Queens Podcast

Eleanor of Aquitaine is back, and apparently this woman is never going to be allowed to retire.

After supporting her sons’ rebellion against Henry II, Eleanor spends nearly 16 years as her husband’s prisoner. But when Henry dies and her favorite son, Richard the Lionheart, becomes King of England, Eleanor is finally free and more powerful than ever.

In Part 3, we’re getting into Eleanor’s imprisonment, Richard’s reign and the Third Crusade, the absolutely enormous ransom required to bring him home, and Eleanor repeatedly stepping in to hold the Plantagenet family together. And just when she thinks she can finally retire, her sons find yet another way to ruin her plans.

In this episode:

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Eleanor of Aquitaine is officially done with Louis VII, and she wastes absolutely no time moving on.

Just eight weeks after her annulment, Eleanor marries the much younger Henry, Duke of Normandy, who soon becomes King Henry II of England, making Eleanor a queen for the second time.

In Part 2, we’re getting into Eleanor and Henry’s massive Angevin Empire, their rapidly growing family (seriously, so many babies), and Eleanor’s life as Queen of England and Duchess of Aquitaine. But between Henry’s mistresses, the murder of Thomas Becket, and their increasingly ambitious sons, this royal family is headed straight for disaster.

In this episode:

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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!

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We’re kicking off Eleanor of Aquitaine with family scandal, an enormous inheritance, a reluctant monk-king husband, and one of the biggest military disasters of the Middle Ages. You know, normal medieval queen stuff.

Born into the wealthy and powerful Duchy of Aquitaine, Eleanor became one of the most eligible heiresses in Europe while she was still a teenager. Before long, she was married to Louis VII and crowned Queen of France. Unfortunately, Eleanor and Louis could not have been more different.

In Part 1, we’re getting into Eleanor’s unconventional childhood, her marriage to Louis VII, her rocky introduction to the French court, a family scandal that turns into an actual war, and Eleanor’s infamous journey on the Second Crusade. By the time she returns to France, her marriage is hanging by a thread, and Eleanor is ready for an annulment.

And trust us: becoming the ex-Queen of France is only the beginning of Eleanor’s story.

In this episode:

Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please get in touch with [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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We’re back with Part 2 of our Elisabeth of Austria series, also known as Sisi. In this episode, we pick up where we left off as Elisabeth transforms from a reluctant teenage empress into a restless global icon. We follow Sisi across Europe as she searches for freedom and identity, attempting to escape the pressures of court life, her marriage to Emperor Franz Joseph, and her strained relationships with her children. We also explore her deep connection to Hungary and the surprising political influence she wields there, which ultimately helps reshape the Austro Hungarian Empire through the Hungarian Compromise.

This episode discusses grief, including the Mayerling Incident, as well as potentially triggering topics such as eating disorders. Listener discretion is advised. Alongside the tragedy, we also dive into the fashion, beauty rituals, and public image that helped turn Sisi into a legend. In the end, this is the story of a complicated, fascinating queen who never stopped searching for purpose.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and language warning

01:26 Recap of Elisabeth's Early Life

02:15 Sisi's Struggles and Escape

03:12 Life on the Island of Madeira

05:55 Return to Austria and Continued Struggles

11:27 Haircare and Language Lessons

27:12 Relationship with Hungary

30:05 The Hungarian Compromise

36:31 The Birth of Marie Valerie

39:33 Wanderlust and Marriage Struggles

41:29 Affairs and Public Perception

46:14 The Mayerling Incident

50:24 Sisi's Final Years and Assassination

01:10:34 Legacy and Conclusion

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 and follow us on Instagram!

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Elisabeth of Austria: Unraveling the Life of a Bavarian Princess Turned Empress

In part 1 of a 2 part series, we meet Sisi aka, Elisabeth of Austria. Born a free-spirited Bavarian princess who loved horseback riding, poetry, and avoiding responsibility, Elisabeth never expected to become Empress of one of the largest and most rigid empires in Europe. But at just 15 years old, she caught the eye of Emperor Franz Joseph, married into the ultra-strict Habsburg court, and immediately found herself trapped in a gilded cage — complete with a controlling mother-in-law from hell, Archduchess Sophie.

In this episode, we cover Elisabeth’s unconventional upbringing, her whirlwind marriage, the brutal realities of court life in Vienna, and the early cracks that would shape her tragic legacy. Expect Princess Diana vibes, imperial drama, and a reminder that being “beautiful” has never been enough for women in history.

Cocktail: strawberries soaked in vodka with rose water and club soda 🍓🌹

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction from The Exploress aka Kate Armstrong

01:27 Meet Elisabeth aka Sisi: A Bavarian Princess

02:54 Elisabeth's Early Life and Family Background

21:12 The Austrian Court and Marriage Prospects

26:56 Franz Joseph's Proposal and Engagement

37:20 Crash Course in Empress Training

38:47 Marriage and Royal Wedding

40:26 Life as a Young Empress

42:06 Motherhood and Court Struggles

52:33 Travel and Political Influence

59:24 Tragedy Strikes

01:03:15 Grief and Recovery

01:11:43 Health Decline and Escape

01:15:22 Catch you in part 2!

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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 and follow us on Instagram!

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Things get emotional as we drink vodka and wrap up the life of the formidable Agrippina the younger 

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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Today, we continue the saga of Agrippina the Younger. She may have a bad reputation, but this ancient maverick is taking care of business! We sip on fruity mimosas and dive into ancient Rome!

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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We're back to continue our Agrippina series. Now onto Agrippina Jr aka Agrippina the younger! We sip a vodka sprtizer and dive right in!

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

Join us as we finish up the life of Agrippina the Elder! Mother of Agrippina the younger & Caligula.

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

Agrippina the Elder was a force not to be messed with. Join us as we have a red wine spritzer (which is delicious) and chat about the ancient world! 

Check out part 2 here

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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