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True Mocktails episodes
- The Bloody History of the Bloody Mary: Queen Mary, mysterious origin stories, hangovers, brunch & one very dramatic name
Everybody knows the Bloody Mary.
But apparently… nobody knows who Mary actually was.
Girl.
Was the drink named after Queen Mary I?
A woman named Mary working at a bar?
A Hollywood actress?
Somebody’s ex?
Because the deeper I got into the history of this drink, the more I realized everybody seems to have a story about Mary — and every story swears it’s the real one.
In Episode 10 of True Mocktails, we’re going down the rabbit hole of the Bloody Mary: how tomato juice and vodka ended up in the same glass, the competing stories behind that famous name, and how this savory drink somehow became permanently attached to hangovers, brunch, and the morning after.
And I have questions.
Because somebody really looked at tomato juice and said, “You know what this needs? Vodka.”
And then somebody ELSE apparently decided we should drink it at 10:30 in the morning next to eggs.
Honestly? Iconic behavior.
We’re digging into the people, places, legends, and drinking culture that helped turn the Bloody Mary into one of the most recognizable cocktails in the world — even though its origin story is still a little messy.
So grab your good glass and come down the rabbit hole with me while we try to answer:
Who was Bloody Mary… and why does everybody swear they know her?
I’m your digital home bartender, Princess.
Salu. Let me take a sip.
If you enjoyed this episode, follow True Mocktails, leave the show a five-star rating, and share this episode with the same person you’d share a drink with.
Come hang out with us:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/thirstyhomebody
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@thirstyhomebody
Threads: www.threads.com/@thirstyhomebody
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thirstyhomebody
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThirstyHomebodyWe keep the convos going and live life outside of the house too.
See y’all next time for another round of True Mocktails.
41 min - The Strange History of Absinthe: The Green Fairy, hallucination myths, bans, artists, murder & one very successful smear campaign
Absinthe has had a reputation for a LONG time.
People said it could make you hallucinate. Make artists more creative. Drive people mad. And apparently introduce you to something called the Green Fairy.
But… was any of that actually true?
In Episode 9 of True Mocktails, we’re going down the very green rabbit hole of absinthe — from its medicinal beginnings in Switzerland to its rise as one of the most fashionable drinks in Paris.
We’re talking about La Fée Verte — the Green Fairy, the famous Parisian Green Hour, the artists and writers who helped build absinthe’s mysterious reputation, and the ingredient that somehow ended up taking much of the blame: wormwood and thujone.
Then things get messy.
A horrifying murder case helped turn public opinion against absinthe. Temperance movements wanted it gone. The wine industry had its own reasons for wanting people to fear it. And before long, absinthe had become associated with madness, crime, hallucinations, and moral decline.
Countries started banning it.
But was absinthe really the dangerous, hallucinogenic monster people believed it was?
Or did the Green Fairy become the victim of one of the best smear campaigns in beverage history?
That’s what we’re unpacking in this episode.
I’m your digital home bartender, Princess.
Salu. Let me take a sip.
If you enjoyed this episode, leave True Mocktails a five-star rating, follow the show, and share this episode with the same person you’d share a drink with.
Come hang out with us:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/thirstyhomebody
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@thirstyhomebody
Threads: www.threads.com/@thirstyhomebody
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thirstyhomebody
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThirstyHomebodySee you next time for another round of True Mocktails.
40 min - When the Punch Was Poisoned: The dark history behind “Drink the Kool-Aid” — and what we remember wrong
You’ve heard the phrase “don’t drink the Kool-Aid.” Maybe you’ve even said it.
But where did it actually come from?
In Episode 8 of True Mocktails, we’re going down one of our darkest rabbit holes yet: the tragedy at Jonestown, the history of Peoples Temple, and how an event that took the lives of more than 900 people eventually became a casual phrase we use to describe blindly following something.
And then there’s the detail that surprises almost everybody:
It wasn’t actually Kool-Aid.
We’re talking about what was really documented in the drink, how Kool-Aid became permanently attached to the story anyway, and why the phrase we still use today leaves out so much of what actually happened — including coercion, manipulation, fear, and the people who never had a choice.
This episode is heavier than our usual round of True Mocktails, but it’s a story worth understanding beyond the shorthand.
