What do secret societies, Elizabethan ruff collars, and plague doctors have in common?

Power.

In this episode of Round Robin, we explore the strange, fascinating, and sometimes bizarre ways humans have signaled status, control, and belonging throughout history. From hidden societies operating in secrecy to fashion that literally controlled behavior, this episode dives into how power has always been displayed—whether hidden or impossible to ignore.

Plus, we introduce our new segment: 100 Women Who Changed the World, featuring Alice Ball — a brilliant chemist whose life-saving work was nearly lost to history.

#RoundRobinPodcast #WeirdHistory #SecretSocieties #ElizabethanEra #HistoricalFashion

Hosted and Produced by Tracy Preston, featuring Christine Mulligan, Nina Mulligan, Angela Hoefler and of course my husband Todd Preston

Original artwork by Todd Preston

Original music created exclusively for Round Robin by Tracy Preston

Sources:

“Eleusinian Mysteries.” Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Daftary, Farhad. The Assassin Legends.

“Knights Templar.” History.com.

“Ruff.” Victoria and Albert Museum.

Hunt, Alan. Sumptuary Law History.

Byrne, Joseph P. Daily Life during the Black Death.

Parascandola, John. “Alice Ball and Chaulmoogra Oil.”

National Library of Medicine. “Alice Augusta Ball.”

Full source list available upon request