Home Podcasts The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast
The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast

The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast

Heather Rose Jones 346 Episodes Jun 20, 2026

A show about queer women in history and historic literature, plus coverage of the field of sapphic historical fiction. Content note: May include discussions of sex within an academic context.

Episodes

So You’re Writing a Sapphic Historical Romance: Questions to Consider (Reprise) - The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast Episode 345 Jun 20, 2026 2555 So You’re Writing a Sapphic Historical Romance: Questions to Consider (Reprise) The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 345 with Heather Rose Jones In this episode we talk about the questions to ask about sapphic relationships and how they are perceived in your story’s setting: How easy is it to live outside of the heterosexual marriage paradigm? What are the economic, legal, and religious c
When Did We Become Lesbians? (Reprise) - The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast Episode 344 Jun 6, 2026 1461 When Did We Become Lesbians? (Reprise) The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 344 with Heather Rose Jones In this episode we talk about: The history of words for women who loved women throughout recorded European history. What words were used? Where did they come from? What shades of meaning did they have? How did those meanings change over time? A transcript of this podcast is available h
Salt for the Unmarried by Khayelihle Benghu - The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast Episode 343 May 30, 2026 659 Salt for the Unmarried by Khayelihle Benghu The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 343 with Heather Rose Jones This quarter’s fiction episode presents Salt for the Unmarried by Khayelihle Benghu, narrated by Heather Rose Jones. A transcript of this podcast is available here. Links to the Lesbian Historic Motif Project Online Website: http://alpennia.com/lhmp Blog: http://alpennia.com/blog R
A Guide to the Sapphic Regency - The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast Episode 342 May 16, 2026 2859 A Guide to the Sapphic Regency The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 342 with Heather Rose Jones In this episode we talk about: Demographics and economics affecting f/f couples Legal and religious considerations Friendship and romance Affection and sex The language of lesbianism Models of gender and sexuality Bibliography 18th Century Precursors Bennett, Judith M. & Amy M. Froide eds.
On the Shelf for May 2026 - The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast Episode 341 May 2, 2026 2963 On the Shelf for May 2026 The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 341 with Heather Rose Jones Your monthly roundup of history, news, and the field of sapphic historical fiction. In this episode we talk about: Say hi at GCLS Recent and upcoming publications covered on the blog Traub, Valerie. 1996. “The Perversion of ‘Lesbian’ Desire” in History Workshop Journal 41:19-49. Goode, Dawn M. 2008.
Mary/Charles Hamilton: The Original Female Husband - The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast Episode 340 Apr 18, 2026 1341 Mary/Charles Hamilton: The Original Female Husband The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 340 with Heather Rose Jones In this episode we talk about: The factual story of Mary/Charles Hamilton Henry Fielding’s fictional version in The Female Husband The larger historic and literary context Sources mentioned Baker, S. 1959. “Henry Fielding’s The Female Husband: Fact and Fiction” in PMLA, 74 p
On the Shelf for April 2026 - The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast Episode 339 Apr 4, 2026 1780 On the Shelf for April 2026 The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 339 with Heather Rose Jones Your monthly roundup of history, news, and the field of sapphic historical fiction. In this episode we talk about: Exciting news about the next season of Bridgerton. The upcoming 10th anniversary Recent and upcoming publications covered on the blog Fielding, Henry. 1746. The Female Husband: or, th
Anne Bonny, Mary Read, and the Invention of Lesbian Pirates - The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast Episode 338 Mar 21, 2026 2948 Anne Bonny, Mary Read, and the Invention of Lesbian Pirates The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 338 with Heather Rose Jones In this episode we talk about: Female pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read in the General History of the Pyrates The motif of “lesbian Bonny & Read” Bonny and Read in lesbian historical fiction Sources mentioned Wikipedia entry: Women in Piracy Women Pirates and th
On the Shelf for March 2026 - The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast Episode 337 Mar 7, 2026 1312 On the Shelf for March 2026 The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 337 with Heather Rose Jones Your monthly roundup of history, news, and the field of sapphic historical fiction. In this episode we talk about: Gentleman Jack (ballet) by the Northern Ballet Company Northern Ballet Company You Tube channel Recent and upcoming publications covered on the blog Mourão, Manuela. 1999. “The repr
Aye, There’s the Rub - The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast Episode 336 Feb 21, 2026 1852 Aye, There’s the Rub The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 336 with Heather Rose Jones In this episode we talk about: Vocabulary for women-loving women referring to “rubbing” Shifts of meaning and usage What too many authors get wrong Sources mentioned: see transcript A transcript of this podcast is available here. Links to the Lesbian Historic Motif Project Online Website: http://alpenn
On the Shelf for February 2026 - The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast Episode 335 Feb 9, 2026 1239 On the Shelf for February 2026 The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 335 with Heather Rose Jones Your monthly roundup of history, news, and the field of sapphic historical fiction. In this episode we talk about: The 2026 fiction line-up: “Between One Word and the Next” by L.J. Lee “Love for Love’s Sake” by Shannon Lippert “Salt for the Unmarried” by Khayelihle Benghu The Sultan’s Vetala by
Fiction Double-Header: Down By the Tumbling Stream by E C Hallewell & Where You Go by Jennifer Nestojko - The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast Episode 334 Jan 31, 2026 2186 Fiction Double-Header: Down By the Tumbling Stream by E C Hallewell & Where You Go by Jennifer Nestojko The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 334 with Heather Rose Jones This quarter’s fiction episode presents two stories: "Down By the Tumbling Stream" EC Hallewell, narrated by Heather Rose Jones. "Where You Go" Jennifer Nestojko, narrated by Heather Rose Jones. A transcript of this p

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