So grab your good glass, get comfortable, and come down the rabbit hole with me.
Featured drink: Grape Kool-Aid
Host: your digital home bartender, PrincessSalu. Let me take a sip.
Content note: This episode discusses mass death, coercion, murder, child deaths, and the Jonestown tragedy.
Follow Thirsty Homebody and keep the conversation going:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/thirstyhomebody
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@thirstyhomebody
Threads: www.threads.com/@thirstyhomebody
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thirstyhomebody
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThirstyHomebodyIf this episode sent you down the rabbit hole too, share it with the same person you’d share a drink with.
Question for the Drinkers and Thinkers: Before this episode, did you know it wasn’t actually Kool-Aid?
36 min - The History of Halloween Punch: How One Big Bowl Became the Center of the Halloween Party
Before Halloween parties had fog machines, themed cocktails, and somebody’s cousin showing up dressed as a “sexy” version of something that absolutely did not need a sexy version…there was the punch bowl.
And apparently, that bowl was doing a LOT more than holding drinks.
In Episode 7 of TRUE MOCKTAILS, Princess — aka Thirsty Homebody — is digging into the history of Halloween punch and how one giant communal bowl became the center of the party.
We’re going all the way back to the early history of punch, when sharing from one bowl was part drink, part hospitality, and part social event.
Then we’re bringing it into early American Halloween celebrations, where house parties were filled with fortune-telling games, courtship traditions, apple cider, spooky decorations, and — you guessed it — punch.
Because old-school Halloween parties were basically part spooky season, part matchmaking event, and part “girl…who invited all these people?” 😂
We’re talking about:
🎃 Where punch came from and why it was meant to be shared
🎃 How the punch bowl became a symbol of hospitality
🎃 Early Halloween house parties and spooky party traditions
🎃 Fortune-telling and courtship games because apparently Halloween used to be a dating app
🎃 The role women played in organizing and shaping Halloween parties
🎃 Apple cider, Prohibition, and changing American drinking culture
🎃 And how the punch bowl eventually became part drink station, part decoration, and part entertainmentFor today’s sip, I’m drinking my Hocus Pocus Punch, because obviously we cannot discuss Halloween punch without having something spooky in the glass.
You can find the drink recipes and more Thirsty Homebody content over on YouTube.
So grab whatever you’re sipping and come hang out.
Because around here, we’re not just drinking.
We’re thinking, too.
🎙️ TRUE MOCKTAILS
Hosted by Princess, aka Thirsty HomebodyTRUE MOCKTAILS explores the history, culture, strange traditions, mysteries, scandals, and wild stories hiding inside the things we drink.
Come hang out with Thirsty Homebody:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thirstyhomebody
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thirstyhomebody
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thirstyhomebody
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thirstyhomebody
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThirstyHomebodyFollow TRUE MOCKTAILS so you don’t miss the next story hiding inside your glass.
32 min - The Pumpkin Spice Latte Story: How a Pie Spice Became the Unofficial Mascot of Fall
Pumpkin spice didn’t just become a flavor.
It became a season.
The second it shows up, suddenly we want sweaters, candles, crunchy leaves, cute mugs, and a drink that tastes like somebody put October in a cup.
But how did a simple blend of spices go from something we used in pie…to the unofficial mascot of fall?
In Episode 6 of TRUE MOCKTAILS, Princess — aka Thirsty Homebody — is getting into The Pumpkin Spice Story.
We’re talking about where pumpkin spice actually came from, how it became connected to pumpkin pie, when brands realized they could turn fall into a whole experience, and how seasonal marketing helped transform pumpkin spice into the cultural phenomenon we know today.
Because at this point, pumpkin spice isn’t really just about cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves.
It’s about nostalgia.
It’s about that first little hint that fall is coming.
It’s about buying a drink in August even though it is still 87 degrees outside because spiritually…you have moved on. 😂
And maybe that’s what makes pumpkin spice so powerful.
Sometimes we’re not buying the flavor.
We’re buying the anticipation.
For this episode, I’m sipping on my Pumpkin Pie Dirty Soda — a creamy, dessert-inspired drink that takes those familiar pumpkin pie flavors and puts them somewhere completely different.
