part 2!

Some sources we used:

https://partylike1660.com/francoise-athenais-de-rochechouart-de-mortemart-marquise-de-montespan/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgdmDURB--0&t=185s

Queens podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our Patreon, check out our merch store, and follow us on Instagram!

Our awesome new intro music is thanks to @1touchproduction !

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to another exciting episode of Queens Podcast, where we dive into the life of Amina of Zaria, a legendary figure in African history. Join hosts Katy and Nathan as they sip on a delicious Nigerian Chapman cocktail and recount the incredible story of a woman who defied the norms of her time.

Don’t miss this episode filled with historical intrigue, empowerment, and a little bit of fun. Whether you’re a history buff or just looking for an inspiring story, Amina of Zaria’s tale is sure to captivate you!

Time stamps:

00:00 Introduction and Nigerian Chapman Cocktail

01:44 Queen Amina's Historical Context

03:04 Amina's Early Life and Family

09:47 Amina's Rise to Power

16:35 Military Campaigns and Leadership

18:29 Amina Becomes Queen

24:26 Amina's Military Ambitions

26:25 Innovations in Warfare

30:25 Building Amina's Walls

34:28 Amina's Love Life and Legends

38:42 Amina's Legacy and Final Years

Some sources we used to research this queen:

Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our Patreon, check out our merch store and follow us on Instagram!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jadwiga of Poland is actually our first king to cover. Yup! It's a female king. And a child king at that. So, lots of familiar territory to cover such as #babiesdontneedjobs #babiesdontneedhusbands (tell your mom). However, we're also covering a lot of new ground in this latest episode. Jadwiga learned how to play her role as er... king. And she did it well! And to top it all off, she's a saint (her feast day is February 28th... just around the corner!).

Enjoy!

Our awesome new intro music is thanks to @1touchproduction !

Some cool sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O4lHhfIbK8

https://www.theroyalforums.com/40625-day-in-history-jadwiga-is-crowned-king-of-poland/

Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our Patreon, check out our merch store and follow us on Instagram!

Our awesome new intro music is thanks to @1touchproduction !

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you're a fan of British history, then you have Katherine Swynford to thank. She may be a Side Hustle, but her descendants were very much front and center. Katherine was born in total obscurity, but at one point was the highest-ranking woman in England. WOW. So little is actually known about her, but what we uncover is so cool.

Nathan pairs this episode with a spicy margarity while Katy pairs it with a virgin-cocktail as she wraps up dry January.

Some useful sources:

Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our Patreon, check out our merch store and follow us on Instagram!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices