Even The Royals

Inspired by Wondery’s hit podcast Against the Odds—learn how to survive whatever nature can throw at you through gut-twisting true stories of survival on the brink

How to Survive Against the Odds places you at the center of fifteen real life-or-death scenarios. Each story explores the physiological responses of the human body under unbearable conditions, how to counteract them, and strategies for survival from doctors and p...

As Louis XIV’s younger brother, Philippe longs to live life on his own terms and separate himself from his famous sibling, the self-titled Sun King. But that’s easier said than done when your brother sees you as a threat from the day you’re born. Pair that with loving men and you’ve got a recipe for life being a constant uphill battle. Philippe tries everything he can to carve out his own identity – while his family does e...

Princess Mako spent her whole life trying to meet the strict expectations set for 21st century Japanese royals. But when she falls in love and ghosts from her fiancé's past go viral, she realizes she can follow the rules – or follow her heart. But this scandal will stir up a public scrutiny so intense that it threatens her relationship, her family’s reputation, and her sanity.

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In Part 1, Yoshiko Kawashima moved to Japan and worked to reclaim her home by supporting the push for an independent Manchuria. But her growing fame as a Japanese spy gets her into hot water when she tries to switch sides during World War II. After fleeing to China, Yoshiko is arrested and put on trial for treason – where her own exaggerated stories are used as evidence against her. Her trial will determine whether history...

Yoshiko Kawashima was more than just a Manchu princess – she was also one of history’s most notorious spies. After being torn from her family at age 8 and forced to navigate between Chinese and Japanese identities, Yoshiko refuses to be held back by society’s expectations of women. She dresses like a man, becomes a staple of Shanghai nightlife, and has affairs with both men and women. But living large can be dangerous. And...

In part one, Nur Jahan charmed her way out of the harem and onto the throne by becoming the emperor’s favorite wife. When her husband’s health takes a sharp turn, she steps into an even bigger role: co-sovereign. But this kind of authority is a threat to noble men everywhere. Even her own flesh and blood.

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This two-part series is all about Empress Nur Jahan, who rose from Persian refugee to become the most powerful woman in the Mughal Empire. As a girl, Nur Jahan wanted nothing more than to forge her own fate. But as she gets older, she finds herself trapped inside the emperor’s harem. To gain her freedom, she’ll have to charm the emperor with her wits and political savvy. But the more power she gains, the more her enemies a...

This two-part series is all about Lili'uokalani, the first and last queen of the Kingdom of Hawai’i. In part one, Lili'uokalani came of age in the Hawaiian court and supported her brother when he became king. But when powerful foreigners forced through a new constitution that stripped rights from the Hawaiian people, Lili’uokalani refused to stay silent. Now, as queen, she’s set on becoming the ruler that Ha...

We'll be back next week with an all-new episode of Even the Royals. In the meantime, we're returning to another one of the first queens we covered.

Before Hawai’i was a state, it was an independent kingdom ruled by a series of monarchs – including one queen. Queen Lili’uokalani was a writer, composer, and philanthropist who gave everything she had to protect her homeland and her people. In part one of this two-par...

"Ever wonder how your favorite Tudor queens prevented wrinkles? Or whether they’d be cool with using a beef tallow moisturizer? Early modern historian Erin Griffey is here to answer all of our questions about Tudor beauty trends. It’s time to find out once and for all if that white face powder seen in all those portraits was actually poisoning everyone…or if that’s just a royal myth. Inspired by the looks (and the drama) o...

After getting back on the throne, Charles II quickly discovers that being king isn't as fun as he’d hoped – it’s a lot more pressure than partying. When his marriage to Catherine of Portugal fails to produce an heir, he finds comfort - and chaos - in the arms of powerful mistresses. But when England faces war, plague, and a financial crisis, Charles will finally be forced to choose between politics and pleasure.

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Charles II was known as the Merry Monarch – but his childhood was nothing to laugh about. When his father, the king, was executed and the English monarchy was dissolved, Charles went from pampered Prince to fugitive on the fun. During his teenage years, he discovers his two greatest talents – survival and seduction. But as Charles fights to restore the monarchy, he’ll find that his appetite for pleasure might derail his pa...

This two-part series is all about Grace O’Malley – a 16th century Irish pirate queen. In part one, Grace defied norms and became a plundering, swashbuckling pirate – and clan leader. She built an empire so powerful that it made her a threat to the invading English. Now, Sir Richard Bingham is dead-set on sinking her empire. But Grace has never turned away from a fight. She’s ready to plot, pillage and kill to remain free. ...

You’ve probably heard about famous pirates like Blackbeard and Captain Kidd. But over a century before these bad boys roamed the seas, a kickass pirate queen reigned over Ireland’s coast for six decades. Grace O’Malley was told women should lead quiet, domestic lives, locked away in their castles. But she refused this fate and instead, fought tooth, nail, and cannonball for a life where she could sail and pillage like any ...

In part one, Theodora escaped poverty and exploitation and rose through the ranks of Byzantine society. When she marries the love of her life, Justinian, and he gets the bump to Emperor, she rises even higher – to co-ruler – and uses her newfound power to fight for women’s rights. Theodora has everything she’s ever wanted – status, love, and the ability to make change. But when riots threaten to topple her reign, she’ll re...

Empress Theodora was a true rags to riches story. She rose from humble circus performer all the way to the top of the royal food chain through wit, charm, and sheer gutsiness. As a child, she dreams of a more glamorous life – but climbing the ladder is tough, particularly during the Byzantine era. And the higher she goes, the more people try to knock her down. 

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We'll be back next week with an all-new episode of Even the Royals. In the meantime, we're returning to one of our favorite episodes on Grace Kelly's daughter, Stephanie, Princess of Monaco. When Grace Kelly died tragically in 1982 she left behind a legacy as an actress, philanthropist, and fashion icon. But she also left behind a 17-year-old daughter who was in the car crash that took Grace’s life. Princess Step...

We’re throwing it back to high school and dishing out some superlatives — with a royal twist of course. Who’s the most rebellious royal? Which couple gets the sweetest love story? And who will be crowned our most devious schemer? Brooke and Aricia are joined on the yearbook committee by Katy Hearne-Church and Nathan Foster, hosts of Queens Podcast, where they talk about the royals you may or may not have heard about in his...

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we’re bringing you three stories of modern royals who, against the odds, found their OTL. There’s Aussie Mary and Prince Frederik of Denmark, whose unlikely love story hinges on the approval of the Danish people accepting a foreigner as their future queen. Then American college-grad Ariana, who meets a mystery man at a nightclub, only to find out months into their relationship that the man...