1-800-1800
1-800-1800 is a podcast that explores 19th-century history, art, literature, culture, and scandal. Each episode picks a random year from the 1800s to discuss the events and people that shaped the modern world. Hosted by Madeline Porsella and Mabel Taylor, two historians of art and design, the show combines rigorous research with a gossipy tone. It is produced by Mandylion Press.
Episodes
1-800-1891: basketball is our favorite sport
This week, Harry Krinsky of Nothing But Respect joins us to talk about the invention of basketball. We discuss the rules of the game (you won’t believe how they dribbled), the cages they played in, and a hot controversy about its inventor. Listen now & follow Harry @lexaprotools on Substack & IG
1-800-The Tenant of Yesteryear
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mandylion.substack.comOn this week’s bonus episode of 1-800-1800, the girls dare to discuss a contemporary novel, Caro Claire Burke’s Yesteryear (2026), a novel about a tradwife influencer who time travels to 1855. To avoid being too modern with it, Mabel and Madeline compare Burke’s #1 New York Times bestseller with the least-popular
1-800-1849: A quick history of the state of California
On this week’s episode of 1-800-1800, Mabel goes home…to California. After a brief debate about what sport the Forty-Niners play, the girls discuss the history of California before and after the Gold Rush.Captain Constable and the crew of the Balclutha ship circa 1887. Source.David Grann, The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder.Sir Francis Drake’s Landing in California circa 1579. Sourc
1-800-Late Fame
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mandylion.substack.comThis week, Mabel and Madeline read Late Fame, a perfect little novella written by Arthur Schnitzler, and saw Late Fame, a perfect little indie movie directed by Kent Jones. More importantly, because the story tackles the rediscovery of a forgotten poet, both the novella and its contemporary adaptation make for the
1-800-1861: Death Becomes Her w/ Jessica DeFino
This week on 1-800-1800, we’re discussing life’s inevitabilities—death and unrealistic beauty standards—with Jessica DeFino of one of our all time favorite Substacks, Flesh World!! Join us to learn more about Prince Albert’s death, Queen Victoria’s resulting mourning period as well as the ways death is trending in contemporary beauty culture. This one goes crazy!Show Notes* Flesh World* Ask Ugly*
1-800-Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mandylion.substack.comThis week, Mabel and Madeline dig into the painting that has appeared most frequently in Mandylion’s visual glossaries, Caspar David Friedrich’s Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog from 1818. She’s in The Gadfly, The Morgesons, The Hill of Dreams, and our upcoming title, Love Days. Listen to find out why we can’t get eno
1-800-1876: America, the sequel
Yoohoo,Welcome to America, the sequel. In this episode we look back at the Centennial Exhibition held in Philadelphia in 1876. We talk about the giant engines and sexy corsets on display, the unfinished revolutionary projects in civil rights and labor movements, and what, exactly, an acre is. Like, subscribe, drop us a line. XOXO,M&MShow Notes* The Flying Horses, Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts. * Paine
1-800-1776: The Shot Heard Round the World
I’m a yankee doodle dandy and you’re on the precipice of learning all that Mabel and Madeline have to say about the American Revolution in this special episode about 1776. Its a World War, its a Civil War, its a tax scheme, its an inspiration to us all! Enjoy it and have a happy fourth of July, k
1-800-1871 (feat. Sara Hinkley)
This week we are very excited to welcome the brilliant Sara Hinkley onto 1-800-1800 to discuss her forthcoming novel The Red Sacrament. Sara’s brilliant debut tells the story of a theater troupe of vampires, set against the backdrop of the Siege of Paris and the Commune. We had simply the best time discussing the book, Sara’s research process, and our shared obsession with the last days of the Sec
1-800-1841: London's Charivari
Madeline and Mabel discuss the founding of Punch Magazine, the most popular satirical magazine of the 19th century, and muse on its enduring influence. The girls also touch on a sensational murder/botched abortion case, Summer House, a US president you’ve never heard of, and more!!Show notes: Births, Deaths* Renoir, Blousy Nudes* https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/08/26/renoirs-problem-nudes*
1-800-The Princess Cassamissima
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mandylion.substack.comBook Club Alert !! This week the girls recap Henry James's The Princess Cassamissima, the story of a young man of mysterious parentage who tries to take on the world's inequities but instead just ends up smoking cigarettes on a magenta divan. We were delighted, we were puzzled, we were forced to ask "are beauty and
1-800-1787: Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade
On this week’s episode, Madeline takes us back to her material culture roots to tell the story of the British abolition movement through one object, the Wedgwood “Slave Medallion.” Join us to learn about the object that made abolition a fashionable cause in the 18th century and why 1787 is a part of the long 19th century !! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscri
