Halloween Special! This eerie episode unearths the chilling story of Carl Tanzler’s morbid obsession and dives into the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain — where the veil between worlds grows thin and old spirits still linger.

Social Media

IG - @renfarepod

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Tanzler

https://birdinflight.com/en/world/20200416-carl-tanzler.html

https://the-line-up.com/carl-tanzler-the-man-who-slept-with-a-corpse

https://historyhub.info/twists-in-a-twisted-tale-the-exploitation-defilement-and-murder-of-elena-hoyos

https://www.history.com/articles/samhain

https://www.pagangrimoire.com/what-is-samhain-how-to-celebrate/

https://www.worldhistory.org/Wheel_of_the_Year/

https://museum.wales/articles/1341/Who-were-the-Celts/

https://libguides.columbiastate.edu/c.php?g=1458453&p=10844168

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Wicca

This week, we dive into the free-spirited world of the Bohemian movement with Kelly. From 19th-century Parisian cafés to modern creative counterculture, we explore how rebellion, art, and idealism shaped a lifestyle that still inspires dreamers and outsiders today.

Social Media

IG - @renfarepod

Sources:

Gombrich, E.H. The Story of Art

Honour, Hugh & Fleming, John. A World History of Art

https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ (Timeline of Art History – The Met)

https://smarthistory.org/ (Art history resources)

https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms (Glossary of art terms)

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Western-painting

Gombrich, E.H. The Story of Art (16th edition, 2020)

Oxford Art Online: https://www.oxfordartonline.com

Metropolitan Museum of Art Heilbrunn Timeline: https://www.metmuseum.org/toah

Smart History: https://smarthistory.org

Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Western-painting

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubism

https://www.thegeographicalcure.com/post/famous-paintings-by-henri-matisse

https://blog.artsper.com/en/a-closer-look/the-stories-behind-goyas-paintings/

https://www.britannica.com/art/Romanticism

https://artincontext.org/famous-neoclassical-paintings/

https://artincontext.org/famous-neoclassical-paintings/

https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-10-artworks-defined-rococo-style

https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/glossary/tenebrism#:~:text=Tenebrism%20is%20a%20term%20derived,with%20a%20predominantly%20dark%20setting.

https://www.invaluable.com/blog/illuminated-manuscript/

https://www.invaluable.com/blog/art-history-timeline/?srsltid=AfmBOop_pamgX1A_3_5UQsd-zX1AqLDrE5cCIceB_QkcDxwNjsqJg7Pr

https://www.history.com/articles/prehistoric-cave-paintings-early-humans

https://publicdelivery.org/magritte-not-a-pipe/

http://exhibitions.guggenheim.org/futurism/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_(Duchamp)

https://emuseum.toledomuseum.org/objects/60252/saint-francis-of-paola

Stover, Laren. The Bohemian Manifesto: A Field Guide to Living on the Edge

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Bohemian

https://www.britannica.com/topic/bohemianism

https://www.britannica.com/place/Bohemia

https://frenchquartermag.com/montmartre-unveiled-a-profound-journey-through-19th-century-bohemianism-in-paris/

https://www.gothamcenter.org/blog/villagebohemia-zy4la-6h6h4-tlwga-allfs-5gpbn-p8hkk-gewm2-86weg-453lp-rtg9j-b4nt8-f2n45-2s22f-kmea4-5jtmm

From cave walls to curved lines, this episode traces how art evolved — from the foundations of Western art to the flowing beauty of Art Nouveau. We explore the movements, meanings, and mindset that shaped how we see and talk about art today.

From slippery slopes to straw men, logical fallacies shape how we argue — and often how we’re misled. In this episode, we break down the most common fallacies you’ll spot in everyday life, then turn to the timeless feminine archetypes found in myth, psychology, and culture. From the mother to the muse, the maiden to the rebel, we explore how these patterns influence the way women are seen — and how they see themselves.

Follow along on social @renfarepod !

