STORICAL HALLOWEEN SPECIAL: THEDA BARA, VAMPIRE
Theda Bara was the most famous movie star you’ve probably never heard of. One of the first movie stars, America’s first goth, and Hollywood’s first sex symbol, Theda Bara was the epitome of Madame Mystery. Though most of her films have been lost to time, Theda is one of the pioneers of early Hollywood.
STRANGE STORIES IN PERFUME HISTORY
It’s my first ever live show! I recently gave a talk on perfume history and shared some of my favorite stories. Listen to learn more!
STORICAL HALLOWEEN SPECIAL: MERCY BROWN AND THE NEW ENGLAND VAMPIRE PANIC
We all know about Eastern European vampires but did you know that right here in America we had our own vampire panic? Yup. It turns out New England was kind of a scary place the first 200 years of colonial and then American rule. Listen to today’s episode to learn about the New England Vampire Panic and Mercy Brown, the teenaged purported vampire.
THE GILDED AGE: ASTORS VS VANDERBILTS PT. 2
Gilded Age New York was all about flaunting your money. And no one did it better than the first families of excess, the Astors and the Vanderbilts. Part two is all about multi-hyphenate Alva Vanderbilt. Social climber, society leader, architect, suffragette. We will also take a look at her daughter Consuelo Vanderbilt, Duchess of Marlborough. Tune in!
THE GILDED AGE: ASTORS VS VANDERBILTS PT. 1
Gilded Age New York was all about flaunting your money. And no one did it better than the first families of excess, the Astors and the Vanderbilts. Part one of a multi part series, today we’re looking at the life of Caroline Astor, the “Mystic Rose” and arbiter of taste in New York Society. You’ll want to listen to the episode to get primed on the new HBO series, The Gilded Age. Tune in!
STORICAL HALLOWEEN SPECIAL: LIZZIE BORDEN TOOK AN AXE
This is the Storical Halloween Special. The veil is thin and the dead walk among us. Before you indulge in some tricks or treats, enjoy this episode and decide whether Lizzie Borden really took an ax to give her mother 40 whacks. Links to all sources referenced and full transcript are below!
MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS: THE CAPTIVE QUEEN
Storical is back with an all new episode about the messy life of Mary Queen of Scots.
EDMONIA LEWIS: SCULPTING AN IDENTITY IN MARBLE
Storical is back for an all new season starting with a special episode for Black History Month. This week, we’re talking about Edmonia Lewis, the first American artist of color to achieve international fame.
A VERY VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS
The festivities that grew into modern day Christmas have spanned millennia. But most of the traditions we recognize today began under the reign of Queen Victoria. Take a listen for the history of Christmas cards, kissing balls, Christmas trees, and presents. Check out the links below for some creepy Victorian cards. Happy holidays! See you in 2021!
FAN FAV: THE PAGANS, OLIVER CROMWELL, & CHARLES DICKENS
Pssst…it turns out Christmas is a super pagan holiday. On today’s episode we’re doing a brief overview of the origins of Christmas and how Charles Dickens brought the holiday back after Oliver Cromwell had Christmas canceled. For all those who think there’s a war on Christmas…just be glad Oliver Cromwell’s not still around.
SARAH WINNEMUCCA: NATIVE ACTIVIST & AUTHOR
It’s Native American Heritage Day! For today’s episode, I’ll be shining a light on an important Native woman in Nevada history: Sarah Winnemucca. She was the first Native woman to write an autobiography and traveled around the US on a lecture tour educating and protesting the plight of her people. Take a listen and get inspired, then research the tribes indigenous to your area. There is fascinating history all around us.
STORICAL HALLOWEEN SPECIAL
Edgar Allan Poe had a mind for the macabre. But as it turns out, some of his most famous works were based on true tales of horror. Listen to the episode for the origin stories of 5 of Poe’s spookiest works.
LITERARY ROAD TRIP WITH EDGAR ALLAN POE
Edgar Allan Poe died in 1849, but there are still places standing that housed the author. This week, we’re traveling from Richmond to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston for a look at some of the most interesting places to visit on your very own Poe Pilgrimage.
STORICAL FOOTNOTES: THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF EDGAR ALLAN POE
Edgar Allan Poe died as he lived…mysteriously. It’s been more than 200 years and we still don’t know what killed Poe but there are theories. Today, we’re taking a look at the leading theories as to what killed the macabre author as well as the mysterious story of the Poe Toaster.
CHARLES DICKENS, EDGAR ALLAN POE, & GRIP THE RAVEN
Edgar Allan Poe’s masterpiece, The Raven, was inspired not by any ordinary raven, not by a harbinger of doom, it was a talking pet raven named Grip owned by none other than Charles Dickens. Tune in for the story of Grip…then go visit the real Grip who is still on display at the Free Library of Philadelphia!
FAN FAVE - HENRY VIII: HIS KINGDOM FOR A SON
Replay episode! Get ready for some drama filled history as we welcome our first gentleman subject to Storical, King Henry VIII. Love him or loathe him his story is epic. And, spoiler alert! We’ll be doing a whole episode on Anne Boleyn, his most intriguing wife, next month. Links to all recommendations below.
JOSEPHINE BAKER: DANCER, SINGER, SPY, ACTIVIST
You know about the banana skirt but Josephine Baker contained multitudes. In celebration of Black History Month, we’re taking a look at the life and loves of Josephine Baker. She went from living in a cardboard box on the streets of St. Louis to commanding the stage in Paris before spying for the French Resistance in World War II and integrating night clubs across America. Black girls are magic and Josephine Baker was truly enchanting.
GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST:
Pssst…it turns out Christmas is a super pagan holiday. On today’s episode we’re doing a brief overview of the origins of Christmas and how Charles Dickens brought the holiday back after Oliver Cromwell had Christmas canceled. For all those who think there’s a war on Christmas…just be glad Oliver Cromwell’s not still around.
STORICAL FOOTNOTES:
Edgar Allan Poe’s masterpiece, The Raven, was inspired not by any ordinary raven, not by a harbinger of doom, it was a talking pet raven named Grip owned by none other than Charles Dickens. Tune in for the story of Grip…then go visit the real Grip who is still on display at the Free Library of Philadelphia!
CHARLES DICKENS: A DICKENS OF A TALE
‘Tis the holiday season which means that the roughly 9 billion adaptations of A Christmas Carol are on television playing in a continuous loop. But who was the man behind the season’s greatest ghost story? Charles Dickens is considered the greatest English writer, behind Shakespeare, to have ever lived. Tune in to learn about his time in the workhouse, how he influenced Edgar Allan Poe, and how his secret double life was almost his undoing.