1-800-The Gadfly
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mandylion.substack.comMandylion now has a book club at McNally Jackson called the Minor Works book club. Each month we read a forgotten novel from the nineteenth century (brought to you by Mandylion Press), or a minor work of a major author. This month we read Ethel Lilian Voynich’s The Gadfly, one of our first Mandylion books and many
1-800-1844: A telegraph and a train walk into a bar
What Hath God Wrought, indeed! This week on 1-800-1800, Mabel tells Madeline what a telegraph is. She starts in 1792 with the one and only Claude Chappe, a man so passionate about the optical semaphore telegraph that he threw himself into a well, and then moves onto Samuel Morse, who gave the world not only the single-wire electromagnetic telegraph, but also this insane painting of Hercules: This
1-800-1823: On the origin of an American religion
This week, Madeline and Mabel discuss the origins of Mormonism and how its founder, Joseph Smith, continues to influence the modern day iteration of the religion. Hypocrisy, hucksterism, hats, bad bets, and talking to God. What more could a girl ask for? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mandylion.substack.com/subs
1-800-Wuthering Heights
In this special episode of 1-800-1800, Madeline and Mabel discuss Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights as well as Emerald Fennell’s film adaptation starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. The girls cover impossible naming conventions, mysterious heritage, and awful set design in this discussion. Listen now! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access t
1-800-Death by Lightning
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mandylion.substack.comGood morning starshine! President James Garfield says hello!This week on 1-800-1800, Mabel and Madeline discuss the Netflix limited series Death by Lighting, which tells the story of James Garfield’s assassination. We finally have an answer to a long standing question, “how did people in the back hear before electr
1-800-1852: The Princess Who Ate a Glass Piano
This week on 1-800-1800, Julia Carpenter, who writes the brilliant Substack “A Woman to Know,” joins us to discuss the Bavarian princess who was convinced that she had swallowed a glass piano. Our conversation covers everything from the fluctuating definitions of delusion to medieval nuns and the curative powers of spanking. Happy listening!Notes:Read Julia’s original newsletter about Princess Ale
1-800-The Testament of Ann Lee
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mandylion.substack.comLast week, Mabel and Madeline braved a blizzard to go see The Testament of Ann Lee in theaters. In this episode, hear their discussion of the film’s stylistic choices, the actual history of the Shakers, and why there’s so much more to them than beautiful chairs.
1-800-1832: The Great Wave
On the first episode of the new year, Mabel and Madeline consider the tortoise and discuss the sweatshirtification of Hokusai’s The Great Wave. We go deep on Prussian Blue, Japanese wood-block printing and its influence on the history of modern painting. Listen, like, rate, subscribe, share, love, kiss kiss, bang bang. HAPPY NEW YEAR LOVERS
1-800-Frankenstein
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mandylion.substack.comThis week Madeline and Mabel read Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and discuss Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation for Netflix. We ask and answer the big questions about AI, monsters, pregnancy, and whether Oscar Isaac is hot. Until next time
1-800-1803: On Meat Beating & Batteries
This week on 1-800-1800, Madeline guides us through the horrifying world of early 19th century meat batteries and an experiment to raise a malefactor hanged at newgate prison from the dead. Listen for all the facts on nicotine enemas, the “apparently” drowned, and an alternative reality where frogs legs were a necessary component of consumer electronics.
1-800-Elsie Venner
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mandylion.substack.comThis week on 1-800-1800, Mabel and Madeline discuss their new book Elsie Venner with a VERY special guest: Mabel’s dad!! David, a psychiatrist in practice for over thirty years, joins the girls to discuss the novel and help answer the question that preoccupies the characters in the book: What the hell is wrong with
1-800-1882: Orlando and the Origin of Species
Today a man told me that pugs are “inherently naked” and now I can’t think about anything else for long enough to write an episode description. I hope you listen to the podcast anyway, it’s a doozy
1-800-The Hill of Dreams
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mandylion.substack.comIn this special episode of 1-800-1800, the Mandylion girls discuss, debate, and fawn over their new book, The Hill of Dreams! Welcome to the Mandylion Book Club. Let this episode guide and inspire you on this journey through Arthur Machen’s singular novel, about a young man named Lucian Taylor trying (and failing?)
