History Is Sexy
History is Sexy is a podcast presented by historian Dr Emma Southon and writer Janina Matthewson answering listener questions about history. Topics range from the Romans to the origins of marriage and World War I. The show is produced and edited by Oliver Kealey with theme music by Ketsa.
Episodes
Episode 137: What's the Deal with Saint Paul?
Saint Paul, born Saul. A Zealot, a persecutor, a fanatic, a sail maker, a convert and the man responsible for what Christianity became in the first century CE. What exactly is his deal? Let's talk.
Support the podcast at www.patreon.com/historyissexy
Merch and show notes at www.historyissexy.com
Episode 136: A Conversation with Lost Roman Heroes
Something a bit different this week as Emma is travelling. We sat down with Matthew and Matteo, the father and son doing their best to rate and rank every Roman hero. We talked Marcus Camillus, why we can't trust Trajan and how to define the Romans.
Lost Roman Heroes can be found at https://lostromanheroes.com/
Support History is Sexy at www.patreon.com/historyissexy
Episode 135: What's the Deal with Switzerland?
Switzerland! Peaceful, neutral, full of clocks and cheese , or is it? How did Switzerland come to be? Why does it get to be neutral? How did they get so rich? Why did it take until 1990 for women to be allowed to vote? Let's find out!
Support the podcast at patreon.com/historyissexy
Show notes, merch etc at www.historyissexy.com
Episode 134: What's The Deal with Marcus Camillus
Who the hell is Marcus Camillus? Featuring Rome's version of the Trojan War, Rome's greatest humiliation, a truly scandalous number of white horses and one of the coolest lines any Roman ever delivered.
Episode 133 - What's the Deal with Maximilian I of Mexico (Part 2)
Max and Carlota go to Mexico and it goes...well it goes. Everyone has a horrible time but Max keeps his Habsburg honour, which is apparently the important thing.
Enjoy the first episode Janina and Emma have ever recorded in the same room!
Support the podcast at www.patreon.com/historyissexy
Ask a question at www.historyissexy.com
Episode 132: What's the Deal with Maximilian I of Mexico? Part One
Remember that time when France invaded Mexico and tried to install a Hapsburg emperor? No? Let's learn all about it, including Maximilian's no thoughts approach to government and why on EARTH anyone would think this was a good idea!
A Correction: A criollo is not a "mixed race" person in the Spanish Empire but a person born of "pure" Spanish parents but in the colonies/outside of Spain and there
Episode 131 - What's the Deal with Romance Languages?
A Janina special! Why do French and Italian sound different? How do Romance languages develop? How do languages live and die?
Support the podcast at www.patreon.com/historyissexy
Merch etc at www.historyissexy.com
Episode 130: Short Answer Questions
Does Oliver approve of any archers on film? Why does Emma called Caligula Gaius? What's Janina's favourite myth? So many questions, so many answers.
Episode 129: What's the Deal with Roman Triumphs?
Big red faces sweating in the sun. No it's not a group of English men in Benidorm, it's Roman generals dressed as gods being paraded through the streets! What the hell is a triumph anyway? Let's find out together.
Support the podcast at www.patreon.com/historyissexy
Show Notes etc at www.historyissexy.com
Episode 128 - What's the Deal with Ranavalona I and the Kingdom of Madagascar?
Queen Ranavalona I of Madagascar aka the Female Caligula aka the Mad Queen of Madagascar. Was she really as mad, bad and dangerous to know as the British Empire would have us believe? Featuring a "very apparently mathematically challenged" economic historian and a deep dive into pre-Christian religious belief in Madagascar.
Support the show at www.patreon.com/historyissexy
Show notes etc at www.h
An announcment from Emma
A small announcement and plea for support!
https://www.emmasouthon.com/events2026
Episode 127: What's the Deal with Ancient Stoicism?
Stocism. Sto-Bros. In this episode we look at the ancient philosophical school of Stoicism. A surprisingly complex and strange cosmology is expounded, Emma gives up on Logic and Janina wonders if thought experiments are any use at all.
Support the Podcast at www.patreon.com/historyissexy
Show notes and sources at historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-127-whats-the-deal-with-stoicism
Episode 126: What's the Deal with the Spartans?
