Hot Mess History Podcast

Katherine Parr (Part 1)

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode, Sarah takes us into the early life of Katherine Parr before she ever became the sixth wife of Henry VIII. We explore her upbringing in a well connected Tudor family, the humanist education that shaped her into one of the most intellectually formidable women at court, and why that education mattered so much for women in the early modern period.

We also follow Katherine through her first marriage to Edward Burgh, her second marriage to Sir John Neville, and the growing religious and political tensions under Henry VIII that would eventually erupt into the Pilgrimage of Grace. Before Katherine was queen, she was already learning how dangerous survival in Tudor England could be.

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Intro music by Fantasy Music Studio, remixed by Sarah

Music by Ribhav Agrawal from Pixabay

Music by Vlad Bakutov from Pixabay

Fair Use Disclaimer: This podcast may contain excerpts of copyrighted material used for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and discussion. This use is permitted under Section 107 of the United States Copyright Act. All rights remain with their respective copyright holders.

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Andrei Chikatilo (True Crime)

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode, Alora takes us into one of history’s darkest true crime cases as she tells the chilling story of Andrei Chikatilo, the man known as the Butcher of Rostov. We follow the investigation, the police failures that allowed him to keep killing, and the fear that spread across the Soviet Union as authorities struggled to stop him. It is a disturbing look at one of the most infamous serial killers in modern history, proving that truth can be far more terrifying than fiction. Don't miss this special True Crime edition of the Hot Mess History Podcast!

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Intro music by Fantasy Music Studio, remixed by Sarah

Music by Ribhav Agrawal from Pixabay

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The Harpe Brothers

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode, Alora takes the lead and brings the chaos with a true crime story that feels almost too wild to be real. We dive into the terrifying tale of the Harpe Brothers, two of the earliest documented serial killers in American history, whose brutality left a trail of fear across the frontier. We follow their shocking crimes, the myths that grew around them, and the very real devastation they caused. It's a journey through early America that is equal parts horrifying, fascinating, and deeply unsettling.

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Intro music by Fantasy Music Studio, remixed by Sarah

Music by Ribhav Agrawal from Pixabay

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Catherine Howard (Part 8)

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In our final episode on Catherine Howard, we step into what history left behind… and what did not fit neatly into our previous episodes.

A ghost said to run through Hampton Court Palace, forever caught in a moment of panic. A face no one can truly confirm, with portraits that may or may not belong to her. And a Victorian excavation of the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula that raises more questions than answers… including the absence of Catherine herself.

We unravel the legend, the mystery, and the legacy she left behind, while confronting the “bimbo” and “tart” tropes that have defined her for centuries… and how historians have begun to reexamine her story and push back against the narrative that shaped her reputation.

And with that, we bring Catherine Howard’s story to a close.

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Intro music by Fantasy Music Studio, remixed by Sarah

Music by Vlad Bakutov from Pixabay

Music by Vladimir Visic from Pixabay

Music by Syouki Takahashi from Pixabay

Sound Effect by gargamel10 from Pixabay

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Catherine Howard (Part 7)

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode, everything finally catches up. As Thomas Culpepper and Francis Dereham face their brutal ends, the world around Catherine Howard begins to collapse in ways no one can control. Jane Boleyn unravels, the walls close in, and Catherine is taken to the Tower of London knowing exactly what’s waiting for her. There are whispers of a girl practicing with the execution block. Of fear, of inevitability, of a story slipping out of her control. We follow Catherine through her final moments, her execution, and her burial.

But this is not where her story ends.

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Intro music by Fantasy Music Studio

Music by Vlad Bakutov from Pixabay

Music by Vladimir Visic from Pixabay

Music by Syouki Takahashi from Pixabay

Sound Effect by gargamel10 from Pixabay

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Catherine Howard (Part 6)

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode, everything begins to unravel with Francis Dereham under interrogation, setting off the chain of events that will destroy our girl, Catherine Howard. As the pressure builds, Catherine spirals, leading to her desperate run down the gallery at Hampton Court Palace before she’s pulled into questioning by Thomas Cranmer. We also dig into Catherine's relationship with Thomas Culpepper, breaking down the theories. Was it consensual? Was it love? Or something far more complicated?

By the end, the collapse is complete. Catherine Howard, Thomas Culpepper, Francis Dereham, and Jane Boleyn are arrested and sentenced to death.