1-800-1840: Everything you never wanted to know about queen victoria's wedding
This week’s episode goes out to our book designer Emily and her HUSBAND Jerónimo. They inspired this deep dive into the most important wedding of the 19th century: Victoria & Albert’s!!! We talk about the music, menu, and outfits that went into this event, and also discuss the gnarly diarrhea that Albert had when he first met Victoria. We also discuss incest. TW. hehe xoxo This is a public episod
1-800-The Morgesons
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mandylion.substack.comHey beautiful people! 1-800-1800 is back with this month’s bonus episode featuring THE MORGESONS!! Herein we discuss the best book ever written, published originally in 1862 by Elizabeth Stoddard, and revived this year by Mandylion Press. The Morgesons is a caustic bildungsroman about a girl named Cassandra and her
1-800-1865: But it's not about the civil war
1-800-1800 is back baby. This month Mabel and Madeline talk about everything in 1865 except for the death of Abraham Lincoln. That means we’re talking refrigerated fish. We’re talking the audacity of ice cream. We’re talking Manet. We’re talking bop houses. We’re talking dog cremations. Get in there, girl! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access
1-800-1800: The Substance
This episode of 1-800-1800 is SPECIAL. Instead of tackling one year of the long nineteenth century, we spend an hour discussing one single mediocre film: The Substance!!!! Inspired by our recent edition of One or Two, we discuss the body, body horror, “back vaginas,” and whether or not Demi Moore was robbed. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get acce
1-800-1845
1-800-1845 has moved to Substack and things are about to get real spooky. Catch us this month discussing all the weirdest that 1845 has to offer: the shattering of the Portland vase, unrepentant sons, and that bird that Poe wouldn’t stop talking about. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mandylion.substack.com/subsc
1-800-1897: The Gay Nineties
1-800-1800 is on a freakin' roll! This episode we tackle 1897—the year that gave birth to One or Two, one of our two new books OUT NOW, for sale at mandylionpress.com. In this episode we breathlessly cover Francis Ford Coppola's Bram Stoker's Dracula, Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, Meghan Markle's one pan pasta, and Oscar Wilde's prison sentence. Nobody else is doing it
1-800-1862: The Morgesons
1-800-1800 is back with a bang. This episode we tackle 1862—the year that gave birth to The Morgesons, one of our two new books OUT TODAY, for sale at mandylionpress.com. Up for discussion: Hilma Af Klint, two little boys named Willie, and a hot air balloon crash. Buckle up. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mandy
1-800-1846: The Wombat's Lair
Welcome back to 1-800-1800, where each episode we call up a random year of the 19th century and discuss what the heck happened. Today's episode explores 1846, a year defined by war, sentimentalism, and the looming threat of eating too much raw fruit. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mandylion.substack.com/subs
1-800-1805: They pooped their way west
Welcome back to 1-800-1800, where each episode we call up a random year of the 19th century and discuss what the heck happened. In 1805, it turns out Lewis & Clark trekked west to the Pacific Ocean. Who knew. We discuss princesses made of glass and mercury poisoning. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mandylion
1-800-1814: A Million Words for 'Pirate'
In this month's episode of 1-800-1800, Madeline and Mabel call up 1814 to learn about Byronic pirates and Jane Austen novels. Listen in to hear us speculate wildly about British military history and gab about Dolly Madison's ghost, Mansfield Park, and a kingly morning routine. xoxoTheme music by Jeronimo Ezquerro Aguilar-Alvarez. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other s
1-800-1899: Bad Girls Go Everywhere
In this month's episode, Mabel and Madeline call up 1899—the nineteenth century's answer to y2k. Learn everything you never wanted to know about drugs, yellow journalism, and Sargent paintings. xoxo Theme music by Jeronimo Ezquerro Aguilar-Alvarez. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mandylion.substack.com/subscribe
1-800-1886: Anarchy on La Grande Jatte
In this month's episode of 1-800-1800, Madeline and Mabel call up 1886 to learn about the Haymarket Affair and pretty wallpaper. Listen in to hear all about the first Red Scare, Grover Cleveland, and a monkey on a leash. xoxoTheme music by Jeronimo Ezquerro Aguilar-Alvarez This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mandylio
1-800-1851 : Reading Queen Victoria's Diary
In the inaugural episode of 1-800-1800, Madeline and Mabel call up 1851, one of the most important years of the century. Learn everything you never wanted to know about Millard Fillmore and the Crystal Palace Exhibition. Theme music by Jeronimo Ezquerro Aguilar-Alvarez This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mandylion.su
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