Sources:

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240709-seven-ways-to-spot-a-bad-argument

https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.2044-8295.1919.tb00003.x https://www.jungiananalysts.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/C.-G.-Jung-Collected-Works-Volume-9i_-The-Archetypes-of-the-Collective-Unconscious.pdf 

https://www.cgjung.net/espace/jps/articles/peggy-vermeesch/toni-wolff-structural-forms-feminine-psyche/

https://ufdc.ufl.edu/AA00001582/00001/pdf/0 

https://archive.org/details/prolegomenatostu00harr/page/269/mode/1up https://sobrief.com/books/goddesses-in-everywoman-2

From corsets to grunge, fashion has always mirrored the times. We trace the past century of style and how culture shaped what we wear — then flip the deck to uncover the surprising history of tarot, from playing cards to a tool of self-discovery.

Find us on social media @renfarepod

If you want to read more on about this:

https://www.gq.com/story/how-recessions-drive-innovation-in-fashion

https://uspublisher.net/fashion-revolution-how-the-industrial-age-changed-style/

https://www.vogue.com/article/1940s-fashion-history-lesson

https://www.instyle.com/fashion/clothing/what-is-the-hemline-index-real

“All About History: History of Fashion”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_loom

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_gin

https://fashion-era.com/fashion-history/fashion-eras

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century_in_fashion

https://qz.com/quartzy/1597688/a-brief-history-of-women-in-pants

https://dustyoldthing.com/little-below-the-knee-club/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/hippie

https://medium.com/@peytoncarlin/the-rise-of-the-oversize-how-oversized-clothes-represent-unfortunate-realities-efd489a14826

https://www.eternalgoddess.co.uk/posts/20th-century-fashion-a-timeline

In this episode of RenFare, we’re bridging two very different legacies — one rooted in science and bioethics, the other in symbolism and spiritual seeking.

First, we share the powerful story of Henrietta Lacks, a woman whose cells were taken without her consent in 1951. Her HeLa cells became the backbone of modern medical research — but her name was nearly erased. We unpack the scientific breakthroughs her cells made possible, the ethical violations of her case, and the long-overdue recognition her family received in 2023.

Then we turn to the history of tarot — from its origins as a 15th-century card game in Europe to its rise as a tool of mysticism, self-reflection, and resistance. Who used it, how did it evolve, and why are we still drawn to its imagery centuries later?

Sources:

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/henrietta-lacks/upholding-the-highest-bioethical-standards

https://time.com/4746297/henrietta-lacks-movie-history-research-oprah/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HeLa

https://apnews.com/article/henrietta-lacks-hela-cells-thermo-fisher-scientific-bfba4a6c10396efa34c9b79a544f0729

https://www.statnews.com/2023/08/01/henrietta-lacks-family-settlement-hela-cells/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrietta_Lacks

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuskegee_Syphilis_Study#:~:text=The%20Public%20Health%20Service%20started,care%20and%20promised%20funeral%20expenses.

In this episode of RenFare, we’re talking Olympian gods and reality TV — two worlds filled with drama, ego, and larger-than-life personalities. Coincidence? Maybe not.

First, we take you up to Mount Olympus to meet the 12 Olympian gods — the chaotic group that ruled Greek mythology. From Aphrodite’s love triangles to Zeus’s power plays, we unpack who’s who, what they ruled over, and how these deities reflected the values and messiness of ancient life.

Then we shift to another pantheon of modern-day icons: reality TV stars. Why do we love watching other people’s drama? What draws us to the highs, lows, and over-the-top personalities of reality shows? We dive into the psychology behind why reality TV feels so satisfying — and how it taps into something timeless.

This episode has ancient myths and modern fixations, gods, confessionals, and a whole lot of spectacle.