Want the recipe? Head over to the Thirsty Homebody YouTube channel and make one with me.
Because around here, we’re not just drinking.
We’re thinking, too.
🎙️ TRUE MOCKTAILS
Hosted by Princess, aka Thirsty HomebodyTRUE MOCKTAILS explores the history, culture, strange traditions, mysteries, scandals, and wild stories hiding inside the things we drink.
Come hang out with Thirsty Homebody:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thirstyhomebody
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thirstyhomebody
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thirstyhomebody
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thirstyhomebody
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThirstyHomebodyFollow TRUE MOCKTAILS so you don’t miss the next story hiding inside your glass.
29 min - The Strange History of the Martini
🍸 Who looked at gin and vermouth and said, “You know what this needs? An olive.”
Because we need to talk.
In Episode 5 of TRUE MOCKTAILS, we’re getting into the strange, surprisingly messy history of one of the most recognizable drinks in the world: the martini.
Where did it actually come from? Who invented it? Why are there multiple stories claiming to be the real origin? And somewhere along the way…how did this little glass of mostly alcohol become the drink of sophistication, fancy dinners, cocktail lounges, spies, and people who say things like “shaken, not stirred”?
Girl. It’s a whole story.
We’re going back to the martini’s early days, digging into the different theories about where it came from, how it changed over time, and how pop culture helped turn it from a cocktail into an entire personality.
And because this is TRUE MOCKTAILS, you already know we’re not just talking about what was in the glass.
We’re talking about what the glass represented.
So grab whatever you’re sipping and come hang out with me while we figure out how a tiny V-shaped glass became one of the biggest symbols in drinking culture.
Because around here, we’re not just drinking.
We’re thinking, too.
🎙️ TRUE MOCKTAILS
Hosted by Princess, aka Thirsty HomebodyTRUE MOCKTAILS explores the history, culture, strange traditions, mysteries, scandals, and wild stories hiding inside the things we drink.
Come hang out with Thirsty Homebody:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thirstyhomebody
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thirstyhomebody
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thirstyhomebody
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thirstyhomebody
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThirstyHomebodyFollow TRUE MOCKTAILS so you don't miss the next story hiding inside your glass.
20 min - Apple Cider: The Drink That Became Fall - How an old-school apple drink somehow became the unofficial beverage of sweater weather, pumpkin patches, and pretending 72 degrees is cold.
Okay drinkers and thinkers, we need to talk about apple cider.
Because somewhere along the way, this centuries-old drink went from “we have a bunch of apples…now what?” to being one of the biggest signs that FALL HAS ARRIVED.
But apple cider’s story is way older — and a little messier — than the cute jugs at the apple orchard would have you believe.
In Episode 4 of True Mocktails, Princess — aka Thirsty Homebody — is getting into the history of apple cider, how cider drinking changed over the years, and how this humble apple drink became permanently attached to fall in America.
We’re talking apples, orchards, old-school drinking habits, Prohibition, nostalgia, fall marketing and the reason one sip of cider can suddenly make you want to buy a blanket you absolutely do not need.
Grab your drink and come hang out.
Because apparently even apple cider has a backstory.
QUESTION FOR THE DRINKERS & THINKERS:
What drink officially tells your brain that fall has arrived?
Apple cider? Pumpkin spice? Chai? Something else?
Come tell me!
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https://www.youtube.com/@ThirstyHomebodySubscribe/follow so you don't miss the next episode.
NEXT ON TRUE MOCKTAILS:
Episode 5 — The Strange History of the Martini21 min - Why Do We Drink When We Celebrate? Labor Day, cookouts, happy hour & how having a drink became part of having a good time
Why does every celebration seem to come with a drink?
Labor Day cookouts. Birthday dinners. Weddings. Happy hour after a long week. Girls’ night. Date night. Vacations. Even somebody casually saying, “We should celebrate!” somehow feels like it should be followed by “…with drinks.”
But when did drinking become such a big part of having a good time?
In this Labor Day episode of TRUE MOCKTAILS, Princess — aka Thirsty Homebody — is getting into how alcohol became tied to celebration, socializing, relaxation, and reward.