In which we learn that the Spartans were so horrible that even other ancient Greeks were freaked out by them, and recieved absolutly no benefit from it.
Support the Podcast at www.patreon.com/historyissexy
Source Notes at https://historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-126-whats-the-deal-with-the-spartans
Episode 125: What's the Deal with the Tynwald?
The long and unexpectedly revolutionary history of the Tynwald, the parliament of the Isle of Man. Allegedly the oldest continuous parliament in history, it celebrated its 1000 year anniversary in 1976.
Support the podcast at www.patreon.com/historyissexy
Show notes and sources at www.historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-125-whats-the-deal-with-the-tynwald
Episode 124: The Medici Part 3
In which Emma loses total patience with this terrible family and retroactively decides that the name mispronunciation was actually an act of rebellion against them.
Support the podcast at patreon.com/historyissexy
Show notes, info and merch at www.historyissexy.com
Episode 123: The Medici Part 2
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Show Notes etc at https://historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-122-124-the-medici
Emma continues to mispronounce Medici and the Medici continue to be a shower of terrible people. Join us as we meet Piero the Unfortunate and a whole lot of popes.
Episode #122 - The Medici (Part 1)
One of history's most famous families, the Medici, ruled the city of Florence for years, but who were they?
Episode #121 - Aoife MacMurrough
Episode #121 - Aoife MacMurrough by History Is Sexy
Episode #120 - The Merovingians
Frank time, let's talk about the people who give France its name.
Episode #119 - Imhotep
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Episode #118 - Charles II
Episode #118 - Charles II by History Is Sexy
Episode #117 - Beer and Bread
Episode #117 - Beer and Bread by History Is Sexy
Episode #116 - The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Quick, no googling, how many of the seven wonders can you name off the top of your head?
Episode #115 - Eleanor of Aquitaine
You may know her from the 1968 film "The Lion In Winter" but who was the real Eleanor of Aquitaine?
Episode #114 - Pope Joan
Lady Pope! What's the legend of Pope Joan?
Episode #113 - Arctic Exploration
Episode #113 - Arctic Exploration by History Is Sexy
Episode #112 - The History of Duels
En Garde!
Episode #111 - The Year of the Four Emperors (Part 3)
If you thought we forgot to upload this one, you would be correct, but here it is!
Episode #110 - The Year Of The Four Emperors (pt 2)
Time for ranking! Emma lays out her categories and we rank the Four Emperors!
Episode #109 - The Year of the Four Emperors
Four emperors, Jeremy, four? That's insane.
historyissexy.com
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Episode #108 - Why Is Shakespeare "The Bard"?
William Shakespeare is often lauded as the greatest writer in the English language, but where did this reputation come from? How was it formed? Why is he referred to as "The Bard"? Was he just a front for a different writer? Join Janina and Emma as they unravel this knotty thicket.
Episode #107 - Carthage
Carthage, known primarily as one of early Rome's foremost nemeses, but what's the real story behind this North African city-state?
Episode #104 - History's Greatest Conmen
You may have noticed Episode 104 was missing from our feed, here it is! Sorry for the delay!
Episode #106 - The History of KPop
A topic that definitely isn't going to animate the internet, this one, Oliver does his level best to give us a history of KPop, where it started from, what influenced it, and the idol system that keeps it running.
Episode #105 - Tumblr History with HR Owen
Tumblr, the online home of a certain ind of millennial, has a complicated relationship with history, mainly that relationship involves making up bonkers stuff and passing it off as real.
Tumblr expert HR Owen joins Emma to discuss some of the nuttiest examples of Tumblr History.
Preview - Bonus Episode #2: Ask Us Anything!
This is a preview of our second bonus episode, available exclusively on Patreon, to hear the full episode, join us at Patreon.com/HistoryisSexy
Episode #103 - Manifest Destiny
Episode #103 - Manifest Destiny by History Is Sexy
Episode #102 - The History of Sex Work
Episode #102 - The History of Sex Work by History Is Sexy
Episode #101 - WTDW The Marquis de Sade?
He's widely known as one of history's biggest freaks, but what was actually the deal with the Marquis de Sade?
Episode #100 - Patron Questions
All three of us take to the mic for this 100th episode celebration, answering questions supplied by the members of our patreon!
