Recorded August 12th, 2025

** Explicit language used.

The "Queen of Halloween" herself, Liz, dives into the bizarre, spooky, and occasionally hilarious history of the Jersey Devil. How did this legendary creature become the cryptid we know and adore today?

Was he the cursed 13th child of an exhausted Pine Barrens mother? A twisted echo of an ancient deity? Or somehow the victim of Ben Franklin’s extreme pettiness?

Grab your favorite Halloween treats, settle in, and get ready for a wild ride through folklore, myth, and historical mayhem in this week’s devilishly good episode of The Hystorians Podcast.

Special thank you to Moriah for sitting down to share her family connection to the folklore of the Jersey Devil!

Monsters Among Us Podcast

Bibliography Link

Produced, Edited, and Hosted by: Liz Ardeen and Desi McChesney

Special thanks

Logo credit: Tori Nelson Instagram (@torinelsonart)

Theme song by: Nick Lennon Instagram (@gothiclemonphoto)

and to listeners like you, thank you.

Recorded July 27th, 2025

** Explicit language used.

This week Desi presents the alarming and inhumane actions that led and sustained the Bengal Famine of 1943. Did you know that there are different types of famine? Did you know that 3 million people died due to this event? Did you know that the British Government, who held colonial rule over those 3 million people dragged their feet and their inactions speak volumes of their attitudes towards their colonists? Jump in and get angry with the gals as they rage so hard they donated to charities that are trying to help provide relief to a nation currently dealing with a famine.

Famine Relief Charities links:

Palestine Children’s Relief Fund  https://www.pcrf.net/

UN Crisis Relief https://crisisrelief.un.org/en/donate-opt-crisis 

World Food Programme https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/palestine-emergency

Freedom Flotilla Coalition https://freedomflotilla.org/donate/

Bibliography Link

Produced and Hosted by: Liz Ardeen and Desi McChesney

Special thanks

Logo credit: Tori Nelson Instagram (@torinelsonart)

Theme song by: Nick Lennon Instagram (@gothiclemonphoto)

and to listeners like you, thank you.

** Explicit language used. We also want to apologise for any mispronounced words or names. We want to strive to be respectful in relation to historical figures' identities and names.

Phonetic Pronunciations:

Tang | ”唐" - (Ton-g)

Wu Zetian | “武则天” - (woo tseh-tyen)

Taizong | “太宗” - (tie-dzong or TY-dzawng)

This week Liz presents the second part of the astonishing and awe-inducing story of Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty. A woman “ahead of her time” who went from merchant’s daughter, to Royal Concubine, and becoming China’s first and only dynastic woman Emperor. Join the gals as they revel in feminine revenge and schemes concocted by a woman eras ahead of her time. Ponder with the Hystorians about justifications of royal revenge, palace politics, and whether or not Empress Wu would have been invited to the next yap session. 

Bibliography/Sources Used ⁠⁠⁠

Produced and Hosted by: Liz Ardeen and Desi McChesney

Special thanks

Logo credit: Tori Nelson Instagram (@torinelsonart)

Theme song by: Nick Lennon Instagram (@gothiclemonphoto)

and to listeners like you, thank you.

P.S.: The historical analysis and perspectives shared in this podcast are our own and don't reflect the views of any academic institution. We (the Hystorians) aim to meet academic standards in our research and sourcing, but this is not a peer-reviewed or official scholarly production. It is meant to inform, explore, and entertain.

https://linktr.ee/hystorianspod

Recorded June 8th, 2025

**Disclaimer: Explicit language used. 

This week Desi presents what she has calls a “palate” cleanser episode and yet will leave you feeling served to the fullest! A topic that you never really think about actually having an origin story, the fascinating history of America’s Favourite Dessert,” JELL-O! Join the gals as they try to find a reasoning behind 1950s housewives being so inclined to encase regular foods inside of a jell-o prison? What did the olives and Viennas ever do to their new gelatinous overlord? Then wax poetically about the cultural significance of a f***-a** bob. 

Bibliography Link

Produced and Hosted by: Liz Ardeen and Desi McChesney

Special thanks

Logo credit: Tori Nelson Instagram (@torinelsonart)

Theme song by: Nick Lennon Instagram (@gothiclemonphoto)

and to listeners like you, thank you.

P.S.: The historical analysis and perspectives shared in this podcast are our own and don't reflect the views of any academic institution. We (the Hystorians) aim to meet academic standards in our research and sourcing, but this is not a peer-reviewed or official scholarly production. It is meant to inform, explore, and entertain.

**Disclaimer: Explicit language used. We also want to apologise for any mispronounced words or names. We want to strive to be respectful in relation to historical figures identities and names.