We’re talking about the history behind celebratory drinking, the rise of happy hour, America’s love affair with the backyard cookout, and why holidays like Labor Day practically come with an unofficial drink menu.
And of course, we have to ask:
Do we actually need alcohol to make something feel like a celebration…or have we just been taught that we do?
Grab your favorite drink — boozy, booze-free, or somewhere in between — and come hang out.
Because around here, we’re not just drinking.
We’re thinking, too.
🎙️ TRUE MOCKTAILS
Hosted by Princess, aka Thirsty HomebodyNew episodes explore the strange, surprising, historical, and sometimes downright dark stories hiding inside drinking culture.
Follow the show so you don’t miss the next episode.
Come hang out with Thirsty Homebody:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thirstyhomebody
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thirstyhomebody
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thirstyhomebody
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thirstyhomebody
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThirstyHomebodyAnd if this episode made you think about your own relationship with celebration and drinking, send it to somebody you’d have this conversation with at the cookout.
24 min - When Drinks Became Weapons: Poisoned Alcohol, Mystery Vending Machines & Deadly Sips
🥂 Welcome back, drinkers and thinkers!
Episode 2 of True Mocktails is taking a MUCH darker turn.
Because apparently drinks haven't always been innocent little beverages minding their business.
We're getting into poisoned alcohol, mysterious vending machines, deadly drinks, and some very real stories that might have you looking at your glass a little differently by the end of this episode.
How did alcohol become intentionally dangerous? What's the story behind those mysterious vending machines? And just how much trouble can be hiding inside something as ordinary as a drink?
Grab yourself something good—preferably something YOU poured 😂—and come down the rabbit hole with me.
This is True Mocktails: good drinks, great stories, and questionable rabbit holes.
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🎥 WATCH + SUBSCRIBE
Watch True Mocktails and find mocktail recipes, seasonal drinks, dirty sodas, homemade syrups, and more from Thirsty Homebody on YouTube.
Subscribe:
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🥂 CONNECT WITH US
Come sip with us everywhere!
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https://www.instagram.com/thirstyhomebodyTikTok:
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https://www.threads.com/@thirstyhomebodyFacebook:
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🎙️ ABOUT TRUE MOCKTAILS
True Mocktails is hosted by Princess, aka Thirsty Homebody.
Each episode pairs a good drink with the kind of conversation that sends us straight down a rabbit hole—history, pop culture, strange stories, true crime, womanhood, and whatever else we're curious about that week.
Good drinks. Great stories. Questionable rabbit holes.
See you next time, drinkers and thinkers! 🥂
23 min - The Wild History of Lemonade: When Life Gives You Lemons… Apparently There’s Drama
Welcome to the very first episode of True Mocktails!
We’re starting with something that seems innocent enough: lemonade. Lemons, sugar, water. Simple, right?
Baby… no.
Pour yourself something good because we’re going down the surprisingly long, slightly messy, history of one of the most iconic drinks ever. We’re talking ancient origins, questionable medical advice, Parisian lemonade sellers, and how this little lemon drink became a whole cultural moment.
And because this is True Mocktails, we’re sipping while we learn.
Grab your glass and get comfortable, drinkers and thinkers. We’ve got things to discuss.
🎥 WATCH + SUBSCRIBE
Love True Mocktails? Come hang out with us on YouTube for the video version of the podcast, mocktail recipes, seasonal drinks, and more from Thirsty Homebody.
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@ThirstyHomebody
🥂 CONNECT WITH US
Come sip with us everywhere!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thirstyhomebodyTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thirstyhomebodyThreads: https://www.threads.com/@thirstyhomebodyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thirstyhomebody
True Mocktails is hosted by Princess, aka Thirsty Homebody.
Good drinks. Great stories. Questionable rabbit holes.
See you next time, drinkers and thinkers!
20 min
About True Mocktails
From the publisher's feed
True Mocktails is where good drinks meet even better stories. Hosted by Princess, aka Thirsty Homebody, each episode pairs a delicious mocktail with the kind of conversation that sends you straight…
down a rabbit hole in history, pop culture, strange stories, true crime, womanhood and whatever else we're curious about that week. Grab a drink, get comfortable and come think, laugh and sip with us. Welcome, drinkers and thinkers!