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www.patreon.com/historyissexy
Episode #99: Quick Roman Questions
A bunch of questions about Rome and Romans that don't fit into an episode of their own
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www.historyissexy.com
Bonus Episode #1 Preview - Glad2ator and Megalopolis
A taster of our first ever bonus episode, a film review show about two roman-inspired films.
Full episode only available on Patreon: www.patreon.com/historyissexy
Episode #98 - Who Were The Druids?
The Druids, mysterious figures in pre-Roman British history, but who were they really??
Episode #97 - The Shroud of Turin & Veils of Veronica
Miraculous holy faces! Where do they come from? What is their history? Join Emma and Janina as they take a trip through the bizarre world of face-based relics!
Episode 96 - Was Mansa Musa The Richest Person Ever?
He's the legendary emperor of Mali, famed for his epic journey to Mecca, but was he really the richest person in history?
The History of Yugoslavia - Part 4
Tito is dead, what happens now?
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The History of Yugoslavia - Part 3
It's Tito Time
The History of Yugoslavia - Part 2
This time on History is Sexy, Emma and Janina continue their deep dive into the tumultuous history of the Balkans.
The History of Yugoslavia - Part 1
This time on History is Sexy, Emma and Janina begin their deep dive into the tumultuous history of the Balkans.
Episode #91 - Why Have Chefs Historically Been Men/History of Restaurants?
Why have chefs historically been men, and how did the concept of the restaurant take shape?
Quick Announcement - Patreon
Support us at patreon.com/historyissexy! Thank you!
Episode #90 - Who Were The Luddites?
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Who were the Luddites? Were they really "anti-technology", or were they about something entirely different? Was the problem capitalism all along?
Episode #89 - What's The History of Teddy Bears?
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Where do Teddy Bears come from? Why did they suddenly take over the world? Was Teddy Roosevelt really involved? Join Emma and Janina as they unravel the hairy truth behind our plush pals.
Show notes: https://historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-89-whats-the-history-of-teddy-bears
Episode #88 - What Really Happened in Catiline’s Conspiracy?
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Who was Catiline? Why did he try to do a coup? was it a big deal? Why did Cicero hate him? Find out all this and more in this episode!
Further reading and show notes
https://historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-88-what-really-happened-in-catilines-conspiracy
#87 - Janina's Top 3 Shipwrecks
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Join Emma and Janina on the high seas as Janina tells us all about her favourite shipwrecks
Episode #86 - Napoleon III
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How big of a dickhead was Napoleon III, anyway?
Episode #85 - What Did The Romans Eat?
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Dormice? Sow's Uterus? What on earth did the Romans eat? Join Emma and Janina for a culinary odyssey through the world of Roman Food.
Episode #84 - Badass Saints
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Who are some of the most badass saints? What were their lives like? What's a "desert father"? Find out all of this and more!
Episode #83 - The Borgias
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The most devious, murderous cut-throat family of renaissance Italy.. or misunderstood victims of slanderous propaganda? Emma and Janina take a look at one of Italy's most infamous families, their rise, and fall.
Episode #82 - What Makes The Dark Ages "Dark"?
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... and were they really so dark?
Listener survey link: https://forms.gle/78wMyX42uQvpHf1Y8
Show notes: https://historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-82-what-makes-the-dark-ages-dark
Episode #81 - History is Rexy! Anne Boleyn (feat. Rex Factor)
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Graham and Ali from Rex Factor are here and we're talking about England's most consequential Queen Consorts, and all the skulduggery she got up to!
⚠ Listener survey! ⚠
We want to get to know our wonderful audience (that's you) a little better, and find out how we can improve our podcast to be the best that it can be. To help us figure this stu
Episode #80 - What's The Deal With Empress Elisabeth?
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Willkommen in Österreich! Emma is joined by History Is Sexy producer and Austria Correspondent Oliver to have a look at a story that's captured Austrian hearts for a hundred years, the life of Empress Elisabeth.
⚠ Listener survey! ⚠
We want to get to know our wonderful audience (that's you) a little better, and find out how we can improve our p
Episode #79 - The Ptrouble With Ptolemys - Part 2! (Feat. HR Owen)
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Emma is joined by HR Owen once again to discuss the most dramatic family in Classical Egypt!