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Intro music by Fantasy Music Studio

Music by Vlad Bakutov from Pixabay

Music by Vladimir Visic from Pixabay

Music by Syouki Takahashi from Pixabay

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Catherine Howard (Part 5)

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode, we begin by diving head first into the chaos. Catherine Howard’s secret affair with Thomas Culpeper intensifies with risky meetings and close calls, while the return of Francis Dereham brings her past dangerously close to the surface. As whispers spread through Mary Lascelles and reach Thomas Cranmer, a quiet investigation begins. By the end, the truth is closing in and Catherine’s world is on the brink of collapse.

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Intro music by Fantasy Music Studio

Music by Vlad Bakutov from Pixabay

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Catherine Howard (Part 4)

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Catherine Howard is now queen, and the Tudor rumor mill is already in full swing. With Alora out sick this week, Sarah is flying solo as she explores how contemporaries actually described Catherine, the suspicious letter sent by her former roommate Joan Bulmer, and the complicated dynamics between Catherine and Henry VIII’s children.

While Catherine clashes with Mary I of England, she forms a much warmer relationship with the young Elizabeth I. Meanwhile, Henry is completely smitten with his new bride. But during the royal progress of 1541, Catherine reconnects with Thomas Culpeper… setting the stage for a dangerous secret.

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Catherine Howard (Part 3)

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 07:00:00 GMT

From maid of honor to queen in a matter of months, Catherine Howard’s rise at the court of Henry VIII was as dazzling as it was dangerous.

In this episode, we trace Catherine’s life serving Anne of Cleves, the moment Henry first noticed her, and the lightning fast fall of Thomas Cromwell, all as she is swept from the background of court into the center of the throne room.

Intro music by Fantasy Music Studio

Music by Vlad Bakutov from Pixabay

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Catherine Howard (Part 2)

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 07:00:00 GMT

In Part 2, we pick up as Catherine Howard leaves the Dowager Duchess’s household behind and steps into court as a lady in waiting to Anne of Cleves. But Catherine’s past is never far behind, and court life brings new attention, new risks, and new opportunities.

Because once Henry VIII starts to notice you, everything changes.

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Catherine Howard (Part 1)

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 07:00:00 GMT

Before she was queen, Catherine Howard was a teenage girl growing up in a chaotic noble household with very little supervision and a lot at stake.

In this episode, we dig into her uncertain birth year, messy family dynamics, and life in the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk’s household where reputations were fragile and privacy barely existed. We unpack her early relationship with Henry Mannox, the power imbalance involved, and why Catherine’s own words challenge the long standing myth that she was reckless or foolish.

Catherine’s story does not begin with a crown. It begins with a girl trying to survive in a world that was never designed to protect her.

Listen as Sarah makes her case for her favorite of Henry VIII’s queens and argues that history might have judged her far too harshly.

Because the truth about Catherine Howard is far more complicated than it seems.

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Anna of Cleves (Part 2)

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 07:00:00 GMT

In Part 2 of Anna of Cleves, part of our Women Who Had to Put Up with Henry VIII’s BS series, we follow Anna on her journey to England, the painfully awkward first meeting with Henry VIII, the rushed marriage, and the annulment that followed. Sarah and Alora unpack how Anna managed to survive Henry’s chaos and walk away with her dignity and status intact.

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Anna of Cleves (Part 1)

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 07:00:00 GMT

In Part 1 of our Anna of Cleves series, we kick off Anna’s story with her early life, why we call her "Anna" instead of "Anne", and the political maneuvering behind her match with Henry VIII. We unpack the portraits, expectations, and how Anna ended up in Henry’s chaotic dating era. Join us for the chaotic context, intrigue, and first impressions as we dive into one of Henry’s most misunderstood marriages.

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Peter Stumpp: The Werewolf of Bedburg

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 07:00:00 GMT

On this episode of The Hot Mess History Podcast, we take a break from our series “women who had to put up with Henry VIII’s BS” to switch things up. Alora takes over storytelling duties and walks Sarah through the chilling case of Peter Stumpp, the infamous werewolf of Bedburg, and the chaos that followed.

In sixteenth century Germany, fear spread as livestock were slaughtered, children disappeared, and rumors of a supernatural killer gripped the countryside. Under torture, Peter Stumpp confessed to murdering up to sixteen people, along with other horrifying crimes. But was he truly a monster, or a convenient scapegoat in an era obsessed with witch hunts and public executions?

Join Sarah and Alora as they unpack the history, hysteria, and harsh realities behind one of Europe’s most infamous werewolf legends and ask the real question: who was the biggest monster in this story?