Socials:

IG - @renfarepod

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Olympians

https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/gods-and-goddesses-greek-and-roman-pantheon

https://www.thecollector.com/greek-gods-and-godesses/

https://www.historyhit.com/ancient-greek-gods-and-goddesses-of-mount-olympus/

https://www.history.com/articles/greek-mythology

https://www.livescience.com/all-about-history-issue-117

https://econtent.hogrefe.com/doi/abs/10.1027/1864-1105/a000186

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08838151003734995 

https://studylib.net/doc/8023379/motivations-for-viewing-reality-television--a-uses-and-gr%E2%80%A6 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228745630_Why_people_watch_reality_TV

https://sites.comminfo.rutgers.edu/kgreene/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2024/05/JoBEM2010-1.pdf 

https://scholar.nycu.edu.tw/en/publications/reality-tv-materialism-and-associated-consequences-an-exploration  https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/inclusive-mental-health/the-power-of-diversity-in-reality-television-impact-on-culture-and-social-media/ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324032504_From_Apprentice_to_President_The_Role_of_Parasocial_Connection_in_the_Election_of_Donald_Trump

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370729772_Surviving_Racism_and_Sexism_What_Votes_in_the_Television_Program_Survivor_Reveal_About_Discrimination  

In Episode 2 of RenFare, Jaimie and Kelly go dreamy and witchy in equal measure — exploring two subjects that have shaped how humans understand love, healing, and the invisible forces that connect us.

First: where did the idea of a soulmate actually come from? Jaimie traces the concept from Plato's Symposium — where humans were split in two by Zeus and condemned to spend their lives searching for their other half — through to twin flames, the Jewish concept of bashert, karmic love, and indigenous spiritual traditions. It's a history of longing that spans thousands of years and nearly every culture on earth.

Included in Soulmate Lore:

1. Plato's Symposium and the origin of the 'other half' theory of soulmates
2. What twin flames actually means and where the concept comes from
3. Bashert: the Jewish tradition of the destined partner
4. Karmic love, karmic relationships, and what that really means
5. Indigenous and non-Western perspectives on soulmates and spiritual partnership

Then: the smoky, herb-scented history of apothecaries. From Neanderthals chewing willow bark for pain relief to the wise women of medieval Europe who combined herbal remedies with spells and enchantments — and were eventually tried for it — Kelly traces the full arc of herbalism, folk medicine, and apothecary practice from the Paleolithic era to the tinctures trending on TikTok today.

Included in History of Apothecaries

1. Neanderthals and the earliest evidence of medicinal plant use — 60,000 years ago
2. The difference between folk medicine, herbalism, and apothecary
3. Ancient herbal traditions across Egypt, India (Ayurveda), China, Greece and Rome
4. The Papyrus Ebers (1550 BC) and what it tells us about ancient Egyptian medicine
5. Hildegard von Bingen: the Benedictine nun who wrote one of the most important medieval medical texts
6. How the witch trials targeted women healers — and what knowledge may have been lost
7. Agatha Christie's apothecary licence and her love of poisons
8. Modern herbalism: adaptogens, tinctures, ashwagandha, and the crunchy wellness revival
9. Everyday medicines that started as herbs: aspirin, morphine, malaria treatment

BookRecommendations

• Last of the Moon Girls
• Weyward
• The Spell Book for New Witches

About the Hosts

Jaimie and Kelly are two friends and lifelong arts and culture obsessives who believe history is better when told with warmth, wit, and a refusal to leave women out of it. RenFare is their deep dive into the Renaissance and beyond — the art, the politics, the folklore, and the women the textbooks forgot.

