Queer as Fact

Queer as Fact episodes:

• 10.05.2023

  Frieda Belinfante

  Today's episode is on the Dutch cellist, conductor, and WWII resistance fighter Frieda Belinfante. Join us to hear about Frieda's groundbreaking career as a female conductor, the many women who fell in love with her, and how to forge a...

  
• 09.14.2023

  Franz Nopcsa

  Today's episode is on the Hungarian palaeontologist, geologist, spy and ethnographer, Franz Nopcsa. Join us as we discuss dinosaurs, Franz's travels in Albania, and the world's first plane hijacking. Check out our website, where you can find out everything there is...

  
• 08.31.2023

  Queerness in Tabletop Roleplaying Games

  We're back! Today's episode covers depictions of queerness throughout the history of tabletop roleplaying games, including Dungeons & Dragons, Vampire: The Masquerade and many, many more. Join us for a discussion spanning nearly 50 years of D&D and TTRPG history, featuring masochistic...

  
• 07.15.2023

  Jane Austen

  Today's episode is on the English writer Jane Austen. Join us as we discuss whether Jane was queer, on-stage lesbian Mr Darcy, and the evolving queerness of Austen adaptations. Check out our website, where you can find out everything there is...

  
• 06.30.2023

  A League of Their Own

  Today's episode covers the 1940s All American Girls Professional Baseball League, and the 2022 television series based on it, A League of Their Own. Join us for a discussion featuring shoes deemed "excessively masculine-looking", perhaps too many women named Dottie, and...

  
• 06.15.2023

  Interview with Danielle Scrimshaw

  In today's episode, Irene and Alice interview historian and author Danielle Scrimshaw about her new book, She and her Pretty Friend. She and her Pretty Friend is the first book of its kind, exploring the history of Australia's queer women....

  
• 06.01.2023

  Hijra in 19th-century India

  Today's episode is on Hijra in 19th-century India. Listen to learn about who these 19th-century Hijra were, how they structured their society, and their resistance in the face of British colonial oppression. Check out our website, where you can find out...

  
• 04.15.2023

  Isadora Duncan

  Today's episode is on US dancer Isadora Duncan. Listen to find out how she revolutionised dance, what the Singer sewing machine had to do with it, and enjoy some sapphic love poetry. Check out our website, where you can find out...

  
• 04.01.2023

  Victim

  On today’s Queer as Fiction, we discuss the 1961 British noir film Victim. Join us for some dramatic performances, heavy-handed messaging and a surprising result from a government inquiry.

  
• 03.15.2023

  Elke Mackenzie

  Today's episode is on Elke Mackenzie, British lichenologist, Antarctic explorer and trans woman. We'll tell you about Elke's incredible devotion to her research, as well as penguin egg facts and one of the coolest landscapes known to humankind. Check out our website,...

  
• 03.01.2023

  Relationships Between Women in Ancient Rome

  Queer as Fact is back from hiatus! Today we're talking about relationships between women in ancient Rome. Join us to hear a queer creation myth, read some ancient love poetry, and find out which whether your star sign made you...

  
• 12.14.2022

  The Agojie

  This week's episode is on the West African soldiers known as the Agojie, sometimes called the Dahomey Amazons. Join us to hear about how women became the backbone of the Dahomean army, a very dubious cocktail recipe, and not one...

  
• 11.30.2022

  Asexuals Have Problems Too

  Welcome to Season 10 of Queer as Fact! This week’s episode we're talking about a 1971 article from the Village Voice memorably titled ‘Asexuals Have Problems Too’. Join us to hear about being invited to orgies to pour the wine,...

  
• 10.15.2022

  Qiu Miaojin

  In today's episode we discuss Qiu Miaojin, a well-known Taiwanese lesbian writer. We've got details about Taiwanese lesbian gender identities, an experimental queer literary movement, and a very lovable crocodile. Check out our website, where you can find out everything there is...

  
• 10.01.2022

  The Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands

  On this week's podcast, we're talking about the queer micronation, the Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands. Join us to hear about the joys and tribulations of founding a country, the Gay and Lesbian Kingdom's war with...

  
• 09.15.2022

  Saint Brigid

  This week's episode is on the 5th-century Irish abbess Saint Brigid. Join us to hear about a miraculous abortion, powerful women in the Catholic Church, and a flying priest. Transcript available here Check out our website, where you can find out everything there...

