Vulgar History: Halloween
A feminist women's history comedy podcast. We look at history through a feminist lens, focusing on the women often removed from the narrative.
Episodes
October 15, 2025 • 70 mins
In last week's episode, Mary Wollstonecraft decided to head over to Paris as the French Revolution was turning into The Terror, just for the vibes. This week, we learn what she did when she got there (and which of our faves she ran into!), and what happened next.
Trigger warning: discussion in this episode includes depression, suicidal ideation, and attempted suicide.
Next time: we get into the story of Wollstonecraft's daughter,...
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October 10, 2025 • 52 mins
Mary Shelley's influence can be felt in countless feminist body horror novels written in the past two hundred years. But how many of those books are about anatomical wax figures who come to life to KILL THE MEN WHO PREYED UPON THEM??
Allison Rushby's novel Slashed Beauties is about just that. We talk about the real (grotesque) history behind her novel, how Mary Shelley inspired her, and how she researched the lives of 18th-century...
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October 8, 2025 • 75 mins
It's Mary Shelley Month on Vulgar History! For Halloween season, we're looking at goth icon Mary Shelley and her friends and family. And we'e starting with her equally iconic mother, Mary Wollstonecraft!
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October 6, 2025 • 67 mins
Marie Antoinette feels as present today as she was in her life, with a new V&A exhibit, a TV series, the recent five-episode podcast series of Vulgar History and a new biography! Why do people continue to be intrigued by this 18th-century Queen?
Author Melanie Burrows, a lifelong fan of Marie Antoinette (and author of the new book Marie Antoinette: Teen Queen to Guillotine) joins us for a chat about Marie Antoinette's legacy.
Ord...
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October 3, 2025 • 33 mins
Throughout his long and illustrious career, Benjamin Franklin nursed a not-so-secret desire to annex Canada and make it American. But he failed, over and over again.
Author Madelaine Drohan has written all about this in her new book, He Did Not Conquer: Benjamin Franklin's Failure to Annex Canada. And she joins us on the podcast to tell all!
Buy a copy of He Did Not Conquer (affiliate link)
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October 1, 2025 • 124 mins
It's the epic conclusion to the season! In this season finale, Marie Antoinette moves into her final era, and makes a final major fashion statement.
Join the Vulgar History Patreon to watch this episode as a video!
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Preorder info for Ann's upcoming book, Rebel of the Regency!
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Get 15% off all the gorgeous jewellery and accessories at common.era...
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September 26, 2025 • 138 mins
Last time on HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE MARIE ANTOINETTE: The mob forced Marie Antoinette, Berry, and their family to leave Versailles. Marie Antoinette knew nothing good would come of this, and worked with her hot Swedish lover to figure out an escape plan featuring a party bus, false identities, and Monsieur Sauce.
Historical fiction author (and returning Vulgar History guest) Allison Epstein joins us for the unhinged saga....
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September 24, 2025 • 114 mins
Last time on HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE MARIE ANTOINETTE: the Affair of the Necklace trial made Marie Antoinette realize her reputation's never been worse. But Axel von Fersen likes her for her, which is something, right? Meanwhile, the Market Ladies head out on a momentous march.
Join the Vulgar History Patreon to watch this episode as a video!
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Preorder info for Ann's upcoming book, Rebel of the ...
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September 19, 2025 • 49 mins
The last Marie Antoinette episode ended with how Marie Antoinette herself experienced the weird drama of The Affair of the Necklace. It makes sense to revisit this classic episode about Jeanne de la Motte and History's Ugliest Necklace, now that we all know more about the context of the heist.
Shop The Affair of the Necklace: The Necklace: The T-shirt at the Vulgar History store
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September 17, 2025 • 126 mins
When we left off last time, Marie Antoinette became Queen of France at age eighteen. Hater Nation lost their minds as she could now set up her favourites in sweet jobs, and distance herself from the haters. What was life like during the reign of Marie Antoinette and her woodworking enthusiast husband, Berry? Well, it included a LOT of AMAZING WIGS as our girl channelled 2023-2024 Jojo Siwa with the masks, rapid style pivots, and th...