⚠ Listener survey! ⚠
We want to get to know our wonderful audience (that's you) a little better, and find out how we can improve our podcast to be the best that it can be. To help us figure this stuff out, please answer whichever questions you can (no
Episode #78 - The Ptrouble With Ptolemys, Part 1 (feat. HR Owen)
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Janina's on a bit of a break, but history never sleeps, so Emma is joined by acclaimed podcaster HR Owen for a deep dive into perhaps one of the most dramatic families in history, the Ptolemys.
⚠ Listener survey! ⚠
We want to get to know our wonderful audience (that's you) a little better, and find out how we can improve our podcast to be the b
Episode #77 - Why Is The UK "United"?
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How did the various states that've existed on the British Isles/North Atlantic Archipelago coalesce, fracture, and coalesce over and over until it became the country we know today? A thousand years of history, all in just over an hour!
⚠ Listener survey! ⚠
We want to get to know our wonderful audience (that's you) a little better, and find out
Episode #76 - The Story of Boudica
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In 60CE, Boudica, Queen of the Iceni, led a violent uprising of unprecedented scale that tore across the southeast of Britannia, burning London and shocking the Roman world. But what's the real story? Was she real? Was she a literary construct? How are our modern conceptions of Boudica affected by the Victorians and Elizabethans?
Episode #75 - On Debutantes, Balls, and "The Season"
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Put on your gown and get ready to enter high society, as Emma and Janina walk you through the bizarre world of Debutantes, Balls, and "The Season"
Episode #74 - What's The Deal With Matriarchal Societies In History?
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This time, Dr Emma Southon and Janina Matthewson take a deep dive into matriarchal societies in classical and pre-history, did they really exist?
Episode #73 - Caligula (1979)
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Caligula is a 1979 film made by pornographers, starring Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren, Sir John Gielgud, and Peter O'Toole. It's also completely bananas. Join Emma (seen it dozens of times) and Janina (not seen it before) as they discuss this scandalous and notorious historical film.
Episode #72 - What Was So Great About Alexander?
And why was he so special?
Episode #71 - What's the Deal with Wild Children?
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Emma and Janina investigate the mystery of wild children, and whether any of them were actually raised by olves.
Episode #70 - When Did Men's Clothes Get So Boring?
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What's "The Great Masculine Renunciation?"
Who was Beau Brummell?
Why are men's clothes so boring now?
Episode #69 - What's The Deal With Vikings, Part 2
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Emma and Janina are back behind the mast of the longship! This time, we're discussing sagas, eddas, and other various mythological titbits.
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Episode #68 - What's the Deal with Vikings, Part 1
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We're back, and better than ever!
This time, Emma and Janina will be answering a few questions about everyone's favourite nordic seafaring pirate raiders, the Vikings!
Were the Vikings the ISIS of the 9th century?
Were the Vikings criminal outcasts from their homelands?
Did we like Assassin's Creed: Valhalla?
Tune in to find out!
A Small Update
A quick update to promise you that we are not dead and encourage you to stop giving us money. Please stop giving us money until 2023!
Episode #67 - Why Do We Think The Victorians Were Prudes?
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Where did the idea that Victorians were all repressed weirdos come from? Is it true? Did they cover their piano legs for modesty? What's going on?
Show notes and links and get in contact at www.historyissexy.com
Episode #66 - Did the Illuminati Cause the French Revolution?
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Who were the Illuminati? Did they cause revolutions all over the world, or were they just a bunch of nerds? Are philosophers to blame for everything? And did the French make books out of the skins of those they guillotined?
Show Notes at https://historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-66-did-the-illuminati-cause-the-french-revolution
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Episode #65 - What's the History of Petra?
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What's the history of Petra? Why was it considered lost for so long? Why aren't Bedouin people allowed to live there any more, and other things colonialism has ruined.
Show notes at https://historyissexy.com/
Episode #64 - What's the History of Alchemy?
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This week we explore the weird and wonderful world of alchemy, from ancient China to Isaac Newton.
Show notes https://historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-64-whats-the-history-of-alchemy
Episode #63 - "Did A Girl From Cork Become a Moroccan Empress?" And Other Stories
Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyissexy
People who's lives turned out to involve things no one could have predicted.
Show notes: historyissexy.com/show-notes/cqcz3d5vh0ftaryie0kdkbw8s5ht7g
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