  
• 09.01.2022

  Our Flag Means Death

  In today's Queer as Fiction episode, we follow up our previous episode on historical piracy with a discussion about David Jenkins' 2022 pirate comedy Our Flag Means Death. Join us as we explore the historical figures of Major Stede Bonnet and...

  
• 08.22.2022

  Queerness in the Golden Age of Piracy

  Avast me hearties! This week's episode is about queerness during the Golden Age of Piracy. Join us to hear about the raging party culture of pirate ships, Eli and Jason getting gay pirate married, and our treasure hunt for evidence...

  
• 07.31.2022

  The Lost Archive of Frida Kahlo

  Today we'll be talking about a recently discovered and possibly fraudulent archive of Frida's paintings, letters and possessions. Join us to hear about how to authenticate an artwork, Chavela Vargas' smoking gun, and 200 entire dogs. This episode was originally released...

  
• 07.15.2022

  Abu Nuwas

  This week on Queer as Fact, we're talking about the 8th-century Arabic poet Abu Nuwas. Join us to hear about wine poetry, sexuality in the Abbasid caliphate, and fun facts about cheetahs. Transcript available here Check out our website, where you can find...

  
• 07.08.2022

  The Captive

  Today’s episode of Queer as Fiction, as chosen by our patrons, is on the 1926 play “The Captive”. Join us as we discuss the sale of violets, the padlocking of theatres and the diverse ways a story can be interpreted...

  
• 06.15.2022

  Lucy Hicks Anderson

  This week we're talking about the early 20th century American cook, socialite and transgender woman Lucy Hicks Anderson. Join us to hear about Lucy's determination to live authentically in the face of repeated court cases, the enduring love and respect...

  
• 06.01.2022

  Ewan Forbes

  Join us for the first episode of Season 9 as we discuss the life and trial of 20th century Scottish aristocrat and farmer Dr Ewan Forbes. We'll be talking about how to transition in rural mid-20th century Scotland, an impressively...

  
• 03.31.2022

  Hildegard of Bingen

  This week on Queer as Fact, we're talking about the 12th-century German nun and polymath Hildegard of Bingen. Join us for thorny theological questions, savage letters to the Pope and a medieval description of the female orgasm. Check out our website, where...

  
• 03.01.2022

  Giovanni’s Room

  In today's episode of Queer as Fiction we delve into James Baldwin's 1956 novel, Giovanni's Room. Join us as we discuss 1950s gender roles, the French gay bar scene and the concept of a Manic Pixie Dream Gay. Thank you to our...

  
• 02.15.2022

  Harry Crawford

  Today's episode is on the life and trial of early 20th century Australian transgender man Harry Crawford. Join us to learn what court records, newspaper articles and modern biographies can tell us about a century of Australian attitudes to transgender...

  
• 01.31.2022

  The Asexual Manifesto

  This week, Queer as Fact is talking about the Asexual Manifesto, published in New York in 1972. Join us for our first deep dive into ace history, a discussion of the place of asexuality in 1970s feminism, and one of...

  
• 01.22.2022

  Louisa May Alcott

  Today's episode is on beloved 19th century author Louisa May Alcott. Irene, Alice and Jason, who between them have read the 1868 novel Little Women, watched the 2017 movie Little Women, and read a good number of Louisa May Alcott's...

  
• 01.15.2022

  The Matrix

  Today marks our first Queer as Fiction episode for the season, as we discuss the 1999 film, directed by Lilly and Lana Wachowski, The Matrix. Join us as we explore the red pill, the blue pill, and everything in between.  Check out our...

  
• 12.14.2021

  Bíawacheeitchish (Woman Chief)

  This week on Queer as Fact we're talking about the Crow warrior and leader, Bíawacheeitchish, or Woman Chief. Join us to hear about Crow gender, fighting grizzly bears, and Bíawacheeitchish's four wives. Check out our website, where you can find out everything...

  
• 12.01.2021

  Han Zigao

  Today, we're discussing 6th century Chinese general Han Zigao! Join us as we talk about his life, and various fictionalised adaptations of it. Learn a little about media censorship in modern day China, gender in Ming Dynasty theatre, and whether...

  
• 10.14.2021

  Dr James Barry: Part 2

  Today we bring you our second episode on the 19th-century British military doctor Dr James Barry. Join us to learn about Florence Nightingale's desperate need for sunscreen, how to dress stylishly as a trans man in the 1800s and a...

  
• 10.01.2021

  Dr James Barry: Part 1

  This week, Queer as Fact is talking about the 19th-century British military surgeon, Dr James Barry. Join us to hear about anatomy classes in the 1800s, James' scandalous relationship with the governor of Cape Town, and two bonus James Barrys! Check...