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Minisode: Jane Seymour (Part 2)

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 07:00:00 GMT

In this mini episode, we focus on the final chapter of Jane Seymour’s life and the legacy that followed. We talk about the letters Jane wrote to Henry VIII while she was recovering from childbirth, offering one of the few moments where we hear directly from her and see how carefully she navigated her role as queen. We also examine the circumstances surrounding her death after the birth of Edward VI, and how that loss reshaped the way she was remembered.

Finally, we unpack how Jane Seymour came to be known as Henry’s “good” wife and why history chose to remember her not for who she was, but for what she gave the crown.

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Jane Seymour (Part 1)

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 07:00:00 GMT

In this episode, we take a closer look at Jane Seymour and dismantle the myth of the “good wife.” From her early life at court to her rise during the collapse of Henry VIII’s marriage to Anne Boleyn, Jane learned quickly how dangerous survival near power could be. We explore her carefully managed role as queen, the one moment she dared to challenge Henry during the Pilgrimage of Grace, and the immense pressure placed on her to produce a male heir.

Part 1 ends with Jane giving birth to Henry’s long-awaited son....a moment of triumph that comes with an unspoken cost.

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Anne Boleyn (The Finale)

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 07:00:00 GMT

In the final Anne Boleyn episode of our Women Who Had to Put Up With Henry VIII’s BS series, Sarah and Alora step back from the chronology to untangle the myths that have followed Anne for centuries. We explore where some of the most enduring legends about her came from, why they were so easily believed, and what they reveal about how Anne has been remembered rather than who she actually was.

From the persistent claim that Anne Boleyn inspired the song Greensleeves, to the rumor that she had a sixth finger used to brand her as unnatural, to the many ghost stories said to haunt England in her name, this episode separates historical evidence from propaganda, superstition, and sensationalism. By the end, Anne’s story comes full circle, not as a villain or a legend, but as a woman whose memory was shaped by fear, politics, and misogyny long after her death.

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Anne Boleyn (Part 4)

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 07:00:00 GMT

In Part 4 of our Anne Boleyn episodes in our series "women who had to put up with Henry VIII's BS", Sarah and Alora walk through Anne’s final days, from her arrest and imprisonment in the Tower of London to the carefully constructed charges that sealed her fate. We break down the accusations brought against her, the political motivations behind them, and the men who benefited most from her downfall.

We explore Anne’s trial, her composure in the face of impossible odds, and the moments that reveal her humanity beneath the crown. By the end of this episode, Anne meets her tragic end, and England is left with a queen erased, and a legacy that history has spent centuries misunderstanding.

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Anne Boleyn (Part 3)

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 07:00:00 GMT

In Part 3 of our Anne Boleyn series, Sarah and Alora follow Anne through the most volatile chapter of her queenship. We explore the intense pressure surrounding her pregnancy and the devastating miscarriage that leaves Anne’s position dangerously uncertain. As Catherine of Aragon’s death closes one era, Henry VIII’s near fatal jousting accident raises questions about the future of the Tudor dynasty and Anne’s place within it.

We examine how quickly court favor turns to suspicion, how political enemies begin circling, and how the narrative around Anne shifts from crowned queen to convenient scapegoat. By the end of this episode, the walls are closing in, accusations are forming, and Anne’s fall is no longer a distant possibility. It is imminent.

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Anne Boleyn (Part 2)

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 07:00:00 GMT

This is Part 2 of our Anne Boleyn story within our Women Who Had to Put Up With Henry VIII’s BS series, where Sarah and Alora follow Anne’s rise from Henry’s obsession to Queen of England. From thirst-filled love letters and firm boundaries to secret marriages, annulments, a lavish coronation, and the birth of Elizabeth, this episode explores how ambition, desire, and power collided—ultimately pushing Henry to break from the Catholic Church and change English history forever.

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Anne Boleyn (Part 1)

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 07:00:00 GMT

In Part 1 of our Anne Boleyn series, Sarah and Alora trace Anne’s early life—from her upbringing at Hever Castle to the sharp, glamorous education she received in the diverse courts of Europe. We explore how those years shaped her wit, charm, and political awareness, how the Boleyn family rose within Tudor society, and how her sister Mary’s affair with Henry VIII will set the stage for Anne’s own complicated future at court. By the end of this episode, Anne is stepping into the Tudor spotlight—and Henry is starting to take notice.