Phonetic Pronunciations:

Tang | ”唐" - (Ton-g)

Wu Zetian | “武则天” - (woo tseh-tyen)

Taizong | “太宗” - (tie-dzong or TY-dzawng)

This week Liz presents the astonishing and awe-inducing story of Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty. A woman “ahead of her time” who went from merchant’s daughter, to Royal Concubine, and becoming China’s first and only dynastic woman Emperor. A story so packed with twists, turns, scheming, propaganda and/or possible selective editorialising that Liz has to split it all into two parts! Join the gals to wonder, “is a treacherous fox born or created?” Then nearly immediately discuss and ponder an age-old question: “Would/Do dragons have cloacas?” Episode 7 will continue the story with even more enthralling events during Empress Wu’s reign... Empress Wu: Part II- Electric Boogaloo??

Bibliography/Sources Used ⁠Link⁠

Produced and Hosted by: Liz Ardeen and Desi McChesney

Special thanks

Logo credit: Tori Nelson Instagram (@torinelsonart)

Theme song by: Nick Lennon Instagram (@gothiclemonphoto)

and to listeners like you, thank you.

P.S.: The historical analysis and perspectives shared in this podcast are our own and don't reflect the views of any academic institution. We (the Hystorians) aim to meet academic standards in our research and sourcing, but this is not a peer-reviewed or official scholarly production. It is meant to inform, explore, and entertain.

**Explicit Language Used**This week Desi weaves the story of Fanny Cornforth, a stunning Pre-Raphaelite Muse. A woman whose reputation was slandered while also inspiring some of the most influential and beautiful works of art. A woman who had a decades long love-affair with a painter who she knew would never make her an "honest woman". A woman who was wronged so many times it starts to hurt your own heart. A woman who really needed some girl best friends to tell her to, "Run, Fanny! Run!!!". Join the Hystorians as they become the girl besties she needed and deserved to have during her life and laugh, cry, and scream along!Bibliography/Sources Used ⁠Link⁠Produced and Hosted by: Liz Ardeen and Desi McChesneySpecial thanksLogo credit: Tori Nelson Instagram (@torinelsonart)Theme song by: Nick Lennon Instagram (@gothiclemonphoto)and to listeners like you, thank you.

P.S.: The historical analysis and perspectives shared in this podcast are our own and don't reflect the views of any academic institution. We (the Hystorians) aim to meet academic standards in our research and sourcing, but this is not a peer-reviewed or official scholarly production. It is meant to inform, explore, and entertain.

**Explicit Language Used

***DISCLAIMER: The Hystorians are staunch advocates and supporters of the LGBTQIA+ community. We have no room for bigotry or nastiness towards our Queer Brothers and Sisters. In this episode we give our own analysis on a historical figure and why WE believe his likeness should not be seen as a “queer” historical figure. 

This week Liz takes Desi and the listeners on a journey of scandal, corruption, and post-mortem cross-dressing accusations? This week the Hystorians dive into the story of Lord Cornbury and how his image was associated with a very puzzling painting of a woman in a blue dress. Bibbity, Boppity, Boop let’s dive right in! 

Bibliography/Sources Used Link

Produced and Hosted by: Liz Ardeen and Desi McChesney

Special thanks

Logo credit: Tori Nelson Instagram (@torinelsonart)

Theme song by: Nick Lennon Instagram (@gothiclemonphoto)

and to listeners like you, thank you.

P.S.: The historical analysis and perspectives shared in this podcast are our own and don't reflect the views of any academic institution. We've aimed to meet academic standards in our research and sourcing, but this is not a peer-reviewed or official scholarly outlet—it's meant to inform, explore, and entertain.

This week Desi presents the exhilarating yet little known journey towards power of Lucius Ælius Sejanus: Veteran Praetorian Guard, Romancer of his counterpart's wives, Gemonian Stairs admirer. A story filled with twists, turns, and things that will make you say, "Oh my, wait, what??" 

**Disclaimer: This episode was recorded a couple months ago and apologize for the old references towards the end of the episode.

Bibliography/Sources Used

Produced and Hosted by: Liz Ardeen and Desi McChesney

Special thanks

Logo credit: Tori Nelson Instagram (@torinelsonart)

Theme song by: Nick Lennon Instagram (@gothiclemonphoto)

and to listeners like you, thank you.

Dance, dance until you die! Liz takes the reigns and presents an event caused by something that started the gals on this journey, Hysteria. Specifically, one of the biggest unexplained records of mass hysteria: The Dancing Plague of 1518. Justice for Frau Troffea, babes.

Bibliography/Sources Used

Produced and Hosted by: Liz Ardeen and Desi McChesney

Special thanks:

Logo credit: Tori Nelson Instagram (@torinelsonart)

Theme song by: Nick Lennon Instagram (@gothiclemonphoto)

and to listeners like you, thank you.

Welcome to the Hystorians Podcast! This episode is a quick rundown of our mission for the Hystorians, approaches, and a taste of the dynamic between the two gals.

Produced and Hosted by: Liz Ardeen and Desi McChesney

Special thanks:

Pyre Logo Art: Tori Nelson

https://www.instagram.com/torinelsonart/

Theme song by: Nick Lennon http://www.instagram.com/gothiclemonphoto/

and to listeners like you,

thank you.