Find RenFare

• Instagram: @renfarepod
• TikTok: @renfarepodcast
• YouTube: @renfarepod

Sources & Further Reading

Soulmate Lore:

• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soulmate
• bbc.com/worklife/article/20220204-why-people-still-believe-in-the-soulmate-myth
• theconversation.com — Valentine's Day: A Brief History of the Soulmate
• thenationalherald.com/the-greek-philosophy-behind-soulmates/
• dictionary.com/e/soul-mate/

Apothecary & Herbalism:

• nationalgeographic.com — Neanderthals, teeth, diet and medicine
• pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4103721/ — Herbal medicine history
• science.org/doi/10.1126/science.190.4217.880
• Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historiae — archive.org
• onlinelibrary.wiley.com — tea tree oil and Aboriginal medicine

Women of the Renaissance: Fede Galizia, the Forgotten Painter, & Veronica Franco, Venetian Courtesan and Poet

In the first episode of RenFare, Jaimie and Kelly explore the lives of two remarkable women who refused to be erased by Renaissance Italy — a painter who signed her still lifes at a time when women's work was dismissed, and a poet and courtesan who published fierce, erotic, feminist verse and survived a witchcraft trial.

Fede Galizia was born in Milan in 1578 and recognized as a gifted artist by the age of 12. Working in the late Renaissance period — when a style called Mannerism was pushing back against classical perfection — she became one of the earliest known still life painters in Italy, mastering a form that male critics dismissed because women were the ones making it. She signed her work anyway.Veronica Franco was born in Venice in 1546 and rose to become one of the most celebrated courtesans and poets in Europe. She moved in the highest intellectual and political circles, published groundbreaking poetry defending women's intelligence and dignity, and was tried for witchcraft during the Counter-Reformation — defending herself so calmly andbrilliantly that she was acquitted twice.

In this episode

1. Who was Fede Galizia and why was she largely lost to history until the 1960s
2. What Mannerism is and how it defined the late Renaissance period
3. Why still life painting was not considered 'real' art — and the gender politics behind that
4. Galizia's act of quiet revolt: signing her work at a time when female artists often went uncredited
5. Her religious portraits and the influence of the Catholic Counter-Reformation on her subject matter
6. 'Still Life with Peaches and Quinces' (1607) and what makes it significant
7. How Galizia compares to her Dutch contemporaries: Jan Brueghel, Rachel Ruysch, Jan de Heem
8. Veronica Franco's early life, education, and entry into Venice's courtesan world
9. What a Renaissance courtesan actually was — intellect, arts, and high society access
10. Her literary salon, her most elite patron (King Henri III of France), and her political influence
11. Her 1575 poetry collection Terze rime — erotic, feminist, and unapologetically sharp
12. The witchcraft charges of 1580 and how she defended herself against the Inquisition
13. Her 'Venus-Virgin' public image and how she crafted it
14. The 1998 film Dangerous Beauty and what it gets right about Franco's life

About the Hosts

Jaimie and Kelly are two friends and lifelong arts and culture obsessives who believe history is better when told with warmth, wit, and a refusal to leave women out of it. RenFare is their deep dive into arts, culture, and food for thought.

Find RenFare

• Instagram: @renfarepod
• TikTok: @renfarepodcast
• YouTube: @renfarepod

Sources & Further Reading

Fede Galizia:

• arthistoryproject.com/artists/fede-galizia/
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fede_Galizia
• dailyartmagazine.com/fede-galizia-life-and-work/
• dailyartmagazine.com/dutch-still-life-6-famous-painters/

Veronica Franco:

• lib.uchicago.edu/efts/IWW/BIOS/A0017.html
• awomensthing.org/blog/veronica-franco
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veronica_Franco
• dornsife.usc.edu/veronica-franco/portraits-of-franco/
• Dangerous Beauty (1998) — streaming on Amazon: imdb.com/title/tt0118892/

RenFare is your modern-day renaissance — a movement (and a podcast) of vigorous artistic and intellectual activity.

Hosted by Jaimie and Kelly, RenFare is where curiosity meets culture. From forgotten women in art history to astrology deep-dives, personality tests, fashion, fun facts, and pop culture moments you actually want to talk about — we’re here to make learning feel like a vibe, not a lecture.

If you're a woman with a free-spirited mind and a never-ending thirst to know more — welcome. You're one of us.

Subscribe and join the renaissance.