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Lady Jane Grey (RE-RUN)

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 07:00:00 GMT

This week, we are re-releasing our episode on Lady Jane Grey. Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, we do not have a new episode for this week. Additionally, our upcoming episodes on Anne Boleyn has required more time to research and produce, and we did not want to rush such an important part of our series, Women Who Had to Put Up with Henry VIII’s BS.

We hope you enjoy revisiting our exploration of Lady Jane Grey’s remarkable but brief place in Tudor history. New episodes will return next week.

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Catherine of Aragon (Part 2)

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 08:12:39 GMT

In Part 2 of the Catherine of Aragon saga in our series called: "Women who had to put up with Henry VIII’s BS," Catherine of Aragon faces the collapse of her world as Anne Boleyn rises and Henry VIII convinces himself their 20-year marriage was a sin. Political chaos erupts, the court turns against her, and Catherine is dragged into a humiliating trial. This is where she delivers one of the most powerful speeches in Tudor history. We follow her final years of exile, resistance, and unshakable dignity as Henry rewrites England itself to get what he wants. Catherine’s story remains heartbreaking, defiant, and unforgettable.

If you missed Part 1, go back and catch up! This mess is better with the full picture.

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Catherine of Aragon (Part 1)

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 07:00:00 GMT

Welcome to our series called "women who had to put up with Henry VIII's BS"!

Catherine of Aragon was destined for greatness long before she became Henry VIII’s first queen. This episode follows her from her powerful childhood in Spain to a tragic first marriage, years of political limbo, and finally her rise beside Henry...the man who adored her, needed her, and slowly became her undoing.

We trace the early cracks in their marriage, the pressure for an heir, and the moment a new woman at court threatens everything Catherine fought for.

This episode is part 1 and part 2 will drop one week from this episode's release.

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Medea

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 07:00:00 GMT

This week, Sarah and Alora dive into the wild, magical, and heartbreakingly messy story of Medea: a sorceress, healer, and priestess of Hecate whose reputation has been dragged for centuries.

She helped a so-called hero rise to fame, got betrayed in return, and made sure no one forgot her name. Was she truly a monster… or just a woman who was pushed past her breaking point?

Join us as we dig into the magic, the myths, and the messy truth behind one of history’s most misunderstood women.

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The Guernsey Martyrs

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 07:00:00 GMT

The day that this episode comes out is Tuesday, November 4th, 2025, which is election day for (some) places in the U.S. If you haven't voted yet...go vote! Happy Voting!

***THIS EPISODE DISCUSSES VERY VERY HORRIFIC AND GRUESOME EVENTS. You have been warned.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN HOT MESSES! This is your official Halloween episode!

We are taking a break from our series on women who have been wrongly villainized by history to bring you the incredibly gruesome tale of the Guernsey Martyrs.

In 1556, on a quiet island in the English Channel, three women were accused of heresy. Not for murder, not for treason, but for believing differently than those in power. What followed was one of the most horrifying executions of the Tudor era. This week, the Hot Mess History Podcast dives into the true story behind one of the darkest chapters in England’s religious turmoil: a moment when “justice” was drenched in fear and politics.

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Joan of Arc

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 06:00:00 GMT

This week on the Hot Mess History Podcast, Sarah tells Alora the chaotic, unbelievable, and ultimately tragic story of Joan of Arc: the teenage peasant who said “God told me to do it,” led France’s army to victory, and scared men so badly they burned her for cross-dressing.

We are unpacking the myths, the misogyny, and the messy politics that turned a teenage girl with a vision into one of history’s most misunderstood icons.

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Lilith

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 06:00:00 GMT

Before Eve, there was Lilith...Adam’s first wife, made from the same clay and absolutely not here to be told what to do. When she refused to submit, she was ran away from Eden and was later branded as a demon (because of course she was). In this episode of the Hot Mess History Podcast, Sarah tells Alora how Lilith’s story spiraled from equality to exile, how medieval fanfiction made her a baby-snatching night demon, and why she’s now seen as a feminist icon reclaiming her own legend. Everyone meet the queen of "standing on business", Lilith!

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Marie Antoinette

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 06:00:00 GMT

She’s been called vain, spoiled, and out of touch — but was Marie Antoinette really the villain of the French Revolution, or just a convenient scapegoat?

In this episode, we uncover how sexism, propaganda, and political chaos turned a teenage girl into the most hated woman in France. From the “Let them eat cake” myth to the smear campaigns that destroyed her image, we’re separating fact from fiction — and asking why powerful women always seem to get the worst PR.