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September 10, 2025 • 114 mins
We've been building up to this all season. Time to begin our discussion of the iconic French Queen, Marie Antoinette! Before she was Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, she was Maria Antonia, ADHD-coded youngest daughter of a formidable mother (who mostly ignored her).
Join the Vulgar History Patreon to watch this episode as a video!
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Preorder info for Ann's upcoming book, Rebel of the Regency!...
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September 3, 2025 • 84 mins
It's Marie Antoinette Month on Vulgar History! This week, we're talking about her BFF La Princesse de Lamballe. This basic bitch (complimentary) was always there for Marie Antoinette, even as the Queen's favour waxed and waned.
Join the Vulgar History Patreon to watch this episode as a video!
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Preorder info for Ann's upcoming book, Rebel of the Regency!
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Get 15% off all the gorgeous j...
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August 27, 2025 • 104 mins
Marie Antoinette Month continues with a discussion of Marie Antoinette's bestie, Gabrielle de Polastron, Duchess of Polignac. The Elizabeth Taylor of her era (looks-wise, not multiple husbands-wise), Gabby brought joie de vivre and fun to Marie Antoinette's Queen Era. But did Gabby survive the Reign of Terror??
Returning guest Amanda Matta (The Art of History podcast) joins us to explain the Versailles of it all.
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August 20, 2025 • 134 mins
We're in our Marie Antoinette era, and you can't understand her story without knowing about her mother, Empress Maria Theresa! Because Maria Theresa is largely responsible for what happened to Marie Antoinette! Because she was not a good mother!
But what Maria Theresa was skilled at was ruling over a truly perplexing number of territories. All the most impressive when you realize Maria Theresa got zero training and had to learn it...
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August 12, 2025 • 72 mins
We're getting into the Marie Antoinette of it all! From today and until we're done, every week will be a Marie Antoinette event!
Marie Antoinette's appearance was a big part of her reputation (good... then less good) and Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun was her Law Roach in that respect, helping craft an image for the people of France to recognize. And Elisabeth's life was tumultuous and fascinating as well!
We're joined by author Jordana...
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August 6, 2025 • 92 mins
You may not have heard of America's ninth Vice President, Richard Mentor Johnson (he served one term under Martin Van Buren). And you almost certainly have not heard of his enslaved Black wife, Julia Chinn. Until now!!
Everything we know about Julia is thanks to the decade of research Amrita Chakrabarti Myers dedicated to piecing her story together. Amrita joins us this week to discuss Julia's story and what it means to the broade...
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July 30, 2025 • 86 mins
Now that we've learned about expectations for Ancient Roman women, time to learn about a woman who broke all the rules!
You may not have heard of Fulvia, but you've heard of her third husband (pre-Cleopatra Marc Anthony!). And get ready to enjoy the downfall of her number one hater, Cicero (the John Knox of his time).
We're joined by returning guest Jane Draycott (who was previously on to discuss Cleopatra's daughter, Cleopatra S...
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July 25, 2025 • 97 mins
Our friend Gina Berry is back for part two of our Ancient Rome discussion! Last time, we discussed women's roles in the era. Now, it's time to learn how Empress Livia worked within those confines to live a legendary life.
Did she really murder as many people as I, Claudius (and other portrayals) made it seem? We investigate!
Support CHIRLA to help immigrants and refugees in the US
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July 23, 2025 • 73 mins
The Roman Empire inspired the (male) leaders of the American, French, and Haitian Revolutions. But what was that era like for women?
Classical history enthusiast (and Vulgar History all-star returning guest) Gina Berry is here to talk all things Roman Empire.
The video we mention about female gladiators.
Donate to support Al Otro Lado
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July 15, 2025 • 88 mins
Germaine de Staël was a wealthy woman in Paris during the French Revolution. But unlike so many others, she made it through alive! Because she was smart enough to leave town and not return until it was safe! Which means we get to finally talk about what happened in France post-1794.
Special guest Allison Epstein joins us, because Napoleon Bonaparte comes up, and if Napoleon has no haters that because both Germaine and Allison are ...
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