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That's History, Babe!

That's History, Babe!

Jared Tetreau & Abe Merker 13 episodes Latest Jun 4, 2026

Julius Caesar. Joan of Arc. Liberace. These people are dead. But if they were alive, they’d be listening to this show. Hosts Jared Tetreau and Abe Merker take you deep into the bowels of the archive to explore the dank crevices and back alleys of the past, reclaiming history for the curious-minded girls, gays, and theys.

Episodes

Bad Popes 2: The Borgias Jun 11, 2026 1:16:31 POV: you’re at the sickest rave of your life. Candles flickering. Incense burning. Gregorians chanting. The place: Vatican City. The year: 1492. The man behind it all: Pope Alexander VI aka Rodrigo Borgia. This week, we return to a place of pope as we tell the story of the most ruthless family in papal history. Hear about the depravity and delusion of the entire Borgia clan in an episode rife with
How did Bernie Madoff steal $65 BILLION?? Jun 4, 2026 1:07:28 “Fake it 'til you make it”, right? Well Bernie Madoff faked it so hard he was sentenced to 150 years in prison! Come with us on a journey through the worst financial crime in US history (that we know of), the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme, where one man with a crippling fear of failure scammed thousands of people out of a sickening amount of money (we’re talking tens of billions, girl.) Tangents incl
Unpacking The "Lost Cause" Myth w/ Madison Albertson May 28, 2026 1:29:37 Ever wonder why your Republican uncle suddenly cares so much about monuments?In this episode, Jared, Abe, & special guest Madison Albertson (scholar, lesbian, and friend of the pod) explore the story of "the Lost Cause", a nationalist myth originating in the post civil-war South that paints the Confederate movement as moral, just, and TOTALLY NOT about slavery. Follow along as we dive into the
The sad GENIUS of Eugene O'Neill May 21, 2026 1:21:28 It’s not enough to be a deadbeat dad if you want to be an artist. You also have to be obsessed with the sea. This week, we take center stage and explore the life of storied American playwright Eugene O’Neill. Digging into his methods, inspirations, artistry, horrible family life, and dismal performance as a husband and father, we discover the visionary voice of this brooding genius, and learn that
Bad Popes! May 14, 2026 1:29:11 Remember: just because you sit on the throne of Saint Peter doesn’t mean you can’t have a pet elephant or turn your palace into a brothel. This week, Jared and Abe plumb the depths of medieval history to explore the lurid, lascivious reigns of the un-holy men who led the Catholic Church. Yes, we’re talking about some BAD POPES. Tangents include but are not limited to Polish face, the snail-like Lo
Carrie A. Nation liked smashing up bars with a hatchet! May 7, 2026 1:23:42 Sometimes when there’s a big problem no one wants to deal with, you gotta take matters into your own hands. Case in point: Carrie A. Nation; a devout woman, angry about alcohol, who started smashing up bars with a hatchet! In this episode, Abe and Jared dive deep into the life of Carrie Nation, aka Hatchet Granny, the fierce Temperance crusader and suffragist who’d had just about enough of this “a
A Hairy History of Animal Celebrities Apr 23, 2026 1:26:42 Some people say dogs are man’s best friend, but we say there are dogs worthy of winning Best Actor at the Academy Awards. In this week’s episode, Jared and Abe grab their flea combs and diva into the hairy history of animal celebrities. From memes to movies and from the 1920s to the 2020s, we explore famous animals and what they tell us about ourselves. Tangents include but are not limited to The
The Petticoat Affair and the scandalous Peggy Eaton Apr 16, 2026 1:16:35 Let’s face it: opinionated people can be polarizing. Jared knows it. Abe knows it. And Peggy Eaton – the 1820s political wife who brought the executive branch to a halt - definitely knew it too! In this episode, Jared and Abe take you back to the age of Andrew Jackson with the story of a scandal that paralyzed his presidency. Learn how snubs and sideways glances in the parlors of Washington, DC co
Oh that's not....a history of THE VIEW Apr 9, 2026 1:01:07 Nineties television; a hellscape of trashy talk shows. Maury. Jerry. Sally. Ricki. But only one show remains on the airwaves to this day, arguably stronger now than it’s ever been: THE VIEW. In this episode, Jared and Abe explore the origins of TV’s last highly-rated daytime talk show. What made THE VIEW different from its competitors? Who still watches it and why? How does THE VIEW keep book
Christina, Queen of Sweden: Lesbians win!! Apr 2, 2026 1:07:49 Don’t you hate when your girlfriend has a husband and you can’t hang with your philosopher bestie due to a silly little war about whether the church should slay or not? Christina of Sweden definitely did. Take a trip with us to 17th century Sweden, from Christina’s strange childhood and mommy issues to her ascension to the throne and blossoming desire to kiss her lady in waiting. Tangents include,
Close Encounters of the Gay Kind: A history of alien encounters Mar 26, 2026 57:31 Roswell. Hoax photos. Desert people. Racist and factually incorrect History Channel shows. What do all of these things have in common? Aliens. In this episode, Jared and Abe uncover the truth about the history of alien abductions, tackling tough questions such as: Where did this phenomenon come from? What is the first recorded alien abduction? What’s up with the probing? And most importantly, what
The Election of 2000: An intro to Florida math Mar 18, 2026 54:18 The year 2000. A new millennium and, for America, a new president. But who will the people choose?? Twenty-six years later, we still don’t know. In this episode, Jared and Abe remove their glasses in disbelief as the race between George Bush and Al Gore goes down to the wire in Florida. Recounts. Hanging chads. The Miami Sound Machine. The only thing at stake is the United States of America.

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