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Olga of Kyiv

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 07:00:43 GMT

When her husband was killed in one of history’s most brutal ways, Olga of Kyiv didn’t just avenge him, she built an empire. In this episode, Sarah and Alora unpack the legend of the widow who burned cities, rewrote the laws, converted an empire, and somehow became a saint. Was she really cruel? Or just a woman history couldn’t handle? Listen and find out!

In solidarity with the Ukrainian people, we intentionally use the Ukrainian pronunciation and spelling of Kyiv.

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Queen Jezebel

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 06:00:00 GMT

For nearly 3,000 years, Jezebel has been remembered as the Bible’s ultimate “bad girl.” But was she really the wicked queen we’ve been told about—or just the victim of some very effective ancient propaganda?

In this episode, Sarah and Alora dig into Jezebel’s life, the legendary Mount Carmel showdown, her infamous feud with Elijah, and the brutal way she met her end. Along the way, they uncover the double standards and political spin that gave Jezebel her lasting bad reputation.

If you’ve ever wondered whether Jezebel was truly evil or just unfairly villainized, this episode gives her story a fresh look.

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Mary Magdalene

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 07:17:18 GMT

She’s been called a prostitute, a saint, a feminist icon, and even the secret wife of Jesus. But who was Mary Magdalene really?

In this episode of the Hot Mess History Podcast, Sarah and Alora dive into the story of one of the most misunderstood women in history. From her appearances in the Gospels as the #1 fan and follower of Jesus, to the centuries-long smear campaign that branded her a “fallen woman,” Mary Magdalene’s reputation has been rewritten more times than almost anyone in the Bible.

🎙️ Join us as we reclaim her story and give this unfairly villainized woman her moment in the spotlight.

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This episode goes out to the customer service agent who got my internet back up and working. Sorry the survey didn't work at the end. You're the real MVP. This one is for you. ✌️

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Clytemnestra

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 06:00:00 GMT

She’s been called a scheming wife, a cold-blooded murderer, and the very embodiment of vengeance itself. But who was Clytemnestra really? Was she the villain of Greek tragedy—or the tragic heroine of her own story?

In this episode of the Hot Mess History Podcast, Sarah and Alora dive into the life and legend of Clytemnestra—one of the most complex figures to emerge from ancient myth. Born into a cursed dynasty and surrounded by betrayal at every turn, her story is one marked by deception, vengeance, survival, and power.

We’ll explore her place in the infamous House of Atreus, the choices that defined her, and how her reputation has shifted across time. Clytemnestra’s legacy forces us to question where villainy ends and justice begins.

By the end, you may find yourself seeing this infamous queen of Mycenae in an entirely new light.

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Martyrs of Compiègne

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:00:00 GMT

In this week’s episode of the Hot Mess History Podcast, Sarah and Alora take you back to the height of the French Revolution, where a group of women chose faith and solidarity over survival. Known today as the Martyrs of Compiègne, these Carmelite nuns faced the guillotine with courage, walking together to their deaths while singing hymns.

Their story isn’t just about martyrdom — it’s about defiance, unity, and the power of conviction in a time when chaos ruled France. We’ll explore who these women were, the events that led to their arrest, and why their final act became a powerful symbol that has echoed for centuries.

Join us as we uncover the haunting and inspiring tale of the women who sang on their way to the blade.

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Alexander Hamilton

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Hot Mess History Podcast, Sarah and Alora unravel the chaotic and captivating life of Alexander Hamilton. Born in the Caribbean and rising from poverty to power, Hamilton became George Washington’s right-hand man and one of the most influential architects of America’s financial system. But with brilliance came controversy—his relentless ambition, fiery clashes with Jefferson and Adams, and entanglement in the nation’s first political sex scandal all cemented his reputation as both genius and troublemaker. His story reaches its dramatic climax in the infamous duel with Aaron Burr, a showdown that would end his life but ensure his legacy lived on.

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Cleopatra

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 06:00:00 GMT

Cleopatra might be one of the most famous women in history, but most of what we think we know about her was written by her enemies. In this episode of the Hot Mess History Podcast, we cut through the Roman gossip and Hollywood glam to get to the truth about Egypt’s last pharaoh.

Was Cleopatra really a seductress who bewitched Caesar and Mark Antony—or a brilliant ruler fighting to keep her kingdom alive in a world run by men who wanted her gone? We’ll talk power, politics, propaganda, and why her story still matters today.

