History Is Sexy
History Is Sexy
History is Sexy is a podcast presented by historian Dr Emma Southon and writer Janina Matthewson answering listener questions about history. What did the Romans do for us? Where did marrying for love come from? What was world war one all about? Produced and edited by Oliver Kealey. Theme music by Ketsa.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 17, 2019 β’ 51min
Episode #31 - Why Did People Drink So Much Beer In The Middle Ages?
Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyissexy
This time, Emma and Janina dive into a big vat of history, answering a question from Emma's Mum's friend: "In medieval times, how come there was so much ale available. What was it made of, how come it was so available and how was it made and transported?"
Sources: https://historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-31-beer-middle-ages
Apr 4, 2019 β’ 1h 1min
Episode #30 - "What Links an Emperor, an Actress, and a Goose?"
Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyissexy
This time, Emma regales Janina (and us) with the story of Procopius, a cautionary tale of historical bias, fake news, and bizarre stories about geese!
Featuring:
Power couple Justinian and Theodora! π€΄πΈ
Sports teams that are also mafia gangs! π π‘οΈ
https://historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-30-actress-empress-goose
The Hagia Sofia, it's pretty neat! βͺ
Support us here: bit.ly/supportsexyhistory
Mar 21, 2019 β’ 1h 6min
Episode #29 - Why Are So Many Musicals About Revolutions?
Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyissexy
After a short break, Emma and Janina dive into the world of musical theatre, examining important shows and pondering the question, why are so many musicals about revolution?
Featuring:
Rambunctious revolutionaries!
Corpulent kings!
Bangers, wall-to-wall bangers!
Support History is Sexy here: www.ko-fi.com/hispod
Feb 21, 2019 β’ 1h 5min
Episode #28 - What Was The Nazi Lebensborn Program?
Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyissexy
This time, Emma and Janina take a close look at a topic not many people are aware of: the Nazi breeding program. What was Lebensborn? How did it operate? Why is it largely forgotten and relatively unknown in today's society?
Featuring:
A mighty mangling of German!
A lack of levity
Lots of kidnapped kinder
Sources: https://historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-28-lebensborn
Feb 7, 2019 β’ 48min
Episode #27 - The Lives of Viking and Mongolian Women
Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyissexy
Please take our listener survey, we'd love to hear your feedback and how you think we could improve the show! https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/JQVH895?fbclid=IwAR1XURKStu4Xj7f-Juy9kUtfDAHnRBKOSsn6LmMbjrtrneJrkhRpeS07y9Y
This time Emma and Janina take a look at the lives of women in the very martial Norse and Mongolian cultures. How were their lives different from those of their contemporaries in other cultures?
Featuring:
A very novel use for a sack of silver!
The grave matter of burial goods!
Political powerhouses!
Sources: https://historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-27-viking-mongolian-women

Jan 25, 2019 β’ 1h
Episode #26 - Before AD & BC, How Did People Classify Years & Time?
Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyissexy
This time, Emma and Janina take a deep dive into the history of time and how we measure it! How did people in the pre-Christian world mark dates and years? What other calendars are there? Did the time period between 340AD and 911AD even exist??
Featuring:
Lots of Kings and Emperors! π€΄π€΄π€΄
Water clocks and sundials! π°οΈβ°
A grand and ridiculous conspiracy theory! π΅πΌββοΈπ€
This audio has been updated due to a prior error
Sources: https://historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-26-time
Jan 10, 2019 β’ 1h 10min
Episode #25 - What's The History Of Witch Trials?
Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyissexy
This week Emma and Janina dive into the history of witch trials and the story of the possessed nuns of Loudun! What's the real story behind one of medieval Europe's most famous possession stories? What happened to the townspeople of Salem, Massachusetts?
Featuring:
A whole host of demons, signing a contract! πΏβοΈ
Some really gruesome executions! ππ
Nuns doing things that nuns aren't allowed to do! βͺπ
Sources: https://historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-25-witch-trials
Dec 24, 2018 β’ 1h 22min
Episode #24 - Quick Christmas Questions Special!
Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyissexy
It's Christmas!
To celebrate the season of goodwill, we're answering your excellent quick questions in our bumper Xmas special!
Where does Santa come from?
Is Christmas really a pagan thing?
Who is Father Christmas? How was he different to Santa? Why did the Puritans hate him?
And much more!
Dec 12, 2018 β’ 1h 3min
Episode #23 - What's the History of the Crimson Wave?
Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyissexy
In this episode, Emma and Janina take a deep dive into the history of menstruation!
What methods did people in the past use to cope during their periods? What cultural attitudes and taboos did historic societies have towards the subject of menstruation? Why do modern people tend to have heavier periods?
Featuring:
All manner of bizarre "feminine hygiene products" (designed by people who have not menstruated)
The Period Hut
Various belts and apparatuses!
Nov 29, 2018 β’ 60min
Episode #22 - What's The History Of Albinism?
Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyissexy
This time on History is Sexy, Emma and Janina dive into a listener's question about the history of people with albinism. Why did the Romans think they came from Albania? How has their history shaped understandings of race? and what challenges do they face in our modern world?
Featuring:
Noah being embarrassed π³π΄
The man who made Icelanders very angry βοΈπ€¬
Voltaire being awful π«π·π’
And plenty more!