  
• 09.15.2021

  Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz

  Today's episode is on Mexican nun, writer and polymath Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz. Join Irene and Alice to hear about the realities of life in a 17th century convent, poetry ranging from sweet to filthy, and one weird...

  
• 08.31.2021

  Beki: The Queer Language of the Philippines

  Today's episode is Beki, the queer language of the Philippines. Join us for some new queer vocab, a surprise cameo from a past episode, and to discover how a queer language went mainstream. Check out our website, where you can find out...

  
• 08.15.2021

  Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

  Queer as Fiction is back, and greener than ever, as we discuss the 14th century poem, recently adapted into a film by David Lowery starring Dev Patel, commonly referred to as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Join us for a...

  
• 08.01.2021

  Hadrian and Antinous

  We're back this week with the latest in our Roman emperor series! Today we're talking about the emperor Hadrian and his lover Antinous. Join us to learn about one of the most famous male-male couples of all time, the mystery...

  
• 08.01.2021

  Queer As Fact: LIVE Episode

  This bonus episode is a recording of a live session from the Storytelling Podcast Week live program. Alice, Irene and Jason bring queer history to life, dive into behind the scenes of their favourite Queer As Fact episodes and answer...

  
• 07.15.2021

  The Sacred Band of Thebes

  In today's episode, Eli and Alice review James Romm's new book, the Sacred Band, and we talk more generally about the Sacred Band of Thebes, an ancient Greek military unit made up of gay lovers. Featuring: Plato's Symposium, the power...

  
• 07.07.2021

  Pride (2014)

  Following on from last week's episode on the 1980s UK activist group Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners, today's Queer as Fiction episode delves into the 2014 film adaptation of the historical events that led to LGSM.  Join us for a...

  
• 06.30.2021

  Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners

  In today's (COVID-delayed) pride special, we're talking about the 1980s UK activist group Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners, and their work with the Neath, Delais and Swansea Valley miners support groups in South Wales. Join us to hear the...

  
• 06.15.2021

  Queerness in Video Games

  Today we're talking about queerness in video games. We'll be starting in the 80s with one of the first queer video games, Caper in the Castro, before moving on to Nintendo's controversial trans character Birdo, and ending with what may...

  
• 06.01.2021

  Simon Nkoli

  Happy Pride! We're starting off our Pride content by talking about the South African activist Simon Nkoli. Join us to hear about Simon's gay rights and anti-apartheid work, Africa's first Pride, and a lot of wholesome personal growth. Check out our website,...

  
• 04.15.2021

  Maryam Khatoon Molkara

  Today we're talking about the life of trans activist Maryam Khatoon Molkara. Join us to hear about Tehran's 1970s queer scene, an amazing velvet suit, and almost 40 years spent advocating for trans people in Iran. Check out our website, where you...

  
• 04.08.2021

  Interview with Roland Betancourt

  Join Irene and Alice in this bonus episode for an interview with Roland Betancourt Professor of Art History at the University of California, Irvine, about his new book, Byzantine Intersectionality: Sexuality, Gender & Race in the Middle Ages.Amongst other things,...

  
• 03.31.2021

  The World Well Lost (1953)

  Today's episode of Queer as Fiction takes us back...to the future! Join us for a brief, light-hearted romp through Theodore Sturgeon's 1953 science fiction short story, The World Well Lost. Look out for appearances from gay aliens, Kurt Vonnegut and...

  
• 03.23.2021

  Frida Kahlo: Part 2

  Today we're bringing you part 2 of our discussion on the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Join us as we figure out exactly what surrealism is, discuss Frida's relationships with women, and provide a thorough list of her pets. Note: If you're...

  
• 03.14.2021

  Frida Kahlo: Part 1

  Today's long-awaited episode is on the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Join us for the first of two episodes on Frida, while we discuss pyrotechnic pranks, the first of many self-portraits, and the complicated politics behind Frida's famous style of dress. Note:...

  
• 02.28.2021

  Sexuality in Pompeii

  Today we're looking at sexuality in Pompeii through the lens of the so called "Two Maidens", found embracing in their final moments. Join us as we discuss how toxic masculinity skews our views of the past, read some sexy graffiti,...

  
• 02.15.2021

  Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Part 2

  Welcome back to our two-part mini-series on the 19th-century Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. In this episode, we'll be talking about how to score yourself a wealthy patron, the rumours surrounding Pyotr's death, and understanding sexuality through the metaphor of...