Join us as we untangle the legend from the reality—and spill the tea on the ultimate queen of reinvention.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The English Interregnum + The Exhumation, Trial, & Beheading of Oliver Cromwell's Corpse

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode of the Hot Mess History Podcast, Sarah takes us through one of the wildest periods in English history: the Interregnum. From King Charles I’s downfall and shocking execution, to Oliver Cromwell’s rise as Lord Protector and his strict Puritan rule, we explore how England tried—and failed—to live without a monarchy. And just when you think it can’t get messier, we cover the bizarre posthumous “trial” and execution of Cromwell’s corpse under Charles II. Join us for political chaos, royal revenge, and one of the strangest chapters history has to offer.

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The Salem Witch Trials (Part 2)

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 06:00:00 GMT

In Part 2 of our Salem Witch Trials series, the hysteria reaches its deadly peak—innocent people are convicted on flimsy spectral evidence, and the gallows claim more victims. We cover shocking executions, including Giles Corey’s brutal death by pressing, and the turning point that finally ended the madness. This is the blood-soaked climax of Salem’s most infamous chapter.

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The Salem Witch Trials (Part 1)

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 06:00:00 GMT

In Part 1 of our deep dive into the infamous Salem Witch Trials, we’re setting the stage for one of the wildest moral panics in American history. What started with a group of young girls and some suspicious fits turned into a community-wide witch hunt that cost innocent people their lives.

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Margaret Clitherow

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 06:15:00 GMT

This week on the Hot Mess History Podcast, we travel to Elizabethan England to meet Margaret Clitherow—wife, mother, rebel… and saint. When Catholicism was outlawed under Queen Elizabeth I, Margaret didn't just quietly resist—she turned her home into a secret base for underground Masses and fugitive priests.

In a brutal twist of fate, Margaret refused to plead at her trial to protect her family, and the state executed her in one of the most horrific ways imaginable: by pressing. Listen as Sarah guides Alora through this gripping, heart-wrenching story of conviction, courage, and the dark side of religious persecution.

Love the episode? Drop us a rating or review and share with your history-loving friends. It helps new listeners find the show!

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Marguerite Porete

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode of the Hot Mess History Podcast, we dive into the radical, rebellious, and deeply spiritual life of Marguerite Porete — a 13th-century mystic who dared to challenge the Church with her book, The Mirror of Simple Souls. She believed the soul could become so united with God that it no longer needed the Church, the sacraments, or even moral rules. Marguerite wasn’t a nun. She was part of the Beguines, a group of laywomen who lived spiritually independent lives outside traditional Church structures. But when her mystical writings started to spread, the Church saw her as a threat. What followed was book burnings, Inquisition trials, and eventually, her execution in 1310. The church tried to silence her, but they failed.

Love the episode? Drop us a rating or review and share with your history-loving friends. It helps new listeners find the show!

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Lady Jane Grey

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 07:00:00 GMT

She was brilliant, devout, and politically convenient—and she paid the price. In this episode of the Hot Mess History Podcast, we unravel the heartbreaking story of Lady Jane Grey, the teenage girl forced onto the throne of England for just nine days before being imprisoned and executed.

You’ll hear how a network of power-hungry men used Jane as a pawn, how she tried to resist, and how the brutal politics of Tudor succession ultimately sealed her fate.

Was she a queen? A victim? A martyr?

Yes—she was all three.

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Hypatia of Alexandria

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Hot Mess History, we dive into the brilliant and brutal life of Hypatia of Alexandria—mathematician, philosopher, astronomer, and the last great light of classical learning before the dark tides of religious and political upheaval swept through the Roman world.

We talk philosophy, power struggles, Neoplatonism, the menstrual rag story (yes, really), and the violent intersection of politics, religion, and gender. Hypatia was brilliant. The world wasn’t ready.

Because history?

It’s messy.

Sources:

Hypatia: The Sum of Her Life by Gabrielle Birchak

Hypatia: Her Life and Times by Faith L. Justice

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Boudica: Queen of the Iceni

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 07:00:00 GMT

In this episode, we dive into the fiery rebellion of Boudica, queen of the Iceni, who led a brutal uprising against Roman rule in Britain. After personal and political betrayal, Boudica sparked a campaign of vengeance that left Roman cities in ruins.

Sources:

Boudica: Iron Age Warrior Queen by Richard Hingley & Christina Unwin
Boudica: Warrior Woman of Roman Britain by Caitlin Gillespie

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